Nov/Dec 2014
DELS interview The rapper talks music and art
What’s the alternative? Take a look at apprenticeships
Made to measure facebook.com/MovingOnMagazine @MovingOn_mag
Careers in the fashion industry
www.movingonmagazine.co.uk MOVING ON NOV/DEC 2014
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The experience stays with you
Lucy on client site with the National Trust
Business Insight Week Career Open Days Open Evenings Virtual Events Flying Start degree programmes School and College leaver careers From a 240 UCAS tariff Voted employer of choice by students in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers survey for eleven years running.
School and College Leaver Opportunities Offices across the UK » Join summer or autumn 2015 Traditionally, there has only been one story when school comes to an end. University. Degree. Career. But things have changed. With PwC, there are now many professional opportunities for high achievers straight out of school. So your story can go anywhere. You might start by joining us on our Business Insight Week while you’re still at school to find out what it’s like to work at PwC. If you can’t join us for a full week, you could attend one of our Career Open Days or Open Evenings. You’ll find out more about joining us straight from school on our Flying Start degree programme, where you’ll get paid work placements alongside a traditional university experience, or on our School and College leaver programme, which fast-tracks your career by combining real paid work with study towards a professional qualification. Do well in any of these opportunities, and you could get a job offer. Just like Lucy. She took the opportunity to join PwC straight after her A-levels. And now she owns her own flat and is a qualified Chartered Accountant managing her own prestigious clients.
Take the opportunity of a lifetime www.pwc.com/uk/schools www.facebook.com/PwCCareersUK 2
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© 2014 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved.
Diverse people make us stronger
CONTENTS
Image: Rose Maisie Willoughby
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Kate Newton introduces the info-packed November/ December issue of Moving On.
Contributors Check out our line-up of the talented student writers.
News And views….Read all about it!
11 The whole truth…
Different routes into a career in the law and legal sectors.
12 Balance the books
Careers to consider in finance and accounting, if you’re a whizz with numbers and money.
15 Alternative pathways
All you need to know about apprenticeships.
16 This sporting life
Careers in the sport and leisure sector.
19 Cash incentives
Understanding the importance of managing your own money.
20 Fashion your future
Read our on-trend article and bag yourself a career in the fashion industry.
23 A-Z – jobs in the music industry
Our sound guide to jobs in the vibrant music biz.
24 Interview – DELS
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Letter from the editor
Moving On talks to the multi-talented rapper and visual artist about his career so far…
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26 Cyber-crime busters
Ethical hacking – the dream job for computer fanatics who want to fight crime.
28 Do the maths!
Love maths? Read on for ideas on careers where you could make the most of your maths savvy.
30 Mind over matter
Scientist Melanie Windridge emphasises the importance of women studying for STEM careers.
33 Analyse this
An A-level student tells us why she wants to do a degree in psychology.
35 Useful UCAS info
UCAS tariff points and key dates for in 2015.
37 Essential engineering
Routes into a career in construction engineering.
39 Make the change
How do you tackle the problem of wanting to change course at college?
41 Go the distance!
How studying at home can be the solution to fitting education into a busy life.
43 New Year, new you!
Set yourself some realistic goals for the New Year.
46 Good to know…
Talk to Frank – the top five booze fails. MOVING ON NOV/DEC 2014
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CITY GATEWAY Do you want to kick start your career in the Financial Services Industry? Apply for our new RBS sponsored Business Administration training courses. Application deadline 30 November Visit training.citygateway.org.uk to register “We want to provide an insight into our world of banking to help inspire , motivate and educate City Gateway students to ensure they develop the employability skills they need to be successful in the future” Early Careers, RBS
Not interested in finance? We offer a range of training courses, please visit our website for details.
Want an exciting career in the Creative Industry? Tick Degree Courses
Creative Skillset is your gateway to career opportunities in the UK’s Creative Industries.
Want to stand out in the crowd? Enrol on one of our ‘Pick the Tick’ courses. These courses are carefully selected to best prepare you for a career in the Creative Industries.
Whether you are looking to further your education or work within a creative industry, we will provide you with the best advice on what to do next.
Trainee Placements With Trainee Finder you could become a trainee for the UK’s best companies, build industry contacts and receive a training allowance while you carry out your placement. traineefinder.creativeskillset.org 4
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Creative Skillset Apprenticeships This is your chance to earn while you learn and gain a professional qualification. A great way to get your foot on the ladder.
Check out what else Creative Skillset can do for you!
creativeskillset.org/ careers
EDITOR’S LETTER
Letter from the editor Welcome to the November/December issue of Moving On! As you can see from this month’s cover, we’ve got an exclusive interview with new-style rapper, designer and director, DELS. We asked him all about his rise to fame and how his extraordinary, parallel careers evolved in both the music business and the world Publisher Lynette Daly Editor Kate Newton Email: editor@walpolepublishing.co.uk Student contributors Camilla Hadland, Camilla Harrison, Elinor Moore, Katie Power, Ruhi Singha, Leyan Yucel Production Manager Anthony Brooks Advertising Robert Yates, Manager Email: ryates@walpolepublishing.co.uk Tel: 01789 509006
of contemporary art. Also in this issue, there’s an article written by student contributor, Camilla Harrison who writes from first-hand experience about the various career routes you can take into the world of fashion - as well as supplying information on a selection of the jobs available in this vibrant industry. Did you know that you can do a degree in computer hacking? Well, actually, it’s a degree in ethical hacking – read our fascinating interview with Colin McLean, expert on cyber crime and course tutor in this relatively new degree subject, which he teaches at Abertay University in Dundee, Scotland.
George Bowers, Account Manager Email: george@walpolepublishing.co.uk Tel: 01789 509005 Chris Bird, Account Manager Email: chris@walpolepublishing.co.uk Tel: 01789 509004 Schools, colleges & sixth form Annual Subscription Email: info@walpolepublishing.co.uk
Other topics covered in this edition include law, women in STEM, finance and accounting, sport and leisure and psychology – it’s a jam-packed, bumper issue which will carry on entertaining and informing you about careers, apprenticeships and job options, long after you have tired of playing with your Christmas presents or when you need an excuse to escape from the relatives during the holidays! Have a great festive season and a Happy New Year to all of you!
Walpole Publishing Ltd. Union House 7-9 Union Street Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV37 6QT Tel: 01789 509001 Special thanks to Jacky and Ian White at Propak (UK) Ltd.
Kate Newton Editor
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aru
Discover
Open Days 3 December 2014 4 – 7pm Cambridge campus
28 February 2015
10am-2pm Cambridge & Chelmsford campuses
Secure your future @angliaruskin facebook.com/angliaruskin 6
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For further information and to register anglia.ac.uk/opendays answers@anglia.ac.uk 01245 68 68 68
CONTRIBUTORS
Student w riters
Camilla Hadland
Camilla Harrison
BA (Hons) Sport Durham University
BA (Hons) Fashion Central Saint Martins
“Writing for Moving On was a fantastic experience and it was great to be able to relay my personal experience and advice to others making choices at such an important time in their lives.”
“Writing for Moving On was a great experience, knowing that passing on my knowledge could potentially help someone with their future career.”
Katie Power
Ruhi Singha
A-levels Cooper’s and Coborn School
A-levels Coopers Company and Coborn school
“Writing for Moving On has been a great opportunity for me not only to gain experience in journalism but to develop a unique writing style that I hope will keep readers entertained!”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working for the magazine as I have learned how to research before completing tasks and how to keep deadlines. I’d love to work for them again.”
Elinor Moore A-levels Stratford-upon-Avon School “I enjoyed the challenge of interviewing a psychology student. It was very interesting and I hope it is useful for any other students wanting to study the subject.”
Leyan Yucel A-levels Cox Green School, Berkshire “I loved writing for Moving On magazine as it gave me a taste of what it was like to be a journalist and convinced me that this is the career path I would like to follow. Thank you so much for this opportunity!”
Planning a career as a journalist or photographer? Enjoy writing, simply for pleasure? Where better to showcase your talents than in Moving On magazine? Not only could you find yourself admiring your own by-line in this very magazine but also – how good is it going to look on your CV and on your Personal Statement that you’re a published writer or photographer who has contributed to a nationally distributed publication? Email your CV and samples of your work to: editor@walpolepublishing.co.uk
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NEWS
NEWS
RECORD TURNOUT FOR UK YOUTH PARLIAMENT ‘MAKE YOUR MARK’ VOTE he British Youth Council and the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) were delighted to announce a record turnout in the annual Make Your Mark ballot, when over 865,000 votes were cast by 11-18 year-olds around the country – nearly twice as many as in 2013. Make Your Mark is now officially the largest youth consultation of its kind in the UK and gives young people a platform from which to have their say on issues which they feel strongly about and which affect their lives. Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson said, “The Make Your Mark campaign has empowered over 865,000 young people to have their say on the issues that matter most to them.”
