Business and accounting students at Northampton College have taken part in an online session with a financial expert to help give their career hopes a kickstart during lockdown.
Philippa Scobie, a company finance director who previously worked in investment banking for Lehman Brothers, held the webinar via Google Meet, with 38 students tuning in to find out more about her career and ask her what they could do to boost their own prospects of a future career in finance.
The session was organised by business teacher Deborah Gardner, who said: I have been stressing to students the importance of seizing every opportunity to make connections and inform yourself for your career ' this was one of those opportunities.
When students look back on how they spent their time in lockdown, they need to be able to say they didn't waste it and the 38 people who attended this session certainly got plenty from it. Philippa was a mine of information and gave a brilliant insight into a fascinating world.
Philippa, who works for Noviniti and runs her own financial coaching business, discussed her own career and the routes she took to get where she is now, before exploring the concept of portfolio careers ' using multi-skills to earn a living.
Jodie Lemon, a first-year level three business student, said: The talk changed my view on the finance sector. Now I am interested to find out and explore a bit more about this industry to see if it could be an opportunity for me to take in the future.
Another student added: I found it helpful, especially the advice that she gave us about work experience, it's best to approach businesses in the summer rather than doing nothing at all. It looks better on our university applications.
