Spring 2015 www.sourcemagazine.org.uk
HILE W N R A E ARN YOU LEESOURCE
WITH TH IP TICESH N E R P P A
GUIDE Student Life
Careers Advice THE BEST PAID JOBS PERFECTING YOUR CV WOMEN IN STEM
TOP 5 GAP DESTINATIONS WHY POLITICS MATTERS WHAT’S ON FOR SPRING
THE
Big INTERVIEW
CLEAN BANDIT ON TOURING, THE GRAMMYS AND DREAM COLLABORATIONS
PLUS! US pop sensation Meghan Trainor on her epic year
SCOTLAND’S NUMBER ONE STUDENT MAGAZINE
PUBLISHER Denise Connelly denise@dcpublishing.co.uk
EDITOR Lindsay Cochrane lindsay.cochrane@dcpublishing.co.uk
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Laura Donaldson Mikhaila Friel Rachael Fulton Ally McCrae Kirsty McKenzie Rachel Munford Simon Ritchie Eilidh Stewart
DESIGN/PRODUCTION Gillian Smith gillian.smith@dcpublishing.co.uk
SALES Marian Mathieson marian.mathieson@dcpublishing.co.uk
ADMIN Hannah Sheridan admin@dcpublishing.co.uk www.sourcemagazine.org.uk DC Publishing Ltd, 200 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HG Tel: 0844 2499 007 Fax: 0141 353 0435
H
iya, and welcome to the latest issue of Source!
We’ve spent the freezing cold winter months putting together a scorcher of a magazine for you – so here’s a little overview of what we’ve got in store… Kicking things off, we’ve got a brilliant interview with Clean Bandit's Neil, who opens up about the band's incredible rise to the top. This issue’s celeb grad is Radio 1’s Clara Amfo, who tells us how her media degree helped her make it in radio. We’ve also had a chat with the amazing Meghan Trainor and AWOLNATION to find out what they have in store for 2015. As ever, we’ve got loads of careers advice and inspiration for you this issue – it's never too early to start planning your future. We find out about some of the women making their mark in ! DON'T MISS science, technology, engineering and maths (it’s not • CV-WRITING SUSSED (P18) just a boy’s game!), we’ve got a roundup of some of • WHAT'S THE POINT OF the best paying jobs out there and you can find out POLITICS? (P35) more about uniformed careers too. With National • THE WORLD'S BEST GAP Apprenticeship Week taking place from 9 March, YEAR DESTINATIONS (P42) we’ve got a special pull-out-and-keep guide to the ultimate alternative to college and uni. Find out what apprenticeships are all about, and hear from two MAs who are earning while they learn right now. Spring edging ever closer means brighter days, slightly warmer weather (fingers crossed anyway) and – gross – exams. We've got some top tips for avoiding revision stress, as well as some excellent advice to help you keep active, fit and – above all – sane over exam season. And that’s not all! Turn the page to see what else we’ve got lined up – from an interview with a private investigator to gap year inspiration, we’ve got it covered this spring. So take a break from all that studying and prepare to be inspired. Good luck with those exams!
Until next time,
Lindsay Cochrane, Editor
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We love Source readers because they’ve got an opinion on just about everything – and we’re sharing those views on www.sourcemagazine.org.uk right now. Lindsay Duncan’s taken a look at how tattoos and piercings are affecting job prospects – and why they definitely shouldn’t. Also online now, Eilidh Stewart’s offered her view on the recent Charlie Hebdo attack, and the impact it’s having on Jewish people the world over. We’ve got the lowdown on common student health problems, and how to deal with them, a guide to the YouTubers making a career out of their hobby and the pros and cons of living in student accommodation too. If you fancy yourself as a hotshot journalist, or you’ve got an opinion you have to get heard, drop us a line at source@dcpublishing.co.uk and we’ll get your work up on the site ASAP.
©DC Publishing Ltd 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any way without prior written permission from the publisher. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of DC Publishing Ltd. The publisher takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers within the publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that information is accurate; while dates and prices are correct at time of going to print, DC Publishing Ltd takes no responsibility for omissions and errors.
SPRING 2015
The HOT list THE HOT LIST
SPRING 2015 Film INSURGENT
In cinemas 20 March (Rating: 15) If you’ve been dying to know what happens in the next instalment of the Divergent series, you’re in luck. The brilliant Shailene Woodley is back as Tris Prior, and she and Four (Theo James) are on in the run in the postapocalyptic future, as they try to figure out what Abnegation sacrificed their lives to protect. Expect plenty of heart-stopping adventure.
Gig
GAME OF THRONES
Sky Atlantic, 13 April It’s pretty much the biggest TV show in the whole wide world – and series five kicks off on Sky Atlantic this April! It’s action-packed, gory, dramatic and has more twists and turns than your average roller coaster – just about everything else we want in a fantasy. Winter is coming…
TWIN ATLANTIC
Album JAMES BAY – CHAOS AND THE CALM
Out 23 March, Republic Records Winner of this year’s BRIT Awards Critics’ Choice and runner up in the BBC’s Sound of 2015, James Bay – of 'excellent hats and incredible voice' fame – is destined for huge things. This album is a beauty from start to finish.
Charity RED NOSE DAY
13 March, events nationwide www.rednoseday.com There’s more to Red Nose Day than the hilarious comedy sketches and performances from our favourite pop stars broadcast by the BBC on the night – it’s all for a truly wonderful cause, with funds going to those who need it most here in the UK and Africa through Comic Relief. This year they’re asking that you make your face funny for money, like Simon and David have here – so grab your mates, get creative and start rounding up that sponsorship!
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Spring 2015
PICS: © COMIC RELIEF / © LIONSGATE/ANDREW COOPER
SSE Hydro, Glasgow, 9 May www.ticketmaster.co.uk If you quite like listening to Twin Atlantic’s records, you will be blown away by their live show. It’s the Glaswegian foursome’s biggest headline gig to date, and in front of their home crowd too – it doesn’t get any better than that. There will be massive guitars, singalong choruses and banter a-plenty – get your tickets now.
TV
SPRING 2015
Contents
37
46
Interviews 6
16
Clean Bandit
The group's violinist Neil Amin-Smith on the music biz. 8
Celeb grad: Clara Amfo
Radio 1’s Official Chart host tells us about her time as a media student.
Ten minutes with… Meghan Trainor 46
Our favourite US pop star talks Grammy nominations, chart success and what’s next. 50
AWOLNATION
Frontman Aaron Bruno tells Source all about the much-anticipated second album.
Dream job: Private eye
The world’s best paid jobs
Dream of being in the money? Check out these roles.
ENTIC
ESHIP
GUID
APPR
E EK
HIP WE
ES ENTIC L APPR rch 2015 5 Ma
NA NATIO
9-1
Everything you need to know tive about the ultimate alterna to college and uni g.uk www.apprenticeships.or NAS YOUTUBE: Apprenticeships s FACEBOOK: /apprenticeships
TWITTER: @Apprenticeship
Writing the ultimate CV
Whether you’re applying for your dream job or a weekend role, check out our guide to the perfect résumé. 20
Women in STEM
Thought science, technology, engineering and maths were just for guys? Think again. Four women tell us about their jobs.
What can you do with a degree? 31
A private investigator tells us all about his weird and wonderful career. 12
18
Studying
Careers 10
Uniformed careers
From the Armed Forces to the fire service, uniformed careers have plenty to offer ambitious hard workers in search of a challenge.
Fancy going to uni but not sure what your options are afterwards? Source has the answers.
42
Time out 34
What’s the point of politics?
With a General Election and the Scottish Youth Parliament elections looming, we find out why it matters to take an interest in all things political. 38
Spring into fitness
Take advantage of the good weather and get active.
The right to free speech – and why it really matters 40
Laura Donaldson offers her view on the impact of the Sony hack earlier this year. 45
What’s on?
The best gigs, sporting events, shows and activities for spring. 48
Sound bites with Ally McCrae
Music fan Ally rounds up his favourite new acts.
Travel
37
Show exam stress who’s boss
5 of the best… Gap year destinations
Don’t let the strain of revision get you down this exam season.
Dream of getting away from it all? We’ve got some amazing travel inspiration.
Apprenticeship Guide
42
Turn to page 23 for our pull-out-and-keep guide to apprenticeships in time for National Apprenticeship Week on 9 March.
INTERVIEW
The Big Interview With a top five album, single that hit number one in 17 countries, tour dates worldwide and a Grammy under their belts, Clean Bandit is the name on everybody’s lips – and they’re showing no signs of stopping. Fusing classical with dance, the foursome – made up of violinist and pianist Neil Amin-Smith, cellist Grace Chatto, drummer Luke Patterson and Jack Patterson on bass guitar and keyboard – are making huge waves in the music industry through their collaborations with a number of big-name guest vocalists. And it all started when the group of students at Cambridge University decided to combine their very different individual talents. About to head off on a UK tour before hitting the States later in the year, Neil took some time out from rehearsals to talk about the last 12 months, and what’s yet to come with Source’s Lindsay Cochrane
Clean Bandit 2014 was the year of Clean Bandit – and this year’s set to be just as huge
Are you looking forward to the tour? Yeah, it’s on such a different scale to all the tours we’ve done before – it’s in much bigger venues. We’re really excited about that. We’ve got two weeks of rehearsals to make the whole show bigger and better. It’s going to be cool. We’re going to have more instruments being played, more singers than before and more visuals as well – lighting and videos and screens and stuff.