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The topics of debate to receive the most votes were: • Everyone should be paid at least the living wage, regardless of their age • Bring back English and maths exam re-sits in UK schools • Work experience and access to advice from professionals should be available to all • Improve mental health services for young people • Votes for 16 and 17 year-olds The Youth Parliament will use its House of Commons debate in November this year, to choose its priority campaigns for the year ahead from the five topics listed above. For more info on the UKYP, go to: www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk 8
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Norio NAKAYAMA/Flickr.com/CC BY 2.0
Copyright UK Parliament/ Roger Harris
THE FA OPENS NEW PITCH FOR BLIND FOOTBALLERS
ugely popular at the 2012 London Paralympics, blind football is a fivea-side version of the game, played with a ball which makes a noise. The FA wants to encourage young, visually impaired people to get involved in the game in the runup to the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020. Blind football is a fast, technical game which helps players’ mobility and fitness as well as boosting confidence. Along with allocating £1 million to a two-year blind football funding programme in October this year, the FA were proud to announce the official opening of the specially designed England blind squad’s pitch at St. George’s Park, the FA’s purpose-built training ground in Stoke-on-Trent. Players will train on the Tony Larkin Pitch named after the former England blind squad manager, in preparation for both the European Championship and the Tokyo Paralympics. The pitch will also be used by other blind football clubs, schools and for various community projects. To find out more about this unique sport, go to: www.britishblindsport.org.uk/sports/ football/, where you’ll find information on playing blind football and other ways you can get involved by volunteering and fundraising.
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SPOOF POCKET MONEY LOANS FOR UNDER 18s new shop called ‘Pocket Money Loans’ opened up in London’s Finsbury Park recently, offering pocket money loans to children as young as three years old. As well as displaying large posters in their front window advertising ‘Pay day loans for kids’, ‘How to get out of debt with a loan’ and ‘Apply for a bouncy castle mortgage today!’ the shop also had a website which encouraged children to ‘borrow up to £20 for 60 days’ and told them that, ‘Getting a pocket money advance from Pocket Money Loans is easy-peasy!’ Following complaints from a number of local residents and after an adult customer was told, ‘We only lend to under 18s’ it was revealed that the shop was actually an art gallery. The bogus shop’s ‘Loans 4 Kids’ display and website were a spoof installation, designed by artist Darren Cullen who created the thought-provoking posters and fake store front to highlight the dangers of taking out pay day loans.
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SCHOOL FOR STYLE o you fancy being taught how to dress TV stars by an X-Factor stylist? Would you like your college projects to be set by experts from retail fashion giants, Topshop, Topman, River Island and Selfridges? If your answer is ‘Yes please!’ and you haven’t got a problem with going to lectures in the heart of London’s West End then look no further! The Fashion Retail Academy is based there, just off Oxford Street, the shopper’s paradise. It runs courses in a wide range of specialist areas, such as visual merchandising, buying, fashion design and retail. They also boast a 70 per cent success rate in graduate employment for students going to work in the fashion industry. If you’d like to know more, go to www. fashionretalacademy.ac.uk and read ‘Fashion your future’ – how to get into the fashion industry on page 20.
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THOUGHT-PROVOKING POPSICLES ould you like to lick a lolly that’s made in the shape of the chickenpox virus? Or try another one that looks like the E. coli bacteria? Maybe you’d prefer one in the shape of a spiky cactus? “Design is about pushing the boundaries of experience.” says graphic designer, Wei Li. Her collection of sweets is called Dangerous Popsicles, which she invites you to “taste with your eyes and mind before tasting with your tongue.” You may be pleased to hear that she has no plans to produce her lollies commercially!
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NEW GUIDANCE LAUNCHED FOR CITIZENSHIP TEACHERS ew guidance has been launched by pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group) and the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) for teachers and co-ordinators of Citizenship classes, on how to deliver the financial education elements of the new National Curriculum. The move comes as financial education starts to be taught as part of citizenship lessons in schools across England. The free resource is linked to the new National Curriculum and includes classroom activities. The decision to embed financial literacy in the new maths and citizenship curriculum was hailed as a “huge victory” by the Personal Finance Education Group with Tracey Bleakley, the pfeg chief executive stating, “Financial education is essential in equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to be able to manage their money well.” To find out more about how important it is to develop young people’s financial literacy, read our ‘Cash incentives’ article on page 19.
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LAW
…and nothing but the truth… about career pathways into the legal profession. he legal profession is complex and the job roles within it are varied, ranging from legal secretary to lawyer. The routes into careers within the legal sector are diverse; you may wish to take an apprenticeship or other vocational route or to study at university. It is important to note that you cannot become a qualified solicitor or barrister by taking an apprenticeship, however there are plenty of other job roles within the legal profession which can be accessed this way such as legal secretary, paralegal officer or assistant, junior paralegal, senior paralegal or senior claims handler. Lawyer is a term that covers solicitors, barristers and chartered legal executives - solicitors work directly with clients, providing legal services, barristers work on behalf of clients, primarily in court and chartered legal executives specialise in particular areas of law, undertaking many of the same legal activities as solicitors. You don’t have to study at university to become a lawyer; there is a vocational route available. However, should you choose to study law at university, you could opt for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or you could study for a BA or BSc in Law.
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If you know already that you want to specialise in a particular area of law, such as criminal or international law, there are specific degree courses offered. If you want to go on to practice as a solicitor after gaining a law degree, you will need to enrol as a student with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in order to complete the vocational stage of your training. The most important thing is to do your research and find the right option for you, which will depend on what you want to progress to post university and in what way – for example some LLB degrees, which are recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board satisfy the academic stage of your training and allow you to gain exemptions from some institutes. ? If you choose to study for a degree in a subject other than law, you can still progress to becoming a solicitor or barrister but you will need to complete a law conversion course after you graduate and gain the Legal Practice Certificate (LPC) or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). ■
“YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE A VERY STRONG ACADEMIC RECORD BECAUSE COMPETITION FOR PLACES IS FIERCE.” To find out more about becoming a solicitor or barrister visit www. barcouncil.org.uk or www.lawsociety. org.uk
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ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
“YOU MAY BE Find out which skills and qualifications you’ll need for a career SURPRISED TO in finance and accounting. BY RUHI SINGHA LEARN THAT YOU DON’T ou may be surprised to learn that you for the company’s image. An understanding of HAVE TO BE don’t have to be a maths genius to compliance and integrity is essential in this sector work in accounting – basic numeracy, in order to avoid being compromised. A MATHS sharp computer skills and an eye for Understanding of the industry detail are just as important as being good at maths GENIUS TO Working in accountancy, you need to have an to succeed in this sector. There are some skills WORK IN understanding of the bigger picture. It isn’t however, that are very important and they include: enough to just be able to analyse financial data, ACCOUNTING.”
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The ability to communicate effectively Companies look for employees who can communicate effectively with clients and colleagues. People skills and the ability to communicate clearly are vital for successful teamwork in the finance sector.
Flexibility Technology and regulations change regularly in this industry – you’ll need to be able to adapt to change quickly and embrace new technical challenges in order to ensure the best results for all your clients.
Professional integrity Companies who offer financial services need to maintain their reputation to ensure their clients’ confidence in them. If this is lost it can be bad 12
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you need to understand how this relates to the wider strategic plan of an organisation and the global financial situation.
Organisation and time management Accountants do more than just crunch the numbers – they need to be able to manage their time and workload effectively and demonstrate that they have the resilience to meet deadlines when they are under pressure.
Teamwork The majority of accountants work with others, whether they’re performing audits, preparing financial statements or working on strategic planning. Depending on your role, you’ll need to be equally capable of taking directions or leading your team in a project.
