Careers World East of England SPRING 2014 by Open Doors Media Ltd

EAST OF ENGLAND edition

SPRING 2014

PETER JONES CBE “We are pioneering a new approach to teaching entrepreneurship by focusing on ‘learning by doing’”

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

CV BUILDER

Get yours right ﬁrst time!

GCSE MATHS & ENGLISH REFORMS What do they mean for you?

PLUS: OUR EXPERT PANEL ANSWER MORE OF YOUR KEY QUESTIONS & WE PREVIEW NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK 2014

m AFFILIATE MEMBER

Welcome to Careers World Magazine, the premier resource for careers information and guidance. During the spring term many of you will have time between winter and summer exams to think about what happens next after school or college. That’s where we come in! In every issue we help you discover more about the most popular career sectors, as well as asking experts and successful young people for their tips and advice for the future. In this edition we pitch our questions to the Dragon himself, Peter Jones, and we’ll see how he’s investing in the future of potential entrepreneurs. Now’s the time to get to grips with your future and focus on ﬁnding the career that’s right for you.

Elliot Gardner, Editor

Entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones shares the secrets of his success.

Some tools, tips and tricks to help you make those important choices, from our very own editor!

11 We ask our specially selected panel to tell us what they can oﬀer you!

27 Armed Forces & Emergency Services

IT, Digital & Telecoms

31 35

Agriculture & Animal Care

We give you the lowdown on all the other sectors out there, which we’ll feature in future issues.

Some handy materials for careers advisors, plus some facts and ﬁgures about the world of careers.

15 The best of the best in your region tell us about themselves!

Finance & Law

There’s never been a better time to be an apprentice. Find out why with our Apprenticeships feature.

Some contact details we think you’ll ﬁnd useful, including web links, email addresses and phone numbers.

Creative, Media & The Arts

And now for something completely diﬀerent...

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All material is copyrighted both written and illustrated. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. All images and information is collated from extensive research and along with advertisements is published in good faith. Although the author and publisher have made every eﬀort to ensure that the information in this publication was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Careers World is published by Open Doors Media Ltd ©2014. ISSN: 2050-6570

Peter Jones is a world-famous entrepreneur and star of the hit TV programme, Dragons’ Den. Peter is from Berkshire and has a long history of achievement when it comes to business. The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy has been running since 2009, taking on the challenge of making business more accessible to students across the country. Peter talks to our editor about his success, the Academy and just what it is that makes him tick. School grades, so how did you do then? Academic success wasn’t a focus for me because I was more interested in enterprise and making money. I wasn’t the biggest fan of my primary school in Windsor and so bunked off at every opportunity to sit in the big chair in my father’s office and dream about running a big company one day, even though it often got me into trouble. I liked my secondary school, Windsor Boys, but was still fascinated by those around me who showed enterprising qualities. An English teacher was the only teacher at school to have a top-ofthe-range Porsche and I loved finding out how he did it.

Your website mentions running a tennis schools as the start of your entrepreneurial journey. What else inspired you? My parents hugely inspired me when I was growing up. My father was an expert in air conditioning and worked particularly hard. He motivated me to strive harder and reach the top. However, I have also been inspired in ways that haven’t brought me success. Impressed by the movie Cocktail, starring Tom Cruise, I opened a cocktail bar in Windsor which didn’t do very well and just cost me money. This episode demonstrated the importance of judgement when pursuing any idea.

Do you think you need a specific mind-set to become an entrepreneur? There are definitely particular traits which are more common in entrepreneurs, such as grit, perseverance and determination. However, I fundamentally believe that entrepreneurialism can be taught and that entrepreneurs are not born, they are made. In 2005 I established my own charity in order to help young people have brighter futures, and in 2008 I set up the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, which is working to put enterprise at the heart of education in the UK. The key to the Academy network is instilling a ‘can’ attitude in our future leaders and giving our young people the confidence they need to fulfil their dreams. Putting students in front of people who have been there and done it allows them to see how attainable entrepreneurship can be.

We keep hearing the phrase “business acumen”, but what does this mean to you? “Business acumen” is all about being able to make good judgements and quick decisions, which ultimately results in eﬀective business decisions. This skill is deﬁnitely not limited by age. My 11 year old daughter, Natalia, always has an opinion about those businesses that I have been given www.careersworld.co.uk

the opportunity to invest in. And nine times out of ten, she is completely right!

Do you think there are more pros than cons to being your own boss? Absolutely. Otherwise I would have backed out of this game a long time ago. Being an entrepreneur requires huge commitment and a lot of hard work, but the rewards are completely worth it. It is a challenge but you learn to follow your instincts and begin to really value advice from those who have been there before you.

Describe your ideal business partner Finding your ideal business partner often happens organically, where you have complimentary skills and talents, but mine is extremely hard working and determined. Plus, they must be visionary and be able to lead by example. Trust is also incredibly important. They must have faith in my choices and abilities, my team and the potential of a business venture.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a TV personality? One of the great beneﬁts of being famous is being able to get exclusive access to other like-minded entrepreneurs and senior executives, many of whom have some fantastic and interesting ideas. I don’t see any disadvantages to that.

If you weren’t in business, what would be your dream career? I loved tennis and wanted to be a professional but I’d still hand in the towel to be a successful entrepreneur. Being in business is the most exciting and challenging career anyone can have and I’m pleased it’s become my chosen path. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Your lifelong love of tennis, what sparked that off? At age 12, I was helping a teacher at my school to teach tennis and he inspired me later, when I was 16, to set up my first business, a tennis academy. As a child I used to play tennis at county level, and I still play regularly with ex-professionals. That was a real watershed moment in my life I think. At the time, I had the chance to improve my game with a view to becoming a professional, but there was something in me that wanted to take that talent and develop a successful business from it rather than, say, win Wimbledon. As a big family man, what advice do you give to your children about careers? I encourage my children to follow their hearts and to choose a path which they are really passionate about – only then will they give themselves the best chance of being successful and finding true happiness. It is very important to me that my children work hard and stand on their own two feet. I have set up an arrangement to incentivise my kids to work hard through a funding platform that doubles their income every day for the rest of their lives.

You’ve had more than one IT based company, what brought that on? Are you a bit of a tech head? Yes, I love technology and have always been interested in gadgets. My second business was based around building and selling computers. Whenever gadgets are pitched in the Den, it’s always me who gets instantly excited. I always say that entrepreneurship is about being innovative and improving something that already exists. This attitude describes technology to the core, which ﬁts perfectly with my overall business mantra. “Being innovative isn’t about doing something new it’s about doing something better than your competition.”

What is the next big thing for Peter Jones? Anything up your sleeve? I have got many projects on the go at the moment. Since taking over Jessops last year, that has been a huge focus for me and will continue to be for a while. I’m hoping there will be lots of opportunities like Jessops for my investment group in 2014. In 2012 I founded Tycoon in Schools, a nationwide competition that spearheads my mission of putting enterprise at the heart of all education. Now in its second year, the competition has been even bigger and better, with over 700 students taking part this year from all over the country. I can’t wait to see the achievements of this year’s highﬂyers, and the inspiring young people who apply next year. We had over 3,000 apply this year, which was fantastic. This competition continues the work that I started with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, where we aim to equip budding entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to start their own business, or act entrepreneurially within one. I am thrilled with the journey the Academy has taken so far, where we have about thirty Academies operating across the country, and can’t wait to see it grow even more next year.

Is there anything on Dragons’ Den you regret not investing in? I don’t actually. No regrets. Even when I see some products that I chose not to invest in being successfully launched, I don’t have regrets. With Wonderland, YUU World, Woodblocx, Alf Turner, Tiny Box, The Present Club, Bare Naked Foods, Reminiscence Pods and the one and only Levi Roots, who can possibly regret anything? The record speaks for itself! What is your favourite product from Dragons’ Den? And what was the worst? All of them are my favourite! Not fair to choose one. And my worst, Layline Beds. It’s basically a sheet with a stitched line down the middle to tell husband and wife that ‘this is my space and this is your space’. It is ridiculous. That, or the American Inventor guy who said that spinning bicycle hub cabs will be the next craze. Only in America!

If you were to go into the den as a new entrepreneur, what would your pitch be? And how would you stand out? If I said ‘I could turn £50,000 into £1million’ would you invest? I would then make sure my idea was good enough to capture the Dragons’ imagination and get them interested. I would end with “Are you in?” I would stand out by wearing a smart, sharp suit and wear the most outrageous stripy socks I could ﬁnd!

If I were 15/16 and wanted to be an entrepreneur, what would you say to me? I would encourage you to have a vision and then make that vision bigger, because the bigger your vision the more successful you are likely to be. Don’t be swayed from your vision by anyone, and make your own decisions. Then make sure you do sufficient research, finding out not only what your competitors are doing, but also how you can make your product or service that little bit better. Finally, it is important to have fun, because business is about more than making money. People will be more likely to buy your product or service if you are having fun and enjoying the business. However, ultimately, I would encourage you to log onto www.pjea.org.uk, to find out everything about the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and join our nationwide network!

If you could do exactly what you wanted with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, what would you do? I would ensure that every college in the country has an Academy within it and that all young people were given the chance to apply. I want to continue to ensure that our Academy network continues to put enterprise at the very heart of the UK education system and that the “learning by doing” method is widely implemented and respected, helping young people to make their dreams a reality.

All of our pioneering courses have been developed in conjunction with Pearson (Edexcel), as well as education and industry experts, and I had a personal hand in the writing of these qualiﬁcations. I’m very proud of what we have achieved in such a short amount of time.

How do you think careers advice should be given to students? We deliberately designed the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy to be completely diﬀerent from the traditional academic environment. We are pioneering a new approach to teaching entrepreneurship by focusing on ‘learning by doing’. That means combining business theory with business practice to replicate the environment of the real business world. And ultimately, we believe that’s the best way to unlock the potential of the next generation of entrepreneurs. The best way to learn how to succeed is to work with those who have been there and done it, and to get stuck in and give it a go yourself. Students receive master classes in entrepreneurship from the best in the business, where they have heard from the likes of Paul Lindley of Ella’s Kitchen and David, Vanessa and Jacqueline Gold.

What are the Academy’s best success stories? There are so many of these it is tricky to keep track! Each year we recognise the most outstanding student across The Academy network, where the National Entrepreneur of the Year is announced. Our 2012 winner, Rob Nunn is developing his business that aims to encourage people into the aviation industry. There is no stopping the 2013 winner, Harry Day, who is running a tailoring business and currently working on the development of it in Bangkok!

Who is better at business, you or Alan Sugar? Alan is a great friend of mine and I think very highly of him. He is a big supporter of the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and has such a wealth of experience. I think he’s better because he’s older and wiser!

People love your socks. Do you have a favourite pair? My stripy ones, of course. I launched my own range of socks a few years back, where all the proceeds go to charity. They’ve been very popular. Duncan Bannatyne, Deborah Meaden, Theo Paphitis: Snog, Marry, Avoid? Wow, what a question! I wouldn’t snog any of them. Nor would I want to be married to them. Lastly, I’m not saying who I’d avoid! Which actor would you like to play you in a ﬁlm of your life? I’m guessing not Tom Cruise… Pierce Brosnan.

How much input did you have in setting up The Academy? A great deal. I founded The Academy back in 2008 and our ﬁrst intake of students was in 2009. My vision was to create and encourage a more entrepreneurial activity in the UK, based on a philosophy of ‘learning by doing’.

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first for training & skills

Cambridge Regional College

great careers start here Visit camre.ac.uk Tel 01223 418200

Each issue, we ask our editor to give you a roundup of the topics that might aﬀect you, as well as the choices you need to make about your future. As you can imagine, there are plenty of things going on that tend to stay behind the scenes. Usually, you’d have to trawl through pages of information to learn all this, but don’t worry; we’ve done all that for you!

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR I’ve been thinking about whether there is some golden piece of advice that I can offer you in your search for a career, and the number one thought that keeps cropping up in my head is simply ‘do your research’. It’s all well and good thinking ‘I want to go to university’, but what course? What job do you want at the end of it all? There is a career path for all of us but the most difficult step is finding it. The majority of us don’t have a job handed to us on a platter so we need to get out there and look for ourselves! If you don’t know what you want to do don’t hesitate, start looking! Get careers advice from your school or college, have a look at all the different kinds of Apprenticeships, rummage around UCAS to find a uni course that suits you and most importantly, don’t dismiss anything based on what someone else has told you. It’s your career, go find what suits you!

GCSE MATHS & ENGLISH REFORM Maths and English not your strong point? Just going to breeze through your GCSEs without giving it a real go? Looks like you’ll need to think again.

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KEY FACTS

GCSEs have changed a lot this year If you don’t manage a C grade in Maths and English, you will have to carry them on until the age of 18 It’s because employers want a good understanding of Maths and English. Almost every career has some dealing with these subjects You don’t have to go to college to continue studying, there are many ways to re-do your GCSEs You won’t just be retaking your exams over and over, the focus is on developing your skills

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WHAT’S CHANGED?

You might have heard murmurs about changes to the way GCSEs are going to be carried out this year. The big diﬀerence is that students who fail to get a minimum of grade C in GCSE Maths and English will have to carry on these subjects up until the age of 18. What this means is that thousands of pupils will have to take additional courses to get their literacy and numeracy skills up to scratch after they have left school. This might be with a college, training provider or other educational body, but whatever the route, you can be sure it’s going to have a big impact. In the past you could stick with the grades you received from exams no matter what they were, but the Government has said this isn’t good enough anymore.

BUT WHY DID THEY CHANGE IT?

country in the developed world carries on with numeracy and literacy after the age of 16 and It’s because generally employers our Government is keen to not like a good understanding let the UK fall behind. of Maths and English more than anything else learned at In terms of careers, most school. That doesn’t mean you employers ask for a minimum should just jack in geography; of grade C in English and Maths all subjects are good for no matter the position. What do something, but these are nurses, engineers, receptionists skills everyone needs in the and shop workers all have in workplace. The Government common? (No smart answers have decided the education please) They all have some sector needed shaking up with dealing with Maths or English; it big changes being made to both could be working out discounts schools and exams. Every other on the ﬂy or ﬁlling out contracts.

WHAT ELSE IS CHANGING?

Surprisingly, changes to Maths and English are not the only things new about exams. Starting this year GCSEs are changing from a modular format to becoming linear. What this means is instead of a few smaller tests at the end of each part of your course, there will be one or two big exams in May/June. You also won’t be able to re-sit one particular part of your GCSE if you didn’t get the grade in that module that you wanted. You have to re-take every exam in that subject.

