STRIVE Festival 2022

M O N D AY 4 A P R I L PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

WELCOME We are excited to be bringing back a bigger and better, face-to-face STRIVE Festival for 2022 on Monday 4th April!

Designed to meet all your career needs, this will be the ideal opportunity to improve your employability skills.

We will have employers from a variety of industries available for you to meet and speak to about what they do, any job opportunities they have and tips and advice for you to get into your chosen industry!

It is never too early to start thinking about your career so whether you are in your first or final year, there will be something available for you. STRIVE Festival will have different opportunities running all day to give you the skills and support to enter the world of work and potentially put you in touch with your future employer.

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FESTIVAL OVERVIEW

10AM–NOON NOON –1PM

1–2PM

Networking brunch The Room Successful leader’s panel N2.10 Selling yourself to potential employers N2.01 Preparing for work in the office N2.02

2–3PM

More than marketing N2.01 LinkedIn and networking N2.02

3–4PM

Alumni panel S3.01

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EXHIBITORS UK MUSIC Looking for a career in the music industry?

We want to ensure that every young person in the UK has access to music sector-endorsed information, advice and guidance about the broad range of careers available.

CUBE CUBE is an insight-led video and animation production company. We produce captivating content, uniquely tailored to each and every project brief connecting you with your clients, prospects or staff.

Our in-house team of professional videographers and animators are directed by experienced creatives and each project is managed by a dedicated account manager to ensure the project is on-brief and delivered on-time with a 5-star service.

We offer the full video production package, from initial strategy planning, creative ideation and scripting right through to production services and post-production.

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EXHIBITORS COMFORT CARE SERVICES Comfort Care Services is a specialist care organisation providing supported housing for vulnerable adults with mental health needs, challenging behaviour, learning disabilities and much more.

We recruit Support Assistants, Care Workers and Activities Coordinators for our normal vacancies. We have great pay rates for our roles. New candidates don’t need experience as we provide full training and shadowing experience.

Some of the areas we recruit in are Aylesbury, West London (Uxbridge, West Drayton, Hillingdon Area ) Surrey, Slough, Reading, South West London as well.

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EXHIBITORS ICP EDUCATION ICP Education is a group of 50 nurseries. The group was established in 2016 and continues to grow as new high quality nurseries are acquired.

Our mission is to deliver exceptional education and outstanding childcare to our children and families, through our commitment to valuing and developing staff and providing engaging and inclusive environments for all.

We will deliver this mission through our core values – integrity, excellence, team work, dedication, and equality Each of our nurseries is unique, however they all; • Provide the very best childcare and education.

• Are friendly, nurturing environments where children feel happy, comfortable, safe, and keen to learn.

• Provide the opportunity for children to engage in exciting activities in environments that have the best equipment and resources.

• Ensure that children have lots of fun and make good progress in their learning and development.

• Employ well qualified and friendly staff who form close relationships with families and children.

We are looking for people who can ...

• light up a room with their smile • give a new mum a much-needed hug • cheer people on if they’re having a tough day • tell a good joke when someone needs a smile • take pride in everything they do • do their best every single day

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EXHIBITORS BEST PRACTICE NETWORK Best Practice Network, home of Outstanding Leaders Partnership, provides accredited qualifications for education professionals worldwide, with a mission to help every child access an excellent education. Our blended learning model combines practitioner-led and locally delivered face-to-face events with action research, peerto-peer reflection, online learning and personal tuition.

Our comprehensive range of programmes includes the government-approved National Professional Qualifications for school leaders, our Early Career Development Programme for early career teachers, Early Years Initial Teacher Training and the National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO).

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EXHIBITORS SALES: UNTANGLED Sales: Untangled is a boutique sales consultancy helping small businesses build brilliant sales teams and take the pain out of business growth. Client projects include strategy, recruitment and team building, and of course management training and selling skills. We’re also the authors of the Amazon #1 bestseller, “Untangle Your Sales”, published in 2021.

We’re a certified B Corp and running carbon net zero (28 years ahead of the government’s target!). Community and environment are a key part of this, and we’re delighted to support our local University at this event.

If you’re considering a career in sales and marketing, thinking about running your own business, or just want to know more about what sales people really get up to – then drop by and chat with us.

