SCHOOL girls aged between 11-15 have been to county council offices to shadow staff and sample life with Suffolk's largest employer. A total of 56 placements were organised mainly with county council staff but also at Police HQ and Ipswich Town Football Club.

SCHOOL girls aged between 11-15 have been to county council offices to shadow staff and sample life with Suffolk's largest employer.

A total of 56 placements were organised mainly with county council staff but also at Police HQ and Ipswich Town Football Club.

The purpose was to highlight career paths available, especially more unconventional ones, and to encourage the girls to make choices about careers.

Staff members were also encouraged to bring in their own daughters.

The majority of the placements came from Holywells, Chantry and Stoke High schools.

Placements included:

A day at ITFC press office/health and safety team/sales manager for Holly Stannard.

A day's conservation work in Gipping Valley.

Shadowing the chief executive, Lin Homer and director of environment and transport, Peter Thompson.

A day with a mobile library.

A day a fire HQ control centre.

A day a police HQ.

Suffolk County Council event organiser, Lizzie Reynolds, said: "The day

was a great success.

"All the young people felt they had learnt more about their career choices. It is vital that young people realise the wide range of job options open to them and are given every possible opportunity to experience these."

The county council is hoping to offer a similar day for boys later in the year.