A SCHOOL in Reading welcomed nearly 100 students from around the borough for a business ethics fair last week.
Leighton Park School, in east Reading, teamed up with Ethical Reading to host the Business Ethics Schools Fair on Friday, June 20.
In total, 90 students from Downe House, Queen Anne’s School, The Abbey, Reading Girls’ School and Reading School joined Leighton Park Sixth Formers, as well as representatives of nine local employers and the deputy mayor of Reading, Cllr Paul Gittings, to explore the impact of companies and organisations with an ethical focus.
Representatives included those from accountancy firms Grant Thornton and KPMG; Natwest bank; recruitment company Michael Page; Thames Valley Police; solicitors Blandy & Blandy, Field Seymour Parkes, and Shoosmiths, and Building Company Francis Construction.
The event saw an introductory talk from Yasmina Siadatan, winner of series five of The Apprentice, followed by a series of activities aimed at examining the importance of making the right ethical choice within business practises.
Sarah Owen, Business teacher and event organiser, said: “It’s brilliant for the students.
“They get to meet loads of different businesses and hear about real life scenarios, which is fabulous–and they get to do some networking, which could lead anywhere.
“There is a nice variety of businesses–students who are interested in law or accountancy can go to those businesses and find out more.
“I am a real believer in ethics and these will be the businesspeople and changemakers of the future, so it’s really important that they understand how they can make a difference ethically in the careers ahead of them.”
Ethical Reading Director Graham Roberts said: “Young people benefit from being made aware of issues and concerns that they might have as they come into employment, and the organisations learn what their potential employees are concerned about and so how to attract and retain them.
“As the world is changing so rapidly and there are more and more issues arising, Ethical Reading and events like this enable us to come together, to understand, to discuss and network and perhaps to alleviate some of that pressure by sharing what to do to address those concerns.”
Following the event, Leighton Park student, Arshida (Lower Sixth), reflected, “I think that this opportunity that has been given to us to talk to the ethical businesses, to talk about all the different things that could affect our careers is really good.
We can see how it works and what possibilities we could face in the future, and in general it is a good chance for chatting to people who have been along this path and are successful.”
Deputy Mayor of Reading Cllr Paul Gittings said: “It’s really important that children are able to develop their own thinking and of course ethics is a hot topic, certainly in the political sphere.
“So I think it’s rather interesting that children set their own ethics, their own moral boundaries.
“I think when you’re developing it’s a good time to do that and to do things outside the curriculum, particularly when they work in teams as they are today.”
