Progression Day helps students consider their next steps after College

What can I do after College? What do I need to do to get there? These were just some of the questions posed by students as Brockenhurst College hosted a series of events throughout its annual Progression Day.

Leaving College and deciding on the next step to take can be a daunting experience, so the event was designed to inspire and inform current students as to the vast range of options available to them, and to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

Representatives from major employers including JP Morgan and IBM and were on hand to offer support and guidance to those deliberating which career path to take, and to give advice about the world of work, tips for CV writing and interview techniques.

For students thinking of going to University, there was practical advice available on a range of topics, from the UCAS application process, to subject–specific workshops run by universities from all over the South, providing an insight into studying at degree level. For those planning on heading straight into employment, staff from the National Apprenticeship Service provided information about work-based training options.

The keynote speech was delivered by Rob Forkan, a former Brock student who studied BTEC Sport and GCSE English at the College in 2003. Rob, and his brother Paul, have since created Gandys, a flip flop brand that raises money for orphans all over the world. The young entrepreneurs established Gandys Flip Flops after the tragic loss of their parents in the 2004 tsunami. Gandys gives 10 per cent of its profits to the brand's 'Orphans for Orphans' initiative, which supports projects abroad in providing education and health care for children in need; the scheme has an overall goal of opening a children's home in Goa by the end of 2014 - the 10th anniversary of the tsunami.

Rob ran several sessions at Brock’s Progression Day entitled, ‘Working life are you up for it?’, where he spoke to students about the journey he has been on in establishing the brand.

His talks were attended by hundreds of students interested in the compelling story behind the development of the stylish and vibrant product, which has been endorsed by a range of A-list celebrities and is stocked by major retailers across the UK. Rob’s overarching message to them as they consider their next steps after College was: “If you have the right attitude and are persistent and bold, you can achieve anything you want to.”

Reflecting on his time at Brock, Rob said: “My education here gave me a great grounding and taught me really important core skills; through working on projects as part of my course I developed a strong work ethic, learnt the importance of attention to detail and realised that if you want to succeed you have to put 100 per cent into whatever it is you are working on.”

One student said: “I’ve had such an enjoyable day and I feel really inspired having attended the range of workshops – especially Rob’s talk. It’s great that the College helps prepare us for the world outside of education, as well as supporting us while we are studying here.”