This summer, students at Leeds Mathematics School had the chance to meet someone who proved that maths can take you much further than the classroom. Through a F4S self-serve session, they heard from Bex Kimberley, a Senior Risk Manager at Macquarie who specialises in financial crime prevention - a role that exists at the intersection of global risk, technology, and human behaviour.
Bex didn’t follow a predictable path. Her A Levels ranged from Dance and Drama to Maths and History, and she later went on to study Maths and Economics. A placement year in banking opened her eyes to the real-world impact maths can have, and she has gone on to lead global projects designed to stop financial crime, having worked with teams around the world to build systems that detect and respond to suspicious behaviour, and help ensure the financial system remains safe for everyone who relies on it.
What struck students most wasn’t just the complexity of her work, but how grounded it was in everyday problem-solving. Bex spoke about spotting patterns, breaking down risks, thinking logically under pressure, and communicating clearly - skills the students recognised from their own maths lessons. She reminded them that maths isn’t just numbers on a page; it’s the foundation of confidence in fast-moving situations and the key to understanding how complex systems work.
Her message was simple but powerful: stay curious, embrace change, and trust the problem-solving abilities you’re building now. Careers rarely unfold in a straight line, and the unexpected turns are often the ones that lead to the most meaningful opportunities.
For Leeds Mathematics School, the session was exactly what they hoped for, especially for the Year 10 girls who attended as part of their summer school programme. Declán Forster, Teacher of Mathematics and Outreach Programme Lead, explained why these encounters matter so deeply:
“We aim our summer school at higher-attaining Year 10 girls, an underrepresented group in STEM at sixth form and beyond. We wanted them to see someone in industry who uses maths every day. The students were incredibly engaged—they hadn’t considered this kind of career before, and the feedback from both students and staff was really positive.”
He went on to say:
“We got exactly what we wanted: those girls seeing someone in industry and thinking, ‘Oh, I can do this too.’ That representation is incredibly valuable.”
The school has already committed to continuing their work with F4S:
“100% we’ll be continuing to use it because of the positive impact we’ve seen so far.”
This is the power of self-serve sessions—quick to book, easy to run, and deeply impactful. They give students the chance to hear real stories from real professionals, helping them understand that futures in STEM are not abstract or distant, but tangible and within reach.
For some students, all it takes is a single conversation to imagine a future they’d never considered before. And for many, that conversation starts with F4S.
This month, we are thrilled to celebrate Lilima Begum, Maths Teacher and Careers Lead at Stopsley High School, as our Educator of the Month.
Lilima has demonstrated outstanding dedication in supporting her students to make the most of career opportunities. During Careers Week, she went above and beyond to engage her students, ensuring they could fully benefit from the events and sessions available. By proactively using the F4S platform to schedule and prepare ahead of time, Lilima maximised participation and impact, giving her students a seamless and meaningful experience.
Her commitment extends beyond the classroom. She works tirelessly behind the scenes, coordinating and preparing students to ensure they are ready to explore and connect with professionals across different industries. Her proactive approach not only enhances student engagement but also ensures that career-related learning is embedded meaningfully into the school experience.
We’re proud to recognise Lilima for her initiative, organisation, and dedication to inspiring the next generation. Her efforts highlight the impact that thoughtful preparation and proactive engagement can have on students’ career development.
Thank you, Lilima, for your outstanding work and for supporting students in exploring their potential.
On 25th November 2025, students had the opportunity to explore the world of Lloyd’s through a Virtual Assembly hosted by F4S, featuring employees from the Chatham office in Kent. The session provided an inside look at the variety of roles within the company and the unique paths that led the speakers there.
The session began with Dan Taylor, a Member Services Business Graduate, who shared his experience on the two-year graduate scheme. His role involves rotating through four different areas of the business, each for six months, giving him exposure to many aspects of Lloyd’s operations. Dan described the work as diverse and fast-paced, with every day offering new challenges and opportunities to learn from colleagues across the business. Interestingly, his childhood ambition had been to become a fighter pilot in the RAF, showing how career paths can change in unexpected ways. He also highlighted how AI can be a helpful tool for streamlining tasks and analysing data, but stressed that it should complement, not replace, the skills and critical thinking employees develop.
Next, Natasha Turner, Compliance and Oversight Specialist, shared her own unconventional journey. She began her career as a professional golf coach in Spain, achieving remarkable success by becoming fully qualified at just 16 through a competitive scholarship program. However, a surgery setback brought her back to the UK, and she initially had no experience in insurance or compliance. Over time, she found a new career path at Lloyd’s, where the flexibility of the workplace allows her to balance professional responsibilities with being a mum. Natasha’s story demonstrated that career paths are rarely linear and that it’s possible to adapt and succeed even after unexpected setbacks.
