At the end of June, our Company exhibited at the Livery Schools Link (LSL) Showcase for the first time since pre-pandemic.
We joined many other Livery companies in Guildhall, talking to secondary school students, teachers and career advisors about the many job opportunities in our respective trades and the options for training, development and learning new skills. Consistently throughout the day the question being asked when visiting our stand was: What do builders’ merchants do?
Court Assistant Lucia Di Stazio and Freemen Jamie Pierce represented our Company, sharing their journeys in the industry and explaining about builders’ merchants and the diverse career options in merchanting and building materials supply. Apprentice Futures formed part of the two-day Showcase where many organisations, including the Builders Merchants Federation, promoted apprenticeships in the various trades.
Our vibrant stand and giveaways certainly stood out and attracted interest, with Lucia and Jamie making it fun and engaging along the way. Great effort from one student trying to build a bridge with stress bricks! Thank you to Liveryman Simon Bicknell who helped organise the donation of branded carpenters pencils, which went down very well with the students and teachers alike!
The LSL Showcase is targeted at 14-17 year olds and is an ideal platform for helping young students realise the wide career opportunities across various trades. Approximately 25 schools in London attend the Showcase with their teachers and career advisors where pupils can ask questions, learn more and also have some fun with practical activities and competitions.
Lucia comments: “Jamie and I were extremely pleased with how the day went. We had some meaningful conversations with the children and teachers, which led to questions regarding work experience and career talks in schools. There is still a lot to do in making our industry fully visible as a career path, but events like this and the opportunity to speak directly to pupils about the
variety of roles available in merchanting helps us get a step closer.”
For more information visit www.liveryschoolslink.org.uk.
