Long Road Careers and Progression e-Mag issue 31 by lrcareersdepartment

Strive for success this summer

Work Experience bumper edition

CAREERS AND PROGRESSION

UCAS and Apprenticeship advice

LRSFC ISSUE 31 JULY 2021

Student success stories

P7 BRIGHT NETWORK

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VESPA INTRODUCTION WORK EXPEREINCE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS SHAREPOINT SPRINGPOD BRIGHT NETWORK CUH ARM ESCAPE STUDIOS FIRST INTUITION JOB VACANCIES

13 LINCOLN MEDICAL SCHOOL

P17 UNIFORMED SERVICES EVENT 8TH JULY

HEALTH CAREERS LIVE

PROGRESSION WEEK ON DEMAND

UNIFORMED SERVICES EVENT

UK UNIVERSITY AND APPRENTICESHIP FAIR

19-24

P19-24 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT STORIES

UCAS APPRENTICESHIP HUB

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT STORIES

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR UNIVERSITY

UNI OR APPRENTICESHIP

MEDIC PORTAL

PARENT HUB - AFTER LONG ROAD ON DEMAND

FIND OUT MORE

Congratulations! We have all made it through a challenging academic year, and the summer break beckons. As the England football team faces their biggest sporting challenge on Sunday, it will be their ability to draw upon many hours of training and experience that helps them focus, and hopefully, succeed in winning the Euro 2020 competition. However, it is their self-belief and courage, as well as mastery of sporting skills that will make them proud of their achievements, no matter what the outcome of that game. So, pat yourself on the back because as we reach the end of the summer term, you are already successful! Reaching this point will help you to face challenges in the future, and what claims you can make in future interviews: you were able to respond rapidly to deal with the pressure of Covid Lockdown; you developed new IT skills learning how to use Teams; using that platform and others like Zoom, no doubt, you were able to successfully network with the outside world; demonstrating resilience as the lockdown stretched on and on; whilst being adaptable to embrace a new approach to learning – online as well as onsite.

It reads well, doesn’t it? So, recognise how well you have done, be courageous and believe in yourself, and consider how you might use the development of these skills and attributes in future career planning. As ever, to help you plan for future success, this final eMag of the academic year has lots to grab your attention. Spotlight articles written by two former students, present you with their experiences and how they have managed to succeed in their own way. There are links for connecting with universities and Apprenticeship information, and a lot of content around activities you can do to develop your skills further over the summer period. Workshops, Virtual Internships and Work Experience, insights into industries, and access to a range of college films featuring recent speakers during Progression Week activities, all present you with topical information that you can use to reflect upon where you want to progress to after next year, and so how best to use your time productively in Year two. Enjoy your break. The Progression Team

In the following pages of the eMag, we will attempt to categorise each article according to the VESPA model. As you will know, the VESPA model is comprised of 5 skills that together, will help to focus your attention on what you want to do in the future, and what you are doing to achieve your goal. Done properly, it is designed to help you establish and sustain a positive mindset, leading to an improved chance of success.

FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT AND WORK EXPERIENCE

Work Experience VWEX – An insight into careers in the Construction Industry with BAM Construction - 26th - 30th July

London: Ogilvy Health, Healthcare Advertising Work Experience Day online - Tuesday 13th July Ogilvy Health bring insight, creativity, and innovation to all stakeholders across the healthcare continuum. Their unique suite of offerings allows them to create meaningful brand experiences at every communication touchpoint—Consulting, Medical Education, HCP Promotion, Patient/Consumer Engagement, and Market Access.

Are you interested in work experience with one of the most successful construction and property services companies in the country? You’ll be working through a week’s virtual placement interacting with members of the project teams from across the UK and working on a range of work modules. Closing Date for applications 9th July.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND APPLY

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FIND MORE WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES BY VISITING THE SHAREPOINT PAGES HERE

Work Experience with Springpod E A FW: Fujitsu IT based Virtual WEx 26th July to 6th August On this two-week Fujitsu WorkX virtual work experience programme, you’ll learn about the company’s passion for using technology to create a more inclusive and sustainable future in the Fujitsu Way. You’ll explore various areas of the business including cybersecurity, quantum computing and automation. And you’ll learn about the key skills you’ll need to be successful at Fujitsu as well as how to kickstart your career with Fujitsu graduate and apprenticeship programmes.

