Youth Employment e-Magazine December Edition by Laura-Jane Rawlings

OR ALL F E N I AGAZ

ENT M

PLOYM M E H T A YOU

In this edition: CV Tips Tips on getting into Engineering News on our December campaign How employers can support young people And Much More...

Read our interview with Skills Minister Matthew Hancock MP

y r r me stmas i r h c UK FREE / #12 DECEMBER 2013

welcome

y sylvia mclev Hi itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sylvia, Welcome to the December edition, our campaign month! Throughout December we have been reaching out further than ever before talking to educators, employers and training providers about the barriers young people face when they leave education into the world of work.

With our youth friendly badge we have been educating those who are unsure as to how as a business they can share their knowledge with a young person and help with their lack of work experience. For those who are already doing youth friendly activities we award them either a bronze, silver or gold youth friendly badge and this month we awarded more than ever before. So watch out and get in touch with us when you see them appearing! To our delight the Skills Minister Matthew Hancock applied and received gold for the work he does within his cabinet with young people. In addition to this Matthew endorsed our campaign. We hope this is the beginning of a very long dialogue to educate MPs on how they can begin to find solutions, the youth friendly way to reduce youth unemployment in the UK. Many employers are becoming open minded to lifting those barriers and through our work with educators we have made a start. In our home town we held a Youth Employment UK event bringing together educators, employers, training providers and volunteer organisations for young people. For two hours young people got to see the faces and speak to the many businesses in their own town. However this is not a quick fix and for Youth Employment UK it is only a start. On 13 December the parliamentary report for the third quarter was issued which reported that there are 1.1 million NEETs in the UK. There is much to be done still, so for 2013 we would like to thank all of our supporters, members and friends and look forward to working together to make 2014 the year for youth employment. We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy another packed edition. See you all in the New Year! Sylvia Mclevy

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Labour analysis

Graduate interview How to sell yourself to a future employer Children’s link training Digital bad hair days Expanding your critical thinking ability Five top tips

Youth

Employment UK STEP UP

Be inspired to get the job you love Let passion be your alarm clock Enterprise funds

Meet the apprentice Meet the clackers Top tips for employers Paris’s story YEUK’s Month Rate my apprentice This month we looked at those online contacts

Become a wedding planner

YouthEmploymentUK

Matthew Hancock interview

Youth Employment UK C.I.C Group @yeuk @YEUK2012

Work experience Top tips on engineering Where to go for careers advice

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Which sector recruited the highest number of permanent staff Engineering Blue Collar Nursing/Medical/Care Construction IT & Computing Accounting/Financial Secretarial/Clerical Hotel & Catering Executive/Professional Engineering Blue Collar Nursing/Medical/Care Construction IT & Computing Accounting/Financial Secretarial/Clerical Hotel & Catering Executive/Professional The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is the professional body for the

recruitment sector AND a supporter and member of YEUK. The Report on Jobs is a monthly publication produced by Markit and sponsored by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG LLP. This is a summary of their November Report on Jobs. We would like to thank the REC for their support to YEUK and for allowing us to share this data.

Overall vacancies rise at fastest pace since 1998 Permanent salary growth is at a six year high There is still a lack of candidates coming into the labour market Which sector recruited the highest number of permanent staff 1. Engineering 2. Nursing/Medical/Care 3. IT & Computing 4. Executive/Professional 5. Accounting/Financial 6. Construction 7. Secretarial/Clerical 8. Hotel & Catering 9. Blue Collar

Which sector recruited the highest number of temporary staff 1. Blue Collar 2. Engineering 3. Nursing/Medical/Care 4. IT & Computing 5. Accounting/Financial 6. Secretarial/Clerical 7. Hotel & Catering 8. Executive/Professional 9. Construction

WHAT SKILLS WERE IN DEMAND OR IN SHORT SUPPLY? Accountancy/Financial: Payroll. Blue Collar: Drivers, Trades, Welders. Construction: General construction staff, Health & safety, Rail. Engineering: Aerospace, Civil engineers, General engineering, Structural. Executive/Professional: Business development, Marketing, Media. IT/Computing: Business analysts, C#, C++, Developers, General IT, Java, PHP, Software engineers. Hotel/Catering: Chefs. Nursing/Medical/Care: Nurses. Secretarial/Clerical: Legal secretaries. Other: CAD, Logistics, Sales, Telemarketers. 4

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interview

Here is our interview with Skills Minister Matthew Hancock MP about the future of work and skills in the UK What sectors forecast growth over the next ten years and have opportunities for today’s young people? One of the most exciting industries which have a number of opportunities for young people is engineering. This industry has a vital role to play in the future of the UK and plays a big part in a range of businesses, including those in space, transport, medicine, technology, food, fashion, construction and much more. Engineers work in lots of different settings – in offices, laboratories, recording studios, hospitals, underground and at sea. The wide variety of jobs available is exciting and I would encourage young people to find out more about the different career paths a trained engineer could take. In addition to engineering opportunities which are UK-wide, it is also important to know about the situation locally. The new National Careers Service provides job market information and access to the right kind of advice about preferences, suitability and what qualifications are required. Sector factsheets detailing key job market information are available covering skills shortage areas, regional employment trends and the qualifications that relate to them. We want to make as much labour market data available to young people as we can in a way that helps them to make the right choices and plan their careers. What skills do you think are most needed for future employment? It’s what employers think that is important. Employers are clear that

literacy and numeracy are crucial employability skills. That’s why we have put English and Maths at the heart of our reforms. We want all young people to continue to study English and Maths post-16 if they haven’t already achieved GCSE A* - C in those subjects and we are raising expectation in English and Maths within Apprenticeships. Do you think education is preparing the youth of today for those skills? As well as English and Maths, a good transition from full-time education into work is critical and we also want to ensure that young people continue to develop their skills. As part of that transition we’ve introduced new Study Programmes for 16 to 19 year olds, tailored to the students’ prior attainment and career aspirations. Schools and colleges know their students best, so we have given them the flexibility to tailor study programmes to meet the needs of the individuals who study them. We have a programme of reforms underway, for instance we propose to replace the existing ICT curriculum with one that is more ambitious. We are incentivising schools and colleges to deliver qualifications that support transition and progression from school to further education and university and equip our young people to enter an Apprenticeship or other skilled occupation.

to the needs of employers. The best vocational training is outstanding – it is as competitive to secure an Apprenticeship place with some employers as it is to enter the most competitive universities and we now want all vocational training to achieve the levels of the best. Our planned changes will raise the status of Further Education and improve the quality of Apprenticeships by putting employers and learners in the driving seat. What plans do you have as the skills minister to ensure the UK has the skilled workforce it needs? We want to establish a new norm that young people either take up an Apprenticeship or go into Higher Education. We also want to develop more Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships that provide clear pathways into further learning including Higher Education, so that young people progress between the two - and into professional careers. These are the levels of aspirations we are encouraging. Not all young people will be ready for an Apprenticeship place, so we have introduced traineeships which provide focused help to unemployed young people aged 16-23, including English and Maths if required and a high quality work placement, to give them the skills and experience they need to successfully enter the labour market and take up an Apprenticeship.