Specialist qualifications Taking specific, specialist courses will improve your worth within an organisation as it shows that you are up to date and willing and able to focus on precise elements of the job. For certain jobs, a professional qualification is required in order for you to practice. When you start work in accounting and finance, your employer will determine which professional qualification you need to gain. These are awarded by recognised qualifying bodies (RQBs). You must pass exams and gain experience before these are awarded to you. You will also have to undertake continuous professional development. AAT – awarded by the Association of Accounting Technicians, this is an entry-level qualification. No previous qualifications are needed and you’ll be trained in basic finance and administration skills. This is a non-graduate route into chartered accountancy and could be gained as part of an accountancy apprenticeship. ACCA – awarded by the Association of Chartered, Certified Accountants, this a qualification aimed at those wanting to work in business or set up
their own practice. The focus is on professional ? values and ethics. You need three years’ experience to gain this qualification. CIMA – awarded by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, this is a globally recognised qualification for those new to, or with a little experience in accounting who want to work in strategic planning. You’ll need a foundation in business and accounting and three years’ experience to gain this qualification. CIPFA – awarded by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting, this is a qualification suitable for those working in areas where public money is managed, such as the NHS or in local government. ACA – this ICAEW (Institute of Chartered i Accountants in England and Wales) qualification is designed in partnership with the AAT and offers a progression route for high calibre AAT students. Other professional qualifications are required for practicing accountancy in specific areas like tax, risk management and corporate finance. ■
If you decide to take an accountancy degree, always check whether it is accredited and recognised by professional bodies. Taking a degree may exempt you from having to take some, or even all of the examinations which lead to professional member status.
To find out more about a career in finance and accounting go to: www.directions.org.uk www.apprenticeships. org
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Professional Services Higher Apprenticeship
ASSURANCE/AUDIT OR TAX… WHICH ROUTE WILL YOU CHOOSE INTO A HIGHLY SKILLED CAREER? The Professional Services Higher Apprenticeship offers you the opportunity to earn while you learn. You can choose from two distinct pathways – Assurance/Audit or Tax. You’ll gain work experience, business skills and an internationally-recognised certificate-level qualification in finance, accounting and business to kick-start your career. Start your journey today. Visit icaew.com/higherapprenticeships
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icaew.com/higherapprenticeships
APPRENTICESHIPS
An apprenticeship can offer you an alternative pathway to the career of your choice, if the thought of studying A-levels and going to university doesn’t appeal to you. ith over 150,000 employers offering apprenticeships in more than 200,000 places in the UK, it is highly likely that you will find an apprenticeship to suit you. You earn wages while you learn valuable skills and around 85 per cent of apprentices will end up in employment, with 64 per cent staying on to work for their training provider. There are a huge range of industries which offer apprenticeships in all sorts of areas. In the health, public services and care sectors, you can do an apprenticeship in clinical healthcare support. This can lead to job roles such as a medical records clerk, ward clerk or a healthcare support service worker. These positions support health professionals and once qualified you could have a starting salary of £12,000 to £17,000 a year. The intermediate level apprenticeship requires you to have a responsible caring attitude and to be friendly with good interpersonal skills. It’s also desirable to have GCSE maths and English but not essential. Once you have completed this 12 month apprenticeship with the NHS, you’ll have all the necessary skills and qualifications needed to apply for a permanent job in the healthcare sector. If you’re creative then you will be looking for arts-orientated apprenticeships or perhaps in the media and publishing industries. A design apprenticeship covers all the areas from
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graphics to product design. This challenging and artistic opportunity covers four main areas, graphic and multimedia design, interior design, fashion and textile design and product design. Apprenticeships can take one to four years to complete and you’d be gaining job specific skills, working alongside experienced staff and earning a wage. After completing an apprenticeship, a qualified design assistant or junior art worker could earn between £16-17,000 a year. Alternative and exciting apprenticeships are also available in the leisure, travel and tourism sector. As an apprentice member of an airline’s cabin crew, you would be trained to deal with a variety of security and emergency situations as well as learning about immigration regulations and different cultures. The job demands excellent customer service skills and you will learn how to keep passengers safe and comfortable during their flight. On completing this apprenticeship, you could be travelling, learning, and earning between £12-16,000 a year. You can obtain qualifications during an i apprenticeship, such as National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQs) as well as technical and knowledge-based certificates. The opportunities are endless, so if this sounds appealing then search for your ideal apprenticeship at www. apprenticeships.org.uk ■
“YOU EARN WAGES WHILE YOU LEARN VALUABLE SKILLS AND AROUND 85 PER CENT WILL END UP IN EMPLOYMENT”
For more information on apprenticeships, go to: www.gov.uk/ apprenticeshipsguide/ www.prospects.ac.uk/
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SPORT AND LEISURE
Sports and leisure sector careers aren’t just about being a professional athlete – there’s a wide range of related jobs to choose from. BY CAMILLA HADLAND hether you want to work in sports science, coaching, policy or any other sport and leisure related job, it’s important to work out what suits you. To help you decide, there are many opportunities for work experience or trainee schemes in the sport and leisure sector and programmes like these can be great if you’re a more practical learner. This kind of placement can be useful at any point in your education, whether you undertake one during your school career, as a school leaver or at university. UK Sport, Sport England and the English Institute of Sport all provide search engines for careers and work placements within the sports sector. It’s also useful to look for opportunities in your local sport or leisure centres and through your local sports partnership – www.sportengland.org/our-work/ If being a personal trainer interests you, independent businesses who offer placements or training opportunities are often based at local sports facilities and it would be well worth approaching them for work experience and
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advice. It’s always useful to have experience under your belt if you want to pursue a career in sport so keep your eyes open for anything that may pop up in your area. Also, don’t forget about voluntary work for sports clubs or institutions. Even though you won’t be paid to volunteer, to be able to say you have will look great on your CV if you’re applying for jobs or to go to university and bear in mind that volunteering can sometimes lead to a permanent job. Most national governing bodies in individual sports offer qualification opportunities in coaching so if it’s a particular sport that you want to be more involved in to get into a career in coaching be sure to check out the coaching qualifications 1st4sport – www.1st4sport.com – have to offer. No previous experience is required to gain a Level 2 coaching qualification in any sport and you can study for this qualification from the age of 16. They can also be done in conjunction with university degrees in sports coaching – 1st4sport also offer qualifications in other skills, such as officiating, first aid and injury
“RESEARCH YOUR OPTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE COURSE YOU OPT FOR INCLUDES ELEMENTS OF THE SPORTS YOU ENJOY.”
management, along with a whole host of other practices which are on offer as qualifications for those wishing to expand their knowledge of sport and careers related to the industry. If you’re researching sports-related degrees, it is important to choose a course that offers elements that appeal to you and which offer benefits for your particular area of specialisation. For those who are interested in the more scientific side of sport, there are plenty of Bachelor of Science degrees (BSc) available at universities around the UK. From really broad sports science courses, to courses which are more specific in other elements of the subject, such as biomechanics or nutrition … there are plenty to choose from. If science isn’t your thing and you’re more interested in the social and political elements of sport in the UK, and around the world, there are also many Bachelor of Arts (BA) courses that cover topics such as the politics of, and issues and controversies in sport as well as covering subjects like how the government forms policies and designs campaigns to engage more people in physical activity.
There are also courses in sports business and management for those interested in working within sports companies or you could consider doing a degree in sports journalism. Remember to check out the course content and see which modules the course teaches and whether it’s right for you – some may contain several of the courses mentioned above in a combined degree. Going to university not only educates you but it’s also a great place to make connections and meet potential employers. Read up on and research your options to ensure that the course you opt for includes elements of the sports you enjoy. Remember that experience is invaluable, no matter what you want to do or what you end up doing so start looking as early as possible for the opportunity to get some sporting experience under your i belt. It doesn’t have to be paid work – future employers will regard any volunteering you do very highly too – gaining experience is never a waste of time and will help keep your options open along the way to a successful career in sport and leisure. ■
To sprint into a career in sport, go to: www.skillsactive.com www.careers-in-sport. co.uk
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‘New ck a fast-tr tarting ss coursenuary Ja 2015’
Fashion Courses leading to Careers • L2 to L4 fully-funded fashion courses for 16+ students
• Includes work • 70% of graduating placement with a high students go on to street retailer * roles in the fashion industry
Find out more at fashionretailacademy.ac.uk *Not all courses
@FRALondon
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The Fashion Retail Academy
Fashion Retail Academy
YOUR MONEY
Managing money is a life skill you can’t do without – get the know-how now and you’ll be financially literate for life. hether you’re off to college or starting your first job, managing your own money might be something you haven’t given much thought to – you probably haven’t had that much money to manage up until now! But knowing how to handle your cash is crucial for ensuring you have a financially secure future. When your folks pay for everything – rent, broadband subscriptions, the TV licence and keeping the fridge full etc., the bills seem to get paid as if by magic! But you’ll need to do all these things yourself when you leave home and make the transition from dependent young person to independent adult, with responsibility for your own finances. Gaining financial literacy means learning the skills you’ll need to make good financial decisions. Without budgeting skills, you may find yourself struggling to maintain a stable and satisfying lifestyle which can cause the kind of stress which leads to physical and mental ill-health. Good financial habits are best developed before you fly the nest – many young people who haven’t got a clue about money can find themselves in a financial pickle very quickly whether they’re at uni or starting work so it’s best to develop these skills before you leave home.
