employ e t a e - cr advise
in this edition: See Our Careers Feature On The IT Sector Find Out How To Use LinkedIn For Your Job Search
p i h s e ic t n e r p m r Ap o f e R g n i d n Fu
Why Work Experience Is So Important YEUK Launches Its First Youth Friendly Awards
Read The Review By Our Ambassador
UK FREE / #17 JUNE 2014
levy c m a i v l sy Hello everyone, This month we will be looking at various views on work experience – at the end of June, YEUK will be welcoming our own work experience young person. As providing work experience is a key ‘youth friendly’ behaviour I was interested in the differences it made to your life and also who out there is working to make sure you get the best possible experience while you are on your placement. I spoke to Katarina Calvin about what work experience meant to her, and read about Georgia at Fair Train – an organisation who offers employers a work experience framework to follow, who also run Work Experience Week in October to promote the great opportunities employers are supporting young people with. What I concluded was that nearly all young people value the importance of a work experience opportunity, especially as it is seen as one of the major barriers to young people seeking their first work placement. I have also seen that for employers there are a host of ways you can support work experience – it is no longer just the formal two week placement it used to be, making it more accessible to more employers. The support is there in droves to help organisations understand how to offer quality experience and you can see our website where we signpost to some of these resources. If you are currently studying, just finished with your exams or still undergoing them, we know it is an extremely stressful time! Some of our brilliant Youth Ambassadors are also going through it too – we wish you the best of luck and help is at hand, so reach out for it! Youth Unemployment figures look to be coming down and Youth Employment UK hopes that they will stay this way! Our current #YouthFriendlyMP campaign is underway and we’re working day to day to ensure that young people have a voice; this campaign is designed for you to do so, if you want to get involved please check out www.yeuk.org.uk, where you can read all about it and #getinvolved. YEUK Regional Youth Committees are coming together across the UK – they will be formed of young people and will be working for you in your local area, if you would like to know more, or join the team please get in touch via admin@yeuk.org.uk Hope you enjoy another packed edition of A.C.E.! Regards, Sylvia
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uth ct Yo K CIC a t n U o To c yment hip: o l bers p m e Em ol m scho & s s k ne Busi uk.org.u e ljr@y
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contents //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
YEUK 09
Labour Market Analysis
Hints & Tips 06 & 07 12 & 13 15 23
CV Tips & Template Using LinkedIn Do You Excite Future Employers? Where To Go For Careers Information
this month’s pull-out
spotlight on a sector:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY /////////////////////////
see centre pages ➔
News & Personal Stories 04 05 14 20 22 26 28 29 30 31
Apprenticeship Reform A Community Business Getting Your Dream Job Youth Unemployment Challenges The Work Experience Catch 22 Time For Work Experience Reform? The Big Strasbourg Debate Being A YEUK Ambassador UK Youth Work Experience Youth Unemployment News Round-Up
Interviews 18 27 32 35
Following Up With Apprentice Tom Interview With Apprentice Georgina Interview With Jacob Kent-Ledger Interview With Ejiro Okorodudu
For Employers 10 11 21 34
Supporting Work Experience Youth Friendly Badge Membership Benefits 1st Youth Friendly Awards
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YouthEmploymentUK Youth Employment UK C.I.C. Group @yeuk @YEUK2012
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NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES
ht g i n k x by ale With youth unemployment at a five year low, with 868,000 young people unemployed, it appears that the government are trying to undo any progress they have made. Changes to the apprenticeship system are to be implemented in the coming months which could be seriously detrimental to young people’s chances of employment. Let’s start with the current situation. In the UK, apprenticeships are mainly handled by training providers or colleges, who will work with an employer to find a suitable apprentice candidate. When they have found the candidate, the provider is then responsible for the administration and application for funding. Therefore, there isn’t too much of a burden either financially or bureaucratically for the employer. This however, is all about to change, because the training provider will no longer have such a large role in proceedings, if any. Instead, the initial cost of putting an apprentice through a training programme will be borne completely by the employer. They then have to go through an online platform to recover the cost of the programme using a tax system. Clearly, this is worrying, as small and medium-sized businesses are going to be perturbed from taking on apprentices because they are
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unable to risk losing a substantial amount of money until they receive government funding. In turn, the cash flow issues that this could might seem to outweigh the benefits of having apprentices and so it is highly possible that the number of apprenticeship vacancies could fall drastically. What the programme also forgets is that many small businesses don’t have the manpower to take the extra bureaucracy that applying for the tax rebate would take, as things like audits would become necessary, taking staff away from the everyday running of the business. The time that a firm would have to take to make sure they were finding quality training also has to be factored in, as the apprenticeship scheme would become a far bigger undertaking. Put off yet? You will be now. If you’re a business, you already have enough organisations such as HM Revenue and Customs wanting to check how you are running things. But adding OFSTED to that list may be a step too far. They would however, have to come and check the level of training under new guidelines, with the employer now responsible for the quality. Not only is it a further distraction
that a company doesn’t need but it also has the potential to ruin their reputation as a business if the training isn’t rated to a high standard, again too much of a risk for many employers. Thus, in my opinion, these new changes are very likely to lower the amount of apprenticeships on offer to young people. They will price small businesses out of the apprenticeship market and provide far too much extra work for many medium size firms. In turn, that leaves large employers, who actually only currently employ 10% of all apprentices. Therefore, 90% are left unaccounted for and without a clear role for training providers, who have been responsible for 80% of the programmes and an increase in their popularity, apprenticeships at a serious risk of decline.
NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES
new a – m stor e l rupt g s i a d e o th t out b te! a u m m r o m t o s uc o y y a the w
Doing something meaningful and giving back to society is what fuelled Omar Koryakin’s thoughts into prototyping and bringing to the world an electric bike with regenerative braking systems. What started as an idea in Finland two years back will turn to reality in the UK in a few months’ time with Shwetal Shah joining the team and these two young University of Strathclyde Masters students could possibly change the way the UK commutes, and help developing countries by selling the energy that the regenerative brakes create to promote sustainable businesses. Theaglestorm is an electric bike that is operated by a powerful hub motor which is attached to high capacity Lithium-Ion batteries and aims to make the environment and people healthier. However, this article is not just a piece of promotion; it brings you the story of this generation of young people, the change makers, and the guardians of society taking the chance to be part of the change. We are living in exciting times with more talks on climate change and the desperate need for solutions to sustain the environment and with more talk and less action it is companies like Theaglestorm that need your support to keep this world as beautiful it is today for the future generations to enjoy.
If you believe in the concept and the idea of backing those who are trying to add something relevant to the world, then each contribution from your side will add value to the project. The team are looking to raise funds so that they can make the bike, market ready and test drive to reach out to as many individuals as they can in the UK and then to other parts of the world. “We created this social enterprise out of our desire to add something to the world, to leave our marks behind, ironic considering e-bikes leave no trails of pollution behind” – Shwetal Shah (Business Development Manager). The business wants to help out in two ways – one is by reducing pollution in the cities here, by promoting clean and green transport and on the other hand by installing the bikes in schools, acting as catalysts to produce energy that will be sold to companies in developing countries suffering from power cuts. “I have always been passionate about the green cause and finding and tinkering with different solutions that use green technology” – Omar Koryakin (CEO). So if this does sound like a promising project and something that you like to be associated with from the start to claim you were part of the history, please do contribute and help them realise the potential of this project.