Engineering Work Experience Between 2nd and 20th August . Kickstart your career in engineering today. Gain the skills and insight you’ll need by completing our virtual work experience programme. Get a clear understanding of what working in the industry will actually look like, complete real work and assignments and interact with industry professionals during live webinar sessions. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND APPLY

Psychology Work Experience Between 2nd and 20th August Kickstart your career in psychology today. Gain the skills and insight you’ll need by completing our virtual work experience programme. Get a clear understanding of what working in the industry will actually look like, complete real work and assignments and interact with industry professionals during live webinar sessions.

Politics Work Experience Between 2nd and 20th August Kickstart your career in politics today. Gain the skills and insight you’ll need by completing our virtual work experience programme. Get a clear understanding of what working in the industry will actually look like, complete real work and assignments and interact with industry professionals during live webinar sessions. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate to add to your CV and/or personal statement.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND APPLY

Journalism Work Experience From 2nd August During this free two-week virtual work experience programme, you’ll take an indepth look at print, broadcast and photojournalism as well as a variety of roles within the industry. You’ll meet professionals working in many of these areas and roles in webinars, which will give you a chance to ask them your questions. Finally, you’ll complete work and assignments to get an understanding of what life in the journalism industry is like. The virtual work experience programme involves around 10 hours of activity. You can complete the work over 2 weeks meaning you can fit it around your schedule. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND APPLY

TV and Film Work Experience Between 2nd and 20th August The TV & Film industry is one of the most exciting fields to work in, due to it’s fastpaced, creative and dynamic. It’s a fascinating industry that can open a lot of doors and lead to roles such as Director, Film Producer and Researcher. That’s why this virtual work experience programme will leave no stone unturned. From discovering more about the different roles available to understanding how to specialise in the area of your choice, you’ll learn a whole range of crucial topics and skills that you’ll need for your career. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND APPLY

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For detais on any of the above WEX placements and more visit https://www.springpod.co.uk/

With the challenges of last year and continuing difficulty gaining experience, Long road Sixth Form are delighted to be partnered with Bright Network on their brand new Internship Experience UK 2021 On-Demand Schools initiative. This is a unique opportunity for students to connect with world-leading employers and industry experts to gain in-depth virtual experience for an early career this summer. There are six different experiences to choose from this summer and, with no limit on places, Bright Network is looking for people passionate about their career – find out more and apply today.

Completely brand new for this summer, Internship Experience UK On Demand Schools enables you to: Build sector skills and be trained by leading employers including Amazon, Blackstone, Bloomberg, Clyde & Co, EY, Goldman Sachs, Google, Lloyd’s of London, Nestlé and Teach First Enhance your CV with experience you can shout about in future job and university applications Make the right career choice with the chance to trial whether you like a sector Gain a certification recognised by UK employers and follow thousands of members who secured roles after the experience in 2020

Click here to find out more and register

EA VIRTUAL INSIGHT PROGRAMMES SUMMER 2021 What is Medicine Really Like?: Tuesday 3rd August 2021 10am – 10:45am This programme is a re-run of the recorded session of Dr Phil Johnson presenting ‘What is Medicine Really Like?’ If you saw the session in the Autumn or last term – please do not rebook onto this one. Apply online: https://addenbrookes.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/what-is-medicine-really-like