THE OASIS PARTNERSHIP We are a charity providing high quality social and psychological support services to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Our mission is to improve quality of life by reducing disadvantage, isolation and loneliness and increasing skills, confidence and wellbeing. We take a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing and believe that social prescribing is vital to connect people with community groups, providing emotional as well as practical support. We are based in High Wycombe, Chesham and Aylesbury. To find out more please visit oasispartnership.org

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EXHIBITORS THE EMFS GROUP The Emergency Medical and Fire Solutions Group, is a collection of industry professionals who specialize in Fire and Medical resourcing. Based in and around Oxfordshire, we provide medical and fire support at a number of large events such as the Formula 1 at Silverstone, Boomtown & Truck Festivals and further afield, Tobacco Dock events in London. As well as large-scale events, we provide our services to local communities, and also work with the NHS to assist with patient transport. We have bases in several locations such as Blewbury, Newbury, Upper Heyford and Sevenoaks, but attend events up and down the country.

At STRIVE 2022, the EMFS Group will provide advice and support to students interested in the healthcare industry.

We are also offering current healthcare students the opportunity to be shortlisted into our 2022 events season, running from April to September, where they will be able to work alongside trained professionals to gain valuable experience at exciting events, whilst earning a competitive rate of pay.

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EXHIBITORS PACT Pact is a pioneering national charity that supports prisoners, people with convictions, and their children and families. We provide caring and life changing services at every stage of the criminal justice process: in court, in prison, on release, and in the community.

Our vision is of a society in which justice is understood as a process of restoration and healing, in which prisons are used sparingly and as places of learning and rehabilitation, and in which the innate dignity and worth of every human being is valued. We work for the common good of society, taking a public health-based approach. We work at the intersection of criminal justice, child and family welfare, mental health, wellbeing provision and health & social care.

Our volunteers and staff can be found in courts, prisons, probation services, and in communities across England & Wales. We are a diverse, inclusive, modern, and collaborative charity. We build effective partnerships and sustainable solutions based on our well-established understanding of the systems in which we work, and on our historic values and ethos developed through our 120+ years of service delivery.

Students can expect to find detailed information about the volunteering opportunities which are available in the Thames Valley area and how volunteering can help support their studies and future career in the Criminal Justice System.

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EXHIBITORS HR BY TARA I’m Tara Hopkins and I’ve had a long career in Human Resources roles within a variety of different companies - big, small, international, family owned, etc. I now run my own business called - HR by Tara, where I help business owners across Buckinghamshire to be good employers. We support business owners to take on their first employee or to manage the employees they have.

We provide documentation and advice, and we support business owners to make good decisions about managing their people. I started HR by Tara in early 2021 and have learned a lot in the past 12 months about starting up an independent business, building long term relationships with clients and creating value for them.

I’m very pleased to be part of the STRIVE Festival and am happy to chat to students about what employers are looking for from candidates (I’ve interviewed a LOT of people in my career), what careers in HR are really like, or even my experience of setting up my own business from scratch. I’ll also be presenting a talk for students, filled with tips on how to get ready for your first office job and make sure the first few hours, days and weeks are successful.

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EXHIBITORS BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL Our local communities are at the heart of everything we do, and they rely on the work we do. Whether its new roads being built, helping parents get their children a school place or providing essential care and support to vulnerable children or elderly residents, we’re here to make a real difference.

We are firm believers in growing our own talent and love nothing more than seeing our employees develop throughout their careers with us. We offer apprenticeship opportunities and also take part in the bi-annual National Graduate Development Programme. Occasionally, we also offer the opportunity for work experience placements. We have a dedicated team who look after all apprenticeship and graduate applications, and we are happy to discuss your options with you.

You’ll be joining us at an exciting time as we continue our unitary journey and could also be entitled to a range of different benefits including a competitive pension scheme, a generous holiday allowance and discounted travel.

We pride ourselves on our core values of being proud, ambitious, collaborative and trustworthy, and work together to deliver the very best outcomes for our communities. To find out more and see exclusive content from our employees, follow us on social media @bucks_careers.

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EXHIBITORS SITA SITA is the world’s leading specialist in air transport communications and information technology. We don’t just connect the global aviation industry; we apply decades of experience and expertise to address almost every core business, operational, baggage, and passenger process in air transport. Our aviation IT professionals are in every corner of the globe. We serve over 200 countries and speak over 60 different languages.

Attending the STRIVE Festival will be our Project Portfolio Director from our Borders business, HR Manager for the UK and two of our current graduates; this will give you an opportunity to ask questions and gain answers from different perspectives.

HEATHROW CAREERS Britain’s biggest airport is seeking thousands of new employees in a massive recruitment drive ahead of an expected summer travel boom. Firms based at Heathrow are offering opportunities across several seniority levels – from apprentices and assistants to supervisors and site managers. Paula Stannett, Heathrow’s Chief People Officer, said: “A job at Heathrow is an opportunity to work at one of the most exciting and dynamic places in the country.”