For more det ails please co ntact them person ally: Omar Koryak in (CEO) 07707385081 alrfaqui@hotm ail.com Shwetal Shah , YEUK Ambas sador (Business Dev elopment Man ager) 07821231961 shwetal.shah 27@gmail.com
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a CV g n i t i r gs n w i h n t e l h a r w eve s e r a e ... w o ther n k o dt you nee
know ed to e n ’t ly n did on ers, ers do y u o lo y p g • Em y little thin ved custom . Ser ever ill u get sics e.g s, etc. If yo age then r CV w a u b o y e h g t ke room iew st readin d, ma leaned o the interv more detail erson 20+ to rea C p d n e a h e ht in int • T ly hav he po ore than throug discussed possib o read, to t e m b o t ve n it can r it easy ing. You ha ess them so it ove r t s p then. check t out. intere utes to im d n e i i fr in nding itical” two m re you do. e a “cr you start se v u a s e H r e • mak rrors a efore to a mar e rs will bin and b m a CV on eed r g a e t d g i n n u i a r R d n. st rec elling uploa ite such as etails • Sp rgiving, mo e mistake o u are s d o b t y e a f I h w n • ent no of w unfo e l m v u t i f e e u r r h a not it e rec d, be c ce you will ur dat CV’s w e o e y d t n u I or it sin d to p o it. put on as access t ot nee n u o o y d h u who • Yo rth. letter know asy to e of bi d vering n o a c r a a 2 b. clude size 1 t is cle ays in ed to the jo nt tha ood option o lw f A a r e • tailo e • Us , Arial is a g that is reativ read for a c hin your g n o i t ly try or 11. ity wit re app Skills, are you a me creativ nd out. f r Key I u u o o • y sta e so tion y iting job us ion make it en wr e posi t sm. a • Wh them to th c ppli thusia a n r e / lo i y a t t . onali e ng for e pers ories on th r m applyi u o o s y t s w n f i o o s h s g i S p s n t h i • big ga are lo ple us plain t There about peo o get their e u have t history, ex o y f I et st • petitiv ction. ymen intern eative way a com emplo our introdu r n i c y – ll y es rea show n seen o pag gap in licatio you need to an tw p h p t a e r xtra. arket ve mo job m ing a little e not ha o D th • r V. some of you d of a C n o i t n p i a descr point oing a ke it to the d n e • Wh duties ma work ded. g win n lo t no
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HINTS & TIPS
Full Nam Personal S e tatement Write a sh ort summ ary judgemen t on wheth about you, this is the first th er they wil in getting ing an em l read the this sectio plo r est of you n right. r CV, so in yer will read and m vest a goo ake a It needs to d amount say: Who of time you are, w job/comp any you a hat you ca re applyin n do, wha g to) and t you are w looking fo h y you are Key Skills r (l employab le/stand o ink this to the Bullet poin u t. t at least s ix skills th are apply at you ha ing ve that re • Key skil for. late to the l1 job and jo • Key skil • Key skil b descripti l l2 4 on you • Key skil • Key skil l5 l3 • Key skil l6 Key Achie vements Let the em ployer kn ow value can you add, w what you have dow n hat have y work in a ou accom that makes you a ‘s n organis ation. plished th at says yo tand out’ candidate u are a gr , Employm eat person what ent History to have List your employme nt history , most rec ent job fir Company st. Keep it : ABC Wid brief and gets Job Title: interestin Administr g. ator Dates: Jan uary 2010 -March 20 Brief job 13 descriptio n, duties a nd respon sibilities Education Provide a brief sum mary of y our educa tion, quali Hobbies/I fications a nterests nd award It’s good to s, most re show that cent first. shows an you have hobbies a additiona nd interes l skills set Do not ju ts, it can m and comm st w ake you s itment. different a rite “Going to the eem inter c nd interes esting, ting if you inema, socialising and readin can. g.” Add s Contact D omething etails Add all of yo appropria ur contact details, include m te for a pr obile and ospective email (is employer yo to read?) Add if you ur email address have a dr iving licen se.
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FREE TO ATTEND OvER 150 EMplOYERS DRAGONS’ DEN STYlE CHAllENGE COURSES, AppRENTICESHIpS, COllEGES, UNIvERSITIES CMI Cv BOOTCAMp FOOD AND DRINk CONCESSIONS GIANT FESTIvAl TENTS
BANDS & MUSIC THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Supported by The Skills Show, the European Social Fund and the National Careers Service @UK_Skills The Skills Service Find out more by emailing: skills@opportunitypeterborough.co.uk
YEUK
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 April ‘Report on Jobs’. We would like to thank the REC for their support to YEUK and for allowing us to share this data:
Which sector recruited the highest number of permanent staff?
Which sector recruited the highest number of temporary staff?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Engineering Nursing/Medical/Care Accounting/Financial Construction Executive/Professional IT & Computing Secretarial/Clerical Hotel & Catering Blue Collar
Engineering Nursing/Medical/Care Blue Collar Construction IT & Computing Secretarial/Clerical Hotel & Catering Accounting/Financial Executive/Professional
• Permanent placements growth accelerates, but temp billings rise at slower pace. • Decline in candidate availability intensifies. • Fastest permanent salary growth since July 2007. Commenting on the latest survey results, Bernard Brown, Partner and Head of Business Services at KPMG, said: “With employers focusing their attention on trying to win over talented people with proven skills and track records, there remains one unanswered question. We have growing numbers of new entrants to the marketplace looking for work and employers will ignore them at their peril. Not acknowledging what they have to offer continues the very real risk of losing a generation of talent – it makes no business sense, because without a blend of youth and experience the workplace will no longer reflect the marketplace.”
//////////////////////////////////////////// What skills are in demand or in short supply? Accountancy/Financial: Accountancy, Banking, Cashiers, Finance, Accounts, Management Accountants. Blue Collar: Drivers, Manufacturing, Trades, Joiners. Construction: Estimators, Surveyors, Plant Operators. Engineering: Engineers, Civil Engineering. Executive/Professional: Business Development, HR, Legal, Marketing, Professional Services, Senior Management. Nursing/Medical/Care: RGNs & RMNs. IT/Computing: Developers, eCommerce, Business Intelligence, Java, .Net, PHP. Secretarial/Clerical: Office Support Staff, Admin Staff, Legal Secretaries, Logistics Administration. Other: Graduates, Customer Service, CAD Designers, Languages, Property, Retail, Teachers, Reprographics.
YEUK MAGAZINE
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FOR EMPLOYERS
YEUK knows that there are 1 in 4 employers who are currently lifting the barriers for a young person to get into work by offering a work placement, taking on apprentices and hiring young people. At YEUK we award those organisations with the FREE Youth Friendly badge, and promote you as a brilliant youth friendly on the YEUK youth platform, which is completely free to 16-24 year olds to access. YEUK believes that the Youth Friendly Badge is a single unified badge that shows young people that you as an employer are currently doing 2-8 activities to lift the world of work barriers for a young person. Showing the Youth Friendly badge on your site helps young people to identify you as a positive employer. In addition to this, YEUK offers further opportunities to employers. YEUK does this because every day we hear of brilliant work placements, apprenticeships or paid internship opportunities that don’t attract enough applications. This is largely due to the message not reaching young people – by becoming an employer member or advertising in our e-mag, you can show what you have on offer. At YEUK we know that you advertise on your sites and elsewhere on the internet. But YEUK also knows that you are one of millions screaming out to young people.
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In order to become a unified voice in a very noisy space, YEUK gives information freely to young people in this e-mag and YEUK’s youth platform to support them in their career journey. By applying for your Youth Friendly Badge and displaying this, you will reach more young people. By becoming a member you will be investing in an organisation that 100% supports young people and champions their voice to tackle youth unemployment. For those employers who aren’t currently supporting a young person, there are many ways you can get involved. You do not have to start with a huge youth engagement programme, but could start small with offering to do a talk in a school, mentoring, work shadowing or work experience. Through your local Job Centre Plus you could give a young person a workbased placement for 2-8 weeks while they still receive their benefits. YEUK knows that this will broaden a young person’s horizon and it not only helps to reduce those world of work barriers, you may find that you unlock some fresh new talent into your business!
/////////////////////////////////////// Talk to us about how you can get involved, who can help you in your communities and how you can start to see how Youth Friendly you can be!
Youth Employment UK CIC Youth Friendly Badge (CC) The Youth Friendly Badge (CC) celebrates and recognises your commitment to young people in the UK. It is a public demonstration of your pledge to be a “Youth Friendly” business. In the UK nearly 1 in 5 young people are unemployed; youth unemployment is a growing social, economic and moral problem with a cost to every member of society, but above all, to a young person, somewhere near you. Already thousands of businesses in the UK support young people by attending careers fairs, providing work experience opportunities and taking on young people through apprenticeships, internships, graduate or entry level roles. We know that there is still more to be done and so we want all UK employers to apply for the free Youth Friendly Badge (CC), demonstrating to their communities, to young people, to future employees and to their customers that they are invested in supporting youth employment. There are just 3 simple steps to receiving the Youth Friendly Badge (CC). There is no charge and no financial obligation. You just need to be prepared to invest in supporting young people. Not only will you benefit from the recognition the badge brings to you, but your organisation will also benefit by its investment in its future workforce and future customers.