If a pupil is leaving without this level of qualiﬁcation, they are at a massive disadvantage in the job market.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

I know that many of you will be worrying about what all this means, but it might not be as bad as you think. While the ideal situation is to pass your English and Maths GCSEs with a C, if you really struggle then don’t think you are just going to be re-sitting over and over again.

For example, if you did fantastically and got an A* in your calculator test in maths, but slipped up and got an E in your noncalculator one, you have to retake both if you’re not willing to stick with the overall grade. Bear in mind you also won’t have to retake any classroom assessments you’ve had (For Example timed practical tests in Art or IT).

The focus is on continuous development rather than just grades. This means that you might be able to do an equivalent qualiﬁcation that’s more suited to your style of learning. You also don’t have to go to college for further education if this wasn’t going to be your route after school. There will be other methods of study that you can take part in, so don’t think you won’t be able to start an Apprenticeship or Traineeship just because your grades weren’t ideal.

English, Geography, History and R.E, there will be quite a hefty amount of marks geared speciﬁcally towards them. So make sure you’re not telling examiners about the lives of Jebus and Ghundi.

If you’re in Year 10 and thinking about taking A-Levels then you have to watch out. A similar system is coming into eﬀect from 2015 for further education as well. There’s also going to be a big focus on No more AS and A2 exams, just one big Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar. For exam period. subjects that you have to write a lot, i.e.

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HOW WILL IT BE DONE?

You’ll be able to rest a bit easier knowing that the number of students who haven’t managed to pass before leaving sixth-form or college will be reported in that school’s performance tables, meaning that it is in schools’ and colleges’ interests to provide the best possible education to encourage you to pass. Some schools in the past have entered pupils into easier qualiﬁcations so they don’t have to show low grades to the public, but the new rules will put a stop to this; everyone will be educated to the same level. The funding of colleges will also be changed. Basically if they don’t have great English and Mathematics departments, they won’t get as much cash.

WHO IT AFFECTS

The new rules have already come into eﬀect. Meaning if you are gearing up to do your GCSEs next term you might be staying on a bit longer than you thought, but only if you don’t get the right grades. Of course this only matters to you if you don’t pass your Maths and English exams ﬁrst time around. It can be seen as a little push to try your best in your exams, but let’s be honest you should be doing that already, and you really don’t want additional subjects looming over your head when you’re trying to think about where you want your career to go. Post 16 study is hard enough without having to think about left-over GCSEs as well! The change goes hand-in-hand with the Raised Participation Age of education (discussed in the previous issue of Careers World) which means school-leavers are required to stay in some form of education until they are 17, which is soon to be extended to 18.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While this new system may seem unfair to a lot of you, it really does make sense. If you could see the amount of job listings out there that say ‘must have English and Maths GCSE Grade C or equivalent’ your collective jaws would drop. It’s not just courses and careers where you’re required to write or add up; employers like to know that if they hand you any task that crops up, you’ll be able to handle it. The most important thing to take away from it is that even if the work is that bit tougher now, in the long run it will be good for you. You’ll be able to apply for tonnes more jobs and the satisfaction you’ll get from knowing that you passed is worth all the extra eﬀort.

NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK A huge success in past years, National Apprenticeship Week, set up by the National Apprenticeship Service, is returning in 2014 and is fast approaching. Designed to celebrate and increase awareness of Apprenticeships, NAW is a great event that promotes Apprenticeships of all levels to students, employers, schools, colleges, training providers and the media. Loads of good stuff goes on all across the country so you’re guaranteed to find something you can get involved with. This year NAW takes place on 3rd-7th March and there are over 900 events to attend across the UK (no, that isn’t a challenge). Apprenticeships are becoming a big deal. Last year Prime Minister David Cameron said he wanted to make Apprenticeships, alongside university, the new norm for pupils leaving school. Make sure you get involved over twitter, follow @Apprenticeships and check in on #NAW2014. If you are considering an Apprenticeship but can’t find one to suit you then chances are you are about to have your eyes opened. Dozens of employers post vacancies during the run up and throughout the week. Really it’s the best possible time to consider an Apprenticeship.

THEY REALLY ARE A BIG DEAL

Recently there has been a study focusing on education in 30 countries. It has found that vocational education (that’s education that’s focused on a speciﬁc ﬁeld of employment to you and me, e.g. Apprenticeships, BTECs, etc) is much more likely to get you a job than just a general education. Not only this, but the people on vocational courses have a better chance to wind up with a long-term position, not just a short starter job, and a much higher starting wage than young people who have just gone through a standard route of education.

Yes, this might sound like one big advert but if you’re even considering an Apprenticeship in the slightest then the week can be a really important time of year for you, so stick it in your calendar and try to get involved with as much as possible. It has also been found that individuals who took part in a practical work-based The variety in events is huge. You course, like an Apprenticeship, were could attend a careers event at your even more likely to find a job than those local college, or an employer might be who did classroom based courses like offering work experience for the week. BTECs. This is because the courses It’s not just schools that get involved. are designed in partnership with the Big businesses like British Gas see employer, meaning they know exactly how useful it is to inspire young people what skills the students have, and can to consider becoming an Apprentice. gear the course more towards relevant Get over to apprenticeships.org.uk areas. And honestly, it’s much easier to to have a look what’s going on in your keep on an Apprentice that you have area. already trained than finding someone new. Don’t forget, it’s National Careers Week at the same time as Apprentice Week, Don’t get worried if work-based but over at Careers World we believe courses aren’t for you. The research that any week of the year can be a showed that even work experience is careers week. I mean except Christmas. enough to give you an edge over other Who wants to be thinking about jobs at candidates, so get going and do all Christmas? That’s presents time... you can to gain as much experience as possible.

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Section Heading

expert /’ekspərt/

Noun. A person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.

Ask the Experts

Adjective Having or involving such knowledge or skill. Synonyms noun. specialist - connoisseur - adept - judge - master adjective. skilled - skilful - skillful - proﬁcient - adept

Are you frustrated by all the choices you face? Don’t you wish there was a way to compare all your options, or to have those key questions answered? Well, we’ve done it for you. We’ve put together a team of experts from your area to give you an insight into what kind of experiences, beneﬁts and future they can oﬀer you. We’ve asked the same questions to each expert, to help you decide on the right choice for you.

The Employer CAREERS AND EDUCATION CHOICES CAN BE SCARY! HOW SHOULD APPLICANTS MAKE THEIR DECISION?

Laing O’Rourke is a globally diverse engineering enterprise. We fund, design, manufacture, construct and maintain the built environment – providing the facilities to accommodate, educate, employ, transport, care for and sustain communities. Web: www.laingorourke.com

WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU OFFER SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS?

There are a great deal of career choices available to you, therefore it’s important that applicants research as much as possible. Speak to people who are already in the industry that you are considering, read as much as you can and think about what motivates you.

A dedicated programme manager will work closely with the project teams, apprentice mentors and training providers to make sure the apprentices are supported and on track to meet all their initial goals and to assist in their development within the business.

Construction is an exciting and ever changing industry that oﬀers a huge variety of job opportunities, including traditional trade Apprenticeships and sponsored learning programmes.

We work hard to create an environment that brings out the best in our people. So as a Laing O’Rourke employee you can be sure your career is in good hands. Our Apprenticeship programme is designed to give our apprentices the best possible start to their career in construction, creating a solid foundation that could take them to great heights.

WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?

WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU?

When you join Laing O’Rourke you will be fully supported through your learning. Successful applicants will receive expert training from both our vastly experienced trades-people on site, and through a huge network of UK colleges. Our Apprenticeship programme also includes a number of personal development modules delivered over four years which are aimed at broadening your learning experience beyond your trade.

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The University CAREERS AND EDUCATION CHOICES CAN BE SCARY! HOW SHOULD APPLICANTS MAKE THEIR DECISION?

The world of employment has changed, and so has the choice courses and careers. It could be a potential mineﬁeld, but it need not be. Essex is here to help. Web: www.essex.ac.uk

Choose a course that you love, but also choose an institution where you can develop all the things that make you ‘you’. Employers have changed a lot in recent years. They’re now looking far more at the whole person, not just your education and experience. It means that everything about you is now relevant and important, including your hobbies, interests, and even your social life. A good degree can no longer stand on its own, you need to combine it with work and life experience. Essex provides you with a world-class academic experience as well as all the other opportunities to help develop the real you.

The Training Provider WS Training is a Suffolk based training provider that has been established for nearly 20 years. If you are looking to work in engineering, manufacturing, care, ICT, hair and beauty, administration, sport, customer service, warehousing or financial services then we will do our best help you find the right Apprenticeship or programme for you.

CAREERS AND EDUCATION CHOICES CAN BE SCARY! HOW SHOULD APPLICANTS MAKE THEIR DECISION?

They should look at all of the information that is available to them. Seek advice from school careers teams, attend careers fairs and events and talk to as many diﬀerent providers as possible before making a decision. Look beyond the immediate future, think about what your ultimate aim is and ensure that you map out the route to achieving that aim. Resist just doing what your friends are doing, but instead think about what is right for you.

Web: www.wstraining.co.uk Tel: 01473 604260

The College CAREERS AND EDUCATION CHOICES CAN BE SCARY! HOW SHOULD APPLICANTS MAKE THEIR DECISION?

New College Stamford oﬀers education and training to over 4,000 students every year providing a huge range of courses – Apprenticeships, A Levels, Diplomas, part-time courses and higher education – there’s something for everyone. Web: www.stamford.ac.uk

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There’s nothing to be scared of because there’s lots of help available! We generally make choices based on our likes and dislikes, our skills and abilities, and our thoughts of what we want to achieve, so this are a good place to start. Once you have some ideas, share them with your family, friends, teacher, etc. to get their input. If you are over 18, The National Careers Service can also help you. Next, consider all your options and do your research; ﬁnd out about sixth form, college, employment, work-based training and other opportunities that are available to you. Contact those you are interested in and make the most of any open days, taster

WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?

Everyone that’s part of the university feels incredibly invested in our institution. We oﬀer an environment that is modern and challenging, but above all unique. For 50 years we have been at the forefront of academia and the media. We are in the Top 10 institutions for research excellence in the UK, the most prestigious measure of an institution, so we provide an excellent foundation for your future and career.

WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?

Apprentices will be employed in local businesses and supported by one of our tutors/assessors who will guide them through the qualiﬁcation, mainly in the workplace. Any training required oﬀ-thejob will be held at one of WS Training’s conveniently located and well-equipped centres. We also have a dedicated Hairdressing Academy where you can learn about the hair & beauty industry.

WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU OFFER SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS?

Essex has received the prestigious 2013 Times Higher Education (THE) Award for Outstanding Support for Students. The Award highlights our innovative schemes and how we integrate them into eﬀective support services for our students. Our Frontrunners scheme and Nightline are just two examples of this. Frontrunners allows you to take up temporary positions within departments across the University in order to develop and build on key employability skills. Nightline is operated by students to provide support and advice ranging from study issues to health concerns.

experience placement to suit their career for employability and life skills training under expectations. the guidance of our experienced tutors and then be closely monitored in their work experience placement. WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU OFFER

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS?

During an Apprenticeship, support will be given through regular visits by their tutor/ assessor to their workplace, and in between contact can be maintained via email or in some cases an online portfolio. You will have a dedicated tutor/assessor who you will be able to contact whenever you need help with your qualiﬁcation.

If learners are on a Traineeship they will attend our dedicated centre in central Individuals undertaking a Traineeship are Ipswich and be given a quality work expected to attend up to 2 days a week

events or other opportunities to visit, and go armed with any questions you may have. Don’t forget to consider transport, ﬁnance and any additional support you may need before making your ﬁnal choice.

WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?

A professional and friendly one, with state-of-the-art facilities and industryled teaching standards. Our aim is to ensure all our students are ready and able to successfully enter the job market and achieve in their chosen careers. Our links with local employers, community groups and other stakeholders creates an employment focused learning environment

WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU?

Because when all things are considered Essex is the best university in the UK, and our students are among the happiest in the country. We are second in the mainstream universities of the UK for student satisfaction according to the National Student Survey 2013.

WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU?

WS Training works with a wide range of companies including offices, factories, hair & beauty salons, football clubs, IT companies, care homes, warehouses, insurance companies and building societies and can offer you a route in to a variety of different careers. WS Training has a great reputation and we recently achieved a Grade 2 at our latest Ofsted Inspection which shows that we are of ‘good’ standard.

that incorporates industry site visits, guest WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU? speakers and work-related projects that Because we put our students ﬁrst. will help prepare and support our students’ Our reputation for student support and future progression. achievement, coupled with superb facilities, resources and industry links, provides an exceptional learning environment with WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU OFFER fantastic progression opportunities. We are SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO HELP in the top 5% of all schools and colleges in the UK and DFES Performance Tables have THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS? There is lots of support during the rated us as Lincolnshire’s Best Performing application process and this continues College. once you are at New College Stamford. As well as our teaching staﬀ, we have student For more information about New College advisors, counsellors, chaplains and careers Stamford and our range of courses, visit guidance advisors to ensure every student www.stamford.ac.uk or to receive a progresses to the best of their ability and 2014/15 Prospectus call 01780 484311. achieves their goals.

www.careersworld.co.uk

GET THE CAREER YOU WANT BY CHOOSING AN APPRENTICESHIP. IF YOU WANT TO ENTER THE WORLD OF WORK, GET PAID AND YET CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION, AN APPRENTICESHIP COULD BE THE IDEAL ROUTE FOR YOU. On-the-job, you’ll work as an employee, alongside

We offer a huge range of Apprenticeships including:

experienced staff members. Off-the-job, you’ll learn through a combination of learning methods that may

• Health and Social Care*

include: classroom attendance, online assessments and

• Business Administration

assessments in your workplace.

• Sales and Telesales • Customer Service

An Apprenticeship is available to anyone aged 16 years

• Team Leading

and over, plus each one involves a structured programme

• Management

of training, leading to a recognised qualification. They are

• Children and Young People’s Workforce (Childcare)*

available at different levels, letting you choose the speed

• Hospitality Services*

you wish to learn at.

• Retail Skills • Travel and Tourism

We have invested heavily in real-working environments to

• Warehousing and Storage

give you the best possible training, while you also benefit

• Construction*

from our well established links with local employers.

