Careers World London SPRING 2014 by Open Doors Media Ltd

LONDON edition

SPRING 2014

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

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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!

Agriculture & Animal Care

Business & Customer Service

IT, Digital & Telecoms

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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!

Retail

Engineering

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.

And now for something completely diﬀerent...

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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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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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Want to learn about something that really matters? Capel Manor College offers a unique alternative to staying on at school. The courses allow students to gain nationally recognised qualifications and experience, which can lead to either employment or to progress to university or other courses.

STARTING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR Combining qualifications with experience Apprenticeships are a way to ‘earn while you learn’ in a real job, gaining a real qualification and a real future. There has never been a better time to start an Apprenticeship. GAIN THE EDGE If you are aged 16–23 and keen to get into work a Traineeship can help, by giving you industry specific skills, as well as help with writing CVs, applying for jobs, practising interviews; and work experience.

The learning is exciting and demanding and relates to opportunities to work with animals, science, plants and the environment. APPLY NOW FOR SEPTEMBER 2014

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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 University of East London focuses on its students, enhancing their employability, building their skills and ensuring they are well equipped for the workplace. Web: www.uel.ac.uk

Choosing what you want to study is a big decision, however one that will hopefully lead you into a happy and successful career. Key questions to consider before applying for university are: What subjects are you interested in and where can you study them? Are you studying for interest or planning on a course which leads directly into a career? What are the entry requirements for the course, and are you working towards meeting these? Do you wish to study full-time or part-time? Near home or away? Answering these questions can help you understand your choices and make the right decision for you.

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

Simon Bozzoli is the Managing Director and Founder of Future Un-Ltd, a small Apprenticeship provider that prides itself on ﬁnding talented young people and helping them into great Apprenticeship jobs. Web: www.future-unlimited.co.uk Tel: 020 8432 0773

Take each big decision one step at a time. The most successful people are the ones that work hard, roll with the punches and are not easily disheartened when the going gets tough. We believe that if you give it your all every day, sooner or later you will open a door for yourself which will lead you to your next opportunity, and the more doors that open, the easier it is to make those diﬃcult decisions. Whether this is your ﬁrst Apprenticeship, your 50th job or the start of university, hard work pays. That is the mentality we encourage in every young person who joins our programmes.

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

As the College of Haringey, Enﬁeld and North East London, we are a vocational further education college, dedicated to giving the best possible education and training to all of our students, no matter what they have achieved before. Web: www.conel.ac.uk

www.careersworld.co.uk

The most important thing young people should be seeking out is appropriate and accurate advice. The careers team at the College of Haringey, Enﬁeld and North East London provides an impartial and conﬁdential careers information, advice and guidance service. They can help with learners’ current needs or plans for the future concerning the employment market or further study.

WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?

We have three modern campuses located in the business heart of London, including the brand new University Square Stratford. We have recently upgraded the teaching, library and IT facilities across our sites, creating an innovative learning environment that supports our ambitious and hardworking students. Our teaching staff are experts in their fields, many with years of industry experience and a full understanding of the needs of employers. We aim to provide an active and engaging student experience with plenty of opportunities to get involved. The diversity in ethnicity, culture, background and life experience of our students and staff makes UEL a fantastic, enriching place to study.

WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?

We deliver all of our training in the workplace; you’ll be seen by your trainer once a month at your office. All of our trainers have laptops and state of the art equipment, so they’ll use that to facilitate your learning. You can even use a smartphone app to upload your work and have it marked. But that’s the boring stuff… we’ve just opened new premises in London that you’re welcome to visit for free access to our gym, fantastic IT suite, Astroturf football pitch and coffee shop (ok… the coffee shop’s not free).

WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?

Our state of the art laboratories and studios, specialist facilities and study environments will inspire learners to succeed. We’ve invested in our technology and teaching facilities so that learners can get the most out of studying with us, and have all of the tools that they need to do their best. We use Moodle as our Virtual Learning Environment and oﬀer 24/7 access for course and college resources.

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

We provide £4,000 cash bursaries, awarded as £2,000, £1,000 and £1,000 in years 1-3 respectively, to eligible students to encourage progression. We run a sports scholarships programme, and we oﬀer ﬁnancial assistance for students from lower income families, or who are leaving care. All our undergraduates receive free books. We have a dedicated ‘Advice, Information and Guidance’ team and ‘Student Money, Advice and Rights’ team on hand to support our students once they join UEL.

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

Future Un-Ltd will do absolutely anything possible to support you. You’ll have a contact that you can go to for support with almost any issue. From concerns about housing and beneﬁts, to a bit of extra help with your maths or English, we aim to help you overcome each of the personal barriers you are likely to face in the workplace. It’s our personal, caring attitude that we believe gives you the ability to achieve your goals. Oh, and did we mention that we’ll put you into an exciting and supportive business environment with one of our awesome employers?

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

We provide a great deal of employability support, oﬀering information about voluntary work experience, and links with placements. We also support you with writing your CV, job hunting and help practising for interview. We supply you with selected job vacancy information, as well as dates for appropriate job fairs. Similarly, we are committed to helping you prepare for Higher Education, with help ﬁnding out about college and university courses; as well as Higher Education (HE) fairs, letting you know how to register and apply to university using UCAS and how to write your personal statement.

www.careersworld.co.uk

WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU?

We are an inclusive university, located in vibrant east London, with innovative, supportive teaching and excellent business links. We focus on providing our students with opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, helping them to achieve their goals and giving them the conﬁdence and skills to pursue and succeed in their chosen career.

WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU?

Future Un-Ltd is not your average provider. When you become one of our apprentices, you’re not a student number or a photo on a plastic card, you’re a human being. We know you have all sorts of challenges to overcome (most of our team are young human beings too) and so we work our hardest to help and support you throughout your journey with us. You’ll also get high quality, recognised qualiﬁcations and career skills that will set you apart from other candidates. After all, Your Future is Your Business, and it’s ours too!

WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU?