What are the Steps? 1. The Positive Youth Charter is
Step 1
• Sign the Positive Youth Charter
• Commit to at least 2 activities from the "Youth Friendly" Menu Step 2
an agreement signed by employers, young people & training providers. It creates a common language and commitment by all of those working to fight youth unemployment.
• Self-Assess "Youth Friendly" behaviour
2. The Youth Friendly Menu lists all the great activities that employers can support young people and schools with. Talks, Site Visits, Work Experience, Mentoring, the list is endless and we can also help connect you with organisations that support employers to do these things.
Step 3
3. Finally to receive the certificate you must check your current business behaviours against our 8 Youth Friendly ones to see how your organisation supports young people within its operation. Meet 6+ of the criteria and you will receive a certificate for your organisation.
For more information please visit www.yeuk.org.uk Youth Employment UK CIC is a not for profit campaigning and membership organisation dedicated to fighting youth unemployment. We are wholly committed to making the UK the most “Youth Friendly” place to work. The Youth Friendly Badge (CC) is created under a Creative Commons license, for more details visit www.yeuk.org.uk
What is LinkedIn? LinkedIn is a business orientated social networking site – ‘Facebook for grown-ups’ is a commonly used description.
/////////////////////////////////////// Who uses LinkedIn? LinkedIn launched in 2003 and in January 2013 it exceeded the 20 million member mark. Millions of professional people use LinkedIn, from all over the world; there are over 11 million users in the UK alone.
/////////////////////////////////////// What do they use LinkedIn for? People use LinkedIn to keep in touch with their professional contacts, broaden their network, join in with discussions, debates and news about things happening in their industry or areas of interest, look for work and raise their profile and the profile of their business.
/////////////////////////////////////// Why should a young person use LinkedIn? Here are our top reasons to join and use LinkedIn: 1. Networking is an essential part of job hunting and career progression, SMART young people will be cultivating their existing network of contacts and be keen to make new contacts, LinkedIn is a great way to keep in touch with the people you meet
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professionally and expand your network (“it’s not what you know but who you know” – it’s not always fair but it’s usually true). 2. Once you have joined LinkedIn you can then join Groups – these are great places to see what people in your industry/area of interest are talking about. For example you could join the Youth Employment UK CIC group, where you will find over 1,100 professionals discussing youth employment topics, sharing news stories and exchanging views. By joining in these discussions you raise your profile and can show your expertise in the area of discussion, building up your reputation. There are over 1.3 million groups on LinkedIn so whatever area of interest you have you will be able to find a group or 10 to match. 3. Register for Job Alerts – Hundreds of thousands of organisations are using LinkedIn to advertise their jobs, be the first in line to receive alerts tailored to your areas of interest. 4. Follow Companies – You can follow any one of the million plus companies using LinkedIn to market their business. By following a company you can make sure that you are up to date on their latest news, product launches, development, acquisitions etc. – great for that ever important research before interviews.
5. Get Endorsed – Once you have a profile you can be endorsed by people you have worked with and worked for, this means that other professionals can see your testimonials and references, very handy when they are recruiting.
/////////////////////////////////////// How do I start? Go to www.linkedin.com and follow the registration process. You then get to complete a LinkedIn profile – it is really important to spend the time to make sure your profile is a quality one. You don’t want potential employers reading it and then discarding you because you have not pitched yourself well or accurately.
HINTS & TIPS
DO
– Crea te a succin good, hon est, ct pro file. DON’T – Waffl e, li round st your pap er fr make om 15 years stuff u p, it w ago, back t ill com o bite e you. DO – Put up a g ood p photo rofess . ional DON’T – Put up a p ictu you o n a nig re of your c a ht out come , it wil t/ back t l o b it e you. DO – Take part in debate discus s sions and sh , news. aring DON’T – Be a bus unpro ive, insensit fe iv with th ssional or in e, correc e thing t will co s me ba you post, it c k to bit DO e you. – Keep up to dat conne cting w e and keep ith peo DON’T ple. – Crea te a pr ofile a about nd for it, get recruit if you do a nd a er loo ks you may b up the e y you ha disappointe d v of dat e let it beco that e, m bite yo it will come e out back t u. o
/////////////////////////////////////// There are hundreds of blog posts on creating a good LinkedIn Profile and making the best from LinkedIn if you are looking for employment, wanting to market your business or develop your professional reputation as an expert. Whatever you need to use LinkedIn for be SMART and do it right, the payoff will make it all worthwhile. Want to share your LinkedIn tips or even success stories, have you got work or developed an opportunity through using LinkedIn? Email us at info@yeuk. org.uk and we will share it. This was brought to you by InspireEducation – a careers and employability specialist training company. www.i2e-education. co.uk
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NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES
a by baib I have known for a long time that I am one of those people who will not be happy doing just any job, any hours or any responsibility. I have always craved more; more creativity, more fun and simply more communication. Obviously, dream jobs do not come that easy, especially for a young person with not a massive life/work experience. We have to look for them and in the meantime get as much experience and acquire as many different skills as possible. This was my plan too – look for something perfect, but keeping busy at the same time. I searched for the job I would love doing, something that would blow me away and during that period did some casual work, such as mentoring, research and general proofreading. Sometimes it bored me to death or made me angry, but it also helped me to develop skills I never knew I had. Until I found it! I found a job where I get paid to do what I love. Now, after almost a month in my new position, I can honestly say, this is pretty close to what I imagined my dream job would be. I mean, obviously there are still boring parts of a work day, you do get tired and my eyes are probably not thankful for the hours spent looking at the screen. But... I think it is worth it! Whenever you get a new job, you immediately start thinking about your skillset and how to use it efficiently. There are all kinds of skills – hard skills, soft skills, unusual skills and common skills.
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What I had to do on my first week was to combine all my skills and create the perfect skillset for this particular position; I had to decide on what I can bring to the table. I used my research skills to find trends and insights, I used my proofreading skills in editing and I used my hobbies to find the great collaborations for our clients. And I came to conclusion that all my skills are relevant in some way, either it is fast typing, proofreading, research, creative writing or just a general love for YouTube videos and internet browsing. And I think this is how it should be when you find a job perfect for you, it should be combining the professional interests and hobbies, it should make you feel like the work that you do is something you want to do and have passion for, it should feel easy even when the work is hard. It should never be about the grades, only professional skills or totally disconnected from your personal interests. I guess that I would like young people to learn from my experience that every skill you can grab along the way is important, even the casual ones such as knowledge of Microsoft Office or use of Internet Browsers; there are no bad experiences, you can only learn from your own success or mistakes. What I would like to suggest employers by this is never to cut down on the creativity and young person’s mind; you might miss out on a great potential by ignoring the personal skills they got – always ask what they can bring to the table and do not hesitate to use it!
HINTS & TIPS
n’ o i t c e s obby h ‘ e h t in u! t o y u p t u u o o b ta o l what y a s y v sa c r u o y on How you spend your free time is of great interest to an employer. It’s what tells them who you are, how interesting you might be, what extra value you could add to their business and much more...
• Going to the cinema • Listening to music • Socialising • Going to festivals
! YAWN
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T SAY
MIGH
... T YOU
T
BOU HIS A
ayer, am pl fit, quick e t , d e itt ally TH Comm hip, physic e. s iv r i leade , compet t orts p s g n i m Tea think ls. ctive, fun, a people skil , e l b i s , n s l l o i Resp ational sk is at a etic, r e b organ em mpath e m , p e u l m o b a Te r gr ponsi club o lly res cal issues, local Socia lo ted in s e v n i r. ering aigne Volute camp IES...
