Member Article

School students quiz Pier owner

Students from Priory Community School (PSCA) got a chance to quiz entrepreneur owner of the Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare, Michelle Michael about the world of work in the latest tie-up between the high-achieving Academy Trust and the town’s iconic tourist attraction.

During National Careers Week, students in the Branson’s Entrepreneur Club, heard how tourism provides jobs for thousands of people in the region in hotels, attractions and restaurants. They then had the chance to find out the pathways available to them from school into work.

They heard how Michelle and her brother Kerry, bought the pier, rebuilt it after the 2008 fire and now receive enquiries from all around the world from pier owners with questions about rebuilding piers.

They also heard what happens behind the scenes of the Priory Community School’s end-of-term event at the pier and learnt more about how the pier has grown to be a successful attraction for visitors and locals alike.

Said Michelle Michael: “It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm from the students and to hear the pride they have in Weston-super-Mare and how the Grand Pier plays a part in that.

“The students seemed very ambitious and I hope that the talk may have inspired some of them to consider a career in tourism. I’m sure, whatever career they choose, they will go on to have a really positive impact. Who knows, we may well be reading about them in the national papers one day!”

PSCA created the unique Branson Entrepreneur’s Club, an offshoot of the trailblazing Sir Richard Branson Centre, which encourages students to pursue incredible careers, no matter who they are.

Sir Richard Branson himself made a video for the school in 2013 from New York where he encouraged Priory students to go for their dreams, and continue to be creative and entrepreneurial.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clarke Willmott .