What can organisations do to support skill development? The main thing we want to improve is the quality and rigour in the skills system - in Apprenticeships, qualification, teaching and testing - and to ensure that skills provision responds

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Name: Farrah Ekeroth Age: 24 Degree: BSc Business and Economics Can you give us a brief summary of your background? I attended university in Sweden where I obtained a bachelors degree in Business and Economics. During my second year, I spent two semesters on exchange in Newcastle and Nottingham before returning to Sweden for my final year. In between my exchange semesters, I completed a summer internship with Centrica where I worked as a Customer Communications Executive at British Gas for ten weeks. Having enjoyed my time at the company I applied to their marketing graduate programme and was fortunate to have secured a place on the 2012 intake. Did you apply for or consider any graduate schemes? I applied to various summer internship programmes in my second year of university. I would highly recommend summer placement programmes to anyone wanting to test the waters before committing to a graduate scheme. Did you do any volunteering while you were at University? 6

YEUK MAGAZINE

Yes, I ran a number of university events such as our annual International Day. I also volunteered as a Finance Assistant for Oxfam during my time in the UK. It helped me secure relevant experience for my CV. What careers advice did you seek during your University study? During my time at university I found employer presentations to be particularly useful. I also found careers services to be extremely helpful when completing online applications for summer placement programs. How did you find job hunting post-university? How long was it until you found work? After a final presentation and interview whilst on my summer placement, I was fortunate to have been accepted onto the Centrica graduate scheme. Have you done any unpaid internships? Do you think they are valuable schemes? I have only undertaken paid work experience in the past but believe that unpaid internships offer a great opportunity to hone skills and network with potential future employers.

Are you employed now? Yes, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in my second rotation of the Centrica graduate programme where I am working on the Brand team at British Gas. In my current role I work on an educational programme for children called Generation Green. Could you tell us how your employer supports employment? Centrica recruits over 70 summer placement students every year with the intention of increasing future prospects and providing interns with transferable skills. In addition to the summer internship programme, we also recruit over 60 graduates across 12 distinct streams every year. What advice would you give to people who are searching for employment? Start considering your options as early as possible. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s becoming increasingly difficult to obtain a job following university when you have no relevant past experience. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re unable to obtain work experience during university think about any extracurricular or volunteering activities that you can get involved in. These will enable you to develop the practical knowledge and skills that graduate employers are looking for in candidates.

If you are 16-24 then youth unemployment should be something you care about, if not for you then for some of the 1 MILLION young people currently NEET. We are working hard to fight youth unemployment but we need you, we want your voices to be at the heart of our work. Become a FREE member of Youth Employment UK CIC, Step Up to our Positive Youth Charter and help us make the difference you want to see. Visit us online at: www.yeuk.org.uk Call: 08444 143 101 Email: info@yeuk.org.uk

YouthEmploymentUK Youth Employment UK C.I.C Group @yeuk @YEUK2012

YEUK MAGAZINE

news & analysis

Landing a job can be a long, tough road – from catching their eye with your cover letter to finally dazzling them on interview day. But every step is a golden opportunity to show off your best bits. Make the most of every milestone with a few top tips: The clue is in the job title (and description) Read the advertisement and description with a very close eye: they’re full of clues to the company’s ideal candidate. After that, it’s a matching game. Review your experience and pull out examples from your work and educational history where you put the required skills to the test. A wealth of experience Even if you’re just starting out, you have a strong story to tell. When they’re properly presented, summer jobs, school and university projects, extra-curricular activities, voluntary work and hobbies can all contribute to your sales pitch. If it matches the job criteria, it counts. Polish up the hidden gems Putting a professional spin on your outside-of-work activities can help crank up your credentials enormously. Arranging a local charity event, for example, demonstrates an attractive range of skills and attributes – from budget planning and supplier management to delivering on a deadline. Know your stuff A confident delivery at interview carries a great deal of weight, so become an expert on your own experience. Practise out loud how you’ll answer commonly asked questions and learn how to paint your excellent organisational skills or knack for negotiation in the best possible light.

What they’re asking for...

Good examples to use...

Communication skills

Anything that puts your writing, speaking and listening skills to the test. This includes speeches, presentations, written and oral reports, dissertations, blogs (if relevant, clean and work-related), telephone work, debating society, newsletter contributions, amateur dramatics and school or campus newsletter, newspaper or magazine contributions.

Project management

When have you had to plan, organise and co-ordinate a range of tasks to achieve a single goal? This could mean organising events (for charity, school or university), coursework, working to a deadline, dealing with budgets, planning and co-ordinating a group of people.

Team work

Think of the times you’ve had to work with others or contribute to a group to succeed. Sports teams, academic societies, group projects at school or university and involvement with youth activities are all great examples.

Leadership

When have others looked to you for expertise and guidance? In addition to any supervisor or team management roles, think along the lines of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, mentoring, team captaincy, camp counselling, Scouts or Guides etc.

Commercial awareness

Think of examples that show off your knowledge of how business works. These could include Young Enterprise, summer jobs, internships and work experience.

YEUK MAGAZINE

Inspire2Exceed InspireEducation – Raising Aspirations & Employability Skills

Careers Education Programmes InspireEducation has developed 6 programmes that aim to motivate students about the world of work and teach them the skills they need to manage their own careers independently. All of our programmes are mapped to the principles of Statutory Impartial Advice and Guidance and the recommendations of the Matrix Standard. Furthermore of all our trainers are CRB checked and undergo regular CPD to support their development and expertise.

Why Choose InspireEducation? Our programmes have proven to meet these objectives:

Workshops Charged At

£5 Per Student

• To achieve academic excellence. • Motivating C/D students to achieve C+ results. • To reduce the number of NEET. • Inspire students to independently manage their futures. • Deliver excellent quality Impartial Advice and Guidance. We can work in support of your existing IAG provision or support your organisation in the absence of one.

