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Bradford youngsters encouraged to think about career paths

Dozens of youngsters have been urged to get thinking about their futures and the world of work by one of Bradford’s enterprise champions.

Paul Mackie, who is the chair of E3 Bradford spoke to youngsters aged 10 and 11 during a presentation alongside the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Dale Smith.

The pair spoke to pupils from Low Moor Primary School as part of the E3 Bradford initiative, which is being supported by Bradford Council and the Bradford Chamber of Commerce to create a new enterprise curriculum for education providers across the city, with the intention of delivering home grown talent to the business community.

Speaking at a special event at Rex Procter and Partners, where he is chairman, Mr Mackie told the schoolchildren that Bradford is a “great place to live and work”.

But he also said they need to be thinking about what they might do in the future and begin considering and planning their careers.

“All of you here are creative people and many of you will want jobs in the creative industries” he said.

“You’re also having to deal with lots of technological changes that have come about over the past few years.

“Your dreams can come true, but you have got to have a plan. A great idea without a plan is just a dream. You need to take advice, ask great questions, bounce ideas off others, hang onto something that you are good at and don’t be scared of failure.”

Paul also asked the pupils whether they had any ideas about their future careers which prompted responses of being a vet, an artist, a palaeontologist, working in a charity, being a story book writer and setting up an animal hotel.

The Lord Mayor said that with 24 per cent of the district’s population under 14 years old it is important for the pupils to get a good education given the vast competition ahead.

“You have to be all qualified to have a successful life and future.” he told the youngsters.

The session at Rex Procter and Partners is the latest event organised by E3 Bradford, which stands for Education, Enterprise, Employment,

The aim of E3 Bradford is to develop, inspire and empower young people to make a positive contribution to economic success. This will be achieved by delivering a programme of enterprising activities involving businesses of all sizes and from all sectors, from right across the district.

Next month, business and schools will come together for the E3 Bradford Work Inspiration Week from May 20 to 24.

For more details, go to www.e3bradford.co.uk or follow @e3bradford on Twitter

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jonathan Redhead .