Students from Years 11, 12, and 13 studying Business Studies and Economics at Stretford Grammar School were recently treated to an insightful and inspiring talk delivered by a Bank Ambassador from the Bank of England. The visit was part of the Bank’s nationwide programme offering free talks to state secondary schools and colleges. These sessions are led by volunteers from across the Bank who share their career journeys, explain the Bank’s role in the UK economy, and highlight how their work supports its mission.

During the one-hour session, students gained a deeper understanding of the Bank’s functions—from setting interest rates and maintaining financial stability to supporting the wider economy. The Ambassador also shared their personal career path, giving students a real-world perspective on the diverse opportunities available within the financial sector, including roles in Technology, Legal, Communications, and Research. This visit supported our school’s careers programme and contributed to achieving key Gatsby Benchmarks for good careers guidance, particularly:

• Benchmark 4: Linking the curriculum to careers
• Benchmark 5: Student encounters with employers and employees

Research from the charity Speakers for Schools shows that guest speakers like this help broaden students’ job aspirations and challenge stereotypes about careers—something our students experienced first-hand. The Bank of England’s collaboration with the Royal Economic Society’s Discover Economics campaign also aims to encourage more young people to consider economics as a subject and career. With fewer schools offering Economics compared to Business Studies, visits like this help bridge the gap by showing how economic concepts are relevant across subjects such as PSHCE and Citizenship.

It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to hear directly from someone working at the heart of the UK’s financial system. The Ambassador’s insights into the Bank of England’s role and their own career journey really helped bring our curriculum to life. It’s experiences like this that broaden horizons and inspire our students to think ambitiously about their futures.
— Mr Pyatt, Business Studies and Economics Teacher

We are grateful to the Bank of England for their time and commitment to student development. Their visit not only enriched our students’ understanding of economics and finance but also opened their eyes to the wide range of career possibilities in central banking and beyond.

You can search for careers with the Bank of England here.