Our Year 13 students recently had the opportunity to reconnect with the NatWest Banking and Real Estate team to reflect on their experiences during a summer work experience placement at NatWest Headquarters.
As the first school to participate in this exciting partnership, Swanlea School is proud to see the positive impact the placement has had on our students. Edit Lazlo, Bhavish Kosy and Gaurev Kumar from NatWest joined our young people to revisit the highlights of the placement, hear their feedback and celebrate the skills and confidence they developed throughout the experience.
The placement offered students valuable insight into the professional world, allowing them to engage with employees across a range of roles, develop their communication and presentation skills, and build meaningful professional connections. For many, it was also an opportunity to step outside their comfort zones and develop greater confidence when interacting with new people.
Reflecting on his experience, Year 13 student Robiul Sayem said:
“The NatWest work experience was genuinely the most enjoyable part of my summer. I went in thinking I’d just keep to myself and my friends, but ended up speaking to people I didn’t know. It was definitely nice catching up with the NatWest team, and it is reassuring to know I have people to go to when I need assistance.”
Fellow Year 13 student Mahizur Rahman also highlighted the benefits of the placement, saying:
“The NatWest work experience really enhanced my social skills, allowing me to make many new connections. It was very nice catching up with the NatWest team and being able to share our feedback.”
The opportunity to reconnect with the NatWest team reinforced the value of the experience and the lasting relationships built during the placement. By developing essential transferable skills, broadening their professional networks and gaining a better understanding of the workplace, our students have taken important steps towards their future career aspirations.
We are incredibly proud of our Year 13 students for the maturity and enthusiasm they have shown in reflecting on their experiences. We hope they will continue to share their experiences as ambassadors for the programme, inspiring our current Year 12 students to make the most of this valuable opportunity.
We would like to thank Edit Lazlo, Bhavish Kosy, Gaurev Kumar and the wider NatWest team for their continued support and commitment to providing our students with meaningful experiences that prepare them for life beyond school.
At Swanlea School, partnerships like this play an important role in helping our young people build the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed in their future careers.
