More than 300 students from Year 9 at Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School in Greenford have taken part in a speed networking careers event organised by Connexions Ealing which featured a number of local businesses across the borough taking part.
The 13 and 14 year olds were able to meet with businesses who offered advice on what qualifications are needed and how to study and train for a career with their company or industry sector.
Supporting the careers event was Specsavers Greenford Broadway and Westway Cross ophthalmic director Shaan Patel.
Mr Patel said of the event: “It was a great opportunity to chat to the students who were all so enthusiastic to find out more. A number of them asked me some really pertinent questions about being an optometrist and what it entails, plus the length of time to qualify, and best places to study. A number of others were curious to find out what it’s like to work for such a big well-known brand like Specsavers.’
During the morning Mr Patel gave students an insight into being an optometrist and the work they do including the various diagnostic tests carried out as part of a sight test. This includes the OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) which takes a 3D image of the of the back of the eye and can detect some eye conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy up to four years ahead of them presenting via a standard eye test.
Alison Delius, a careers adviser based at Cardinal Wiseman says: “It was a great start to the New Year, there was a real buzz during the morning, and the feedback I have received has been fantastic.”
Ms Delius added: “We were delighted that Shaan could attend as we appreciate how busy he is. It was really valuable to have someone with his expertise who could discuss what is entailed in running a business, plus the daily responsibilities of being an optometrist. I’m sure the students were thrilled to find out more about the science behind a sight test and how it can reveal underlying health issues.’
“As a team we really value the support of local businesses, as the career programme does inspire and motivate the students, helping them to better understand the working world – plus it can be a catalyst that sets them off on their career path.”
