NORTH EAST 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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GCSE MATHS & ENGLISH REFORMS What do they mean for you?
PLUS: OUR EXPERT PANEL ANSWER MORE OF YOUR KEY QUESTIONS & WE PREVIEW NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK 2014
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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
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Entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones shares the secrets of his success.
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Some tools, tips and tricks to help you make those important choices, from our very own editor!
Sport & Fitness
Hair & Beauty
11 We ask our specially selected panel to tell us what they can offer you!
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Armed Forces & Emergency Services
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We give you the lowdown on all the other sectors out there, which we’ll feature in future issues.
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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!
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Manufacturing & Processing
Retail
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There’s never been a better time to be an apprentice. Find out why with our Apprenticeships feature.
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Some contact details we think you’ll find useful, including web links, email addresses and phone numbers.
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And now for something completely different...
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All material is copyrighted both written and illustrated. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. All images and information is collated from extensive research and along with advertisements is published in good faith. Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this publication was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Careers World is published by Open Doors Media Ltd ©2014. ISSN: 2050-6600
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.
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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.
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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.
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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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We are recruiting!
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?
It’s a good idea to think about what you enjoy in your studies. Are there some subjects you enjoy more than others? Why might that be? What do you do in your spare time? It’s worth exploring whether you can develop any of your interests into a career.
If you are one of our Apprenticeship Trainees then you will work towards a relevant level 2 or 3 technical qualification, and you and your employer will agree a training plan.
necessarily think would be offered. There’s an A-Z list available at www.nhscareers. nhs.uk/a-to-z. Remember to try and gain some work experience to see whether the job is actually what you expect!
All healthcare professionals and NHS employees will continue to be offered professional development to help them achieve their career goals. We’ll provide you with quality information, advice and guidance to help choose the best career path for you.
At Health Education North East we ensure the north east NHS workforce has the right number of people, with the right skills and attitudes to deliver excellent The NHS provides a whole range of career care to our patients. options, many of which you might not Web: ne.hee.nhs.uk
WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU OFFER SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS?
WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?
The list is endless! If you are considering a career in medicine then you will attend university, combining academic study with work placements in hospitals and community health environments. Other opportunities are available via Apprenticeship schemes. This is a really good way to get practical experience and work towards a recognised qualification at the same time. You can then go on to do higher qualifications at university or college if you want to, allowing you to progress through the career ladder.
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We are directly involved in making sure that you receive quality training. We have been voted the best training area for support for three years running.
WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU?
The NHS provides a supportive training environment which helps you meet your own development goals. Salaries are generous and the average wages can be viewed on the NHS Careers website for each role. Just as a starter, the average wage for a senior doctor such as a Psychiatrist is around £90k. Of course the main reason why you would want to work with Health Education North East and the NHS is that you share our values in improving patient care and the patient experience.
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The University CAREERS AND EDUCATION CHOICES CAN BE SCARY! HOW SHOULD APPLICANTS MAKE THEIR DECISION?
We are an innovative, forwardthinking university with high standards of teaching, research and support. We have strong links with industry and business, and work closely with some of the world’s leading companies. Web: www.sunderland.ac.uk
Matching your skills and interests to a university course and a career is a vital, exciting and life-changing decision. Consulting careers staff at your school or college and sharing your thoughts with your parents are always good starting points. Deciding if you want to live at home or move away can help to narrow down your options. A research checklist could include scholarships (what is each university offering?), open days (always visit each university to see how it feels and whether it meets your expectations), word of mouth
The Training Provider Baltic Training Services provide real employment opportunities for young people who are looking to gain real life work experience, recognised qualifications and earn while they learn! We offer Apprenticeships in; I.T. Professional Level 3 & 4, Software Development and Social Media and Digital Marketing. Web: www.baltictraining.com
CAREERS AND EDUCATION CHOICES CAN BE SCARY! HOW SHOULD APPLICANTS MAKE THEIR DECISION?
There are three steps to take when making your decision. First, make sure you carry out as much research as possible before applying for an Apprenticeship. Next, you should ensure you have a passion for the sector you would like to work in. We always say “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life!” If you’re in a position that you enjoy, it won’t feel like work and you’ll be progressing in no time.
The College At Gateshead College we believe that learning is for all. We want to be bigger, better and brilliant. A College which: Is a brilliant place to work; Enriches and develops individuals through excellent learning; Improves the effectiveness and competitiveness of all; Is strong, creative and reliable; Is positive, professional and customer focused; Contributes to the prosperity of the community and the region; Has an outstanding reputation. Web: www.gateshead.ac.uk
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CAREERS AND EDUCATION CHOICES CAN BE SCARY! HOW SHOULD APPLICANTS MAKE THEIR DECISION?
Keep your options open and choose a subject that you enjoy. This is an exciting time in your life where you are able to choose from a wide variety of education options, that can lead on to some very interesting future careers. It can be useful to make an appointment to see a careers advisor if you are really unsure, and at our open events we offer access to our Careers Education and Guidance Service which will support you in making a decision.
(do you know anyone who’s been before?), support staff, we’re there for you every step social media (get information first-hand from of the way. current students on forums, blogs and on the university’s Facebook page). WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU OFFER
WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS?
Employability is at the heart of the student experience at Sunderland. Our students build a portfolio of activities and achievements to boost their CVs and enhance the life skills employers seek. An exciting menu of choices includes exchanges, placements, mentoring, leadership skills, volunteering, careers advice, CV and interview skills, internships, enterprise, master-classes and more.
The University of Sunderland, like most universities, has modern, state-of-theart facilities that match the quality of our courses and the research we do. Our labs and media facilities, and our National Glass Centre, are some of the best around, but it’s the warmth and support we offer students that sets us apart. Whether it’s advice from your personal tutor, working with our expert academic staff or seeking help from our This programme, called Sunderland Futures
Lastly, you need to make sure you have the right level of education to apply for the role. There’s no point in applying for a Higher Apprenticeship if you’re just leaving school.
WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?
As you will be on an Apprenticeship you will receive on-the-job training and be working within a professional environment full time so don’t expect to be sat in a classroom. You will likely be alongside other employees in a real work atmosphere. The programme is delivered in a local training centre.
WHAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CAN SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS EXPECT WITH YOU?
Students are at the heart of everything we do at Gateshead College, and we value their opinions. There are plenty of opportunities for you to tell us what you think of your experience. We offer a safe, supportive learning environment with plenty of extracurricular activities to get involved in, such as sport, enterprise, catering & hospitality, music and much more.
WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU OFFER SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS?
We have a dedicated student support service that can provide a great deal
WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU OFFER SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS?
(www.sunderland.ac.uk/futures), will increase employability for every single graduate of the University of Sunderland by focusing on three key areas – development, opportunities and recognition.
WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU?
Sunderland is a warm, friendly university in a city by the sea, located in the buzzing North East, one of the lowest cost of living areas in England. We offer an embedded employability programme in modern awardwinning facilities.
WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU?
In addition to the experience gained through meaningful employment, you will also develop key business skills, which will in To help successful applicants, we provide turn strengthen your employability within a them with full interview preparation, honing chosen sector. their skills and supplying them with the confidence they need to make the right We also deliver tailored qualifications to fit impression. We deliver one to one support in with your specific job role, helping you for each individual apprentice, focusing on progress down your career path. With the the individual. We also develop Functional dedicated support you will receive, you’ll be Skills in Maths, English and ICT, moulding achieving in no time. applicants into well-rounded, successful employees.
of assistance, from health, wellbeing and finance, to help with CV’s and job applications. We also provide you with work experience opportunities with employers to ensure you get the skills they want and to help you secure a job or progress onto higher education in the future. Our students have enjoyed: • Behind-the-scenes access to gigs and festivals • Project managing, designing and building websites for local companies • Listening to a lecture by Richard Branson at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress • A week’s placement at the BBC • A cooking master class delivered by top chef David Kennedy, owner of Food Social • Training alongside Olympic champions Kelly Holmes and Nicola Adams. www.careersworld.co.uk
WHY SHOULD CANDIDATES PICK YOU?
At Gateshead College we give you an education to get you hired. We provide you with the skills, knowledge, confidence, industry experience, courage and self-belief to thrive in a competitive job market. We’ve redesigned the college day so that you can personalise your learning to benefit your chosen career. Timetables are made up of the course which you choose to enrol on, as well as lots of optional extras that will help you to develop the work-ready skills you need to be successful. We work with some fantastic employers and entrepreneurs from across the region and beyond, to make sure our courses are developing the skills that will make you a highly prized employee.
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Best
college in the area for getting students a place at university
Largest
Sutton Trust Report 2011
range of A/AS courses in the region
Open Evening Wednesday 26th March 2014 5.30pm - 7.30pm This is your chance to meet with staff and students, tour the campus, view the facilities and obtain more detailed information about the courses that interest you.
Choose a successful future www.pursglove.ac.uk Prior Pursglove College, Church Walk, Guisborough, TS14 6BU 01287 280800 ppc.enquiries@prior.pursglove.ac.uk facebook.com/priorpursglovecollege twitter.com/priorpursglove
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.
Chris taps into Apprenticeships with Northumbrian Water A Durham man has become Northumbrian Water’s first telecommunications apprentice after rejecting university in favour of an Apprenticeship and the opportunity to learn while you earn. Chris Tindale, 19, has joined the water and waste management company at its head office in Pity Me, as an Information and Communication Technology Apprentice. Chris combines his time with learning at Intraining and in the workplace. His role involves working on the company’s telephone systems across its many sites throughout the North East.
classroom again. I wanted to develop my skills and experience in the workplace. “As part of my Apprenticeship I am learning about network systems. This is really helping me in my job as I get practical experience of working on them every day. It’s really a case of being able to put into practice what I am learning at Intraining. This is definitely the best way for me to learn.” If you are considering an Apprenticeship as a future career route then get in touch with Intraining today.