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INTERVIEW
You’re playing Glasgow on 10 March – what are Scottish audiences like? They’re always amazing. [laughs] Relative to English audiences, they’re so much more lively straight from the beginning. It’s so much more fun. What do you enjoy about playing live? People often ask if you get bored of playing Rather Be, for example, but I think the great thing about playing live is that you play to a different audience every night. For them, that’s the one night they’re seeing the show – it’s so easy to feed off that, it’s a great feeling. When you guys go on tour, what’s on your rider? Have you got more demanding since you became super stars? [laughs] I don’t know! I think because we’re all quite broke, we try to get as much on our rider as possible so we don’t have to buy a meal that day. There’s lots of sandwich-making materials. What’s been your most memorable show so far? I think maybe at the end of last summer – we played on the main stage at Bestival. It’s a festival I’ve been to loads of times, and the sun was setting and it was the end of our biggest ever summer of festivals – it was quite beautiful. You guys have come such a long way since you were students at Cambridge – did you ever imagine the band would take off the way it has? Not at all. When we started doing it, we were so naïve. We didn’t even think of ourselves as part of the music industry; it never occurred to us to seek out a record label or radio stations or anything. This is a million miles away from what we were thinking about doing at the time. What was the moment that changed things for you? When did the band become a serious career option? I think it was quite a gradual transition really. The biggest real jump has been since Rather Be [with Jess Glynne on vocals] came out – we chased that song around the world, touring all over, doing promo
everywhere. We’d do a week in Germany where we weren’t even playing, we were just doing radio interviews every day. It was quite crazy. It’s been a bit of a learning curve, this last year. You’ve had an amazing year – what’s been the highlight? Finally getting the album out after six years of working on it was a big moment for us. We did the collaboration with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in September – that was quite an amazing thing because it was so different to what we do week in, week out, and such a different mode of performance. You won a Grammy for best dance recording too – what did that feel like? It was quite surreal to be honest. We actually almost missed the award. We were so hungry and there is no food at the Grammys at all – it’s really quite rubbish. We’d run out to try buy some food and we got back just before they read our name out. We were so flustered that none of us were really listening when they announced it! You’ve worked with some amazing vocalists – who else would you like to see feature on a Clean Bandit record? Beyoncé! But there are so many people we would like to work with. [Not having our own singer] has been a real advantage, we have so much scope to do different things and work with different voices. If you weren’t in the band, what would you be doing with your life? I don’t know really. Around the time that we signed the record deal, I turned down a job at MI6 – I was going to be a spy! Lucky for us, music worked out. So what’s lined up for the rest of the year? I’m really looking forward to our UK tour – that’s the big thing on all of our minds at the moment. I’m really looking forward to summer too. It was so fun doing festivals last year. I love playing festivals, it’s really great. And at the end of summer, we’ll have some time to get to work on the second album. l
Catch Clean Bandit with Jess Glynne at the O2 Academy, Glasgow on 10 March. Get your tickets from www.ticketmaster.co.uk. Keep up to date with the band on Twitter, @cleanbandit.
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CHECK IT OUT SPRING 2015
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INTERVIEW
THE
Celebrity GRADUATE
Clara Amfo THE VOICE OF THE OFFICIAL CHART
The Radio 1Xtra host and new presenter of Radio 1’s Official Chart shares her memories of her time at St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Why did you study media? I have always been a media obsessive. Books, radio, film, TV, magazines, online – I’ve always been a bit of a sponge for it all. As well as being a consumer, I wanted to see how it worked – the mechanics behind the media as a machine. I found it fascinating, and it continues to fascinate me. Working in this industry, I learn something new every day. What did you think of the course? I really enjoyed it. I found it really informative. It’s where I fell in love with radio – that was one of the modules I studied. I got to learn about different ways of thinking that I might not have been privy to before too. I had some incredible teachers who were really inspiring. Did you get involved in any student clubs? We had a student radio station, but we didn’t really last very long! We had the student newspaper too, which I enjoyed. I just loved making stuff.
PIC: © BBC/RAY BURMISTON
Why did you choose to study at St Mary’s University? Because it was local! And I really liked the look of the course too – I studied media. It was a great place to study – nice and local, so I didn’t have to trek for ages to go and learn, I could just hop on the train and in 20 minutes I was there.
What’s your best memory from your student days? Do you know what, I think my happiest memories were in class – doing stuff, making stuff, being hands-on. Making little radio documentaries, learning how to craft things. Understanding how things got made. What did you see yourself doing after you graduated? Working in the media industry, by hook or by crook. I’ve always been quite focused on that, but at the same time I believe in preparation meeting opportunity and
“I THINK MY HAPPIEST MEMORIES WERE IN CLASS – DOING STUFF, MAKING STUFF, BEING HANDS-ON”
things come to you when you’re ready for them. I always had a feeling I would work in the industry but I never had the arrogance to expect things to fall into my lap. I knew I had to work for it. How much would you say your degree has helped your career? It gave me a bit more focus as to what I wanted to do. When you study any type of degree, you’re getting a little bit of a taster as to what your professional life could potentially be. What I would say is that university is fantastic if you get the opportunity to go, but if you haven’t got a degree, you shouldn’t be discouraged. I’ve got friends who didn’t go to university who are doing fantastically well in their chosen careers – it’s different strokes for different folks really. For me, it’s about working hard and being focused, whatever your path. l
CHECK IT OUT
Listen to the Official Chart, Sundays from 4pm on BBC Radio1.
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CAREERS
Dream JOB
enquiry agents and private investigators. Predominantly, they look like they’re doing the same job, but enquiry agents have a legal background and knowledge. So I set up the firm in 2002. What sort of cases do you work on? Members of the public can phone us up and say, ‘I need to find my longlost sister.’ In England, we serve legal documents, in Scotland we’re not allowed to – it’s done by sheriff officers in Scotland. We serve legal documents all around the world. We’ve had a chap on a donkey go up into the Indian mountains before to serve papers! We also do forensic recovery of deleted text messages, crime scene and scene reconstruction and pre-sue reports – finding out if somebody is fit to sue. SNEAKY SNAPPER: Dave thought he was really inconspicuous
PRIVATE EYE Lurking in the shadows waiting to catch a cheating spouse, carrying out detailed background checks for big employers, watching emotional reunions of long-lost relatives you’ve brought together... It’s all in a day’s work for a private investigator! John Moses, director of enquiry agents firm Longmere Consultants (www.longmereuk.com), tells us more about the life of a PI
How would you describe your job? Every day brings a different challenge, there’s no doubt about it. You go off to do one thing and it can totally transform into something else. How did you get into it in the first place? I started off as a bricklayer. I did that until I was in my early 20s when I saw an advertisement for military police in an Army careers office, so I went in and did the tests and that was it. I served in the Falkland Islands, UK, Berlin and
thoroughly enjoyed it. From there, I joined Northumbria Police, qualified as a detective there, then decided it was time for a break. I looked into investigating and I saw there are two different routes to go down – you have
“SURVEILLANCE ISN’T WHAT YOU SEE ON TV – IT’S 95% WAITING, 5% ACTION”
What’s a typical day like for you? Take today – just before eight o’clock I was on the road to serve a barrister with legal documents. From there, I came back to the office, did the post, my colleague here is typing up the affidavits [witness statements]. We’ve had phones in for forensic examination. I’m then going to go to the solicitors and swear the affidavits. We’ve got background reports to do too. People think that surveillance is all a PI does – if you think that’s all it is, you won’t last five minutes. Plus, surveillance isn’t what you see on TV. It’s 95% waiting, 5% action. What skills and qualities are important? Patience is a big thing. Determination is important too. You’ve got to be extremely self-motivated, and you’ve got to love a challenge! What’s your advice for someone who wants to get into investigating? Look into some professional associations. There’s only one I would recommend – the Association of British Investigators, the ABI. Ask if you can go to a professional company too and talk to the people and see if it really is the job for you. l
ON THE
The Association of British Investigators www.theabi.org.uk
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CAREERS
The world’s
BEST PAID J £
Chief Executive Officer 1
£85,223 (average) The CEO is the person in charge of a company and has to know their business inside and out. Experience is essential – some CEOs begin at the bottom of a company and work their way up. You have to know how to be in charge and it’s hard work, so it takes commitment. But it’s worth it – the average pay of a CEO is £85,223! A degree sets you apart from everyone else but isn’t required. Richard Branson doesn’t have a degree and he’s done all right for himself with his private island. Being able to communicate well is important, so practice! This will help you earn respect and trust, as well as making you more appealing for promotion.
UCAS www.ucas.com
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SPRING 2015
2
Pilot
Medical Practitioner
Marketing and Sales Director
£71,279 (average) Becoming a doctor is prestigious but a lot of hard work. Higher chemistry is often required to study medicine at university, and usually Higher biology too. Undergraduate degrees in medicine are five years long and then there’s two years of junior doctor training in real hospitals with real patients. After that you specialise in either general practice or a specialty like surgery or psychiatry. Strong people skills are important, as well as the ability to work under pressure. If you’re willing to go through all the training, then you can earn an average of £71,279 a year. Get the lowdown at jobs.scot.nhs.uk.
£68,245 (average) As a marketing and sales director, you’re selling the products of your employer, analysing trends and planning marketing strategies. It’s useful to be good at talking to people and getting your point across. At least five years of marketing experience is recommended, as well as experience of being in charge. Being able to work to a deadline is essential, and being organised is vital! You could earn an average of £68,245 a year and you don’t need a degree to do it – many employers in this field look at experience, track record and skill before academic credentials. However, a business or marketing degree would give you the knowledge you need to do well and set you apart from the pack.
3
£78,736 (average) Pilots get paid a lot of money – an average of £78,736 a year – but what many don’t know is the hard work it takes to get there. You need to have good passes in your Highers (maths, English, a science and a second language are recommended). Some universities offer courses to train you as a pilot but there are several other ways. You could train at a Civil Aviation Authority approved training school where you must pay the fees yourself, join the Armed Forces and train as a pilot with them before taking a conversion course to get your commercial pilot’s license, or by joining a company training scheme through an airline. Get more info at www.caa.co.uk.
My World of Work www.myworldofwork.co.uk
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CAREERS
D JOBS Information Technology and Telecommunications Director 5
£63,622 (average) The information technology and telecommunications director (it’s a mouthful) is the person in a company who manages all the computer systems. IT directors are in charge of the security of a company’s computer system and making sure that everything runs smoothly, meaning you can end up working for anyone from a major bank to the NHS. A computer-related degree is required and some organisations ask for a master’s degree, depending on who you’re working for. A thorough knowledge of computers and computer systems is necessary, as you’d expect, and the average wage is £63,622 a year. Who said computers were just for geeks?
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6
Legal Professional
£61,544 (average) Much like medicine, law has always been a reputable field. To be a solicitor there’s lots to remember and understand but if you’re able to do it, you could earn £61,544 a year. Solicitors represent clients who are having some kind of legal trouble and there are many different specialties, like criminal or family law. The most common way to become a solicitor is to study law at university, get your certificate and then do further training. Doing well in law can be difficult since it’s so competitive, so make sure you have a thick skin and you work hard. While it's tough work, it can also be very satisfying since you're getting to help people and no two days are the same. Find out more about training at www.lawscot.org.uk.
