The Society was delighted to host 10 students from The University of Edinburgh as part of the University’s Insights Programme. The Insights Programme helps Widening Participation students develop the confidence, skills and connections to consider a range of careers through introductions to Edinburgh alumni working in an exciting range of sectors and environments.
This visit was hosted together with Edinburgh University alumnus Stewart Gordon (Managing Associate at Addleshaw Goddard). The students sat down with Stewart and Sophie Mills WS (Principal Solicitor at The WS Society) to discuss navigating life as a first generation student and their careers.
James Hamilton showed the students a selection from the Signet Library’s texts and objects chosen to tie in with the group’s own academic interests and to reflect the range of the collections. These included William Playfair’s groundbreaking 1785 Commercial and Political Atlas (the first modern work of data visualisation and still considered a model today), newspapers printed in Edinburgh during the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, a death mask of Sir Walter Scott cast by Writer to the Signet and education reformer George Combe (the inventor of phrenology), the indictment of William “Deacon” Brodie from his capital trial of 1788, and a set of John Lizars’ beautiful anatomical plates of 1856. Also on show were artworks depicting the library at different stages in its development.
Stewart commented “What an incredible programme to be involved in - you were all very engaging and asking lots of questions. It was a privilege to talk about my career journey and hear from Sophie Mills WS on hers. Hopefully you will takeaway from it that no matter the challenges you face in your careers, they can be overcome.”
A participant of the programme provided feedback “… It was a great learning experience for us. Understanding the formality of work, while keeping one's personality intact is a great challenge and you all showed us how to be professional and humble at the workplace.”
On the other side of the pond, Stephen Cullen WS also hosted a group of students. Stephen commented that he had the “… huge pleasure of spending the morning at Miles & Stockbridge DC office with the US cohort of Insight students. What an amazing group. America can learn a lot from them.”