We were delighted to visit Windsor Academy Trust in March as part of our outreach programme to talk to and inspire young people about our
industry. Led by Daniel Skermer, Sarah James and Rhiannon Hopcroft, the careers event Accelerate Action, was designed to empower students and create meaningful career pathways and open up opportunities for the students at the academy.
We helped bring together industry experts, leading employers and staged engaging sessions to give students real insight into the world of business support. The keynote speech came from Tier Blundell, who shared his deeply personal journey of overcoming adversity in his life. After facing rejection, racism, and school exclusion, Blundell discovered a love for learning and subsequently earned a place at Oxford University. Overall, Tier’s life story is an example of resilience, determination, and transformation – a message that resonated with students, showing them that setbacks do not define their future and that success can come from perseverance and self-belief in even the most trying of circumstances..
Inspiration and Aspiration
What we were keen to emphasise to the students was that the event was not just about career exploration—it was about inspiration, aspiration and seizing opportunities, no matter how they present themselves. The event comprised four interactive zones, each designed to give the students hands-on experiences and insights into the future of work. The four zones were:
Pathways to Progress – Different routes into business support careers were explored, including college courses, apprenticeships, and T-Levels, helping the students understand the variety of options available
Future Connections – A networking opportunity where students met and engaged with leading employers, learning about the exciting career prospects within business support and administration.
Practical Pathways Zone – Here students gained a real understanding of the day-to-day realities of business support roles, equipping them with key workplace skills and professional insights.
Agile Skills Zone – This session challenged students to develop adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving skills through a fun, hands-on circus skills workshop with House of Mash, reinforcing the essential soft skills required in a fast-changing work environment.
Volunteers and employers in attendance included
- Belmont Healthcare Group
- Deloitte
- Galliford Try
- Halesowen College
- Macildowie Recruitment and Retention
- Willmott Dixon
- Royal Shakespeare Company
- Shoosmiths
- Jumar
- Intercity
- Eversheds
- Sutherland & Savient Limited
Each of these provided invaluable guidance and networking opportunities for the students. It’s inspiring for us at The PA Forum to know that we can help to shape the future workforce and possibly encourage someone to follow a career in business support. As it appears to have been a resounding success, we can’t wait to set up the next session with more young people.