• Sport and Active Leisure* * Only delivered in certain locations

Call: 0330 123 1300 or visit: www.intraining.co.uk/apprenticeships

We like to keep you up to date with the latest goings-on of your local institutions, as well as providing you with case studies and stories from people who have been in your position and seen the light at the end of the tunnel; this is their forum for connecting with you.

Kandice Burden, Competition Groom I was pony-mad growing up, but a bad fall had made me nervous. A few years later I began my Apprenticeship with Tori Twite at T.T. Sports Horses and Broadland Council Training Services (BCTS). The training helped me get my conﬁdence back and become an eﬃcient groom, particularly when dealing with hard-tohandle horses and ponies. The coursework was easy to grasp with Tori’s understanding of all things equine, and the rest of the team at BCTS were always there with assistance when I needed it. Together they helped me through the course with a supportive hand. My aim after the training was to become a competition groom

and I have made it! I am now working alongside national dressage rider and trainer, Anna Bostrand-Daly, at BD Equestrian Ltd. Here I am able to handle stallions, ride and train young horses and take part in general yard and competition duties. I hope I have done the great team at BCTS proud. Anna Bostrand-Daly – Kandice’s Employer: In my search for a groom/rider to join my team, I was aware that Kandice had been training with BCTS and this was deﬁnitely a deciding factor when choosing her. She is now a vital part of my organisation. It is obvious that she has had “hands on” training as she is quick to respond to anything asked of her and conducts herself perfectly around the horses.

Chelmsford Training Services Chelmsford Training Services delivers work-based learning through a variety of different business solutions, including Apprenticeships. We have offices and training facilities in Chelmsford City Centre, as well as premises for hair and beauty courses – Lee Stafford Academy. Our programmes range from Traineeships to Intermediate Apprenticeship programmes, which in turn lead to Advanced Apprenticeships. We offer a variety of courses; Business Administration to Warehousing, IT to Sport; this being just a small selection.

Hospitality, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Enterprise, Social & Digital Marketing and Creative Media. Our aim is to make organisations more effective, productive and competitive by addressing skills gaps. We focus on up-skilling to help in the creation of a wellrounded work-force. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Chelmsford College, learners will benefit from a range of professional services such as learning support, careers advice and guidance. We have experts to help identify the needs of organisations. Our aim is to offer an unmatched standard of training and support to make a positive difference to a business.

We also have several new Apprenticeship programmes for this year including Licensed

Web: www.broadland.gov.uk/bcts Tel: 01603 785841

Web: www.chelmsfordtraining.com Tel: 01245 29 30 31

Training Services

www.careersworld.co.uk

Apprentices have the power to succeed Blackpool based LG Energy is helping three school leavers to surge forward in their careers. Hannah Mumby, Jacob Inglis, and Louis Weir, all 18, joined the company – which advises commercial clients on managing their energy costs – as apprentices, with Hannah having now secured a permanent position.

really helps with both training and recruitment costs. “We turned to Intraining to help us recruit more apprentices and after a careful selection process hired Jacob and Louis as Telephone Energy Consultants. They’ve been with us for three months now and are already proving to be a huge success.” Jacob and Louis are both studying for a level two qualiﬁcation in Business Administration.

Ashlee Wells 18-year-old Ashlee Wells had always wanted to join the Fire Service, but decided to keep her career options open when she visited Lowestoft College.

The trio were introduced to LG Energy through national training and recruitment provider Intraining and form part of the successful sales team.

After considering other career paths, Ashlee decided to stick with her original plan and signed up for the two year Level 3 Uniformed Services course which included a range of trips, as well as visits to the college by guest speakers, who shared their experiences or ran training sessions.

Hannah, from St Annes, joined the company two years ago as a Business Administration apprentice, and is now a Sales Support Executive. Her attitude, work ethic and determination to succeed impressed so much that when it came to recruiting new team members, LG Energy immediately looked to employ more apprentices. Karen La Grand, Commercial Development Manager at LG Energy, said: “Hannah really opened my eyes to the beneﬁts that apprentices can bring. We have given Hannah exposure to each department of our business and she has consistently exceeded expectations. Being able to develop staﬀ in this way also

As well as taking part in regular exercise sessions, which helped to improve her levels of ﬁtness, Ashlee was also involved in a training drill for the local emergency services to help them prepare for major incidents. There were also opportunities to climb Snowdon and visit the Lake District to develop skills such as map reading and working as a team.

For more information about Intraining’s free recruitment and training services or its Apprenticeship Programmes, call 0330123 300 or visit www.intraining.co.uk.

Since leaving college in the summer, Ashlee has secured a place as a retained fire-fighter with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. She is currently waiting to undergo two weeks of intensive training before taking up the role. Ashlee said: “I didn’t want to sit in an office day in day out and wanted to do something different. I also wanted a career which would allow me to help people. I believe that if someone like me can achieve this it’s proof that if you really want something you can do it - you just need determination. I hope that this will help me get a foot in the door with the fire service and that it will lead to a full time career in the future.”

Lowestoft College oﬀers a broad range of courses and apprenticeships. To ﬁnd out how we can help you reach your career goal ring 0800 854695, visit www.lowestoft.ac.uk or email info@lowestoft.ac.uk

www.careersworld.co.uk

Great careers start at Cambridge Regional College A fantastic 96 per cent of students would recommend Cambridge Regional College to their friends – it has some of the best facilities in the country and is home to around 4,000 full-time students, all studying a great range of subjects. Courses are taught by tutors who are experts in their ﬁeld, so students learn the specialist skills employers want - giving them outstanding career prospects. The hands-on vocational training is the perfect start for jobs in a wide range of sectors, from health care and engineering to catering and IT.

If you’re thinking of going on to university, check out the college’s higher education programmes – fees are much lower than at the average university, and are taught in small friendly groups, beneﬁting from the high value teaching as well as low cost. The college has a very successful Apprenticeship programme, with more than 3,500 apprentices currently in training, so if you want to earn while you learn then an Apprenticeship could be perfect for you. The next college open day is on Saturday 1st March 2014 9.30am-12.30pm.

Employability skills are an important part of all courses at CRC – a big advantage when it comes to job-hunting – and students have plenty of opportunities to show oﬀ their skills. The college encourages all its pupils to enter competitions, with very successful results, and celebrates the successes of its star students.

Bedford Training Group Bedford Training Group (BTG) held their end of year event at their main training centre on Thursday 5th December. The evening featured guest speakers, presentation of awards and employer display stands. Silvano Caparco, sales and marketing manager at BTG, commented: “It’s important for young people to be recognised and rewarded for all their hard work and commitment. Their employers are very proud of their achievements.”

from diagnostic equipment to new computers! Based in Bedford, they serve a large geographical area and have established strong working relationships with companies large and small. Students who are still at school can still take part. BTG’s vocational training packages provide an excellent opportunity to try out training programmes in a variety of areas, from construction to ICT.

Established in 1970, Bedford Training Group has been delivering Apprenticeships and training courses for well over 40 years. BTG always invest in the latest equipment to help apprentices with all their needs throughout the training period,

For more information about courses at Cambridge Regional College, call 01223 226315 or see www.camre.ac.uk

www.careersworld.co.uk

Web: www.btg.org.uk Tel: 01234 843804

HOw FAR DO yOU wANT TO gO IN BUSINESS? THE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT. NO ONE’S BETTER QUALIFIED. london, shanghai, new york, singapore? icAew chartered Accountants have the work experience, financial intelligence and skills the business world demands.

Become ‘chartered’ and start your journey, visit icaew.com/betterqualified

A world leAder of the AccountAncy And finAnce profession

THE REAL WORLD Hayley Rickard Keen LLP, Essex After completing A-levels in Psychology, Human Biology, Chemistry and Maths, I chose to study with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) instead of going to university. Once I had successfully completed the AAT qualiﬁcation I decided to pursue a career as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and progressed to the ACA qualiﬁcation.

Finance & Law Making money; you’ve got to love it. But do you know how that money is made? Why some companies make more than others? Perhaps you want to defend somebody in court or play the other side and send somebody down? This sector will show you how you can get a career started doing just that.

You ask us... WHAT’S THE FINANCE AND LAW SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

posher. If you give financial advice, you might even find yourself working from home! In the Legal sector, you might be in Finance is all about cash. How it’s made, an office sorting case notes, or in the court who’s making it, who isn’t making enough room where the action is! and why. If a company isn’t making a profit, how can you improve their situation? On a HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO smaller scale, it’s about paying people their wages, working out expenses and giving OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY? out financial advice to people. Law is pretty This sector employs 1 million+ people in much as it says; it covers our legal system, the UK and takes on more than 70,000 new from legal secretaries and lawyers right the starters a year. It’s also one of the highest way up to the judges that deliver verdicts. paying; a fully qualified accountant could earn in excess of £50,000 a year! In the WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT Law sector, 250,000 people make up the work force, of which almost half is made up TO EARN? of solicitors and barristers! With regards to law, the starting salaries are quite high; usually between £14,000 and WHERE IS THE WORK MOST £17,000, Finance will be a bit lower to start with, between £10,500 and £13,000, but CONCENTRATED? progression can be fairly quick and people You will generally find both sectors are in the finance sector usually earn high based in the big cities. You might see a bonuses on top of their basic pay, which few private law firms in smaller villages is over £30,000 when you become fully and towns, but the bigger companies qualified in your field. prefer to be based in the main UK cities, such as London, Manchester, Leeds and WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD Birmingham. As Finance also covers banking, it’s worth pointing out that banks I BE WORKING IN? usually have branches in smaller places to In the Finance sector, you’ll probably be accommodate the town population. based in an office environment when you first start out. As you progress, you’ll find the building around you gets bigger and www.careersworld.co.uk

I don’t regret not going to university, as once I’d decided on chartered accountancy, I started looking for jobs with training programmes and found a place on the Rickard Keen AAT-ACA Fast Track programme. Sometimes I think I would have liked to have lived the university lifestyle, but when I hear my friends comparing their student debt, I’m glad I didn’t go! My current role is Audit and Accounts Senior, which involves working on some of the firm’s largest client audits alongside the Director of Audit. Not only is it great experience, but it’s fun too! One piece of advice I would give to students looking into chartered accountancy as a career is to consider training with firms of different sizes. Although the salaries offered in bigger London firms seem very appealing, the environment in a smaller firm may offer a wider range of experiences whilst training.

To ﬁnd out more about how to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant visit icaew. com/careers or ﬁnd us on Facebook at facebook.com/icaewstartingpoint

Finance & Law

Careers Choices Finance and Law is a very important sector; it runs the numbers and makes the rules that we live by. From working out tax deductions for a company to passing sentence on a criminal, Finance and Law is a truly diverse area to be in. It covers a lot of different job roles, so we couldn’t possibly list them all! Here are all the main ones for your enjoyment…

ACCOUNTANCY

Accountancy is all about crunching numbers and keeping track of both companies and individual people’s ﬁnances. Every company has an accountant, no matter what trade it’s in and you might be tasked with anything from proﬁt forecasts (how much money the company is expected to make) to calculating how much tax is owed to the government (how much money the company is expected to pay in tax. Obviously.)

FINANCIAL ADVICE

Everybody needs ﬁnancial advice at some point; whether it’s getting a mortgage for a new house, making a big purchase (a new car or big holiday) or planning for a baby, people need to know how to manage the funds they have to get the most out of their money. You’ll be giving out advice to a whole host of clients, from individuals and families to multi-national corporations.

LEGAL ADMINISTRATION

A court of law isn’t just a judge, council and jury; there are lots of people working behind the scenes to make sure the legal process is as smooth as possible. You could be arranging evidence for a case, making sure reports and studies are all in order and even taking notes in the court room on a hearing.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?

Salaries in the Finance sector vary depending on how qualified you are. Starting salaries are usually between £10,500 and £13,000, but in some sectors, such as banking, you receive yearly bonuses which increase as your salary goes up. Legal salaries tend to start a bit higher, somewhere around the £14,500 mark and then tend to go up based on your role and qualification. The average fully qualified legal administrator earns around £27,000.

BANKING

Banking is a broad term for everything to do with personal and corporate ﬁnances. It’s a huge sector that comprises 3 diﬀerent sectors; Commercial Banking (local banks such as HSBC, Lloyds and Natwest), Corporate Banking (for businesses) and wholesale banking (for the government and other international banks). You’ll be tasked with managing money, approving loans, exchanging foreign money and paying in/ cashing cheques.

www.careersworld.co.uk

MANAGERIAL ROLES ACCOUNT FOR

37%

OF THE WORKFORCE

Where to begin If you think this is the sector for you, read on to learn more about how you can kick your career off…

APPRENTICESHIPS

There are a few Apprenticeships you can undertake to get you into this sector. Apprenticeships count as a Level 2 qualiﬁcation and you it will take the form of an NVQ, Diploma or BTEC. Accounting • Payroll • Marketing and Communications • Providing Financial Services

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS

These are the equivalent to A-Levels and can usually be joined after completing the associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. They are ideal for people who want a practical role as they learn while gaining valuable employment experience. People with Advanced Apprenticeships tend to progress up the ladder a lot quicker than those without, as the skills they learn are more suited to management and supervisory roles. Here are some of the Apprenticeship Frameworks for this sector and all of these will result in a Level 3 qualiﬁcation such as a BTEC, a Diploma or an NVQ. Accounting • Advising on Financial Products • Payroll • Providing Financial Services • Legal Services

FOUNDATION DEGREES

A Foundation Degree combines university lifestyle with practical, hands on work. It’s sort of like a cross between an Apprenticeship and an Honours Degree. They are often used as gateway qualiﬁcations to a full time Degree as they count towards the ﬁrst two years of an Honours Degree. They usually take two years to complete and you’ll be both in the work place and on the university campus.

EMPLOYER FUNDED STUDY

If you don’t fancy going to uni but still want to be an accountant, you can train through organisations such as ICAEW and PwC. KMPG are ideal for school leavers and oﬀer a 6 year course which will result in an internationally recognised award instead of an honours degree.

47%

OF UK FIRMS EMPLOY 250 PEOPLE OR LESS

THE LEGAL SECTOR DEALS WITH OVER

500,000 CASES PER YEAR

Finance & Law

REGIONAL FOCUS Finance is a great industry to get into in the East of England. The region is the third biggest economic centre outside of London, and is home to some of the country’s ﬁnancial powerhouses. Aviva and Virgin Money are both based in Norwich, and all of England’s banknotes are printed by De La Rue Plc in Essex. The legal market in the region is heavily inﬂuenced by the University of Cambridge, the number one university for law in the country.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

You can also undertake short courses to boost your credentials and specialise in a certain area of the Finance and Law sector. For example, to work in investment banking you could gain a CISI Introduction to Investment award.