We provide exceptional training facilities, with state-of-the-art construction workshops, hair & beauty salons, sports facilities and ICT & science labs that will give you all you need to succeed. Our expert teachers bring the latest industry practice into the classroom. We provide you with excellent student ﬁnance and welfare support services. Our enrichment and sports activities, including trips abroad are exceptional, with our learners having visited Shanghai, Beijing, Poland and Dubai. At the end of the day, you should choose us because 96% of our learners are satisﬁed with their quality of teaching and learning!

Kick-start your career in hairdressing - and earn while you learn! Experience not necessary but commitment essential! We have salons waiting to employ you

Call Carole now on 020 8461 3504 APPRENTICESHIPS ARE FREE IF YOU ARE 16-18! Customer Service Hairdressing Barbering Advanced Hairdressing (Level 3)

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.

Jorden Allcock Higher Apprentice What’s it really like to be… a Capgemini apprentice? Capgemini is one of the world’s biggest IT consultancy companies, helping its clients with technology problems and suggesting innovative solutions. At the moment, I’m working as a Software Engineer as part of the Microsoft team based in Sale. In a typical day, I get asked to ﬁx technical problems for the applications we’ve built and manage for clients. We rarely get the same problem twice – which is great because it means no two days are ever the same. Higher Apprentices are well supervised at Capgemini. We have regular catch-up meetings to discuss progress and to set targets – and there’s always

Shears Academy

someone to ask if I have a problem I can’t fix myself. Team-working and collaborative skills are a must to build successful relationships with your clients, suppliers and colleagues. You also need communication, analytical and creative skills. And it’s good to be flexible about where you work, as you may have to travel to offices and client sites across the UK.” What happens at the end of your Apprenticeship? That’s the best bit, a Capgemini Apprenticeship isn’t just a training programme – it’s a full-time, permanent role from day one! At the moment I’m giving some thought as to what I’ll do next. Working for a global company with offices around the world, means when you have completed the programme the opportunities are endless.

Choose a career in Customer Service & Hairdressing with Shears Academy and you too could be collecting awards on stage! Charlotte won Customer Service Achiever of 2012 and received her Hairdressing qualification in summer 2013. Christie won the Hairdressing Achiever of the year award and went on to qualify in Barbering during the summer, and Jade won the award for apprentice of the year after completing her Customer Service qualification. Working in the hairdressing industry could be the right career choice for you too! Chris, who enrolled for a Customer Service Apprenticeship won our prestigious first prize of a Photo shoot With Desmond Murray earlier this year.

If you think an apprenticeship is for you, ﬁnd out more or apply by visiting www.uk.capgemini.com/careers

www.careersworld.co.uk

Check out more of our pics in the gallery on our website, Or like us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/ ShearsAcademy. We hold regular graduation and presentation events to celebrate our apprentices’ achievements, and you could be one of the next ones receiving a prestigious award! If you live in the south east of London and would like to know more about a career in hairdressing, or would like to know more about Apprenticeships in Customer Service, Hairdressing and Barbing then call Carole now on 020 8461 3504.

Web: www.shearsacademy.co.uk

Apprenticeships at Uxbridge College The need for practical skills in the workplace has increased. Uxbridge College’s Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to pursue career opportunities for school leavers. Natalie Culhane is the perfect example of a young person who recognised Apprenticeships as a stepping stone to the start of a great career. She is also short listed for ‘Apprentice of the Year’ in the West London Business Awards 2013. Having decided to not go to university, Natalie joined Uxbridge College in 2011 as a Level 2 Accounting Apprentice, getting a job in central London. In April 2012, Natalie successfully secured a new position after a TV’s ‘The Apprentice’ style interview day with West London Motor Group (WLMG).

Natalie’s eagerness to learn new skills enabled her to shorten the development period, allowing her to progress within WLMG and take on greater responsibilities. She completed her Level 2 and 3 Apprenticeships with the College successfully. Natalie is now continuing with Level 4 Accounting at Uxbridge and hopes to produce management level work for West London Motor Group in years to come. What next? Want to start a successful career like Natalie? Get an Uxbridge College Apprenticeship with the number 1 college in west London. We offer Apprenticeships in 18 different industries at levels 2, 3 and 4, leading to nationally recognised qualifications.

Could an Apprenticeship be the Path to your Dream Job? With rising tuition fees and no guarantee of a job after three years of university study, more and more young people are considering the benefits of doing an Apprenticeship. With an average salary of £170 per week, a nationally recognised qualification and vital work experience, it’s easy to see why they are becoming a popular option. Most sectors now offer these courses as a means of getting into a particular field. At West Thames College we’ve teamed up with top employers to offer over 20 different Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships start throughout the year. If you are already working, your employer may be able to put you on the Apprenticeship scheme

If you are unemployed, check our vacancies page at www.uxbridgecollege. ac.uk/apprenticeships. Email your CV today to apprenticeships@ uxbridgecollege.ac.uk or call 01895 853266 or visit to ﬁnd out more.

Emily Pearce (21) Business Administration Apprentice at Brentford Community Sports Trust “I would really recommend an Apprenticeship if you want to earn some money and learn more about your options. I always thought I wanted to work with children but wasn’t sure if I would be any good at it. Now I’ve worked with young people with disabilities and difficult families and it’s something I feel much more confident about.” Quality Assurance Manager, Martyn Hall “Emily is flexible and fits in with us well. It’s a small organisation so she’s been able to work in different areas of the company and do different types of work. She has helped out on projects involving youth work, working with people with disabilities, running events and marketing. Emily’s level of work has improved so much since she started and, as a result, I’ve offered her full time employment.”

Web: www.west-thames.ac.uk Email: apprenticeships@west-thames.ac.uk Tel: 020 8326 2020

www.careersworld.co.uk

The City College Established in 1979, The City College is an independent institution for local and international students. The City College has undergone a review for educational oversight by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and has also received approval for student finance for its HND and BSc degree courses in different disciplines. Studying at the City College has evolved into a truly enlightening experience, so it is no surprise that our student body primarily consists of those who joined us on the recommendations of past or present students. What’s on offer The college’s faculty is selected on the basis of their academic and professional qualifications, as well as on their experience in teaching/lecturing. The faculty involved in the delivery of the undergraduate and postgraduate courses are approved by the relevant universities.