Chris said: “I’m much more of a hands on type of person and didn’t want to spend all of my time after sixth form in the
Web: www.intraining.co.uk Tel: 0330 123 1300
S&D Training and Heating World of Spares When Heating World of Spares decided to move to South Church Enterprise Park from their existing operation in Crook, Aaron Scott was delighted to find a training organisation only a few metres away. Cynthia Tippling, Business Development Advisor at S&D Training, was on hand immediately to welcome Aaron and his team, and discuss training needs for their existing staff and their plans to grow the business with new recruits from the local area. Three of Aaron’s existing team took up the opportunity to increase their skills in Customer Service and Team Leading and started Apprenticeship training with S&D in August 2013.
As a result of developing such a close partnership, Cynthia identified two local young people from an in-house Study Programme, designed to give school leavers interview skills and valuable experience in the workplace. The two candidates, Charnelle and Leonie, made such an excellent impression on their two-week placement in the sales ordering department at HWOS, that they were both awarded full-time employment as Apprentices in Business & Administration in October 2013. They are both delighted to have joined a growing company with great future career prospects and be part of a successful team.
Web: www.sdtraining-ltd.com Email: info@sdtraining-ltd.com Tel: 01388 771 740
www.careersworld.co.uk
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Peter Jones Enterprise Academy at East Durham College The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy (PJEA) at East Durham College is on the hunt for aspiring young female entrepreneurs in County Durham to unleash their potential and go for it in business. With the current ratio of students in the Academy network being 60:40 male, the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy at East Durham College is calling on the young women of County Durham to consider a career in business and help close the national gender gap. Alice Barnard, Chief Executive of the Peter Jones Foundation commented: “...There is still plenty for us to do to ensure women are not under-represented, with just 29 per cent of the UK’s selfemployed being women”
But there is still work to be done to ensure that women are given the best chances of success. That is why we are calling on the young women of County Durham to unlock their hidden potential and realise their business ambitions.” PJEA lecturer at East Durham College Jill Campbell is very keen to encourage more female applications for the next intake, saying: “We have some really strong girls on the course this year and the dynamic between the boys and girls on the course is great. They all get on really well and spark ideas off each other all the time. “But it’s really important that the girls out there that are leaving school in the summer consider business and enterprise as an option at college. The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy is a fantastic way to help develop your skills and if you have a business idea it’s a great way to get that off the ground.”
“At PJEA we are immensely proud of the impact we have had on young women across the country and there are some fantastic examples of successful female business leaders who have completed our courses.
Web: www.eastdurham.ac.uk
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Prior Pursglove College Prior Pursglove College has been highlighted as one of the top sixth form colleges in the country for helping young people into positive careers. A recent study, carried out by the government’s Department for Education, scores the Guisborough based college highly on the attainments of former students, who are now in credible employment or Apprenticeships. And in the last two years alone almost 1000 students have gained a university place. The college has had a history of Oxbridge success, with twins David and Thomas Bradley both clinching places studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge after receiving fantastic A* grades. Last summer Matthew Ball also took up a place at the University. At the time, Matthew’s Mum beamed, “We are really proud of Matthew’s achievements, Prior Pursglove College has been a great steppingstone.”
Sam White set up Kult Clothing while still a student at the college. Sam’s designs went global with orders from as far as New York and Australia. Sam is now studying Interactive Arts at Manchester Metropolitan University alongside running his growing online business. Another former student, 26 year old Jack Jahan, credits the college with aiding his career. “I hold the teachers at Prior Pursglove in high regard for helping me to get to where I am today” said Jack, who is employed as a Marketing Executive at Ramsdens Financial. X Factor contestant Abi Alton studied at Prior Pursglove College between 2010 and 2012 and the musical talent to have emerged from the college doesn’t end there. Singer-songwriter Evelyn Burke, whose music has featured on the Channel 4 TV series Skins, is also a former student and the Teesside band ‘Collectors Club’ formed while five of its members studied at the college.
The next open evening at Prior Pursglove College takes place on Wednesday 26th March and the application process for the 2014 intake of students is open now. Prospective students can apply online at www.pursglove.ac.uk
www.careersworld.co.uk
Olympic hopeful sprints ahead with SRC Bede Sixth Form College A TEESSIDE sprinter with Olympic dreams is promoting an Open Event at SRC Bede Sixth Form in Billingham. Rachel Highfield, 17, from Thornaby, is studying A-levels in Biology, PE and English Literature at the college, while training six days a week for her promising future as an international athlete. The sprinter was asked to be the ‘face’ of the college by her tutors earlier this year and is keen to show off SRC Bede to prospective students. She said: “I started running at the age of ten. I was taking part in a sports day at school and I realised I was outrunning the boys - it felt great. That same week my mum took me to Clairville Stadium in
Middlesbrough and I’ve never looked back.” Rachel, who has her sights squarely set on Rio 2016 after winning a silver medal in this summer’s National Championships, will be on hand to talk to interested students at the college’s Open Evening on Thursday 6th March. The young athlete is planning to study for a sports degree at Durham University starting next year and has been offered a scholarship at the prestigious university. Rachel is thrilled with the offer but is still aiming high, hoping to achieve A’s in her final exams. With a 99% pass rate in A Levels and a 100% pass rate in 24 subjects, Bede Sixth Form offers students the chance to progress and take their next steps on to university or work.
More information on the open evening at SRC Bede Sixth Form in Billingham is available from 01642 373250 or go to the website at www.stockton.ac.uk.
Deanne Sykes Deanne Sykes is a Level 3 Beauty Therapy student at South Tyneside College. She was recently awarded the title of ‘Constant Achiever’ at the college’s further education awards ceremony. Nominated by her lecturer for her ‘smiley disposition and eagerness to achieve goals,’ Deanne puts 100% effort into everything she does. Her positive attitude and high level of ability also earned her a place representing the college at the UK Skills Advanced Beauty Therapy Competition, which took place in November. As usual, Deanne delivered and made both herself and the college proud when she achieved second place in the national competition.
Deanne’s skill and personality have not gone unnoticed by employers, having already found employment with Steiner Cruise Liners, where she has ambitious career plans, she has her sights already set on a role in management. Rosie Prince, Head of School for Creative Industries at South Tyneside College said: “Deanne has been a remarkable student; you can always rely on her to deliver results. Her success is evidence of her hard work and dedication and I’m sure we can expect great things from her in the future.” South Tyneside College offers a range of vocational and work based learning programmes, in addition to university level qualifications. To find out more come along to one of our Information and Advice events from 5pm-7pm on the first Tuesday of every month.
Visit www.stc.ac.uk or call 0191 427 3900 for more information
www.careersworld.co.uk
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From our facility in the North East the A-Tech Group of companies are able to provide a wide range of products and services which includes: • • • • • • •
Design, manufacture and install a range of production equipment and logistics products. Design and manufacture a range of Battery changing equipment Design and manufacture a wide range of Conveyors In partnership with Yaskawa we are able to offer a turn key Robotic Manufacturing and Logistics solutions Provide specialist Electronics service including PCB design and manufacture along with comprehensive repair service. From our onsite training academy we are able to provide a range of training courses. Provide comprehensive prototyping service and support on service parts
A-Tech Fabrications is a family run Engineering Company dedicated to providing the Highest quality, lowest possible cost solutions to its clients. We have been operating in both the UK and International markets for over 20 years. We work closely with our clients to ensure our products and services add real value to their business. Our success has been built on a dedication to quality and innovation in all areas, from design and manufacture through to customer support. The company is continually developing its products and services to ensure it stays ahead of its competitors.
A-Tech Fabrications Limited Fulbeck Road, Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe, Co. Durham. DL5 6TX Phone: 01325 304033 Fax: 01325 304044
THE REAL WORLD A-Tech Fabrications
Manufacturing & Processing Nearly every product we use in our lives is a product of manufacturing; food, toasters, toilet seats, TV’s, cars, t-shirts, perfume and even satellites are a result of this industry! If the thought of the creation process fascinates you, then you won’t find a career in a better industry than Manufacturing!
You ask us... WHAT’S THE MANUFACTURING & PROCESSING SECTOR ALL ABOUT?
If you were to work in the process part of manufacturing, you’d be in a factory, working in a team assembling and sorting parts and products. The defence sector obviously has a lot of military applications, so don’t be surprised to find yourself having to travel to a base of some kind to meet with potential contracts.