A-LEVELS

A-Levels are the most popular gateway into university and are sought after by employers. Here are some of the relevant A-Levels for this sector: Maths • Economics • Business Studies • Law • Accounting • Statistics www.careersworld.co.uk

Open 5th FeDays b 14th May & 2014

Your career in fashion retail starts here If you’re interested in...

Why study at the FRA?

Fashion Retail Business Buying Merchandising Visual Display & Retail Branding Store Management Garment Construction Garment Technology Graphic Design

Full-time, Short Courses and Apprenticeships are available at the FRA’s modern facilities in the centre of the West End.

We’ve got courses for YOU...

Learn in this inspirational environment and draw on the FRA’s extensive fashion industry contacts and business networks. You will gain all the skills and experience to make you “job ready” for an exciting career in the retail industry.

www.fashionretailacademy.ac.uk

THE REAL WORLD Emma Woodrow, Level 4 Buying and Merchandising Buyers Admin Assistant at Topshop “I was interested in studying at the FRA after seeing the strong connections it has within the fashion retail industry. I then visited an open day and knew it was the perfect place for me to gain the experience and skills I needed to start my career in buying.

Creative, Media & The Arts Facebook, Emmerdale, The Mona Lisa, Call of Duty. All these things have one thing in common – they all fall into Creative, Media and Arts sector and they could be the basis of your future career!

You ask us... WHAT’S THE CREATIVE, MEDIA AND ARTS SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

The Creative sector will soon become one of the most important in the country. As technology advances, people need to keep up to date and that’s where you come in. At present, the industry is worth £36 billion a year; in the time it takes you to read to the bottom of this section, the Creative sector have generated over £70,000. Around WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT will £1 in every £10 of our exports are in this TO EARN? sector, which means that other countries You’ll start off on somewhere in the region favour our approach to Media, Creativity of £10,000 to £18,000 depending on what and The Arts. you do. Some of the newer roles, such as interactive and digital media tend to pay WHERE IS THE WORK MOST more because they are more specialised, CONCENTRATED? but nearly all the career paths available will have room for advancement and as the It obviously depends on what you specialise market continues to expand new roles will in, but generally there is more work the further towards London you go. However, become available. the BBC has recently relocated a lot of its to Salford (near Manchester) WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD programming and there are of course independent I BE WORKING IN? publishing companies, newspapers and Most media companies work out of offices digital media companies all over the country. and studios; this isn’t anywhere near as It really is a case of moving to where the boring as it sounds as most creative offices work is, but once you become established, are bustling with ideas and tend to be more moving won’t be an issue. laid back than the bigger corporations. Of course TV and Film would have you working in various settings both indoor and outdoor and the fashion industry could take you from a cat walk to a high street shop. It’s everywhere. On your TV, on your computer, on your games consoles, in every newspaper, painting, t-shirt, magazine, book, website or newsletter, it’s a massive sector that covers the things we enjoy most at home.

www.careersworld.co.uk

“The FRA helped me to become careerready by allowing me to experience the role in full. The in-depth training I received, the hands on workshops I took part in and the valuable work placements I had in the buying oﬃces of Marks and Spencer and ASOS really gave me a great view of what the job involved. “All of the inﬂuential people I met throughout the year concreted that the FRA is one of a kind and I loved being in the heart of London, surrounded by fashion and inspiration every day. It would not have been possible to get to where I am now without the unique training and preparation I received through the FRA.” The FRA delivers a unique, contemporary educational experience, with a range of vocational and work-orientated courses to successfully prepare learners aged 16+ for employment in the fashion retail sector.

Web: www.fashionretailacademy.ac.uk

Creative, Media & The Arts

Careers Choices If you have the imagination to match your ambition and desire to succeed, then you will go far in this sector. From television to fashion, there’s a whole host of different career paths to be taken, but be aware that this is a very popular sector to get into, so it’s best to get some work experience behind you to make you more attractive to employers. Here are some of the biggest areas within this sector:

PUBLISHING

This magazine you are reading wouldn’t exist without publishing and it covers everything to do with written word. Most publishers are small and deal with specialist publications, such as career speciﬁc magazines or travel guides. Starting salaries are quite high, ranging from £15,000 to £20,000.

INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Also known as New Media, everything from Facebook and Youtube to apps and websites is covered here. You’ll have to move with the times, as in this industry something could go from popular to forgotten in just a few seconds. Remember Bebo? No, me neither. Starting salaries are pretty high because it’s a specialist subject; expect to earn between £16,000 and FILM & TELEVISION Fancy yourself as the next Phillip Seymour £20,000 with more to come as you become Hoffman? What do you mean who?! Well, more experienced. it’s not all about the actors; all those names that scroll at the end of the credits (that you FASHION probably leave the cinema half way through) If you know what’s hot and what’s not, are roles that make film and television work. what’s in and what’s out, then this could Cameramen, sound and lighting operators, be right up your alley. Fashion covers makeup artists, special effects specialists designing new clothes, patterns and styles and directors are just some of the roles as well as buying stock for high street shops available. Salaries usually start out fairly to sell. You can expect to start on between low (about £12,000) but will grow as your £12,000 and £15,000. experience does.

PERFORMANCE ARTS

All the world’s a stage. Not only does this cover the performers, but also the supporting crew; you could be in wardrobe, stage management or directing the whole show! Starting salaries are usually between £12,000 and £16,000 depending on your role.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

PR is all about networking – you might be representing a small company looking to expand or a high proﬁle celebrity in search of that next big blockbuster. Starting salaries in PR are usually higher than others in this sector; you’re looking at £19,000 to start out with, but experienced PR people at the top of the ladder can earn upwards of £100,000! That’s a lot of chicken dinners…

www.careersworld.co.uk

ANIMATION

Finding Nemo, Toy Story and Shrek; all are huge animated ﬁlms that started life on a drawing board. Animators work on bringing still images to life. Animation isn’t just limited to ﬁlm; it appears in TV, on websites, adverts and video games. Starting salaries are between £16,000 and £20,000 and can increase with experience.

CURATORS/CONSERVATORS

Museums, heritage sites and art galleries all require experts to look after the exhibits that guests come to see. Whether it’s bringing new exhibits in or restoring old ones to display quality, it’s a varied job that will give you a lot of gratiﬁcation. There is a minimum salary (by law) of £20,895, which you can expect to rise as you gain experience.

55,900

PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED WITHIN TV - 11% OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY MORE THAN

1/3

OF PEOPLE WORKING IN MEDIA ARE FREELANCE

50%

OF THE TV WORKFORCE HAS UNDERTAKEN UNPAID WORK

Where to begin If you think this is the sector for you, read on to learn more about how you can kick your career off…

APPRENTICESHIPS

With over 48,000 diﬀerent companies in this sector, an Apprenticeship might be the easier route to take to get into a very tough sector. Competition for places in this industry are super high, so having one foot in the door and earning as you learn could be a great way to go. Here are the frameworks you can expect to see in this industry and all Apprenticeships result in a Level 2 BTEC, Diploma or NVQ. Design • Games Testing • Performing Arts (Theatre) • Fashion and Textiles • Music Business • Creative

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS

These are the equivalent to A-Levels and can usually be joined after completing the associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. They are ideal for people who want a practical role as they learn while gaining valuable employment experience. Here are some of the Apprenticeship Frameworks for this sector and all of these will result in a Level 3 qualiﬁcation such as a BTEC, a Diploma or an NVQ. Creative • Creative and Digital Media • Design • Performing Arts • Photography • Photo Imaging

A-LEVELS

A-Levels are the most popular gateway into university and are sought after by employers. Here are some of the relevant A-Levels for this sector: Art and Design • Dance • Drama • Fine Art • Graphic Design • Media Studies • Music Technology • Photography

FOUNDATION DEGREES

Creative, Media & The Arts

REGIONAL FOCUS The region is big on creativity. Publishing employs 60 % of the creative sector in the East of England, but what excites most people is that the area is home to both Elstree Studios and Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, where dozens of blockbuster pictures have been ﬁlmed. Examples are the Harry Potter ﬁlms, Indiana Jones and Star Wars! Freelancing is quite common in this industry so it is quite common to be an expert in one area and work on several projects at once.

COLLEGE COURSES

College courses are also a great way to get into this sector and many colleges do Creative courses. To check which colleges do these courses, head to www.careersworld.co.uk. www.careersworld.co.uk

Search online for RAF The Royal Air Force values every individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique contribution, irrespective of race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or social background. However, for reasons of combat effectiveness, the RAF Regiment is open to men only. MoD/Crown Copyright from www.defenceimages.mod.uk

THE REAL WORLD

Armed Forces & Emergency Services Attention! The UK prides itself on its military and ability to provide rapid response to emergencies. Whichever path you choose to take, you can take heart in the knowledge that your work is helping to protect and serve the people you love most. It’s a rewarding, progressive career which will give you a varied working day.

You ask us... WHAT’S THE ARMED FORCES & EMERGENCY SERVICES SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

At its most basic, this sector is all about saving lives. It’s a huge sector that is often misjudged; it’s not just about marching, shooting and being yelled at by an oﬃcer. You can join the Forces as a chef or a medic, or if you fancy going into the emergency services, you can work out on the streets or at a desk, helping interview people and sorting evidence.

WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?

Base but again you’ll have to ship out to one of the many bases around the world. In the Navy, you’ll be on a ship so make sure you have the stomach for the seas! You’ll be a little closer to home in the Emergency Services; Police Oﬃcers and Fire-ﬁghters tend to work in the local community, whereas Paramedics will be working out of ambulances and hospitals.

HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

Aside from the Travel and Hospitality sector, there isn’t a better chance for you to travel abroad in your work! There are over 140,000 people serving in the Army alone and the UK is the third highest in the world for military expenditure, with over £39bn spent on keeping our country safe. Around 20,000 people were recruited last year and 25% of those were under 18, so it’s easier to get into this sector from a young age.

With regards to the Armed Forces, you will be paid a salary as soon as you begin training and it starts between £13,000 and £14,000 depending on which Force you go into. In the Emergency Services, you will have to undertake training before you begin earning, but your starting salary is very reasonable; Police Officers earn around £23,000, FireWHERE IS THE WORK MOST fighters earn £20,500 and Paramedics can CONCENTRATED? make up to £21,000. This sector is big on advancement, especially the Armed Forces In the Armed Forces, it’s at military bases where hard work is rewarded with respect and ports (obviously the Naval bases are situated near the sea; it’s no good having (and more money). them in the Midlands!), whereas Emergency are located all over the country. WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD Services Each region has its own authority and is I BE WORKING IN? responsible for recruitment to the respective Well, in the Armed Forces, it depends on service, but don’t be afraid to move away which Force you go into and which role you from your local community if required. The wish to undertake. In the Army, you’ll be bigger cities obviously have larger areas of based at a barracks in England when you influence, so you are more likely to find work are assigned to a regiment and then you there, but it is worth checking online to see could go anywhere from Northern Ireland where current vacancies are located. to Germany, the Middle East or America. In the Air Force, you’ll be installed at an Air www.careersworld.co.uk

Senior Aircraftwoman Victoria Holden Senior Aircraftwoman Victoria Holden is a member of Cabin Crew working on the Voyager Airbus 330 Aircraft at RAF Brize Norton – the UK’s main airport for worldwide military operations. Cabin Crew is just one of the roles you can choose as a Catering and Hospitality Specialist in the RAF. “Part of the job is Air to Air refuelling, which is a fantastic experience that I will never tire of seeing,” says Victoria. “We trail fast jets such as a Tornados and refuel them during their journey. The aircraft will be so close that it’s an amazing experience and a sight to behold.” “There are so many opportunities for you to see the world. I have already visited Canada, USA, Malaysia, South Africa, Kenya, Holland, and Germany, to name just a few. I always wanted to join the RAF and looking back it was the best decision I ever made.” For your ﬁrst tour in Catering, you will be posted to an Oﬃcers’ or Sergeants’ Mess within a RAF base. Here you will gain experience in the dining room, bar and reception areas. As your career progresses, you will have the opportunity to be trained in new skills, including management and leadership. “At the start I was, as you can imagine very nervous, but once I graduated and my family came to visit, it proved to be the most rewarding experience I have had. You make friends for life during your training.”

With more than 50 careers to choose from, Catering and Hospitality Specialist is just one of the paths that you can follow in the RAF. To ﬁnd out more please visit www.raf.mod.uk/careers.

Armed Forces & Emergency Services

Careers Choices So what kind of career can you make out of this sector? The Armed Forces carries an honour like no other; you are responsible for the safety of the country and are our ﬁrst line of defence against possible threats. The Emergency Services are there to help us on a local level, helping prevent crime and saving lives. So no matter which role you take in this sector, you can go to bed at night knowing you’ve made a difference. Here are the roles you can take to start your career off:

ROYAL ARMY

The Army is split into two forces; the Royal Army and the Territorial Army (a reserve force). The latter can be done part time and suits people who want to train and work at the same time. Whoever you serve with, you could be based at home or abroad, or working with other countries’ forces in international emergencies. Starting salaries are between £13,000 and £14,000, plus a tax free lump sum called a ‘bounty’ for people serving in the TA. Your pay starts as soon as you begin training.

ROYAL AIR FORCE

The Air Force guards our country from the sky, but as they say “You don’t have to be a pilot to ﬂy in the RAF”. You could work as a navigator or a gunner. Or if you prefer to stay on the ground, you could work alongside the Navy on an Aircraft Carrier or at a base maintaining grounded aircraft. Starting salaries are around £13,700 and you are paid while you train.

ROYAL NAVY

Protectors of our oceans, the Navy are experts at marine based combat. Whether it’s as a shipman working out at sea or as a highly trained, super-elite Royal Marine inﬁltrating enemy bases, you’ll be trained in one of the most prestigious military organisations in the world. Salaries start at around £13,500 and like the other armed forces; you are paid while you train.