Sometimes looking at our bank balance makes us run for the hills - we’d all like to live the high life! Eilidh Stewart finds out how to get the jobs with the salaries that could make all your dreams come true
7
Senior Police Officer
£59,037 (average) There aren’t any educational requirements to join the police – graduates and non-graduates are accepted equally. You fill out an application form and if this is accepted, you go on to do an exam to test your maths and English, as well as a basic fitness test. There are several other tests and then a two-year probationary period. To become a senior police officer, you begin as a constable and work your way up. The average pay is £59,037 but can vary depending on your rank. Being a police officer is exciting but can be very stressful. You should be good at dealing with pressure and remaining calm in a crisis. Being able to keep things confidential is important, as well as working well in a team. Find out more at www.scotland.police.uk/ recruitment.
Financial Manager 8
£55,504 (average) As a financial manager, you give advice to your clients about how to handle their money and advise them on business decisions. All big companies have a financial manager, so you could end up working in any sector – great if you're a business boffin who likes to see how different organisations operate across various industries. A degree in economics, marketing, maths or accountancy is a great starting point, since you need to know how businesses work, as well as being good with figures. A financial manager earns an average of £55,504 a year. If you’ve got a head for numbers, problem solving abilities and good attention to detail, this could be for you. ●
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CÙRSAICHEAN CEUMA Faigh barrachd fiosrachaidh air na cùrsaichean fo-cheum dha fileantaich is luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig a cheanglas an cànan le caochladh chuspairean a leithid ceòl traidiseanta, na meadhanan agus teagasg. Find out more about the range of undergraduate courses available for fluent speakers and learners of Gaelic which combine the language with a choice of subjects including traditional music, media studies and teacher education.
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CAREERS
UNIFORMED
CAREERS
Not only do you not have to think about what to wear before you head to work in the morning, jobs in uniform have plenty of benefits, big prospects and great financial rewards too. Uniformed jobs are essential when it comes to keeping the country moving – we find out more about roles in law and order, security, the armed forces, healthcare and beyond
POLICE
Police officers are responsible for maintaining law and order across the land. Protecting people and property and preventing crime, the country’s coppers are carrying out vital, sometimes risky work. The job is varied, including shift work, and you’ll get to meet people from all walks of life. If you stay in the force and work your way up, you could make it up to inspector level where you can earn as much as £50,000 a year. Pay: Starting at £23k Qualifications: No formal entry requirements, but you must be over 18, physically fit and pass a Standard Entrance Test (SET). More info: www.scotland.police.uk
PRISON SERVICE
Scotland’s prisons keep functioning thanks to a hardworking staff of prison officers. Prison officers are responsible for supervising offenders in the country’s prisons and young offenders institutions, monitoring security, supervising visits, explaining protocol to new prisoners, searching cells for banned items, patrolling the prison and its grounds and helping inmates to prepare for life on the outside. It’s a challenging role which isn’t for the fainthearted – work can be
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SPRING 2015
dangerous, not to mention stressful, but it can be rewarding too. You can progress within the service to manager level, earning £26k, or work up to governor level, where you can earn as much as £68k. Pay: Starting at £16k Qualifications: Five Standard Grade/ National qualifications, including English and maths. More info: www.sps.gov.uk
AMBULANCE SERVICE
Ambulance crews save lives on a daily basis – you can’t get more important work than that. Ambulance technicians and paramedics work together to respond to emergency calls from members of the public. They treat patients on the scene then decide whether or not they need hospital treatment. Ambulance techs may be required to drive the ambulance, assess the patient’s condition, take basic history and assist paramedics on-site. Paramedics all start out as ambulance technicians – with additional training, they can carry out more advanced medical care on the scene. Pay: Starting at £16k for ambulance techs, and £21k for fully qualified paramedics. Qualifications: Ambulance technician roles require two Highers plus five subjects at Standard Grade/ National level – once you’re qualified, you can train to be a paramedic. More info: jobs.scot. nhs.uk
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CAREERS
ARMED FORCES FIRE SERVICE
It’s not all rescuing cats from trees or putting out chip pan fires à la Fireman Sam – the work of a fire fighter is fast-paced, high-risk and massively rewarding. These guys are saving lives! Fire fighters deal with a massive range of emergency situations, like fires, floods, traffic accidents, oil spills and more. It’s a job which requires shift work, lots of courage and a head for heights. Work your way up to station manager level and you can earn £40k a year. You’ll be trained partly on the job and through a 12week residential training course. Pay: Starting at £21k Qualifications: Four subjects at Standard Grade/National 4 or 5 are generally required, but you must have good physical fitness and good eyesight too. More info: www.firescotland.gov.uk
The Armed Forces are Britain’s military, responsible for the country’s defence, as well as in overseas territories – a pretty big job. Made up of the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, soldiers, airmen and women and Royal Navy ratings will participate in overseas conflicts, support international peacekeeping efforts and deliver humanitarian aid. Whether you’re on land, in the air or at sea, this is one of the world’s most dangerous jobs – but serving in the forces is one of the bravest, most important career paths out there. There are specialist roles and training opportunities within the forces too – you could work as a chef, a medic, a doctor, in logistics, as a specialist driver and much more. Pay: Starting at £14k Qualifications: A good general education is required, with two to five passes at Standard Grade or National level. You’ll need to pass an entrance exam and physical fitness test too. More info: army.mod.uk / raf.mod.uk / royalnavy.mod.uk
COASTGUARD
SAVING LIVES: The fire service offers lots of rewarding career opportunities - and you don't even HAVE to look like Bruce here
www.sourcemagazine.org.uk
As the name suggests, coastguards are responsible for guarding the country’s coastlines. Part of the government’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, coastguards direct search and rescue operations, investigate illegal shipping activity and incidents of pollution. It’s a role which includes shift work, and typical tasks include responding to emergency calls, giving ships information about weather, tides and sea conditions, dealing with distress calls, taking part in rescue missions, maintaining equipment and more. It's a career path which involves some outdoor work and the occasional dangerous situation. You’ll receive training on the job, along with self-study and attendance at the Coastguard Training Centre in Dorset. Pay: Starting at £16k Qualifications: No formal qualifications, but three or four Standard Grade/ Nationals gets you off to a good start. More info: www.dft.gov.uk/mca l
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CAREERS
The Source Guide to...
Writing the Ultimate CV Writing your CV can be a tremendous task, whether you're after a part-time job or work experience. Looking at a blank page in any situation can be daunting, but it’s a lot simpler than you think. No matter what area you’re applying to, all CVs share some basic characteristics – Rachel Munford takes a look at all the info you need to include
LAYING IT OUT
Top Candi d
ate
765 Job Ap plicant Lan e Careeringto n C56 9ME E: grownup email@here .com M: 07700 9 00 009
Layouts can vary as well as content, especially if you are applying for an arts-based discipline – creative jobs r want to see creative CVs! Clea sections and bullet points always help. Get online and search to see example CVs for a rough guide.
Profile
This is an e ssential pa rt of your C and in term V, s of layout, it’s one of th first things e an employe r reads abo after basic ut you contact de tails (and n include the ever email addre ss you were 1 3 – get a gro you made when wnu section is yo ur chance to p one). This say how wo you are as a person, a nderful nd let the e know how mployer capable yo u are witho pretentious ut soundin (unless you g know that’s something they’re loo king for). T also the se his is ction to let them know applying fo , if you’re r an internsh ip that you’re still in educa or part-time job, tion and wh availability at your is like.
Qualificati o
ns A necessary part of eve ry applicatio writing out n is all your qu alifications. part is not While this a great con cern in man job applicat y part-time ions, this is necessary fo full-time jo r bs. For exa mple, if you for a positi ’re applying on in an IT departmen company, yo t of a u’re going to have to sh some acad ow emic found ations such degree in co as a mputer scie nce. References
Employme
nt history Now you co uld be bori ng in this section and simply list a ll the experi have with b ence you ullet points . However, you only ha if ve experien ce as a bari but you’re sta, applying fo r a job in m then you h arketing, ave to be a bit more cr Most comp eative. anie show that yo s are looking for you to u can hand le responsi and be part bility of a team. S o no matte what experi r ence you h ave, try and it back to so link me core sk ills the com are looking panies for (they usu ally detail th in their vaca is ncy brief te lling you ab the job). out Hobbies an
d interests While the e mployer w ants to kno do have a lif w you e, don’t list every aspe everyday ro ct of your utine. Do n ot tell them what you d in detail o at the gym or how ma you can rea ny books d a year. Th is requires minimum, the bare unless the post you’re means you applying fo have to go r to the gym or even go , read load rock-climbin s g . Keep it bri tell lies, bu t try and be ef, don’t memorable .
Usually this section req uires two re it is accepta fere ble to simp ly put ‘refere es. However on most application nces availa s, ble on requ est’. ●
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SPRING 2015
Engineering your future – why chemical is the way to go... 0925_14
Chemical engineers are considered to be the problem solvers of the science and engineering community. Whether it’s working out how to make industrial processes more environmentally friendly or deciding which fuels are best suited to Formula One racing cars, chemical engineers usually have the answers.
Companies such as Amec Foster Wheeler, BP, Fluor, Johnson Matthey Davy Technologies, KBR, Sellafield, Shell and Wood Group PSN employ chemical engineering graduates in a wide range of positions. Because of their transferable skills, chemical engineers can work in a whole host of jobs in industries including energy, food, healthcare and water, and it’s a career that offers variety, travel and outstanding earning potential with UK graduates earning £29,500/y on average. www.whynotchemeng.com is a website that’s full of information about chemical and biochemical engineering. Whether you’re trying to better understand what chemical engineers do on a day-to-basis, which companies employ chemical engineers, or which universities offer chemical engineering degree courses – whynotchemeng can help. Since whynotchemeng’s launch, volunteers have visited hundreds of schools and colleges throughout the UK and played a role in the staggering rise of students choosing to study chemical engineering in UK universities. Last year, a record intake of over 3500 students chose the subject at university. Chemical engineering is a door-opening degree that equips graduates with an outstanding grasp of project management, design and how industrial processes operate. So maybe it’s time to think… whynotchemeng?
whynotchemeng.com shape the future...