Range Of Careers Education InspireEducation has an expertise in all things work related learning. We can oﬀer bespoke programmes to suit the needs of individual education organisations. We can oﬀer the following types of events and ensure that their cost and learning outcomes meet your personalised needs: • Careers Fairs • Work Related Learning Events • Impartial Advice and Guidance Programmes • Enterprise Days All of our programmes meet the highest standards that you will come to expect when working with InspireEducation. Inspirational Careers and Employability Specialists Careers Workshops – Next Steps, Employable Me, CV Writing, Interview Preparation Personal Development Programmes – Goal Setting, Motivation and Aspiration, Employability Skills Enterprise Events . Work Related Learning Days . FREE Careers Resources for Schools CE/IAG CPD Events . Employability Award for Schools

Call us on 01536 745 377 . Email us at info@i2e-education.co.uk Find us online at www.i2e-education.co.uk

Inspire Education 28 Buttercup Close, Oakley Vale, Corby, Northamptonshire YEUK MAGAZINE NN18 8LB 9

Which sector recruited the highest number of permanent staff Engineering Blue Collar Nursing/Medical/Care Construction IT & Computing Accounting/Financial Secretarial/Clerical Hotel & Catering Executive/Professional Engineering Blue Collar Nursing/Medical/Care Construction IT & Computing Accounting/Financial When you are asked to picture young people in society, what images do you see? Secretarial/Clerical Hotel &Unemployed, Catering Couch Potato, ASBO, Violence, Hoodies? Executive/Professional

Young people engaged on the Children’s Links Traineeship programme that started this week would like to share their views on the reality of being a young person in today’s society. As young people are heavily criticised in the media they would like to set some of false preconceptions straight. “Just because we walk around our town, carrying a bag doesn’t give anyone the right to assume that it contains a weapon or drugs”. You need to look past young people’s appearances; they have a willingness to learn and to grow in a work environment. If you look at a teenager in the street, you may see is piercings, tattoos and dyed hair. These are symbols of individuality not intelligence. He/she may be young parent who has completed courses and is qualified in their chosen career. However, constant stereotyping has an effect on confidence, but doesn’t stop the willingness for them to make a life for themselves and their families. Every teenager can make their family proud even if they take a slight detour in their path of choice! No one is perfect and we all have unplanned diversions! The stereotypes of young people who have a disability or additional needs is that they are claiming benefits and not capable of work. However this is not true in all cases. There are many young people who are willing to work but just need to be given the opportunity to prove that during an interview. The ‘Positive about Disabled people symbol (two ticks) allows employers to be committed to employing disabled people. If a job advert displays the symbol, applicants with a disability will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the basic conditions for the job. This allows people with a disability to avoid discrimination at the application stage.It is important that Employers give young people a chance and support them to develop their skills. You are unlikely to employ a young person that brings all the skills and qualifications that you are looking for when they leave education for the world of work. However with the right levels of support they will be suitable for your company to employ long term. There are opportunities out there for everyone. The important thing is not to assume that all young people want to sit around for the rest of their lives, some are choosing to take part in training schemes such as Traineeships. Traineeships give young people aged 16-24 years old an opportunity to access workshops that focus on employability and functional skills. They can be from 6 weeks to 6 months dependent on the needs of the individual. They provide quality work placement opportunities to enable young people to make informed career and education decisions. Children’s Links Traineeships are not all Children’s Services related as we can work in partnership with other organisations to offer other career progression opportunities. We are looking for employers in the area to provide work experience placements and are working with Careers Advice and Guidance agencies in the area to identify the young people who would benefit from this training opportunity. For further information please phone the Training Team 0845 373 0645. We hope that reading this you seen at young people differently in the future. You were once in younger shoes. Give a helping hand along the way. Josh Tompkins & Jess Jones 10

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We need you to help us fight youth Unemployment and we are currently recruiting Youth Ambassadors! What our Youth Ambassadors do...

A little...

A bit more...

A lot more...

Send tweets Share updates Write for the monthly E-magazine Support other Ambassadors

Joining us at events Creating content for web sites Running the forum Support other Ambassadors

Leading on a local project raising the profile of YEUK Connect with business Run events Run campaigns in your area

Our ambassadors can spend up to two hours a month others up to ten, as long as you are passionate about making a difference to youth unemployment, you can give us much time as you are willing.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in it for you...? Be part of an exciting organisation making a difference. Be part of a team. Rewards & recognition. Training and support. Actively contribute to your CV with work experience. Annual Ambassadors celebration and awards. Visit us online at: www.yeuk.org.uk Call: 08444 143 101 Email: info@yeuk.org.uk

YouthEmploymentUK Youth Employment UK C.I.C Group @yeuk @YEUK2012

YEUK MAGAZINE

news & analysis

Have you ever pressed ‘Enter’ on your keyboard or mobile and immediately regretted it? Most of us have let our fingers do the talking prematurely at some point in our lives. It can lead to all kinds of trouble whether you are looking for a job or you are already employed. Take the recruitment consultant who sent an email to his colleagues for a laugh, expressing his disdain for some of his clients and highlighting the behaviours that really irritated him. Unfortunately, he sent it to everyone in his address book by mistake! Imagine the storm of protest when the media got hold of the story. Then there was the employee who decided to update his LinkedIn profile by ticking the box indicating he was looking for “career opportunities”. Only problem was that his current employer was none too pleased and he was sacked! Twitter is another social media disaster waiting to happen for the careless. Remember the man who was flying to the US on holiday from Doncaster Airport, but there was a runway closure? He tweeted lightheartedly that he was going to blow the airport up unless the airport got its act together. He got arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Squad! Finally, my friend Jessica met up with an old friend, but it had not been a success. She texted her daughter to say what a pain her friend had been all weekend and accidentally sent it to her friend instead of her daughter. It took a while to repair that friendship! So, the lessons from these digital disasters are to pause before pressing enter, to go away for a period before returning to read what you intend to send (or asking someone you trust to have a look first), to check you have the right destination for your message and only then fire your words of wisdom into cyberspace. David Shindler www.employabilitycoaching.co.uk 12

YEUK MAGAZINE

Did you know that Maths expands your critical thinking ability and enables you to think logically? Those are just a few reasons why we need to learn Maths Maths isn’t all about sums, calculating area and complex equations; it is about learning long term life skills that come into play in everyday life... Working out an hourly rate against household expenses When to start cooking dinner to serve at a set time

that perhaps math’s is important Careers Education Program after all. The employment InspireEducation has developed 6 landscape has changed theskills they nee and teachwith them the are mapped to the principles of St increase in IT based employment; Matrix Standard. maths is now an the essential skill Furthermore development and expertise. for some of thesetheir newer emerging roles. Why Choose InspireEducati

Our programmes have proven to m

Current news stories on PPI’s show • To achieve academic that even banks play into to the excellence. • Motivating C/D students to achiev general public’s lack of common • To reduce the number of NEET. numeracy knowledge - would they • Inspire students to independently have sold so many if the general • Deliver excellent public really understood whatquality they Impartia were signing for?We can work in support of your exi

Range Of Careers Education

If the 20% sale is worth it before you get to the till

Algebra and geometry may has an expertise seem like Latin toInspireEducation you, but if you suit the needs of individual educat understand why that these will theirskills cost and learning outcom help you long-term then you will like the learning! • Careers Fairs

If you have enough petrol in the tank to get where you are going

• Work Related Learning Events • Impartial Advice to and Guidance Think SMART when it comes learning maths • Enterprise Days

Work out bus timetables The increase in mature students into Math’s at remedial level shows //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

All of our programmes meet the hi InspireEducation.