Andrew Mires, Operations Manager, shared another unique route into Lloyd’s. Without a college or university degree, Andrew wasn’t sure which career path to take until he found a job advert in a newspaper that led him into the company. He highlighted the importance of learning on the job and using technology, like AI, responsibly — making sure outputs are checked and understood rather than followed blindly.
Throughout the session, students asked practical questions about salaries, office locations, degree apprenticeships, and the use of maths in different roles. Natasha explained that while she personally isn’t a fan of maths, it plays an important part in her work, such as assessing figures, spotting inconsistencies, and valuing property. Students also learned that Lloyd’s has two offices in England, London and Chatham, and have plans to explore whether they can offer work experience at the Chatham office!
By the end of the Virtual Assembly, it was clear that Lloyd’s offers a dynamic and varied workplace, where career paths can be unconventional and opportunities abound. The session provided students with insight into how adaptability, continuous learning, and embracing new experiences can lead to rewarding careers, even in unexpected fields.
At F4S, we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on Dan Chandrakumar, our Educator of the Month for October. Dan’s dedication to education and student opportunities has left a lasting impact on schools and students across London.
With over 15 years of experience in teaching and school leadership, Dan has been at the heart of shaping young minds in Mathematics. His career spans roles such as Headteacher, Director of Mathematics, Specialist Leader of Education, Professional Development Lead, and he was one of the pioneering Maths Hub Leads at the start of the Maths Hub programme. Today, Dan leads Mathematics across a large federation of schools, inspiring both educators and students to reach their full potential.
This October, Dan has gone above and beyond to ensure students gain real-world experiences:
- He has shared F4S programmes with multiple Harris schools, expanding access to opportunities.
- He successfully secured participation from five Harris schools in our Lloyd’s of London virtual assembly, giving students insight into the world of work.
- He actively supported students in achieving their “#ThreeEncounters” milestone, helping them access meaningful employer experiences.
Dan’s efforts have directly opened doors for students, allowing them to explore careers, gain confidence, and benefit fully from F4S services. His passion, commitment, and leadership are making a tangible difference in shaping the next generation.
We are incredibly grateful to Dan for his tireless dedication and for championing student opportunities. Thank you, Dan, for making a real impact on students’ futures!
We’re very excited to let you know that F4S has been selected to participate in the Big Give’s Christmas Campaign. This means that every donation made to our campaign via BigGive.org during the week of 1st December will be doubled. That’s right - DOUBLED!
So whatever you can give, no matter the size, every donation will make double the difference in supporting us to continue to deliver our services to educators for free.
It's very simple...
£10 becomes £20
£50 becomes £100
£500 becomes £1000
About Big Give
Big Give is a registered charity (1136547) that runs match funded campaigns for charities and special causes at key moments across the year. By connecting charities to match funders (like philanthropists, foundations or corporates) and the public, Big Give helps them double their donations. And, in doing so, makes an extraordinary difference to the world’s biggest challenges. It has raised more than £350m for charities to date.
Big Give campaigns have been promoted by celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Emilia Fox, Dame Judi Dench and Stephen Fry, among others.
It’s a simple idea - when the public donates to a charity through a Big Give campaign, it asks funders to match that donation. So £50 from a member of the public becomes £100 for a good cause.
Big Give has supported thousands of charities and worked with some of the biggest names in UK philanthropy and charitable grant-making, which provide match funding, including DCMS, John Spiers, founder of Bestinvest and B Corp registered EQ Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Reed Foundation, The Waterloo Foundation, The Hospital Saturday Fund, The Childhood Trust and others including high-net-worth individuals such as Julia and Hans Rausing.
Declán Forster, Teacher of Mathematics and Outreach Programme Lead at Leeds Mathematics School, is passionate about showing students how the subjects they study every day can open doors to exciting and meaningful careers. Through F4S, Declán has found a way to make that connection tangible.
“The Virtual Assembly provided the ‘that is something that is quite interesting and that is something that uses maths, that I can study towards... these people are just like me,’ and that’s the kind of feeling we wanted to instill,” he shared. “Both assemblies from F4S really hit the nail on the head for us and our students, so we’ve had really good experiences with it.”
For Declán, F4S has become more than a careers platform — it’s a bridge between education and aspiration. By introducing students to professionals from diverse backgrounds and industries, Leeds Mathematics School has seen a noticeable increase in engagement and ambition, especially among groups who benefit most from relatable role models.
“We got the positive responses from the key students we wanted, specifically the girls, seeing this representation of themselves in the workplace,” Declán explained. “We got exactly what we wanted for those girls, which was seeing someone in industry and realising, ‘Oh, I can do this too’ — which is incredibly valuable for them.”