The primary focus of study is on Business/Management, Computing, Health & Social Care, Travel & Tourism and Hospitality Management at Higher National Diploma (HND) and Degree level. Some Diploma courses are also available for distance learning, enabling students to complete their studies from the comfort of their home. The college reviews its course portfolio on a regular basis to ensure that it matches current trends and meets the requirements of its students. Most recently, The City College has ventured into complementary medicine and is oﬀering Acupuncture and Tui Na courses. If you are looking for a change of career, why not study to become a qualiﬁed Acupuncturist? Look out for our OPEN DAY dates on the website.

Web: www.citycollege.ac.uk

Hillingdon Training – helping young people get ahead Hillingdon Training Limited (HTL), established in 2003, matches over 150 young people with an employer every year. Peter Sale, Director of HTL, comments: “The beauty of an Apprenticeship programme is that at the end of it, the apprentice will have qualiﬁcations as well as industrial experience. I think it is a very valuable alternative to other education routes and oﬀers a distinct advantage when it comes to seeking employment in today’s challenging job market.” Rachel Snooks, 16, from Eastcote, is a Business & Administration apprentice at HTL. For her, an Apprenticeship programme was a clear choice after leaving school. Rachel comments: “I didn’t really feel like going to college after secondary school, so I went to my careers adviser who

suggested an Apprenticeship. I’m a really hands-on type of person and I enjoy working more than studying. I think Apprenticeships suit people who want to be out there in the working world.” Simon Rudd, 18, from Hayes, is doing a Children’s Care Apprenticeship. He said: “I’ve always wanted to work with children. I ﬁrst started an art course at college, but it wasn’t for me. I got this Apprenticeship through HTL and I absolutely love it.” HTL oﬀers Apprenticeships in Business & Administration, Children’s Care, Customer Service, Health & Social Care, IT and Supporting Teaching & Learning, as well as a Foundation Learning programme to help those thinking about a job and preparing for an Apprenticeship.

To ﬁnd out more call Hillingdon Training on 0208 607 7850, or visit www.hillingdontraining.co.uk

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. “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.

Retail Shopping is awesome. We as a country always have an excuse to go and spend our money and this sector provides a varied range of career choices if you fancy turning your shopping experience into your career.

You ask us... WHAT IS RETAIL ALL ABOUT?

Retail is all about selling stuﬀ to people – the better it looks, the more cash people will spend on it. It’s competitive and challenging and you can expect to be tested on a fair few levels, so make sure you have the ambition to succeed.

WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?

You’ll start off on somewhere between £11,000 to £16,000, which might not sound a lot but you have to factor in staff discounts in-store and flexible working hours. You can also advance pretty quickly and managers of large stores earn over £40,000, plus bonuses such as company cars, holidays, travelling and all the other awesome stuff.

“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.

HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

Over 16% of the UK companies have an active apprenticeship program and most of these employers are shops and brands you will almost certainly have heard of. There are more than 1.8 million people employed in the retail industry so employability is very high compared to other sectors.

WHERE IS THE WORK MOST CONCENTRATED?

Right in the middle of a city or town. The number of retail outlets in the UK now exceeds 210,000, so you won’t have to look far for work. You probably walk past them every day, so do research into what the best place to work is for you. Web: www.fashionretailacademy.ac.uk

WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD I BE WORKING IN?

There will be people everywhere, so if you have good customer service skills you’ll be ﬁne. If you don’t, get some, because it’s essential to the shopper’s experience. You need to be adaptable as not everyone is a happy shopper, so learn to deal with everything thrown at you, both good and bad. www.careersworld.co.uk

Retail

Careers Choices These are some of the roles you can ﬁnd in this sector. Obviously day-to-day tasks will vary depending on your employer, but these roles are found across the sector:

RETAIL BUYING

If you can’t get enough of shopping, this might be the job for you because is essentially buying products for a living. You will be responsible for selecting what merchandise your store will sell, so you will need to keep up to date on current fashions and trends. These are the people who decide what’s hot and what’s not from season to season. Salaries start out between £16,000 and £20,000 depending on your employer and you can expect to earn more as you gain more experience.

STORE OPERATIONS

You’ll be right in the action here; you’ll be serving customers and helping the store run smoothly. It’s down to you to make the overall shopping experience better for people so it helps to have good knowledge of what you are selling (you can’t just blag it, you will get found out.). You’re looking at a starting salary of £11,000 to £15,000 depending on your employer, but this is a sector where progression is matched by ambition and you will ﬁnd yourself quickly climbing up the ladder.

VISUAL MERCHANDISING

If you have a knack for eye catching fashion displays then this will ‘suit’ you down to the ground (see what I did there?). You will be responsible for arranging the displays in windows so that passersby will be drawn into the store. But it doesn’t stop there; the mannequins and stand layouts inside will also be arranged according to your design, so that the customers are getting a good experience and therefore buying stuﬀ. Salaries start out at between £12,000 and £16,000 a year.

MANAGEMENT

If you have a talent for leadership and motivation then you would make for a great manager. It will be down to you to organise your staﬀ so that everything runs smoothly, from the shop ﬂoor to the warehouse and deliveries. Store managers usually start out on £16,000 to £20,000, while area managers or managers of huge stores can earn in excess of £40,000 a year – this is usually accompanied with perks such as longer holidays and company cars.

www.careersworld.co.uk

1 IN 10 PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED IN RETAIL

Where to begin If you like the idea of working in this sector, read on to ﬁnd out how you can get started.

