5th October 2026

Solent Languages Network Celebrates Its Biggest Careers with Languages Event Yet!

On Monday 5th October 2026, Admiral Lord Nelson School proudly hosted the Solent Languages Network's biggest Careers with Languages Event yet, bringing together students, teachers, businesses and organisations for an inspiring celebration of the opportunities that language learning can unlock.

Building on the success of previous years, 2026 marked another significant milestone, with more businesses and organisations participating, increased attendance from secondary schools, and an exciting afternoon programme dedicated to primary pupils.

The reach of the Solent Languages Network also continued to expand, with schools travelling from across the region, including the New Forest and Basingstoke, demonstrating the growing appetite for meaningful opportunities that connect language learning with future careers.

Bringing Languages to Life Through Careers

Throughout the day, students engaged with professionals from a wide range of industries, discovering how languages play an important role in business, tourism, international relations, policing, sport, education and translation.

We were delighted to welcome representatives from organisations including Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth International Port, Peach Translations, the British Council, Schools into Europe, Tertulia Language Centre, the Chinese Association and Institut Français, alongside other valued business and community partners.

Students participated in a variety of interactive activities, including multilingual icebreakers, careers presentations, mock interviews, international careers quizzes, a jobs hunt and a Japanese language and culture workshop.

A particular highlight was an inspiring online presentation from Pierce Kiembi of Futbol Lingo, who demonstrated how languages open doors within international football and the wider sporting industry.

Students also enjoyed hearing from Gloria Vessey, an experienced international interpreter, who shared fascinating stories from her career, including working alongside celebrities and members of royal families. Her experiences demonstrated just how far language skills can take someone.

Measuring the Impact: What Did Our Students Learn?

One of the most encouraging outcomes of this year's event was the measurable impact on students' perceptions of language learning and future careers.

Students completed questionnaires before and after the event, providing valuable evidence of how their understanding had developed.

Before the event, just 38% of students described languages as "very useful" for future jobs and careers. By the end of the day, this had risen to an impressive 68% — an increase of 30 percentage points.
At the start of the event, approximately 17% of students could not identify a career where languages would be useful. Following the event, this figure fell to just 4%.
These findings highlight the importance of providing students with meaningful encounters with employers, professionals and organisations that use languages in their everyday work.

Students left with a broader understanding of the opportunities available to them, recognising that languages are not simply useful for holidays or travel but can provide a genuine advantage in an increasingly interconnected world.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Linguists

In the afternoon, the focus shifted to our primary school pupils, who enjoyed an engaging programme designed to introduce them to languages and their relevance beyond the classroom.

By reaching pupils at an earlier stage of their education, the Solent Languages Network aims to build curiosity, confidence and enthusiasm for language learning, helping to establish positive attitudes long before students make their GCSE option choices.

A Growing Network, A Shared Vision

The success of the 2026 event reflects the continued growth and ambition of the Solent Languages Network, bringing together schools, businesses, primary and secondary education, and community organisations from across an increasingly wide geographical area.

Our sincere thanks go to Admiral Lord Nelson School, all participating schools, employers, guest speakers, volunteers and partners whose generosity and enthusiasm made the event possible.

With overwhelmingly positive feedback and clear evidence of impact, we are already looking forward to building on this success in 2027.

Our message remains simple: Languages are more than classroom subjects. They open doors, connect cultures, raise aspirations and create opportunities that can change young people's futures.