CAREERS LRSFC ISSUE 13
AND PROGRESSION
CONTENTS 3-7
14-17
SCIENCE, BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT WITH COSTELLO MEDICAL
CHOOSING PROGRESSION ROUTES WITH ANDY GOODWIN
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'I WONDER WEDNESDAYS' WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SUFFOLK
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ARU VIRTUAL OPEN DAY
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INFORMED CHOICES WITH RUSSELL GROUP
11 12-13
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2023/2024 TRAINEE SOLICITOR POSITIONS WITH BRYAN CAVE LEIGHTON PAISNER
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ESCAPE STUDIOS VIRTUAL OPEN DAY
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RSM APPRENTICESHIPS DIGITAL MARKETING TRAINEESHIPS WITH WEAREDIGITAL PEARSON COLLEGE LONDON VIRTUAL OPEN DAY UK UNIVERSITY AND APPRENTICESHIP VIRTUAL FAIR PARENT HUB
C
hoosing Progression Routes
In this edition of the Careers e-Mag, I thought I'd raise a few questions and direct readers towards current research when thinking about planning progression route for the future.
What has really happened at universities, so far this year? Well, despite a lot of negative news about the uptake of places this year, universities are off to a flying start according to published numbers, and this despite the predicted impact of the C19 pandemic. In an article by Bethan Staton of the Financial Times in September of this year, (Staton, 2020), she describes Admissions figures as at record levels, mainly due to three factors: Elevated A level grades after Gov’t U-turn on algorithm predictions Removal on cap for Uni courses that include work experience (universities can now take on as many qualified students as they wish for these courses)
A continued increase in overseas interest in British Universities (despite fears to the contrary) Perhaps more surprising is that this increase is with a background demographic trough in the number of 18yo’s, with a 27% increase expected in next decade (ONS, 2018), and perhaps increasing demands upon university provision? In terms of where all the new university places have been taken up, the same report by Staton quotes UCAS figures suggesting that the main thrust of increased places has been experienced by higher-tier universities who traditionally ask for higher UCAS point scores (a surge of 11%), whilst mid-tier universities have seen a modest 1% growth and lower-tier universities have remained more or less the same as the previous year.
One interpretation for lower-tier universities holding on to their numbers is because they are more likely to be offering courses that integrate work experience, perhaps? This positive picture may impact our current students when thinking about where you decide to apply to for next year’s intake? Consider, will universities be gearing up for taking on more people in the coming years, and will their facilities reflect this? Also think about whether an opportunity to gain work experience is something that you want, and will that impact upon companies thoughts about you and the employability skills you offer in the future? Struggling to meet demands – the grades awarded to some may not reflect their true ability and the leap to a university that asks more from its students may be too much Freshers may have lost the art of discipline for learning, having spent so much time out of the classroom during the lockdown (conversely, it could be argued that some students thrived using this approach?) Zoom-based teaching (or similar) from some universities may not meet the learning needs of all students (digital native, does not necessarily equate to effective digital learning) Many students depend upon financial assistance from parents, or part-time work, to survive at university. The negative economic downturn manifest in the UK is likely to impact upon jobs, leading to higher unemployment and a
drain on these sources of financial support. In short, it may be too expensive to attend university for some, and particularly those from lower-income households This may well raise further questions for our students. Are you making the most of screen-based learning this year, trying to develop your use of technology and adapting to this new way of learning? Are you going to ask questions of universities about their preparedness for the future, when you attend interviews for a place? How might their responses make you feel and influence your choices? Will housing availability or potential increased rental/hall fees influence your choice of whether to go away to university, or whether you will stay at home and commute to a nearby institution? Have you thought about whether you will depend upon parttime work for financial security whilst at university? If so, what can you do during your time at college to increase your competitive position, making you shine out when compared to others seeking similar jobs?
Economic responses to Lockdown Click this link to watch a short video by The Economist (The Economist, 2020), discussing how countries across the world have responded to the C19 Pandemic and lockdown in the last 6 months. In short, human choice now seems important in determining how people are responding to the Pandemic, regardless of the methods imposed by different Governments. Economic forecasts are that countries can expect a reduction in performance of at least 10%, with countries like Sweden and China suggesting that it is the behaviour of its populations that accompany recovery after lockdown that will determine the extent of overall improvement. In short, whilst industry and education might return to previous (or close to) levels of performance, the people may choose to hold back in terms of expenditure in the “fun” areas of living, such as eating and drinking out, holidays, flying, retail, etc. Consider how this might impact upon the job markets and careers of the future… In a report by McKinsey (McKinsey, 2020), the job areas that are predicted to suffer most in the future are those that offer low incomes – perhaps as many as 50% of future job losses will be in jobs that pay under £10 per hour. In addition, those areas most likely to be hit are those in the lowest sub-regions of the UK. This does not include Cambridge, but it does raise the question, what industries are students aiming at with their progression plans? McKinsey predicts that the highest number of jobs at risk are in Wholesale, Retail and Vehicle Repairs and whilst our Annual Destination figures suggest
that many students fall back on retail perhaps as a prop before choosing their future career, these job areas or low-income roles do not feature as the main long term career goals of our cohort. One response to note is that there is a recognisable overlap between job areas that are predicted to be under threat via redundancies, and the apparent cultural shift in industry to automate more and more roles. Click this link to watch a short film about the topic of The Fourth Industrial Revolution (Schulze, 2019). This title refers to the view held by increasing numbers of industry leaders and academics that the role of Information Technology, and in particular Artificial Intelligence is likely to increase in the future, and along with it, the number of jobs that replace human roles with machines.