APPRENTICESHIPS

Over 30,000 people started in Level 2 and 3 Retail Apprenticeships in 2012 and that number is expected to increase this year. In this sector in particular employers like to teach you while you work and you’ll ﬁnd yourself taking in a lot very quickly. The Level 2 award will take the form of a diploma, a BTEC or an NVQ. Some of the Apprenticeship Frameworks and associated roles you might see are: Retail (General) • Retail Specialist

A-LEVELS

A –levels are a good pathway to university, but they are also qualiﬁcations that employers like to see. There aren’t any A-levels that are directly linked to retail, but some that might help you are listed below. Business Studies • Maths • IT • English

EMPLOYER FUNDED STUDY

A lot of the bigger chains such as Sainsbury’s, B&Q, Tesco and Marks and Spencer have special training schemes for their employees. These more often than not have an option for management so you ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS Just like a regular Apprenticeship, you will know there’s an opportunity to go far! Entry be learning and working at the same time. levels vary, so it’s best to check the brands The Retail Apprenticeship continues to website for more information. Level 3, again resulting in a BTEC, Diploma or NVQ. Here are some of the job roles: Sales Professional • Visual Merchandising • Retail Management

JUST 10 RETAILERS EMPLOY AROUND

1/3

OF ALL THOSE WHO WORK IN RETAIL

UK RETAIL HAS AN ANNUAL TURNOVER OF

£321 BILLION

Retail

REGIONAL FOCUS London is one of the world’s greatest retail cities. People come from around the country on shopping trips to London, and that’s why the area has more shopping centres than anywhere else in the UK. Customers come from all walks of life to spend their hard-earned cash. The West End is the largest retail hub in the UK, with consumers spending billions of pounds per year. Hopeful young people come from across the country, if not the world, to ﬁnd a job in London so there is a hefty amount of competition in retail.

FOUNDATION DEGREES

Foundation Degrees are a great way to get an employer respected qualification while still working in your job. They are university level qualifications and are the equivalent of the first two years of an honours degree. These take two years to complete and if you want, you can extend your qualification to a full Honours degree when you finish. www.careersworld.co.uk

@Laing_ORourke

THE REAL WORLD Elutec Elutec is a brand new college for young people in East London and Essex who are interested in a career in engineering, design, technology or science. Elutec’s students will follow a unique curriculum, specialising in STEM subjects and working collaboratively with employer partners such as Ford, National Grid and BP. Students will be set challenges by Elutec’s partners, who will involve them in solving real problems faced in the industry, enabling them to develop their technical and academic skills, and preparing them for their future careers, whether this will be through an Apprenticeship programme or after university.

Engineering You can engineer pretty much anything these days and it’s a sector that we rely on heavily to produce some important stuﬀ! Aeroplanes, toxic chemicals, skyscrapers, cruise liners and tanks are all a result of an engineer’s thoughts. Read on to ﬁnd out how you can get into this sector…

Sponsored by Ford, UCL, The Prospects Foundation and CEME, Elutec will provide a world class education in state of the art buildings located on the CEME campus in Rainham, Essex. Applications into years 10 and 12 for September 2014 are currently being accepted and students should check out the website to ﬁnd out more about the application process and upcoming events.

You ask us... WHAT’S THE ENGINEERING SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

Well, it certainly covers a lot of ground. Engineering is so diverse that pretty much everything you see around you is the product of engineering. It’s about creating technology to help us advance as people; engineers were behind the first aeroplane, the first cannon, the first microwave and even the first tin of beans. But it’s not just about creation, it’s also about improving; F1 teams use engineers to make their cars faster and lighter and car manufacturers always need new designs to keep ahead in the market.

WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?

WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD I BE WORKING IN?

Most engineers work in factories, but some ﬁelds such as chemical engineering might require you to work in a laboratory with complex equipment or in the case of Marine Engineers, on a boat in the middle of the ocean!

HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

As we’ve mentioned a billion times already, engineering is a huge part of the UK economy. In fact, it comprises one ﬁfth of it. Over half the people who work in Engineering are in managerial and professional roles, so there is an obvious route to progression in this sector.

Web: www.elutec.co.uk Tel: 020 8596 7040

This is a very big sector, so you can expect a very big salary as you become more WHERE IS THE WORK MOST qualified. Starting salaries are around CONCENTRATED? £17,000 and the average, fully qualified engineer can expect to earn £43,000 a The North of England is one of the leading year. Of course, the more specialised you areas in the world for this sector; there’s aerospace, automotive, chemical and become, the more you will earn! marine engineering in that region, but speaking more locally, most factories and plants are where the action is. Naturally, most work is on industrial estates so be prepared to look around to find the type of engineering you would like to work with. www.careersworld.co.uk

Engineering

Careers Choices Engineering is behind the creation of pretty much everything in the world. That’s a bold statement, but everything you see around you was at some point in time a thought in the mind of an engineer. You need a logical thought process, patience and a willingness to improve on what you’ve already done. No project is ever quite ﬁnished and there is always a little more to tweak and make better, faster or stronger. Here are the main areas of the Engineering industry.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

This sounds pretty complicated and it kind of is, as it deals with combining complex chemicals to produce products. However, it’s behind the advancement of some of our best medical cures and vaccinations, as well as creating new materials that are used in other areas of Engineering.

METALS ENGINEERING

Everything you see that’s made from a metal was engineered by this industry. Metal production is vitally important and it contributes £15 billion a year to our economy. Plus with recycling on the increase, the industry will continue to grow and grow.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Electrical Engineering covers everything from the smallest microchips to ensuring the national grid (responsible for the power ﬂowing into our homes) is running smoothly. It covers maintenance and creation, as well as evaluating systems for improvement.

AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

Did you know that the UK is the second largest manufacturer of space vehicles in the world? Aerospace covers satellites, commercial and military aircraft, space shuttles and all the bits that make them up.

www.careersworld.co.uk

MARINE ENGINEERING

Marine Engineering covers all things oceanic. You could be designing cruise liners, ﬁshing boats and other aquatic vehicles. It also covers oﬀshore oilrigs and wind farms. As the UK is an island, there’s plenty of business to be had in this sector!

DEFENCE ENGINEERING

Although most engineers that work in defence would probably fall into one of the above categories, there are projects (such as missiles, aircraft, satellites, advanced technology) that fall into a separate category. Some projects are kept top secret and require specialists to work on, so if you choose to follow this path, keep it on the low down…..

AN ESTIMATED

154,400

PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED IN AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING

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

As you can see, there are a lot of choices to make regarding this sector. It’s one of those careers where you specialise and stay on a particular path, so make sure you choose the right job for you. Here are the frameworks you can expect to see in this industry and all Apprenticeships result in a Level 2 BTEC, Diploma or NVQ. Engineering • Engineering Construction • Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration • Industrial Applications • Marine Industry

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. Engineers with Advanced Apprenticeships tend to progress to management a lot quicker than those without, as the skills they learn help them progress. 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. Engineering • Engineering Construction • Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration • Marine Industry

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: Biology • Chemistry • Design and Technology • Maths • Marine Science • Physics

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. They are available in a range of engineering subjects, including marine, aircraft and chemical.

