Support for Students: Encouraging the Future Careers of Young People

At Equity, we’re dedicated to supporting young people in growing their confidence and independence through school travel. But did you know this extends beyond the trips themselves? Our team is also passionate about visiting schools to share our knowledge – from helping students understand the many opportunities available to them after they've left school, and the many different career opportunities that contribute to making educational travel possible.

In the final term of the year, Equity Sales Manager Helen Nicholls joined Year 10 students at Winchmore School as part of their work experience programme, designed for students who were unable to take part in an external placement. Read on to find out more about the session, with reflections from Helen and the school’s Careers Lead.

Discovering the world of educational travel

With nearly all students at Winchmore School experiencing at least one school trip during an academic year – many of which are organised through Equity – the school felt educational travel would be a natural industry to explore for their work experience week. And who better to send along than one of our most experienced Sales staff?

Helen joined the students to offer a peek behind the scenes of the trips they know from their own school experience. Rather than simply presenting to the group, the session gave students the opportunity to take the lead, acting as interviewers and asking questions about Equity, school travel and the wider travel industry.

These questions covered everything from how destinations are chosen and trips are organised to the practical considerations involved in taking groups of young people overseas. Risk assessments, logistics, safety and accessibility all formed part of the conversation, giving students an insight into the planning and expertise required long before a group boards their coach or heads to the airport.

Wendy Winters, Careers Lead at Winchmore School, said: “We felt it would be very useful for our students to hear about Equity and the company’s role within the leisure and education sectors.

“The talk was very interesting and offered a very clear insight into the challenges and satisfaction of working within the travel sector.”

The people behind our trips

As well as exploring how school trips are planned and delivered, the session introduced students to the wide range of people and skills that make them possible.

Helen talked about the different teams working behind the scenes at Equity, including Operations and Delivery Coordination, Sales, Marketing and Customer Support. Each plays a different role, but all contribute to the same aim: supporting schools and creating rewarding experiences for young people.

The conversation also moved beyond the practicalities of organising travel. Students were interested in what young people themselves can gain from travelling, including greater confidence and independence, as well as how Equity works to make trips accessible and inclusive for students with different needs.

For Helen, it was the students’ curiosity that stood out: “It was brilliant to speak with so many students and staff throughout the event,” she said. “I was particularly impressed by how engaged the students were and the quality of the questions they asked. It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm and curiosity, and it really highlighted the value these experiences can have beyond the classroom.”

From school trips to future careers

For Winchmore School, the session provided an opportunity to connect something young people already know about – school travel – within the wider context of career opportunities. For us here at Equity, it was a chance to give young people a closer look at the people, skills and careers behind the trips they enjoy.

By sharing that insight with the next generation, we hope to help students see where their interests and skills could take them – including into the world of educational travel.