Interview - Working in the Ambulance Service: Tuesday 3rd August 2021 2pm – 2:45pm A recording of an interview with two paramedics talking about their roles and careers in the Ambulance Service. There are many roles working for the Ambulance Service and not all are in a green uniform. Apply online: https://addenbrookes.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/interview-working-in-theambulance-service Insight into Roles in Radiology: Tuesday 10th August 2021 2pm – 3:30pm Radiology is a medical specialty that uses imaging to diagnose and treat diseases seen within the body. There are different types of radiology specialities and this talk explains the differences and areas you can work in. This is a recording of the live session last autumn. Apply online: https://addenbrookes.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/roles-in-radiology Insight into Midwifery: Wednesday 11th August 2021 2pm – 4pm Would you like to be involved in the care of “mums to be”? From the beginning of pregnancy, to labour care and delivery of baby, and the immediate care following birth? This session will give you an insight to the different career paths, specialist roles and areas within the maternity hospital, from maternity care assistants to coordinating the Delivery Unit. This is a recording of the live session last autumn. Apply online: https://addenbrookes.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/insight-into-midwifery Insight into Nursing and Theatre Roles: Tuesday 17th August 2021 10am - 1pm This programme offers a deeper insight into Healthcare Support, Adult, Paediatric and Mental Health Nursing as well theatre roles, exploring the various routes and career pathways available. This is a recording of the live programme last autumn. Apply online: https://addenbrookes.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/insight-into-nursing-and-theatreroles Places are allocated via an online application process through JISC (formerly BOS), and the Work Opportunities Team. Notification of the Zoom log in the link will be sent nearer the date of the programme. Please note you will only be notified if you are not accepted onto the programme.

Automation. Artificial intelligence. Machine learning. Arm is in the business of making all these things work for real people. More specifically 70% of all people across the planet, as they build new worlds with IoT technology. Knowledge is power. And who knows more about digitalising the world than you, who was born into a digital world? That’s why Arm respects the capabilities of young people and wants to meet with you. Join this exclusive work experience event hosted by Arm's Cambridge team. You will gain experience in the technology industry, career paths and get to meet technology professionals who work at Arm Cambridge! Get a taste of what it's like to work for one of the worlds largest technology companies.

Work Experience Programmes 2021 Apprenticeship Application Masterclass online Thursday, December 2 - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Register for this interactive online session via Uptree. You must create a free account prior to signing up. There are only 30 spaces available, so register early to increase your chances of being selected CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

LOCATION: ONLINE TIME: 12PM - 4PM COST: FREE. CLICK HERE TO BOOK BOOKINGS CLOSE ON FRIDAY 9TH JULY AT MIDNIGHT

Huws Gray, are one of the largest independent Builders Merchants in the UK. As part of the next phase of their development, Huw Gray is looking for motivated individuals to come and join their Merchant Apprenticeship Programme (MAP). This nationwide scheme will see successful individuals begin to build their careers in the builder's merchants industry and join an organisation that is committed to supporting people and growing their business. Full details of the scheme and how to apply can be found

HERE:

OPERATIONS TECHNICIAN CYTOCELL BASED: CAMBRIDGE OPERATIONS TEAM

An opportunity has arisen in our Operations Team, which is responsible for manufacturing, packing, shipping, health & safety and facilities management coordination. Reporting to Operations Supervisor, you will work as part of the team carrying out a variety of tasks in the Production process, in particular final product assembly, dispatch and warehouse duties. This is an entry-level position and full training will be provided to the appointed candidate so it is suitable for those leaving college and seeking their first job or work experience on a temporary basis (for example before starting University). The closing date is 23 July but we will be reviewing CVs as and when they are received. Full details can be found

HERE

ONLINE RESOURCES

LINCOLN MEDICAL SCHOOL – WORK EXPERIENCE WORKSHOP FRIDAY 16TH JULY 2021 4PM – 6PM The Lincoln Medical School is running a virtual work experience event, They would like to invite any student who is interested in applying to studying medicine to take part in this event. They will have two clinicians currently working in different roles as doctors within the NHS delivering a virtual session covering how they interact with patients and you will have the chance to take part in a live Q+A with them. This will give you a really good insight into working as a doctor in the NHS today and will be beneficial for personal statement writing and interview preparation.

There will also be time at the end to ask any final admissions-related questions you might have and to speak to current medical students. To take part in the session, please fill in the booking form below. https://forms.office.com/r/gpXNuR2ncd The deadline for sign up is July 13th at 12pm. Once the form has shut, you will be emailed a Zoom link to take part in the event.