Artificial Intelligence is likely to increase in the future, and along with it, the number of jobs that replace human roles with machines" Consider, is this likely to impact upon your choice of career path for the future? According to McKinsey, the likely skills that will be of increasing interest to many employers across a range of industries, include: Technological Skills – software programming, mathematics,
Social and Emotional entrepreneurship and initiative
skills– taking
Cognitive Skills – creativity, critical thinking, decision making and complex information processing Are you trying to develop these skills and evidence to support it, whilst at college? This might be of particular importance if you are considering Apprenticeships as an alternative route to further development in your progression plans?
Apprenticeships – what are we seeing at college in terms of the availabilities of opportunities? Clearly, the C19 Pandemic raises concerns for all those who are considering Apprenticeships as a progression route for the future, and rightly so. With downturns in the economy, it would not be surprising if the number of Apprenticeship opportunities reflected this. However, so far, we are still seeing lots of opportunities coming through to us and we advertise these fortnightly in the Careers e-Mag. These will also be visible soon in a new Job Vacancies section of the Careers pages on Moodle. It is true that we are not seeing as many jobs in total, but those students who prepare for the future by gaining good grades AND work at making themselves more competitive through showing evidence of strong employability skills will be in a strong position to seize these chances. This is further supported by the Government’s steps in the minibudget of July 2020 (LaToya Harding, 2020), when Rishi Sunak committed the Government to a £30bn investment in jobs that includes:
A ‘kickstart’ jobs placement programme where the Government will fund 25 hours a week to an employer to take on a young person for at least six months A huge boost in apprenticeships – and a £1000 in extra cash for firms who take on trainees So, what can you do to develop relevant and desirable employability skills in the future? Look out for the new Careers Pages on Moodle, due for release in early October, and consider the opportunities presented in each fortnight’s Careers e-Mag.
References Fazackerley, A., 2020. UK universities predict record student dropout rate. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/educatio n/2020/sep/19/uk-universities-predictrecord-student-dropout-rate? CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other LaToya Harding, L. A., 2020. MiniBudget 2020: Rishi Sunak announces ÂŁ30bn plan to save jobs. [Online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2 020/07/08/rishi-sunak-budgetannouncement-stamp-duty-holidayvoucher-500/ [Accessed 29 Sept 2020]. McKinsey, 2020. Covid-19 in the United Kingdom: Assessing jobs at risk and the impact on people and places, London: McKinsey & Company. ONS, 2018. Being 18 in 2018. [Online] Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulati onandcommunity/populationandmigra tion/populationprojections/articles/bei ng18in2018/2018-09-13 [Accessed 29 Sept 2020]. Schulze, E., 2019. What is the Fourth Industrial Revolution? | CNBC Explains. [Online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=v9rZOa3CUC8#action=share [Accessed 29 Sept 2020].
Staton, B., 2020. UK universities see record admissions, despite the pandemic. [Online] Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/8f3ab80aec2b-427d-80ae-38ad27ad423d [Accessed 15 Sept 2020]. The Economist, 2020. Covid-19: why the economy could fare worse than you think. [Online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=f9v6givfTEA#action=share [Accessed 29 Sept 2020].
Thinking about Higher Education
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ave you ever wondered how to build an online shop? What lurks beneath the surface of our waters? Is the world a happier place now than it was 50 years ago? If you’re in year 11,12 or 13 take a look at ‘I Wonder Wednesdays’ with University of Suffolk! ‘I Wonder Wednesdays’ is a series of online taster sessions designed to help you explore the subjects that interest you and discover what it would be like to study them at university. You’ll meet one of our lecturers and have the chance to ask any questions about the subject and about the University of Suffolk. They’re also a great way to demonstrate interest in your subject when writing your personal statement. Each taster runs on a Wednesday afternoon and will last for around one hour. You can book to attend as many as you like and all you need to take part is access to a computer! "
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For more information on this event and to register, click HERE
Thinking about Apprenticeships
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ith RSM you’ll enjoy a fast-tracked business career that recognises your potential and rewards your ambition. Our two-year school leaver apprenticeship programme will give you all the skills and support you need to unlock a future that’s packed with opportunities and new experiences. We offer a range of programmes across our network so you can pick the one that’s right for you. Whichever option you choose, you’ll earn while you learn, gaining hands-on business experience as you work towards your professional qualifications. All our employees have different stories to tell, but we offer all the same chance to succeed. At RSM, you’ll never be held back because you don’t have a degree. We’ll help you explore your passions and support you every step of the way. Become part of our global network and experience a career you had never expected.It’s your future. Own it at RSM."