A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL CAR MANUFACTURERS HAVE UK BASED PRODUCTION SITES

96%

OF THE WORKFORCE IS FULL-TIME

Engineering

REGIONAL FOCUS Over 1,800 people are recruited into the engineering industry every year in London, and while there might not be as much manufacturing in London as there was 10 years ago, it is a central hub for the training of new engineers, with Imperial College London having one of the largest Engineering faculties in Europe. You’re spoilt for choice for courses in London, with degrees at City University and Kings College, and a wealth of Apprenticeships throughout the city. BPP-tech makes their home in London, providing specialist engineers for the Renewables sector.

COLLEGE COURSES

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

A higher Apprenticeship (NVQ Level 4) is also available in Engineering Technology. www.careersworld.co.uk

FINANCE AVAILABLE

SE F R O

OVER

400

STUDENT

ONLINE COURSES

Come to one of our Open Days! The City College is one of the leading colleges in London. Find out what the City College has to oďŹ&#x20AC;er and get a feel for what it would be like to study here by attending one of our open days. Our career-focused university degrees & professional qualiications give you the skills employers are looking for or for setting up your own business. Check our website for Open Day dates.

Our Courses

Full-time & Part-time Courses Business & Management | Computing

Health & Social Care | Travel & Tourism Hospitality | Acupuncture | Tui Na

The City College, University House 55 East Road, London N1 6AH admissions@citycollege.ac.uk

www.citycollege.ac.uk

020 7253 1133

THE REAL WORLD

Agriculture & Animal Care

A green alternative to staying on at school

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.

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.

Are you practical, want to work outdoors and make a real difference to the environment? Then Capel Manor could be the right college for you. Landscaping, tree surgery, floristry, balloon artistry and animal care/management are amongst the subjects you can study. We offer a variety of study modes from full and part-time to Traineeships and Apprenticeships. Graduates have used their qualifications to develop successful careers working as botanic gardeners, veterinary nurses and park rangers. Yet more have set up businesses as florists, tree surgeons and garden designers. Aged 16, Thomas King decided to stay on at A level, though only because he felt pressured by his school. Thomas would escape to his garden when he was supposed to be revising, which he enjoyed much more than studying. He ended up obtaining three D grades. After seeing an advert for Capel Manor, Thomas enrolled for a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture. Now aged 20 and having completed his 2 year course with triple Distinction grades, Thomas is going on to do a Traineeship at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens. After this Thomas plans to pursue a career as a senior gardener working in historic gardens. “The mentality at school was to stay on and then go to university. There didn’t seem to be much choice, but in a way I am glad I did badly at my A levels because it encouraged me to try something different. My horticulture course covered a range of topics which has given me a breadth of knowledge on the subject. I love horticulture, it enables you to keep up a healthy lifestyle and work outside, plus my fascination with plants has just snowballed.”

WHERE IS THE WORK MOST CONCENTRATED?

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

Web: www.capel.ac.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 You might think that Agriculture and London don’t mix, and while it’s deﬁnitely true that there are fewer employment opportunities here than in more rural parts of the country, there is still a call for horticulture and landscaping experts throughout the city. You may have heard jokes about Londoners not knowing what a cow looks like, but at schools like City and Islington College you can take LandBased Studies courses where you’ll be learning how to birth lambs and grow food, and even have opportunities to help at London zoo.

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

CITY GATEWAY

TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIPS

Danny, Salma and Chad are just 3 of over 300 young people that City Gateway has helped into employment through our training and apprenticeships over the last year.

ARE YOU

16-18?

WE OFFER FREE TRAINING IN: BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION CUSTOMER SERVICE SPORT FITNESS

We place apprentices with over a hundred national and international companies.

ENROL NOW! Image ÂŠ: Evening Standard

Call: 0203 189 0925 Email: admissions@citygateway.org.uk Or visit: citygateway.org.uk

THE REAL WORLD

Business & Customer Service Business is all about getting stuﬀ done. Whether it’s launching and selling a product or starting up a company in your kitchen, business boils down to one thing; making money. If you have good business acumen, then you won’t be far from success. Every business is hinged on meeting and dealing with customers and for that you’ll need a good customer service ethos. A smile, a friendly demeanour and a professional but helpful attitude will help your customers feel at ease and in good hands.

You ask us... WHAT’S THE BUSINESS & CUSTOMER SERVICE SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

Customer Service is a little different, as you have to act as the face of the company and therefore require a more relaxed demeanour It’s a huge sector that covers nearly every (you’ll still have to be professional; don’t other industry out there. Everybody needs be greeting top customers with ‘Yo dude, to make money to survive, from your how’s it hanging?”!). local corner shop to the world’s largest companies. It goes hand in hand with HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO customer service, which businesses rely on to not only attract new customers, but OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY? also keep hold of current ones. This sector This country sees over 8000 new businesses covers everything from management to started every week; some from current being an entrepreneur and starting your companies merging, others starting up with own business. With regards to customer just one staff member in their living room. service, you’ll find roles in telesales, Nearly a quarter of UK private enterprises reception and more! are situated in the business services sector and recently new schemes have been WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT brought in to help people aged 18-24 start up their own companies.

City Gateway’s Training and Apprenticeships “I never thought or imagined that I would be able to work towards a career at one of the UK’s biggest accountancy firms. City Gateway prepared me well for employment by providing lots of practice sessions for me, polishing my skills and helping me boost my confidence.” Johura, former apprentice now employed at PwC Based in Canary Wharf and founded in 1999 by City workers, City Gateway creates a link for young people to the City and financial sector by providing employment focussed training and apprenticeships with many leading international and national firms. We work with more than 230 employers and City Gateway Apprentices have been placed at a variety of companies, including Standard Chartered, RBS, PwC, law firm Dentons and many more. Our apprentices have a very high success rate of over 90%. In 2013 we partnered with The Evening Standard to run the Ladder for London campaign to help jobless young Londoners into work through apprenticeships. Together with our partners we have successfully placed over 520 Apprentices in fulfilling jobs across the Capital. Our free Business Administration programme offers qualifications up to Level 3, employability training from corporate partners, English and Maths skills and individual support to secure employment.

