Support from Employers and Alumni

Our students love hearing from professionals who are already working in the careers they are aspiring to. This gives them real insight into the pathways they can take and what different careers really involve. It can also foster new ideas about careers they might never have considered or even been aware of until hearing from you! We particularly enjoy hearing from our alumni who can demonstrate to students the amazing places that the Copleston journey might lead and can be hugely motivating for them. 

If you would like to work with us, please contact Danielle Waites via the school office or via dwaites@copleston.suffolk.sch.uk.

Employers

If you are a local employer, please get in touch to discuss how we can get you involved in our careers programme.

We want our students to hear from a wide range of sectors and business types, so whether you are a sole trader or work for a national company, there will be students who are inspired by your story.

Currently we welcome employers into our school for our Coffee and Cake lunchtime talks, class talks, group mentoring, assemblies and employability workshops but would welcome further input if you would like to work with us. 

Work experience

Our Year 10 students will be taking part in a week of work experience in the summer term.

We are always looking for more employers to offer placements, so please get in touch if you would like to offer this valuable experience to one or more of our students.

Alumni

We would also love to hear from you if you are an ex-pupil. Our students are motivated by hearing from employers who have been in their shoes and who they can relate to. Several of the employers who have been into the school this year are alumni wanting to give back to their school and their local community.

Recent employer engagement

Employers we are welcoming in to school for lunchtime careers talks include; Birketts, BDO, the MOD, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS, OOCL, Fram Farmers, Barnes Construction, Jackson Civil Engineering, Suffolk Police and the Department of Work and Pensions

These employers have talked about employment and training pathways within their businesses, many of whom offer their own apprenticeship programmes

Other experiences offered in recent years and in this years’ career programme include;

• The Engineering Development Trust in partnership with Arup delivered a virtual STEM morning to year 7
• British Science week for year 8 students with support from BT
• Green Careers and Creative Careers Assemblies for Year 8
• Year 9 students designed entries for the NHS Step into Schools competition
• The Department of Work and Pensions will be delivering an assembly on employability, why we work, and first jobs
• The British Army recently delivered an assembly and workshop to year 10 students
• Year 10 will be embarking on in-person work experience for a week in June 2025
• Year 11 students have had an assembly on how to find an apprenticeship in the local area as well as contact from post-16 education providers
• Year 12 and 13 will receive information on Higher Level Apprenticeships, Higher Education and Technical Qualifications as well as access to industry-focussed workshops and talks

Online employer engagement

Students are regularly emailed virtual work experience and employment opportunities with companies such as Vodafone, Network Rail, Fujitsu, Barclays, Thames Water, Barclays, Zurich, Bentley, Amazon, Royal Mail, BAE Systems, Land Rover Jaguar, Pwc and Babcock. Law firms such as Clifford Chance and Linklaters joining us as well as internationally recognised firms: Browne Jacobson, Freeths, Farrer & Co, Charles Russell Speechlys and Fragomen.

This opportunities are shared through organisations including Springpod, Young Professionals UK and Speakers for Schools.