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Lots of young people may have had part time jobs and will have learned to save up for the things they want to buy and for money to spend on socialising. Simon Culhane, Chief Executive of the CISI, has argued strongly that the government should issue mandatory bank accounts for all 16 year-olds, as a way of improving their understanding of personal finance. Simply having a bank account won’t make you financially literate but managing and understanding it will help to make you independent, confident and responsible when it comes to your cash. Let’s face it, none of us want to waste our hard-earned money, get into debt or find ourselves in a sticky financial situation. At the start of your working life, you might not want to think about getting old, pensions and your retirement – even though living to a i great age is the best possible outcome! Being healthy doesn’t just apply to your physical health – it’s about being happy and satisfied with life as well. We tend to be happier when we can do all the things we like without worrying about what’s round the corner and whether we’ll be able to afford it. Being healthy financially is about planning and managing your money, which in turn enables you to get the best out of life, at work, rest and play. ■
“BEING HEALTHY FINANCIALLY IS ABOUT PLANNING AND MANAGING YOUR MONEY”
Setting up a bank account / understanding different types of bank accounts www. adviceguide.org.uk How to manage your money www. moneyadviceservice. org.uk
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FASHION
F A S Hyour I OfutuN If clothes are your passion, a career in fashion is right on trend for you. BY CAMILLA HARRISON
he winter months are in full swing! We’ve dug out our woollen scarves and our summer wardrobes have been packed away for another year. Meanwhile in the fashion world, buyers, designers, journalists and stylists are already looking at samples of swimwear, cotton dresses and sandals for next spring, summer and beyond…. Fashion is an industry which constantly looks ahead, not only by predicting what we’ll all be wearing this time next year but also by embracing advances in textile technology and utilising the latest digital innovation. The UK fashion industry’s contribution to the economy amounts to a staggering £26 billion per annum and nationally it provides around 797,000 jobs, fashion remains a popular career choice. Notoriously fast-paced, the fashion industry is driven by the demands of the consumer and as much as it thrives on taking inspiration from the past, the fashion industry has a bright future and doing a degree in an aspect of this broad subject will help prepare you for the demands of working in this challenging industry. A degree in fashion design will equip you with technical skills in drawing and pattern cutting, an understanding of how to map and predict trends, and information on contemporary issues surrounding fashion, such as ethical manufacturing and distribution.
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Bear in mind that before applying for an artsrelated degree, you may need to complete an art foundation course – a one year programme, postA-levels and two years for post-GCSE students. For those less enamoured of the delights of the sewing machine, there are plenty of opportunities elsewhere in the industry, ranging from fashion photography and styling to merchandising and journalism. If you are more interested in the business and retail side of fashion, you could choose to study a degree in fashion management, PR, retail branding or buying, for example. Whilst doing a degree is an ideal starting block, the value of work experience in an industry overflowing with wannabes is the first step to standing out from the crowd. Work in your local clothes shop, contribute work to start-up magazines – it’s never too early to start building up your fashion portfolio. Starting at the bottom as the dedicated tea maker in a busy, fashion industry office could provide you with the contacts you need to kick-start your career. Why not give yourself a voice online and set up your own style blog? It’s a sure-fire way to prove that you are self-motivated and passionate about fashion. In an industry which relies heavily on networking, never underestimate the power of communication and engaging with others and be confident – in yourself, your ideas and your skills.
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My story
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For further information on careers in fashion visit: www. fashionretailacademy. ac.uk
As an A-level student struggling to see beyond my next day at college, it took me a while to see that I could turn my passion into my future. Working part-time, I would spend all my wages on magazines thick with fashion editorials and trips to London to see exhibitions. Despite taking A-level textiles, I wasn’t especially skilled with the practical side of design and found myself enjoying the theoretical elements of the course much more. I developed an obsession with Central St. Martin’s College of Art – the university where some of my idols (namely Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Jarvis Cocker) had all studied. When I discovered they offered a BA degree in Fashion History and Theory I was determined to follow in their footsteps. Thanks to an internship at the Birmingham Art Gallery and many nights of studying my fashion library, I gained a place on the course. Whilst studying, I garnered as much experience as I could as an intern, in all areas of the industry and had a job to subsidise my university fees (and clothes habit!) Interning could be tough but the experience was invaluable. I now work as a freelance fashion writer and have set up my own company, writing for various print and online publications as well as working with fashion and lifestyle brands on their written content. The world of fashion can have a bad reputation – like most high-powered industries it is extremely competitive and you have to learn to deal with rejection. In spite of this, and most importantly, it is an amazingly vibrant industry, which embraces individuality and champions the unique. If this sounds like your kind of environment, then harness your passion and dive into this fast-paced, stimulating world. To get the latest on Camilla’s career in fashion, visit her blog: www.camillaflora.com ■ MOVING ON NOV/DEC 2014
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MUSIC
Turn it up! Our comprehensive guide to all the best jobs in the music biz. BY KATIE POWER Artist and repertoire (A&R) person: An A&R person works for a record company, scouting for new talent and is someone with a real ear for spotting the next big thing. Agent: An agent’s job is to find the coolest venues and book their clients into gigs and promotional events – a great job for organised types who love live gigs. Distributor: A distributor’s job is to stay on top of the latest trends and be the first to supply new music to retailers. Sound engineer: A sound engineer plays a vital role in the success of live gigs, concerts and festivals as well as in the recording studio by mixing the music to perfection. Manager: This job involves advising and mentoring artists, negotiating the best deals, keeping an eye on bands or artists’ business affairs and dealing with legal issues. Plugger: A plugger’s job is to get maximum exposure/airplay for their client’s album or track on radio and in the media generally. Great communication skills, excellent powers of persuasion and a talent for networking with all the right people are essential!
Press officer/PR (public relations) person: This job involves promoting artists via the media, i.e. television, radio, newspapers, magazines and social media. It also involves managing all the good (and bad!) publicity generated by music celebs. Publisher: A publisher owns the copyright to an artist’s music and has the right to sell and distribute it, as well as having the legal power to protect it from music pirates. Songwriter: Shockingly, many artists don’t write their own songs! Recording companies employ songwriters to compose songs for them. Time to start rifling through that box of poems hidden beneath your bed, knock them into shape and be responsible for the next No.1 hit! Tour manager: A tour manager is someone who plans tours, books gigs, tour buses, flights, venues and hotels, as well as looking after the act’s every need and keeping them fed and watered while they’re on the road. i Video director: A video director takes complete artistic control of how an artist’s music is represented in promotional videos and on film.