Making Career Learning Effortless and Impactful
One of the standout features for Declán is the ease and flexibility of joining Virtual Assemblies. The platform eliminates logistical challenges while still offering an engaging, interactive experience for students.
“The Virtual Assemblies are really useful — the impromptu nature of them and the ease of logistics is really good.”
Even in a virtual environment, students feel seen and heard. The ability to ask live questions to professionals makes the experience feel truly interactive and personal.
“Those students in particular (whose questions got answered), I could tell the feeling of being able to ask a question to the person loads of people are listening to, and have their question answered, was really positive for them. It feels interactive, and that they are part of that assembly rather than just watching a lecture.”
A Long-Term Partnership for Student Success
After seeing the positive impact F4S has made, Declán is eager to continue embedding it into his career's provision.
“100% we’ll be continuing to use it because of the positive impact we’ve seen so far.”
Through F4S, Declán has been able to create memorable learning moments — ones that spark curiosity, challenge stereotypes, and open students’ eyes to what’s possible.
🎥 Hear Declán’s full experience in our latest CPD session.
By connecting classrooms with real-world professionals, F4S empowers educators like Declán to bring learning to life — ensuring every student can see a future that feels both inspiring and attainable.
Small Steps, Big Change
At F4S, we know that meaningful encounters with the world of work have the power to change lives. When students meet professionals who share their career journeys, aspirations rise, confidence grows, and attainment improves.
That’s why we’re launching the #3Encounters campaign — inspiring every educator to give their students at least three meaningful encounters this academic year.
💡 The Evidence: Why Career Encounters Matter
“Young people who have four or more encounters with employers are 86% less likely to be NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and can earn up to 18% more in later life.”
— Education and Employers Taskforce, “It’s Who You Meet” report
At F4S, we know that meaningful encounters with the world of work have the power to change lives. Research consistently shows that when students meet professionals who share their career journeys, aspirations rise, confidence grows, and attainment improves.
Recent findings from The Careers & Enterprise Company (2025) show that schools fully achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks see faster gains in career readiness and essential workplace skills than those meeting fewer benchmarks.
Similarly, The Gatsby Foundation’s updated guidance (2025) reinforces that meaningful, high-quality encounters — not just volume — are at the heart of effective careers education.
While the gold standard remains four encounters across a student’s school journey, we also know from decades of evidence that every encounter counts.
That’s why our #3Encounters campaign starts with three: a realistic, achievable milestone that every educator can reach with our platform.
- 1 encounter sparks curiosity
- 2 encounters build understanding and confidence.
- 3+ encounters embed ambition and connect learning to the real world.
✨ Educator Story
Declán has seen how F4S can transform student engagement. By connecting his students with professionals from diverse backgrounds, he’s helped them see the real-world applications of their studies and the possibilities ahead. “We got exactly what we wanted for those girls, which was seeing someone in industry and realising, ‘Oh, I can do this too’ — which is incredibly valuable for them,” he shared.
“100% we’ll be continuing to use it because of the positive impact we’ve seen so far.”
Declán Forster, Teacher of Mathematics and Outreach Programme Lead at Leeds Mathematics School
🌍 The F4S Difference
Backed by this growing body of evidence, F4S connects educators to a nationwide network of volunteer speakers — leaders from tech, green industries, finance, health, and the creative sectors — all ready to share their journeys and inspire the next generation.Our platform makes it simple:
1️⃣ Search by topic, sector, or region.
2️⃣ Book a virtual or in-person session that fits your curriculum.
3️⃣ Reflect — and see the transformation in your classroom.
🧭 What Happens After Three?
The #3Encounters campaign is just the beginning.
Once you’ve reached your third encounter, you’ll join our Champion Educator community — a network of teachers committed to creating career-connected learning.
Champion Educators receive:
- A digital badge to celebrate and share online
- Early access to campaign resources
- The chance to be featured in future F4S success stories
Because when educators thrive, students do too.
📅 Join the #3Encounters Movement
Ready to start your journey?
Book your first encounter today and take one step closer to transforming your students’ futures.
Our volunteer community is made up of so many wonderful people from different career backgrounds, and we love to hear more about their experiences. This week, we want to introduce you to two new volunteers from our partner Hitachi Energy UK!
We asked Mohammed a few questions about his motivation to volunteer and why he chose F4S. Here’s what he said ⬇️
Q: Tell us a little about yourself (your job, studies, experience, etc)…
⭐ “I am from Pakistan, married with 2 Daughters (21 and 16), and I moved to the UK in April 2023 after having spent 20 years in the Middle East (UAE / Dubai). I did my Electrical Engineering from Pakistan (Karachi) in 1998, worked in a Power Station as a Trainee Engineer, and then continued my career in Power Generation until 2005.
