Leuan Jennings on his week of work experience at Cumbria Chamber
Last week, we had sixth form student at Cockermouth School, Leuan Jennings, with us at the Chamber on work experience. At the end of the week, we asked Leuan to answer a few questions on what he’d been up to and how work experience has benefited him as he takes the first steps in his career.
Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Leuan Jennings, and I am a sixth form student at Cockermouth School going into year 13. I study maths, further maths, economics, and physics. In my free time I play rugby for Newcastle Falcons development squad, and I work part-time as a waiter at Armathwaite Hall.
What have you been doing during your work experience at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce?
During my work experience I have been involved in a variety of tasks and experiences that have both exposed me to what Chamber of Commerce really does through speaking to the team and discussing what their job roles entail, as well as enlightening me about the local business landscape through visiting a number of the businesses who are members of the Chamber, providing me with insights into how various businesses and their leaders operate in Cumbria.
Is there anything in particular you have learned / any skills you’ve developed?
One thing I’ve learned is about the wide variety of companies and opportunities that exist in Cumbria that I didn’t know previously existed. From visiting these companies, I feel speaking to the leaders has helped boost my confidence in professional settings and enhanced my self-assuredness, developing my networking skills as I saw first-hand how successful people communicate and build professional relationships.
How has your work experience complemented your current and future studies?
I believe my work experience at the Chamber aligns perfectly with my future goals as I aspire to study economics at university and potentially pursue a career in investment banking afterward. The wealth of knowledge that the team in the Chamber has of the finance sector has been invaluable in educating me on how I can excel in a role in finance in the future. Additionally, the exposure I gained during the week, including visits to companies like Pirelli, iSH, McMenon and others has broadened my perspective on the diverse career opportunities that rely on finance professionals.
Are there any particular highlights from your week here?
One of the highlights from my week was when Kevin (the LSIP Engagement Manager) was kind enough to connect me with someone on a Teams call that he knows currently works at JPMorgan as a degree-apprentice. This opportunity to speak to someone who is working in the sector that I am aiming for in the future was invaluable as he gave me a summary of what he does day-to-day as well as giving me an insight into the interview process that he went through to secure his position at the company.
Another highlight from my week was when Joe (the Marketing Manager) set up a Teams meeting for me to speak to Stuart Morrison who works at the British Chambers of Commerce in (the BCC) London. He gave us a run-down of what the BCC does and an overview of how they analyse their Quarterly Economic Survey and how it is used by institutions like the Bank of England to forecast future economic activity.
Have you done / are you planning to do any other work experience?
I have done some other work experience previously with another firm however I don’t believe that that experience even came close to as valuable as the week I’ve had at the Chamber as unfortunately the previous company wasn’t as well suited in its operations to align with my future ambitions as the Chamber is.
What are the benefits of doing work experience?
I think work experience is extremely valuable, especially for young people who aren’t completely sure what they would like to do in the future yet as it allows them to see what it would be like to work in that field before they commit a lot of time to studying to get into it. Also, work experience allows you to acquire and enhance valuable skills relevant to your chosen field, such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and technical expertise. Work experience also provides a chance to connect with professionals in your field, potentially leading to valuable contacts and future job opportunities. Furthermore, listing relevant work experience on your resume/personal statement is very important as it shows to the university/employer your interest in the area and that you will already have a basic understanding of the field.
We’d like to thank Leuan for joining us for his work experience and wish him all the best in his future endeavours!
© Cumbria Chamber of Commerce