For more informantion visit: www.creativeskillset.org www.careersinmusic. co.uk
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INTERVIEW
ieren Gallear aka DELS is an astonishingly multi-talented rapper, visual artist and director who has a unique, holistic approach to his work, fusing visual imagery with music in a way that leads the listener through an experience which is more than just auditory. His new album, Petals Have Fallen has just been released and Moving On visited him at his recording studio to find out all about it. “Petals Have Fallen is a very personal record. The title is about the urge to protect something precious that will ultimately fall apart – it’s more intimate than my first album, GOB. I wanted people to find out more about me and I’m super proud of it. I felt like I was invincible before GOB came out – I wasn’t thinking about the future. I feel there has been a growth in me as a person. “For this record, I worked a little bit differently. I recorded GOB in my Mum’s back garden in a studio shed that she built for me – this time I was in a proper recording studio with other people. The content of my new album is really personal – I’d written about the death of my grandfather and my best friend so recording these in a studio with other people there worried me at first. It was emotional. “I write in my own space and my mind works in a visual way. I have loads of visuals pinned up on the walls, films on in the background and vibrant visuals to get my mind moving – that comes from having a design background. I can’t imagine music and visual art without each other – when I hear sound I see pictures and vice versa. They are different entities but go together naturally – they work with each other. “Music has always been a big part of my life – I grew up surrounded by music and my mum and dad were always searching for the next new thing, whether it was new R & B, house music or jungle, it had to be new. “I graduated with a degree in graphic design and I worked in a design studio when I finished
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university, making music for fun. A guy I worked with there encouraged me to push my music work because the design industry will always be there. It’s always good when you come out of uni, to meet someone who encourages and inspires you and I love the creative freedom which comes with putting art and music together and making them your own. I wouldn’t be able to choose between visual art and music and I still work as an art director. “I play with a live band which is quite unusual for hip hop – a lot of shows are just the artist at the mic and a DJ but I wanted the music to dictate how a live show should come togetherI’m still working out how the next record will be put together live – people want to see musicianship when they go to live performances. “I don’t see myself as a political artist but I think music is really important as a tool for capturing moments in time. You can use it to inspire and to explore your own emotions. 149, a hidden track on the album, is about me being on the 149 bus, going through east London. It’s a story told in reverse, about civil unrest and ends up with me being in a room, watching the news after Mark Duggan got shot. That was my way of documenting that moment in time but I wasn’t making a political point, I was just capturing an important piece of history. I do feel lucky that I have a voice and the opportunity to be heard. “My music is diverse, which is reflective of me. When I was a kid, I couldn’t settle. I’d be doing boxing one minute, then karate, then basketball – always trying different things and that’s filtered through – my musical taste is so broad. When I went to uni I was exposed to bands I would never have listened to before I went and this has given me a varied sound palette. “My advice to young people interested in making music is to just make music the way that you want to. Don’t try to emulate what has already been done – it doesn’t feel genuine. Follow your heart and do what you want to do.” ■
Kieren Gallear aka career and the crea and music and mak
“I DON’T SEE MYSELF AS A POLITICAL ARTIST BUT I THINK MUSIC IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS A TOOL FOR CAPTURING MOMENTS IN TIME”
Image: Rose Maisie Willoughby
DELS talks to Moving On about his ative freedom he gets from taking art king them his own.
DELS latest album Petals Have Fallen is out now on Big Dada recordings www.bigdada.com/ release/dels/petalshave-fallen
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IT AND COMPUTING
Lecturer Colin McLean of Abertay University tells us how a degree in ethical hacking could secure you a fascinating career. How did you get into teaching ethical hacking? I am the tutor for the BSc in Ethical Hacking at Abertay. I’ve also taught mechanical engineering, mechatronics, computer programming and computer networking. I was involved in a project between Abertay University and the NCR Corporation’s research and development operation in Dundee where we looked into ATM (cash machine) security. In order to stop people hacking into them, it was necessary to learn to think like a hacker. The more devious our mind set became, the better the security of the ATMs became because we could imagine more attacks and design appropriate counter-measures. This is what ethical hacking involves, basically. There are many definitions of ethical hacking but I would say that it involves investigating hackers’ tools and techniques, in order to stop them. Hacking sounds dodgy! Why teach students how to do it? It may sound strange that our students “learn” hacking techniques but to secure a computerised system, they must understand how hacks function. Learning how criminals operate is important if we are to stop them. To secure our home, we can make a better job of it by imagining how we would break in ourselves. We’d then design and install the appropriate security measures. Ethical hackers are doing the same thing, but with computerised systems. How important is cyber security? Cyber-attacks are now rated up there with terrorism and pandemics by the Government 26
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and the infrastructure of our country is a major target for criminals. We depend on computers and the internet so much now, that it’s almost unimaginable that they could stop functioning. We need a workforce with specific skills to deal with cyber-crime, which costs the UK £27 billion a year. Where might an ethical hacking graduate find work? Our graduates are in great demand and the majority of them work in the growing market of security or penetration testing, checking the security of a company or website, reporting their findings and giving their recommendations. The ethical hacking degree at Abertay is ? quite broad and students are encouraged to develop their own specialisms. One graduate is now working in the oil industry, specialising in the security of their IT infrastructure. What skills do ethical hackers need? To start, students look at operating systems, computer programming and computer networking, as well as basic security. A good background in these areas is essential and a keen interest in technology and how it all works is a must. What are the benefits of a career in ethical hacking? Computer hacking is fascinating and i challenging and as there’s a critical shortage of cyber security experts world-wide, job prospects and salaries are excellent. Some of our graduates are currently starting on £30K+ and they could earn up to £100K in the future. ■
“LEARNING HOW CRIMINALS OPERATE IS IMPORTANT IF WE ARE TO STOP THEM.”
Ethical hackers (white hat hackers ) are experts in computers and networks, whose skills are used to attack a business’s security system on behalf of the owners by looking for vulnerabilities and loopholes which a malicious (black hat) hacker could exploit.
For more information go to: www.abertay.ac.uk/ courses/ug/ethhac/
SSR INDUSTRY, ACADEMIC AND SHORT COURSES IN MUSIC, FILM & GAMES STUDY IN MANCHESTER OR LONDON
WWW.S-S-R.COM
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MATHEMATICS
Do the
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Lots of people really enjoy studying maths at school – so it makes sense for them to consider it as a serious option when they’re deciding which degree they should do. s a traditional, academic subject, maths is a really safe degree option, as many employers realise that if you’re good at this subject you’ll also be good at thinking things through and have analytical, problem-solving and organisational skills which can be applied to almost any job or career. If you want to specialise in a maths-related career as a postgraduate, it is likely that you’ll have to continue in higher education to gain specific qualifications for those professions. Here are a few ideas for life after doing a maths degree…
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Engineering design: Engineering design is all about the making of things like aeroplanes, bridges, cars and buildings. You can choose to study maths with engineering at many universities but you can also study maths on its own and do a postgraduate MSc specialising in engineering design. For more info go to: www.postgrad.com/editorial/subjects/ engineering_production/ Quantity surveying: Quantity surveying can involve anything from estimating and controlling costs on large-scale building projects, running a country estate to advising industrial property companies. To practice as a quantity surveyor, you’ll have to take a postgraduate Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) course, which takes one year to complete full time and around two years part time. Some employers may take on graduates who have a degree that is not RICS accredited and support and fund them through the postgraduate course. For more info go to: www.rics.org/uk/the-profession/ 28
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Teaching: This is a great career to consider after a maths degree – good maths teachers are in great demand and teaching maths can give you a high level of job satisfaction, whether you go into it at primary, secondary or tertiary level. If you have a top degree and train as a maths teacher you may be eligible for a bursary from the Government of up to £25,000 to do so. For more info go to: www.education.gov.uk/get-intoteaching/subjects-age-groups/teach-maths Meteorology: The Met Office usually asks for a first or a 2:1 in maths if you want to study meteorology after your degree. Other employers in this field also like you to have a degree in mathematics and/or physics. Anyone wanting to go into meteorology should have: a genuine interest in meteorology and the environment; good mathematical, problem-solving and computing abilities: the ability to interact with a wide range of people which is important in more commercial, customer-orientated careers like operational forecasting. For Met Office careers and jobs please see here: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/ recruitment/ Logistics: Have you ever wondered how people, products and information get to all the places i they need to go, whether it’s physically or digitally? The logistics and transport industry is responsible for moving things and data around the planet. It is a vital part of the infrastructure of most businesses, great or small and it’s a fascinating sector for maths graduates to get into. www.ciltuk.org.uk/ Careers/CareersInformation/Graduates.aspx ■
“GOOD MATHS TEACHERS ARE IN GREAT DEMAND AND TEACHING MATHS CAN GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL OF JOB SATISFACTION.”
For more information go to: www.mathscareers. org.uk/article/ who-employsmathematicians/
An NCFE Apprenticeship can help you step out from the crowd and into your dream job.Find your perfect programme from NCFE’s range of full and part Apprenticeships in the following sectors: • Business, Administration and Law • Education and Training • Leisure, Travel and Tourism • Information and Communications Technology • Retail and Commercial Enterprise • Health, Public Services and Care. For more information, ask your college about NCFE Apprenticeships or visit ncfe.org.uk/apprenticeships.