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CAREERS
Women in STEM Contrary to popular belief, STEM subjects – that’s science, technology, engineering and maths – aren’t just for boys. Four women tell Source about their careers in the sector
STEM Careers www.wherestemcantakeyou.co.uk
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SourceMagazine
@SourceMag
CAREERS
SCIENCE
LAURA DAUBNEY Packaging Assessment Manager, Radioactive Waste Management Ltd
Laura, who has a Masters of Chemistry and a BSc in Chemistry with Analytical Chemistry (Industrial), is working with Radioactive Waste Management Ltd through a placement with nucleargraduates, a graduate training programme placing scientists, engineers and business minds throughout the nuclear industry. The nuclear industry was not really on my radar until the end of my degree. I always wanted to work in the energy sector, but oil and gas had also seemed the most likely route. With the secondment I’m on just now, I’m working for the company who are responsible for finding a site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) where the UK’s legacy nuclear waste will be disposed of. My work involves looking at proposals for future packaging, as well as reviewing wastes that have already been packaged and evaluating the type of packaging to be used or that has been used against a range of criteria to determine the disposability of each case. The nuclear industry offers a much greater diversity in roles and career options that lots of other sectors, and nucleargraduates reflects exactly that. The scheme offers a great way to experience a range of roles within the nuclear sector, which is exactly what I wanted on leaving university. Aside from the secondments, there are also a lot of opportunities to visit sites and other organisations in the UK and abroad to get a much broader understanding of nuclear. Find out more about nucleargraduates at www.nucleargraduates.com
TECHNOLOGY LYNN HAILEY
Senior Software Engineer, Skyscanner
Lynn has a degree in software engineering from Strathclyde University. She currently works with Skyscanner, the flight, hotel and car hire search engine. I didn’t start programming until I took
e-Skills e-Skills UKUK www.e-skills.com www.eskills.co.uk
www.sourcemagazine.org.uk
computing studies at school. I always enjoyed maths and logical problems so I took to programming straight away. I am a team lead at Skyscanner. My team is responsible for the development and maintenance of the content platform at Skyscanner. ‘Content’ can be anything from an article on the top 10 restaurants in Berlin to information about a particular airline. Our platform allows this content to be served up on the website, in mobile apps or even through emails. As a team lead, I mentor junior members of the team and work together with a Product Owner to ensure that my team are delivering features that are important to the business. Technology moves very fast so I am always learning. Skyscanner run excellent intern and graduate programmes too. The great thing about these schemes is that you work on real projects and you're an integral part of the team. To find out more about opportunities at Skyscanner, head to www.skyscanner. net/jobs
ENGINEERING LAUREN YOUD
Specification and Tendering Engineer, Weir Engineering Services
Lauren works with the Weir Group, one of the world’s leading engineering firms, after joining their graduate scheme in 2012. I work in Weir’s oil and gas division. This means taking enquiries from different customers, looking at the specifications of components that they need and sourcing these for them. It requires a sound knowledge of the oil industry products – the pump packages and component parts of all the equipment they use offshore, and being able to read technical drawings and specifications. Back at school, I was good at maths and physics, and it seemed an obvious choice to go down a route that used those skills. I studied at Strathclyde University, where I did a Master of Engineering in mechanical engineering. My master’s was a five-year course and I graduated in July 2012. I got the job with Weir in September 2012 as a graduate engineer through their
Tomorrow’s Engineers www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk
two-year Graduate Development Programme. You undertake four-to-six month placements throughout Weir’s global business. I did six placements within those two years, including a placement abroad – I went to Weir in the Netherlands. Engineering is a really good industry to be a part of. There are so many openings and opportunities within Weir and the industry to let you try different things. Find out more about opportunities with the Weir Group at www.weir.co.uk/ careers. Follow the Group on Facebook by searching for ‘The Weir Group’ and on Twitter, @WeirGroup.
MATHS
RACHEL WILKINSHAW Trainee Accountant, BDO
Rachel joined BDO last year on their school leaver programme, where she will work towards becoming a chartered accountant over the course of five years. Before I joined the school leaver programme at BDO, I took maths, physics and chemistry for Higher. I guess what I liked about maths as opposed to English, for example, was that there’s always a correct answer. I wanted to do something with numbers. I work in audit which involves going out to clients and checking their accounts, attending stock takes and also preparing accounts in the office. At the end of the training contract, I’ll be a chartered accountant. Throughout your training, you go to ICAS to sit exams – the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland. Sitting your exams helps with your job and your job helps with the exams. The BDO school leaver programme is really good. They are really supportive of the students and I think it’s a really good firm to train with because we have exposure to such a wide variety of clients. I think the school leaver scheme is beneficial because the combination of study and work experience means you learn so much quicker. l Find out more about BDO’s school programme at www.bdo.co.uk/careers
Maths Careers www.mathscareers.org.uk
SPRING 2015
ON THE
WEB
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Foyer Futures Learning Service
There are many reasons why pupils may experience difficulties at school. At Foyer Futures we give you a chance to: • • • • • •
decide what you are good at plan the future you hope for decide how you are going to get there decide which changes you want to make in your life try new experiences achieve Build on your strengths and abilities Increase your confidence and interest in learning Develop your skills for learning, life and work
If you would like to find out more, please contact: kathleens@aberdeenfoyer.com or call 01224 212924 Three simple steps allow you to achieve expertise in one of the most talked about and least understood industries via nucleargraduates.com 1. Be selected by one of the nucleargraduates’ sponsors (including Rolls-Royce, Sellafield Ltd, Magnox Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and other leading industry organisations and bodies)
Foyer Futures is commissioned by Aberdeen City Council. We work closely with families and key individuals to engage with young people on a 1:1 basis, through group work as well as learning and supported work experience opportunities.
/aberdeenfoyer
2. Experience a world class twenty four month long development programme 3. Join your sponsor for a career based on professional excellence and opportunity.
@aberdeenfoyer
www.aberdeenfoyer.com Aberdeen Foyer is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland No: 184423. Registered Scottish Charity No: SC023655
SCHOOL LEAVER CAREERS
IN ACCOUNTANCY
SHOW YOUR TRUE COLOURS We’re BDO. Welcome to our world. It’s a world where the only predictable thing is that today will be different. It’s bright people turning professional solutions into an art form. It’s a place to be yourself and give your best. We give you all the training you need to attain your professional qualifications, along with extensive practical experience that includes on-site client work. And given the size of our firm, the rewards and benefits are of course highly competitive.
COLOURFUL CAREERS | COLOURFUL CHARACTERS FIND OUT A SHADE MORE ABOUT BDO BDO-TraineesUK
@BDO_TraineesUK
www: bdo.co.uk/careers | e: student.recruitment@bdo.co.uk
P I H S E C I T N
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HIP W S E C I T EN
APPR h 2015 L A N O c NATI -15 Mar 9
Everything you need to know about the ultimate alternative to college and uni www.apprenticeships.org.uk TWITTER: @Apprenticeships FACEBOOK: /apprenticeships YOUTUBE: ApprenticeshipsNAS
Have you ever considered a career in the hospitality industry? The hospitality industry is growing each year and Jobcentre Plus receives 24,000 job vacancies every month. Working in Hospitality is not just about being in the kitchen; it covers a wide range of exciting and fast paced roles:
r e d n e Bar T Foo Recep d t i S er o n S taff vice Event S ta Co-ordinator ff
/ r P o r s i o v f r e e s p s u i o S n l e al g t n i r e t o a C H ager C hef n r e g a a n Ma M Restaurant Supervisor/Manager
Forth Valley College offer a wide range of Hospitality courses across our state-of-the-art campuses, where students will be able to work at our commercial restaurant, prepare and deliver school meals and get involved on-going College events.
So kick start your hospitality career at Forth Valley College! To find out more call or visit our website. Call: 0845 634 4444 Email: info@forthvalley.ac.uk Surf: http://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/courses/hospitality Š Forth Valley College 2015. All information was correct at time of publishing, but may be subject to change.
National Apprenticeship Week, 9-15 March 2015
ESHIP RENTIC
GUIDE
APP
Apprenticeships:
EARN WHILE YOU LEARN With National Apprenticeship Week kicking off on 9 March, we take a look at how apprenticeships work, what you get out of it and how to get involved
t’s one of the biggest crises we all face – what am I going to do when I finish school? Continuing with education at college or uni isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s another learning option which could pay off – literally! Modern Apprenticeships offer Scots the chance to get started in the workplace, earn money and pick up a qualification all at the same time – a pretty sweet deal. It’s a mixture of practical work and studying, so great for those who enjoy learning but want to get working ASAP. Many MAs continue working with the company they start with and work their way up, while others take their experience and qualification to further their career elsewhere.
I
WHAT CAN YOU DO? • Administration
There will be a total of 25,000 Modern Apprenticeships available in Scotland this year.
www.sourcemagazine.org.uk
MAs in Scotland work towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) from level 2 upwards.
• Animal care • Automotive • Chemicals and biotechnology related • Construction • Creative and cultural skills • Engineering and energy • Financial services • Food and drink • Hospitality and tourism • ICT • Management • Manufacturing
MA FACT
MA FACT
• Personal services • Retail and customer service • Sport, health and social care • Transport and logistics
GREAT OPPORTUNITY
So how does it all work? Apprenticeships take between one and four years, and it’s a great opportunity to get hands-on experience, as well as formal, industryrecognised training that’ll make your CV shine. Apprentices have a proper job with responsibilities, tasks and duties within a company – and you’ll be expected to work your socks off and show you have what it takes. You'll be part of a structured training programme and you'll have certain aims and goals to meet while you work. The employer will be signed up with a training provider and agree
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National Apprenticeship Week, 9-15 March 2015
that you will carry out specific tasks (www.myworldofwork.co.uk), to help you gain a qualification. and most local authorities have The qualification you work towards apprenticeship portals where local is called a Scottish Vocational opportunities will be advertised – ask Qualification, or SVQ, and there are your school or college careers adviser four different levels for MAs, starting or search online for more info. at level 2. How this is assessed varies, Once you find a job you like the look depending on the training provider of, you’ll usually be asked to fill in an the employer is linked application form detailing up with – some MAs your education and work MA FACT attend college on day experience to date. Some MAs are open to release or for a few sectors, like construction and those aged 16 or weeks, some might have oil and gas, might ask that over – there’s no to attend courses here you undertake an aptitude upper limit. and there, while others test before you start your are assessed by their application to assess your training provider based strengths and weaknesses on the work they’re doing day to day. in certain areas. If the employer likes the Apprenticeships are offered in a look of you, you’ll be invited to interview, huge range of different industries, where it’s time to impress! Be honest, from admin to transport (see page open and be prepared to blow your own 25 for a full list), and lots of massive trumpet – competition is fierce in the employers offer them too, like Arnold apprenticeship market, so you want to Clark, BT, Morgan Stanley, Petrofac, stand out. Scottish Water and local authorities Apprenticeships give you an Scotland-wide. It’s a good way of edge over those who continue with getting your foot in the traditional classroom-based learning door with a major employer and because you’re getting vital work learning from some of experience and learning the best people in the more about the working MA FACT business too. environment straight away. The average You’ll grow in confidence, weekly gross mature quickly, learn FINDING pay of an MA in Scotland is £235. skills vital for your chosen A ROLE industry and you’ll not have Before applying for the student debt that your apprenticeships, do mates at uni have! a bit of research into the different There’s thousands of apprenticeship industries and job roles – look into opportunities on offer right across individual apprenticeships to see Scotland – so get online and see where what qualifications and experience you could be kick-starting your career is required. Some may ask for a few now. It could be the best decision you Standard Grade or Nationals, while make this year... ● other employers don’t ask for any formal qualifications. You can search for vacancies through job boards like Apprenticeships in Scotland (www.apprenticeshipsinscotland. com) or My World of Work
My World of Work www.myworldofwork.co.uk Skills Development Scotland www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk
GUIDE
SPRING 2015
IP
Celebrity apprentices These famous faces all started out in apprenticeships... MICHAEL CAINE He’s one of Britain’s most famous actors – but did you know that Michael Caine started out life as an apprentice plumber? STELLA MCCARTNEY The super successful fashion designer started her career as an apprentice to tailor Edward Sexton before attending Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design. SIR ALEX FERGUSON The former Manchester United boss was an apprentice tool worker on a shipyard while he played football part-time. GORDON RAMSAY Where did Gordon Ramsay learn his craft? As a catering apprentice. The Michelin-starred chef has truly worked his way up.