I joined ABB in 2005 as a Project Engineer, worked in Project Management until 2009. In 2009, I moved to Sales and have been in various Sales Roles ever since. I currently work in Hitachi Energy UK (former ABB Power Grids) as a Sales Leader - EPC & Partnerships.”
Q: Why did you decide to sign up and volunteer with F4S?
⭐ "I have always enjoyed working with Students. I have worked in a Primary school during my Studies Break for a year in various roles. I used to teach my own classmates in University a few subjects in my study group, and I enjoyed that quite a lot.
After completing my own Graduate Training program in the Power Station in Pakistan, I was assigned a Mentorship role for Apprentices, which I did for 2 years. I believe I can guide young people towards making career choices, and especially tell them about the Skills, Knowledge, and Work Ethics needed to succeed – especially in Sales."
Q: What topics are you specialised in?
⭐ "Sales, Sales Management, and Habits for Success."
Q: What can students expect from you during your sessions?
⭐ "Openness, life experiences, stories, reframing life challenges with positivity, a bit of fun mixed with some serious stuff, and exposure to Asian and Middle Eastern Culture."
Do you want to book Mohammed? Contact him on our platform to schedule a 1:1 career acceleration session!
We asked Graham a few questions about his motivation to volunteer and why he chose F4S. Here’s what he said ⬇️
Q: Tell us a little about yourself (your job, studies, experience, etc)…
⭐ “I am the UK Sales and tendering manager for our service department. I left School at 16 and went into an Electrical Apprenticeship. I worked in Engineering for 20 years and then decided to progress into sales and management."
Q: Why did you decide to sign up and volunteer with F4S?
⭐ “I want to give back. I’d like to impart my knowledge on the lessons that I have learnt in my life so far to support the next generation to try to make the best choices they can."
Q: What topics are you specialised in?
⭐ “ Sales, management, empowerment, wellbeing, and to never give up. I have overcome some huge personal challenges and now run a very successful sales team. I hope my experience can inspire young people’s futures."
Q: What can students expect from you during your sessions?
⭐ “Honesty, Humor and Humility."
Do you want to book Graham? Contact him on our platform to schedule a 1:1 career acceleration session!
Inspired by Mohammed and Graham's story? Join our volunteer community today and help shape the next generation’s future! Sign up here 🚀
We'd love to hear from you! 🙂
On Tuesday 14th October 2025, Maths4Girls and Lloyd’s hosted an inspiring
Virtual Assembly aimed at encouraging more girls to explore the power and potential of
studying maths beyond GCSE.
Why Maths4Girls Matters
Maths4Girls connects students with relatable, real-world role models who show how mathematical skills can lead to exciting and meaningful careers. In a world where the gender gap in STEM persists, initiatives like this are essential. Maths4Girls doesn’t just break down stereotypes—it empowers girls to imagine themselves in industries where women are still underrepresented.
Kavita Patel
Financial Risk Management Actuary
Christina Goodwin
Financial Risk Management Actuary
“maths is personal — the way you understand things in your head might be quite different to the way it’s written down in a book.”
What Students Learned
The session gave students insight into how maths is used in real-world settings and the wide variety of opportunities it can unlock. From career discovery to reflections on their educational journeys, students were encouraged to see the relevance of maths beyond the classroom.
Highlights included:
- Kavita and Christina shared their career journeys, demonstrating how skills like
problem-solving, communication, and teamwork are essential in the workplace. - A reminder that maths can be understood in different ways, empowering students to find their
own approach. - A peek into the world of actuaries — and even a discussion about potential earnings
By hearing directly from professionals working in the insurance and financial sectors, students were shown how mathematical thinking plays a vital role in real careers and were inspired to consider their own futures.
Join the Movement
This event highlighted the power of representation, relevance, and real-world connection. Maths4Girls continues to offer free sessions that connect young people with role models across finance, tech, healthcare, engineering, and more.
🎥 Missed the session? The recording is now available on your F4S dashboard.
A huge thank you again to Lloyd’s for their continued partnership and support in helping us
inspire the next generation of talent 🩵
Every month, we choose one of our incredible volunteers to highlight to show their impact in our community. We look at the platform scores and feedback from schools to pick our Volunteer of the Month, which allows our volunteers to learn more about each other. This month, we’re celebrating Mukul, one of our wonderful volunteers who has contributed to the F4S community.
Mukul is a Cybersecurity Specialist. This year, Mukul spoke at one of our recent virtual assemblies about cybersecurity and the next generation. You can catch the replay on our dashboard 👉 Watch Mukul's Video
Do you want to book Mukul for a session with your school? Reach out to her here.
Thank you for volunteering with us, Mukul! We look forward to seeing the wonderful work you do at F4S. 🙂