On Wednesday 22 October, IGFH’s Brad took part in the Post 18 Human Library event at Devizes School & Sixth Form College, an initiative designed to help Year 13 students explore future career options through short, focused conversations with professionals from a range of industries.
Organised by Ceri Tranter and the Devizes careers team, the Human Library brought together representatives from universities, apprenticeship providers, gap year programmes, and employers, each delivering eight-minute sessions to small groups of students. Across two hours, students rotated between 18 different information sessions, covering everything from student finance and creative careers to apprenticeships and overseas opportunities. It was an engaging and fast-paced format that encouraged genuine dialogue between students and professionals, answering questions about life beyond school.
Brad chatted to students about the sports turf industry, introducing them to the many ways they can enter the profession, highlighting the value of apprenticeships and hands-on learning as entry points for anyone with an interest in working outdoors or in sports environments.
He explained what a typical career in turf management can look like, as well as sharing personal stories from his own career, including his time spent working at the University of Sydney in Australia, to illustrate how far a passion for sports turf can take you. Brad also introduced students to the GroundsFest Academy, a new initiative he’s involved in that supports ongoing education and career progression for those working in grounds management.
Events like the Human Library are a fantastic way for us to connect students with our industry, which many have never considered, and we’re always keen to get involved. Giving students direct access to people working in those fields helps them to understand the real-world opportunities waiting beyond school. Many students left our sessions with a new understanding of the global opportunities that exist within the turf industry, and we were even contacted by a student immediately after the event who was interested in learning more.
Big thanks to Ceri for organising the event, and to Devizes School for including us in this initiative.