ON THE
WEB
MA FACT
Apprenticeships can take between one and four years.
Apprenticeships in Scotland www.apprenticeshipsinscotland.com
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SourceMagazine
PICS: © GETTY IMAGES
National Apprenticeship Service www.apprenticeships.org.uk
APPREN
@SourceMag
DO YOU WANT TO START A GREAT CAREER WITH SCOTTISH WATER AS A
MODERN APPRENTICE / TRAINEE? Start an apprenticeship with Scottish Water and you’ll have your ticket to first-class training and mentoring, hands on work experience and huge investment in your development by earning nationally recognised qualifications – all while getting paid! The apprenticeship you join us in depends on your qualifications and interests. You could choose from a variety of roles; water treatment and quality; dealing with the leaks and bursts in the pipe networks; directly supporting our customers; electrical or mechanical engineering; managing our asset base; or scientific services in our laboratory. We actively encourage and promote diversity and have roles that suit all kinds of people – we are sure you will find an opportunity that appeals to you on our Careers Site. Scottish Water is one of the largest water companies in the UK providing essential services to the people of Scotland. We strive for the highest levels of safety and quality, to deliver a leading customer experience, to support the communities in which we live and work, and to be a great place to work.
Are you ready to start an incredible journey? To see more, including videos where current modern apprentices tell their stories, visit our Careers site: www.scottishwater.co.uk/about-us/careers/careers-at-scottish-water.
Applications go live in April 2015
don’t miss out!
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST NOW FOR OUR 2015 OPPORTUNITIES BY VIEWING OUR CURRENT VACANCIES ON THE CAREERS SITE.
National Apprenticeship Week, 9-15 March 2015
ON THE
JOB
GUIDE TICESH
IP
Meet two young Scots reaping the rewards of a Modern Apprenticeship
LISA WILL
SCOTTISH WATER Lisa, 23, from Aberdeen, is an MA network service operator with Scottish Water. She’s been with the company since 2011. What is your role with Scottish Water? I’m a customer-facing network service operator. I go out and deal with people who have low water pressure, water rising in the streets because of burst water mains – a whole multitude of things. I can be doing anything from checking street covers to taking water pressure to looking for burst mains, to assisting with repairs. What qualification are you working towards with the MA? I’ve got an SVQ at Level 2, and I’m currently sitting an HNC in water as well. I go to college once a month. What do you enjoy about your job? I get to meet lots of new people on a daily basis. I’m the only girl on the team working as a service operator, so it’s a bit different, but I feel part of a really good team. Why would you recommend doing an MA to others? It’s a good way to learn on the job and it gets you started in a career that will last – it’s not just something for a couple of years. You get real work experience too. What are your future career hopes? Hopefully this will lead to a good job with Scottish Water, and maybe take me on to be a team leader or a manager over time. ● New Modern Apprenticeship opportunities with Scottish Water go live this April – get online and register your interest now at www.scottishwater.co.uk
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SPRING 2015
NICOLE GALLAGHER
ARNOLD CLARK Twenty-one-year-old Nicole, from Bishopbriggs near Glasgow, started her apprenticeship with car dealership Arnold Clark in 2013. She landed the apprentice technician role after taking part in the Prince’s Trust’s Get into Car Mechanics programme. She’s working towards an SVQ3 to become a qualified mechanic. How did you get started at Arnold Clark? I was working in a nightclub, I went into the Jobcentre to see what my options were, and the girl asked me what my hobbies were. I told her that I liked cars, and she told me about this programme with the Prince’s Trust – the Get into Car Mechanics programme that taught the basics of mechanics with an opportunity for an apprenticeship with Arnold Clark. What does your job involve day to day? I put the theory into practice by servicing cars, carrying out repairs and maintenance, checking and changing tyres. Working with qualified technicians allows me to learn something new every day. What does the training involve? Most of it’s on the job, but we also go to college throughout the term – all-in-all it’s about eight weeks over the year for three years. What do you enjoy about your job? Everything really. The people I work with really help me, they’re all really good at sharing what they know. Would you recommend that other people apply for apprenticeships? Yes, definitely. It’s something you should go for, you’ll get a lot out of it – it’s great that you get trained to do a job and get paid at the same time. ● Find out more about apprenticeship opportunities with Arnold Clark at www.gtg.co.uk/apprenticeship-programmes
SourceMagazine
@SourceMag
G N I T I U R C E R WE ARE S E C I T N E R P P A 200
Arnold Clark Automobiles are providing an excellent opportunity throughout the UK for 16 – 19 year old school leavers interested in starting a career and gaining a recognised qualification in the motor industry. The Apprenticeship Programmes allow apprentices the opportunity to earn while they learn and to put theory into practice within an automotive training environment, and they cover all aspects of vehicle repair and maintenance. We have the following apprenticeships available: • VEHICLE SERVICING AND REPAIRS • PARTS/SALES OPERATIONS • SPRAY PAINTERS AND PANEL BEATERS Successful candidates will be able to use their initiative to produce a high standard of work, and have good customer service skills and a willingness to learn. This position could lead to career opportunities such as senior technician, or supervisory or management roles.
You will be based at an Arnold Clark branch and will attend our state-of-the-art GTG training centre on a weekly basis, where you will be trained, developed and assessed, ultimately leading to an Apprenticeship. The duration of the programme is approximately 3 to 4 years. Candidates must have received either a Standard Grade (1–4), National Grade (4/5) or GCSE (Grade A–E) in Maths and English, and either a science or technical subject. Benefits include excellent working conditions, extensive training, life assurance and private health care, making our package one of the best in the industry.
If you think you have what we are looking for and are ready for a new and exciting challenge, please visit:
arnoldclark.com/careers
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS NOW FOR SEPTEMBER 2015 INTAKE
STUDYING
hiring – not all vacancies get advertised through mainstream job sites.
FURTHER STUDY
Not everyone’s education ends with a bachelor's degree. Increasingly, graduates are sticking around uni a little bit longer to do postgraduate certificates or diplomas, teacher training, master’s degrees or even PhDs. This is a great way of learning more about a topic that interested you during your undergrad, or picking up an entirely new skill set that could lead to an exciting career.
VOLUNTEER
Not everyone emerges from university with a clear idea of what they want to do. If you’re struggling to get into work or don’t know what to do, volunteering gives you the chance to develop your skills and see where you might be able to put them to use. A TimeBank survey of the UK’s top
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH
A DEGREE? For those of you eyeing up university after the summer, you’ll be getting swept up in thoughts of freshers’ week, new friends, your first student flat, lecture-free days and all the freedom that comes with student life. But have you considered what happens once all the fun of uni is over and you’ve picked up your degree? We take a look at some of the most popular options for graduates
GRAD SCHEMES
Graduate schemes are a really popular destination for university graduates. These structured employment and training schemes qualify you to do a specific job (not all university degrees focus on practical skills), and you get paid at the same time – it’s a win-win! Grad schemes tend to be offered by big businesses, like PwC, Aldi, Deloitte, the Civil Service, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Shell and more. Think of the sector you fancy working in, whether that’s marketing, retail or science, and get Googling.
INTERNING
In some industries, such as media or charities, interning is almost a rite of passage. An internship is an opportunity to work within a company for a fixed
www.sourcemagazine.org.uk
period of time in an entry-level role, often for little or not pay. You’ll do your fair share of tea-making and photocopying, but you’ll also learn vital skills like teamwork, tolerance and you’ll get to find out more about the job. Head to www.milkround.com and www.gothinkbig.co.uk for ideas.
JOB HUNT
Not all graduates go into training schemes or even graduate-level jobs – in fact, only 14% of those who apply for graduate schemes successfully land a place. Sometimes, hitting up a job site and applying for anything and everything you think you can do is the best option – who knows where it could take you? Alternatively, approach companies directly and see if they’re
200 businesses found that almost three quarters of employers would employ a candidate with volunteer experience over one without.
TRAVEL THE WORLD
Before you get tied down into a job, lengthy lease or – terrifyingly – a mortgage or serious relationship, you might want to go exploring. Not only does travel give you brilliant once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a more exciting Instagram feed, but it really broadens your horizons, cultural understanding and makes you a more attractive prospect to employers. Check out student travel providers STA Travel (www.statravel.co.uk) or volunteer projects like VSO (www.vso.org.uk) and get inspired. l
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So do you want to join the global body for professional accountants? Ally Stokoe is ACCA’s business relationship manager for Scotland and has over 20 years experience of helping students make the right career choice for their future. Ally visits university events and careers fairs across the UK and is asked all sorts of questions by students, from the need to know what exemptions you require to study with ACCA, to how to balance a full time job with studying. Here, he answers your most common queries. What qualificationS are needed before you can Start the acca qualification? You can start studying ACCA without any prior accountancy knowledge. The ACCA Qualification will provide you with all the skills and knowledge you need to work as an accountant in ANY sector, ANYWHERE in the world. The minimum entry requirements are three Highers and two Standard Grades or their equivalent. These need to be in five separate subjects including maths and English, but not necessarily at Higher Grade. If you have a relevant degree from a university accredited by ACCA, you may be eligible for exemptions from some of the ACCA examinations. hoW long Will it take to become a fully qualified acca? To qualify as an ACCA member you need to pass (or be exempt from) 14 exams, complete at least three years full-time equivalent of relevant, supervised training (fulfilling the competency requirements) and complete an online ethics module. ‘MOST TRAINEES QUAlIfY IN 3–4 YEARS. What exemptionS can you get? Exemptions are awarded on the basis of relevant content and on an individual basis when you register – the modules you have studied as part of your course are compared to the ACCA syllabus. Therefore, if you have covered exactly the same subject, at the same depth and it has been assessed in the same way you may be entitled to exemption.
