A group of Year 10 students from Harris Academy Clapham experienced a unique behind-the-scenes tour of New Covent Garden Market (NCGM) at the start of July as part of the school’s Careers and Employability Week.

The visit introduced students to the wide variety of careers available across the UK's largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market, allowing them to find out for themselves why NCGM is one of London’s most important trading hubs.

Led by Assistant Principal Matt Holmes and the academy’s Director of Mathematics Ben Farren, the group met Covent Garden Market Authority’s (CGMA) Communication team at Battersea Power Station Tube, before heading across to the Market for a morning of learning and discovery.

Starting with a short overview of the Market’s history, operations and economic importance, the students' first stop was the Flower Market to see traders in action during one of the Market’s busiest periods. Bryan Porter of Porters Foliage and John Hardcastle of Bloomfields Wholesale Florist, both shared insights into the wholesale flower industry and spoke about the diverse range of roles that help keep the sector moving.

As a fifth-generation trader whose son and nephew also work in the family business, Bryan (pictured below), explained how his family business has traded for more than a century, while John revealed he’d grown up living above the original Flower Market in old Covent Garden.

The group then moved to Buyers’ Walk in the Fruit and Vegetable Market to learn more about the fresh produce side of the Market and the many careers available. Students met Richard Griffiths, a senior manager at one of the market’s largest businesses Premier Foods Wholesale/The Menu Partners, who welcomed the group into the company’s offices.

Delivering a presentation on the organisation’s operations and the wide range of career pathways available within the business, Richard (pictured below with the students), explained how the company serves customers across the UK and explored opportunities in areas including management, sales, logistics, procurement, finance and customer service. The session also included a question-and-answer segment, which Richard qualified by saying ‘there’s no such thing as a silly question’.

Speaking at the end of the two-hour visit, Matt said it was clear the Market offered many career opportunities for his students. "Everyone really enjoyed the tour, which has been our most worthwhile external visit by far.”

He added: “Our Careers and Employability Week programme is designed to expose students to different industries and help them make informed decisions about their future education and career paths - the Market offers a range of job opportunities and it’s given us all plenty of food for thought. We’d love to return again next year.”