Southwark College students participated in a workshop designed to help them build public speaking skills, confidence, and resilience in preparation for their next steps into higher education and employment during National Careers Week.
The session was delivered by a special guest, Calvin Akotuah, founder of Loudspeaker, who spoke about a range of economic and sociocultural topics, including equal pay, voting, employment search and choosing the right career.
During the session, the students got tips to stand out in interviews and learnt presentation skills, showing them how to speak in front of the public, debate and deliver their points confidently, as well as posture, effective pauses and engaging their audience.
Calvin Akotuah, said: “We are all big speakers around friends, but when it comes to speaking in public or doing presentations, most people suddenly lose their voice, confidence, and enthusiasm. This session is essential to help young people build their confidence and learn how to communicate positively at a crucial point in their life when setting aspirations and shaping their career paths, so they are supported to make the right choices for them and be prepared when approaching employers.”
Ashley Blaze, a music student at Southwark College, said: “The workshop was interesting. Hearing from Calvin was inspiring and gave us a space to discuss topics we could relate to and put points across positively. The session helped me to gain confidence with public speaking.”
Loudspeaker delivers sessions and workshops to support young people in gaining confidence and getting the tools they need to make the most of every opportunity that comes their way. Set up in 2019, Loudspeaker has supported over 100,000 young people to realise their ambitions and speak their way to success, helping them to identify their goals and interests.
Southwark College offers enrichment activities to all students to improve their college experience and prepare them for their next steps. To find out more about the services available, visit southwark.ac.uk/student-services
