Business apprentice brochure

Business Apprentice Programme

6 month programme for A Level Leavers

A professional, exciting and supportive training organisation, providing school leavers with the business skills, confidence and attitude that employers are looking for.

The Business Apprentice Programme

CONTENTS 3

About Quest Professional

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Why Train and Begin your Career with Quest Professional

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Our Business Apprentice Programme

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Content of the Business Apprentice Programme

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Future Careers for Quest Professional Graduates

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Social Life at Quest Professional

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Student Accommodation

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Quest Professional Alumni Network

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Come and Visit Us

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“Make the most of the Quest experience; it is an enjoyable time that is gone before you know it. Make the most of the trainers, they really do know what they are talking about and love helping. Finally, don’t be nervous; Quest are a great support, even once you are long gone.”

Daniel, graduated July 2012

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| The Business Apprentice Programme | QuestProfessional

ABOUT QUEST PROFESSIONAL

Who are we?

Quest Professional are an independent, innovative business training organisation offering exciting and dynamic training programmes to school leavers looking for a supportive and workplace-aligned training environment in which to begin their careers.

Quest Professional is a business training organisation, which coaches and supports students in their drive to be ‘employer ready’. It is an inspirational and unique environment, and our Business Apprentice Programme is ideal for those students leaving school post A Level, who express an interest in joining the business world, be it within sales, marketing or events for example. This programme will also appeal to young entrepreneurs, dedicated to the challenge of setting up their own companies in the future, and there are several opportunities for students to work on their own business plans and projects. In only 6 months, students will develop the transferable skills and know how to face employers at interview, positively develop their self-confidence and awareness of others, and will be exposed to a multitude of industry sectors. In a society where students’ confidence is often knocked due to their school’s pursuit of academic success, I am proud to be able to offer the Business Apprentice Programme as a refreshing and uplifting alternative to university.

- Director -

If you are a student looking for a stepping stone between school and the working world, then Quest Professional may be the right place for you....

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Q.

A.

Why train and BEGIN your CAREER with us?

We offer comprehensive and supportive business training programmes, where students are exposed to a variety of practical business skills and industry sector knowledge.

We focus on opening opportunities and, through our training, aim to equip students with everything they need to face employers at interview and begin their first jobs confidently – no matter what industry sector they choose to pursue.

82% of Quest students secure a job within 8 weeks of leaving us

Our supportive environment in which students are allocated personal mentors and encouraged to set their own targets moves Quest Professional away from the school environment and towards an appraisal-based working environment.

Measuring progress in this way, combined with the practical and employer-driven training on offer, makes Quest Professional a refreshing alternative to university and a great stepping stone between school and that first career.

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| The Business Apprentice Programme | QuestProfessional

Preparation

Our scheduled career guidance and preparation

programmes, combined with our in-house recruitment team and external client relationships, provide students with a very modern and experienced approach to CVs, job hunting and interview technique.

Talks from industry experts, careers fairs, networking events and trips to external companies are all used to give students a thorough insight into the numerous career paths and opportunities available upon graduation from Quest Professional.

Confidence

Confidence, attitude and teamwork are three

major factors that are vital to the success of a school leaver entering the workplace as a young professional.

Through a thorough Personal Development Programme every Quest Professional student should see these three key attributes developed, enhanced and fine-tuned, optimising their ability to impress at interview and further down the line once their careers have started.

Network

Quest Professional appreciate that a first job may

or may not be a job for life.

We therefore have a flourishing alumni network and an open-door policy when it comes to the CV, job-hunting and interview advice needed by our alumni who are looking to make their next career move.

We regularly welcome back passionate alumni who give up their time to support the professional development of our current students.

Finally, Quest Professional encourage a healthy work/life balance and are proactive in arranging many fun and varied events for all students to dip in and out of as they wish!

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The Business Apprentice Programme

WHAT IS IT? Our Business Apprentice Programme is a unique and inspiring six-month business skill and commercial awareness development course aimed at students leaving school post A Level. It is a fantastic alternative to university, an engaging, interactive training programme designed to enhance a school leaver’s employability.

Our training team and mentors coach and train students using a variety of supportive methods following a structured training schedule. No two days are the same and classroom activity is broken up with guest speakers and company visits. Practical experience regularly intersperses all theory, with a series of pressurised challenge days taking place at intervals along the training programme. These days test the core competencies required by employers, whilst giving students the opportunity to put their marketing, financial, sales and presentation skills and further knowledge to the test. For those students with an entrepreneurial streak and who are interested in setting up their own companies one day, there is an opportunity to work on a full business and marketing plan, which will then be pitched to “investors� at the end of the programme.