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Progression Week - On Demand https://www.longroad.ac.uk/noticeboard/progression-week-2021/ to watch a recording of the following talks; Gap Years with Africa and Asia Venture Degrees in Sport with Anglia Ruskin University Post Truth Politics and Digital Fakery with University of Lincoln From Reclaim the Night to Reclaim These Streets: A Historical Perspective on the Clapham Common Vigil with University of Lincoln Gap Year Talk with Project Trust Social Work: What to expect with Anglia Ruskin University

Make sure you complete the survey to let us know what you thought of the week https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3SM8MHT

An apprenticeship can be a great way to learn and earn at the same time. Take a look at UCAS apprenticeship advice to see if they’re right for you. Interested? Apprenticeships can be competitive, so get one step ahead by signing up for apprenticeship alerts and UCAS will email you when employers tell UCAS they’ve got a vacancy that matches your skills and preference. To get smart alerts… 1. Head to your UCAS Hub and sign in 2. Subscribe to apprenticeship updates and alerts 3. Tell UCAS a bit about what you’re interested in It’s as easy as that, and UCAS will start sending you details of the latest opportunities as and when they come up to help you find the right apprenticeship for you.

UCAS.COM

What does a career in uniformed services look like? It's not just careers in the Army or Police on offer. Uniformed services cover a wide range of organisations and job roles, with jobs on the front line and behind the scenes. Join us to: Learn about the pathways available into careers in these industries, from apprenticeships to university and graduate schemes Interact and connect with some of the region's leading services, all on hand to provide insight into their sector. Come prepared with all of your burning questions! Find out about jobs that you may have never realised existed. Access advice and guidance on your next steps. It's not just careers in the Army or Police on offer. Uniformed services cover a wide range of organisations and job roles, with jobs on the front line and behind the scenes. Join us to:

Competition Winner to Experience Summer Internship in Industry One of the activities that our college is particularly keen to do, is to link with employers and generate opportunities to use their business expertise and know-how, to engage with our students and their growing skill-sets. This approach allows students to be creative, and use their skills to address real-world work issues. It was, therefore, a great pleasure to work with Costello Medical, (medical information specialists) earlier in the year, to set a competition for our Graphics students. The brief was amazing; supported by a film created by the company, students were asked to create a leaflet concerning an important medical issue that would be typically shared with the public. Emma Burton, Course Team Leader for Graphics, was very impressed by the standard of entries, recognising how well the students had captured the client’s needs and were able to submit many different mock leaflets to the company.

“ There are some amazing entries ”, she said, and she was, “ really proud of the student’s effort(s).” This was a sentiment echoed by Fay Angel, Graphic Designer at Costello Medical, who responded by saying, “… the Design Team [was] seriously impressed by the skills […] demonstrated in the leaflets.” It resulted in a long, short-list, and a lot of deliberation over who should be named the winner!

EPA

After a period of consideration, honourable mentions were given to both Shannon Casling and Sonia Casciano’s for their fantastic entries, leaving the top place to Char Dalpra, for her information leaflet about Meningitis.

Fay Angel commented that, “… using a vibrant and youthful colour scheme while communicating the seriousness of the topic,” really helped to nudge Char’s submission above the other, “very strong” entries. She commented further by saying, “We chose Char as our winner because her entry demonstrated a very solid understanding of the brief. She created an engaging and attractive leaflet that would appeal to university-aged students, while conveying the serious topic of meningitis. Char displayed a strong array of skills in her entry, and we are looking forward to her joining our team for work experience!” High praise indeed from this successful, international business, and what a prize! Char has now arranged to take up her prize of a work experience offer in the summer break, and is said to be, “…very excited and grateful for the opportunity”. We wish her the best of luck and hope that the experience helps to build upon her earlier competition successes (Char won a competition earlier in the year to create a cover for our college’s Careers eMag, too). Her portfolio will hopefully be developing into a fantastic array of college and extra-curricular content that future universities or employers will be keen to see. Well done, Char. Andy Goodwin - Head of Progression