OBB ESE H
Think about what you write and what it says about you. Read the person specification carefully and match across to it where you can… “I have been a volunteer youth ambassador for YEUK for two years. As a volunteer I am given the opportunity to attend events, get involved in and lead projects, campaign on youth unemployment issues and write for the e-magazine.” All of a sudden you are: committed, hardworking, organised, creative and socially responsible. A real asset to a future employer! You should never lie on your CV, but you can get involved now in the sort of hobbies and interests that might give you an added advantage when job searching.
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INTERVIEW
Last month we spoke to Tom at Spraylat, we thought we would catch up with him each month as he progresses through his apprenticeship and share with you his experience…
////////////////////////////////////// Hello Tom. Last month you told us about your Apprenticeship, where you work and your provider we got your provider wrong, could you tell us who your training provider is and what you were doing at the time you got the call. My provider is Business Impact UK, at the time I got the call I was on an employability course with Job Centre Plus (JCP). Basically I had previously applied for an apprenticeship with Fresh Personnel but had been unsuccessful and Spraylat had got in contact with Business Impact who recruits through Fresh Personnel and all my details were still on the system, so they gave me a call and asked if I wanted an interview. Two hours after my interview I was called up by Fresh Personnel who said I had the job. You have been with your employer for six months and you are progressing extremely well. What support have you had this month from your employer and provider, that you have been able to apply to your daily work and has helped you? My manager Lee is supporting me with my first ‘Case
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Study’ using one of Spraylat International Ltd.’s products and the company as a whole is letting me set my own work plans out and prioritising my own work with a work plan I do every week. My managing director is also helping me get a little bit of publicity with taking on a Youth Ambassador role to get YEUK together in Northamptonshire. Like normal though, my manager and managing director are supporting me with everything I do within the company, and in my life out of work. If you could tell your educator anything that would help them help a young person what would that be?
I would tell a teacher at school not to promise kids that if they get A’s and A*’s that they will easily get a job when they leave school. As it isn’t fair to promise something you cannot deliver, as half of my year are still looking for jobs and we left school nearly three years ago. Plus I would change the two week experience into four weeks over year 10 and 11 – as two weeks isn’t much, especially when you do it in year 10. Experience is crucial in this day and age to get a job, as 99% of the jobs I applied for turned me down for lack of experience and believe it or not but some of those were apprenticeships.
n o i t a m infor ology techn
what’s inside: • • • • •
A Spotlight On IT YEUK IT Career Overview Occupational Case Study A-Z of IT Careers IBM Apprentice Interview
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The information technology industry remains a rapidly growing, fast paced sector – almost every company relies on its IT services to be able to do business, and so the importance of a skilled IT workforce should never be underestimated.
There are lots of different specialisms in IT, the different areas include: • • • • •
The UK’s information and communications technology industry is worth £58 billion annually, with 1.5 million people work in the IT sector (that’s about 1 in 20 people) with about half of those working for IT companies, whilst the other half work on IT but for different types of companies; manufacturers, retailers, banks etc. The IT sector has one of the highest rates of self-employment.
• • • • •
computer programming; computer consultancy; computer gaming; computer networking activities; computing facilities management; data processing; data hosting activities; internet service provision; telecommunications; web portals.
Young people can add huge value to employers as they have been developing their digital skills from a young age – social media, programming and gaming are all growth areas.
///////////////////////////////////// What is key is getting the basics; word processing, database creating and good skills in English and Maths go a long way with many employers in this sector. There is also a push to get more young people, and especially girls, to consider careers in IT and take IT related GCSEs and A Levels.
ed r e d i s n co u o y e v ha T? I n i r e a care What qualifications are required? There are currently several routes to a career in the UK IT industry including full time study, part-time study whilst in employment and on the job training. The following are just some of the options open to those interested in an IT career: • Graduation with a non-IT related subject • An accredited degree • Training in a specific IT skill which is in demand • Transfer to an IT department within a company • A year in industry/gap year experience prior to University Many companies are happy to recruit graduates with non IT related subjects who are willing to undertake additional IT specific training through post-graduate or professional training courses, which offer qualifications in systems analysis and design and project management, among others. It is also worth considering undertaking a language; the IT profession is global and having additional language skills can be useful in gaining employment. For students interested in a ‘clientfacing role’, a more business orientated degree such as one in finance, management or another engineering subject may prove a better grounding than a pure IT degree, providing students with a good insight into business and a better understanding of the sort of problems their future client’s are likely to face. Individuals can also complete BCS Higher Education Qualifications, a modular qualification which offers a flexible approach to study allowing students to progress at their own pace and study whilst working.
Whichever option taken, the key to improving the chances of being recruited is to achieve the best degree possible and take advantage of any work experience offered as part of the course or during the vacations. If a degree isn’t for you, then you could talk the HR departments of a large organisation and explore the opportunities they offer for their employees to transfer to an IT division within the company. Training, education, and experience will come with the package. Finally the European computer driving licence (ECDL) is a users’ qualification recognised across the world and offers a starting point and evidence that students are prepared to train and build skills. What skills are required? IT touches more areas of business than almost any other discipline. In today’s business world many companies are interested in recruiting well-rounded staff who have business focused skills and can demonstrate an understanding of how IT can benefit the business as a whole, and an understanding of how implementation of IT systems will impact on the organisation. People skills, self-management, and an ability to see IT as a means to an end rather than an end in itself are all equally important as the traditional core IT skills.
What can graduates expect salary-wise and what is the pay-scale like? Students looking to enter the workplace can expect employers to offer a range of benefits which usually includes several of the following elements; 25 days paid holiday per annum, a pension scheme, private health insurance and overtime for many entry level roles, all dependent on the employer. In addition, most employers want to ensure that their IT staff remain current with all technological developments and are prepared to invest in training in any new technology that is critical to their operation. Having the right skills can have a significant impact on pay levels. As IT covers a wide range of roles rates of pay vary greatly, but can range from around £17,000 for a trainee starting out in the industry to £130,000 plus for those at director level. To help anyone considering or embarking upon a job in IT, the Institute has created career paths to show some of the potential roles within the IT industry and the best routes to achieve these. For more information on how to get into a career in IT, please visit the BCS website: www.bcs.org/ careerpaths
We caught up with Jack James Goody, 20 – from Fordway Solutions, Surrey – who successfully completed a Level 3 Advanced Diploma in IT Systems and Principles Apprenticeship with Baltic Training Services. He describes his learner journey below.
///////////////////////////////////// What is your background? Before I started my IT Professional Apprenticeship I was at college. I wanted to start looking for a job in IT. I had done some previous work experience in a school in their IT department which I enjoyed. Why did you decide an apprenticeship was the right route for you? I decided an apprenticeship was the right route for me because I wanted to not just
get qualifications but gain some work experience also. What new skills do you feel you gained from undertaking your apprenticeship? I now feel that I have more advanced skills in using the excel programme and also have a lot more confidence when dealing with systems and servers than I had before. I also gained a job at Fordway Solutions. What are your plans for the future? I plan to follow a career in IT and develop myself further within the sector. Did you feel fully supported by Baltic Training Services in your apprenticeship role? Yes I did. One example of this is when I was going through some difficulties in my role, my assessor and the training centre
Apprenticeships are an excellent way of gaining qualifications and workplace experience, earning while you learn. During an apprenticeship you benefit from personal development and training that enhances your potential, opens real opportunities into permanent employment and prepares you for a successful career within your chosen industry.
co-ordinator really helped me resolve them to the best of their ability. Would you recommend an apprenticeship to others? Yes I would, especially the IT apprenticeship as it was a good course.
Applications Developer Applications developers translate software requirements into workable programming code and maintain and develop programs for use in business. Most will specialise in a specific development field such as mobile phone applications, accounting software, office suites or graphics software - and will have in-depth knowledge of at least one computer language. Range of typical starting salaries: £20,000 - £40,000. Database administrator A database administrator (DBA) is responsible for the performance, integrity and security of a database. They will also be involved in the planning and development of the database as well as troubleshooting any issues on behalf of the users. Range of typical starting salaries: £22,000 - £50,000.