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| The Business Apprentice Programme | QuestProfessional

Despite the Business Apprentice Programme being only six months long, there is a strong emphasis on building students’ confidence and on the sustained attitude they should adopt when facing employers at interview or joining an already established working team. These are covered thoroughly from day one of the programme.

Built into the diverse training schedule of the Business Apprentice Programme is a thorough careers section, preparing students for the challenges presented by recruitment and working life. Students are exposed to different industry sectors, job specs and roles, and shown how to adapt CVs to each role, write covering letters and answer competency‑based questions at interview. When the time comes for job hunting, plenty of networking opportunities are available to students, along with the guidance and connections provided by Quest Professional’s in-house recruitment team.

The Business Apprentice

Programme aims to maximise every student’s potential and open up exciting career opportunities, which students should feel equipped for and confident enough to embrace, showing a prospective employer that they have what it takes to face today’s workplace challenges.

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The Business Apprentice Programme

Training Programme Content: Leadership & Management ILM Qualification *Level 3 Developing yourself and others Learning and working styles Communication styles Motivation theories Emotional intelligence theory Leadership and team building Effective management strategies Personality types

Cloud Computing SaaS and web apps Conducting business “in the cloud�

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Economics and Finance Understanding and exploring global financial markets Financial accounting The UK tax system Macroeconomics Personal finance An economic bubble Derivative products

IT – MS Office and Apple MS Word (including mail merge and advanced functions) MS PowerPoint (and business presentations) MS Outlook (and diary management) MS Access (database management) MS Excel (and business finance) Apple IT (intro to MAC OS)

Developing a Business Plan What to include How to set out your business plan Taking the next steps

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The Business Apprentice Programme Social Digital Media Digital strategy and planning Twitter for businesses Facebook for businesses Google Plus

Web and Web Design The internet Principles of web design Creating and updating a website Creating and editing graphics Editing cascading style sheets HTML

Marketing The role and function of marketing in business The 7 Ps Customers and stakeholder management Competition Developing a marketing plan Market research Social and digital media and Google Analytics

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Training Programme Content: Business English How and when to plan a document

Practical Advertising Product development Print advertising

Addressing different audiences

Online advertising

Business vocabulary

Storyboards

Professional emails, letters, memos, press releases, reports Proofreading skills, spelling, grammar and producing accurate business documentation

Social media Advertising campaigns Creating and delivering a business pitch, to include presentation skills

Current Affairs Discussions and debates on current news and topical issues Political spectrum and political parties Parliament and government Cabinet and shadow cabinet ministers Prime Minister’s Question Time Lawmaking Voting and elections European Union and Middle East Devolved governments

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The Business Apprentice Programme Business Law

Business Correspondence

Contracts

Meetings

Equal Pay Act 1970

AGM

Sex Discrimination Act 1975

Rackham’s Behavioural Analysis

Race Relations Act 1976 Maternity rights Advertisement law Copyright law

Itineraries Letter structure Telephone manner

Business property

Customer Service Issues you may have to deal with Interacting with customers Resolving issues Keeping calm How to tell people they are wrong

Commercial Experience Opportunity to gain practical office experience

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Training Programme Content:

Career Development Programme Introduction to industry sectors, identifying leading companies Creating professional CVs Covering letter formats LinkedIn Preparing for interviews Group interviews Online job applications Applying for jobs that aren’t advertised Following up an interview and interview feedback Contacting and networking with consultancies and companies Dealing with your first week in a role

“We feel that we have given Charlotte the best opportunity in sending her to Quest and it has been wonderful to watch her grow as a person, in her self-confidence, and to see her enjoyment in all that she has learnt with you.”

– Jeanetta Rabey, mother of Charlotte, who graduated in June 2011 –

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YOUR future CAREER

“Thomas was an absolute pleasure to work with; he integrated very well within the team. He was confident to ask people that he did not know for help and guidance.”

HR Manager, Hilton Hotels & Resorts

“The LK Bennett e-Commerce department has taken Quest students over the last three years. We have found them all to be capable, professional individuals who have fitted exceptionally well into the e-Commerce and Customer Services teams.”