Student Spotlight Dylan Kimberley Dylan has just finished his studies at Long Road Sixth Form and has secured an Accountancy Apprenticeship with PEM in Cambridge. He has agreed to share his journey to try and inspire other students. Starting Long Road When I started my A-levels at Long Road Sixth Form College, I was a bit unsure what career route I wanted to go down, or whether I would go for further education at university. I chose my A-level subjects based on what I enjoyed at GCSE, and what interested me at the Sixth Form. These being, Maths, Biology and Criminology. Progression Planning Over the first year, I still wasn’t 100% sure on what my future plans were, but I knew I wanted to aim for something that integrated at least 2 of my subjects, so I aimed to go into Accountancy. But that’s only one subject? you might ask. I specifically wanted to go into Forensic Accountancy, including Maths and Criminology. I did my research over the first lockdown and this idea appealed to me more and more as the months went on.

https://www.pem.co.uk/ One thing I picked up on was that a lot of people suggested doing an apprenticeship in accounting, rather than going to university and studying for 3 years. I could be getting into work and gaining experience, as well as two qualifications (AAT and ACA/ACCA). Application Process When I had finally decided this is what I wanted to do, I started applying to various accounting firms in and around Cambridgeshire, especially those that were offering these sorts of roles. However, I also applied to Anglian Ruskin University for an Accounting & Finance degree, as a backup option, with the help of my progress coach. I knew that applying for an apprenticeship in a pandemic would be a challenge, which is why I kept proactive, searching for new adverts for similar apprenticeship roles constantly. A few of the firms I had applied to got back to me very quickly, PEM being one of them, with information about the process of applying and what happens next.

Most of the firms had various initial ways of picking their candidates, such as questionnaires, quizzes and minigames. If these went well, it was on to the first interview. Annoyingly, these interviews were not what I expected. One or two were over the phone, but most of the companies used software that allows you to film yourself answering questions that came up on the screen, rather than speaking to a person face to face. I was unsuccessful with around 9 out of 10 of these, and they didn’t even give me any feedback on what went wrong. PEM recruitment process Fortunately, the last place I had applied for, PEM, arranged a phone interview considering me as a candidate with their company. This phone interview was more of just a friendly conversation, to talk about the company and their aims, but also the next steps of the application. After this call, a face to face in real life interview was confirmed in late April of 2021. At this point, I had received an offer from Anglian Ruskin University, but I knew that the apprenticeship option was what I really wanted. During the interview, with a partner of the company, we spoke about why I wanted to go into accountancy as well as what goes on within the company. I learnt a great amount about PEM, and it made me even more eager to work there.

As soon as I got home after the interview, I received a call from HR with the news that they would like to offer me a place and that they think I would be very suited to the role they were advertising. Recruitment options at PEM One interesting point I learnt, was that 5 university graduate students, as well as 5 A-level students, were taken on each year, all starting at the same level. This meant that going straight for an apprenticeship over going to university was a great idea, as if I went to university, I would have to then apply for an apprenticeship afterwards as well. It made sense to start my career sooner rather than later and gain the experience I would need to become an accountant. Future When I start at PEM, firstly, I will be doing a qualification called AAT, which lasts two years, followed by another qualification called ACA/ACCA (depending on which one I choose). This will allow me to learn the basics of accountancy whilst meeting and greeting customers and kickstarting my career. Eventually I plan to branch off into Forensic Accountancy, once I have got to grips with the basics.

Student Spotlight Saffron MacLeodBurrows My Name is Saffron MacLeod-Burrows and I’m a Bioinformatics Apprentice at Illumina. Bioinformatics is the field of science responsible for understanding and analysing biological data like DNA sequencing data. Life at Long Road My start at Long Road wasn’t the one I’d originally hoped for; I’d originally applied to do Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. I got a 5 in my Maths GCSE and this meant I wasn’t accepted onto the science courses. Instead, I was offered to redo my GCSEs for a year or enrol on the BTEC Applied Science extended diploma. Sixth form is a time in your life where you’re trying to figure out who you are as a person and at the same time are trying to figure out your future too. (For me, I found this a challenge, but I persevered). When did you know your future? I started Sixth form wanting to pursue Marine Biology, I absolutely love whales and used to be able to come out with the most random facts about them. I still wanted to do Marine Biology in the July of my first year when my parents and I trekked all the way to Bangor, Wales for a university open day. But when it came time to apply to University, in Year Two, I applied to do Nutrition and Dietetics, I’d say pretty much a 180 turn on the industry I wanted to go into! I received conditional offers from everywhere I applied. By the end of the course, I’d finished all of my coursework; my last exam was written, and I wasn’t sure I was going to be allowed to take my university place. (I didn’t think I’d make my grades). Contemplating a gap year, I had a lot of self-doubts. (The biggest thing we ALL suffer from).