Information Systems Manager An information systems manager is responsible for the computer systems within a company, overseeing installation, ensuring back up systems operate effectively, purchasing hardware and software, providing the ICT technology infrastructures for an organisation and contributing to organisational policy regarding quality standards and strategic planning.
Web Designer Web designers plan, create and code web pages, using both non-technical and technical skills to produce websites that fit the customer’s requirements. Range of typical starting salaries: £18,000 - £40,000.
Range of typical starting salaries: £40,000 - £55,000. IT Technical Support Officer IT technical support officers monitor and maintain the computer systems and networks of an organisation. They may install and configure computer systems, diagnose hardware and software faults and solve technical and applications problems, either over the phone or in person. Depending on the size of the organisation, a technical support officer’s role may span one or more areas of expertise. Range of typical starting salaries: £17,000 - £35,000.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// N.B. Salaries are a guide only, this is a small sample of jobs available in this sector. For more information please visit www.prospects.ac.uk/IT_and_information_services_sector_graduate_jobs.htm
INTERVIEW
What is your background, how did you get on at school, what were/are your career ambitions? I spent 3 years attending a comprehensive secondary school where I focussed my efforts on sport and not so much the academic side of school life. At the end of year 9, I had the opportunity to join a private school to do my GCSEs. I was also accepted into the sixth form and, after a lot of catching up with work I had missed in the curriculum due to moving schools, I ended up with fairly good grades. Right up until leaving school and in some aspects now, I did not have a career ambition or direction, I focused on trying to better myself in everything I was doing, and if I enjoyed doing it as well, that was a bonus. Now I work in IT, I believe I have found a career which interests and challenges me. Why did you choose an apprenticeship? I didn’t specifically choose on undertaking an apprenticeship, it was more by chance. I didn’t have much interest in attending university, so I decided to go straight into employment. I worked in a number of different industries, from Sports Coaching to Finance and Traffic Management. I had a few years of experience under my belt when I chanced upon the apprenticeship I am currently on. I had the typical stereotype in my mind of how traditional apprenticeships were and so once I read about the apprenticeship at IBM, I was surprised how much it differed from what I had thought – and even more so now I am on the apprenticeship. How did you find your apprenticeship and what was the process like? I found the apprenticeship by looking at the company website (IBM careers) as it is a world leading organisation and I also knew somebody who worked for IBM and stumbled upon it by chance. I read the details and even though it would be taking a cut in pay from my previous job and where I enjoyed working, I decided to apply as I could see the career opportunities it would give me – I had nothing to lose. To apply for the apprenticeship there was a set of criteria you had to meet (found here: www-05.
ibm.com/employment/uk/schoolleavers/apprentice/) but for the type of apprenticeship I found this very reasonable. The application process was fairly challenging but it also gave me good experience. There was an initial online application form to fill in with personal details and questions to answer, linking the answers to personal experiences and work experience. Then I took an online aptitude test which was quite challenging. The final stage of the process was a group assessment – this involved an introduction to the apprenticeship, confirmatory aptitude test, three interviews (business, personal and a pre-prepared presentation) and two group exercises. What is your apprenticeship like? What’s a typical day, what is the qualification side of the work like? It’s very rewarding if you put the effort in and do a good job. I have so far been in two different roles within GBS (Global Business Services) within my first year of the apprenticeship as we are encouraged to rotate roles roughly every 6-8 months. My first role was as a Change Manager, which involved speaking with Project Managers, meeting strict deadlines, managing workloads and complying with processes. I am now a Business Analysis Coordinator working with the Lead Business Analyst on a major company account helping manage resource, commercials and training for the BAs and will move onto a Business Analyst role which will involve engaging with the client to help define their needs. The apprenticeship qualification is fairly unique on the scheme as IBM has designed the programme itself and then taken it to an awarding body to be approved as a recognised qualification. The business works in conjunction with a college to make sure that all of the on-the-job training and the relevant training courses and materials have been completed successfully. It is a three year apprenticeship with OCR Level 3 Diploma in ICT Professional Competence and in ICT Systems & Principles followed by Level 4 Diploma in Professional Competence for IT & Telecoms Professionals and in Computing and Systems Development.
Do you get support from your employer or training provider? On this scheme all of the training is provided by the employer. Each apprentice is given a Professional Development Manager (PDM) to report to, who is someone that supports you through the apprenticeship and gives you guidance. I have found that everyone involved in the scheme and the projects I have worked on is happy to help with everything, so I never feel I am stuck. Do you enjoy being an apprentice? What I like about being an apprentice at IBM is that we are not labelled as apprentices, we are considered colleagues and equals. The training opportunities are huge – we are encouraged to take full advantage of the training we are provided and more if we want it. There is a growing apprentice community within the company and there is also a good social side on some of the projects, especially if you work on a project away from home. What are your plans for when your apprenticeship is complete? As soon as you start the apprenticeship you are a full time employee at IBM, so a job is guaranteed when the Advanced Apprenticeship is complete after 3 years. After this, you have to show that you have completed certain competencies and capabilities and then you progress into the business. I hope to continue working at IBM and progressing my career. What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting an apprenticeship? I would suggest to have an open mind of what an apprenticeship involves and understand what you will need to do over the course of the scheme. The government now considers an apprenticeship as a very good route to go down once leaving school and is now looking to encourage students to take one of two options when leaving school; going to university or joining an apprenticeship scheme. Hopefully the image of what people think an apprenticeship is will be re-invented soon and it will become a ‘popular’ choice.
training providers /////////////////////////////////////////////// Links to other resources of information, inspiration and opportunities: Apprenticeship Guide National Apprenticeship National Careers Service CareersBox Future-Talent.Com Not Going To Uni
next month’s pull-out
spotlight on a sector:
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
:
dors
assa Amb
uth er Yo .uk e t n ine Volu euk.org agaz y @ m o f & n i g .uk tisin dver yeuk.org a h , t l u ria @ t Yo IC Edito t: emag ntac t UK C o n c uk e : en To org. cont rship . e k oym l b u p m 1 ye Em l me ww. 4 143 10 hoo w c : s t i & Vis ll: 0844 k ness a Busi uk.org.u or c e ljr@y
Youth UnEMPLOYMENT It’s your fight, join us & let’s make the UK YOUth Friendly
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.
www.yeuk.org.uk
NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES
n a r t l e a by mich Regardless of the drop in youth unemployment figures, there are still several barriers young people face when getting into the current job market. There is a cycle of: blaming the Government, who then blame private companies, who then blame the individuals for not trying hard enough. This generation will decide the country’s fate in the near future, and given that it is our next generation, we must provide them the same opportunities that we were given.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Attending the Youth Employment Convention has made me realise a lot of people still believe that there are not enough opportunities available to young people. They stumble across a number of phrases that hinder their progress such as; lack of experience, poor interview techniques, and failure to grasp the work culture. In addition, there are several opportunities which are simply not being advertised well enough through schools, colleges, and local careers advisors. This shows the poor relationship between employers and educational institutes which do not do enough to help young people get ready for employment during, and after their education. There is a hidden job market that young people are unaware of, and I believe the Government no longer has the capacity it once had to assist in improving young people’s prospects. It is now up to the charities and the
private sector to work together to connect with more young people, and contribute towards their education, and not just the teachers alone. We can start at the root in the mid/end tier of secondary education, and work with schools and colleges to expose students to other industries, with the aim of delivering a higher standard of career guidance. This will give young people the time to make decisions and to increase their motivation and likelihood of achieving higher. It should also eliminate the numbers of those who feel disconnected and uninspired by the education system. The work of YEUK champions careers advice, employer engagement and joining up the dots. A role that many organisations talk about needing to be fulfilled, YEUK is doing this and it is working. We now need more organisations to connect their dots with us!
