Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET) have introduced a series of weekly Industry Insight talks with a range of leading employers.
These virtual sessions are designed to give students and their parents insight into the world of some of the most sought-after employers, who can offer them career advice, as well as answer any questions they may have.
The first in the series was in partnership with Thames Water. With most students studying at home due to the coronavirus lockdown, the session was held using Microsoft Teams.
The talk gave a fascinating insight into science and IT careers at the company, as well as hearing first-hand, the educational and career experiences of their staff. Students heard more about the kinds of roles you would find at Thames Water, and the importance of transferable skills such as problem solving, teamwork and data analysis.
One of the speakers was Samantha Over, who is on the graduate programme at Thames Water. She said: “I’ve always wanted to work somewhere that aligned with my own passions of caring for the environment and helping other people.
“By joining the Thames Water graduate programme, I’ve had the opportunity to discover different scientific roles within the water industry. It’s great to be able to pass on what I’ve learned from my experiences to the students and give them the opportunity to ask questions about next steps after college.”
The other Thames Water speakers included Chris Ferrey, IT Project Manager and Hannah Leggatt, who joined Thames Water as a graduate in 2018, and is now a continuous improvement lead.
Thames Water provides water and waste services to 15 million people across the Thames Valley and London. The company employs over 6,000 people who work across multiple operational sites, laboratories, office sites and in the field.