Director of e-Commerce, LK Bennett

“Jemma joined the team in a pressurized environment, and coped very well. Senior members of staff highly rated her, and it is to her credit that she has secured a job with the firm.”

Partnership Administration Manager, BDO LLP UK

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| The Business Apprentice Programme | QuestProfessional

It is highly likely that you have chosen to train with Quest Professional because of an end goal that you have in mind: to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence that you need to begin your career successfully.

From Day

1

of the Business Apprentice Programme time is

dedicated to developing a thorough understanding of the current job market, industry sectors, salary expectations and potential career path that a student may choose to make. CV formatting, covering letters, rehearsing competency-based interview questions and undertaking mock interviews are all addressed during the training schedule. Students are also invited to network with recruiters, employers and alumni throughout their time with Quest Professional.

A thorough careers programme, networking opportunities, careers fairs and employer relationships developed by our in-house recruitment team, combined with each Quest student’s proactive approach to job hunting, currently sees a high proportion of students gaining employment upon graduating from Quest Professional.

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LEAVERS DESTINATIONS Upon Graduation from Quest Professional Quest students go on to pursue a variety of careers within a variety of different organisations.

Here are just a few of the companies that some of our recent students have gone to work for:

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KPMG

Hugo Boss

Knight Frank

CBRE

Guy Carpenter

Hogan Lovells

Savills

Crone Corkhill

Sky Media

BDO

Marsh & Parsons

JP Morgan

Oakley

Addleshaw Goddard

Montagu Evans

Hatty Blue

Page Personnel

The Royal Household

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Goldman Sachs

Sacker & Partners LLP

JWT Communications Agency

Henry Poole

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“Charlie’s career is progressing very well with Goldman Sachs.”

– Clifford Trowse, father of Charleena Trowse, who graduated in June 2011 – “For me, not going to university was the best choice that I have made.

At 22, I am working in one of the top four financial firms, in a brilliant role that I thoroughly enjoy, have a great salary, benefits and great prospects for the future.”

– Georgina –

“Becky has secured a job with Addleshaw Goddard, a law firm near Moorgate!

I just wanted to thank all of the staff at Quest who helped her during, and after her training programme – it has been much appreciated.”

– Jackie and Tony, parents of Becky, who graduated in June 2013 – “I would highly recommend a course at Quest to anyone who is unsure about their future. It has opened up so many new opportunities that I have never thought of before. It has definitely been a worthwhile period in my life.”

– Freddie – “Thank you for arranging Gaby’s work placement at BDO which led directly to her being offered a permanent post. At a time when employment is so hard to come by, we feel that Quest has come up trumps and justified the value of the course.”

– Sue Shanahan, mother of Gaby, who graduated in June 2013 – “I love Quest, love the people and the trainers.

I look forward to coming in every day.”

– Current Student, 2014 – QuestProfessional | The Business Apprentice Programme |

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SOCIAL LIFE at Quest Professional

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| The Business Apprentice Programme | QuestProfessional

Accommodation Choosing a Quest Professional Training Programme and starting to build upon the essential foundations for your future career is an exciting time. With London as a hub, famous for commercial activity, the employment opportunities available to Quest Professional graduates are vast. Similarly as vast, are the social opportunities. Living in London whilst completing a Quest Professional training programme enables students to fully submerge themselves in all that London has to offer. We have a range of accommodation options available to Quest Professional students, with prices starting at ÂŁ224.00 per week.

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Whatever direction your career and life take you, chances are there will be fellow Quest graduates who can help along the way or welcome you when you arrive.

Quest Professional Alumni

NETWORK

The Quest Alumni Network is here to help you stay connected to each other, expand your professional network and to offer you continued support along your career journey, whatever the time of day!

Analysis

Training

Network

Graduation

Career

Success

It is also an important component of the success of current Quest students too!

By volunteering, whether mentoring current students, acting as a guest speaker, recruiting from us or referring new students to Quest, you are helping Quest towards a sustainable future and adding to your own personal CV at the same time!

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If you like the sound of what we offer and are interested in beginning your career with us, then we would love to meet you!

Please give the team a call on 020 7233 5957 and we will arrange for you to come in, have a look around and chat with us further.

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*All brochure content correct at time of printing.

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The Business Apprentice Programme

5 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0BD www.questprofessional.co.uk info@questprofessional.co.uk T 020 7233 5957