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EXHIBITORS TRANSITIONS UK Transitions UK supports young people aged 11–25 years who are struggling with personal disadvantage. We work with young people who have learning disabilities and special needs, those with emotional and mental health challenges, those leaving care and those at risk of offending or criminal exploitation. We support young people to make a positive transition towards adulthood, optimising their potential and enabling them to have a productive and successful life and future, however that looks for them.

IZ CONNECT RECRUITMENT IZ Connect Recruitment are a locally based Agency in High Wycombe who support Nurseries and Schools with staff, including Nursery Assistants, Cover Supervisors and Teaching Assistants. We provide opportunities for people who look for flexibility to suit their studies and have a passion for working with children. We thrive to provide opportunities for people who want to begin a career within the Education and Childcare Sector, and do not require any Childcare Qualifications for the positions we can provide. Our ethos is to provide Educators and be part of the journey that will inspire our future generations. As a Childcare Educator, you have the tools to inspire and make a difference to a young person’s future, and utilise all the training, knowledge and experience accumulated from university to provide that care.

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EMPLOYABILITY TIPS INTERVIEW TIPS • Research the organisation before your interview and be clear on the responsibilities of the role.

• Dress appropriately and arrive in plenty of time!

• Don’t be afraid to ask for a minute if you need to consider your response and don’t lie!

• Prepare some answers to expected questions and some questions for you to ask at the end of the interview.

• How is your experience relevant to the tasks of the role?

• Go to as many interviews as you can and always ask for feedback even if unsuccessful

CV/APPLICATION TIPS • Make it all about you and be concise yet descriptive • Stick to the facts – if you get to interview you’ll need to be able to talk about your experiences • Highlight your key skills and employment first and keep it relevant, not all experience may be interesting for the role you are applying for • Detail most recent experiences first and work backwards, remember volunteering is work experience • Check the Person Specification and make sure your statement or cover letter addresses each skill with a specific example.

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SUCCESSFUL LEADERS PANEL noon–1pm – N2.10

LYNNE KENNEDY FROM SALES: UNTANGLED Lynne Kennedy held senior sales roles in international businesses, including Mars, Boots and De La Rue, before setting up her own business two decades ago. She’s co-founder of Sales: Untangled®. With an instinct for business relationships and team dynamics she specialises in mentoring, coaching and training.

ABHILASHA BAJWA FROM TVP As a graduate with a Chemistry degree, joining the police was never something I had originally considered would be a logical step towards the start of my career. However, since joining the police in 2019 I have never looked back or regretted my decision for one second. This is one of the most exciting jobs in the world, with a fantastic variety of possible career paths and development opportunities.

I have spent time on a range of departments as a PC including Response policing, Neighbourhood policing and a detective department. I am currently an A/Police Sergeant on the Positive Action and Engagement Team involved in the recruitment, retention and progression of officers and staff from underrepresented groups within Thames Valley Police.

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OLIVER MORRIS FROM UK MUSIC Oliver has been with UK Music since 2015. Before this he was a tutor, researcher, community worker, musician and composer. His PhD thesis explored ‘The Educational and Economic Aspirations of Young People in Wales’. He is on the advisory board for Live Music Exchange, steering group for Make Music Day UK, advisory group for London Music Fund’s Amplify London Programme and a member of Anthem that was set up to deliver the Welsh Government’s new Music Endowment Fund for Wales.

GEMMA HOOD FROM CUBE AND CULTUREHOOD Gemma Hood, CEO and founder of Culturehood; a culture consultancy focussed on creating positive employee experiences that lead to happier and more productive workplaces. Clients have been recognised as part of the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For; Thames Valley Tech Awards – ‘Tech Employer of the Year’; and also, by the Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards – ‘Best Company to Work For’.

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EMPLOYABI LITY SESSIONS 1–3pm – N2.01 & N2.02

SELLING YOURSELF -1–2PM – N2.01 The session will cover: • The power of first impressions - why this matters and what to pay attention to • How to manage your own ’state’ - to keep calm, to feel confident etc.

• Beware your silent signals. The impact of body language - both face-to-face and virtual. (This will be demonstrated with volunteers) • Narrating your own story to match a job advert (How to identify competencies required and how to demonstrate and narrate your own experience to illustrate that you have them)

MORE THAN MARKETING - 2–3PM – N2.01 After graduating from Falmouth University with a Press and Editorial degree, Nellie joined the Bucks Students’ Union marketing team as the Digital Marketing Coordinator. Now she spends her time writing awful puns, snapping students doing odd things for good causes, and analysing more data than you’d expect. A fan of the Oxford Comma and capital letters, Nellie will be hosting a session on all the important bits, both personal and practical, she’s picked up on whilst working in a marketing team.