Inspirational Careers and Employ

Careers Workshops – Next Steps, Employable Me, CV W Personal Development Programmes – Goal Setting, M Enterprise Events . Work Related Learning Days . FRE CE/IAG CPD Events . Employability Award for Schools YEUK MAGAZINE

Call us on 01536 745 377 . Email Find us online at www.i2e-educatio

Youth

Employment >

UK STEP UP

• 1 in 5 Young people are currently unemployed. • This has a knock on effect for all of us.

• We do not think it is good enough for a 21st century UK!

There is a lot going on in youth unemployment. Lots of organisations trying to support young people, lots of employers who want to help, lots of initiatives, lots of young people looking for help. But no one joins the dots until...

Membership & Campaigning

Monthly E-Magazine

Volunteer Youth Ambassador

Youth Friendly Badge

Positive Youth Charter

Online Platforms

Youth Employment UK came along, wanting to connect the dots, bring young people and employers together, and make sure everyone gets their voices heard. We know that only by working together can we make the biggest change. Now Youth Employment UK CIC is the only dedicated campaigning and membership organisation committed to fighting youth unemployment.

Youth Committees

YouthEmploymentUK Youth Employment UK C.I.C Group @yeuk @YEUK2012

Are you a youth friendly business? This is the national FREE Youth Friendly Badge. Organistions with this badge have committed to doing their bit for young people.

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Are you Youth Friendly? If so let’s get you signed up and tell the world.

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news & analysis

Research, Research , Research – the more you know about the company you are applying to and understand what you might be doing if you got that job, the easier you will find it to write a really good CV demonstrating you have the right skills for the job. Get the basics right – break your CV up into sections. Education, Jobs/ work experience, Extra- Curricular activities (long word, but it means all the other things you have been involved with at School and College, Art/ Drama, projects, clubs etc.), Interests including Sport, Arts, Volunteering, Youth groups such as Scouts and finally Achievements such as awards (Duke of Edinburgh is a good one), volunteering, anything you have done that you are proud of. Make connections – read the job description and link what they are looking for to your experience. If they are looking for someone who is bright, tell them about your exam results and subjects you studied. If they want a person who is able to work well with other people highlight experiences where you have worked with others such as part time work or in sports teams. Presentation is everything – Make it look good on the page, not with colours and fancy fonts but by making it clear, well laid out and easy to read, remember that it has to be read by someone who does not know you. Check it and then check it again – It is very difficult to proof read your own work, ask someone whose opinion you value (teacher/ boss) to read it through and ask them what they think, are you selling all of your skills? I bet they will remind you of something you missed out! – Good Luck These tips were put together by Simon Bason a careers specialist, Simon is a Youth Employment UK Member and InspireEducation Trainer. You can find out more about Simons work at http://www.brighttrack.co.uk/#

YEUK MAGAZINE

This month we spoke to our friend Eve Lawrence, Peterborough, she shared with us inspirations that lead her from one career, to a very different other! The Royal Navy to Disney into Media then Events in Motor Sports where she is today! Eve told us, If you’d have asked when I was five years old what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’d have said a Scalectrix driver or a Princess! The serious answer was the Armed Forces. Both my parents were in the Forces so I naturally drifted in this direction. I finished my GCSE’s and continued onto A’ Levels, as required by the Royal Navy with 4 A’ Levels under my belt - without missing a beat, I joined in June 2000. Four years later my Dad underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery, I made the extremely difficult decision to leave. After that I fell into the media profession by accident when a friend gave me a job at a shopping channel in Peterborough. I then spent the next few years bouncing from job to job within the industry, not really knowing where I was going. I had immense fun and worked for some huge corporations like The Walt Disney Company and Al Jazeera News. I worked in some amazing countries like Texas and Qatar and generally had a great time. But I knew media wasn’t for me.

stint at Bauer Media and I sat there one day & said to myself, “I’m going to Google the job I really want & see what happens”. I typed into the search engine “Motor sport events jobs” & after years of changing jobs every year, it landed me where I am now; A Project Manager of Events for Honda UK’s Motorcycle Division, I love my work and it’s the first time I’ve ever been able to say that. I organise events from corporate days for racers like Marc Marquez, to big shows like Motorcycle Live. It’s busy & demanding but I love every minute. I have my Mum and Dad to thank for where I am today! My Mum has always pushed me to succeed, which has been detrimental to our friendship many times, but she’s made me strong. Between my Mum leaving and his heart operation my Dad has made me realise anything is possible, nothing in life comes easily, it’s how we cope with the hard times that defines us! Ironically it was Soichiro Honda that said; “Success is 99% failure and 1% inspiration”. Always follow your dreams and if it doesn’t work out in the first, second or even ninety ninth attempt, keep trying & never give up! If you have a job you love! Share how you got there with us at YEUK!

I Knew Media wasn’t for me! I was working at Disney when my parents split up in 2009. This affected me more than I ever care to admit & changed me as a person. My Dad went through a really tough time, to the point where I thought he was going to do the unthinkable; I had to be with him 24/7 for a year, he needed me. I went back to work at Disney after a year & a short //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Blessing Maregere, one of our brilliant YEUK Youth ambassadors he shared with us a new venture he started in November this year. Blessing is a a Young Entrepreneur, Author and Youth speaker. He launched his own campaign to help inspire young people to follow their passion and let their passion be their alarm clock!

drive success. Blessing said ‘I believe I am successful, not because I have a lot of money but because I am doing something I am passionate about. What is your passion? Let your passion be your alarm clock’ As part of the campaign young business man Blessing will be going around schools and universities across the country as part of his campaign he launched at TEdx Youth Croydon Event to inspire young people to follow their own passion.