TO EARN?

It depends on your role in a business and the type of company you work for. As a money orientated sector, you’ll be making plenty of cash if you keep hitting targets. The average salary for starters in business is around the £15,000 mark, but don’t be surprised to see this ﬁgure increase very quickly. Customer Service starts out at about £11,000, but is a career ladder that’s easy to climb with the right attitude and can in some cases lead to a career in PR.

WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD I BE WORKING IN?

WHERE IS THE WORK MOST CONCENTRATED?

It probably won’t surprise you to hear that the largest concentration of work in the business sector can be found in the South of England, towards the London area. However, many new start up companies are found in the North, around major cities such as Manchester and Sheﬃeld. Leeds is also renowned for its business district, where the headquarters of supermarket giants Asda, hair product company GHD and video games developer Rockstar are located.

A business environment is competitive and fast paced; sales targets have to be met in order to satisfy customers and management alike. If you’re ambitious and enjoy a challenge then you’ll revel in it and go far.

City Gateway also oﬀers other training pathways. For more information visit: citygateway.org.uk Tel: 0203 189 0925

Image Credit: Evening Standard

www.careersworld.co.uk

Business & Customer Service

Careers Choices Business is vital to our economy; without it, there wouldn’t be any money. And without money, there’d be no society. So it’s imperative to make sure that businesses run to their best potential. To make these businesses work, there are many cogs in the machine, such as administration, human resources and management, all of which require a different set of skills.

ADMINISTRATION

Administration is the part of business that we as customers rarely see. Whenever we sign up for a contract on a phone or buy a house, that contract has to be processed, checked and ﬁled away for future reference. These aren’t skills to be taken lightly and the function of admin should never be underestimated. You can expect to earn between £15,000 and £20,000, with the possibility to earn more with progression.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Customer Service is all about making customers feel like they’re in safe hands when doing business with your company. Whether it’s a friendly telephone demeanor or a simple smile and a handshake, a company’s treatment of their clients goes a long way to doing future business. It also helps garner reputation to attract new customers that previously slipped through the net. Starting salaries are around £12,000, but progression can come quickly and with it comes a higher wage.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Somebody has to look after the employees in a company and this job falls to the human resources department. This is no easy task, especially when it’s a large company with hundreds of people in various job roles. Responsibilities for the HR department include hiring and recruiting, keeping employee records, dealing with complaints and providing staﬀ training for development. Salaries start out at around £15,000, while managers can earn close to £50,000 a year.

ENTREPRENEURIAL

Ever wonder why there isn’t a product in the world that probably should exist but doesn’t? Then why not go for it and start up your own business? Perhaps you have a talent which you can showcase as a service to other people or know how to turn a struggling business into a successful one. The government is currently running a scheme for 18-24 year olds who want to start their own business, providing funding, training and help to make sure young people starting from scratch are on the right path.

www.careersworld.co.uk

4.7 MILLION

SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE UK

Where to begin Fancy a career in business? Well read on to ﬁnd out how you can get started...

APPRENTICESHIPS

If you are 16 or over then you can enter an Apprenticeship, which would teach you the skills that you need while you work, you’ll also earn a salary. On your Apprenticeship, half of your time will be spent doing the job and the other half will be spent learning in the classroom. 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: Business and Administration • Contact Centre Operations • Customer Service • Management • Sales and Telesales

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS

These are equivalent to A-Levels and can usually be joined after you complete the associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. Advanced Apprenticeships are perfect for those who want a practical role as they learn while gaining relevant employment experience. People with Advanced Apprenticeships often progress up the career ladder faster than those without, because the skills that they learn are more suited to management or supervisory roles. Here are some of the Apprenticeship Frameworks for this sector, completing any of these will result in a Level 3 qualiﬁcation such as a BTEC, NVQ or Diploma. Business and Administration • Contact Centre Operations • Customer Service • Enterprise • Management • Sales and Telesales

A-LEVELS

A-Levels are the most popular route into University and are sought after by most employers. The following A-levels provide a great path into this sector: English Language • Maths • Business Studies • IT

FOUNDATION DEGREES

A foundation degree combines the University lifestyle with practical, hands on work. It’s basically a cross between an Apprenticeship and an Honours Degree. They are both used as gateway qualifications to a full time Degree because they count towards the first two years of your Honours Degree. Foundation Degrees normally take about two years to complete and you will be in both the work place and on the university site. Nearly all universities provide Foundation and full Honours degrees in Business related fields.

A FULLY QUALIFIED ACCOUNTANT CAN EARN OVER

£50,000 PA

BUSINESS SKILLS CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO ALMOST ANY OTHER SECTOR!

Business & Customer Service

REGIONAL FOCUS The last few years have seen a dramatic rise in the amount of people employed in administrative positions, with more over 15,000 jobs opening up. London is one of the biggest business powerhouses in the world, heavily inﬂuenced by the strong ﬁnancial background of the city, being home to institutions like the London Stock Exchange. Famously the home of business gurus Alan Sugar and Richard Branson, London is renowned for its entrepreneurial potential, rivaling even New York!

COLLEGE COURSES

A College course is another good way to get into the Business and Customer Service sector. To ﬁnd out more about these courses, have a look at www.careersworld.co.uk.

www.careersworld.co.uk

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THE REAL WORLD Tobias Miller, QA Apprentice at Resolve IT Solutions I made the best decision of my life so far when I chose to join QA Apprenticeships to train and ﬁnd myself a job in my desired sector, IT. After secondary school, where I gained four years of low level experience in ICT, I chose college to gain some more knowledge in IT. After almost a year studying for my A Levels, I decided that it was not right for me and realised I must move on in order to pursue a career.

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!

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?