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A.C.E. 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)
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All of our members get unlimited access to our online platform and information services:
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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
NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES
ne a j a x e l by a
Exams are finally over and a wave of relief comes over the majority of UK students. No more assignments, deadlines and having to sit through laborious lectures while lectures read from PowerPoint slides. However, this is short lived. It then dawns upon graduates that they have to move into the ‘real world’. But, how do they do this? There is a Catch 22 pandemic in the UK that needs to be highlighted. Numerous friends are now seeing the full effects of this. They have been at university, for the past three years, building their academic portfolio. This in itself is an endeavour, but now when they are looking for employment they hear the words, ‘but what experience do you have?’ A typical example of this is a friend who is looking to go into counselling. She has a top degree in psychology and is looking to gain practical experience wherever possible. While at university she was recommended to apply to numerous charities to build up this experience. To her dismay, she was surprised to find that the majority of charities required experience, some as much as two years, or there were limited opportunities outside of London (Catch 22!). This left her feeling frustrated and to be honest I am not surprised! Like me, she thought that by being a voluntary organisation that they would be open to giving people ‘a chance’. When she told her
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lecturers about this she was hit with the response, ‘Oh, I didn’t realise it was so strict these days?’ To me this implies that it was a lot easier when they were starting out. Organisations were willing to give them a chance. This kind of story is not unique and is probably being mirrored across the UK. Highly motivated graduates, with ample skills to offer, are being turned away. What I find the most frustrating thing is that this has now moved into the voluntary sector:
/////////////////////////////////////// V: ‘Could I volunteer with you please?’ C: ‘Do you have any experience?’ V: ‘No, that is why I would like to volunteer with you so I can build up my experience.’ C: ‘Oh, well you need to have previous voluntary experience to volunteer with us.’
/////////////////////////////////////// Youth Employment UK is a voluntary organisation and has a lot of connections with other voluntary organisations. Hopefully, they have a connection to help my friend (and thousands of other graduates) to find the experience they need to make a start on the career ladder. This Catch 22 situation can be and needs to be changed!
HINTS & TIPS
ollege? c , y t i s r e nt, univ t know, e m y o l p ips, em nd if you do no h s e c i t appren r you? a p? o f t x e n l o for he what is g ////////////////////////////////////// u o y n a c e r e wh CAREERS INFORMATION & SUPPORT The National Careers Service is the government’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 – 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 information. 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 www.brighttrack.co.uk
Persona HR www.personahr.co.uk
Aspira Consulting www.aspira-consulting.com
We also like Careers Box – a website packed with videos showing you the range of careers and opportunities on offer, and Careers Advice for Parents and Young People which covers all the bases in simple bite-sized articles.
Accross College
www.careersbox.co.uk www.careersadviceforparents.org
ENTERPRISE
www.accross.ac.uk
Tresham College www.tresham.ac.uk
NCC Resources www.ncctrainingresources.co.uk
Take a look at Princes Trust.
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.
www.princes-trust.org.uk
Or our friends; Rock Star Youth www.rockstaryouth.co.uk
Young Britain www.youngbritain.com
www.apprenticeships.org.uk
EMPLOYMENT
Also, there our members websites; The Apprenticeship Guide
There are job search websites that also advertise vacancies from apprenticeships to internships and graduate employment. Try; Universal Jobmatch
www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk
Baltic Training www.balticapprenticeships.com
ApprenticeSupermarket
www.gov.uk/jobsearch
www.apprenticesupermarket.com www.apprenticeships4england.info
Or our friends; Future Talent
Joint Learning
www.future-talent.com
Apprenticeship4England www.jointlearning.co.uk
Rate my Apprenticeship
Care Training
www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk
www.ctem.uk.com
EDUCATION You can search for thousands of college or universities through the UCAS and Unistats websites. http://search.ucas.com http://unistats.direct.gov.uk
Also our education members; Petroc College www.petroc.ac.uk
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 signpost to them too! emag@yeuk.org.uk
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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 NN18 8LB
YEUK
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HINTS & TIPS
ht g i n k x by ale We all remember work experience, walking into form as a year 10 or 11 asking people where they’d be spending the next week... “I’m going to the local vets, what about you?” “Oh, I’m working at a shop in town!” There were two schools of thought, those that wanted a weekend job and picked placements based on their likelihood of employment, and then those who wanted to gain experience in their burning quest for a certain vocation.
or maybe even year 13, allowing students to try different vocations. It would also mean that before a student submits their UCAS application or leaves the education system, they find a flavour of the world and locate exactly what a certain job really entails and whether it’s what they want to pursue. It means that those leaving the education system are less likely to struggle for work because they will have experience of the working world, where they can gain the skills that employers are looking for, and so even if they disengage from their studies, they have a strong CV.
Me personally, I spent my week working in a music shop that specialised in drum equipment. How would I rate my experience? Well, it was one of the best weeks of my entire school life. Its usefulness a totally different story, as it has very little, if nothing to do, with my career choices today.
I’m also of the belief that when you find out what it is you really want to do, then you put a refreshed and much higher ethic into your work. I certainly can vouch for that, as I floated through sixth form under a cloud of uncertainty, until journalism jumped out, managing to finish my school years and make it to university.
This brings me to the basis of this article – the huge flaw in today’s work experience programme… hardly anyone knows what they want to do with their life at 15 or 16. Therefore, I believe that there should be an overhaul of the programme to form a much different experience for young people.
My final belief about this proposed method is that more than anything, it levels the playing field. By this, I mean that the grades you achieve don’t always reflect how hard you work and by giving vocational options, it levels things between the academic and vocational learners.
As opposed to a single week working in the same experience, once in their whole school life, I believe that the programme should be more broken up.
While it may seem a radical change, students need something new and aren’t happy with the current careers and work experience programmes. The Association of Colleges found that young people wanted “more detailed, hands-on careers guidance, including information on what jobs actually involve, as
Thus, that you spend three days every year for three or four years at a different establishment, starting in year 10 and finishing in year 12,
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well as ‘have-a-go’ experiences” showing the desire for more experience in the workplace. In turn, further research by the AoC suggested that teachers may be ‘struggling’ to keep up with the latest trends in the job markets. Therefore, leaving work experience programmes in the hands of schools may not be the best idea. I think that a standardised national programme run by people within business, who have knowledge of industry, would massively increase its usefulness and make sure that the ever changing skills desired by employers is reflected in that generations’ work experience. Thus, whilst not guaranteeing that it would find a student’s definite career path, it would certainly give them a more detailed experience of what work, and specifically a particular career, is all about. Thus, leaving students much better informed when it comes to making life’s first big decision… just what is it that I want to be when I grow up?
