Joshua Wilding (OI 2010-15), Oliver Pescott Frost (OI 2008-15), Thomas Pescott Frost (OI 2006-13) and Harry Badman (OI 2008-15) returned to Ipswich School on Thursday 23rd March, to take part in the 2023 Careers Convention. The four all work for Matthew Douglas, Independent Financial Advisers, the only IFA in East Anglia to be in the Top 100 IFA businesses in East Anglia for nine years, and shortlisted in the Top 5 for East Anglia. Whilst their clients are nationwide, the main Matthew Douglas office is based in Hadleigh, Suffolk.

Established in 2003 by Matthew Pescott Frost, his sons, Thomas and Oliver, have joined and become advisers, and recently, have brought with them old school friends and now work colleagues, Harry and Joshua. There are now 17 working for the company, with a total of 9 Advisers managing roughly £250m across 800 households.

The main objective of the four attending the Careers Convention was to talk with students and discuss career opportunities in the financial sector, including those available at Matthew Douglas.

Harry Badman, the manager at Matthew Douglas  said, "It was great for us to return to the school and see many familiar faces across the campus. The evening provided an excellent chance for us to answer the questions many enthusiastic students and parents had to ask. A large number of the questions revolved around what the industry looked like, what traits make a good adviser, and what career opportunities are available, not just as graduates but also as apprentices.

"We look forward to hearing from the students who expressed an interest in Work Experience Placements and being present at future events organised by the school.”

The Careers Convention showcased employment opportunities with businesses and organisations exhibiting in both Great School and Little School. Representatives from universities across the UK were on hand in the Sports Hall to share degree information and opportunities with students and parents giving them a wide range of possibilities to consider. 

Ten presentations were held during the evening, many of the speakers were OIs who shared their varied experiences and routes to reach the job market via apprenticeships, degrees and work-based training. The speakers included Pippa Savill (nee Driver OI 1997-12) who talked about career options in the civil service and Kaizad Forouhar (OI 2005-13) of PwC who with his colleagues gave an informative presentation regarding their work placements, Flying Start Degree Programme and apprenticeships. 

To celebrate the successful event the school has re-released an episode of 'Conversations with Ipswich School' in which Angus Jermyn (OI 2005-20), and younger brother Toby (OI 2008-22) talk about careers in the Navy.

There is also information about the accelerated apprentice scheme and how it appeals to those with a love of practical engineering and problem solving. https://spoti.fi/3G5xCoC

Our thanks to all our OIs who gave up their evening to talk with, and guide students and parents through the labyrinth of career and degree options available.

View the photo gallery here, see which OIs you remember! https://oldipswichians.ipswich.school/galleries/view/116