Results Day and working for Illumini I decided university wasn’t for me and looked at degree apprenticeships. I found my apprenticeship on the government apprenticeship website and applied through Illumini's website. I then had a phone interview followed by an in-person interview. Coming from a biology background, I couldn’t code and I didn’t think I was going to get a job offer, but I walked in for my interview and thought: “I want to work here...No I have to work here.” The Illumina centre is an amazing space on Granta Park with floor-to-ceiling windows and no end of collaboration spaces. I got a job offer from Illumina although I didn't have the choice of university because I had let my offer expire. My degree is being fully paid for and I’ve had the opportunity of a lifetime to work and gain experience at Illumina, which are essentially leading the field of genetic analysis. My current contract is 4 years long and in September I’ll be halfway through. I’m getting inindustry experience that I wouldn’t be getting at University. I’m also being trained by people that know exactly what they’re talking about and not just from theory. What helped you find your chosen pathway? Whilst I was at Long Road, we were enrolled on a Career Ready program, this was really good to get a proper look into different industries and also see what a proper workplace is actually like!

My main teacher, Huw, was a big help. Before I started I had this misconception about apprenticeships that you only did them if you weren’t very good academically, but I’ve learnt that is very much not the case and if it hadn’t been for Huw, I probably wouldn’t have even thought about degree apprenticeships. Who is Illumina? Illumina is an American biotechnology company that makes DNA sequencers. They’re one of the world’s leading companies in DNA analysis. Illumina technology is responsible for generating 90% of the world’s sequencing data.

What Next? My current dream would be to be offered a permanent position at the end of my degree and contract. I am considering of I want to do a Ph.D.? What do I want to use my degree in Bioinformatics for? I’m still not sure about the answers but I definitely want to explore more areas, like Agrigenomics and Marine genomics.

The group I work for within Illumina work closely with Genomics England and the NHS to offer Whole Genome Sequencing for Cancer and Rare genetic diseases. About my industry, links to the pandemic I think the best part about the pandemic for my company and me is the exposure it’s given us. Genomics has been a huge aid in fighting Covid-19. In research, vaccination development, and testing. The group I work for in Illumina has been using our sequencers for research and sequencing the DNA of patients with varying responses to coronavirus to see if there’s a reason for how differently people have reacted to the virus on a genetic level. I think the pandemic has helped with overall awareness for the industry I work in, Genomics is still a really young industry of science, the sequencing of the first human genome was only officially completed in 2003 and since then the industry has thrived. COVID work-life balance So, the year 2020 and coronavirus. At first, my university day went online for the delivery of my course. I was already working from home when the Lockdown was announced, but with discussions taking place about office working schedules. Working from home full-time made the balance of everything quite strained especially when we’re in lockdown, I sometimes find it really hard to switch off, oh and I’ve discovered I love snacking! We have plans to start making our return to office working in August, but even then, we’re not going to be in 100% of the time. The pandemic has really changed how we work and it’s also really nice not to have to commute in all the time!

Advice to current students? Make sure you accept changed offers on UCAS, if you don’t, they’ll go away and you’ll feel like your world is ending…. Something that you’re probably sick of hearing: Study! I always wish I studied harder! Even if you don’t think you need to talk to someone, do. Because as humans we suppress a lot of our feelings and think we’re doing ok and in reality, we’re really not. Make a plan, but don’t make a plan that’s set in stone. Get as much work experience as you can. Now and if you got to university If you’re thinking of University, do some research and see if there are any apprenticeships being offered in the same qualification. If you want to do anything related to Science or Maths, learn some basics in Python and R because you will need the knowledge and it’s one less thing to learn when you actually need to use it. Make connections, if you don’t already have LinkedIn get it! You can connect with me.