Call: 0191 239 8000
Visit: ncfe.org.uk/apprenticeships
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FEMALES IN STEM CAREERS
Despite the fact that more students than ever are being accepted onto STEM courses in HE, the number of females choosing this pathway has remained disproportionately low. The question is why? ccording to SEMTA, the skills council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies, we are facing a shortfall of approximately 80,000 workers in STEM roles in the next two years and meeting the industry needs cannot be met without more females choosing these careers. It’s not just about meeting the country’s needs – research into average salaries indicates that by not taking these opportunities women are missing out on rewarding careers with good prospects and incomes. Melanie Windridge is a plasma physicist specialising in fusion energy – a clean, safe energy for the future. She is also an adventurer who believes in bringing exploration and science together and plans to climb Everest in 2016 producing videos and experiment resources on problems that effect mountain climbers. Before heading off to climb Putha Hiunduli in the Himalayas she spoke to Moving On about her own experience and the importance of encouraging females in their pursuit of STEM related study and careers.
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The importance of females in STEM “When I was at school my physics teacher was what we would call a stereotypical physicist – white, male with a beard and glasses. He told bad jokes and the whole class of schoolgirls groaned (though some of the jokes were quite funny really). In my school it was not just cool to hate physics, it was the norm. “I liked physics. I liked it enough not to care what everyone else thought, though I was selfconscious in other ways. I liked it enough to know before I took GCSEs that I would study it at university. My stereotypical physics teacher was a good teacher. He was diligent in answering my questions, encouraged me by setting up work experience placements and always supported 30
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and boosted me when my confidence ebbed. I was lucky, and I’m now enjoying an inspiring and interesting career in a field I love. “But why was it that the majority of girls at school hated physics? Was it the perception of physics being a boys’ subject? As dull and geeky? too difficult? irrelevant? These are all reasons that put girls off, but I believe things are changing – and they need to. As a society we need more girls in STEM (science technology, engineering and maths), particularly studying physics and maths at A-level. We need to tell them that studying physics and maths can lead to interesting, varied and lucrative careers – not dull, geeky jobs but a world of opportunity highly relevant to our lives in the modern age. “The Your Life campaign aims to showcase some of these careers, particularly those of creative entrepreneurs successful in business, all of which studied science and maths. The UK economy needs more young people studying physics and maths at school. Nearly two fifths of employers report difficulties recruiting individuals with sufficient STEM skills. There is a shortfall in technology and engineering skills in the UK and, to plug the gap and fill the jobs, girls need to get more involved too. And why not? If maths and science lead to exciting, wide-ranging and fulfilling careers, why should girls miss out? “As educators, parents, employers we need to work harder to provide context and relevance in STEM teaching to excite and inspire, show the opportunities available and make workplaces more female-friendly. As more women go into the STEM fields the balance will tip and the stereotypes will change. Females in physics, engineering and in the boardroom will not feel isolated. Perhaps then there will no longer be schools like mine where all the girls hate physics. I look forward to the day when female scientists and entrepreneurs are visible and celebrated and girls feel empowered to rise to the challenge.“ ■
M ov M “IF MATHS AND SCIENCE LEAD TO EXCITING, WIDERANGING AND FULFILLING CAREERS, WHY SHOULD GIRLS MISS OUT?”
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‘Your Life’ is a major three year campaign aimed at increasing the number of young people, especially females who study STEM subjects and pursue STEM careers. You can find out more about the ‘Your Life’ campaign by visiting: www.yourlife.org.uk
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Image: @crowncopyright
Mind ver Matter
Saturday Mornings
Wednesday Afternoons
31 January 2015
14 January 2015
28 February 2015
11 February 2015
21 March 2015
11 March 2015
16 May 2015
29 April 2015 03 June 2015
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PSYCHOLOGY
Elinor Moore interviewed Amy Loveridge to find out why she wants to study psychology. my Loveridge is busy studying media, psychology and biology at A-level and is hoping to go on to study for a degree in psychology at university. “It’s the study of behaviour and our identity – what makes us who we are – that I find so interesting about the subject.” Amy told me. “Plus, it offers loads of job opportunities to work with interesting people and it is a valued science subject.” Many universities offer psychology degrees but Amy is wants to opt for a four year sandwich course with a placement in the third year. She would like to experience a broad range of placements including working in hospitals, prisons, rehabilitation centres and business, in order to narrow down her choices before she decides which area she would like to specialise in. Many young people worry about making the wrong career choice but a psychology degree can lead to a broad range of jobs. “I feel that doing a psychology degree will allow me the flexibility I need at this stage in my life because even if I decide I don’t want to pursue a career in the psychology sector, a degree in the subject still leaves me with other job options.” said Amy. “Depending on which psychology degree you choose, you could work as an educational, clinical or criminal psychologist. Working in education gives you the opportunity to work as a counsellor in schools, helping those with learning difficulties and supporting students
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with emotional problems. A psychology degree helps you to understand a person’s emotional well-being, due to the in-depth study of developmental psychology you’ll do on a psychology degree course, linking a child’s behaviour and mind set to their upbringing. This is the sector I am most interested in.” The study of psychology is really broad – you can choose to study forensic psychology, criminology, cognitive neuroscience and psychology, sports psychology – there are so many different pathways you can choose, although you need to make sure that your A-levels match entry requirements by checking university websites. Some unis require two hard sciences at A-level, like biology and maths or chemistry. Whether you decide to work directly in psychology or not, a degree in the subject is looked upon very favourably by employers. It’s a great foundation subject if you’re interested in going into management, human resources, customer services, sales and marketing and the retail sector. This is because an understanding of psychology helps you to understand how peoples’ minds function, which is an invaluable tool for businesses when it comes to their advertising strategies and selling i their products and services. The skills learned by studying psychology can be used to analyse how a consumer’s brain works and the way they make associations between adverts and the brands they’re promoting. Just think about the McDonald’s™ jingle…Do you fancy a burger now?!! ■
“THE SKILLS LEARNED BY STUDYING PSYCHOLOGY CAN BE USED TO ANALYSE HOW A CONSUMER’S BRAIN WORKS”
You can search course listings at www.search. ucas.com to find out more about psychology degrees.
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UCAS
All you need to know about UCAS, the tariff points versus grades systems and key dates for applying to go to uni in 2015… CAS is the body responsible for managing students’ applications to higher education courses in the UK. They process over two million applications for full time, undergraduate courses every year.
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Tariff points When you look at a university prospectus you’ll see a column called ‘Entry Requirements’ for each course. The UCAS system converts your post-16 qualifications, whether they’re A-levels, a BTEC an HND etc., into points, by way of a tariff system. It is a way of unifying all the different qualifications so that universities can more easily make comparisons between students who have achieved the same standards required at entry level, but by different means. Universities will ask for specific entry requirements for each different degree course they offer. For example, they may require two As and a B for a biology degree or perhaps 280-320 UCAS tariff points for another course. Not all qualifications attract UCAS tariff points for various reasons and not all universities use the UCAS tariff system – two thirds of unis prefer to make offers in terms of qualifications or by using the standard ABC A-level grading system and the uni you’re interested in may accept alternative qualifications as an appropriate entry route, even if those qualifications don’t equate to UCAS tariff points.
UCAS key dates 2015
“NOT ALL UNIVERSITIES USE THE UCAS TARIFF SYSTEM.”
15th January 2015 – You should make sure your reference is complete before you apply. Your application should arrive at UCAS by 18:00 UK time (some art and design courses have a later deadline – check course details to confirm). 25th February 2015 – UCAS Extra begins, which allows you to make a sixth choice. 24th March 2015 – If you are applying for some art and design courses, your application should arrive at UCAS by 18:00 UK time. Your reference must be complete before you apply.
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For more information go to: www.ucas.com/ how-it-all-works/ undergraduate
6th May 2015 – If you have received all your uni/ college decisions by 31st March you must reply to any offers (other than Extra) by this date or they will be declined. 7th May 2015 – If you applied by the January deadline and you’re still waiting to hear, unis will decide whether they’re making an offer by this date. 4th June 2015 – If you receive all your uni or college decisions by the 7th May you must reply to any offers by this date (excluding Extra) or they’ll be declined. 25th June 2015 – If you have received all your uni/college decisions by 4th June you must reply to any offers by this date (excluding Extra) or they’ll be declined. 30th June 2015 – Last opportunity before entering Clearing – You need to send your application to UCAS by 18:00 UK time and they will send it to your chosen unis and colleges. ■ MOVING ON NOV/EDC NOV/DEC 2014
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What training can
WATA offer me? WATA offer a wide range of Apprenticeships and Traineeships in the following areas • • • • •
Electrical Engineering Welding & Fabrication Scaffolding Business & Administration Team Leading
• • • •
Mechanical Engineering Construction Highway Operations & Maintenance Customer Services
I’m not sure which Apprenticeship will suit me?
You can apply for our ‘Introductory Courses’ these are available to those not in employment, education or training and are unsure which area to specialise in.