////////////////////////////////////// References: http://news.tes.co.uk/furthereducation/b/news/2014/02/03/39out-of-date-careers-advice-stifleschildren-39-s-job-hopes-39-newreport-claims.aspx http://news.tes.co.uk/b/ news/2014/05/27/pupils-wanthands-on-work-experience-in-39drastic-39-overhaul-of-careersadvice.aspx http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ education-27539473
INTERVIEW
Work Experience and why there is a week dedicated to just that, from Georgie the apprentice at Fair Train, the organisation solely focused on helping everyone get it right! What is your apprenticeship like? What’s a typical day, what are you currently working on? My apprenticeship is everything I wanted and more! I’m currently working on a really exciting project which is called “Work Experience Week” it happens every year and it a week where we want the UK to be celebrating, discussing and even offering Work Experience opportunities (top quality ones, of course!) What is your background, how did you get on at school, did you go to college, what were/are your career ambitions? Like most young people – I had my ups and downs at school but for the main part I enjoyed it and all the experience I got out of it. After secondary school I decided to go to college to study Level 2 Business and AAT, I really enjoyed this course and finished with a merit in business studies and a pass in my AAT Level 2. After this my main plan was to continue on with accounting and progress to my level 3 and further into a professional accountant’s role. However the Level 3 AAT was not funded at my college of choice, this means I had to make a decision that would drastically change my career path and ambitions. Through my business teacher I found out about the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and decided to give it a shot! What harm could it do? After a Dragons Den type interview and a lengthy wait - I finally received the letter inviting me to join the course studying Level 3 Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and I haven’t looked back. Running a micro business and going on a work placement was part of the framework so the work was based around my own business and my own ideas
coming to life week after week! I then went on a month placement through the PJEA at a gaming company called Totem Learning – now I’m not a gamer so this was a big system shock to me but my ‘project’ whilst I was there was right up my street. They wanted me to help create a concept and gain funding for a new game – I used crowdfunding and really felt in control of something important so my confidence really was boosted! I was treated like one of the team. Because the team at Totem were small and friendly and I felt comfortable I now knew what environment I thrived in and what I enjoyed… Fundraising! This is how I came to decide that the career I wanted was fundraising. 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 my apprenticeship with Fair Train through the National Apprenticeship Service website, after weeks of scrolling through looking for something that would suit me and what I wanted. My interview was one of the most nervous days for me – with hardly any sleep and copious amounts of coffee I made it to the office with time to spare and met the other candidates. We started off the day with a group interview and ‘get to know’ session followed by a mini test to see how we would fair with the work we would be doing. Who is the Work Experience Week (WEW) aimed at? WEWeek is aimed at everyone involved in work experience – from the employer to the training provider and young person, WEWeek is all about creating better opportunities
for them all and creating a buzz for work experience. We believe it is about time that Work Experience was given the coverage it really deserves and great quality opportunities became common place. What is the overall outcome of WEW? The outcome of WEWeek is to create a buzz for work experience and to show people it’s not all brew making and photocopying – it’s to show people that good opportunities are strong footing for your future career! Some employers may think Work Experience is too difficult or complicated to arrange. Some believe it is a waste of time! Work Experience Week is an opportunity to communicate the truth about Work Experience – It’s simple, beneficial and an opportunity to be grabbed with both hands. What are your plans for when your apprenticeship is complete? When my apprenticeship is complete I would like to progress into a full time position in my chosen area – fundraising. Hopefully I will be able to continue here at Fair Train because I feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the organisation and our cause. What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting an apprenticeship? To anyone starting an apprenticeship I would advise that you ensure you want to go into the career that you are studying – if you are unsure then partake in a few weeks work experience. An apprenticeship is a big thing – it could potentially be your last stepping stone before starting your career and advancing yourself. Just ensure that it is something that you enjoy and feel passionate about!
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NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES
lch e w k c by ja With youth unemployment in the UK riding high at a stagnant 20%, or about nearly 800,000 countrywide, we may want to spare a thought for a moment or two for the future generation across the continent, as countries like Spain and Greece continue in their efforts to combat over 50% of their workforce in any form of education, employment or training.
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The European Youth Event (EYE), hosted at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, was a summit for young people all across the continent to debate and bring forward recommendations on this topic, alongside other themes of: digital revolution, future of the European Union, sustainable development and European values. As part of a delegation with the British Youth Council, bringing some of the most socially active and politically engaged people all across the country, I participated in an assortment of workshops that allowed insights into the practices of youth participation in the continent and how groups of young people are sharing the benefits of European involvement with their generation. But why should the young people in the UK take into account any of the campaigns or policies of the European Union? To start with, the EYE’s closing ceremony reported back on each of the five themes of the event, including unemployment, and the implementation of the ‘Youth Guarantee’ across the continent. This Guarantee, part
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of the European Youth Forum’s ‘Love Youth Future’ petition for MEP candidates, which asks both governments and employers to “commit to offering a young person a job, training or retraining within a certain period of being made unemployed or leaving formal education.” However, with just eight out of a possible seventy-three candidates in the UK signing to this pledge, it seems somewhat unlikely that we may be seeing many benefits of the ‘Youth Guarantee’ or any of the other aspects of the pledge, if it were to be taken seriously once the new MEPs have been elected. It is not just employment itself though which is an issue for the European Youth Forum, but also the call for quality internships and the end of an unpaid or ‘exploited part of the European workforce’, according to the charter. Coverage and awareness of these proposals for young people in the UK has been scarce, and it does not seem surprising that turnouts for the under-25s in these elections remain understandably poor, when the apparent outcomes of voting present little or no tangible value. The European Youth Event presents a good start in bringing together those who care most for a more united and progressive form of wanting to address the most daunting of challenges, like youth unemployment, to an international platform. The question remains though – how do we now convince the future generation that being a European, as well as British, citizen is really worth its scale?
NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES
Indy, 19, is a YEUK Ambassador – she shared with us what she is currently up to and what her future plans are... I am currently taking a gap year and will be studying International Relations & Politics at university at the end of this year. During my gap year, I have taken part in various work experience opportunities which I believe will help me towards fulfilling my career aspirations. From a very young age, I have always been involved in voluntary activities in which I have gained a tremendous amount of skills and experiences. At the age of nine I volunteered with ‘Amrit Vela’ radio station. Through this, I learnt an inordinate amount from people of various faiths and communities about their perceptions and attitudes on various issues such as domestic affairs, which has underpinned my understanding of how government policies affect different groups in society. My interest in the charity sector led me to volunteer for a few months at Amnesty International which was an eye opening experience. It gave a useful insight into how NGOs function and taught how vital experience is in terms of pursing your career goals. However the importance of ‘gaining experiences’ in my view are not promoted enough in educational institutions. In many cases experience, not a degree comes first for employers.
I am passionate about global development in which the second UN Millennium Development goal, ‘Achieve universal primary education’ holds an enormous amount of significance to me. I personally believe that every child should have the right to be educated and pursue their dreams. However a vast amount of deprived communities lack the facilities and infrastructure to provide a child with knowledge. Education is a fundamental right and can in essence help eradicate poverty and create a sustainable future for young people. It will enable children to explore their interests in many ways along with allowing them to grow in a natural and positive environment. This ambition of mine was heightened during my five week expedition to Malaysia with Raleigh International last year. I was able to converse with the children living in the village, who stressed the importance of wanting to obtain a good education regarding their future. However they lacked the resources and facilities which are an essential part to receiving a good education. This experience has inspired me to do more for my community and I am currently working with local schools in my area in regards to sustainability initiatives. My dream is to hopefully start with creating a basic foundation
in order to collate all my ideas and carry out extensive research in regards to the key areas that need to be tackled in relation to education deprivation internationally. I want to gain as much experience as possible by working in various institutions in the UK along with achieving a profound insight into the factors hindering students in the UK to fulfil their career aspirations.
“Being a Youth Ambassador at YEUK is a fantastic opportunity in terms of allowing young people to realise the gaps within the educational system. It also highlights the problems students are facing in regards to obtaining a job down to facing a severe lack of motivation and determination. In order to make a difference, it is essential in my view to try and help young people realise their true potential and guide them towards the right direction. I have always learnt that hard work and perseverance always pay off in the end.”
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We caught up with Katrina Calvin, who won our brilliant work experience day with UK Youth – which is taking place soon – and she shared her personal story...
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// I have always been passionate about making difference within the lives of children and young people. I love to help others grow and achieve. I discovered my passion for youth work when I completed my work experience at secondary school, where I chose to do my work experience at my old primary school. From that moment forward I have worked within this field of youth work – in particular coaching and mentoring. I believe that you can make such a difference in the life of a child paying a particular interest in their life, helping them to see new possibilities and opportunities that are available to them. I recently completed mentoring a child for a year with Improving Futures. The child came from a troubled background – this was such a rewarding experience being able to make a difference to her life. “The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice” - Peggy O’ Mara. She has lived a very sheltered life just coming to school and going home. During our mentoring time we went out to places that she really enjoyed such as youth clubs and drama workshops. It was great to see
her thrive and grow within her confidence and self-image. She now has developed the belief and awareness that there are more things out there for her to do. I am also a mentor for a third year university student – it has been rewarding coaching her and helping her to make the most of her final year. Seeking out the opportunities that the university has on offer for her. I love sharing my wisdom and knowledge with others helping them to unlock their potential from within. Currently I volunteer full time as mentor for City Year. City Year are an educational charity – they recruit volunteers aged between 18 to 24, who become mentors working within primary and secondary schools. I started in August 2013, and I finish this journey in July 2014. I am placed at a secondary school and I have really enjoyed this experience so far. It is so rewarding to help students to achieve their best, not just encouraging them in their academic studies. What is empowering for me is when I seek out to take an interest in their personal development and helping them to see that they have so much to offer to the world around them.