POLICE FORCE

The police look after our safety in the local community. There are plenty of areas to specialise in, such as dog handling, riot response, traﬃc and highway patrol and undercover (CID) and your work will vary massively from day to day. You can expect to start on around £23,000 after you complete your training.

www.careersworld.co.uk

FIRE BRIGADE

Fires can occur anywhere, from the home and the office to factories and motorways. Each situation requires a different solution. Simple house fires risk family’s lives whereas chemical fires can lead to explosions and endanger a wider area. You’ll have to be brave, and an understanding of health and safety is part and parcel of this rewarding career. Expect to start off on around £20,500.

PARAMEDICS

Paramedics are part of the response units who attend medical emergencies. Most paramedics ride in Ambulances, but there are specialised roles such as air support (riding in a helicopter) and rapid response (who use cars instead of ambulances). It’s a great way to work in the medical sector if you don’t fancy being conﬁned to a hospital, but be prepared to learn a lot of medical terminology so that you can diagnose somebody as quickly as possible. Paramedics earn around £21,000 when they ﬁrst start out and earn more as they gain more experience.

262,124 PEOPLE WORK IN THE POLICE SERVICE

74,228 PEOPLE WORK IN FIRE & RESCUE SERVICES

THE ARMED FORCES AIM TO RECRUIT

24,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR

Where to begin Here’s how you can get into a career in the Armed Forces or the Emergency Services…

TRAINING

In all the Armed Forces, you will be given basic training in areas such as combat mindset, weapons training and military etiquette. Then, your training will diversify depending on what your role is within that force. You don’t actually need any academic qualifications to be recruited and qualifications can be gained while or before you serve. However, if you wish to enter into Officer training, recruiters often look for solid academic achievements, though you can apply for Officer training if you have been serving as a regular soldier.

COLLEGE COURSES

Some colleges oﬀer courses which act as a medium between education and work such as Police Studies. Paramedics and Fire Services have their own colleges you can attend to begin your career.

INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS

Apprenticeships are a great way to get into the Armed Forces and Emergency Services and allow you to gain the relevant skills you need for your ﬁeld. Apprenticeships will result in a Level 2 qualiﬁcation for Intermediate Level and Level 3 for an Advanced Apprenticeship. The award will take the form of a BTEC, Diploma or NVQ. Here are the frameworks for the Apprenticeships available: Emergency Fire Operations • Policing • Health (Emergency Care Assistant) • HM Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force)

www.careersworld.co.uk

Armed Forces & Emergency Services

REGIONAL FOCUS The Army brigade for the region is the 49 (East) Brigade, which covers all of the East Midlands and East Anglia and is based out of Nottingham. The RAF has a strong presence in the region, with 9 separate air bases. The East of England Ambulance Service covers the whole region, serving more than 5.9 million people! In 2012/13 the service received almost a million calls, so it’s deﬁnitely not a quiet job. Each county of the region has its own Fire and Rescue and Police services, meaning more specialised cover per district.

THE REAL WORLD BigAmbition There’s never been more of an exciting time to pursue an IT career. It’s a fast-growing industry with a vast range of exciting roles, and you can work in sectors ranging from music to retail, from telecoms to transport. Salaries are competitive - in fact IT has been listed as one of the top 10 earning professions in the country. A career in IT does not necessarily mean a suit and tie for the boys and an A-line skirt and shirt for the girls. Nor does it mean you’ll be crammed like sardines in a huge concrete oﬃce and slumped in front of a computer screen all day. In fact, often it couldn’t be more diﬀerent.

IT, Digital & Telecoms Can you remember life before the Internet? Boring wasn’t it? Almost everybody in the world is linked by the World Wide Web and most jobs require some form of IT competence. From online advertising to providing technical support for businesses, IT is required in almost every sector in some shape or form, so it’s a good industry to work in!

BigAmbition is a site dedicated to interactive career advice regarding IT roles, companies, education and news. To get a ﬂavour of the diversity and culture that exists in diﬀerent IT workplaces, visit www.bigambition.co.uk, where you can complete our fun and free-to-access Dream Job quiz. Find out where your skills could lead you and discover the IT role that’s suitable for you.

You ask us... WHAT’S THE IT, DIGITAL AND TELECOMS SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

your own front room! You will have to have good interpersonal skills as computer problems stress people out and you’ll be Funnily enough, it’s all about computers and encountering a lot of stressed people! their various roles in society. From ﬁxing hardware problems to designing new ways HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO to combat viruses, it’s a varied sector that carries great importance; some companies OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY? depend entirely on their IT network so The IT, Digital and Telecoms industry it’s vital to keep up to date with the latest employs over 1.5 million people and out technology and programming to make of those there are 674,000 working in IT sure you can perform in an ever changing in other industries. This sector will require environment. 500,000 new entrants in the next ﬁve years, so there’s no better time to get into IT!

WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?

The average IT professional earns £38,500 a year, so you can expect to earn good money in this sector. As companies move into a more digital age, there is a greater demand for qualiﬁed IT specialists. Starting salaries are between £16,000 and £20,000 depending on which career path you go down.

WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD I BE WORKING IN?

Web: www.bigambition.co.uk

WHERE IS THE WORK MOST CONCENTRATED?

This is one of the few sectors that actually gets more concentrated as you head north. This might sound strange, but Sheﬃeld, Leeds and Rotherham actually have the highest proportion of IT and Telecoms employment in the UK! As you can imagine, most work in IT is located in the larger towns and cities, but every company uses IT, so you won’t be hard pressed to ﬁnd vacancies!

It’ll come as no surprise that you will be working in front of a lot of computer screens! Depending on your job role, you could be working in a school, an oﬃce or even from www.careersworld.co.uk

IT, Digital & Telecoms

Careers Choices Well, there isn’t a bigger sector at the minute than IT. We all need it installing, maintaining and upgrading and you could be the one to do it! Most other professions require you to have at least basic IT knowledge, so it’s a valuable skill to have if you wish to branch out in your career. Here are some of the job roles you might encounter in this sector.

WEB DESIGNER

Every web page you visit on the Internet is the product of the creative process a web designer goes through. You’ll need an eye for detail as the page will have to be attractive, user friendly and functional in order to be a success. A lot of web designers work for themselves, but if you are working for a company, you will be heading up a team of programmers and specialists. Starting salaries are between £16,000 and £20,000.

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Software developers are responsible for designing programmes and applications for people to use. These range from simple programs like word processors and web browsers to more complex stuﬀ like computer games and social media sites. It’s a technical role that requires a lot of knowledge and detail, but the starting salary reﬂects this and is between £20,000 and £26,000.

IT TRAINER

If you wish to pass on the knowledge that you have learned, then you could set up your own teaching system to help people of all ability levels get to grips with IT. You could be teaching people anything from basic word processing and spreadsheet use to more technical stuﬀ like networking computer systems and hardware installation. Starting salaries are usually around £18,000.

HELPDESK ASSISTANT

This is for people who have good inter-personal skills as well as a solid understanding of IT. You’ll be handling a range of diﬀerent problems and will require knowledge about both hardware and software to cover all possible problems that might arise. Good customer service is also essential here. You can expect to earn £14,000 to £16,000 as a starting salary.

www.careersworld.co.uk

TELECOMS TECHNICIAN

Telecoms cover things like broadband, TV and Satellite, mobile phones and radio. It’s a varied occupation in which you’ll have to specialise. You could be installing satellite television in somebody’s home, or setting up internet access for a large international corporation! Starting salaries are usually between £14,000 and £16,000.

THERE IS A TOTAL IT & TELECOMS WORKFORCE OF

1.5 MILLION PEOPLE

105,000

BUSINESSES IN THE UK OFFER IT & TELECOMS PRODUCTS & SERVICES

IT ACCOUNTS FOR

OF THE UK WORKFORCE

Where to begin If you think this is the sector for you, read on to learn more about how you can kick your career off…

APPRENTICESHIPS

If you are aged 16 and over you could enter an Apprenticeship, which would teach you the skills you need while you work and earn a salary. You’ll spend half your time in the classroom and half out on the job. Listed below are the apprenticeship frameworks for this sector, which when completed will give you a Level 2 qualiﬁcation in the form of a BTEC, Diploma or NVQ: IT Applications Specialist • IT Software, Web and Telecoms Professionals

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS

A-LEVELS

A-Levels are the most popular gateway into university and are sought after by employers. Here are some of the relevant A-Levels for this sector: Computing • Design and Technology: Systems and Control • ICT

FOUNDATION DEGREES

These are the equivalent to A-Levels and can usually be joined after completing the associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. They are ideal for people who want a practical role as they learn while gaining valuable employment experience. People with Advanced Apprenticeships tend to progress up the ladder a lot quicker than COLLEGE COURSES those without, as the skills they learn are A college course is another way to get into more suited to management and supervisory this sector. For more information, check out roles. Here are some of the Apprenticeship www.careersworld.co.uk. Frameworks for this sector and all of these will result in a Level 3 qualiﬁcation such as a BTEC, a Diploma or an NVQ. IT Applications Specialist • IT Software, Web and Telecoms Professionals

www.careersworld.co.uk

IT, Digital & Telecoms

REGIONAL FOCUS The number of employees in IT and Telecoms in the East of England is expected to grow by almost 3 times in the next few years, meaning it’s a good time to get training in the ﬁeld. Most of the experts tend to move down to the London area so you are less likely to work for a big IT ﬁrm in this region, however there are several cities in the region, such as Peterborough, Essex and Norwich, with ties to IT and communication.

THE REAL WORLD

Agriculture & Animal Care

Easton and Otley College has a host of courses for students to choose from

The UK is blessed with some of the most beautiful countryside in the world; rolling hills, green ﬁelds and more breathtaking views than you can shake a stick at. It’s also an important part of our economy, with farming, landscaping, conservation and national parks all bringing in money in various ways. Animal care is all about caring for animals (duh…); making sure they are ﬁt and healthy, as well as grooming them for both domestic and professional use.

You ask us... WHAT’S THE AGRICULTURE & ANIMAL CARE SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

Agriculture is quite a broad term for land based industries such as farming, landscaping, environmental conservation and forestry. It also covers the manufacturing of machinery for various uses on farms, forests and foliage alike. Animal Care involves the treatment of animals in both a domestic and professional environment. Whether this is through veterinary means or if you are grooming the next Grand National winner, you’ll need to know everything about the animals you will be looking after.

WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?

Because this is such a broad sector, we can’t list all the salaries for every single job, but as a rough guide, farm based job roles start at between £10,000 to £13,000 and increase as you progress up the career ladder. Specialist career paths such as farriery (making horseshoes) and park rangers (who look after our national parks) can start on around £18,000 and be on upwards of £30,000 after experience. In animal care, a veterinary nurse can expect to start out on about £13,000, whereas professional horse-groomers usually begin on about £12,000.

WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD I BE WORKING IN?

Well, given that it’s land based and animals are mostly found outside, then you’ll be doing most of your work in the great outdoors! You could be in a ﬁeld harvesting crops, on a farm looking after the animals or in a forest keeping everything looking natural. In an animal care environment, you could be working in a veterinary surgery treating people’s pets, or going out and about in your community doing house calls. You could even be working at a race track helping horses prepare for their next big competition.

Since merging in August 2012, part of the strategy of the newly formed institution is to promote agriculture to a new generation of young people. As part of this, the college offers a variety of farming related courses, from entry level options all the way through to university degrees. The latest farming course to be launched is a level four qualification in agricultural business management, aimed at supporting those currently in industry. Tom Pirkis is the latest person to sign up to the course. He currently works at Keens Farm in Debach in Suffolk. The 24 year old initially went out of the industry and worked as a chef for almost two years. This is a decision that he partly regrets. “I wish I had stayed with farming. However, by working in a different industry I was able to realise that agriculture is where my heart lies. “I’m glad to be working in an industry that I love, and this course is allowing me to build on my technical and management skills. Everything I am learning is giving me the confidence and skills to help me run my own business.” The college also has short courses available. For more information about the new agricultural Apprenticeship – or any courses that Easton and Otley College teaches, visit www.eastonotley.ac.uk

HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

Just under half of the people that work in this sector are self employed, as most agricultural farms are family run businesses. On the animal care side of things, the demand for qualified veterinary staff is on the rise; the government predicts that from now until 2020, this sector will require at least 44,000 people with a minimum Level 3 qualification in their chosen field.

WHERE IS THE WORK MOST CONCENTRATED?

Easton campus (based in Norfolk) 01603 731200 Otley campus (based in Suﬀolk) 01473 785543

It goes without saying that this sector is focused on working in the countryside, so don’t be looking to the big cities for work! Most farms are family run businesses, but you might find some that are willing to take on apprentices. You’ll also find veterinary surgeries in nearly all small towns and villages, but you’ll find it easier getting work in surgeries that have a larger catchment area. www.careersworld.co.uk

Agriculture & Animal Care

Careers Choices So, do you think you could thrive in an Agricultural environment? If you don’t like working outside but still like the idea of working with animals, then perhaps you would want to consider a career in veterinary sciences or as an animal trainer! This sector is truly massive, so massive in fact that the job roles we’ve listed below don’t really begin to scratch the surface of what you can do! These are the most popular job roles you can expect to ﬁnd:

HORTICULTURE & LANDSCAPING

Ever wondered what it is that makes our country that little bit more beautiful? From the city centre parks people stroll in to the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales, this sector is all about making the areas we visit look good. You might be arranging ﬂowers in a local community or maintaining our national parks; either way you’ll be getting plenty of satisfaction from people taking in your work. Your starting salary will be around £15,000, but could be more depending on what it is you’re working on.

FARM WORKER

It’s not just big beards and wellies (although you should probably get a pair for this; you might end up losing your trainers pretty quickly). Farming is hard work, but the rewards that come out of it, in terms of money and pride, are well known. You could be looking after animals such as sheep, cows and pigs, or working with hightech machinery cultivating and harvesting crops. You can expect to earn around £7,200 if you are aged 16 or over, while those who are 19 and over will expect to bring in around £10,000, rising to around £15,000 with experience.

RANGER

Rangers are responsible for keeping our national parks clean and tidy, while also making sure that the wildlife and plants are also kept healthy and safe. This is deﬁnitely a career for those who want to work outdoors but also for those who are avid about the environment and working with animals. Salaries start out at around £18,000, but Senior Rangers can earn in excess of £30,000.

