From footballers to storm chasers: Scarborough children reveal their dream jobs
Footballers, teachers and vets are among the careers capturing the imaginations of Scarborough children, alongside some more unusual ambitions including storm chasing and even taxidermists.
The findings come from Scarborough STEM Week, where Castle Education invited children attending to share what they dreamed of becoming when they grow up, and while some familiar childhood ambitions topped the list, the responses revealed a remarkable variety of interests, from creative and caring professions to careers in science, technology and engineering.
Across 278 response slips, the team collected 320 career choices, covering 113 different careers. Footballer proved particularly popular, with 26 mentions, followed by teacher (21), vet (20) and engineer (11).
But it was the sheer variety of responses that stood out, with children also dreaming of becoming palaeontologists, storm chasers and cybersecurity engineers.
For those involved in organising STEM Week, these conversations are about much more than discovering what children want to be when they grow up.
They are an opportunity to introduce young people to industries and career paths they may never have considered.
Simon Bull, from STEM Week organisers Scarborough Business Ambassadors, said: “Scarborough has a significant manufacturing and technical economic base and is home to many global companies, all of whom need a pipeline of talent to fulfil growth and replacement of an ageing workforce.
“The opportunities are there and the potential for local people is real. We just need to make sure the two things line up. STEM week has gone a long way over the years to highlight the opportunities and to put young people directly in front of local employers.
“Now is the time to make sure the impact is maximised and the benefits for local youngsters are realised.”
The Castle Education team spent the event speaking with children about their ambitions, what they had enjoyed most from the exhibits and the different opportunities available in the world of work.
Rob Lazenby, Manager at Castle Education, said: “It’s been brilliant speaking with young people about their dream jobs and hearing how excited and curious they are about the future.
“Some already have a really clear idea of what they’d like to do, while others are still exploring what options are out there.”
The team also recently attended Scalby School’s Careers Fair, speaking with pupils from Years 7 to 11 and collecting a further 168 career choices, reinforcing just how varied young people’s interests and aspirations can be.
Laura Mason, from NYBEP, highlighted the importance of connecting these early ambitions with real opportunities. She said: “By bringing businesses and young people together, we can open doors to career opportunities they may never otherwise have considered, raise awareness of the skills and qualifications employers need, and help young people take confident steps towards employment.”
For local employers, these events are also an opportunity to help inspire the next generation and introduce young people to the industries and skills that will shape Scarborough’s future.