By Alistair Crooks

of Galashiels Academy

THE annual Galashiels Academy Careers Fair took place on Tuesday, February 7 and was once more a huge success, with approximately 400 pupils and parents attending. 

And they were welcomed in true Gala style by our own piper, 5th year student Alistair Robinson.

All pupils from S1 to S6 were invited and had the chance to meet employers and employees in a wide range of fields. 

Some were looking for ideas, some planning for work experience and others wanting to know what people really enjoyed about their current jobs.

The school had fantastic support from an extensive range of businesses and professionals who were keen to offer advice to the pupils and answer any questions they had about their professions.

Andries Fourie, Vocational Manager in Business Development, thanked the Academy for the invite and told us: "In the course of my work I attend a number of such events in Borders and outwith this local authority area. The Galashiels Academy event is the most organized, with by far the greatest offering of employers and has the most parents and pupils attending."

The night also went down extremely well with parents and carers who had nothing but positive feedback to give, one commenting that the evening was "truly inspirational for the pupils of the Gala Academy". 

Several of our current S3 pupils were also delighted to receive offers of work experience for May 2017. 

All suggestions for improvement will, as always, be taken forward for next year.

Galashiels Academy would like to extend a huge thank you to all the businesses and professionals who gave up their time so willingly to help out on the night and who made the experience so worthwhile for pupils and parents.