STUDENTS from Furness Academy were delighted to be hosted by an investment banking company at a three-day careers event.

During the holidays, students at Furness Academy attended a three-day careers residential hosted by Goldman Sachs and education charity Teach First.

The event was aimed at improving students' careers knowledge and skills needed to take advantage of future opportunities after school.

At their offices in the City of London, Goldman Sachs hosted 100 students from 10 schools serving disadvantaged communities across the country, who work closely with Teach First – the education charity that works with schools facing the biggest challenges to tackle educational inequality.

The residential was organised by Goldman Sachs as part of their ongoing commitment to improving social mobility and a 15-year partnership with Teach First, with young people given careers support they would otherwise struggle to access.

Students spent the week learning about careers in the city, boosting their employability skills, and networking with employees from organisations such as The Economist and Financial Times, as well as Goldman Sachs.

Students of Furness Academy were also recognised during the week for their communication skills, being awarded the winning prize by a panel of judges for the debate exercise, having been commended for their passionate and persuasive arguments.

Director of PSHE, Careers & Guidance of Furness Academy, Abbie Rawlinson said: “We were absolutely thrilled to be selected for this opportunity with Goldman Sachs and Teach First.

"Many of our students have never had the opportunity to travel to London before, and this was an unforgettable trip for them. Many of our students would never otherwise have the opportunity to visit an environment like this, and this was an unforgettable trip for them.

“As a school we’re committed to providing a quality careers education for our students, and opportunities like this are vital for inspiring our young people about what their future pathway could look like. Our students have come away feeling that they can achieve anything they set their mind to.”

Russell Hobby, CEO of Teach First, said: “The future world of work can be daunting for many young people but, for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, the barriers to a successful career can feel insurmountable. We’re working with partner businesses and schools serving disadvantaged communities to give more young people the chance to unlock their full potential after school.

"We’re so grateful to our long-standing partner Goldman Sachs for hosting a varied and inspirational schedule of events at the Residential, giving students from ten Teach First partner schools an inside look into the sector – inspiring them about what they could go on to achieve and giving them the skills and knowledge that they need to turn those inspirations into reality.

“I was honoured to join the closing ceremony and hear directly from the students who had clearly gained so much from the experience. We’re proud to work with businesses like Goldman Sachs to have an impact where it’s needed most.”

Janine Glasenberg, managing director at Goldman Sachs said: “As a proud and long standing partner of Teach First, Goldman Sachs were delighted to work with Teach First to deliver the Goldman Sachs Careers Residential.

“As a firm, we are incredibly focused on upskilling, inspiring and informing the next generation of talent. We strongly believe that talent and determination should determine one’s future, not the circumstances we are born into. Unfortunately, we know this is not always the case.

"We recognise that not all students have equal access to education, development opportunities, networks or resources, and this can often have significant impact on their future. We want to level the playing field here - our focus is developing all individual talent, no matter their background.

“The Teach First Residential was a uniquely designed a 3 day careers residential with the aim of inspiring and upskilling students from lower socio-economic backgrounds across the UK, who may not typically have access to these opportunities or a broader network. We worked closely with Teach First over 18 months to design and deliver content that showcased the variety of career opportunities in the city, whilst building students confidence and skills.

“The energy from both the students and teachers throughout the Residential was infectious and there was a real buzz in our London office. The students truly gave it their all and we are so incredibly proud of every participant who pushed themselves outside their comfort zones, learnt a new skill and had some fun along the way!”