It’s all about making stuff. Or more precisely, the process of how that stuff is made. This could start way back in research and development, or it could be on the factory floor actually making products. Because so many things come from manufacturing, it’s a highly important industry that many HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO other sectors rely on. The industry is generally broken down into seven sectors; OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY? Automotive, Electronics, Aerospace, In case you hadn’t noticed, manufacturing Defence, Metals, Chemical and Building. is incredibly important to the UK economy; the industry is worth £131 billion to our WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT economy! There are close to 132,000 manufacturing business in the UK, TO EARN? employing 2.5 million people. As Ron It’s tricky to say; because of the sheer size Burgundy would say, it’s kind of a big deal! of this industry, it’s easier to talk about the job roles that you find in all areas of WHERE IS THE WORK MOST manufacturing. Jobs on the assembly line usually start out at around £13,000, while CONCENTRATED? more specialised positions like engineers Because of the diverse nature of this industry, and technicians start on a higher salary, it’s pretty much spread across the country. usually around the £16,000 mark. Because Historically speaking, manufacturing tended of the size of this industry, advancement to to be based in the North of England; supervisory positions is encouraged and Sheffield has a rich steel manufacturing training is usually provided by employers. history, while major cities such as Liverpool and Newcastle were famous for ship WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD building. Of course, if you live in the south you won’t have to head north to find work; I BE WORKING IN? most manufacturing sites are located on the Much like the construction sector, it really outskirts of major towns and cities where does depend which area of manufacturing there is access to major transport means, you go into. Those working in chemical, such as motorways and ports. aerospace and pharmaceutical roles might find themselves in a laboratory, testing materials in a variety of different conditions. www.careersworld.co.uk
A-Tech Fabrications Limited is a family run Engineering Company dedicated to providing the highest quality, lowest possible cost solutions to its clients. We have been operating in both the UK and International markets for over 20 years. We work closely with our clients to ensure our products and services add real value to their business. Our success has been built on a dedication to quality and innovation in all areas, from design and manufacture through to customer support. The company is continually developing its products and services to ensure it stays ahead of its competitors. A-Tech Fabrication Apprenticeships Apprenticeships are an excellent way of gaining qualifications and workplace experience. In other words they’re a great way to earn while you learn! At A-Tech Fabrications Limited, your program will include personal and social development as well as training in the technical skills that you require to progress in your career. The training that we provide will really make a difference; it will enhance your potential, opening real opportunities. Although A-Tech Fabrication Limited fully understands that all aspects of engineering and manufacturing are not always seen as an attractive career choice, we aim as a company to develop strong links and partnerships with schools and academies and invite in young people as they progress through education, to inspire the younger generation into the engineering and manufacturing sector. We also invite more mature people into the world of engineering and manufacturing, showing them how rewarding a career within this Sector can be.
Tel: 01325 304033
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Manufacturing & Processing
Careers Choices Manufacturing is all about mass production. Whether it’s building a luxury cruise liner or designing a state of the art computer, you’ll be working with a mix of traditional methods and state of the art machinery. Although a lot of manufacturing companies are now based abroad, the UK is still the sixth largest country in the world for this industry and this is recognised by the fact that a lot of foreign companies such as Toyota, Tata (a steel company) and Reebok (sports goods) now have established production bases here. Here are some of the areas you could work in:
AEROSPACE
Aerospace engineering is split into two sections; aeronautics (anything that flies in our atmosphere) and astronautics (anything that goes into space, such as shuttles and satellites). Within both of these disciplines, you’ll be looking at the different factors that affect these aircraft, such as aerodynamics, control surfaces and propulsion systems.
AUTOMOTIVE
This area of Manufacturing relates to anything vehicle related; cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, campervans, fire engines and anything else that goes on the road originates from this sector. The UK is so renowned for its vehicle manufacture that companies from other countries, such as Honda, Nissan and Toyota have set up factories here! You could be working in a whole range of areas, from developing a new petrol cap to actually constructing a whole vehicle.
METALS
Metals manufacturing in this country has always been an important industry to the UK economy. Metal has a million uses and therefore, it has plenty of different job roles associated with it. Not only that, but with recycling becoming big business, a greater number of jobs are becoming available in this sector. As well as recycling plants, you could find yourself working at a foundry (where metal moulds are made for other industries), an ore extraction facility (where metals are dug up and processed in their raw forms) or even as a blacksmith, making items such as specialist tools, garden gates or horseshoes.
CHEMICAL
Chemical manufacturing is all about taking raw materials and turning them into useful things. This has a whole range of applications across various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, food and drink, textiles and synthetic products. You could be working in a laboratory researching ELECTRONICS The UK electronics products industry is the and experimenting, or on the factory floor fifth largest in the world and we produce maintaining the machines that mix the all sorts of things; from laptop computers chemicals. to microwave ovens. Not only that, but we also manufacture a lot of electrical BUILDING PRODUCTS components, such as circuit boards, semi Those materials that builders use don’t just conductors and microchips. Working in this appear out of nowhere; bricks, pipes, grills area demands a skilful eye; you might find and glass are all made in manufacturing yourself developing parts that can only be environments. There are so many different seen under a microscope! job roles involved in creating building materials, so there’s a need for skilled young people (that’s you! ) to start. You could be working with a kiln making bricks, or using plastic moulds to make piping for gas and water networks!
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www.careersworld.co.uk
EXAMPLE JOB ROLES
We couldn’t possibly list all the job roles for this sector (well we could, but you’d be reading something as thick as a phonebook), but here are some job roles that you’ll find in most aspects for Manufacturing: • Assembly Line Worker Using the components provided, you will be assembling the products ready to be shipped out across the world. This could be fitting a microchip to a device, or packing a TV remote in with a home media system. The starting salaries are usually around £13,000. • Materials Technician These guys are responsible for testing out how well products perform under certain conditions, such as cold, heat and water. Salaries usually start out between £14,000 and £17,000 a year. • Supervisor Supervisory roles are always needed in this industry to monitor the various parts of the manufacturing process. Salaries start out at around £16,000 for apprentices, but fully qualified supervisors can easily earn in excess of £32,000.
THERE ARE ALMOST
132,000 MANUFACTURERS IN THE UK
Where to begin If this is the field for you, then read on to find out how you can get started.
APPRENTICESHIPS
This is the most popular route into this sector, because of the hands on nature of the learning. An apprenticeship allows you to learn your trade while also being paid a salary. There are many employers and colleges out there who provide apprenticeship schemes. Below you will find the Apprenticeships frameworks relevant to this industry, which will give you an idea of what you’ll be able to choose from. All these frameworks result in a Level 2 qualification, such as NVQ’s BTEC’s or Diplomas, are the equivalent of 5 GCSE passes and takes two years to complete. Ceramics Manufacturing • Combined Manufacturing Processes • Engineering Construction • Extractives and Mineral Processing Occupations • Food and Drink • Glass Industry • Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades • Polymer Processing Operations • Process Manufacturing
A-LEVELS
A-Levels might not sound relevant to this field of work, but employers and universities both like candidates with scientific and practical subjects. Here are some examples of A-Levels you could study to gain entry to this industry. Maths • Physics • Chemistry • Biology • Design and Technology • Textiles
FOUNDATION DEGREES
If you feel like you want to experience the university lifestyle and perhaps break away from those troublesome parents, then a Foundation Degree is a way of getting there. They usually last two years (this does tend to vary depending on your choice of course) and mix study with practical learning. These courses are available across the country and might give you the opportunity to live away from home and give you more independence – you’ll get to choose your own bed time and everything. They are available in a whole host of subjects, such as Modern Manufacturing, Mechanical ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS This is the equivalent of two A levels, but and Manufacturing Engineering and without sitting in a classroom studying. Electrical Systems. Like a regular Apprenticeship, it’s suited to more practical fields of work. Advanced COLLEGE COURSES Apprenticeships in construction only take a A college course is another way into this year and on completion you will receive a sector. To see if there are any colleges near Level 3 Qualification, either a BTEC, an NVQ you with relevant courses check out or a Diploma. www.careersworld.co.uk. Combined Manufacturing Processes • Engineering Manufacture (Craft and Technician) • Extractives and Mineral Processing Occupations • Food and Drink • Glass Industry • Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades • Polymer Processing Operations • Process Manufacturing www.careersworld.co.uk
OVER
2.5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED IN THIS SECTOR
THIS SECTOR CONTRIBUTES OVER
£130 BILLION
TO THE UK ECONOMY
Manufacturing & Processing
REGIONAL FOCUS The North East has a lengthy history of manufacturing and technology. There has been a strong industrial base in the North East because of the amount of coal and salt in the area. The manufacture of chemicals is big business across the whole of the region. Teeside is the third biggest port for shipping in the country, mainly due to the region’s ties to steel and chemicals, and Newcastle’s BAE systems factory is the country’s main producer of British Army tanks such as the Challenger II.
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Interested in
Interior Design? Celebrating
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of Student Success
25Years
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The National Design Academy has over 25 years of experience offering UK and overseas students a range of online interior design courses • Interior design courses from Diploma to Masters Degree • Flexible part-time online learning courses • Retail design, heritage design and interior design programmes available • All courses nationally validated by our partners; Staffordshire University and AIM Awards • In-studio courses and workshops available • Start at any time throughout the year
www.nda.ac.uk enquiries@nda.ac.uk 0115 91 23412
Rufford Hall, Watersideway, Trent Park, Nottingham, NG5 4DP
THE REAL WORLD Paul Paxon, Floor Manager, USC Paul’s journey from crew member into senior management is not only an impressive reminder of the fast-paced world of retail, but also the rewards available when you combine hard work, initiative and great training. Although only working at his local USC store for a relatively short period of time, Paul immediately proved himself to be management material, striving to develop his product knowledge and working hard to adapt to the sector shift from a career in food to the retail industry. He even developed new ideas to help the store to improve upon hygiene and health & safety standards.
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.
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.
Upon learning USC offered a Level 3 Apprenticeship in conjunction with The Source Academy, Paul was keen to get involved. “I wanted to expand my knowledge of retail management and felt really motivated by the fact it was an occupational qualification, which allowed me to work and develop skills at the same time. “I am now responsible for ensuring my team fully understands the store targets and their contribution to exceeding them. Running the menswear floor I also handle staff development and training, as well as improving and increasing sales, productivity and store profitability.” And he is in no doubt about the importance of the Apprenticeship in his meteoric rise: “Taking the qualification not only taught me the core skills to rise up and succeed in fashion retail management, like handling difficult situations and striving for the positive, but it also increased my confidence. This has enabled me to develop really strong communication lines with the team.”
