Find out more
Life Beyond Wellington Week returned this October, offering pupils a fantastic opportunity to explore different career paths, gain valuable insights from industry professionals and begin thinking about the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.
Around 450 pupils engaged in events throughout the week, supported by 45 Old Wellingtonians (OWs), parents and guest speakers who generously shared their experiences, advice and reflections on life beyond Wellington. Outside of the sessions, all pupils were encouraged to spend some time thinking of their futures, with most year groups undertaking a careers-themed tutorial, discussing future pathways with a tutor, or exploring UniFrog.
The week began on Saturday 3 October with our flagship Careers Speed Networking event, which saw almost 200 pupils from across the College meet 36 parent and OW volunteers representing a diverse range of industries, from politics and journalism to finance, medicine and more. The event gave pupils the opportunity to ask questions, discover new career paths and develop their networking skills, while making valuable connections with professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Our series of industry-themed talks began with Careers in Engineering: Building Structures, Solving Problems, featuring James Watters (S 16), Senior Structural Engineer at WSP, and Graham Hardy (A 02), Business Case Advisory at WSP. From designing buildings to shaping major projects, they showcased the variety of careers available in engineering and encouraged pupils to explore the industry through conversations, research and work experience.
Next, George Owen (A 00), Founder and Creative Director of ITCH Media, returned to College for Finding the Gap: How to Make a Career Out of Creativity. Sharing his journey from creative ideas to building a global, award-winning agency, George explored the impact of AI on the industry and encouraged pupils to stay curious, learn from setbacks and pursue their passions. After all, you never know where a hobby might lead!
Entrepreneurship took centre stage with Anyone Can Be an Entrepreneur: Why Entrepreneurs Are Made, Not Born, featuring Clive Watson, Founder of City Pub Company, and Chris Woodward-Jones, Co-Founder and CEO of Vizzy. From spotting opportunities to navigating setbacks, they shared the realities of building a business and the importance of resilience, taking risks and making connections. As Chris reminded pupils, sometimes just one conversation can open the door to a new opportunity.
The week concluded with Exploring Pathways into Finance, featuring Victoria Hyde, Group CFO at OSB Group; Henry Hudson (Pn 22), Graduate Trainee at Schroders Greencoat; Shanti Das-Wermes, Portfolio Manager at MFS Investment Management; and Sam Trowbridge (L 15), Defence Start-up. The panel highlighted the many routes into finance, the growing influence of AI and the importance of developing a broad range of skills, experiences and interests to prepare for an ever-changing world of work.
Throughout the week, a common message emerged: there is no single route to a successful or fulfilling career. Whether through traditional pathways, entrepreneurship or unexpected opportunities, our speakers encouraged pupils to remain open-minded, build connections and make the most of their interests and experiences.
A huge thank you to all the OWs, parents and guest speakers who so generously gave their time to support Life Beyond Wellington Week 2026. Their insights, encouragement and willingness to share their experiences are invaluable in helping our pupils navigate the many opportunities that await them beyond College.