ESA

University, how to choose? Students coming to the end of their Year 1 studies will be considering University and many will have started this process in tutorials already. The problem is which universities are you going to apply to?

Step 1 Do you know the course you want to take? Visit Higher Ideas to input the A-Levels or BTEC qualifications you are currently taking to see course suggestions. Use the Ideas Generator to narrow down your course option.

Step 2 What about the university is important to you? Visit 'whatuni' to find a list that might help. Course Modules - these differ at every university make sure it fits what you want. Location - a big city or more rural location, also consider how far from home you want to be. Accommodation - each university is different, what is going to suit you? Societies, Clubs, and Nightlife Uni Facilities - the library and sporting facilities, what do you value the most?

Step 3. Visit 'Opendays' to find out which Universities you can visit this summer and get ideas on questions to ask whilst you are there. Some universities will be holding oncampus Open Days whilst others are still virtual. Virtual ones are still worth attending they can give you a good insight into the university and often have live chat facilities for you to talk to staff and current students. Make sure you take the time to speak to current students, find out what they like about the university. The academic staff can tell you more about the courses you are considering.

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Should I go to university or do an apprenticeship?

Deciding what to do when you leave college is tough. Do you go to university and get a degree or gain an apprenticeship and earn while you learn? Weigh up your options and discover which is the best route for you. The degree versus apprenticeship debate is long-running and choosing your next move requires careful consideration. Higher education remains a popular option for most but attitudes towards apprenticeships have also evolved and they are now recognised as an equal alternative to university. This is reflected in the number of people starting this route to employment. In 2019/20 there were 271,890 apprenticeship starts - 66,730 of these were higher apprenticeships (degree Level 6 and 7). The main benefits of each option can be summarised as follows: Going to university - choose from thousands of courses, a degree will leave your career more open-ended in terms of future opportunities, you'll gain your independence by living away from home and you'll acquire a whole range of soft skills, transferrable to any job role. Doing an apprenticeship - you'll immediately enter the world of work and gain valuable on-the-job experience while earning money as you study. You won't pay tuition fees and you'll make industry contacts from day one.

Do you know the job opportunities available if you decide on an Apprenticeship? If you go to University how many graduates from your chosen courses find employment after they graduate? Apprenticeships are not an easy option, you will be employed to do a job and studying alongside this, can you commit the extra hours required? They are highly competitive and it may take you a while to secure a job. A university education allows you to target a broader range of careers than you can through an apprenticeship, but both will stand you in good stead when it comes to getting a job. It's a tough choice to make and one option isn't necessarily better than the other. Take a look at your current situation - consider what qualifications you already hold, what you'd like to study, your finances, and what you'd like to do in the future. Do some research and choose the best option for you. You could work towards an apprenticeship and then go to university or similarly get a degree and then do an apprenticeship. However, if you pick the latter course of action, the same apprenticeship funding might not be available.

Information on this page is taken from https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobsand-work-experience/apprenticeships/should-i-go-to-university-or-do-anapprenticeship

Medic Portal UCAT Mini-Workshops

Over 5 sessions, Medic Portal's tutors will showcase how to expertly answer challenging questions from each section of the UCAT and students will then have the opportunity to ask them any questions about the test. This is a unique opportunity for students to be taught for free how to approach the UCAT this year. If you can't make any of the dates live sign up anyway - recordings will be sent to all attendees who sign up.

Click HERE to sign up

PARENT HUB

After Long Road Parents Event Did you miss the After Long Parents event that was held on 16th June? Watch the recording of the event

HERE Watch presentations from: Long Road Sixth Form College Guidance Team - Supporting students progression Form the Future - Apprenticeships University of Essex - UCAS process and Personal Statement advice Anglia Ruskin University - student finance Long Road Sixth Form Progression Team - Strengthening Student portfolios beyond their qualifications

We value your feedback: If you watched the event live, or wish to comment after watching please complete a short survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DWML367

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