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.
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.
Web: www.nsaforretail.com
www.careersworld.co.uk
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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.
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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 10% of the workforce in the North East work in Retail, meaning it is big business! The Metrocentre in Gateshead is one of the biggest shopping centres in the EU, making it one of the major retail employers in the region. Newcastle is a central retail hub, with Intu Eldon Square being located at the heart of Newcastle City Centre. The majority of retail workers are on part-time contracts. There is always a huge increase in vacancies around holiday periods, especially in the large shopping centres, so look out for positions at Easter!
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
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Engineering and Construction Week
10 - 14 March 2014, everyday 9.30-2.30pm Thursday after school session 4.00-7.00pm • Build a bridge provided by the Institute of Civil Engineers • Have a go at engineering, sound engineering and construction • Come along and speak to key employers • Learn about our national diploma and apprenticeships in engineering
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THE REAL WORLD Spotlight on Sport Bishop Auckland College has an excellent reputation as a quality provider of learning in Sport. The courses range from level 2 right through to higher education, including HND and foundation degrees. Yannick Ayemou, 20, Ben Trotter, 20, and Rachelle Cooley, 21 are all former students of the college and now all have gained employment with Bishop Auckland, in addition to continuing to enhance their skills by completing HND in Sports Coaching and Development.
Sport & Fitness Keeping fit is very important nowadays; the time of extra Yorkshire puddings and chips are gone! People are more keen to get and stay in shape and this sector is all about helping people do just that.
Ben said: “I really liked my time here as a student at the college, coming back as a staff member with Yannick and Rachelle is absolutely brilliant. It’s great for us as we can pass on our experience of the college to new students.” All three will be running enterprise projects at the college as a bolt-on to the core subjects. The successful trio are all currently working as facilitators in the Centre for Sport and Uniformed Services, which offers qualifications equivalent to three A-levels.
You ask us... WHAT’S THE SPORT AND FITNESS SECTOR ALL ABOUT?
It’s more than just working out at the gym; this sector also includes coaching people in various sports, running outdoor activities such as kayaking, rock climbing and gliding and of course there are the roles that support sports centres, gyms and activity areas.
WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?
HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
Sport and Fitness is a popular sector to work in and it employs 663,000 people across the country, which accounts for 2% of the total UK workforce. Over 4 million people are subscribed to some sort of fitness or gym program, so there will never be a shortage of people to help. The one downside to this is the cost and some people see it as a luxury they cannot afford. Perhaps this is something you can change for the better!
The starting salaries vary according to the role you will play, but they tend to range from WHERE IS THE WORK MOST £12,000 to £15,000 and can be upwards CONCENTRATED? of £25,000 with experience. For example, a fully qualified Fitness Instructor can earn You’ll find gyms all over the place although some of the private ones can be found over £32,000 a year. attached to spas and hotels and can be in middle of nowhere. The bigger chains WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD the can be found in towns and city centres I BE WORKING IN? along with council run sports centres. Again, this depends on your role. If you are Outdoor activity centres are usually found in working in fitness, then you are likely to be the countryside, but also look out for places in a gym or sports centre. Outdoor activities by the sea and in forested areas. can take you to rivers, cliff faces, mountains, oceans and ski slopes, so be prepared to fill your wardrobe with clothing to suit the occasion! www.careersworld.co.uk
Web: www.bishopaucklandcollege.ac.uk
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Sport & Fitness
Careers Choices You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to work in this sector (but it probably helps to be a little fit) and there are many more roles than people think. This industry also covers outdoor activities, play work (with young children and toddlers), coaching in the community and the operation of gyms and sport centres. Here are some of the areas within this industry you could go into:
PERSONAL TRAINING
People hire Personal Trainers (or PT’s as they are commonly known) so they can have one on one training sessions tailored to suit their needs. You’ll need a wide knowledge of physiology and the body so that you can cover all possible areas that a person might ask for. As well as just training them, you will be giving them nutritional advice and therapies such as warm downs, stretches and massages to help the client relax after a workout.
COACHING
Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Martin Johnson and the like all started out as coaches before they became successful managers. Coaching is all about using your skills and knowledge to guide others as they start out their sports careers and this could be coaching at grassroots level with an U9’s basketball team, right up to working for the big sports clubs in England.
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OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
There are a whole host of outdoor pursuits that you can work with. Sports such as White Water Rafting, Paintballing, GoKarting, Zip-Lining, Abseiling and Caving all require instructors and supervisors to ensure everybody has a safe and enjoyable time. Instructors can also coach people who are interested in making a career out of their sport.
SPECTATOR SUPPORT
Every professional sports match requires stewards to maintain health and safety, help people with queries and act in case of an emergency. NVQs are available in spectator safety, where you’ll learn skills such as conflict management, first aid and dealing with emergencies.
www.careersworld.co.uk
OPERATIONS
The operations section of Sport and Fitness is important; it’s all about the day to day running of a centre, gym or facility. Whether that’s maintaining the equipment, keeping everything clean and hygienic, taking bookings and sorting memberships or managing the whole place, this sector wouldn’t run without responsible, organised people behind the scenes.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?
Salaries start out between £12,000 and can rise to £25,000 as you gain experience. Gym Managers can earn upwards of £35,000.
51,500
PEOPLE WORK IN THE HEALTH & FITNESS INDUSTRY THERE ARE OVER 3,100 PRIVATE FITNESS FACILITIES IN THE UK WITH 4.4 MILLION MEMBERS THERE ARE JUST UNDER
2,600
PUBLIC HEALTH & FITNESS FACILITIES
Where to begin If you think this is the sector for you, read on to learn more about how you can kick your career off…
APPRENTICESHIPS
With over 48,000 different companies in this sector, an Apprenticeship might be the easier route to take to get into a very tough sector. Competition for places in this industry is super high, so having one foot in the door and earning as you learn could be a great way to go. Here are the frameworks you can expect to see in this industry and all Apprenticeships result in a Level 2 BTEC, Diploma or NVQ. Leisure Operations • Coaching • Instructing Exercise and Fitness • Activity Leadership
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: P.E. • Sports Studies • Biology
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 ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS These are the equivalent to A-Levels and both in the work place and on the university Example degrees include can usually be joined after completing the campus. associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. Physiology, Nutrition and Sports Studies. They are ideal for people who want a practical role as they learn while gaining COLLEGE COURSES valuable employment experience. Here are College courses are also a great way to some of the Apprenticeship Frameworks get into this sector and many colleges do for this sector and all of these will result in Creative courses. To check which colleges a Level 3 qualification such as a BTEC, a do these courses, head to Diploma or an NVQ. www.careersworld.co.uk. Sporting Excellence • Sports Development • Leisure Management www.careersworld.co.uk
Sport & Fitness
REGIONAL FOCUS Home to some of the country’s sport icons, such as Sir Bobby Robson, the region takes its sport seriously, so is a great place to kick off your career. With three of the country’s biggest football clubs; some of the oldest, and newest golf courses in the UK; and world class cricket and rugby, sport in the North East is definitely a big deal. Durham University was ranked second in the country for Sport Science last year, proving the demand in the region for trained sport specialists.
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Hire Education as in education to get you hired. It’s about giving you the skills, knowledge, confidence, industry experience, courage and self-Belief to thrive in a competitive job market.
so, if you want the Best chance of getting a joB after College...
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THE REAL WORLD From Apprentice to Educator If you’re considering doing an Apprenticeship, but you’re not sure whether it’s for you, listen to Tegan Chapman’s story as she tells us about her rise through the ranks at Saks. “I began my career as a hairdressing apprentice with Saks Apprenticeships, during this time I worked at the Saks Darlington and Newcastle salons, completing my NVQ Levels 2 and 3, and the L’Oreal Colour Specialist Degree. “After completing my Apprenticeship and working at Saks Bishop Auckland for a number of years, I made the move into the education sector, working at the Saks Darlington Academy as a Senior Hairdressing Educator. I spent seven years there, and was really lucky to work with some incredibly talented students along the way.
Hair & Beauty
“This year I moved across to Saks Apprenticeships to work as an Educator. It’s a really exciting and challenging role which gives me the best of both worlds, the buzz of the salon and the knowledge that I’m passing on my expert skills and experience to learners at the same time.
From mullets to Mohawks, hair and beauty is something that we as people take very seriously. Everybody enjoys looking and feeling good and this sector is all about doing just that…
You ask us... WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE HAIR AND BEAUTY SECTOR?
Plenty of old ladies wanting perms. No, only joking, there’s so much more to this career path and when you get confident enough to create your own styles and treatments it’s very rewarding to see them elsewhere.
WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD I BE WORKING IN?
“I’ve had an amazing journey through the ranks, and I’ve been so lucky to have the chance to try so many different roles at a world renowned company like Saks. Hopefully this will be an inspiration to future apprentices, and proof that if you put the hard work in you’ll reap the rewards.” So if you’re passionate about being part of the hair and beauty industry and want to learn from the best in the business, then we want to hear from you! Get in touch with the team at Saks Apprenticeships on 01325 341 602 or email info@sakseducation. co.uk
Unsurprisingly, this job is favoured more by women. I haven’t seen many men giving me advice on which eye shadow would compliment my complexion (not that I’ve asked…), however the number of male hairdressers is increasing. Whatever your you’ll be working with customers WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT gender, on a day to day basis so make sure your TO EARN? customer service skills are top notch. For The starting salaries in this sector are therapists, the environment could be a nice relatively low, starting somewhere between relaxing spa area or if you go down the £10,000 and £12,000 a year, but you will makeup line, you could find yourself in a earn more as you gain experience. department store or even in a TV studio!