This means that some subject areas such as law, business studies and IT are eligible for exemptions whilst other subjects such as maths and economics courses generally are not. To check your eligibility, visit www.accaglobal.com/exemptions hoW much Will it coSt to Study the acca qualification? On registration you will be asked to pay an initial registration fee. Then on 1 January each year, an annual subscription fee will be due. As you enter for exams or claim exemptions, a payment will be requested. What’S the difference betWeen the profeSSional qualificationS? There are many accountancy qualifications, so picking the right option for you is difficult. The ACCA Qualification is designed to give you the knowledge you need for a successful career, and is equally strong in management and financial accounting skills. ACCA is the only professional body to offer option modules allowing you to steer your career in the direction you want, so you have complete control, like our members, who often move between sectors. ACCA also has more members in more countries around the world than any other UK body, something to consider when making your decision. As you will hold this qualification for the whole of your career, it’s important you really think about what you want to do. You may have many employers but only need one qualification. Choose the one that is right for you.
‘ACCA IS THE ONlY PROfESSIONAl BODY TO OffER OPTION MODUlES AllOWING YOU TO STEER YOUR CAREER IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT.’ hoW can you gain your practical experience? Practical experience is gained through working in an accountancy-related position. ACCA allows you to work for any company in any sector. However, it is your responsibility to secure your employment. To become qualified, you need to demonstrate that you have completed 36 month’s full-time equivalent practical experience. This is done by completing your online My Experience record that is signed by your workplace mentor. ACCA recognises experience gained before, during or after your studies. This means, if you have prior relevant experience (such as a previous job or a placement during university) it can count towards your three years’ practical experience requirement. Part time and temporary work will count on a pro-rata basis but it is sometimes difficult to get sufficient breadth and depth of experience to count towards the 13 performance objectives you need to achieve. Start your journey with ACCA today at www.accaglobal.com/ukgraduates
To stay ahead with the latest graduate news, jobs and to find out when Ally will be on your campus follow us on Twitter @ACCAUK_OnCampus
TIME OUT
With the Scottish Youth Parliament elections and General Election edging ever closer, why is it important that you start to care about all things political? Rachael Fulton finds out
he world of politics changed drastically for Scottish young people in 2014. For the first time, 16 and 17 year olds were given the right to vote, enabling them to have their say in Scotland’s historic independence referendum on 18 September. Thousands of young people across Scotland were empowered to research, join campaigns, pound pavements handing out flyers and realise their potential to make a difference. Of the 3.6m people who turned out to vote in the referendum, 100,000 of them were 16 and 17 year olds voting for the first time. But what about the upcoming General Election? On 7 May, UK citizens will vote for the political party they feel most adequately represents their needs; a choice that will influence the allocation of power from their local constituency up to the House of Commons.
T
LACK OF VOTE Many of the young Scots who were politically active throughout the referendum will not yet have turned 18 by May, and could find themselves frustrated at their lack of vote in the General Election. There’s also the danger that their enthusiasm for politics will lose momentum and fizzle out. That’s where the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) come in. The SYP is democratically elected, politically impartial and committed to campaigning about issues that matter most to young Scots. SYP actively encourages young people between the ages of 14 and 25 to engage in political debate, identify the issues they care most about and try to change society for the better. Even if you fall in the age gap between voting in the referendum and having no right to vote in the General Election, you can still have your say in the upcoming SYP elections in March.
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S NT S? ' T I C I A O H P LIT W HE O T FP O
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Scotland’s young people can stand as candidates for their constituencies in the SYP elections every two years, presenting their manifestos and highlighting the differences they’d like to make to their communities. GET INVOLVED “We don’t want young people who voted in the referendum but who can’t vote in the General Election to lose hope,” says Louise Cameron, 18, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament. “We want them to stay interested in the process. You can still hold politicians to account through SYP. Go and read the SYP candidate manifestos and decide who represents you best, investigate their plans and make sure they are representing the people ahead of the elections. Get involved in campaigns that matter to you.” Political engagement stretches beyond the right to vote. Anyone aged 14 or over can campaign within SYP or join the youth branch of the political party they believe represents them best. Even if you have never been involved in politics before, or you’re put off by the mainstream mud-slinging between parties you see in the media, you can still make a difference in the world of politics. Do you believe women should be paid equally to men? That healthcare should be free? That the government should improve conditions for the poor? If you have an opinion on something that affects the society you live in, you’re already interested in politics – you just haven’t made your voice heard yet. POLITICAL MAKEOVER “There’s a lot of misconceptions around the world of politics,” says Louise. “People think it will be boring, that it’s for middle-aged men who wear suits and argue all the time. At SYP, we really try to break down those barriers.
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“We have been saying for years that young people are interested in issuebased politics, not the bickering and point-scoring you see on TV. Politics needs a makeover, and we’re helping to contribute to that.” Louise got involved in SYP when she was 14, not because she wanted to pursue a career in politics, but because she wanted to help the disadvantaged people in her community have a voice. “When I started, I just wanted to help shy people who had something to say,” says Louise. “I wanted to promote their
“PEOPLE THINK POLITICS WILL BE BORING, THAT IT’S FOR MIDDLE-AGED MEN WHO WEAR SUITS AND ARGUE ALL THE TIME. AT SYP, WE REALLY TRY TO BREAK DOWN THOSE BARRIERS” Louise Cameron, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament
voice and help them get their opinions heard. I always want to fight for the underdog.” Since then, Louise has been active in the Love Equally campaign and the campaign to implement a living wage, among others. “I did huge work in the same-sex marriage campaign, and ended up speaking to the committee to finalise the legislation and convince them to legalise gay marriage,” she says. “I saw the campaign from beginning to end and it was very special to me. I knew I had made a difference.” MAKING A DIFFERENCE Louise has not only helped instigate valuable political change in her four years at SYP, she has also improved her self-confidence and built up incredible experience for her CV. By becoming actively engaged in politics she has increased her university and employment opportunities, widened her social circle and developed life-long skills. “It’s been a life-changing experience,” says Louise. “You make friends through other organisations, like-minded people who care about the same things. It gives you a taste of politics and the confidence I’ve gained is incredible. Some of us have had the opportunity to speak at the House of Commons, and you wouldn’t get the chance to do that anywhere else as a teenager.” l The Scottish Youth Parliament elections take place in March 2015. For more information on candidates visit www.syp.org.uk. The General Election takes place on May 7. To learn more and register your vote visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.
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we predict a great night out
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STUDYING
SHOW EXAM STRESS
WHO'S
BOSS
Whether you’re facing Nationals, Highers, unit assessments or your first big tests at university, Simon Ritchie shares some top tips for staying cool, calm and collected as exam season approaches
oohoo, it’s exam time! What, no one? OK, so it's nobody's favourite time of year, but much like cleaning your room or awkward family dinners with relatives you see once a year, it's something we all have to face. Thankfully there are a few steps you can take to make sure you do yourself proud and don't end up starring in TOWIE (trust us – it’s not as fun as it looks)...
mentally. While studying is a big deal, so is making sure you still have enough time to enjoy yourself outside of class. After all, that’s the reason you want good grades. Any after-school activities or clubs you are a part of are great ways to blow off steam, and shouldn’t be sacrificed just because exams are coming up – it’s important to strike a balance.
PLAN AHEAD
STUDY BUDDIES
W
Although the urge to put everything off until the last minute can be tempting, it isn’t worth the stress and worry. Make a study plan with time set aside every night, or whenever you’re free, for each subject. A wee hour here and there isn’t much, but if you start now, it all adds up. Before you know it, you’ll be mastering maths and acing art. Follow the mantra: don’t cram – plan!
HAVE A SOCIAL LIFE
Hanging out with friends is vital for keeping relaxed and feeling good
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As much as you love them for the laughs and fun times, your friends can also be a great study aid. If there’s a few of you in the same class, put together an after-school group and help each other learn the material. Testing it on each other is much less stressful than in the classroom, but has the same effect of helping you learn it. Got that friend that gets top marks but claims to never study? Don’t fall for it. Chances are they’re studying every night as well but trying to act cool.
GET ACTIVE
A healthy body equals a healthy mind. The Mental Health Foundation recommends exercise as a great way to combat feelings of stress. You don’t need to be a gym member or an athlete either, just 30 minutes of activity every day can help. Chemicals called serotonin and dopamine get released through exercise and help improve your mood – so instead of getting down, get up and go for a jog! Doing it with a mate helps motivate you both and you’ll feel the benefits to your health, your stress levels and your friendship.
TALK ABOUT IT
Remember, if you do feel as though you’re struggling or it’s getting too much, have a word with your guidance counsellor or academic advisor. It’s their job to help you through this and they won’t judge you or look down on you – they want what’s best for you. Good luck! l
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HEALTH
Get Active
Cycling in the Sun
The doom and gloom of winter is long gone, which means one thing – those days of staying indoors are behind us! Mikhaila Friel rounds up the best, most fun ways to get active, fit, healthy and re-energised for the new season
Laser Tag
SPRING INTO FITNESS Bounce Your Way to Fitness Kids love them, and it’s not hard to see why – bouncing on a trampoline sure beats going to the gym. Not only is it more fun than regular exercise, but trampolining has proven to be better for you too. Did you know that a 10-minute trampoline session is as good for you as a half-hour run? As long as the spring sun is shining, we’ll be in the back garden bouncing on our childhood toy. But for those of you who don’t own a trampoline, don’t stress. There are lots of trampoline centres bouncing up across the UK, including the brand new Air Space in East Kilbride (www.air-space.co.uk (www.air-space.co.uk). ). What are you waiting for? Get bouncing!
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This is definitely the cheapest way to get fit this spring. If you don’t own a bike, you could borrow one, or maybe even hire one – Glasgow’s got its own bike-borrowing scheme now. Either way, it won’t be too costly. The weather is finally starting to warm up, so why not spend an afternoon cycling on a pretty country road? Scotland has no shortage of countryside, so you won’t be at a loss for great cycling destinations. If you’re looking for a bit of inspiration, check out www.cycle-route.com. Don’t forget your helmet!