After spending some time looking for something new with no success, I was contacted by QA Apprenticeships to attend an interview and to see whether I could be a candidate for their Apprenticeship scheme. I was successful and managed to get an interview with Resolve IT Solutions, an award-winning IT company in my home city of Sheﬃeld. I was again successful in getting a place as an apprentice at their company. When I look back to how I was before the Apprenticeship – it’s unbelievable; I am much more mature and knowledgeable, and my ability to communicate with others has vastly improved, so much so that people might struggle to recognise me now! I would recommend an Apprenticeship in IT without hesitation because I have gained so much from it. I have made new friends and achieved industry recognised qualiﬁcations, which illustrate how much I have learnt. I have now completed my Apprenticeship and have a full-time job, which I love, at an inspiring company with such great prospects; I’m really excited about the future.

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!

Apply now for a QA Apprenticeship in IT: Web: www.qa.com/apprenticeships Tel: 0845 074 7825 Email: apprenticeships@qa.com

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

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. You can study a foundation degree in Information Technology.

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 London is a real hot-spot for the IT sector. The sector is expected to grow by 2% every year until 2036, meaning a LOT more jobs. 10% of people working in the region are related to IT (that’s almost 500,000 jobs!), meaning this sector is a major contributor to the London, and national, economy. Most of the positions in the inner-city are working for big businesses whose systems and servers need maintenance.

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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.

ARMED FORCES & EMERGENCY SERVICES

We rely on our emergency services when things go wrong and they are a vital part of our day to day lives. From the police who patrol our streets to the paramedics who save lives, this sector is all about helping people in the community. Of course, serving in the armed forces means protecting the country and providing international aid to other nations. Whether you are based abroad or in the UK, you’ll be working as part of a team in a variety of situations, some of which will take place in hostile environments so a cool head is a good trait to have!

Example Job Roles: Paramedic • Police Officer • Fire Fighter • Coastguard • Soldier • Fighter Pilot • Navy Cadet • Royal Marine Salaries: Military salaries usually start at around £13,000, while emergency services salaries are usually around £19,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3 – HM Forces run their own apprenticeship schemes) • College Courses (such as police studies) • A-Levels (useful for officer training)

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

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

CREATIVE, MEDIA & THE ARTS

What do television, theatre, radio, the music business, cinema, cartoons, the internet and art galleries have in common? They all have related job roles within this sector! The underlying theme of this sector is obviously entertainment; from witty comedy panel shows to historic paintings, there are job roles to suit every type of creative out there! You could be doing makeup, scouting for locations, designing sets and graphics or even presenting your own show! If you have a bubbly, conﬁdent personality, then this sector could be for you!

Example Job Roles: Radio Broadcast Assistant • Wardrobe Assistant • Location Scout • Camera Crew • Lighting/Rigging • Animator • Curator • Art Restorer Salaries: Starting salaries in the creative sector tend to start out around the £13,000 mark. Qualiﬁcations: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • A-Levels (English, Art, Photography and Graphic Design are all good to have) • College Courses • Foundation Degree

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.

FINANCE & LAW

Both of these are vital to how our country runs; finance is all about working with money, while law covers everything from the justice system to working in a courtroom. With finance, you might find yourself working in a bank serving customers, or working personally with people providing financial advice on areas such as mortgages, loans and savings. The legal sector also has plenty of job roles that require you to work with the public, such as court clerks, paralegals and admin staff.

Example Job Roles: Paralegal Assistant • Finance Assistant • Payroll Clerk • Finance Advisor • Legal Administration Assistant Salaries: Expect your salary to start at around £14,000 for the legal sector, while you’ll be starting on around £11,000 in a ﬁnancial role. Qualiﬁcations: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • A-Levels • College Courses • Foundation Degrees

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.

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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.

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

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!

www.careersworld.co.uk

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

www.careersworld.co.uk

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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open event at the best college in london & Surrey* *Long course success rates 2010/11 & 2011/12 Source: The Data Service

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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 STEPHANIE SMITH BT IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS AN APPRENTICESHIP HAS HELPED STEPHANIE SMITH TO GROW IN CONFIDENCE AND SECURE A PERMANENT JOB AT BT Stephanie Smith, 24, is an enthusiastic member of the team in her role as a project manager at telecoms company BT, based in London. Instead of going to university after completing AS-Levels in Business Studies and Media Studies, Stephanie decided to look for an Apprenticeship. She wanted to earn money at the same time as learning and gaining experience. Through her own research Stephanie found out that BT were looking for apprentices to work in their TV, Media and Content Department, so applied for a role.

CAN-DO ATTITUDE

Stephanie began her Higher Apprenticeship in IT and Telecommunications at BT in September 2010 when she was 21. While she worked towards her Apprenticeship qualiﬁcation (which included a BTEC Diploma in Professional Competence for IT and Telecoms, and a Foundation Degree in IT for Business) she was busy gaining on-the-job experience planning, organising and controlling a number of internal and external projects for BT, such as a transformation project to improve

the working environment at the BT Tower and enhance welfare in the team. “The schemes I work on are normally delivered by senior project managers, but I have been entrusted to carry out these projects on my own” Stephanie says. “This has helped me to contribute to the team’s success and to the delivery of a number of projects.” “The Apprenticeship has impacted my life, helping me to grow in conﬁdence and discover about the world of work” said Stephanie. “It has given me the opportunity to develop skills in team-work and learn how to run projects, manage people and present to large groups.”

“In the future my aim is to progress within the business and find a job that challenges me and that I enjoy” Stephanie says. “I would love to work with my own team of people and have a job that makes a difference to the business.” Stephanie was named the London Higher Apprentice of the Year at the regional stage of the National Apprenticeship Award 2013. Stephanie firmly believes that Apprenticeships can help people to get ahead in their careers. “My Apprenticeship has greatly benefited me on a personal as well as professional level. I would definitely encourage other people who are thinking about the best way to start their chosen careers to consider an Apprenticeship.”

To ﬁnd out more about Apprenticeship opportunities, When Stephanie ﬁnished her Apprenticeship in September 2013, please contact the National she was successfully promoted to Apprenticeship Service on 08000 a permanent role in the TV outside- 150 600 or visit the website broadcast team as a service leader. apprenticeships.org.uk She is now working towards her silver accreditation for project management and hopes at some point to do an external outsidebroadcasting course.