WHERE WOULD I FIND THIS LINE OF WORK IN MY AREA?
Hair salons usually have link ups with local colleges and training providers and nearly all towns have at least two or three hairdressers, while high street employers such as Toni & Guy tend to be found in the bigger cities. www.careersworld.co.uk
Visit our website for more info on apprenticeships at saksapprenticeships.co.uk
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Hair & Beauty
135,640
PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED IN THE HAIRDRESSING & BEAUTY TREATMENT INDUSTRY
THIS INDUSTRY HAS AN ANNUAL REVENUE OF AROUND
£4 BILLION
HAIRDRESSING SALONS MAKE UP
75%
OF TOTAL REVENUE IN THE SECTOR
Careers Choices Here are the main careers in this job sector; obviously you can specialise but the four main Hair and Beauty areas are as follows:
HAIRDRESSING
It’s all about the hair here; you’ll be cutting, styling, colouring, washing, perming and making people’s hair look exactly how they want it to. You will begin as an apprentice working in a salon before gradually taking on more and more responsibility as you complete your training. Many professionals move on to setting up their own businesses or even go into the film and television industry as part of the make-up department – the ambitious will always be rewarded in this role. Salaries begin at around £10,000, but rise to £16,000 with experience and qualifications.
SPA THERAPY
“Ahhh that’s better” – a phrase you’ll hear constantly in this career. Spa tourism contributes £1.4 billion a year to the UK economy and is growing all the time (everybody is so stressed these days). Spa Therapists offer a range of treatments that help improve somebody’s well being, such as facials, massages, aromatherapy and saunas. You can specialize in a particular area, such as holistic treatment, or have a general knowledge of all areas. Starting salary is between £12,000 and £14,000 a year.
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NAIL TECHNICIAN
Manicures and pedicures are the order of the day in this career; you will be focusing on improving and maintaining the skin and nails on both hands and feet. This might be through treatments such as hot wax therapy and foot wraps, or more artistic work such as airbrushing designs onto nails. This is for those who like to combine art and practicality, as you will have to have an eye for the creative and a steady hand to make those designs look good. You can expect to earn between £12,000 and £17,000 a year in this field, which is dependent on qualifications and experience.
BEAUTY THERAPY
Like Spa therapy, you will be tasked with enhancing the well-being of clients through a range of different methods, such as various different types of makeup (that’s mascara, lipstick, eye-shadow etc to you lads) or electronic treatments and hair removal methods. The salaries vary depending on whether you work for a department store or a private firm, but the average starting salary is between £12,000 and £17,000 a year.
www.careersworld.co.uk
Where to begin If beautifying and energising is your part of your dream career, then consider the following courses...
APPRENTICESHIPS
The majority of people aged 18-30 in this sector have an apprenticeship, so it’s always a good place to start. Half your learning will be on the job and half in the classroom and you can do them in a range of subjects from barbering to spa therapy. Here are some of the Apprenticeship frameworks relevant to this sector with the careers you will see and they will result in a level 2 qualification such as an NVQ, BTEC or Diploma. Hairdressing • Beauty Therapy • Beauty Therapy (Make-up) • Nail Services
A-LEVELS
Unfortunately, there isn’t an A-level course in Hair and Beauty, but this sector is all about your customer service and personality rather than your academic qualifications. However, if you were interested in progressing into management or even taking on your own business, these courses may help you onto the right path: Business Studies • Economics • ICT
FOUNDATION DEGREES
A foundation degree is a great way to gain a higher education qualification while learning practical skills. They are designed by ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS Like an apprenticeship, these are great universities and employers to give you both for people who prefer to work while they a qualification and the experience to carry learn. Many people find that it’s a natural into the working world. progression to go onto Level 3 because of the experience they get from doing so. A Level They are the equivalent to the first two years 3 qualification is yours for upon completion, of an honours degree and many people such as an NVQ, BTEC or Diploma. Here take them having worked in the sector for are the relevant Apprenticeship Frameworks some time. There are various courses available, such as Salon and Business for your sector: Management. Hairdressing/Barbering • Beauty Therapy • Nail Services
Hair & Beauty
REGIONAL FOCUS There will always be a call for a little beautification. Newcastle is becoming famous for its citizens who dress for a…warmer climate, meaning there is plenty of work for those interested in beauty! There are a wealth of courses available for those wanting to progress in a career within the Hair and Beauty sector. Some examples are at Newcastle College, Middlesbrough College and East Durham College.
COLLEGE COURSES
Colleges are also a good way to get into this sector; it is more learning based, but there is a fairly heavy practical element as well. To find out which colleges have courses relevant to the Hair and Beauty sector, visit www.careersworld.co.uk. Alternatively, check your local council to see which colleges provide courses. www.careersworld.co.uk
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Welcome to Britain’s global university
Undergraduate Open Days 2014 In the top
We are the
More than
Links with over
of universities worldwide*
most targeted university by Britain’s leading graduate employers**
students from 150 countries
universities in over 40 countries
1%
2nd
43,000 320
* QS World University Rankings 2013/14. ** The Graduate Market in 2013, High Fliers Research.
Friday 27 June Saturday 28 June
Friday 12 September Saturday 13 September
Pre-booking is required Visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/opendays or call +44 (0)115 951 5559
THE REAL WORLD Uniformed Services
Armed Forces & Emergency Services Attention! The UK prides itself on its military and ability to provide rapid response to emergencies. Whichever path you choose to take, you can take heart in the knowledge that your work is helping to protect and serve the people you love most. It’s a rewarding, progressive career which will give you a varied working day.
You ask us... WHAT’S THE ARMED FORCES & EMERGENCY SERVICES SECTOR ALL ABOUT?
At its most basic, this sector is all about saving lives. It’s a huge sector that is often misjudged; it’s not just about marching, shooting and being yelled at by an officer. You can join the Forces as a chef or a medic, or if you fancy going into the emergency services, you can work out on the streets or at a desk, helping interview people and sorting evidence.
WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?
Base but again you’ll have to ship out to one of the many bases around the world. In the Navy, you’ll be on a ship so make sure you have the stomach for the seas! You’ll be a little closer to home in the Emergency Services; Police Officers and Fire-fighters tend to work in the local community, whereas Paramedics will be working out of ambulances and hospitals.
Bishop Auckland College has excellent results for getting young people into the uniformed services, whether it’s the Navy, Army, Police or Fire Brigade. We offer a Level 2 Diploma in Uniformed Services and a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Uniformed/ Public Services (equivalent to 3 A Levels). These level 3 courses can also set you up for applying to university if you wish to study higher. Our courses are designed around you and will help you to grow in confidence, solve problems, keep fit and will help you to work as part of a team. Many of our expert staff have worked in the industry and are able to pass on their experience, skills and knowledge. Bishop Auckland College specialises in a range of outdoor activities, including orienteering and expeditions. We are a Duke of Edinburgh accredited centre, with links to top agencies to ensure your experience is the best it can be. New Year, New Career… You can apply now! For full time courses starting January 2014 and September 2014. Call 01388 443000 or visit: www.bishopaucklandcollege.ac.uk
HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
Aside from the Travel and Hospitality sector, there isn’t a better chance for you to travel abroad in your work! There are over 140,000 people serving in the Army alone and the UK is the third highest in the world for military expenditure, with over £39bn spent on keeping our country safe. Around 20,000 people were recruited last year and 25% of those were under 18, so it’s easier to get into this sector from a young age.
With regards to the Armed Forces, you will be paid a salary as soon as you begin training and it starts between £13,000 and £14,000 depending on which Force you go into. In the Emergency Services, you will have to undertake training before you begin earning, but your starting salary is very reasonable; Police Officers earn around £23,000, FireWHERE IS THE WORK MOST fighters earn £20,500 and Paramedics can CONCENTRATED? make up to £21,000. This sector is big on advancement, especially the Armed Forces In the Armed Forces, it’s at military bases where hard work is rewarded with respect and ports (obviously the Naval bases are situated near the sea; it’s no good having (and more money). them in the Midlands!), whereas Emergency are located all over the country. WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD Services Each region has its own authority and is I BE WORKING IN? responsible for recruitment to the respective Well, in the Armed Forces, it depends on service, but don’t be afraid to move away which Force you go into and which role you from your local community if required. The wish to undertake. In the Army, you’ll be bigger cities obviously have larger areas of based at a barracks in England when you influence, so you are more likely to find work are assigned to a regiment and then you there, but it is worth checking online to see could go anywhere from Northern Ireland where current vacancies are located. to Germany, the Middle East or America. In the Air Force, you’ll be installed at an Air www.careersworld.co.uk
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Armed Forces & Emergency Services
Careers Choices So what kind of career can you make out of this sector? The Armed Forces carries an honour like no other; you are responsible for the safety of the country and are our first line of defence against possible threats. The Emergency Services are there to help us on a local level, helping prevent crime and saving lives. So no matter which role you take in this sector, you can go to bed at night knowing you’ve made a difference. Here are the roles you can take to start your career off:
ROYAL ARMY
The Army is split into two forces; the Royal Army and the Territorial Army (a reserve force). The latter can be done part time and suits people who want to train and work at the same time. Whoever you serve with, you could be based at home or abroad, or working with other countries’ forces in international emergencies. Starting salaries are between £13,000 and £14,000, plus a tax free lump sum called a ‘bounty’ for people serving in the TA. Your pay starts as soon as you begin training.
