Bayes welcomes Year 12 business pupils as part of work in mentoring and coaching

Bayes Business School welcomed pupils from across London schools as part of a scheme to increase the possibility of young people exploring university as an option for their future.

Groups of pupils from four partner schools who are involved with Bayes’ Mentoring and Coaching Programme toured the City, University of London campus and were welcomed by Rob Compton, Bayes’ UN PRME Programme Manager.

A total of Year 12 pupils, all of whom were studying business, also joined breakout groups and workshops with Bayes academics about university and its challenges. Dr Sabrina Gottschalk, Lecturer in Marketing and Bayes alumna, Dr Thomas Robinson, Lecturer in Marketing, and Sonya Barlow, Bayes alumna and award-winning entrepreneur and author, joined the discussion.

Dr Gottschalk discussed that she chose a business degree as it offers a route into a wide variety of career paths, including in the corporate, charity, creative, government and entrepreneurship sectors. In her current role as lecturer, she is passionate about giving students opportunities to apply classroom learning to real-life problems, for instance through collaborative company workshops.

Dr Robinson is a consumer behaviour researcher and track leader in the Undergraduate Marketing programme. He explained the value of studying something you are passionate about and saw it as his job to motivate students by making modules fun and engaging so you can grow through life by doing something you love.

Sonya Barlow, an award-winning entrepreneur and author who was a first-generation student from her family, shared how the university experience helped her to identify her strengths, build strong friendships and enter a professional working space. She explained that students should lean into their strengths, stay curious and give everything a go, and not be afraid to fail as it’s a learning experience.

The students came from partner schools Stepney All Saints School, Bow; Central Foundation School for Boys, Old Street; Central Foundation School for Girls, Mile End; and Haggerston School, Hoxton.

Patrick McArdle, Head of Sixth Form at Haggerston School, said “This trip helped raise the pupils’ aspirations of potentially studying business at university, or becoming future entrepreneurs. I was really impressed by the guest speakers and their engaging stories. It was clear our students took a lot away from this experience and they spoke highly of it the following day."

Salma, a Year 12 Business student at Haggerston, said "A business degree can take you in many different directions and open many doors. It can also be fun if you find your passion within it, as it's not limited at all."

Sabino said: "I enjoyed the trip because I got a perspective of different people’s experiences and how they felt about university.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) launched its Black Student Scholarship Programme in November 2021, aimed at achieving greater racial diversity in both Higher Education and in business.