Born in Zimbabwe and moved to UK in 2006 to live with family has Blessing has experienced a unique journey in life, from setting up his first business at 16, publishing his own book at 18 and running 3 Blessing will be visiting schools and businesses now also owns his own universities to inspire young people Estate Agency based in Leeds. Let Your Passion be Your Alarm Clock aims to inspire young people in UK by Set up his own business at 16 Blessing sharing his success story and inspiring young people to follow their own As a Young Entrepreneur he launched ‘Let passion. Blessing said ‘Business is my alarm Your Passion Be Your Alarm Clock’ On clock. What is your alarm clock? Saturday 16th of November when he was Everyone is different and everyone will invited to speak at Tedx Youth in Croydon have different passion. Don’t listen to your London. Tedx is part of a universal Tedx parents or friends who tell you what to do youth Day which is a series of events with your future. This is your future you happening in 42 countries. It’s a platform need to create it.’ for young people to share ideas and inspire young people. Blessing believes if young people follow their own passion they will be successful. When you don’t need an alarm clock to A platform for young people wake you up in the morning that’s when you know you are on the road to success. Blessing’s campaign is a vision to inspire and motivate young people to follow their passion so they can be successful. He believes following your own passion will

Are you 16-24 & worried about youth unemployment? Is your business a Youth Friendly employer? School, College or University invested in your students employment prospects? Want to do something positive today to help tackle youth unemployment?

Visit us online at: www.yeuk.org.uk Call: 08444 143 101 Email: info@yeuk.org.uk

YouthEmploymentUK Youth Employment UK C.I.C Group @yeuk @YEUK2012

YEUK MAGAZINE

Are you an innovator? Like to tackle the unknown? Highly motivated by challenging/competitive work situations? We would call you and Entrepreneur!! Entrepreneurships is essential for the growth of the UK’s economy, with youth unemployment at an all-time high, the economy needs you! It is not always easy to know where to start or even to have the confidence to go out there on your own. Ccurrently there is financial support available through job centre plus! The new enterprise allowance scheme (NEA) is accessible from Job Centre Plus and may be the boost you’re looking for...

a specialist you could potentially receive financial and practical support. Once your plan is approved the NEA will provide funding (non payback) from sources in your area and in addition loans which are to be paid back from independent companies when needed across the regions. Support can include a volunteer mentor for guidance and support to explore your business idea and advancing it to a plan, bookkeeping workshops and practical advice in marketing, individual early trading help and much more. Further support will begin once trading commences and benefit ends. Financial help consists of weekly payments to the value of £1,274 over the first six months and further assistance will be provided for disabled participants including specialist equipment, support workers and travel costs. Talk to your Jobcentre today!

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YEUK MAGAZINE

Become a…Wedding/Event Planner The job market is a very daunting place at the best of times, which means in the current economic climate there are many of us who feel lost finding an exciting and rewarding career path. Young people are one of the most affected age groups, with 1 in 5 university graduates not finding work within 6 months of leaving university. An official parliamentary report (www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn05871.pdf) revealed this month that 1.7 million 16-24 year olds are economically inactive (not in or looking for work), this equates to 21%. The figures make for depressing reading, despite the economic downturn there are a number of industries that have experienced growth and they are the industries you should be targeting to forge a career with prospects. Event and wedding planning has become big business in the age of the “celebrity” with the general public craving that perfect white wedding or luxury event. Now an established industry, opportunities for young people are growing. The nature of the business demands a fast paced and enthusiastic workforce which matches the traits of many young people looking for work. The industry with its glitz and glamour has seen a large number of new businesses sprouting up to supply their services in planning the perfect event or wedding. The low entry barriers and little investment needed to start a business like this means it is a low risk proposition. If you have the artistic flair to give Elton John a run for his money then this is the perfect industry in which to pursue a career. The wedding industry currently stands at $50.6 billion worldwide and the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/02/weddingindustry_n_3002354.html#slide=more289784) estimates that the wedding planning market is set to see a 2.3% increase in size by 2018. This dynamic and exciting industry could be the perfect way for you to gain valuable on the job experience. There are a number of different paths you could take to become a wedding or event planner. There are a number of University courses that focus directly on the subject and provide an excellent platform to be ready for a job role immediately after graduating. If the time and cost of university seems too much for you, there are some excellent dedicated distance learning courses (http://www.ncchomelearning.co.uk/eventweddingplannercoursescategory-22.html) that give you the opportunity to learn from home and at your own pace. The courses cost around £300 and are at level 3 (equivalent to A-Levels). By Luis Jones NCC Resources

news & analysis

NCC holds a strong emphasis on youth employment, with many of the current full-time staff quota being made up of individuals who originally started life as an apprentice. We have got together with NCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest web support assistant to get his views on apprenticeships. Working his way steadily through the apprenticeship, Dan was able to learn all the different aspects of the business and gain an understanding of how the industry works. Dan was interviewed for an internal position of web development assistant and passed with flying colours to gain the post. Dan will now focus on working alongside the business development team and understanding the technical aspects of web development. What is your background, how did you get on at school, what made you decide to go into an apprenticeship, what were/are your career ambitions? I attended a high school from 2005-2010 and passed all of my GCSEs. I went on to enrol in the sixth form, until internet I came across an apprenticeship with NCC on the internet. I forwarded my CV to the office manager, got invited in for an interview, dropped out of sixth form and started here. Did you enjoy your role as an apprentice? Very much, my role as an apprentice gave me a chance to learn how the company works. I worked in all the departments as an apprentice, gaining some vital experience. How did you find your apprenticeship, what was the process like, did you have to have certain qualifications or experience, was there an interview? I found the apprenticeship advertised on a website but instead of applying through the website I contacted a man at St Helens College directly with my CV who then forwarded it on to Catherine. I got an email back a few days later for an interview and I took my CV and certificates along. We spoke about the job role and what would be expected of me. Did your lifestyle or priorities change in any way once you got an apprenticeship? Before I began the apprenticeship with NCC I was a very cheeky person and sometimes a bit immature. I now feel I have grown up and look seriously at things. How hard was it to get a job in your chosen field? How many did you apply for before finding the right one? The apprenticeship with NCC was the first one I applied for in this field so I guess I was quite lucky to get an interview straight away. How does your permanent role differ from your apprenticeship? The role I have is new so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always looking for things to add to it. The title of my position is Website Support Assistant. How did you find managing studies alongside working commitments? Most of the work was practical and required an assessor to come and monitor me in my everyday role. Sometimes it was voice recorded other times it was noted. There was some written work but I was given extra time for it. What tips or advice would you give to anybody thinking of getting an apprenticeship? Go ahead if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for an apprenticeship. Be sure to choose carefully which apprenticeship to go for and who to do the apprenticeship with.

