"Take more risks... what's the worst that could happen?!"

That’s the advice from William Lankston, Managing Director at Timpson Direct, in the latest episode of Careers Unwrapped – our podcast-led education programme that brings real-world career journeys into the classroom.

As a teacher, you know preparing students for life beyond school is just as important as exams. Careers Unwrapped supports this by sharing honest stories from professionals who’ve forged unique paths to success.

In this episode, William shares how he climbed from Trainee to MD by saying “yes” to opportunity, embracing challenges, and understanding the power of culture in the workplace. His journey is full of practical wisdom and relatable lessons for students facing decisions about their own futures.

Support student ambition with free, lesson-ready resources

Careers Unwrapped collates insights from professionals like William, into tailored plug-and-play resources. By registering, you'll be able to download:

• Plug-and-play lesson packs – featuring group discussion prompts, critical thinking tasks, and student worksheets around themes like workplace culture, growth mindset, and personal responsibility.
• 15-minute presentation slides exploring how risk-taking and proactivity can lead to long-term success.
• Teacher delivery guide to help you adapt content for tutor time, careers education, PSHE or enrichment sessions.

Encourage students to say “yes” – just like William did

William's story is proof that success doesn't always follow a straight line. This episode is a great tool to help students recognise the opportunities all around them.

You can listen to William Lankston's episode of our Careers Unwrapped podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or any podcast platform.

Register with Careers Unwrapped to download the accompanying teaching resources.