VETERINARY NURSING

Animals get sick just like people do (and unlike people, they can’t drive themselves to the doctors; their feet can’t reach the pedals for one thing) and require treatment, checkups and if necessary, surgery. Veterinary nurses assist vets in treating domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, parrots and horses. You’ll learn all about the diﬀerent types of animal’s anatomies, as well as the kinds of treatments each animal needs in each situation. Don’t be afraid to get your hands a bit messy in this industry! Your starting salary will be around £14,000, but Senior Veterinary Nurses earn around £25,000.

www.careersworld.co.uk

LAND BASED ENGINEERING

As you can imagine, farm working involves a heck of a lot of complex machinery, such as threshers, harvesters, processors, tractors and many others. Land based engineers are responsible for building and maintaining these machines, so an eye for mechanics and systems will be handy here. Starting salaries in this sector are quite high and usually between £20,000 and £26,000.

78,000 PEOPLE WORK IN ANIMAL CARE

86% 3,350

OF ANIMAL CARE BUSINESSES EMPLOY 5 STAFF OR LESS

AGRICULTURE RELATED BUSINESSES IN THE UK

Where to begin If you think this is the sector for you, read on to learn more about how you can kick your career off…

APPRENTICESHIPS

If you are aged 16 and over you could enter an Apprenticeship, which would teach you the skills you need while you work and earn a salary. You’ll spend half your time in the classroom and half out on the job. Listed below are the apprenticeship frameworks for this sector, which when completed will give you a Level 2 qualiﬁcation in the form of a BTEC, Diploma or NVQ: Game and Wildlife Management • Animal Care • Horticulture • Environmental Conservation • Land Based Engineering

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS

These are the equivalent to A-Levels and can usually be joined after completing the associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. They are ideal for people who want a practical role as they learn while gaining valuable employment experience. People with Advanced Apprenticeships tend to progress up the ladder a lot quicker than those without, as the skills they learn are more suited to management and supervisory roles. Here are some of the Apprenticeship Frameworks for this sector and all of these will result in a Level 3 qualiﬁcation such as a BTEC, a Diploma or an NVQ. Animal Care • Environmental Conservation • Game and Wildlife Management • Land Based Engineering • Veterinary Nursing

A-LEVELS

A-Levels are the most popular gateway into university and are sought after by employers. They are also useful for getting into more senior roles such as management and team leading. The following A-Levels will help you get into this sector: Biology • Chemistry • Maths • English • Geography • Geology

FOUNDATION DEGREES

A Foundation Degree combines university lifestyle with practical, hands on work. It’s sort of like a cross between an Apprenticeship and an Honours Degree. They are often used as a gateway qualiﬁcation to a full time Degree as they count towards the ﬁrst two years of an Honours Degree. They usually take two years to complete and you’ll be both in the work place and on the university campus. There are a wide range of Foundation Degrees available for this sector, such as Farm Management and Wildlife Conservation.

Agriculture & Animal Care

REGIONAL FOCUS Over a third of the Agriculture and Animal Care workforce in this region are self-employed, so if you fancy being your own boss maybe this sector is for you. The biggest subsector in this region is crops and livestock, and you’ll likely be in demand, as much of the food for the capital is produced in East England. You’ll ﬁnd lots of information through the East of England Agricultural Society, a charity set up to promote agriculture and rural life.

COLLEGE COURSES

A college course is another way to get into this sector. For more information, check out www.careersworld.co.uk

VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

These can be undertaken instead of doing A-Levels and can be done at Level 2 and 3. They, like Apprenticeships, can result in a BTEC, NVQ or Diploma and are handy for getting into more speciﬁc job roles in this sector. www.careersworld.co.uk

Apprenticeships

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Your Career,

Your Choice. We couldn’t possibly print an article for every sector; we’d have to change the name to ‘Careers World Textbook’! But, we also understand that the five sectors covered on the previous pages might not be to your tastes. Not to worry! Below are the other sectors we cover, which we will detail more in upcoming issues. You’ll also find some example job roles, expected starting salaries and the qualifications you can study to get into the sector to give you an idea of what to expect from each sector.

AUTOMOTIVE

If you know your spark plugs from your spare and problem solving mentality, but this sector is tyres, then you’ll probably have a future in the generally favoured by those who enjoy working automotive industry. This sector covers the with their hands. maintenance of any vehicle with an engine, from cars and motorcycles to more complex Example Job Roles: Mechanic • Vehicle systems such as combine harvesters and Service Technician • Panel/Paint Technician luxury coaches. You could find yourself working Salaries: Salaries in this sector tend to start in a garage fixing up customer’s vehicles, or at around £13,000 a year. in a workshop specialising in things like body Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 work, paint and windscreen repair. You could and 3 – this is the most popular route into also work in one of the main car dealerships, this sector) • College Courses • Foundation diagnosing and repairing cars and offering Degrees • HNDs advice to customers. You’ll need an analytical

BUSINESS & CUSTOMER SERVICE

If you’ve got a good eye for making a bit of dough, then you might be a natural business guru! Business is all about the money; how to invest it wisely, how to hang onto the money you already have and of course, how to make more of it. Good customer service ensures that customers become regular users of the business and that new clients can be attracted. It’s not just answering the phone; there are jobs in areas such as public relations, networking and social media. If you’ve got a friendly demeanour, a nice smile and good conversational skills, you’d be well suited to a job in customer service!

Example Job Roles: PR Officer • Business Consultant • Personal Assistant • Human Resources Officer • Management/Team Leader Salaries: Starting salaries in business are generally quite high, usually starting around £17,000. Customer service salaries start at around £12,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • College Courses • Foundation Degrees • A-Levels (Business Studies and IT are useful)

CONSTRUCTION

Building structures is something the human race has always prided itself in; from simple houses to the Empire State Building, every building requires a different method of planning and construction. Actually building the structure is just one part of the process; there are a whole host of job roles in this sector! Civil engineers and surveyors plan and design building projects, scaffolders construct safe platforms for others to use, plumbers fit pipes for various water outlets and painters make everything look eye catching. This is an industry that combines both practical and design orientated job roles. www.careersworld.co.uk

Example Job Roles: Bricklayer • Plumber • Plasterer • Surveyor • Civil Engineer • Painter/Decorator • Joiner • Carpenter • Scaﬀolder Salaries: Civil Engineering starting salaries are around the £15,000 mark. Salaries around practical roles such as Joinery and Bricklaying tend to start at around £13,000. Qualiﬁcations: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3 - this is a popular route into this sector) • A-Levels • College Courses • Foundation Degree • HND

EDUCATION & EARLY YEARS

As a person between the ages of 14-19, you’ve probably spent the better part of your life so far in school. So, why consider being a teacher? Well, it’s a very rewarding career to have, as you’re helping the next generation of people through some important (and tricky) times. This sector also covers play work and early years, namely, working with toddlers and very young children. This could be through a nursery, preschool or a day care/activity centre. Whichever age group you choose to work with, you’ll need a caring, helpful and patient personality.

Example Job Roles: Teaching Assistant • Nursery Nurse • Playworker • Play Centre Assistant Salaries: Salaries usually start at around £12,000 a year. Qualiﬁcations: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • A-Levels (English is great for all job roles in this sector, but if you want to go into full time teaching, you’ll need to study the subject you want to teach!) • College Courses • Foundation Degrees (You’ll need a teaching qualiﬁcation to teach full time)

ENERGY & RENEWABLES

Traditionally, our energy came from burning This sector oﬀers job roles in a wide variety of fossil fuels, which were pretty harmful to the areas, such as plant maintenance, recycling atmosphere. But, being a smart, proactive operations and nuclear working. species, we’ve adapted our energy sources to make the most of our environment. Now, Example Job Roles: Recycling Operator • we can generate power via wind turbines, Plant Technician • Radiation Monitor geothermal reactors, tidal generators and solar Salaries: Starting salaries in this sector are panels. We also have nuclear power, which quite high, starting at around £17,000. might not sound environmentally friendly, but it Qualiﬁcations: Apprenticeships (Level 2 generates a lot of energy and is relatively cheap and 3) • A-Levels (Sciences are useful here) to run. The government has also invested a • College Courses • Foundation Degrees lot of money in recycling our household waste and goods, in a bid to keep our country clean.

ENGINEERING

Engineering is a vast sector which can be choose to work in, you can be sure that your broken down into seven main categories; work will be challenging and varied. chemicals, mechanical, metals, electrical, aerospace, marine and defence. Chemical Example Job Roles: Systems Engineer • engineers manufacture everyday products from Aerospace Engineer • Electrical Technician • raw materials such as crude oil. Mechanical Lab Technician engineers work with high-tech machinery, Salaries: Salaries start at around £14,000. while the metal engineering industry covers Qualiﬁcations: Apprenticeships (Levels 2 the creation of steel and other alloys. Electrical and 3) • A-Levels (Technology and Maths are engineers work with, you guessed it, electrical helpful here) • College Courses • Foundation systems and aerospace is all about creating and Degrees improving things that ﬂy. Defence is all about, er, defending the country. Whichever area you

HAIR & BEAUTY

In an age where getting your hair and nails done is no longer considered girly (come on guys, don’t kid yourselves), making people look and feel good has become big business. And it doesn’t stop at feeling great on the outside; this sector also covers spa therapy, which is a growing industry in the UK. You could be working in a salon styling hair, recommending a nail design or in a country retreat providing seaweed wraps; whatever you choose to do, you can be satisﬁed that you’ve helped give somebody a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Example Job Roles: Spa Therapist • Hairdresser • Barber • Nail Technician • Beauty Therapist Salaries: Salaries in this sector tend to start at around £13,000. Qualiﬁcations: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • College Courses

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Our healthcare system is renowned for being one of the best in the world, so what better sector to get into? Nearly 1.5m people work for the NHS, which is the main employer for healthcare in this country. But this sector also covers private companies and professions, such as therapists, dentists, social workers and support staﬀ. You could be working in a hospital helping to heal sick people, or going out visiting patients and clients in their own homes. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll ﬁnd this sector provides you with a rewarding and satisfying career.

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Example Job Roles: Healthcare Assistant • Dental Nurse • Maternity Support Worker • Optical Care Assistant • Social Worker • Clincial Support Staﬀ Salaries: Starting salaries are between £11,000 and £18,000. Qualiﬁcations: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • A-Levels • College Courses • Foundation Degrees

MANUFACTURING & PROCESSING

This is a sector that is, to all intents and purposes, all about making things. What that is could be anything from a microwaveable chicken curry to a car windscreen. It’s literally that diverse. Food and drink, metals, ceramics, textiles, building materials, electronics are just some of the areas you could be working in. Manufacturing is split into so many diﬀerent areas and job roles that we could probably dedicate a whole magazine to it! Your work could take you from an oﬀshore oil rig in the North Sea to a production line in a factory on home soil!

Example Job Roles: Production Line Supervisor • Extraction Operative • Pipe Fitter • Welder • Refrigeration Technician • Jewellery Technician Salaries: You can expect to start out on around £12,000, but supervisory roles tend to pay more. Qualiﬁcations: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • A-Levels (Any technology or science subjects would be useful in this sector) • College Courses • Foundation Degrees

RETAIL

Well, who doesn’t love shopping? Retail is big business in the UK and we spent £311 billion on shopping last year (when I say we, I mean the country, not me and the missus...), therefore there is a need for skilled retail staﬀ to cover the demand. Retail covers all forms of shopping, from high street clothing stores to giant supermarkets. Customer service and communication skills are vital to this industry, so if you are a helpful, happy person, then a career in retail could be right up your street. Get it? Street? Shopping? Ah, never mind.

Example Job Roles: Sales Assistant • Visual Merchandiser • Manager/Supervisor/ Team Leader • Retail Buyer Salaries: Starting salaries in the retail sector are usually around £11,500. Qualiﬁcations: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • College Courses • Foundation Degrees

SPORT & FITNESS

Getting fit and healthy has become a really important part of people’s lives. This sector is all about helping people improve through various forms of exercise; this might be in a gym using weights, or on a football pitch playing in a cup final. Either way, this sector is about making people feel good about themselves so you’ll need good interpersonal skills and a determined nature to help push people to achieve their goals. You could find yourself training somebody in a health club, or outside coaching athletes in a variety of sports.

Example Job Roles: Personal Trainer • Sports Coach • Fitness Instructor • Outdoor Activities Supervisor Salaries: Gym based job roles tend to start out at around £13,000, while coaches start on anywhere between £12,000 and £18,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3, inc. a route into professional sports) • A-Levels (Sport Science and Biology will be of use) • College Courses • Foundation Degree • Industry Specific Qualifications

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

Ever wondered how that present you ordered hundreds of people. A clean driver’s licence will online makes its way to your front door? Nearly be required for any full time driving jobs. every business makes use of Logistics at some point, whether it’s ordering new parts for a Example Job Roles: Railway Operative project, sending out a new product to stores • Airport Ground Staff • Mail Service or something as simple as sending a birthday Technician • Warehouse Operative • Bus/ card. You could find yourself working at a Coach Driver port or airport, or even working oversees on a Salaries: Starting salaries in this sector are freighter. It isn’t just deliveries; this sector also around £12,000 a year. covers the public transportation industry. The Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 vast network of railways and bus routes requires and 3) • A-Levels (Geography is useful for constant upkeep and maintenance and keeping transport related job roles) • College Courses everything running on time is a job that requires • Foundation Degree

TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY

Everybody needs to let their hair down from time to time and this sector allows you to work in an area dedicated to helping people have a good time. That could be here in the UK working in bars, restaurants and hotels or abroad acting as a holiday representative or a travel agent. That’s right; you could actually go on holiday for a living! This sector is ideal for those with good people skills, as you’d be working with plenty of diﬀerent people from all sorts of backgrounds. Travel is also a great way to get out and see the world while also earning a salary!

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Example Job Roles: Bar Staff • Front/Back of House Staff • Chef de Partie • Overseas Rep • Travel Representative • Cabin Crew Salaries: Starting salaries are between £11,000 and £16,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • College Courses • Foundation Degrees • Industry Specific Qualifications

State-of-the-art campus There aren’t many colleges that can rival Welbeck’s campus. With an indoor swimming pool, state of the art sporting facilities and ensuite residential quarters, it’s a simply superb place to learn, develop and gain new skills. Rounded education As well as a technically-focused education, Welbeck offers a total approach to learning. The programme of personal, physical and intellectual development stretches the abilities, builds physical fitness and increases confidence. After two years at Welbeck, students are ready for anything. The fact that Welbeck is a boarding college also means students get all the benefits of mixing with likeminded individuals in an environment that’s geared to shaping their future career. Future prospects Welbeck leads to a degree at some of the UK’s leading universities (supported by £4,000 a year bursary through DTUS - the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme), then onto an engineering career in the Armed Forces or Civil Service. So Welbeck students couldn’t be better prepared - or supported - as they embark on their adult lives and careers.