PERMANENT ROLE

www.careersworld.co.uk

UNIVERSITIES University of London www.lon.ac.uk 020 7862 8000 British Institute of Technology and E-Commerce www.bite.ac.uk 020 8552 3071 Brunel University www.brunel.ac.uk 01895 274000 City University www.city.ac.uk 020 7040 5060 University of East London www.uel.ac.uk 020 8223 3000 Regent’s University London www.regents.ac.uk 0207 487 7770 European School of Economics www.eselondon.ac.uk 0207245 6148 University of Greenwich www.gre.ac.uk 020 8331 8000

Kingston University www.kingston.ac.uk 0844 8552177 LCA Business School, London www.lcabusinessschool. com 020 7400 6789 London Metropolitan University www.londonmet.ac.uk 020 7133 4200

The University of West London www.uwl.ac.uk 0800 036 8888 University of Westminster www.westminster.ac.uk 020 7915 5511

UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL COLLEGES

London South Bank University www.lsbu.ac.uk 020 7815 7815

East London UTC www.utccolleges.org 020 8596 5447

Middlesex University www.mdx.ac.uk 020 8411 5555

Greenwich UTC www.greenwichutc.com 07738 726 317

Richmond, The American International University in London www.richmond.ac.uk 020 8332 9000

Hackney UTC www.hackneyutc.co.uk 020 7613 9212

Roehampton University www.roehampton.ac.uk 020 8392 3232

Southwark UTC www.utcolleges.org 020 7815 1786

COLLEGES CENTRAL LONDON City Lit www.citylit.ac.uk 020 7492 2600 City of Westminster College www.cwc.ac.uk 020 7723 8826 The City College www.citycollege.ac.uk 020 7253 1133 Fashion Retail Academy www.fashionretail academy.ac.uk 020 7307 2345

NORTH LONDON Barnet College www.barnet.ac.uk 020 8266 4000 Brooke House Sixth Form College www.brookehouse.ac.uk 0800 3892 947 Capel Manor College www.capel.ac.uk 08456 122 122 City and Islington College www.candi.ac.uk 0207700 9200

Morley College www.morleycollege.ac.uk 020 7450 1889

College of Haringey, Enﬁeld and North East London www.conel.ac.uk 020 8802 3111

Westminster Kingsway College www.westking.ac.uk 0870 060 9800

The College of North West London www.cnwl.ac.uk 020 8208 5050 Hackney Community College www.tcch.ac.uk 020 7613 9123

University of the Arts, London www.arts.ac.uk 020 7514 6000

Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute www.hgsi.ac.uk 0208 829 4229

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

Harrow College www.harrow.ac.uk 020 8909 6000 Regent’s College www.regents.ac.uk 0207 487 7700 Sir George Monoux College www.george-monoux. ac.uk 020 8523 3544 Southgate College www.southgate.ac.uk 020 8266 4000 Stanmore College www.stanmore.ac.uk 0208 420 7700 Waltham Forest College www.waltham.ac.uk 020 8501 8501 Woodhouse College www.woodhouse.ac.uk 020 8445 1210 Working Men’s College www.wmcollege.ac.uk 020 7255 4700

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EAST LONDON Barking and Dagenham College www.barkingcollege.ac.uk 020 8090 3020

Tower Hamlets College www.tower.ac.uk 020 7510 7510

SOUTH LONDON Bromley College www.bromley.ac.uk 020 8295 7000

Bexley College www.bexley.ac.uk 01322 442331 Christ the King College www.ctksfc.ac.uk 020 8297 9433 Greenwich Community College www.gcc.ac.uk 020 8488 4800 Havering FE College www.havering-college. ac.uk 01708 455011 Newham College of Further Education www.newham.ac.uk 020 8257 4446

Redbridge College www.redbridge-college. ac.uk 0208 548 7400

WEST LONDON Duﬀ Miller College www.duﬀmiller.com 0207 225 0577

Croydon College www.croydon.ac.uk 020 8686 5700

Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College www.wlc.ac.uk 0800 980 2185

Hillcroft College www.hillcroft.ac.uk 020 8399 2688 John Ruskin College www.johnruskin.ac.uk 020 8651 1131

Lambeth College www.lambethcollege. ac.uk 020 7501 5000 Lewisham College www.lewisham.ac.uk 020 8692 0353

West Thames College www.west-thames.ac.uk 020 8326 2000

Coulsdon College www.coulsdon.ac.uk 01737 551176

Carshalton College www.carshalton.ac.uk 020 8544 4444

Kingston College www.kingston-college. ac.uk 020 8546 2151

Newham Sixth Form College www.newvic.ac.uk 020 7473 4110

South-Thames College www.south-thames.ac.uk 020 8918 7777

Kensington and Chelsea College www.kcc.ac.uk 020 7573 3600 Richmond Upon Thames College www.rutc.ac.uk 020 8607 8000 St Dominic’s Sixth Form College www.stdoms.ac.uk 020 8422 8084 Uxbridge College www.uxbridgecollege. ac.uk 01895 853333

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Haringey Sixth Form Centre www.haringey6.ac.uk 020 8376 6000

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

Couldan Apprenticeship bethepathto yourdreamjob? As an Apprentice you’ll experience the best of both worlds - you’ll gain nationally recognised qualifications, whilst having a real job, earning real money.

You’ll be paid by your employer as you work alongside experienced staff, gaining valuable on-the-job skills and experience. Contact us for more information about the range of Apprenticeships we offer.

Our Apprenticeships:

Beauty Therapy Business Admin. Creative Media Customer Service Digital /Social Media Early Years/Childcare Hairdressing Health and Social Care Hospitality IT Laboratory Technician Engineering and Car Design (Nissan) Painting and Decorating Professional Cookery Team Leading Trowel trades (Brickwork) Wood trades (Carpentry).

opendays Get your questions answered and have a tour of our fantastic facilities.

Feltham Skills Centre

For catering, engineering and construction trades Thursday 13 March 2014, 4-7pm

Isleworth Campus

For all other courses Tuesday 11 March 2014, 4-7pm

020 8326 2020 west-thames.ac.uk