ROYAL AIR FORCE
The Air Force guards our country from the sky, but as they say “You don’t have to be a pilot to fly in the RAF”. You could work as a navigator or a gunner. Or if you prefer to stay on the ground, you could work alongside the Navy on an Aircraft Carrier or at a base maintaining grounded aircraft. Starting salaries are around £13,700 and you are paid while you train.
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ROYAL NAVY
Protectors of our oceans, the Navy are experts at marine based combat. Whether it’s as a shipman working out at sea or as a highly trained, super-elite Royal Marine infiltrating enemy bases, you’ll be trained in one of the most prestigious military organisations in the world. Salaries start at around £13,500 and like the other armed forces; you are paid while you train.
POLICE FORCE
The police look after our safety in the local community. There are plenty of areas to specialise in, such as dog handling, riot response, traffic and highway patrol and undercover (CID) and your work will vary massively from day to day. You can expect to start on around £23,000 after you complete your training.
www.careersworld.co.uk
FIRE BRIGADE
Fires can occur anywhere, from the home and the office to factories and motorways. Each situation requires a different solution. Simple house fires risk family’s lives whereas chemical fires can lead to explosions and endanger a wider area. You’ll have to be brave, and an understanding of health and safety is part and parcel of this rewarding career. Expect to start off on around £20,500.
PARAMEDICS
Paramedics are part of the response units who attend medical emergencies. Most paramedics ride in Ambulances, but there are specialised roles such as air support (riding in a helicopter) and rapid response (who use cars instead of ambulances). It’s a great way to work in the medical sector if you don’t fancy being confined to a hospital, but be prepared to learn a lot of medical terminology so that you can diagnose somebody as quickly as possible. Paramedics earn around £21,000 when they first start out and earn more as they gain more experience.
262,124 PEOPLE WORK IN THE POLICE SERVICE
74,228 PEOPLE WORK IN FIRE & RESCUE SERVICES
THE ARMED FORCES AIM TO RECRUIT
24,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR
Where to begin Here’s how you can get into a career in the Armed Forces or the Emergency Services…
TRAINING
In all the Armed Forces, you will be given basic training in areas such as combat mindset, weapons training and military etiquette. Then, your training will diversify depending on what your role is within that force. You don’t actually need any academic qualifications to be recruited and qualifications can be gained while or before you serve. However, if you wish to enter into Officer training, recruiters often look for solid academic achievements, though you can apply for Officer training if you have been serving as a regular soldier.
COLLEGE COURSES
Some colleges offer courses which act as a medium between education and work such as Police Studies. Paramedics and Fire Services have their own colleges you can attend to begin your career.
Armed Forces & Emergency Services
REGIONAL FOCUS The North East is home to the country’s largest regional brigade of regular and reserve soldiers (Brigade 15), with 10,500 military members covering an area equivalent to the size of Belgium! RAF Boulmer is the biggest RAF base in the North East and is the home of the School of Fighter Control. In terms of Emergency Services, the North East Ambulance Service covers the whole region, with their headquarters based in Newcastle. Police districts are slightly different to most regional services, so chances are you should apply to the Northumbria or Durham Police service. Likewise, for the Fire Service the appropriate body is either the Tyne and Wear or Northumbria Fire and Rescue service.
INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS
Apprenticeships are a great way to get into the Armed Forces and Emergency Services and allow you to gain the relevant skills you need for your field. Apprenticeships will result in a Level 2 qualification for Intermediate Level and Level 3 for an Advanced Apprenticeship. The award will take the form of a BTEC, Diploma or NVQ. Here are the frameworks for the Apprenticeships available: Emergency Fire Operations • Policing • Health (Emergency Care Assistant) • HM Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force)
www.careersworld.co.uk
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We build, we care, allowing You to grow and paint your future With our Apprenticeship Programmes
S&D Training 1b Henson Close South Church Enterprise Park Bishop Auckland Co Durham DL14 6WA Tel: 01388 771740 Fax: 01388 771759 info@sdtraining-ltd.com
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.
AGRICULTURE & ANIMAL CARE
We depend on this sector a lot more than most beautiful locations, or as a vet looking after most people think; most of our food comes household pets. from agriculture and with a growing number of people taking pets on, there is a demand for Example Job Roles: Ranger • Veterinary skilled veterinary staff to take care of them. Assistant • Farm Worker • Landscape Agriculture is a very broad term for working Technician outdoors. It’s commonly mistaken for farming, Salaries: Starting salaries are usually which while a large part of this sector, is not the around the £13,000 mark. be all and end all. Forests, rivers, mountains Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level and national parks all need looking after; not 2 and 3) • College Courses • Foundation to mention the animals that reside within them! Degrees (university is the best way into You might find yourself working as a park ranger, veterinary linked job roles) helping conserve the plants and animals in our
AUTOMOTIVE
If you know your spark plugs from your spare and problem solving mentality, but this sector is tyres, then you’ll probably have a future in the generally favoured by those who enjoy working automotive industry. This sector covers the with their hands. maintenance of any vehicle with an engine, from cars and motorcycles to more complex Example Job Roles: Mechanic • Vehicle systems such as combine harvesters and Service Technician • Panel/Paint Technician luxury coaches. You could find yourself working Salaries: Salaries in this sector tend to start in a garage fixing up customer’s vehicles, or at around £13,000 a year. in a workshop specialising in things like body Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 work, paint and windscreen repair. You could and 3 – this is the most popular route into also work in one of the main car dealerships, this sector) • College Courses • Foundation diagnosing and repairing cars and offering Degrees • HNDs advice to customers. You’ll need an analytical
BUSINESS & CUSTOMER SERVICE
If you’ve got a good eye for making a bit of dough, then you might be a natural business guru! Business is all about the money; how to invest it wisely, how to hang onto the money you already have and of course, how to make more of it. Good customer service ensures that customers become regular users of the business and that new clients can be attracted. It’s not just answering the phone; there are jobs in areas such as public relations, networking and social media. If you’ve got a friendly demeanour, a nice smile and good conversational skills, you’d be well suited to a job in customer service! www.careersworld.co.uk
Example Job Roles: PR Officer • Business Consultant • Personal Assistant • Human Resources Officer • Management/Team Leader Salaries: Starting salaries in business are generally quite high, usually starting around £17,000. Customer service salaries start at around £12,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • College Courses • Foundation Degrees • A-Levels (Business Studies and IT are useful)
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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.
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.
ENGINEERING
Engineering is a vast sector which can be choose to work in, you can be sure that your broken down into seven main categories; work will be challenging and varied. chemicals, mechanical, metals, electrical, aerospace, marine and defence. Chemical Example Job Roles: Systems Engineer • engineers manufacture everyday products from Aerospace Engineer • Electrical Technician • raw materials such as crude oil. Mechanical Lab Technician engineers work with high-tech machinery, Salaries: Salaries start at around £14,000. while the metal engineering industry covers Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Levels 2 the creation of steel and other alloys. Electrical and 3) • A-Levels (Technology and Maths are engineers work with, you guessed it, electrical helpful here) • College Courses • Foundation systems and aerospace is all about creating and Degrees improving things that fly. Defence is all about, er, defending the country. Whichever area you
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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
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
IT, DIGITAL & TELECOMS
Pretty much every other industry relies on IT in some way or another, so the need for people working in IT has never been greater. Computers are constantly changing and being upgraded, so this sector requires a lot of adaptability as well as a logical, problem solving way of thinking. You could be managing a network for a large company, or providing IT support at a school. You might even find yourself working within another sector; industries such as Logistics and Creative Media rely heavily on IT to deliver their products and services.
Example Job Roles: IT Technician • Software Developer • IT Support Staff • Telecoms Technician Salaries: Salaries start out between £14,000 and £20,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • A-Levels • College Courses • Foundation Degrees
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
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State-of-the-art campus There aren’t many colleges that can rival Welbeck’s campus. With an indoor swimming pool, state of the art sporting facilities and ensuite residential quarters, it’s a simply superb place to learn, develop and gain new skills. Rounded education As well as a technically-focused education, Welbeck offers a total approach to learning. The programme of personal, physical and intellectual development stretches the abilities, builds physical fitness and increases confidence. After two years at Welbeck, students are ready for anything. The fact that Welbeck is a boarding college also means students get all the benefits of mixing with likeminded individuals in an environment that’s geared to shaping their future career. Future prospects Welbeck leads to a degree at some of the UK’s leading universities (supported by £4,000 a year bursary through DTUS - the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme), then onto an engineering career in the Armed Forces or Civil Service. So Welbeck students couldn’t be better prepared - or supported - as they embark on their adult lives and careers.
Entry Requirements To apply for sponsorship to the Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force you should be medically fit, a UK, Commonwealth or Irish citizen and aged between 15 years and 17 years six months on 1st September in the year of entry to the College. Commonwealth citizens are required to have 5 years residency in the UK prior to application. Certain other single-service conditions may apply and will be outlined at the time of application. To join as a Ministry of Defence Civil Service candidate you must be a British citizen or hold dual nationality, one of which must be British. For RN, RAF, DESG: An ‘A Grade’ or better at GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics and a ‘B Grade’ or better in dual award Science or Physics, as well as a ‘C Grade’ or better in English Language. For Army: One ‘A grade’ or better at GCSE (or equivalent) in higher level Mathematics or dual award Science or Physics and at least a ‘B Grade’ in the other, as well as a ‘C Grade’ or better in English Language.
