Students inspired by athletics star

28/02/2012

One of the biggest names in UK athletics has urged Nottingham students to seize every chance to be successful in their GCSEs this summer, as part of an event organised by Yorkshire Bank.

Steve Cram was invited to Bulwell Academy in Squires Avenue, Bulwell, in his role as Yorkshire Bank ambassador, to talk to around 200 students, parents, teachers, governors and Bulwell Academy’s Business Advisory Board. Steve also ran a session for the school’s leadership team about the importance of mentoring.

The former World, European and Commonwealth gold medalist said every day presented the opportunity to improve in the subjects they were studying, and that the ethics of achieving success in business could easily be applied to achieving academic success .

Steve said: “It is all about getting it right in the mind because achieving that can be a really powerful tool. Regardless of which exams you are sitting, set yourself targets and have belief and confidence you will hit those targets.

“Put in the right amount of effort and make the most of the advice given to you by your teachers and parents.”

Alison Bingham, Director of Business and Enterprise at Bulwell Academy, said it had been a tremendous privilege to welcome Steve and hear his motivational presentation.

Alison said: “We hope everyone took away the importance of a winning mindset and the power of positive thinking. A can-do attitude is so important to us as an academy and to everyone who is educated here.

“Yorkshire Bank has been very generous with its time and expertise and it has been great to have the Bank organise for Steve to visit us.”

Carl Dickinson, Managing Partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Financial Solutions Centre (FSC) in Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham, said: “The feedback from the students was extremely positive and Steve’s talk was certainly inspiring.

“He emphasised the importance of working hard every day and the parallels which can be drawn between business, academia and sport. It is a privilege for Yorkshire Bank to work with Bulwell Academy and to allow Steve to pass on his experience to the students, teachers and school management.”