Year 10 and year 12 business students from Walton Academy recently attended the Big Business Event 2025, held at the stunning Harlaxton Manor, located just a short distance from the school. The event brought together a diverse mix of businesses, entrepreneurs and education providers from across the East Midlands, offering our students the opportunity to learn more about the world of business through direct engagement with professionals.
Throughout the day, students explored the exhibition hall filled with organisations representing a wide range of industries. The breadth of sectors on display – from marketing and finance to legal services, hospitality and cybersecurity – offered students a valuable insight into the many directions their future careers could take.
Alongside the networking opportunities, students had the opportunity to attend a series of insightful talks delivered by industry professionals. Hannah Tomlinson introduced the concept of structured networking in her matrix networking session, while Emily Potts spoke about the journey from founder to leader and how to scale a business without losing perspective. Karen Cureton shared key reasons why businesses may struggle to get results on social media, and Farzan Mirza and Ashley Woodhall gave practical advice on protecting online businesses in accessible, plain English. These sessions encouraged students to reflect on the skills, knowledge and resilience needed to succeed in today’s business landscape.
The feedback from students and staff was overwhelmingly positive. The combination of inspiring talks, networking and the impressive setting of Harlaxton Manor made this a memorable and meaningful experience. We are proud to provide our students with opportunities like these, helping them build confidence and expand their understanding of the world beyond the classroom.
