Thousands of London teenagers received invaluable career and education advice at the Evening Standard’s second annual Step Up Expo.
This year’s event, held at Olympia London, was attended by more than 7,000 people including 5,500 students, along with parents and teachers, eager to find out more about job opportunities.
The two-day event featured experts from different fields and motivational speeches. Representatives from sixth forms, universities, colleges, and major employers including British Airways, the Army, Royal Air Force and Unilever were on hand to offer guidance.
It provided a platform for teenagers on the brink of making significant decisions about their academic and professional futures. Among the attractions was a series of interactive experiences.
Students enjoyed a VR train driver experience at the Transport for London stall, while others engaged in maths games at the Think Academy UK stand, highlighting the Expo’s focus on both education and practical skills.
Samina Khan, director for undergraduate admissions and outreach at Oxford, encouraged students to consider applying regardless of their background. She said: “There are students who get really good GCSE results and rule themselves out of applying to Oxford because they don’t think it’s for them.
“That’s a real shame. It’s about taking that first step and putting yourself there. Come to an open day and you’ll see it’s a lot more diverse than you might think. So if you have good GCSE results and a passion for a subject, then please do consider whether it’s the right place and attend an open day.”
Sarah Waterman, apprenticeships and work experience manager at Royal Opera House, highlighted the opportunities in the arts sector. “We offer apprenticeships in everything from archives to costume making. The broader your skillset, the more employable you’ll be, the more dexterous you are. People walk into London Opera House thinking it’s not for me. Make it for you. We need new stories.”
Barry Mallon, head of recruitment at Access Creative College, stressed the importance of persistence and continuous improvement in creative fields.
He said: “You just have to find a way to do what you love and be flexible. Fake it till you make it... you’ve got to be prepared for people to say no and you’ve got to get used to that. The first time someone says no it might really hurt, and by the 10th time it might hurt less.
“You’ve got to keep going and be persistent. What’s really important is the work you’re doing and content you’re making. If you want to be a game developer, they want to see what you create, your showreel. You need to be constantly updating that and sending it to people.”
Feedback from guests highlighted the event’s success in demystifying the often overwhelming process of career planning. One 16-year-old visitor from south London said: “I came here feeling pretty lost about what to do after GCSEs, but now I’ve got loads of ideas.
“The VR experience at the Transport for London stand was really cool — I never thought I’d be interested in that kind of job before.”