For days when the sun isn’t shining, this is one of the most exhilarating and fun ways to get fit – no joke. Basically, it’s like playing cops and robbers/cat and mouse/Power Rangers, and even adults can join in – that means lots of running around. It’s like starring in a real life video game – only the controllers are put to the side and your endurance is put to the test. You’ll only realise how tired you are after you finish playing – that’s the beauty of it. There are hundreds of laser tag centres around Scotland, so get Googling to find one near you.
Swimming Swimming is a great sport for spring. We were never really into shivering home with wet hair in the winter months, but now that it’s nice and warm(ish), we’ll be going full-on Flipper at our local pool. The great thing about swimming is that you can go at your own pace, from doggypaddling to Olympic-style lengths, and you’ll be exercising in a way that’s comfortable for you and which makes a difference to your strength, health and overall fitness. It’s a total win-win. ●
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O G d n a p u t e G rust with Falkirk Community T
Our new concessionary scheme is out now – sign up today and start getting discounts when using our facilities – and FREE swimming. If you are 65+, Full Time Student, or receiving certain benefits, you could be eligible. www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org Find us on Facebook – Falkirk Community Trust Follow us on Twitter @FCTrust Falkirk Community Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of Falkirk Council.
TIME OUT
Your View
from actors and politicians (Obama commented that producers should "not get into a pattern where you are intimidated by these acts"), they backtracked and went ahead with its release. The hack is set to cost the company around $100 million overall and Pascal has recently stepped down from her post; but what will it mean for the future of film – and free speech? Sony’s decision to submit to the hackers’ threats was deemed by many as a cave-in to terrorists and put the basic right of freedom of speech at risk. Although they U-turned this time, will the threat of another hack force Sony, and other film studios, to think twice before pursuing controversial stories?
Laura Donaldson on the Sony hack and Charlie Hebdo, and why they mean more for us and our rights than you think n 12 December 2014, the world cringed as Sony co-chairman Amy Pascal came face-to-face with Angelina Jolie at a film event. The otherwise-normal exchange was excruciatingly painful to watch as, days earlier, emails between Pascal and producer Scott Rudin describing Jolie as "a minimally talented spoiled brat" were leaked to the press. Ouch.
O
For over a fortnight, Sony Pictures Entertainment watched as employees’ personal information, emails between staff and details of executive salaries at the company were revealed for everyone to see, as well as copies of unreleased films. DARKER SIDE Although we loved seeing A-list celebrity gossip unearthed, the security breach turned darker when the hackers, Guardians of Peace (GoP), demanded the cancellation of the now-infamous Seth Rogen and
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James Franco film The Interview. The comedy sees two journalists sent on an undercover mission to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Intelligence officials allege that the cyber-attack was sponsored by North Korea, though they still deny all responsibility. GoP threatened to take terrorist action against The Interview’s New York premiere and its Christmas Day release. Sony pulled the film, but after backlash
“PEOPLE OF POWER SHOULD NOT BE FREE FROM CRITICISM, BUT WE SHOULD ALL DEFEND OUR RIGHT TO CONTINUE MAKING FUNNY, TOPICAL AND CONTROVERSIAL FILMS”
UNDER ATTACK Sony CEO Kaz Hirai said: "I have to say that freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of association – those are very important lifeblood-lifelines of Sony and our entertainment business." This seems to be a blatant response to those who threaten Hollywood’s freedom, but only time will tell if Hirai will stick to his guns. Freedom of speech again came under attack in a horrifying manner on January 7 this year when terrorists stormed the Paris offices of satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing twelve people. The two events weren't connected but both emphasised the argument over whether artists should refrain from making certain types of jokes. No one should have the right to threaten or attack someone else because they don’t like what they’re saying, no matter how offensive or controversial – whether you’re a major film studio or just another man on the street. People of power should not be free from criticism, but we should all defend our right to continue making funny, topical and controversial films, cartoons, and any other form of entertainment. It’s what the business is about. Over to you now, Hollywood... l
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VOLUNTEER OVERSEAS AT NO COST WITH LATTITUDE ICS www.lattitude.org.uk
Immerse yourself in beautiful Chilean Patagonia for 4 months on your gap year
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And when the exams are all done, get away from it all on an SU Holiday this summer – relax, reflect and re-energise for the year ahead! Registered charity no. SC011222
TRAVEL
5 OF THE BEST...
Journalism in India
Gapguru offers the opportunity to work for three months in a Bangalore newsroom at New Indian Express, one of Asia's bestselling Englishlanguage papers. With a circulation of over 435,000, New Indian Express is one of the top papers in a fiercely competitive and fast-moving Indian market – working here offers invaluable experience for any wouldbe journalist out there. Expect your internship to involve researching, editing and writing your own stories for print, and gaining fantastic experience in design and layout. Plus, as you'll be staying with a local family, you'll be immersed in the culture almost immediately. DO IT: £2,070, excluding flights, gapguru.com
GAP YEAR DESTINATIONS
The gap year is officially back and the pressure is on to make your time off count – but a gap year doesn’t have to mean a gap in your CV. The chance to lie on a beach, grow dreads and pretend to like playing the ukulele for six months might be tempting, but that’s not going to impress anyone other than that hottie from the tour bus. Employers are looking for voluntary work, ambitious travel plans and unique experiences to help you stand out in the working world. Kirsty McKenzie rounds up some of the most exciting gap years that you can apply for right now
Teaching in the jungle
With Project Trust, a 12-month volunteer trip deep into the jungles of Guyana may be one of the toughest gap year opportunities out there for 17 to 18 year olds. Teachers are desperately needed in the Chenapou, a remote village in the English-speaking Potaro with a population of around 500 people. But the benefits aren't just one way –
THEY DID IT: VOLUNTEERING WITH RALEIGH ICS IN NICARAGUA Michael, 18, from Glasgow, spent 10 weeks volunteering in Nicaragua as part of Raleigh ICS. ICS (International Citizen Service) is a UK government-funded development programme tackling poverty in some of the world’s poorest communities. Michael volunteered alongside UK and Nicaraguan volunteers on a natural resource management programme.
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after 12 months, you'll get a UCASendorsed Level 3 Foundation in Global Volunteering and Citizenship – a real asset to your CV, particularly if you're interested in going on to work in medicine or with an NGO. DO IT: £5,900 including flights, obtained through fundraising, projecttrust.org.uk
“Prior to ICS, I did have an interest in poverty, both at home and overseas. Despite my interest and outrage about it, I had absolutely no idea what I could ever do to reduce it. I thoroughly enjoy taking part in charity events to raise awareness and money for certain causes, but never had the courage to take the next and vital step to actually help, by being physically present to help those in need.
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TRAVEL
Learn Spanish in Chile
So you've taken a year off, you're desperate to get a tan but you've also promised the 'rents you'll be fluent in Spanish by then end of the year. Best place to go? Chile. It may not seem like the most obvious choice to teach abroad, but volunteering to teach English in a Patogian high school five mornings a week will have you fluent in no time. You'll stay in a family home, with all meals provided. Oh, and did we mention you have all afternoons and weekends free to work on that tan? DO IT: From £2,595 for 12 weeks, excluding flights, oysterworldwide.com
Adventures in Central America
Seeking adventure while doing some good? You’re a modern day SpiderMan! Raleigh International's 10-week placement in Nicaragua and Costa Rica gives you the chance to combine public health work with a three-week adventure training course. You'll start with building trails and working with turtle conservationists in the heart of Costa Rica before moving to build classrooms and water systems in Nicaragua . Don't be fooled, this work is hardcore – you'll be trekking for up to ten hours in the jungle. But hey, if you can handle that then you are more than ready to conquer the nine to five of adult life afterwards. DO IT: £3,150, obtained through fundraising, raleighinternational.org
Experience Cuban culture
Remember when Beyoncé and Jay Z vistited Cuba and it was a huge deal? Luckily you can visit the only communist state in the Western Hemisphere with a lot less fuss. Laws in Cuba are changing – Cubans are now allowed to own their own property, engage in private enterprise and talk to visitors – and
“My ICS journey began on Raleigh International’s website, where immediately I was drawn into the depth and range of projects that they provided. “My 10 weeks in Nicaragua taught me a multitude of things, both about myself and the world around me. I learnt that charity
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these changes mean that it's now easier to visit than ever before. The Leap offers you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit a country immersed in a rich and unique history – you'll stay in Capisimos, accommodation usually used exclusively by Cubans, and visit the infamous Bay of Pigs for a two-week coral reef conservation project. Your trip will
also include two visits to Havana, first for a two-week education in Spanish culture taught by Cuban academic Jose Blanco Ramirez, and again for a fortnight renovating the Rafael Trejo Boxing Gimnasio. Seriously, get over there before everyone else does. DO IT: £2,190 for six weeks, including all meals but excluding flights, theleap.co.uk
does not necessarily have to involve a huge construction project; it can be as simple as talking to those in need, and listening to them.
confident individual. It has been an experience through which I feel like I have made a real improvement in the lives of many people far less fortunate than me.” ●
“If I had to describe myself now after completing ICS, I would say that I will leave this process a more
Find out more information about Raleigh ICS at raleighinternational.org/ics.
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CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD
Share skills, fight poverty Raleigh ICS Entrepreneur challenges and inspires young people to use their skills and creativity to support emerging businesses in Nicaragua or Tanzania. With your support, we can help rural entrepreneurs build a brighter future. We are looking for volunteers aged 18-25 and team leaders aged 23 and upwards for this life-changing, government funded volunteering programme. www.raleighinternational.org/entrepreneur ICS is led by VSO in partnership with respected development organisations and funded by the Department for International Development (DFID).
Follow us @ICS_UK facebook.com/ICS
TIME OUT
Spring 2015
WHAT'S
© RUTH ARMSTRONG
ON THE BIGGEST, BEST EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTHS AHEAD
PICS: HISTORY BOYS © MATT MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY / FRED MACAULAY PIC © ANDREW LAING PHOTOGRAPHY
Music
Spring’s going to be huge for music in Scotland. Dozens of A-listers, B-listers, old favourites and up-and-comers are heading our way. The likes of McBusted, Sam Smith, Paloma Faith, Charli XCX, Nicki Minaj, Ben Howard, Take That and many, many more are all Scotland-bound for spring, and you could be there! Head to www.gigsinscotland.com to see listings for your area. We’ve got some ace festivals on the go too that'll get you in the mood for summer – check out Brew at the Bog (2-3 May, Inverness, www.brewatthebog.com), X Music Festival (22-23 May, Edinburgh, (www.xmusicfestival.co.uk) and Electric Frog and Pressure Riverside Festival (29-30 May, Glasgow, www.riversidefestivalglasgow.com) for starters.