How do I apply?
Contact our Apprenticeships and Employability team Call us on 01480 435544 or email info@wata.co.uk Visit www.wata.co.uk/apprenticeships-employability
We can give you advice on which career path is right for you. Twitter @WataTrainees Facebook /WestAngliaTrainingAssociation
Shaping your business, your career, your development WATA, Old Houghton Road, Hartford Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 1YB WATA apprentice ad copy.indd 1
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CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING
If you’re thinking about a career in construction engineering there are plenty of ways to go about it, including academic, vocational and apprenticeship routes. ivil engineering lies at the heart of just about everything that we do – from accessing clean, running water to getting about on our road and rail systems. It‘s a multi-billion pound industry which employs 1,500 people a year and there will always be a need for civil engineers as long as we drive on the roads, need bridges, subways and tunnels and to design and maintain the buildings we live and work in as well as the water and energy systems which supply them. Construction and civil engineering projects are not limited to the UK and you could get the opportunity to work abroad. For a job or career in civil engineering, starting at GCSE level, you will need to have good maths, science and IT skills and a keen eye for form and structure – civil engineers are responsible for planning and designing our built environment as well as constructing and maintaining it. If you choose the academic route you’ll need to take maths and physics A-levels as your core subjects. After this, you could study for a degree in construction, civil engineering or quantity surveying. If you are considering going to university to study one of those subjects, you should go to individual university websites to check out their own particular entry requirements for each area of study. If you don’t want to do A-levels, the alternative option is to study for an equivalent, vocational qualification, such as a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Construction or Engineering. You could study this
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as a stand-alone, full time college course, after which you could progress to a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or a Foundation Degree in construction or engineering. There is a wealth of apprenticeships available in both construction and engineering, at intermediate level 2 up to higher levels 4, 5 and 6. The apprenticeship route combines work-based learning with a national qualification. As an intermediate level apprentice, you could work as a construction operative, laying drainage pipes and pavements or excavating foundations. As a highway maintenance operative, you’d be repairing road surfaces, laying street iron works and kerbs or installing vehicle safety fencing. On an advanced level apprenticeship you could work as a plant mechanic, performing maintenance and repairs on cranes, trucks and other machinery. You could also decide to specialise in hydraulics or electrical components if you wanted to. Higher apprenticeships are also available, which allow access to roles such as site engineer, construction manager, civil engineer technician and quantity surveyor. i Regardless of the route you choose, getting work experience will always help support your application. You could approach employers directly to try to find work experience or you could check out the Year in Industry website – an educational charity which places students with employers to gain experience. ■
“IT‘S A MULTIBILLION POUND INDUSTRY WHICH EMPLOYS 1,500 PEOPLE A YEAR”
For more information go to: www.ice.org.uk/ Education www.etrust.org.uk/ the-year-in-industry/
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want a
world-class music education and training we have courses in...
guitar//vocals//bass//drums//keyboards// singer song-writing//music-tech
QualiďŹ cation we offer
1 and 2 yr BTEC in Music performance (Fully funded for 16-18yrs) 2yr Foundation Degree Music (Student loans) HNC and HND (Scotland only) 1yr BA (Hons) Performance Industries Also‌ Apprenticeships across the UK in the Music Industry.
We have centres in:
Southampton//Swindon//Exeter Birmingham//Aylesbury Gateshead//Glasgow//Edinburgh
email: enquiries@academyofmusic.ac.uk web: www.academyofmusic.ac.uk 38
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CHANGING COURSE
If you change your mind about what you’re studying at college or university it may be possible to swap courses – as long as you tackle it the right way. any students change course or transfer to another university in their first year – usually during their first term. To avoid this happening to you, do as much research as you can about where you want to study and visit all the unis on your shortlist on their Open Days before you apply. This will reduce the likelihood of you choosing the wrong course and having to go through the disruptive process of transferring. Universities advise that you should never rely on being able to transfer and never to apply to do one course, thinking that you’ll be able to change once you’re ‘in’, so to speak. This used to happen frequently but universities wised up to this particular trick a long time ago! If you make up your mind up to change course, act quickly. The longer you leave it the harder it’ll be. There are also financial implications regarding your grant and tuition fees. Dropping out could cost you a lot of money. Some unis expect you to sign up for a year’s worth of accommodation costs up front and won’t let you off or refund you unless you have a really good reason for leaving. You might find yourself with tuition fees and other loans to pay back too and not getting full support subsequently for the course you really want to study. The worst case scenario is to find yourself feeling really out of place, your only option being to transfer to a different course, a different uni or both. Ways to change course will vary from uni to
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uni but most will have similar procedures. Here’s the best way to go about it: • Think really hard about your reasons for wanting to change course and make a list of pros, cons and questions. • Make appointments with your tutor and your head of department. • Put your case to them and see what solutions they come up with. • Be prepared for them to persuade you to stick with what you’re studying but don’t be afraid to argue your case. You may decide that you agree with them at this stage – your worries may have been caused by not understanding how the course works and all you needed was some reassurance. • Be prepared to start over at the same uni as a first year again. This will be the case if you have decided to study an entirely different subject but remember that places are subject to whether there are spaces on the course you want to change to. i If you transfer to another university in order to study a different subject or course, the scenario will be the same – you will need to meet the standard entry requirements for that course and securing a place will be dependent on the spaces are available. Your tutors will advise you about the reapplication process. ■
“IF YOU MAKE YOUR MIND UP TO CHANGE COURSE, ACT QUICKLY.”
For more information go to: www.thestudentroom. co.uk/wiki/Changing_ your_Mind www.university. which.co.uk/advice
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DISTANCE LEARNING
Distance learning means you can study pretty much anything from an HND in electrical engineering to a Level 3 Diploma in Childcare – all from home. istance learning refers to qualifications and courses offered by colleges, universities and other providers which can be studied at home. You work your way through the course online or by using resources which are posted out to you. You could study pretty much any subject you like, at any level from GCSEs to A-levels, a Diploma, HNC or HND, a Foundation Degree, an Honours Degrees, a Professional Certificate, a Master’s Degree or even a PhD. Distance learning is open to anyone but it is especially useful if you fall into one of the following categories:
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• You work full or part time and want to study without giving up your job, perhaps to gain a professional qualification that will help you progress in your career. • You live in a remote area, making it difficult to get to college or university. • You don’t have any formal qualifications – some organisations, such as the Open University allow entry to degree courses without A-levels, for example. • Your personal circumstances make it difficult for you to follow the traditional course of study.
What are the benefits? You can study from home or wherever suits you best, at times which fit in with your
“YOU CAN STUDY FROM HOME OR WHEREVER SUITS YOU BEST, AT TIMES WHICH FIT IN WITH YOUR LIFESTYLE.”
lifestyle. Occasionally, you may have to attend residential courses. Distance learning gives you the opportunity to continue your education, even if you have no previous qualifications. Distance learning costs less than classroombased education and you won’t have to pay extra for accommodation and travel.
What are the drawbacks? You’ll have less interaction with other students than on a traditional course and you may feel isolated and miss the social aspect of classroom learning. Distance learning is not a soft option – it requires commitment and determination and ? it’s down to you and you alone, to do the work.
What support do you get? The level of support you get depends on the organisation you’re studying with but most distance learners are assigned a tutor who will support them through the duration of the course and there will be resources available to them online too.
How much does it cost? Prices vary and depend on which course you’re enrolled on. Some short courses like MOOCs (massive open online courses) are free but a full time Open University degree would cost you around £5,000 a year. Look at individual providers’ websites for costs. ■
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Find out whether you are eligible for a loan, just like any other student, by going to: www.gov.uk/contactstudent-financeengland
for more information go to: www. openstudycollege.com www.icslearn.co.uk/ courses/a-to-z/
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NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
1st January is the perfect day to set yourself some worthwhile, sensible and achievable goals! Roll on 2015! et’s face it – New Year’s resolutions are a bit of a joke. We laugh about them with our mates for about five minutes on new year’s Eve to see who can come up with most ridiculous one. But if you can get your head around the idea that the start of a new year really is the best time to have a good old think about ironing out the bits of your life you’re not happy with and trying something new instead, what’s so wrong with giving it a go? Here are a few ideas to inspire you this New Year…
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Get healthy Let’s get the most boring, obvious one out of the way first! A lot of NY resolutions revolve around losing weight and getting fit – yawn! But a bit of exercise and a few changes to your normal routine will make a difference to your health and wellbeing. Walk to school, to the shop, wherever, have a few early nights every week, have a go at healthy eating and spend less time watching back-to-back box sets! You will notice the benefits!
