Page 26 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

NEW CAREERS & MENTORING INITIATIVES

One of the key aims of the Association is to develop a sustainable The Association also continues to actively encourage the
COUNCIL Ratcliffe students and Old Ratcliffi ans, focusing particularly career opportunities for both current students and ORs, and
careers and mentoring programme that benefi ts both current
OR community to come forward with work experience and
on our youngest members and recent school leavers. Over the we are working in conjunction with the College’s Head of
Careers, Kate Grace, to identify and support students with
past few years, the OR community has supported the College
through INSPIRE talks, the Careers Convention, and Year 11 mock particular career aspirations. Through these initiatives, we hope
interviews. Whilst the restrictions during this year have left us to further develop our Mentor Bank and improve the Association’s
unable to plan physical events, we have been working on new ways online Jobs Board, in addition to planning more face-to-
of engaging with the students and supporting their journeys, face careers events when restrictions are lifted.
particularly in the Sixth Form, as they plan ahead for their futures.

One of these new initiatives is a series of short ‘Inspire Me’
videos, featuring interviews between BBC radio broadcaster Ben
Jackson (88) (right) and Old Ratcliffi ans, whose interesting and
varied careers will inspire students as they consider their own
career paths. A second phase of the initiative will see these short
videos developed into a programme of online mentoring for those
students who want to further explore a particular career path. This
short series will also be presented to ORs via a targeted monthly
careers newsletter, as will the opportunity to sign up to the online
mentoring sessions. If successful, we hope to develop the initial
trial into an ongoing series of videos and mentoring schemes.

RECRUITING INTO THE RATCLIFFE FAMILY

In August, we were contacted by Old Ratcliffi an
In August, we were contacted by Old Ratcliffi an Francesca Gamble (04), who was
looking for help recruiting a new team member for her latest project, ‘Becoming
looking for help recruiting a new team member for her latest project, ‘Becoming
More Human’ – an original podcast series created with her brother,
More Human’ – an original podcast series created with her brother, Simon Gamble
(97)
(97), and her ‘Uncle Kevin’, Kevin Yell (71), as co-host.
Following a call-out on the Ratcliffi an Association’s Facebook page, we were
Following a call-out on the Ratcliffi an Association’s Facebook page, we were
delighted to learn that Fran had welcomed fellow OR
delighted to learn that Fran had welcomed fellow OR Emily Booth (18) to the
team! Emily (pictured, below) said, “One of my oldest friends, who I met on my
team!
fi
fi rst day at Ratcliffe, saw the OR post and tagged me in it. I loved the podcast idea, rst day at Ratcliffe, saw the OR post and tagged me in it. I loved the podcast idea,
fi rst day at Ratcliffe, saw the OR post and tagged me in it. I loved the podcast idea,
eagerly emailed Fran, and the rest is history! It’s been really interesting to work
eagerly emailed Fran, and the rest is history! It’s been really interesting to work
with not just one, but two Old Ratcliffi ans in this job. It’s amazing how, despite
with not just one, but two Old Ratcliffi ans in this job. It’s amazing how, despite
now being in different countries, we all started off our life and education in the
now being in different countries, we all started off our life and education in the
same place. It brings a ‘home-from-home’ feeling to the work that we do together,
same place. It brings a ‘home-from-home’ feeling to the work that we do together,
and an automatic familiarity and connection between us that I deeply appreciate.”
and an automatic familiarity and connection between us that I deeply appreciate.”
This is a perfect example of how the Association aims to develop its careers
This is a perfect example of how the Association aims to develop its careers
initiative, by encouraging ORs to utilise the connections that they have within their
initiative, by encouraging ORs to utilise the connections that they have within their
amazing Ratcliffe family. We encourage any OR in a similar position to reach out to
amazing Ratcliffe family. We encourage any OR in a similar position to reach out to
us – we’re here to help!
us – we’re here to help!

26 The Old Ratcliffi an 2020