Sport
Whether you’re into armchair spectating or you prefer to be in on the action, sports fans have heaps to look forward to this spring. Football season’s ticking on, leading up to the Scottish Cup final at Hampden on 30 May, the Cricket World Cup draws to a close on 29 March in Australia, the Emirates Airline Rugby 7s is
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at Glasgow’s Scotstoun on 9 and 10 May (www.scottishrugby.com) and the Formula 1 season starts on 15 March in Melbourne.
Something different
If you fancy something different, look no further! The National Museum of Scotland’s Game Masters exhibition, celebrating all things video gamerelated, is on until 20 April (www.nms. ac.uk) – a great day out for gamers. The Edinburgh International Science Festival (4-19 April, www.sciencefestival.co.uk) is great for anyone with an enthusiasm for the scientific – and it’s ten times more interesting than dusty textbooks. Film fans can check out the Glasgow Short Film Festival from 11-15 March (www. glasgowfilm.org), while art lovers can follow the V&A Museum of Dundee’s exhibition, Design in Motion – the busbased exhibit is travelling across Scotland right now. Find out more at www. vandadundee.org. If you’re into books, check out the Aye Write programme. From 17-25 April, Glasgow’s book festival has got some brilliant guest speakers and events taking place this year. Head to www.ayewrite.com.
Theatre and comedy
Now in its 13th year, the Glasgow International Comedy Festival has an
amazing lineup for 2015. You can choose from film screenings of favourites like Mrs Doubtfire and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, unusual experiences like the Subway’s Shoogle Your Funny Bone event, comedy quizzes, workshops with the BBC and performances from big names like Jimmy Carr, Al Murray and telly favourite Burnistoun. If you’re after something a little more dramatic, head to your local theatre. In Aberdeen, check out Jersey Boys (3-14 March) and Wicked (5-30 May) at His Majesty’s Theatre (www.aberdeenperformingarts.com). Glaswegians can go for Shrek the Musical at the King’s Theatre (29 April-17 May) or the stage version The King’s Speech at the Theatre Royal (16-21 March, both www.atgtickets.com). In Edinburgh, you’ve got The History Boys at the King’s Theatre (17-21 March) and Scottish Ballet’s A Streetcar Named Desire at the city’s Festival Theatre (18-21 March) – tickets for both are available from www.edtheatres.com. Check your local listings for more inspiration. l VisitScotland www.visitscotland.com
SPRING 2015
ON THE
WEB
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INTERVIEW
Ten minutes with...
he just loved my album and wants to play it and I remember I was acting so cool, but once he turned around I was like… [whispers] OH MY GOD, and my mum’s like, ‘That was the coolest thing, of life ever, right there.’ All About That Bass has become a global hit. Did you have an inkling that it was going be so successful? I went to my favourite songwriters and they said, ‘How do you know you had a hit?’ And I said, ‘It’s the ones you never guess, it’s ones you never know.’ We did All About That Bass and we shelved it. I was like, ‘No pop star can sing this ‘cause they’re all size zeros and no one can rap and sing.’ So the fact that this was probably my biggest song of life, it was one of those, I had no clue.
MEGHAN TRAINOR
The All About That Bass singer talks Grammys, Nick Jonas and penguins
You signed your record deal just over a year ago, and you’ve gone from being a successful, but relatively unknown songwriter, to being a Grammy-nominated global star… Grammy-nominated… that’s me! What was it like finding out you were nominated for two Grammys? Epic. A person who makes music only dreams… [Their only] dreams in life are to get Grammys. And I’ve done that at 20 years old, now I’m 21. For the rest of my life, I’ll be introduced as ‘Grammynominated Meghan Trainor’. That’s epic! What would you say that your highlight was over the past year? I just had a new one! My birthday was
“FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, I’LL BE INTRODUCED AS ‘GRAMMYNOMINATED MEGHAN TRAINOR’. THAT’S EPIC!” everything. I had an arena of 20,000 people sing Happy Birthday to me ‘cause of Nick Jonas. Who I’m like, the biggest fan of. But I also just did Jimmy Fallon, I performed on it. And after, Jimmy came to talk to me and my parents about how
How’s it been flying around the world and visiting loads of different countries? It’s amazing. I can say I’ve been to Australia, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the UK. And a lot of 20-year -olds can’t say that. They can say they’ve studied abroad but in one place. Have you got a favourite country that you’ve visited so far? This ones the prettiest, and I’m not saying that ‘cause you’re here! This one reminds me of Germany for some reason, my view was exactly the same. But the food in Germany was outstanding. Do you bring any home comforts with you to have on the road? I have a stuffed animal named Paddles that I recently got, it’s a penguin. He’s kinda famous on Instagram. I bring him everywhere. He’s great. Finally, what does the rest of the year hold for you? It’s gonna be my year to really get people, let people start to know Meghan Trainor and who she is and what she’s about. And I’m so excited. 2014 was pretty epic. l
CHECK IT OUT
Meghan Trainor’s debut album TITLE is out now via RCA Records. See her live at Glasgow’s O2 ABC on 10 April – get your tickets from www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
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NEW MUSIC FAN BOY ALLY IS BACK WITH MORE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU TO WRAP YOUR EARS AROUND
HIYYYYYYYA I’m Ally and my life is all about new music – finding it, loving it and then telling the world about it. I’ve presented stuff on BBC Radio 1, BBC TV, I DJ live, I put on my own gigs, and even manage a band, which sounds cool, but mostly involves spread sheets. Here’s some new music I love that I think you should check out.
SOUND
BITES
cCrae with Ally M
YOUR NEW FAVOURITE BAND
Music is everything to me, and I love nothing more than discovering new bands and watching them get huge. Name drop these guys to impress your mates
TWITTER REVIEWS A short and sweet look at who’s hot right now
SEAFRET This duo are set to BLOW UP. Predominantly acoustic, their breakthrough single Oceans, from the EP of the same name, feels like it is everywhere right now – so much love on the radio. You’ll have heard it in the background of a heap of TV shows. From what I’ve heard, this is just the beginning. They are out around the country right now on a tour of coffee houses, and soon it’s going to be arenas – trust me. Did I mention Maisie Williams is in the video for the single? Yeah, her from Game of Thrones. Amazing. Go get all mushy over them on Twitter, @Seafretofficial
K.FLAY (@kflay) Recently took her first trip to the UK touring with LIGHTS, she’s from San Francisco and effortlessly cool. Check out her debut EP now.
MAGIC MAN Time for some Americans. This sun-kissed, indie-poploving five-piece are just about to release their debut album and make their first trip across the Atlantic to play in the UK. I first saw them last year in New York City, where their fanbase was near-hysterical when they stepped onstage – cue screaming girls. Get on board with their biggest track Paris – it’s so, so catchy. Yeah, they are pretty well-known in the States, but you will still look like a boss knowing about them before they inevitably explode here. Ask them to bring some sunshine with them on Twitter, @magicman
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SPRING 2015
Vaults (@vaults) With their live shows getting bigger and bigger, it’s only a matter of time before this mysterious, hazy and intoxicating duo blow up. The Beach (@TheBeachMusic) Some serious hype about just one track on Soundcloud, Thieves. Go check it.
REMI MILES Nigerian-born, USA-raised and now hanging out in Brighton, Remi is the real deal. Recently out on English tour dates with the arena-ready Prides, Remi Miles has got a whole lot of soul. Some killer tracks from his first appearances online, and the live show is as captivating as I hoped it would be. This guy knows how to dress, how to perform and how to pen a right catchy pop tune. His debut EP Under Light Symphonies is out now. Get following @remimiles
Check out Ally’s new music video channel at www.detour-scotland.com and his blog www.turnthetapeover.tumblr.com
DIVIDES (@dividesofficial) Brand new rock fivepiece from Glasgow, picking up a lot of love in the rock press and kicking butt live.
ON THE
WEB
Bessa (too cool, find him on Soundcloud) Glasgow-based producer, with enough funk to put Mark Ronson and Bruno both in the bin.
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INTERVIEW
How do you find the recording process? [Songwriting is] just another extension of my life so there’s good days and there’s bad days. There’s moments where I’ve felt like I’ve discovered something very special and that’s exciting because it’s almost like attaining a secret no-one else knows and I’ve been holding it from them, and finally the cat’s going to be out of the bag!
AWOLNATION In 2011, US electronic rock band AWOLNATION, formed and fronted by Aaron Bruno, released their single Sail to a reaction nobody predicted. Now, the band are back with their second album, Run. Aaron got on the phone to Source’s Laura Donaldson all the way from LA to talk about the much-anticipated new release
How would you describe AWOLNATION’s sound? I would never dare try and take on that task! I would rather the listener decide for themselves. Your new album is coming out next month – what can fans expect? I think they can expect version 2.0 of AWOLNATION. It’s been a few years since the first album – did you plan to take that amount of time out? The last album had such a long lifespan and still new people are discovering it, so the last thing I wanted to do was stunt the natural growth of it. I felt
“I WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD THESE SONGS I WROTE” lucky that I had time to write this record. Sometimes I think a break is a good thing – you know when you’re in a relationship and you spend too much time with someone? Not that you don’t want to see them, but you need to miss them.
Is it hard to choose which songs to include on albums? There was a few songs that didn’t make the album that definitely disappointed some of the people who got the chance to hear them. What you’re going to be hearing is the story that I wanted to tell, and that was what was most important to me. You must have done a lot of travelling over the last few years – do you enjoy life on the road? I do, I really like travelling. Getting to go around with your best buddies and experience all our Earth has to offer is a blessing. Getting to meet different human beings and experiencing different cultures can be very inspiring for songwriting and lyrics, and life in general. It's definitely a great thing. What’s been your career highlight so far? The whole thing! I wake up every day and I can’t believe that so many people have heard these songs I wrote. I feel blown away every single day. What advice would you give to people looking to get into the music industry? Don’t do it, is my first advice. And secondly, all I can speak on is songwriting as that’s what I know best. What I wish I’d known earlier in my career is that you can always write a better song, and you should always be confident that you can better yourself with your craft. l
CHECK IT OUT
Run by AWOLNATION is available from 16 March on Red Bull Records.
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