YEUK MAGAZINE

Recruitment

Raising Your Profile

We are reaching out to thousands of young people across the UK through our e-magazine, social media and membership. All of our members are promoted to our young supporters:

We are committed to supporting our members and ensuring they are a big part of our work. Our members get to:

. All young members can access our employer members database. . You can promote your recruitment pages through our members database and social media channels. . You can promote your events to our young supporters . You can attend our events and will be offered opportunities to present to our network of education ambassadors* . Expert support for your recruitment strategy and youth engagement programmes*

. Contribute editorial and case studies for our e-magazine. . Have your logo on our website and in our e-magazine. . Be seen on our members database. . Receive support through our social media channels. . Get involved in our events, competitions and lobbying work. . Work with a dedicated account manager * (*corporate members only)

(*corporate members only)

Information

CSR

All of our members get unlimited access to our online platform and information services:

As a not-for-profit we reinvest 100% of our membership income to developing the services and support for young people across the UK.

. Good Practice Documents . E-Bulletins . E-Magazine . Online Forum . Networking . Resources & Guides . Discounts for YEUK events

. You will be supporting our lobbying and campaigning work. . Sign up for the free national Youth Friendly badge and show your business supports our young generation. . All members have to sign the Positive Youth Charter which shows a deep commitment to youth engagement. . Simply with your support you are investing in a unique and progressive youth organisation.

Visit us online at: www.yeuk.org.uk Call: 08444 143 101 Email: info@yeuk.org.uk

YouthEmploymentUK Youth Employment UK C.I.C Group @yeuk @YEUK2012

YEUK MAGAZINE

news & analysis

European Commission focuses on IT education for young people Meet the Clickers - a video series to teach young people how IT can help them gain the skills they need as part of Digital Agenda Strategy The European Commission has released a series of videos to encourage young people to engage with IT and learn more about how concepts like cloud computing affect their everyday lives. The lack of computer skills amongst young people is damaging job prospects and the videos are one of the initiatives to improve that situation. The videos produced focus on the Clickers, a fictional family that are put into different scenarios to demonstrate how IT affects the day-to-day lives of ordinary people. These videos include ‘Granny Gets Fast Internet’, ‘More Girls Digital’, which features Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda and “The Clickers and the Cloud’ which explains the function of cloud computing in everyday life. In recent years there has been much discussion about the way IT should be taught to young people, with proposals for a shift to more learning about programming itself rather than just learning how to use existing applications. Regardless, there has continued to be a distinct lack of confidence among young people when it comes to learning about IT which is slowly resulting in an IT skills gap which may start to harm their job prospects. Earlier this year the Prince’s Trust conducted its Digital Literacy Survey, questioning 1,378 young people and it revealed that 18 per cent of respondents do not think their computer skills are good enough and 17 per cent do not apply for jobs which require basic computer skills. The production of these videos is part of the European Commission’s Digital Agenda Strategy to help digital technologies, including the Internet, to deliver sustainable economic growth and it hopes that it will ignite interest in IT among young people. Robert Madelin, Director General of DG Connect says “Learning about IT and finding out the best ways to use it should be a vital aim for young people today. It has never been more important to be IT literate, especially with a job market which is increasingly placing emphasis on IT skills. The Clickers videos have been designed to showcase how IT is a part of every aspect of our lives, including school and business. This is why the Commission is dedicated to giving young people opportunities to become part of the Digital Agenda. Our Horizon 2020 belongs to them!” To watch the videos, please visit the European Commission’s YouTube page here: http://www.youtube. com/playlist?list=PLyMUk47rPuqoK63wy7FHPjyVcTywKyEor More Information For more details, please visit the Digital Agenda Website. The Digital Agenda is part of the Horizon 2020 initiative of the European Commission.

YEUK MAGAZINE

In our changing jobs market how employment is sought by today’s youth has changed too!

Take away the barriers -really consider what sort of applicant you are looking for and remove anything that may put the best talent off the role. Keep it simple!

Newspaper advertising is of little use unless you are hoping to reach the parents of today’s youth so they will pass on the information. Today’s 16-24 year olds are networking through social media sites, discussing their dream jobs and who they are going to get them with.

Also consider putting an online assessment in place as research has shown this to be effective. It also enables direct feedback to applicants with advice such as how long to wait before reapplying.

It might be time to consider; Using an online jobs board or Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. “Refer a friend” programmes need careful guidelines in place but can be really affective. Current employees will only refer a friend they know to be reliable when their own credibility is at stake.

Consider setting up a reply to unsuccessful applicants that includes the suggestion of them joining Youth Employment UK. Young people can join our organisation for free and get access to careers advice, job hunting tips and links to other opportunities. It means you can support unsuccessful candidates simply and effectively leaving them with a great feeling about your organisation.

Always make sure the message you are giving is clear and concise. Save the jargon for training once they have come through the door, particularly on social media sites which are often just glanced at. Make it stand out and keep it simple!

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This month Paris Alexandra from London shared his story from unemployment to employment through the help of Teens and Toddlers. A huge thank you to Paris and Teens and Toddlers. Teens and toddlers inspire disengaged young people from disadvantaged areas to succeed at school, in work and in the community. They do this by giving them the life skills and self-belief they need to understand who they are, who they can become and what they can achieve. Paris says that before he was put on the Teens and Toddlers project he was often in trouble at school. “I had severe anger issues due to an unstable family life at home and I did not have a steady role model as my father was not around. My father was in and out of prison and I did not have any contact with him. When I was 14 I started the Teens and Toddlers programme. Working with my toddler allowed me to appreciate and understand the value and importance of a having a positive father figure/ male role model in a child’s life. To see the impact I had with my toddler over the 18 week project taught me about the responsibility of having a child and being there for him/her as it is a full time job that you cannot quit even in the hardest of times” “Since joining the Youth Led Consultancy Board (YLCB) in 2012, I learnt how to speak publically for the first time with confidence as before my dyslexic thinking would hinder me and I would feel embarrassed if I did not get the right words out. Now I do not feel ashamed if I make a mistake. I have had many opportunities by being a member of the YLCB such as mentoring, ongoing one to one support, counselling, group bonding trips out with other group members, training workshops. Through the YLCB I have been able to acknowledge my leadership skills and I am currently implementing these skills to positive affect with the staff I am currently training at my new place of work at Debenhams in Oxford Street.

