National Careers Week at Kingsbury Green Primary School
Published 25th October 2024
Guided by Sneha alongside her colleagues, National Careers Week was fastidiously planned. The school invited senior professionals from many different companies to volunteer their leadership steer and expertise, resulting in a diverse line-up of speakers across many professions, including engineers, architects, designers, doctors, authors, pharmacists, and game creators. Additionally, a class of Deaf students visited the UK leading design practice Foster + Partners for the day, offering them rare and awe-inspiring exposure to architecture, design and engineering.
The week featured an array of engaging sessions, with speakers from a variety of industries who shared their insights, experiences and presented opportunities for the students to explore the disciplines through practical workshops. Notable speakers included John Baxter, an engineering governance manager from E.ON and a series of senior partners and senior executive partners from Foster + Partners. Students were enthralled by live demonstrations, workshops and interactive discussions, broadening their perspectives and understanding of potential career paths.
On arriving, the students were warmly welcomed by the senior partners and senior executive partners from Foster + Partners, Stefan Behling, Emily Phang, Roger Ridsdill-Smith and Narinder Sagoo. In supporting communication and inclusion, the company Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Jane Samuels facilitated a basic British Sign Language (BSL) pre-event training session for colleagues leading the sessions. Introducing themselves to the students using BSL, the senior partners and senior executive partners set an inclusive communication tone for the day. This initial welcome was followed by a Deaf-led studio tour by John Wilson, where students learned about various aspects of the history of Foster + Partners, followed by four dedicated sessions in design, architecture, engineering and model making. These practical workshops not only gave the students a taste of the real-world of design and engineering but also supported them to explore their creativity and problem-solving skills. The children were full of awe and wonder and overflowing with questions throughout the day.
One of the highlights of the visit was a hands-on model-making workshop, where the students built their own bridges under the guidance of Foster + Partners’ model-making team. Another unforgettable moment for the students was sitting around the same table where renowned architect Norman Foster and his team regularly meet. Here, they watched a video showcasing examples of Foster + Partners work and engaged in conversations with Senior Executive Partner Emily Phang, providing a rare insight into the leadership and creative process of the UK’s largest design company.
The company’s commitment to providing equal opportunities and fostering an inclusive and diverse environment was evident throughout the day. The students left the practice excited and inspired with a deeper understanding of design, structural engineering and architecture and a new awareness that these disciplines and career paths are open and available to them.
Foster + Partners will continue to offer similar inclusive and inspirational opportunities to Kingsbury Green Primary School. For more information about this project and the wider equity, diversity and inclusion programme at Foster + Partners, contact: Jane Samuels, EDI Lead, jsamuels@fosterandpartners.com.