WELBECK DEFENCE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
WHERE LEARNING MEETS ADVENTURE.
AND ENGINEERS MEET THEIR FUTURE.
Welbeck is the Defence Sixth Form College - and it’s one of the best A-level colleges in the country. For potential engineers with drive, ambition and ability, Welbeck is where potential turns into bright futures as Officers in the Armed Forces or Civil Service. The combination of state of the art facilities, excellent teaching and a constant drive for improvement, creates an environment that prepares young people for success in whatever role they take in their professional lives. • • • •
99% of students from Welbeck were offered a place at university in 2012 Tuition funded by the MoD En-suite accommodation Annual technical bursary of £4,000 at University
If you’d like to turn your engineering or technical potential into a promising career, come and visit us at one of our Open Days. For more information visit www.dsfc.ac.uk or follow us on
Ready to make some tough decisions about courses, careers and your future? You don’t need to make your big career decisions alone. The National Careers Service can help you: • assess your skills • find the right course • choose the right uni • understand the job market • find out about careers • develop your CV Text your name and ‘advice’ to 07766 413 219 and a National Careers Service adviser will call you back for free.
You can also search online for National Careers Service, or call us on 0800 100 900.
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We appreciate more than anyone the importance of giving appropriate careers advice to students between the ages of 14 and 19. To help we have put together some aides, guides and FAQs to help you to make up your minds and make the changeover from pupil to employee that bit easier. Over the next few pages, we will tackle some of the common problems and concerns students face during the spring term.
The Spring Term So students have come back after the winter break; they might have mock exam results coming through, or have to dig right into coursework, but one thing is for certain, many pupils, especially younger ones, won’t have any idea about what to do when they leave school, college or sixth form. Before exam preparation starts to get into full swing, students need to have a good think about what they want to do with their working life and inevitably you’ll have plenty of students wanting you to present them with every possible option available. We’ve put together FAQs and useful links in order to ease this process and assist in setting students straight in terms of the choices they have to make. In this issue we’ve included a guide to writing a CV, an area many students won’t have much, if any, experience in.
CV’S
There’s no denying that the writing of a good quality CV is an absolutely essential part of the employment process. Unfortunately most students don’t have any experience of writing one and can get a bit bogged down about how to start. CVs can vary in style so much that guidelines on how to write a good one, especially for young people, can be really different from one another, making giving advice difficult. Fortunately there are a few nuggets of guidance that will make the process a bit easier. Always keep in mind...
What...have you done worth mentioning? You should try to stay to the point and only list your jobs and achievements in a way that highlights the appropriate skills you’ve learned. There’s no point in telling employers how good you are at serving customers behind a till if you’re applying to be a helicopter pilot.
Where...do you see the job taking you? If it’s not just a job but a career you’re interested in, try to make that come across. You’ll naturally appear genuinely excited about the prospect of the position. This also relates to the skills and interests that you list. Try to show that you will be a Who...is going to be reading it? good candidate for progression. Always remember that the CV is you applying? a highly formal document and Why...are is going to be read by either a Employers don’t want to hear manager or someone else just that you’re applying for the as important. Keep this in mind position because you want a bit when deciding what language to of extra cash for the weekend. use in your CV. Never use slang You need to appear genuinely and try to speak in full sentences, interested in the position, as avoiding abbreviations. It won’t well as capable and mature go down well if you tell them enough to be a good addition to the team. If you’re struggling “how awesome English is lol”.
to sound excited about the job who fits into the vibe of the office. then explain why the sector The only thing you can really do is try to use your strengths to interests you. your advantage! If you’re a real How...does it look? If you think brainiac then emphasize your the document is ugly to look qualifications but if you’re more at, then chances are so will an of a social butterfly, try to inject employer. This doesn’t mean that aspect of yourself into the you should start adding pictures application. of flowers and pink text; it’s about formatting the CV to be If you’re going for a position at more appealing to the eye. You a big business you will likely be could use tables to set out your applying online. The rules are school-grades and headers to really the same as if you are define each section. Ensure writing a CV (and to be honest the spelling, punctuation and most of it you can copy and grammar are perfect and most paste anyway) except it’s just in importantly, never allow your a format they prefer. Quite often CV to be more than two pages. they will ask you a few questions If an employer has a hundred that will catch you off-guard and applications to get through make you think. Your best bet is they’re just going to skip the to not create generic responses but to make your answers ones that read like an essay. unique, they are looking for Always remember that someone who shines, not a just employers are human beings! a random applicant out of a pile. One might value qualifications above anything else, and hire someone with the best possible grades; another might feel that personality is more important and would choose an employee
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Careers Hub EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
If you haven’t had a job yet, or have limited experience, create a ‘Skills and Achievements’ section and include any work placements, awards, time spent helping at your dad’s garage, anything you can think of that might give evidence of your ability, and provide you with that little edge over competition. If you have worked before, list your past job titles, most recent first; how long you were there; and a short description of the role and what you learned there. Again, you’re best to relate the skills you gained to the job you’re applying to. e.g. Working on a checkout can you give you the confidence and interpersonal skills you need to work in customer service.
CONTACT INFO
This section speaks for itself really. Make sure that you include all relevant methods of contact (email, mobile, home phone). It’s important to keep this section updated, an employer could be trying to contact you but if they’re calling your old mobile number, then the whole application is a waste of time. Lots of people will tell you to put your age in this section, but that’s not a good idea. Employers aren’t technically allowed to discriminate because of how old you are, but that doesn’t necessarily stop them from seeing a CV from a 16 year old and binning it!
CV Builder PERSONAL PROFILE
It is important to make this section fit to the job you are applying to, or at least to the sector. It’s all well and good saying you’re a punctual, well mannered individual, but how can you make this relate to a career in construction? Take the opportunity to show your passion in the field of work. Make it short but punchy, a lot of managers make a decision about a candidate after the first few sentences of a CV.
EDUCATION
If you are not at the stage in education where you have any completed qualifications then don’t worry, simply show any predicted grades and make a note that you’re still studying them. You can also list any academic achievements in this section, such as perfect attendance, being a prefect or on the school council, or exam-based awards. Same as with jobs, you should list your educational history in order of the most recent qualification first. Unlike the previous sections, you don’t have to be specific here; it is better to list all the subjects you have studied to show a depth of knowledge in a number of fields.
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
This is a controversial section, some people disagree with including it altogether, but it can be important to show that you have a human side. If written carefully it can show you have a well-rounded character, but the danger is seeming as though you care more about your personal life than your work life (even if you do it’s not a good idea to show it!). Some say it takes up room that you could be using to focus in more detail on skills for employability. If you’ve had tonnes of jobs or done loads of extra-curricular stuff, then it might be an idea to skip this area and write about those in more detail.
REFERENCES
It is expected that at the bottom of your CV you include the sub-heading ‘References Available upon Request’. If they’re expected you will usually be asked to provide them so don’t worry about anyone snooping about behind your back. It is a good idea to have a separate document with the details of 2-3 references. A rule of thumb is to have 1 or 2 past employers and 1 personal reference. If you’re low on employers then simply list your most recent educational body and a personal reference from a suitable adult or work experience placement. Make sure your reference givers are not your friends and aren’t related to you, but have also known you long enough to tell someone about you in a bit of detail. You can always include someone at your school, college or university as a reference and actually that’s not a bad idea, they’ll almost always be willing to help you. You should usually ask a past employer’s permission to list them as a reference, but unless your performance was awful, they’ll probably help you out.
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Careers Hub
FAQs Let’s be honest, hundreds of people are in the same position as you and have the same questions they need answering. Many of them will have no idea what it is they want to do, so we’ve collected a few of the most popular questions and answered them as best we can! Don’t forget, you can get in touch with us over at www.facebook.com/careers.world or on www.careersworld.co.uk and ask us your questions there.
I CHANGED MY MIND! I WANT TO GO TO UNI NOW WHAT DO I DO?
Well the bad news is that if you’re applying after the 15th January then you have missed the UCAS deadline for most courses. If you’re thinking about an art or design course, many are still open until the 24th March so there could be time left. If your course did close in January then all might not be lost. Some universities accept late entries if their programmes aren’t full up and these can be sent all the way up until 30th June. Your best bet is to get in touch with the university and see if they accept late entries. Get over to www.ucas.com/ apply and find out whether or not your course is listed as still being open or accepting late entries.
SHOULD I STAY AT SIXTH FORM OR GO TO COLLEGE?
There is no right answer here. They are definitely very different environments, sixth form is usually quite small, you are often taught by the same teachers
that you had for your GCSEs, chances are you will know quite a lot of the people there (especially if you have friends in younger year-groups) and you’ll be able to get more personalised teaching. Colleges can be pretty huge (regularly having hundreds or thousands of students), there will inevitably be a much wider range of courses, you will meet loads of people, and there is a real focus on social life. College is almost a mini university where you will be expected to learn at your own rate and be treated as an adult, wearing your own clothes etc. Sixth-forms will also expect maturity but at the end of the day you are still in a school environment.
I THINK AN APPRENTICESHIP IS FOR ME, BUT WHICH ONE SHOULD I DO?