YEUK MAGAZINE

Here’s what has been up to since the last edition! World Skills Show One of the biggest careers events in the calendar, and it’s free to visit! We went along on the Saturday - the last day of the three day show; in fact our CEO took her 9 year old son, how’s that for inspiring the next generation!! Leading up to the show there are major apprenticeship competitions, apprentices in every area compete to be the “best apprentice in their field”. Finalists are then invited to the Birmingham show for the finals and the awards. The stands that attend cover almost every sector and so many careers. Our 9 year old ambassador loved it, getting the chance to try lots of activities and to be inspired by so many young apprentices! It will definitely be in our calendar for next year!! Skills London Skills London is an amazing event held in the Excel on Victoria and Albert docks. Everything from colleges, universities... One day at this event doesn’t do it justice. We had an amazing time meeting and introducing Youth Employment UK to stall holders and young people. One of our brilliant ambassadors came along and told us how the event had inspired him! Opening Doors Tottenham Hotspurs! YEUK sends a huge thank you to the team at Opening Doors. We had a brilliant day, meeting young people and sharing information about the national campaign and our new website. Giving young people CV advice and sign-posting our members and all those we connect with was a great way to see the expertise of YEUK doing what it does best - helping young people. Laura-Jane had the pleasure of leading a debate with young people on the issues of youth unemployment. Job Centre Plus teams in West Midlands We went along to a training and information day with a number of the JCP and DWP network. We talked about partnership working and how our young members’ careers portal can support their clients and how the Youth Friendly badge could be awarded to so many of their customers. Tresham College We were invited along to meet with students at Tresham College to talk about YEUK and the benefits to them of youth membership. The College, which has now joined our Education Ambassadors, is supporting YEUK in a big way by talking to students about their involvement and also using the Youth Friendly badge when talking with their employer network!

EY EY once were Ernst and Young and have newly become ‘EY’. Laura-Jane had the pleasure of talking with their school leaver program developer about the work of YEUK and how we can support an organisation such as EY and what they can do to show their Youth Friendly colours - watch this space! Wembley We were delighted to present at Wembley stadium during Positive Directions’ (part of Skills Training Ltd) celebration. It was great to sit with the young people as they received their certificate of achievements and watch how the local community of employers is supporting these young people! Corby Connection Event At our first Youth Employment Event in our home town we brought together local employers, training providers and volunteer organisations to meet with local young people. Sometimes it’s not always easy to know what is on your doorstep and so the connection event is a really simple way of bringing to life what we do online to a local community. The event was supported by one of our youth ambassadors and the O2 Think Big programme. Youth Friendly December On top of all of that, and we are sorry if we could not cover every meeting and every call, we have been working on the Youth Friendly December Campaign. Our challenge was to sign up more businesses to the badge, raise the profile of Youth Friendly and to encourage more young people to get engaged with our work.. What a month! We have signed up some fantastic organisations; Austin Dean Recruitment, Creative Alliance, Rate my Apprenticeship, Office of Matthew Hancock MP, Academy for Health, National Skills for Health, The Dare2Dream Foundation, British Youth Council, Kruger , Projects Work CIC, Malet Lambert School I am afraid we do not have space to mention everyone, and certainly cannot thank enough each company or individual that has supported our campaign. During December we have connected with over 8,000 organisations and young people in addition to our regular supporters and this is just the start! The great work of December will carry on into 2014 as part of our mission to make the UK youth friendly. We hope you will be part of it with us!! Thank You to all who have supported us in 2013 and throughout our December Campaign! #YouthFriendlyUK

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news & analysis

New site to help young people consider all their future career options RateMyApprenticeship.co.uk is here to help young people like you work out what’s the best next step for you! We’ve got loads of advice on all the different options available including Apprenticeships, Traineeships, School Leaver Programmes, Sponsored Degree Programmes and, for those who want some time of adventure, Gap Year Programmes. Apprenticeships and other school leaver routes are a great opportunity for young people who want to get stuck into a career to gain a qualification, get paid and build up loads of awesome experiences. They want you! Employers are opening up more and more opportunities for young people like you, so now is a great time to get involved and start looking into what you might enjoy.

IT giant Capgemini’s apprenticeship programme is ranked as 8.4/10 by their apprentices – so maybe if you fancy yourself as a techno-whiz you should have a look at what people are saying. So while you’re relaxing this Christmas and enjoying the holiday season, maybe you should take a minute to sit back with a cup of tea and consider all your options!

YEUK MAGAZINE

This month we looked at those online contact lists...

Being vague and guessing your way around will create confusion and run the risk of coming across as rude and time wasting.

You’ve spring cleaned your online reputation, you have a professional email address and you’ve been watching tweetscoop for job prospects in your desired industry and building your online network of contacts.

It’s a two way relationship... Take interest in others even if you’re not sure if there’s no perceived outcome for you Reply when you’re messaged by others

So now you’re scrolling through your list, wondering how this can get you that job. Or you can’t actually remember why you added the contacts in the first place? That’s where to start... Get to know your contacts and show a real interest in them, online is just the same as offline, it’s not all about what they can do for you, it’s who they are. Be sure you know what you want to get out of conversation before you start. How can your contact help...

Contribute in open conversations, not just to showcase your knowledge on the matter or industry but also to allow others to get to know you Follow/add contacts who follow/added you - become someone else’s contact Getting from adding a contact to getting a job takes time - be careful and add with interest rather than random obsessive list building.

Do they know someone that you’d like to be introduced to? Do they work in an industry that you are interested in?

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Youth Employment UK has teamed up with some of our great supporters to create the most exciting youth employment competition ever! We are giving away 3 opportunities for our young members to win a dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work shadow experience with some really high profile people. This experience will give you the chance to see how the pros do it, gain behind the scenes access and present you with a unique networking opportunity maybe within the career field of your dreams. You can choose: A day with Skills Minister Matthew Hancock MP A day with CEO Charlotte Hill from the national charity UK Youth A day with Northampton Saints Rugby Club To enter: Register to become a YEUK Youth Member for free at http://www.yeuk.org.uk/young-people/ Email your answer to us admin@yeuk.org.uk Tell us who you would like to shadow You must be 16-24 year old to enter. Entries must be emailed to admin@yeuk.org.uk by the 10th of January 2014. Winners will be announced in the January e-Magazine. Days out will take place during the month of February when it is possible for the professional to have you along shadowing. Travel expenses will be paid however you will not be compensated for loss of pay on the day. Please ensure that you are able to attend during that month, if there are any queries please contact admin@yeuk.org.uk For full competition terms and conditions please email admin@yeuk.org,uk 30

YEUK MAGAZINE

By joining YEUK the only dedicated membership & campaigning organisation fighting youth unemployment, you will not only be part of an organisation making a difference, but there are a great range of member benefits: If you are 16-24

If you are a training provider or UK employer

We offer free membership to 16-24 year olds. By joining us you will: • • • • • • • • •

•

Be able to access our online forums Sign the Positive Youth Charter Enter Competitions Have your voice heard See our Youth Friendly employers & members database Free training qualifications in our shop Receive a copy of the Youth Employment NEWS e-mag Become a YEUK ambassador See events and opportunities

• • • • • • • • •

If you are a school

•

Why you should become an Education Ambassador. •

• •

Be recognised by your students, future students and business network as a leading education centre that is invested in the employability success of its pupils. Access the only “Youth Friendly” employer database in the UK. Receive regular news about opportunities, employability training, case studies and governance regarding youth employment. Promote events to our Youth Members Have your voice heard.