Entry Requirements To apply for sponsorship to the Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force you should be medically ﬁt, a UK, Commonwealth or Irish citizen and aged between 15 years and 17 years six months on 1st September in the year of entry to the College. Commonwealth citizens are required to have 5 years residency in the UK prior to application. Certain other single-service conditions may apply and will be outlined at the time of application. To join as a Ministry of Defence Civil Service candidate you must be a British citizen or hold dual nationality, one of which must be British. For RN, RAF, DESG: An ‘A Grade’ or better at GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics and a ‘B Grade’ or better in dual award Science or Physics, as well as a ‘C Grade’ or better in English Language. For Army: One ‘A grade’ or better at GCSE (or equivalent) in higher level Mathematics or dual award Science or Physics and at least a ‘B Grade’ in the other, as well as a ‘C Grade’ or better in English Language.

WELBECK DEFENCE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

WHERE LEARNING MEETS ADVENTURE.

AND ENGINEERS MEET THEIR FUTURE.

Welbeck is the Defence Sixth Form College - and it’s one of the best A-level colleges in the country. For potential engineers with drive, ambition and ability, Welbeck is where potential turns into bright futures as Oﬃcers in the Armed Forces or Civil Service. The combination of state of the art facilities, excellent teaching and a constant drive for improvement, creates an environment that prepares young people for success in whatever role they take in their professional lives. • • • •

99% of students from Welbeck were oﬀered a place at university in 2012 Tuition funded by the MoD En-suite accommodation Annual technical bursary of £4,000 at University

If you’d like to turn your engineering or technical potential into a promising career, come and visit us at one of our Open Days. For more information visit www.dsfc.ac.uk or follow us on

Ready to make some tough decisions about courses, careers and your future? You don’t need to make your big career decisions alone. The National Careers Service can help you: • assess your skills • find the right course • choose the right uni • understand the job market • find out about careers • develop your CV Text your name and ‘advice’ to 07766 413 219 and a National Careers Service adviser will call you back for free.

You can also search online for National Careers Service, or call us on 0800 100 900.

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We appreciate more than anyone the importance of giving appropriate careers advice to students between the ages of 14 and 19. To help we have put together some aides, guides and FAQs to help you to make up your minds and make the changeover from pupil to employee that bit easier. Over the next few pages, we will tackle some of the common problems and concerns students face during the spring term.

The Spring Term So students have come back after the winter break; they might have mock exam results coming through, or have to dig right into coursework, but one thing is for certain, many pupils, especially younger ones, won’t have any idea about what to do when they leave school, college or sixth form. Before exam preparation starts to get into full swing, students need to have a good think about what they want to do with their working life and inevitably you’ll have plenty of students wanting you to present them with every possible option available. We’ve put together FAQs and useful links in order to ease this process and assist in setting students straight in terms of the choices they have to make. In this issue we’ve included a guide to writing a CV, an area many students won’t have much, if any, experience in.

CV’S

There’s no denying that the writing of a good quality CV is an absolutely essential part of the employment process. Unfortunately most students don’t have any experience of writing one and can get a bit bogged down about how to start. CVs can vary in style so much that guidelines on how to write a good one, especially for young people, can be really diﬀerent from one another, making giving advice diﬃcult. Fortunately there are a few nuggets of guidance that will make the process a bit easier. Always keep in mind...

What...have you done worth mentioning? You should try to stay to the point and only list your jobs and achievements in a way that highlights the appropriate skills you’ve learned. There’s no point in telling employers how good you are at serving customers behind a till if you’re applying to be a helicopter pilot.

Where...do you see the job taking you? If it’s not just a job but a career you’re interested in, try to make that come across. You’ll naturally appear genuinely excited about the prospect of the position. This also relates to the skills and interests that you list. Try to show that you will be a Who...is going to be reading it? good candidate for progression. Always remember that the CV is you applying? a highly formal document and Why...are is going to be read by either a Employers don’t want to hear manager or someone else just that you’re applying for the as important. Keep this in mind position because you want a bit when deciding what language to of extra cash for the weekend. use in your CV. Never use slang You need to appear genuinely and try to speak in full sentences, interested in the position, as avoiding abbreviations. It won’t well as capable and mature go down well if you tell them enough to be a good addition to the team. If you’re struggling “how awesome English is lol”.

to sound excited about the job who fits into the vibe of the office. then explain why the sector The only thing you can really do is try to use your strengths to interests you. your advantage! If you’re a real How...does it look? If you think brainiac then emphasize your the document is ugly to look qualifications but if you’re more at, then chances are so will an of a social butterfly, try to inject employer. This doesn’t mean that aspect of yourself into the you should start adding pictures application. of flowers and pink text; it’s about formatting the CV to be If you’re going for a position at more appealing to the eye. You a big business you will likely be could use tables to set out your applying online. The rules are school-grades and headers to really the same as if you are define each section. Ensure writing a CV (and to be honest the spelling, punctuation and most of it you can copy and grammar are perfect and most paste anyway) except it’s just in importantly, never allow your a format they prefer. Quite often CV to be more than two pages. they will ask you a few questions If an employer has a hundred that will catch you off-guard and applications to get through make you think. Your best bet is they’re just going to skip the to not create generic responses but to make your answers ones that read like an essay. unique, they are looking for Always remember that someone who shines, not a just employers are human beings! a random applicant out of a pile. One might value qualifications above anything else, and hire someone with the best possible grades; another might feel that personality is more important and would choose an employee

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Careers Hub EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

If you haven’t had a job yet, or have limited experience, create a ‘Skills and Achievements’ section and include any work placements, awards, time spent helping at your dad’s garage, anything you can think of that might give evidence of your ability, and provide you with that little edge over competition. If you have worked before, list your past job titles, most recent ﬁrst; how long you were there; and a short description of the role and what you learned there. Again, you’re best to relate the skills you gained to the job you’re applying to. e.g. Working on a checkout can you give you the conﬁdence and interpersonal skills you need to work in customer service.

CONTACT INFO

This section speaks for itself really. Make sure that you include all relevant methods of contact (email, mobile, home phone). It’s important to keep this section updated, an employer could be trying to contact you but if they’re calling your old mobile number, then the whole application is a waste of time. Lots of people will tell you to put your age in this section, but that’s not a good idea. Employers aren’t technically allowed to discriminate because of how old you are, but that doesn’t necessarily stop them from seeing a CV from a 16 year old and binning it!

CV Builder PERSONAL PROFILE

It is important to make this section fit to the job you are applying to, or at least to the sector. It’s all well and good saying you’re a punctual, well mannered individual, but how can you make this relate to a career in construction? Take the opportunity to show your passion in the field of work. Make it short but punchy, a lot of managers make a decision about a candidate after the first few sentences of a CV.

EDUCATION

If you are not at the stage in education where you have any completed qualifications then don’t worry, simply show any predicted grades and make a note that you’re still studying them. You can also list any academic achievements in this section, such as perfect attendance, being a prefect or on the school council, or exam-based awards. Same as with jobs, you should list your educational history in order of the most recent qualification first. Unlike the previous sections, you don’t have to be specific here; it is better to list all the subjects you have studied to show a depth of knowledge in a number of fields.

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

This is a controversial section, some people disagree with including it altogether, but it can be important to show that you have a human side. If written carefully it can show you have a well-rounded character, but the danger is seeming as though you care more about your personal life than your work life (even if you do it’s not a good idea to show it!). Some say it takes up room that you could be using to focus in more detail on skills for employability. If you’ve had tonnes of jobs or done loads of extra-curricular stuﬀ, then it might be an idea to skip this area and write about those in more detail.

REFERENCES

It is expected that at the bottom of your CV you include the sub-heading ‘References Available upon Request’. If they’re expected you will usually be asked to provide them so don’t worry about anyone snooping about behind your back. It is a good idea to have a separate document with the details of 2-3 references. A rule of thumb is to have 1 or 2 past employers and 1 personal reference. If you’re low on employers then simply list your most recent educational body and a personal reference from a suitable adult or work experience placement. Make sure your reference givers are not your friends and aren’t related to you, but have also known you long enough to tell someone about you in a bit of detail. You can always include someone at your school, college or university as a reference and actually that’s not a bad idea, they’ll almost always be willing to help you. You should usually ask a past employer’s permission to list them as a reference, but unless your performance was awful, they’ll probably help you out.

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Careers Hub

FAQs Let’s be honest, hundreds of people are in the same position as you and have the same questions they need answering. Many of them will have no idea what it is they want to do, so we’ve collected a few of the most popular questions and answered them as best we can! Don’t forget, you can get in touch with us over at www.facebook.com/careers.world or on www.careersworld.co.uk and ask us your questions there.

I CHANGED MY MIND! I WANT TO GO TO UNI NOW WHAT DO I DO?

Well the bad news is that if you’re applying after the 15th January then you have missed the UCAS deadline for most courses. If you’re thinking about an art or design course, many are still open until the 24th March so there could be time left. If your course did close in January then all might not be lost. Some universities accept late entries if their programmes aren’t full up and these can be sent all the way up until 30th June. Your best bet is to get in touch with the university and see if they accept late entries. Get over to www.ucas.com/ apply and ﬁnd out whether or not your course is listed as still being open or accepting late entries.

SHOULD I STAY AT SIXTH FORM OR GO TO COLLEGE?

There is no right answer here. They are deﬁnitely very diﬀerent environments, sixth form is usually quite small, you are often taught by the same teachers

that you had for your GCSEs, chances are you will know quite a lot of the people there (especially if you have friends in younger year-groups) and you’ll be able to get more personalised teaching. Colleges can be pretty huge (regularly having hundreds or thousands of students), there will inevitably be a much wider range of courses, you will meet loads of people, and there is a real focus on social life. College is almost a mini university where you will be expected to learn at your own rate and be treated as an adult, wearing your own clothes etc. Sixth-forms will also expect maturity but at the end of the day you are still in a school environment.

I THINK AN APPRENTICESHIP IS FOR ME, BUT WHICH ONE SHOULD I DO?

There are hundreds of different Apprenticeships so you are bound to find one that suits you down to the ground, though we can see how you can get a bit lost; there are so many it’s hard to find the right one! Have a good

think about what ﬁeld you want to go into, chances are there’s going to be an Apprenticeship for it (from accountancy, to plumbing, to working for MI5!). There are steps you can take to narrow it down though; check out the What Apprenticeship handbook (which is most likely in the same place you found this magazine), it’s got every Apprenticeship handily sorted into sector and level of study; you can read it online for free at www.whatapprenticeship. co.uk. You can also take a look at the National Apprenticeship Service’s website at www. apprenticeships.org.uk which lists loads of sectors and vacancies across the UK.

now’. If you know you want a job related to a subject then getting a degree can be an excellent way to progress your career, but if you’re just getting one for the hell of it, you might want to hold oﬀ until you have more of an idea of what you want to do. Do some research into the jobs in the area of your favourite subjects, you might ﬁnd an Apprenticeship in it, or that you can apply to a position with BTECs or A Levels.

It’s never too late to decide on your career, some people don’t know what they want to do in their forties! Your best bet is to sit down and do some serious thinking about what it is you want from your education and life. What are your I’VE BEEN TOLD IT’S BEST working favourite subjects? What do you TO HAVE A DEGREE, EVEN enjoy doing as a hobby? Are IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT you really going to be a pro footballer? What are the CAREER YOU WANT. IS chances of playing Xbox for a living? Be sensible but at the THAT TRUE? Absolutely not, there are loads same time aspire and aim high! of alternatives to university. There’s not much point in paying out thousands for a degree that you’ll get and then think ‘oh, I don’t want a job in engineering

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Careers Hub

Which Qualification? There are tonnes of different types of qualifications at varying levels; for example, a Level 3 NVQ is the equivalent to an Advanced Diploma. This can be confusing and trying to figure out what is the same level as what can be mind boggling. Below is a handy chart, listing all the levels of study and the qualifications students can take, making it easier to tell your diplomas from your degrees!

LEVEL

5 GCSEs

LEVEL

SKILLS FOR LIFE

LEVEL

BTEC

LEVEL

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS

LEVEL

OCR NATIONALS

AWARDS, CERTIFICATES & DIPLOMAS

LEVEL

NVQs

FOUNDATION LEARNING

LEVEL

ENTRY LEVEL

CERTIFICATES

(GRADES D-G) 1

5 GCSEs

LEVEL

(GRADES A*-C) 2

INTERMEDIATE

BTEC 2 NATIONALS

LEVEL

DIPLOMA OF

LEVEL

NVQs

LEVEL

NVQs

ADVANCED DIPLOMAS

LEVEL

BTEC HIGHER NATIONALS (HND, HNC)

OCR NATIONALS

LEVEL

BTEC FIRSTS

LEVEL

NVQs

LEVEL

FOUNDATION LEVEL 3 DEGREES 4+

LEVEL

HIGHER APPRENTICESHIPS

APPRENTICESHIPS

FOUNDATIONS 1

A LEVELS

FOUNDATION LEVEL FOUNDATION LEVEL DIPLOMAS 1 DIPLOMAS 2 OCR LEVEL NATIONALS 2

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPs

GCE IN APPLIED

SUBJECTS

LEVEL

3 3 3

HIGHER EDUCATION

LEVEL

4+ LEVEL

SPECIALIST LEVEL 4+ 3 AWARDS

LEVEL

Top Tip Employers are much more aware about modern technology and what kind of things young people are up to than you might think. In other words, they check up on you over Facebook and Twitter! It is absolutely vital to keep your social media clean when you are applying for a job. There are things you can do to help yourself out, like setting all your accounts to private and only accepting friend requests from people you know but there’s always going to be some way to see what you are up to online. Unless you are really conﬁdent that your online presence is spotless, it might be a good idea to go back through your photos and statuses to make sure there aren’t any controversial comments or photos of you hanging around outside bus stops.