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PREPARING FOR WORK IN THE OFFICE 1–2PM – N2.02 Join Tara Hopkins from HR by Tara in this FREE session as she talks you through what you need to know before you start your first office job - whether you’re actually working in an office with other people or you’re working from home. This session will cover: • Getting the job - a brief note on interviews and offers • Preparing for your first day - employment paperwork, researching before you start, etc.

• First day - onboarding and induction • Office etiquette - all the dos and don’ts to help you make a good impression and feel comfortable at work • Working from home etiquette - online meetings, managing your time, etc.

• Building good working relationships from the start • Asking for help and support There will hopefully also be time for a Q&A at the end.

LINKEDIN AND NETWORKING - 2–3PM – N2.02 Run by the University’s Student Opportunities and Career Success department, take part in this great session to learn more about LinkedIn and networking!

Having a LinkedIn profile is more important than ever, and we’ll help you to get yours set up and show you how to make the best of it! On top of that, we’ll teach you all about networking and how to build a personal brand that will get you noticed by employers and recruiters alike.

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ALUMNI PANEL 3–4pm – S3.01

HANNA FREE My name is Hanna and I studied BSc Sports Therapy.

I really enjoyed my time at BNU so much so, that I now work in the Sports Therapy Science departments as a Graduate Intern. I am also a Sports Therapist at Maidenhead Rugby Club.

HANNAH DOLDEN Studying Textiles Design, specialising in knitting, and my third year being cut short by the pandemic was not the ideal way to kickstart my journey out of Uni, but I am immensely glad that things went the way they did. Since leaving Uni I have started my own business knitting bags, cushions, clothing, and so much more. Starting in my parents’ spare room, sharing my space with a sofa bed and endless clutter, to moving to Leicester after being headhunted for a job, and now having a whole room dedicated to my business and it has been a whirlwind 2 years.

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DANNY TIPPING Danny Tipping is an award-winning television producer who specialises in documentary and factual-entertainment programming. Danny graduated from Bucks in 1998 and started his television career at Channel 4 Television before going on to work at Discovery Networks International.

Moving into independent production, Danny has overseen the development, production and delivery of hundreds of hours of high-quality factual and factual-entertainment programmes to leading broadcasters around the world.

Award winning programmes include Mandela – The Struggle is My Life (Sky One) which won the Gold Medal at the New York Film Festival, Mystery Files (National Geographic Channel US) and The Day Everest Shook (PBS).

Danny joined Znak&Co. as Head of Factual and Executive Producer in 2018 where he heads up the factual team from the company’s London offices.

Danny went on to launch London based production company Transistor Films and acts as the company’s Creative Director and CEO. Transistor Films produce a wide range of factual entertainment and documentary programming including Netflix’s hit true crime series ‘I Am A Killer’.

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THERE’S MORE! INTERESTED IN MORE EMPLOYABILITY ADVICE? Make sure you check out My Bucks Career with heaps of advice on CV building, interview skills, jobhunting and assessment centres.

You can also make individual appointments with the Student Opportunities and Career Success department by emailing careers@bucks.ac.uk.

Or why not drop down to the Students’ Union for a Bucks Award session? Everything you do with the Students’ Union is recorded centrally and we can produce your Bucks Award as a record of this for you and talk you through how these skills can be transferrable into the workplace, to give you confidence writing your applications and in your interviews!

Make sure you keep an eye on our What’s On page for extra curricular activities and training sessions all designed to boost your employability!

If you are a first or second year, you will want to find out more about the Leadership Academy – We are accepting applications for our 2022/23 cohort now!

Visit bucksstudentsunion.org for more information

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EMPLOYABILITY TIPS SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE MANAGEMENT • Having no profile at all may not be beneficial • Keep your profile professional, updated and relevant • Some people have two accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - one social, one professional • Monitor what people share with you or tag you in – stay in control of your profile • When you post, think whether that post could impact you in the future

COMMUNICATION SKILLS • Actively listen to the other person and take time to give a calm and measured response • Avoid using judgemental, defensive or attacking comments and display positive body language • Maintain eye contact in conversations • Think before you speak, be confident in what you are saying and don’t interrupt the other person speaking • Keep correspondence professional, concise and to the point and remember to proof read before sending

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THANKS FOR COMING A LW AY S S T R I V E F O R M O R E