Information Technologists Demo Tech Careers
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“ Over 600 students from 25 schools across London were able to chat about careers to information technologists; shipwrights; saddlemakers and more”
Livery Schools Link Showcase
Information Technologists Demo Tech Careers
T he Livery Showcase Event is an annual event providing Livery Companies with the ideal opportunity to attract young people into their respective trades or professions. The Information Technologists were exhibiting along-side 27 other Livery Companies ranging from Butchers and Bakers to Spectacle Makers.
The City is always an amazing place to be, especially in the early hours while the air is still fresh and the streets are relatively quiet. David Barker and I descended on the Hall at 7am on the 15th March to load up a car full of equipment and materials for our stand at the Showcase Event at the magnificent Guildhall. We were soon joined by fellow WCIT members Dr Jon Hall, Dr Roger Johnson and Inma Martinez.
The Information Technologists were allocated one of the prime positions by the main door. We had a large screen as our centre piece with a rolling presentation displaying our main theme“ Your tech career starts here”. Each table linked to this theme: Cyber Champions on Internet Security; 3D Printing for design; and two new computing platforms, BBC Micro: bit and Raspberry Pi.
Over 600 students from 25 schools filed into Guildhall. Our stand was busy from the start and on many occasions throughout the day we drew in a large, noisy, inquisitive crowd of students and
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teachers. Our giveaway – a 3D printed robot, fresh off the press – faired well with the competition: the Butchers were giving away sausages made by the UK’ s # 1 and # 2 Butchers’ apprentices, the Air Pilots putting students through their paces on a flight simulator, the Shipwrights with a ship simulator and the Goldsmiths handing out hammers and other gold shaping, noise making tools. Thankfully, the Barbers( Surgeons) resisted the urge to ask for volunteers for any live demos on their stand as we were well within arm’ s reach.
Throughout the day we had some very interesting conversations with students enquiring about various aspects of a career in IT. We also had a number of enquiries from teaching staff keen to learn about the activities of our Company.
After the final group of students had passed through, a number of dignitaries from the City of London Corporation and Livery Companies visited the stands to meet with the exhibitors over a glass of wine and to hear the thank you speeches from the organisers.
The Livery Showcase Event was now officially closed and all that was left to do was to pack up and return the equipment to the Hall. The day was a resounding success and we all had a thoroughly enjoyable day in the process. Very special thanks to Freeman David Barker for organising the stand and making it all happen.
Contributed by Education & Training Committee member Steve Smith and Chairman Dr Jon Hall
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