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Careers Support

With a growing interest in entrepreneurship at Î÷Ê©Ö±²¥â€™ School, we were delighted to extend an invitation to OMTs to participate in our first Entrepreneurship Convention recently.

Our volunteers represented an impressive range of industries, from influencer marketing and modelling agencies to digital FinTech and AI services across multiple sectors, as well as wealth management, baby food production and private GP surgeries. We even had a Dragon’s Den winner in the mix!

Sanjeev Ghandi (1984–1989), parent, Jinesh Vora, Lex Deak (1993–2000) and Kory Sun (2010–2015) formed a panel discussion hosted by Paddy Willis, founder of several businesses and a member of the Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs. They were joined by Luke Aikman (1995–2002), Tobias Appaya-Bagot (2009–2016), Nik Chopra (1994–2001), Zain Lodhi (2014–2021), Max Nimmo (2011–2017), Rushab Shah (2008–2013), Harjot Singh (2010–2015), and parent, Matthew Isherwood, at an informal networking ‘marketplace’ with boys and parents afterwards.

If entrepreneurship can seem like a path for those who prefer to work alone, the speakers quickly dispelled that notion, emphasising that investors rarely back individuals and instead look for strong, well-balanced teams. One founder highlighted the importance of self-awareness, noting: ‘If I’d tried to do this on my own, I would have fallen apart,’ underlining the value of surrounding yourself with people whose skills complement your own.

The panel discussion also emphasised the importance of identifying real-world problems and having the conviction that they can be solved. Many ideas evolve significantly in their early stages, and all the speakers stressed the need to remain flexible and adaptable, alongside core qualities such as resilience, teamwork, and a willingness to learn — along with knowing when to seek the right support. Indeed, it seems the OMT entrepreneurs were particularly adept at finding that support when given the opportunity to network with one another!

Talking to the Fourth Form and taking a trip down memory lane at Career Inspirations

In early March, the Fourth Form took part in Career Inspirations Day, an important step in developing independence as they begin to consider their GCSE options and future pathways. Choosing GCSEs can feel like a significant milestone, and the School aims to help pupils approach the process with confidence. Alongside reflecting on their strengths and interests, pupils are encouraged to understand how their choices connect to future opportunities, working life, and personal aspirations.

It is particularly valuable for the boys to hear from OMTs who have navigated these decisions themselves and who understand Î÷Ê©Ö±²¥â€™ School from a student’s perspective.

Ten OMTs who left the School in the 2000s and 2010s spoke informally with the boys in classrooms at the start of the day. They shared their career journeys across a diverse range of industries, including media, advertising, science, sport, law, medicine, finance, insurance, and FinTech. Their experiences illustrated the many routes a career can take and reassured the boys that success does not depend on a single, fixed pathway.

Some of our volunteers even returned to the classroom themselves, observing lessons in Physics and Design Technology at the end of the morning. They were reassured to find that while methods have evolved, much of the content remains familiar. For old times’ sake, the visit concluded with lunch in the Dining Hall — though they were far too polite to comment on whether the menu has changed!

We are incredibly grateful to all our OMT and parent volunteers who so enthusiastically support careers education at the School. Many have returned over several years, and their continued involvement is greatly appreciated. We are always delighted to hear from new volunteers; if you would like to support future events, please do get in touch by email, including an indication of the areas in which you would be happy to share your experience.

OMTs in Media

Riz Ahmed (1994–2001) recently hosted the third episode of Saturday Night Live on Sky One. Making light of his growing profile as he introduced himself, he joked: ‘I’m an actor, I’m a writer, I’m a producer, and I’m a rapper. So, for those of you who don’t know who I am — clearly, neither do I. I’m working it out.’

Riz has also written the comedy Bait on Amazon Prime Video, in which he stars alongside comedian Guz Khan. The series follows an out-of-work actor auditioning to be James Bond while navigating an identity crisis.

The Grand Tour is set to return to Amazon Prime Video with three new hosts, including James Engelsman (2005–2010). James, along with fellow presenter Thomas Holland, currently hosts the YouTube channel Throttle House, which has over 3.35 million subscribers tuning in for car reviews, track tests, and ‘epic adventures’.

OMT Adventurers

The Richard Green Prize was established by the OMT Society in memory of Richard Green (1954–1959), a celebrated landscape photographer and passionate environmentalist. He combined his love of his adopted country, Australia, with his photography through a nomadic ‘photo-helicamping’ lifestyle, producing books and works featured in collections around the world.

The prize is open to all Upper Sixth pupils, with successful applicants demonstrating planned expeditions to remote parts of the globe to deepen their understanding of the natural world.

This year, two groups of Upper Sixth students were awarded funding for their trips.

Alex Munro (2018–2025) and Simon Peart (2018–2025) hiked across La Réunion, an isolated island in the Indian Ocean. They returned to speak to the Senior Geography Society, sharing their experiences. The terrain was rocky, and as La Réunion is a volcanic island, the journey was physically demanding, with long steep hikes through dense tropical vegetation. The island’s dramatic landscapes offered a place of outstanding natural beauty.

Aaditya Bhandarkar (2018–2025), Jenson Ives (2018–2025), Oliver Southon (2020–2025) chose to hike Mount Olympus to watch the sunrise over the Thessalian plains. They confessed that their preparation was rather lacking, with insufficient clothing for the early morning chill and limited food for the return journey. Nevertheless, Oliver, a keen photographer, captured stunning images that we are sure Richard Green would have admired.

OMTs in Sport

Congratulations to Harry Bridgewater (2017–2022) who was awarded his third rugby blue, playing for Oxford who won 37-25.