Welcome to Woodkirk Academy

We regularly welcome guest speakers from well known companies and local businesses into school. The knowledge and wisdom that they can share with students, focusing on their particular sector is unparalleled. Students enjoy the career stories, especially those shared by the apprentices that often come along to take part. All talks and presentations cover the current routes into employment and discuss the link of the career to the curriculum subject.

Here are some of the companies that have attended so far this year, with many more planned:

• ITV Productions
• Southgate & Sarabia
• Emily McKenna (Vet), 
• Eversheds Sutherland
• Mazars Accountancy

Gregg Jowitt - From Teacher to Gym Owner

Gregg Jowitt joined the Sixth Form assembly to share his knowledge and life experience when it comes to the world of work.

Gregg trained the traditional route to become a PE teacher, found his love of personal training in his spare time, and risked his steady income and lifestyle to follow his passion. He now owns the local, successful ‘Gainzfit’ gym in Morley.

He talked about resilience, mental health, the competitive world and networking for success, and the students found his talk thought provoking and were able to ask questions within the session.

Phil Fraser - Entrepreneur Extraordinaire

Woodkirk Academy have welcomed Phil Fraser to host a Sixth Form Careers assembly. 

Phil successfully founded, ran and subsequently sold a multi award-winning online business in a multi-million-pound sale to a plc. 

Sixth form students were entertained by his career story: starting a business from within his home, his failure to secure a loan, and then taking a completely different business direction, which ultimately leaded to his immense success. 

Students were intrigued throughout his talk and found his presentation thought-provoking, creating a vibrant environment where lots of questions were asked! 

Student comments included ‘he was realistic and relatable’, ‘it made me feel more prepared for an interview’, ‘I was thankful for the different examples on career websites’ and ‘I found it all useful’. 

Yorkshire Post have recently published an article on Phil, link is attached.