I recently had the pleasure of attending the Careers Day at Swans International School, an event that I was particularly pleased to support given my close connection with the school, as my daughter is a former pupil and I have always maintained an excellent relationship with the institution.
For this occasion, I decided to attend alongside with Maria Velasco, one of the youngest members of our team at Spence Clarke, as I felt it would be beneficial for the students to engage with someone closer to their age and at an earlier stage in their professional journey.
Upon arrival, each participant was allocated a table displaying their company’s logo and a brief description of their profession. The event was attended by Year 9 pupils, who are about to begin their two-year IGCSE programme, typically around 13 years of age. The students approached in small groups of two to four, each prepared with a range of thoughtful questions.
We were asked about many aspects of working life, including the number of hours we work, whether it is more important to pursue a career one enjoys or one that offers a higher salary, and what academic choices are required to become a tax adviser. The level of curiosity and engagement was impressive. Some students were particularly confident and asked their questions naturally, while others relied more on their notes and required a little encouragement.
It was a different and refreshing type of event, providing not only the opportunity to speak with students but also to meet other professionals from a wide range of sectors, including veterinary services, photography, law, education, and tax advisory firms such as Spence Clarke. As a firm specialising in tax, labour and accounting services, we were pleased to share with the students an insight into what it means to work as a tax adviser, the variety of work involved, and the importance of combining technical knowledge with strong communication skills when supporting clients.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable afternoon, and I would certainly welcome the opportunity to take part again in the future.