From September I will be off to the Czech Republic to work within a youth centre for a year. I look forward to experiencing a new culture and country. I love to step out of my comfort zone and embrace the opportunities that are presented to me. I would love to progress in the area of youth coaching and mentoring internationally, in particular America. I am grateful that I have discovered my passion from a young age. I look forward to empowering children and young people from all over the world, helping to raise their consciousness to become more self-aware of opportunities that are out there. My advice to you is to “follow your bliss” - Joseph Campbell. Discovering this from a young age will help to guide you throughout life.
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SCOTLAND CONTINUE TO EXCEL The Scottish government have set aside £12 million in order to reply to suggestions arising from a report by the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce. The Commission were undertaking an 18 month look at the vocational education system in Scotland and ways to improve it. Its main suggestions were supporting small businesses to take on apprentices and for industry and education to be brought closer together by industry-led groups. The report is further to many measures being undertaken in Scotland that has seen their youth employment levels soar to one of the best levels in the whole EU.
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PARENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR CAREERS ADVICE? An Association of Colleges report has made a stark warning to parents that “uninformed family members can hinder a child’s ambitions”, after a survey found that only 49% of the 2,000 secondary school pupils
questioned felt they had been given a good level of careers advice. The report made suggestions that parents should be kept up to date with the state of job markets and industries that they may not have been aware of. It was found that parents have a general tendency, if not well informed, to steer their child in the direction of “careers that are seen to be safe or traditional, but possibly not best suited”.
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OSBORNE WARNED BY BARROSO The European Commission has warned Chancellor George Osborne about the high level of youth unemployment in the UK. In a warning mainly by Mr Barroso at Osborne’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme, the President of the European Commission advised the UK that they should “improve efforts” to combat youth employment. He went further by attacking the schooling system, adding that more needed to be done by David Cameron’s government to encourage apprentices. The qualifications system also fell under his scrutiny suggesting that it should be “streamlined” in an attempt for employers to better understand the qualifications of individuals.
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REFUSE AND LOSE: A WARNING TO JOBSEEKERS The incorporation of incomebased jobseekers allowance in to the new universal credit system has seen its most controversial change yet, as turning down a zero-hour contract without good reason can lead to benefits being withdrawn. The contracts that see people employed without the guarantee of work could previously be declined by jobseekers without their benefits being affected. However, this system would see claimants losing their benefits for as many as three months, a period of time that many wouldn’t be able to sustain without their benefit payments. While it has been argued that workers on such contracts on average receive 25 hours of work a week, a bigger concern is that it could prevent workers from better opportunities. By being employed, it could mean that they lose chances through training schemes or even employment on an agreed solid contractual basis. This announcement ironically followed calls by unions the previous week to put an end to zero-hour contracts.
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INTERVIEW
This month Youth Ambassador Ayath, aged 20 based in London, caught up with Jacob Kent-Ledger, aged 19 from Hertfordshire. They discussed KENTLEDGER the ethos, the future and of course young people.
////////////////////////////////////// Ayath: What careers advice were you given while in education? JK-L: None. Once I told my advisor (with whom I was given an appointment with a month before exams!) that I had a business, she didn’t know what to advise me so that was it.
////////////////////////////////////// Ayath: What motivated you to start KENTLEDGER and what do you hope to achieve for young people? JK-L: I started KENTLEDGER by accident after charging someone to design a few graphics. From
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here, I quickly needed a name for the invoice so used my surname and stuck ‘media’ on the end as it was the in thing to do at the time. I always wanted to be in business but never thought it’d be my business. I was motivated to do something different and didn’t want a 9-5 or university then career then retirement path as it bores me. I hope to inspire young people through public speaking, including an event in the House of Commons in 2011.
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JK-L: Young People need to adopt the mind set of doing what they want to do in life. There’s a lot of pressure both from the media and education bodies to go to university and get a 9-5 for the rest of your life. I am keen to challenge this and ensure people do what makes them happy so much so that they don’t moan about having to work on a Monday morning and don’t look forward to the weekend just for the sake of not having to work.
Ayath: What is the ethos of KENT LEDGER?
JK-L: The ethos, put simply is to ‘work hard and be nice to people’. I pride KENTLEDGER on its impeccable customer service, courteous manner with all clients and great satisfaction we bring to businesses, Start-up’s and entrepreneurs.
////////////////////////////////////// Ayath: How do you think this will change the outlook for young people?
Jacob was educated to level 3 - A level, and achieved 12 GCSEs A-C, three A Levels in German, History and ICT.
YEUK
Youth Employment UK CIC (YEUK) is delighted to announce its first Youth Friendly Awards. Organisations from across the UK who have applied for and been awarded the Youth Friendly badge are invited to enter the awards and share their Youth Friendly business practice to be in with a chance to be short-listed for the final.
At the award ceremony presentations will also be given to nominated YEUK Volunteer Ambassadors and for the winner of the most Youth Friendly MP as nominated by YEUK supporters.
Youth unemployment remains at consistently high levels. In order to have a long-term and sustainable impact on youth unemployment the UK business community must be encouraged to invest in the training, skills and experience of the UK’s 16-24 year olds.
UK employers have the ability through talking to students in schools, offering work experience and taking on apprentices to make the biggest difference to youth unemployment and the economy. Encouraging and supporting UK employers of all sizes to adopt
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The Youth Friendly Awards will be used as a way to build on the success of the Youth Friendly badge, raise the profile of the badge and the supporting organisations and encourage more employers to see that working with young people is good practice that they can adopt.
Short-listed organisations will be invited to present their application at the awards on the 25th of November 2014 at Chelsea FC. The audience will vote on their winners for each category. Skills Minister Matthew Hancock MP will present the 2014 awards to the winners.
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‘youth friendly’ behaviour is at the heart of Youth Employment UK CIC and the purpose of the free national Youth Friendly Badge.
Youth Employment UK CIC looks forward to receiving the applications and celebrating the brilliant youth engagement of some of the UK’s most Youth Friendly businesses. Applications must be submitted before 5pm on the 15th of October. To download an entry form visit: www.yeuk. org.uk/youthfriendly/youthfriendly-awards-2014/ N.B. All applicants must be in receipt of the national Youth Friendly badge and be available to attend the awards on the 25th of November should they be short-listed. Tickets are now available at our Eventbrite Page tickets are priced at £60 per person and include a full three course meal and refreshments. There are sponsorship opportunities available for the event, including sponsorship of the individual awards and overall sponsor. Please download the Sponsorship Opportunities guide for more information.
////////////////////////////////////// For more information about the Youth Friendly badge and to download a Youth Friendly badge application form please visit www.yeuk.org.uk/ youthfriendly
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INTERVIEW
This month Hakon – YEUK’s London Based Regional Ambassador – met with Ejiro Okorodudu, 23, based in Greater London. Ejiro is a social entrepreneur on a mission to help young people get the right careers advice they need and learn how to properly develop themselves to become attractive to employers. Ejiro set up her Social Enterprise ‘Jump Start’ in 2012 – it was created out of her frustration with being told at a young age she couldn’t do certain things and that she might as well just not try. She proved all these people wrong and is now a strong believer that it is up to the young person to experience failure and learn from it. “Jump Start aims to help students understand that there are many others out there who don’t know what they want to do”. Through the program Ejiro encourages young people to take those risks.
and supported to help it grow. Her vision for the near future is to reach not just schools, but any institution dealing with young people who are struggling to find work and are looking for guidance on what to do after university. Ejiro is a firm believer in pushing the barrier and helping young people “push themselves outside their comfort zones so they can experience greatness” – as she would say in her own words. The program is currently only available to young people who are living within Greater London. If you want to hear more, get in touch with her (e.okorodudu@ live.co.uk). The program is free and you can come in as a volunteer or offer to be a guest speaker at one of her workshops.
The Jump Start Program is a one year academic program and consists of workshops based around three main areas; gaining awareness of the opportunities out there which are available, personal development and putting everything together to succeed. The program finishes with a final event where young people can get exposure directly with employers and network and explore opportunities. Although in its infancy, Ejiro has high hopes and has recently been selected as the entrepreneur for University College London (UCL) Advances and is being mentored
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