FIRST CLASS HONOURS
CAREERS NETWORK
OP CAREERS NETWORK
We are grateful to Old Pocklingtonians who give their time and expertise so generously in support of current students and recent leavers . Offering advice and opportunities through the OP network makes a positive difference to young people and their future career . Thank you .
Congratulations to the following OPs who have recently gained first class honours .
Their names will be put up on the honours boards in the Music School ( Assembly Hall ) as a lasting record of their achievement .
Alice Boyes ( 06-13 ) BA ( Hons ) Business with Marketing Management Northumbria University
Emma Burley ( 04-13 ) BA ( Hons ) History Liverpool University
Lydia Clark ( 11-13 ) BA ( Hons ) Anglo-Saxon , Norse and Celtic Starred double first University of Cambridge , St John ’ s College
David Dickinson ( 04-12 ) MChem University of York
Sam Fletcher ( 07-13 ) BSc ( Hons ) Psychology with Criminology Northumbria University
Catherine Hebden ( 97-08 ) BSc ( Hons ) Podiatry Huddersfield University
Alice Horne ( 03-10 ) BVM BVS ( Hons ) MRCVS Veterinary Medicine and Surgery University of Nottingham
Sarah Megginson ( 99-10 ) BSc ( Hons ) Business Oxford Brookes
Roger Moorhouse ( 06-10 ) BSc ( Hons ) Engineering University of Bristol grow the network
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OP MENTORING PROGRAMME LAUNCHED
One of the best ways the OP Association can help students is to offer an insight into other OPs ’ experiences of the industry they are looking to join . This is the philosophy behind a new mentoring scheme being launched by the OP Association committee . The aim of the scheme is to give student OPs and sixth formers the opportunity to have a one-to-one connection with an OP to help develop skills and make decisions about future career options .
Committee member Richard Booth ( 92- 02 ) who has been spearheading the scheme alongside ex-officio President , Tom Nash ( 67-77 ), said “ The scheme offers a great opportunity for our younger members to tap into the knowledge and expertise of OPs who already have experience , insight and perhaps most importantly hindsight into a particular industry or career sector . I know from my own experience at university how invaluable it can be to have this type of support and knowledge to guide you through what can seem like a minefield at the time , especially if your parents or family members have no connections to the industry you are interested in .
“ Our mentors are all OPs who are keen to give something back and share their experiences of opportunities after graduation , so it is a win-win situation .”
The scheme is also being made available to sixth form students . OP President , Andrew Wilson ( 89-99 ) explains “ We are offering the scheme to sixth formers as well as student or recent graduate OPs with the idea of aiding the transition from school to university to work . When I was at bar school I was assigned a mentor and although she was based in London when I was in Leeds , and I only needed to call on her a couple of times to assist with CV and interview skills , it was a huge benefit to me to know that she was there and willing to help me . I envisage a similar system with recent leavers ; an OP mentor who , perhaps , studied the same course or works in the same environment as a student OP wants to be .”
As well as offering practical advice about job applications and CVs , the scheme can also provide insights into different roles , organisations or sectors , preparation for graduate recruitment and the application process , help to identify personal skills and qualities , and objective feedback to help target areas for improvement . There may also be the opportunity for workplace visits or work shadowing .
The list of mentors is not just limited to OPs . Both former and current parents from the
Elliott Dobson on the left with Nick Baines
Pocklington School community are already getting involved . Current parent Nick Baines is one example . He recently signed up to the scheme as a mentor . He commented “ I was talking to Tom ( Nash ) about the scheme and thought it was a great initiative . I wanted to help , so decided to offer support as a mentor to OP Elliott Dobson ( 07-13 ). He is currently in his third year of an MA in Economics at Herriot Watt University and is thinking of going down the business finance route . To help him qualify this career path more , I found him an intern role in my company ’ s ( TSYS ) finance department . So far things seem to be going very well for Elliott and our finance team are very pleased with his contribution , so everyone ’ s happy ! Aside from Elliott establishing if this is indeed the direction he wants to go , it adds to his CV , making him all the more employable when he graduates . If he wants me to , I will continue to act as his mentor as he completes his final year at university and moves into full-time work .”
So far the OPA has ten OPs and parents who have volunteered to act as mentors covering areas such as finance , business , sales and marketing , the food and drink industry , manufacturing , business , start-ups , leadership , management , professional services , IT and surveying . The next phase will be to pair up these mentors with mentees and develop the programme from there – watch this space !
If you would like to get involved in the OP mentoring programme either as a mentor or a mentee , please contact Rachel in the OP Office who will give you further details and get you started .
Tel : 01759 321307 , E-mail : darer @ pocklingtonschool . com
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