Learn something new Is there something you’ve always fancied doing but haven’t got around to it yet? Is it something that’s out of your comfort zone? Don’t leave it any longer
– learn how to skateboard, to knit, speak a foreign language, play the guitar, make a cake, play chess… Just pick something and get on with it!
Get a job You’d be surprised at how many people would be happy to pay you handsomely to mow their lawn, tidy up their garden, feed their pets, walk their dogs, coach their kids in maths and babysit the younger ones. Be enterprising! Make yourself a snappy flyer stating what you are prepared to do and when then deliver it to all your neighbours, family members and friends’ parents. Get a diary, be organised and arrange larger jobs to coincide with school holidays when you can get friends to help too.
Do something for someone else Be a less selfish person and you’ll not only make others happy you’ll be happier yourself, which in turn will boost your confidence and open up windows of opportunity in all areas of your life. Be kinder, less grumpy, more helpful, a better listener, less judgemental, more supportive, more caring … and just do the washing up, without being asked once in a while! Volunteer, carry out random acts of kindness, go a whole day without complaining, give someone a compliment! Go on! Give it a try! ■
“…THE START OF A NEW YEAR REALLY IS THE BEST TIME TO HAVE A GOOD OLD THINK ABOUT IRONING OUT THE BITS OF YOUR LIFE YOU’RE NOT HAPPY WITH…”
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how
do
they get the
bubbles in a
ENGINEERING, THAT’S HOW Believe it or not, the bubbles in chocolate bars are created by mechanical engineers.
chocolate bar?
How they do it exactly is a top trade secret, but generally they have to work out how to mix gases found naturally in the air into the chocolate bar under high pressure. Once the mixture is dropped into the moulds, the bubbles grow and the chocolate sets to become the bars we all love.
Meet the employers and academics behind the degree at Sheffield Hallam University’s open days. www.shu.ac.uk/open
If this sounds intriguing and you love maths and science, then the MEng Food Engineering degree at Sheffield Hallam University could be for you. With the MEng Food Engineering degree, you will be well on your way to a fantastic career with one of the UK’s best-loved food and drink brands.
Just some of the many fantastic brands supporting the course include the makers of Kit Kat, Jammy Dodgers, Lurpak, Pepsi, Jordan’s breakfast cereals, Mars Chocolate, Hula Hoops, Jaffa cakes and Coca-Cola. This exciting course started in September 2014 and has been designed by top engineers at some of the UK’s most well-known food and drink companies.
Students on the course will get:
RY A S R U B ! E L B A L AVAI
1. The chance to work with some of the UK’s, and the world’s, greatest food and drink companies including: Burton’s Biscuit Company, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Premier Foods, Mars, McCain Foods, Mondelez International, Nestlé UK, PepsiCo UK, Pork Farms, and Warburtons. For the full list go to www.foodengineer.co.uk 2. Guaranteed, competitively-paid work placements whilst you study - the equivalent of up to £17,000 pro-rata
3. Access to the UK’s first national Centre of Excellence for Food and Drink Engineering, providing the opportunity to participate in advanced level research in real life studies and exposure to cutting edge technology 4 .The opportunity to apply for jobs exclusively on offer to course graduates (subject to final grades, references and employer recruitment processes)
5. Sought after specialist skills and expertise in mechanical, electrical and process engineering, manufacturing and much more 6. A fast-track engineering career, graduating at master’s level and working towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, in the UK’s largest manufacturing sector
Have we whetted your appetite? If so, sign-up for details at www.foodengineer.co.uk Follow us on: #FoodEngineering www.facebook.com/UKFoodEngineer ukfoodengineer.tumblr.com/ 44
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Co-investment from
Employer Investment Fund
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Subscribe Moving On magazine is a free publication devoted to delivering information on careers and qualifications to16 to19 year-olds, their parents and teachers. Moving On is published five times a year to coincide with the academic timetable. As the cost of going to university rises, students have no choice but to think extremely carefully about their education and employment options — apprenticeships, work experience, gap years, further education and higher education all need careful consideration and as we know, every child has individual talents and needs and careers advice must be tailored accordingly. The Moving On editorial team works closely with educational experts, including UCAS, the main Sector Skills Councils, the Student Loan Company and the National Apprenticeship Service, in order to arm our readership with up-to-date information on education and employment.
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GOOD TO KNOW
MYTH BUSTING: THE TOP FIVE BOOZE FAILS
FRANK sets the record straight by busting some of the most common booze myths. hristmas is just around the corner, which means the party season is about to kick off. But what’s the deal with all the drinking? There’s lots of information about the do’s and dont’s of alcohol and it can get confusing...
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Myth: Drinking makes you more confident and fun Busted: Drinking can make you dance like your dad Lots of people think that drinking looks like fun and will make them feel confident. But there are two sides to it – drinking isn’t all laughs. Although we don’t always talk about it much, drinking can cause all kinds of problems. Although drinking alcohol can make you feel more confident, it can also make you do things you wish you hadn’t things that can get caught on camera. Myth: Don’t eat carbs after 8pm Busted: Eat! Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Before you go out, have a meal that includes carbohydrates (such as pasta or rice) or fats. The food will help slow down the body’s absorption of alcohol. Myth: A drink in the morning will cure a hangover Busted: Avoid the hairy dog! Hangover cures like the ‘hair of the dog’ 46
MOVING ON NOV/DEC 2014
(drinking more alcohol in the morning) are generally a myth. There are no cures for a hangover. There are only tips for avoiding hangovers and for easing the symptoms if you have one. If you have a big night out, try to drink a glass of water between alcoholic drinks during the night and take a glass of water with you to bed and sip it through the night. Myth: My friends won’t like me if I don’t drink with them Busted: Friends respect your honesty It is ok not to drink and you should never feel pressurised into doing something you don’t want to do. Remember your friends will respect you more for saying how you feel about drinking. Talking to your friends about the reasons you don’t want to drink can help the situation and you may not be the only one who feels this way. Try arranging to meet them to do other things that don’t involve drinking. Myth: Everyone drinks i Busted: No they don’t! Fewer young people drink alcohol than you would think and remember, it is against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, offlicence, supermarket or on-line.
“IF YOU HAVE A BIG NIGHT OUT, TRY TO DRINK A GLASS OF WATER BETWEEN ALCOHOLIC DRINKS.”
Remember you can talk to FRANK for free and in confidence 24 hours a day on 0300 123 6600.
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Discover your natural potential with Capel Manor College Learn about the world we live in on a course that will bring your career to life
Staying on doesn’t mean staying at school Capel Manor College is London’s largest land-based college with centres across the capital, offering courses and Apprenticeships in horticulture, tree surgery, forestry, landscaping, garden design, animal care, countryside, environmental studies, floristry and balloon artistry. At Capel Manor College we believe in learning by doing. Our full-time courses and Apprenticeships lead to national qualifications (equivalent to GSCEs and A Levels) recognised by industry and universities.
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Our advice evenings will give you the opportunity to find out more about our courses and work out which course is right for you.
Call 08456 122 122 today to take your first step to discovering your natural potential. To find out more, visit www.capel.ac.uk. @capelmanor
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Combining qualifications with experience
APPROVED
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LET’S TALK ABOUT STEAM Undergraduate opportunities for women (and men too!) Are you a woman aged 16+ and wondering why everyone keeps telling you that studying Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics at university is a good idea? We’d be happy to tell you, but we think our students do it better. ‘I chose Brookes as the course has some of the best prospects to work in the automotive and Formula 1 industry after graduating.’ Haseena Mangera, final year student, BEng Mechanical Engineering ‘The ITMB course gave me the skills that differentiated me from a typical Business or IT graduate in the job market.’
Humera Tariq, graudate of BSc Information Technology Management for Business
The Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment offers a wide range of courses for everyone 48
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‘In my placement year I experienced working in a professional media team developing and learning new skills which I can apply in my career.’ Katy Freeman, graduate of BSc Media Technology (now Digital Media Production) ‘My course is interesting, quite challenging but also rewarding. The lecturers offer a good support network’
Molly Fitches, final year student BSc Mathematics and Computer Science ‘Oxford Brookes has given me an abundance of practical experiences as well as deepening my academic study of Music, equipping me well for a career in Music.’ Fiona Muir, final year student BA Music
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