Xaverian College is celebrating a significant achievement as its Careers Leader, Joanne Leach, has been nominated for the highly-esteemed ‘Careers Legend’ Award, presented by Careers in Careers. This national recognition highlights the exceptional dedication and innovative work of the College’s Careers team in supporting and guiding students towards their future career paths.
The ‘Careers Legend’ Award honours professionals who have made a lasting impact in the field of careers education, helping students navigate their further options, develop employability skills, and access valuable opportunities. Being nominated for such an award is a testament to the incredible commitment shown by Joanne and her team in empowering students to make informed decisions about their futures.
Upon receiving her nomination, Jo said: “I was certainly excited, but I was mainly feeling very humbled that my colleagues within the careers community have taken the time to nominate me. I think this might be the highlight of my career to date!
“I first qualified as a Careers Advisor in 1996, and the world of work has significantly changed since then. I have worked in numerous roles across Greater Manchester and have been at Xaverian for the last seven years – I absolutely love it here! In my role, not only do I get to support students on a 1-2-1 basis, but am also able to strategically plan and implement our Pathways Programme, something that has gone from strength to strength in the last few years.
“I work alongside a fantastic team, and we continue to try new things and invest in our professional development to make sure everything we do meets the ever-changing needs of our students. Our impact is always prominent when students reach the end of their journey with us, achieve excellent results and secure their first-choice destination, whether that be at one of the UK’s most sought-after universities or on a competitive Higher or Degree Apprenticeship.”
Tony Knowles, Principal, commented: “Joanne and her team, along with colleagues across the College, work exceptionally hard to ensure our students are well informed and supported when preparing for their next steps. This nomination is incredibly well-deserved and a testament to the work Joanne does to ensure our students are supported to reach their full potential.”
The winners were revealed at Careers Fest 2024. Regardless of the outcome, the nomination alone highlights the tremendous value of Joanne’s contributions to both Xaverian College and the wider community.