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For more information on this position at RSM click HERE
SCIE
www.costellomedical.com
NCE, But Not as You Know It.
An Introduction to Costello Medical. Sophie Costello, CEO.
Costello Medical was founded by myself and my husband, from our spare room in Cambridge in 2008. The catalyst to taking this step was experiencing tragedy in our personal lives when my brother experienced a very severe brain injury. This life changing event made us reflect on our own lives and examine whether we were enjoying our jobs. It seemed that, like us, many of our peers were not particularly happy at work. It was this, combined with our belief in the power of healthcare that led to us founding a company; with a key goal to grow an organisation where people would enjoy coming to work.
successful use of life-changing therapies. The work is structured on a project-by-project basis, across a huge range of disease areas and we are all constantly learning and being challenged. We also want to be a company that gives something back and are committed to supporting pro bono projects for charity partners and to engaging positively with our local communities.
"a company; with a key goal to grow an organisation where people would enjoy coming to work."
We wanted to use this opportunity to highlight the work we do, as it is perhaps not something you will have heard about, but also to encourage you to think not only about what you want to do in your future career, but also the type of environment you would like to work in. So, what do we do? Broadly, Costello Medical provides scientific support to the healthcare sector, including pharmaceutical companies, Medtech developers, public health bodies and charities. Every day our teams undertake detailed analysis of information from drug trials and present this creatively in different formats such as mathematical models, presentations, reports and publications. Our work is used directly in communication with a wide audience, including doctors, policy makers and patients and is instrumental to the
Most of our scientific team join us directly from their undergraduate degree (across a range of scientific disciplines). In general, they have enjoyed their studies, and want to continue working in a scientific setting, but not in research, academia or a laboratory. Generally, people who apply have not really heard about the work we do during their time at school and university but find it really satisfies what they were looking for, providing an option beyond careers perhaps more traditionally associated with scientific degrees. The work we do offers an opportunity to use scientific skills in a fast-paced environment on projects that make a real difference. Our teams also develop many other additional skills, both technical in nature but also related to project management and client communication. And what about the kind of company we strive to be? The culture at Costello Medical is something we all really feel passionate about. We know that career satisfaction goes far beyond a job
Costello Breakout Area: Vie of the social spaces in our Cambridge office
description. Working environment, colleagues, the values underpinning the place you work and opportunities for professional development are of paramount importance when choosing your employer. Although we obviously do not get things right all the time we work hard to try and make Costello Medical a community with a sense of belonging for everyone that is inclusive, collaborative and politics-free. We invest in our employees’ personal development and believe in providing a supportive and nurturing environment, with our managers dedicating a lot of time to coaching and caring for those they oversee. We also want our recruits to really reach their potential; and for Costello Medical to be a place where you can develop a career and be actively involved in building the organisation. We have grown organically in the last 12 years, and now have offices in London and Manchester, and internationally in Singapore and the US, with an office in China due to open in 2021. We have now reached 200 members of staff worldwide. Our growth has and always will be shaped by our talented team, and we have built the organisation from the ground up promoting from within.
Our Senior Management team have all progressed internally, and some of our Division Heads were promoted to this position in as little as 3 years. Our service offerings and global locations have all been developed by members of our team with our growth directed by the passion and interests of individuals rather than a pre-determined plan. We have built our operational team in the same way and provide opportunitiesfor everyone to get actively involved in any areas of running the company, for example recruitment and training.
Celebration in the Office for Winning the Queen’s Award for Enterprise
If you would like to hear more about our work and explore if it might be a career option for you please contact us at recruitment@costellomedical.com. We offer paid internships for university students so they can see if this work is for them and many interns successfully apply for permanent positions. You can hear more about the culture we have built on the following podcast. https://thepioneers.co.uk/growingyour-people-and-your-company-atthe-same-time/
2023/2024 TRAINEE SOLICITOR POSITIONS
ONLINE RESOURCES
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hether you're interested in gap years, online challenges, virtual work experience opportunities, or simply having a browse- this is the right place for you! "Whilst the days may be getting shorter, the opportunities available to you are becoming brighter and more exciting. We’d love for you to join our next Virtual Open Day on Saturday 24th October at Pearson College London. With our 150+ industry partners, our business incubator which encourages entrepreneurship and our campus based in the heart of a FTSE 100 company, you’ll be immersed in the world of business from day one."
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To book for your place at Pearson College London's Virtual Open Day, CLICK HERE
PARENT HUB
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he Amazing Apprenticeship's Parent's Pack offers latest apprenticeship information & advice for parents, supported by the National Apprenticeship Service. The September Parents’ and Carers’ Pack looks at preparing for a new school year, T Levels, Careers in Coding, supporting disabled individuals to access apprenticeships, Life as a Healthcare apprentice, Apprenticeships with Travis Perkins and much more. For more apprenticeship information and advice for parents, visit our resource page and search for Parents’ Packs."
To access the Parent and Carers Pack on Amazing Apprenticeship's, plus their other resources, click HERE