GREATER Anglia colleagues have helped bring the world of work to life for Year 10 students through a careers coaching programme in London.

The train operator partnered with education charity Future Frontiers to connect students from Oasis Academy Hadley in Enfield with 17 Greater Anglia colleagues, helping them explore different career paths, understand their strengths and think about the opportunities available to them after leaving school.

Colleagues from across the business volunteered as career coaches, including representatives from HR, finance, engineering, train service delivery, press office and customer service.

The programme included six hours of one-to-one careers coaching over four weeks, giving students the chance to talk directly with people in different roles and learn more about the skills, interests and experiences that can shape future career choices.

As part of the programme, coaches also helped students connect with mentors working in sectors they were interested in, giving them real insight into different industries and future career options.

The sessions were not specifically railway-focused and were held at Greater Anglia’s training academy in Stratford, London.

Viktorija Starling, Greater Anglia’s Early Careers and Apprenticeships Manager, said:

“Over the past four weeks, we have seen so much engagement, energy and laughter from both the coaches and students.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to help young people think about their future careers and see their confidence grow throughout the programme.

“Working with Future Frontiers has allowed our colleagues to share their own experiences and show students that there are many different routes into the world of work.”

Future Frontiers is a UK charity that works with schools and employers to raise career aspirations, improve social mobility and help young people make informed choices about life after school. Its structured programmes connect students with workplace mentors, helping them build confidence, develop skills and understand the wide range of career paths open to them.

The programme forms part of Greater Anglia’s wider work to support communities across the region. Greater Anglia is part of Anglia’s integrated railway, working more closely with c2c and Network Rail Anglia to support local communities, improve journeys and help deliver a more joined-up railway for customers.