There are hundreds of different Apprenticeships so you are bound to find one that suits you down to the ground, though we can see how you can get a bit lost; there are so many it’s hard to find the right one! Have a good
think about what field you want to go into, chances are there’s going to be an Apprenticeship for it (from accountancy, to plumbing, to working for MI5!). There are steps you can take to narrow it down though; check out the What Apprenticeship handbook (which is most likely in the same place you found this magazine), it’s got every Apprenticeship handily sorted into sector and level of study; you can read it online for free at www.whatapprenticeship. co.uk. You can also take a look at the National Apprenticeship Service’s website at www. apprenticeships.org.uk which lists loads of sectors and vacancies across the UK.
now’. If you know you want a job related to a subject then getting a degree can be an excellent way to progress your career, but if you’re just getting one for the hell of it, you might want to hold off until you have more of an idea of what you want to do. Do some research into the jobs in the area of your favourite subjects, you might find an Apprenticeship in it, or that you can apply to a position with BTECs or A Levels.
It’s never too late to decide on your career, some people don’t know what they want to do in their forties! Your best bet is to sit down and do some serious thinking about what it is you want from your education and life. What are your I’VE BEEN TOLD IT’S BEST working favourite subjects? What do you TO HAVE A DEGREE, EVEN enjoy doing as a hobby? Are IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT you really going to be a pro footballer? What are the CAREER YOU WANT. IS chances of playing Xbox for a living? Be sensible but at the THAT TRUE? Absolutely not, there are loads same time aspire and aim high! of alternatives to university. There’s not much point in paying out thousands for a degree that you’ll get and then think ‘oh, I don’t want a job in engineering
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Careers Hub
Which Qualification? There are tonnes of different types of qualifications at varying levels; for example, a Level 3 NVQ is the equivalent to an Advanced Diploma. This can be confusing and trying to figure out what is the same level as what can be mind boggling. Below is a handy chart, listing all the levels of study and the qualifications students can take, making it easier to tell your diplomas from your degrees!
LEVEL
5 GCSEs
LEVEL
SKILLS FOR LIFE
LEVEL
BTEC
LEVEL
FUNCTIONAL SKILLS
LEVEL
OCR NATIONALS
AWARDS, CERTIFICATES & DIPLOMAS
LEVEL
NVQs
FOUNDATION LEARNING
LEVEL
ENTRY LEVEL
CERTIFICATES
(GRADES D-G) 1
5 GCSEs
LEVEL
(GRADES A*-C) 2
INTERMEDIATE
3
4+
BTEC 2 NATIONALS
LEVEL
DIPLOMA OF
LEVEL
NVQs
LEVEL
NVQs
ADVANCED DIPLOMAS
LEVEL
BTEC HIGHER NATIONALS (HND, HNC)
OCR NATIONALS
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
BTEC FIRSTS
LEVEL
LEVEL
NVQs
LEVEL
1
1
FOUNDATION LEVEL 3 DEGREES 4+
LEVEL
HIGHER APPRENTICESHIPS
APPRENTICESHIPS
FOUNDATIONS 1
A LEVELS
2
2
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
4+ LEVEL
4+
SPECIALIST LEVEL 4+ 3 AWARDS
LEVEL
3
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 EVENINGS
Come and visit us to see what college life is all about! Open Evenings for 2014 at SRC Teesdale are 6pm − 8pm and will be held on:
Th ursday 6th February Wednesday 19th March NO PLACE SO CLOSE CAN TAKE YOU SO FAR Harvard Avenue | Thornaby | Stockton-on-Tees TS17 6FB | 01642 865566 | www.stockton.ac.uk Our Open Evening for 2014 at SRC Bede Sixth Form is 6pm − 8pm and will be held on:
Th ursday 6th March overall A level pass rate Specialists in science subjects pass rate in 24 subjects!
YOUR FIRST STEP TO A BRIGHT FUTURE Marsh House Ave | Billingham | TS23 3HB 01642 373250 | www.stockton.ac.uk/bede
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.
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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 NATLIE DIXON DERWENTSIDE HOMES LTD BUSINESS, ADMINISTRATION & LAW AN APPRENTICESHIP HELPED NATALIE DIXON REACH OUT TO HER COMMUNITY BREAKING THE CYCLE
Natalie Dixon, from Consett, County Durham, gained A-Levels before leaving college and finding herself unemployed. “I was stuck in a cycle familiar to many job seekers – I was applying for jobs unsuccessfully as I had no experience, but I couldn’t get experience because nobody would give me a job,” she explains. “Then I heard about an Apprenticeship at Derwentside Homes, and was determined to secure it as it was exactly the kind of position I was longing for.” Natalie applied for the Apprenticeship via the National Apprenticeship Service official website, apprenticeships.org. uk. After a successful interview she began an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Customer Service in September 2012 when she was aged 22, to be employed by the Stanley-based social housing organisation while studying with Derwentside College.
ENJOYABLE WORK
As an apprentice, Natalie helped to set up a project called Silver Talk,
a telephone befriending service for elderly residents. “I am the first contact for older people who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation, dealing with a range of telephone enquiries regarding health, housing and finances,” she explains. “The role involved me setting up administrative procedures to enable the smooth running of the project. I also organised prospective volunteers, creating a rota so that all the vulnerable people who call get a response to their individual needs.”
FUTURE DIRECTION
Natalie finished her Apprenticeship in September 2013 and is now a full-time member of the Silver Talk team. In 2014, she hopes to progress onto a Level 3 NVQ. Because of her talent and hard work, she has also been named Intermediate Apprentice of the Year for the North East region in the National Apprenticeship Awards.
“Through my Apprenticeship with Derwentside Homes, I have gained real direction and a career I want to pursue. Now I am focused and my aim is to continue working in housing, particularly with the community involvement team.” My Apprenticeship has completely changed my life. I now consider myself an ambassador for Apprenticeships, as my experience is a great example of the difference they can make to young people struggling to break into the workforce.” To find out more about Apprenticeship opportunities, please contact the National Apprenticeship Service on 08000 150 600 or visit the website www. apprenticeships.org.uk
“Before I started my Apprenticeship I had virtually no confidence in my abilities and no real goals to aim for,” says Natalie.
www.careersworld.co.uk
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UNIVERSITIES
COLLEGES NEWCASTLE & GATESHEAD
Durham University www.dur.ac.uk 0191 334 2000
Gateshead College www.gateshead.ac.uk 0191 490 0300
Newcastle University www.ncl.ac.uk 0191 222 6000
Newcastle College www.ncl-coll.ac.uk 0191 200 4000
Northumbria University www.northumbria.ac.uk 0191 243 7420
TYNESIDE
COUNTY DURHAM Bishop Auckland College
www.bishopaucklandcollege.ac.uk 01388 443 000 Darlington College www.darlington.ac.uk 01325 503050 Derwentside College www.derwentside.ac.uk 01207 585900
University of Sunderland www.sunderland.ac.uk 0191 515 3000
South Tyneside College www.stc.ac.uk 0191 427 3500
East Durham College www.eastdurham.ac.uk 0191 518 2000
Teeside University www.tees.ac.uk 01642 218121
Tyne Metropolitan College www.tynemet.co.uk 0191 229 5000
New College Durham www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk 0191 375 4000
SUNDERLAND City of Sunderland College www.citysun.ac.uk 0191 511 6000
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.
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Careersworld advert - autumn 2013 v1IC.indd 1
www.careersworld.co.uk
LOCAL COUNCILS
TEES VALLEY Askham Bryan www.askham-bryan.ac.uk 01904 772277
Darlington Borough Council www.darlington.gov.uk
Cleveland College of Art and Design www.ccad.ac.uk 01642 288000 Hartlepool College www.hartlepoolfe.ac.uk 01429 295111
Middlesbrough Council www.middlesbrough.gov.uk Newcastle City Council www.newcastle.gov.uk
Middlesbrough College www.mbro.ac.uk 01642 333333 Redcar and Cleveland College www.cleveland.ac.uk 01642 473132
NORTHUMBERLAND Northumberland College www.northumberland.ac.uk 01670 841 200
North Tyneside Council www.northtyneside.gov.uk Northumberland County Council www.northumberland.gov.uk Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk South Tyneside Council www.southtyneside.info Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council www.stockton.gov.uk Sunderland City Council www.sunderland.gov.uk
“ “
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Gateshead Council www.gateshead.gov.uk Hartlepool Borough Council www.hartlepool.gov.uk
Hartlepool 6th Form www.hpoolsfc.ac.uk 01429 294 444
Stockton Riverside College www.stockton.ac.uk 01642 865400
Durham Council www.durham.gov.uk
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
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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
GET THE CAREER YOU WANT BY CHOOSING AN APPRENTICESHIP. IF YOU WANT TO ENTER THE WORLD OF WORK, GET PAID AND YET CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION, AN APPRENTICESHIP COULD BE THE IDEAL ROUTE FOR YOU. On-the-job, you’ll work as an employee, alongside
We offer a huge range of Apprenticeships including:
experienced staff members. Off-the-job, you’ll learn through a combination of learning methods that may
• Building Services
include: classroom attendance, online assessments and
• Business and Management
assessments in your workplace.
• Construction • Education
An Apprenticeship is available to anyone aged 16 years
• Engineering and Science
and over, plus each one involves a structured programme
• Hairdressing and Beauty
of training, leading to a recognised qualification. They are
• Health and Community Services
available at different levels, letting you choose the speed
• Horticulture
you wish to learn at.
• IT and Telecoms • Motor Vehicle
We have invested heavily in real-working environments to
• Professional Services
give you the best possible training, while you also benefit
• Retail
from our well established links with local employers.
• Veterinary Nursing • Sport and Active Leisure
Call: 0330 123 1300 or visit: www.intraining.co.uk/neapprenticeships