The Haberdashers’ Company Monmouth Enterprise Initiative and the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists “My city IT career”

Every year the Haberdashers’ Company joins with a modern livery company to deliver work experience for Year 12 students in their schools. The event would usually include a day’s work experience in host companies across the City with other activities at Haberdashers’ Hall. 2020 was the second year to work with WCIT.

It became clear as the year went on that the idea of having companies host students for a day was probably not going to happen. But the WCIT would not be deterred by a global pandemic! Understanding the importance of the engagement with young people at a time when they are making decisions around careers and university courses, ‘My City IT Career’ was born. A series of 30-minute video presentations by WCIT members, all of whom have come into IT via different routes, demonstrated the diversity of opportunities in the IT industry.

Topics ranged from IT consultancy, setting up a software company, apprenticeship opportunities and computer programming. At the end of the day, a poll showed that 96% of the students would consider a career in IT and felt they were far better informed as to the opportunities available.
The programme was hailed a great success and is now being rolled out to the WCIT’s affiliate schools, starting with Hammersmith Academy. The videos are also being made available to schools nationwide through the Livery Schools Link network.

A huge thank you to Freeman Julia Condon, our WCIT presenters and the team at Haberdashers for all their hard work in organising and putting on such a successful event.