We provide membership services to employers and training providers. Online Forums Sign the Positive Youth Charter Have your say on policy Be seen on our member’s database Announce events & opportunities you have to our youth members (not a jobs board) Receive a copy of the Youth Employment NEWS e-mag Receive our fortnightly bulletin Attend YEUK events at discounted rates See events and opportunities for collaboration Submit press releases and/or case studies to the e-magazine Use the YEUK logo Access our expert help for your recruitment campaigns.

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YEUK MAGAZINE

Engineering is a broad spectrum and covers all industries, from food to clothes to space and the more obvious mechanical engineering. You can specialise in: Chemical engineering Civil engineering Electrical engineering Mechanical engineering Systems engineering Interdisciplinary engineering The sector generated £1.15 trillion in turnover in the year ending March 2010: 24.9% of the turnover of all businesses in the UK. The sector also employed 5.6 million people across 551,520 enterprises. The UK is the seventh-largest manufacturing nation in the world (having recently slipped from sixth position) behind the USA, China, Japan, Germany, Italy and France. Within the engineering sub-disciplines, graduates in general engineering earn the highest mean starting salary, at £29,361. This is followed by chemical, process and energy engineering at £26,712. The lowest starting salary was for production and manufacturing engineering, at £22,584 – but this is still above the average mean salary for all graduates. EngineeringUK 2012 Report There is a skills shortage in the Engineering sector. The government and the leading industry bodies have been heavily investing in school programmes to encourage young people to consider careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) visit http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/ for more information. There is also a shortage of females in this sector so if you’re female and engineering rocks your boat then you’ve got a great career ahead of you! The government is supporting young women into the sector. Be sure to do well in STEM subjects, maths is going to be really important in an engineering career Identify locally what’s in your area; some parts of the UK have a higher demand for specific skills such as renewable energy, mechanical, production engineering. Once you know where the opportunities are for what you’re interested in look at the courses in your area and see what they have to offer as you may have to move college and universities tend to develop their courses in line with what’s needed in their area. Call up companies specialising in the engineering you are interested in. Talk to experienced engineers or their HR Staff and find out their recommendations for courses or entry routes. Get on the YEUK youth members forum speak to other young people that are currently studying on the course you’re interested in. Get on LinkedIn and follow engineering companies, join engineering specific groups, this sector changes at a fast pace so keep your knowledge up to date by connecting with professionals and forums where latest technologies will be discussed. Build up a portfolio of the things you have been inspired by or areas of engineering interest and projects you have got involved with. This will help you showcase a depth of knowledge at interview stages. Where you can try to get work experience in the field, volunteer your services or apply for paid part-time or internship roles. You may not need to go to university - there are apprenticeships available see http://www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/ or http://www.apprenticeships.org. uk/ where you can earn, learn and be supported for the final part of the degree and save ££££ Once you have work experience and your degree (if needed) you can consider becoming a chartered engineer where you will need a Masters degree. Research in this area indicates that businesses will need to recruit 82,000 scientists, engineers and technologists by 2016 to keep up with anticipated growth and to replace people retiring. Recruiters value work experience. An engineering placement is the gold standard – it shows that you have hands-on industry experience to complement your degree, demonstrates your commitment to the sector and indicates that you know what to expect when you start your career. Small engineering employers may not run formal schemes but can still be a good source of work experience. Many companies will happily consider your application for graduate jobs even if you don’t have engineering work experience, as long as you’ve done something else worthwhile with your time that you can draw upon when discussing your background and skills. http://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/engineering/282911-engineering-work-experience-a-beginners-guide http://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/apr/06/how-to-get-into-engineering 32

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College, , y it s r e iv n U , Employment , s ip h s e ic t o not know d u o y Appren if d n t for you, a what is nex go for help? u o y n a c e r whe

Here is our guide to some of the best careers advice & next step resources for you Careers Information & Support The National Careers Service is the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portal for all things Careers and Advice; you can connect with them online or talk to an advisor over the phone. You can browse over 750 different career profiles, check your skills, build a CV and much more - 0800 100 900 https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/aboutus/contactus/Pages/contact4.aspx Youth Employment UK â&#x20AC;&#x201C;you can of course join our social media pages Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest where we promote latest news, views, advice and opportunities. Be sure to also register to be a Youth member or youth ambassador you will then get access to a load more resources and info http://www.yeuk.org.uk/. We have some BRILLIANT member organisations who offer support to young people, so along with the main government sites we are happy to encourage you to look at these too! Employability Hub https://dash.bloomfire.com/. Colour Your Success www.colouryoursuccess.com/ Your Career Mentor Bright Track http://www.brighttrack.co.uk/ Revolution Hive www.revolutionhive.com/. Shaw Trust http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/. We also like Careers Box a website packed with videos showing you the range of careers and opportunities on offer http://www.careersbox.co.uk/ and Careers Advice for Parents and Young People which covers all the bases in simple bite-sized articles http://www.careersadviceforparents.org .

ApprenticeSupermarket www.apprenticesupermarket.com Apprenticeship4England www.apprenticeships4england.info. University or College You can search for thousands of College or Universities through the UCAS website http://search.ucas.com/ and Unistats http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/ Also our education members; Petroc College www.petroc.ac.uk Accross College www.accross.ac.uk. Enterprise Take a look at Princes Trust http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/ Or our friends; Rock Star Youth http://www.rockstaryouth.co.uk/ Young Britain http://www.youngbritain.com/ Employment There are a number of Job Search websites that also advertise vacancies from apprenticeships to internships and graduate employment, take a look at some of these: Universal Jobmatch https://www.gov.uk/jobsearch Or our friends; Future Talent http://www.future-talent.com/ Our list is not exhaustive and there are a lot of resources, guides and services for young people. If you have not been able to get help from this list let us know and we will put you in contact with a specific organisation. Or if you have been helped by an organisation not listed let us know and we will sign post to them too! emag@yeuk.org.uk

Apprenticeships The obvious starting point is the National Apprenticeship Service you can find out more about apprenticeships, funding and search for vacancies and training providers near you. http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/. Also have a look at our members websites; The Apprenticeship Guide http://www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/ Baltic Training http://www.balticapprenticeships.com/

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