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There’s never been a better time to be an apprentice. Apprenticeships give you the chance to earn while you learn; in a real job, gaining a real qualiﬁcation and a real future. Currently, more than 100,000 employers in England oﬀer Apprenticeships, at 200,000 locations, covering over 1,500 job roles. From advertising to youth work, environmental engineering and nuclear decommissioning, there is bound to be something which sparks your interest. At any one time, there are up to 20,000 Apprenticeship vacancies available on apprenticeships.org.uk, the jobsite for Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship, which is the equivalent of a degree. More of these highly skilled Apprenticeships are being offered each year, allowing you to fully realise your potential. Employers love Apprenticeships. Trained apprentices are viewed as 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. Long-term research shows that the lifetime benefit of undertaking an Intermediate Apprenticeship is extra earnings of between £48,000 and £74,000, and an Advanced Apprenticeship between £77,000 and £117,000. This figure rises to £150,000 plus for a Higher Apprenticeship!

Apprenticeships are becoming more and more popular, and in the 2011-12 academic year more than half a million apprentices Apprentices also have the opportunity to started in a real job with real training. achieve recognition through a number Apprenticeships last a minimum of 12 of initiatives introduced by the National months, and can take up to four years Apprenticeship Service to celebrate all the to complete, depending on the level of talent developed by Apprenticeships. These Apprenticeship and the industry you choose include awards ceremonies, annual skills to work in. Anyone who is over 16, living competitions and National Apprenticeship in England and not taking part in full-time Week. education can apply for an Apprenticeship. National Apprenticeship Week 2014 takes Apprenticeships also give you great place from 3-7 March 2014, with hundreds opportunities for career progression. You of events expected to take place across can even work your way up to a Higher England.

Every year the Week increases in popularity, with National Apprenticeship Week 2013 being a phenomenal success. More than 900 events and activities took place, ranging from business events designed to encourage more employers to recruit apprentices, to interactive careers events aimed at potential applicants. A national calendar of events will be available on the apprenticeships.org.uk website, so you can ﬁnd out what is happening in your local area. To ﬁnd out more about Apprenticeships, go to apprenticeships.org.uk, or view real examples of apprentices explaining why Apprenticeships are for them at apprentice.tv.

HOW CAN I BECOME AN APPRENTICE?

HOW CAN I MAKE MY APPLICATION STAND OUT?

The jobsite for Apprenticeships – apprenticeships.org.uk – gives potential apprentices the opportunity to search and apply for positions in a variety of industry sectors.

When applying for an Apprenticeship vacancy, here are three tips to make an application FIT for the job:

The National Apprenticeship Service has made this resource even easier to access, with the new AV Search app for iPhone and Android. Prospective apprentices can create an account, log information and set up preferences; such as vacancy location and salary, before searching.

The Week, which is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, is designed to celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the economy.

• • •

Find out more about the employer, the training provider and the job description before applying. Identify yourself, your skills and interests clearly – be professional and allow your personality to come out. Tailor your application to each vacancy – don’t just send the same CV and covering letter to each employer.

Finally, don’t forget to follow up an application with a phone call to ensure the CV is top of the pile. www.careersworld.co.uk

CASE STUDY LEANNE INGLEDEW MBDA MISSILE SYSTEMS BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATION LEANNE INGLEDEW’S APPRENTICESHIP IS THE LAUNCHPAD FOR A HIGH-FLYING CAREER NEW OPPORTUNITY

Leanne Ingledew, from Luton, had completed her GCSEs and achieved A-Levels at A and A* grade before deciding that an Apprenticeship might suit her better than university. “I knew that I wanted to start my career, so an Apprenticeship was the perfect choice, allowing me to work while also furthering my education,” explains Leanne. Leanne searched for vacancies via the National Apprenticeship Service website: apprenticeships. org.uk. “The site was very good, and really useful for me because I could search by location and ﬁnd all the opportunities in my area,” she says. The perfect position came up at defence company MBDA Missile Systems, based in Stevenage. After a selection process, including tests and an interview, Leanne began her Advanced Apprenticeship in Business and Administration in September 2010, aged 18.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

Leanne has already completed an NVQ Level 3 in Business and Administration as part of her Apprenticeship, and is progressing

to Level 4, alongside a City & Guilds Licentiateship and a parttime Honours Degree in Business Studies. Her Apprenticeship also gives her varied hands-on experience of the workplace. “We do diﬀerent placements around the business, for example I’ve worked in project management and now I’m in business development,” explains Leanne. “At the moment I’m on the multinational team, so I quite regularly co-ordinate activities across sites in France, Italy, Germany and the UK.”

hopefully passing my experiences to future apprentices,” she explains. “My Apprenticeship has given me the understanding of how the business works, especially the complexities of the defence industry and working multinationally. I am on track to achieving a First in my degree, and this, coupled with the knowledge, skills and experience I have gained within the workplace has helped to develop me greatly.”

“I have progressed and grown significantly since the start of “I’ve also attended personal my Apprenticeship, and I aim to development training, which helped continue this in the future.” me to improve communication, team work and presentation skills,” Leanne was crowned Central she adds. “These have been Eastern Advanced Apprentice invaluable to me, as I’ve made of the Year at the National many presentations to senior Apprenticeship Awards 2013. management and external visitors, including MPs.” To find out more about Apprenticeship opportunities, please contact the National MOVING ON UP Apprenticeship Service on 08000 Leanne will finish her 150 600 or visit the website www. Apprenticeship in September apprenticeships.org.uk. 2014, and hopes to climb the career ladder within MBDA. “I aspire to develop and broaden the skills I have acquired to enable me to progress into a managerial position, with the possibility of undertaking further studies and

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UNIVERSITIES

UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL COLLEGES

COLLEGES

Anglia Ruskin University www.anglia.ac.uk 0845 271 3333

Cambridge UTC www.utcolleges.org 01223 418502

Barnﬁeld College www.barnﬁeld.ac.uk 01582 569 569

Norwich University of the Arts www.nuca.ac.uk 01603 610 561

Central Bedfordshire UTC www.centralbedsutc.org 01582 867756

Bedford College www.bedford.ac.uk 01234 291 000

University of Bedfordshire www.beds.ac.uk 01234 400400

Harlow UTC www.utcolleges.org 01279 868150

Cambridge Regional College www.camre.ac.uk 01223 418 200

University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk 01223 337 733

Norfolk UTC www.norfolkutc.com 01603 773060

Central Bedfordshire College www.centralbeds.ac.uk 0845 355 2525

University of East Anglia www.uea.ac.uk 01603 591 515

Chelmsford College www.chelmsford.ac.uk 01245 29 30 31

The University of Essex www.essex.ac.uk 01206 873333

City College Norwich www.ccn.ac.uk 01603 773311

University of Hertfordshire www.herts.ac.uk 01707 284800

Colchester Institute www.colchester.ac.uk 01206 712000

University Centre Peterborough www.anglia.ac.uk 0845 1965750

The College of West Anglia www.cwa.ac.uk 01553 761144

University Campus Suﬀolk www.ucs.ac.uk 01473 338000

Crown College www.crowncollege.co.uk 01702 341169 East Norfolk Sixth Form College www.enorf.ac.uk 01493 66 22 34

ENTREPRENEURS ARE NOT BORN, THEY’RE M DE! Founded by entrepreneur and star of Dragons’ Den, Peter Jones CBE, the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy offers unique courses in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship for those aged 16 and above. Our pioneering business courses, which are being delivered in colleges across the country, ensure that our students achieve an accredited qualification and also gain the necessary experience and skills that are vital for employment or running their own business. There’s nothing quite like one of our Enterprise courses, each one embraces the Academy’s ethos of ‘learning by doing’ by combining innovative teaching methods with sessions from industry experts. We currently offer BTEC Levels 2 and 3 and our ‘Ignite’ Apprenticeship programme, which includes the Advanced Apprenticeship in Enterprise and the new Higher Apprenticeship in Innovation and Growth.

Careersworld advert - autumn 2013 v1IC.indd 1

www.careersworld.co.uk

Easton College www.easton.ac.uk 01603 731200

National Extension College www.nec.ac.uk 0800 389 2839

St. Elizabeth College www.stelizabeths.org.uk 01279 843451

Epping Forest College www.epping-forest.ac.uk 020 8508 8311

New College Stamford www.stamford.ac.uk 01780 484300

Suﬀolk New College www.suﬀolk.ac.uk 01473 382200

Great Yarmouth College of Further Education www.gyc.ac.uk 01493 655 261

North Hertfordshire College www.nhc.ac.uk 01462 424242

West Hertfordshire College www.westherts.ac.uk 01923 812000

Oaklands College www.oaklands.ac.uk 01727 737080

West Suﬀolk College www.westsuﬀolk.ac.uk 01284 701301

Hertford Regional College www.hrc.ac.uk 01992 411400

Otley College of Agriculture and Horticulture www.otleycollege.ac.uk 01473 785543

Writtle College www.writtle.ac.uk 01245 424200

Hills Road Sixth Form College www.hillsroad.ac.uk 01223 247251

Palmers College www.palmers.ac.uk 01375 370121

Huntingdonshire Regional College www.huntingdon.ac.uk 01480 379106

Paston College www.paston.ac.uk 01692 402334

Long Road Sixth Form College www.longroad.ac.uk 01223 507400

Peterborough Regional College www.peterborough.ac.uk 0845 8728722

Lowestoft College www.lowestoft.ac.uk 0800 854695

SEEVIC College www.seevic-college.ac.uk 01268 756111

Luton Sixth Form College www.lutonsfc.ac.uk 01582 877500

South Essex College www.southessex.ac.uk 0845 52 12345

“

Harlow College www.harlow-college.ac.uk 01279 868000

Choosing the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy instead of A-Levels was a perfect decision. I am now National Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 and running my own business!

“

Harry Day, Solihull College

To read more about the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy courses and to find an Academy near you, get in touch today! www.pjea.org

0207 471 0520

info@pjea.org

29/08/2013 14:43:50

www.careersworld.co.uk

Find us at www.facebook.com/careers.world and follow us on twitter using the handle @careers_world. We are currently running a competition which rewards all of our Facebook friends; every time we get another 500 likes on the Careers World page, we’ll choose one lucky winner to receive a prize! What’s even better is that the prizes will continually get bigger and more exciting as we get more likes!

TIPS AND TRICKS TO HELP MAKE YOUR LIFE A LITTLE EASIER • • • • • • • • • •

If you have a wrinkly shirt and no time to iron, hang it up in the bathroom while you shower, the creases should start to fall out If you go to the zoo, try to find out what colour the zookeepers wear. If you wear the same colour the animals will come right up to you If you struggle to remember your dreams, drink apple juice before bed. A chemical in the juice helps your dreams become more vivid Put your phone in an empty cereal bowl and it will act as a speaker for your music A spoonful of sugar will help soothe a burnt tongue (can’t make any promises about medicine going down) Your phone will charge quicker on airplane mode Chew chewing gum when cutting onions to stop the tears. Will not help if you are just upset about onion genocide If you want to light a candle and can’t find a match, use a stick of spaghetti! To find all spam emails in your inbox, search the word ‘unsubscribe’ Put a glass with a small amount of water in it in the microwave when reheating pizza, it will keep the crust crunchy

You might feel like a bit of a dumb-dumb if you forget to proof-read your CV or send an application to the wrong university, but you can rest easy knowing that you’re not as thick as these people - hopefully. In North Carolina, a man took a swig of a mystery liquid on a friend’s shelf. Realising it was petrol, the man promptly spit it out. To settle his nerves afterwards he decided to have a cigarette, causing him to go up in ﬂames Brisbane, Australia, A man felt like he should get in on the planking craze. He decided the best place to get a picture of himself lying straight as a board was on the narrow railing of a balcony. Splat In Daejon, South Korea, a frustrated wheelchairbound man gets angry at missing the lift so rams the door with his chair several times. He successfully got them open and fell right in

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! FOR THE CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR WORK PUBLISHED IN CAREERS WORLD, AND TO WIN A £50 AMAZON VOUCHER, WRITE AN ARTICLE WITH THE TITLE ‘WHAT NOT TO DO AT AN INTERVIEW’. MAKE IT FUNNY, MAKE IT SERIOUS, DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE, BUT MAKE SURE IT’S UNDER 200 WORDS AND SUBMITTED TO EDITOR@ OPENDOORSMEDIA.CO.UK BEFORE 1ST MARCH 2014. 54

An American lawyer was defending a suspect, claiming the victim shot himself. No one believed the deceased could be that stupid so to prove it, the lawyer pointed a gun at his head and pulled the trigger, not realising the gun was loaded. He won the case at least An Indian man had a dream that gold was buried beneath his house. Every day in secret he dug underneath his stairs but didn’t take into account how close he was to the sea! It turns out that following your dreams isn’t always a great idea www.careersworld.co.uk

THE PLACE TO START YOUR CAREER Lowestoft College offers full and part time courses and apprenticeships and is your passport to a wide range of exciting and rewarding job opportunities including:-

Administrator

Electrician

Plumber

Air Cabin Crew

Emergency Services

Resort Rep

Artist/Graphic Designer

Engineer

Seafarer / Deck Officer

Beauty Therapist

Hairdresser

Social Worker

Builder

Hotelier

Sports Therapist

Carer

Manager

Teaching Assistant

Carpenter

Mechanic

Travel Agent

Chef

Member of the Armed Forces

Welder / Fabricator

Complementary Therapist

Nurse / Midwife

Wind / Gas / Oil Industries

Decorator

Nursery Assistant

Youth Worker

We also offer a range of apprenticeships. If your chosen career is not listed here please contact us to find out how we can help you reach your career goal.

REASONS TO JOIN LOWESTOFT COLLEGE Our success rates are in the top 30% in England Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a route to university Lecturers have experience of the industry they teach in Links with employers may lead to site visits, training sessions or industry talks A large choice of full and part-time courses and apprenticeships Continuing investment in the facilities and campus Opportunities to progress Degree levels available through UCS For more information ring 0800 854695, email info@lowestoft.ac.uk or visit www.lowestoft.ac.uk

OPEN EVENING MONDAY 3 MARCH 2014

(5.15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8.15PM)

n a h t i w r Go furthe m o r f p i h s e c i t n e r p Ap h c i w r o N e g e l l o C y Cit From health to engineering, IT to creative arts, City College Norwich has comprehensive training for all types of business, providing skills that employers want. Whatever your age, whichever level you are at, or skills you have, we can deliver the training you need. You will learn on the job and get paid for doing so.

Get in touch to find out just how much City College Norwich Apprenticeships can help you.

FIND OUT MORE!

Visit: www.ccn.ac.uk/apprenticeships Email employerpartnerships@ccn.ac.uk and quote â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Apprenticeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Call us on: 01603 294 660 part of the