Excellence and Inspiration 22

Thinking about your future? Worrying what you should do? We will support you.

Work Experience

For a number of vocational degrees, it is essential that students have some relevant experience. For many courses, work experience could make the difference between getting an interview and instant rejection. The college has a designated work experience coordinator to source and place you on relevant work experience. We also share virtual placements with you to ensure everyone has access to an experience of the workplace.

Volunteer

This is a great way to improve your skills, help others and try something new. Whatever you do it will look great on your CV and university application. Volunteers are people with motivation, dedication and the ability to work hard. Being a volunteer is fun! It will give you a sense of personal achievement, development and satisfaction. You will also gain ‘soft skills’ which employers value such as teamwork, communication, initiative, problem-solving and time management.

Apprenticeships and Sponsored Degrees

There has been a steady growing interest in alternative pathways to full-time degree courses and more students are applying for apprenticeships or sponsored degrees. These opportunities can offer you progression opportunities to degree level and beyond. Many students are now recognising the importance of work-related learning in today’s competitive economy. The college has a Careers Advisor and specialist staff who specifically work with employers and training providers to find apprenticeship opportunities for you and they will support you through the recruitment and selection processes. Despite this pathway being very competitive with applicants often going through rigorous recruitment and selection processes, the number of students now entering professions via this route is increasing year on year.

Some examples of recent apprenticeships include:

Trainee IT Project Manager ATOS Rolls Royce (Derby) Specialist Scientist Apprentice Trainee Accountant, Ernst Young (London) Aeronautical Engineering Sponsored Degree with Airbus Accountancy Trainee in Audit KPMG Keepmoat as a Construction Management Trainee Wimpey Taylor Trainee Quantity Surveyor Laing O Rourke (LJMU) Civil Engineering Stephensons Solicitors Legal Services Apprentice Trainee HR manager AstraZeneca Close Brothers Trainee Merchant Banker (Manchester)

63 Winstanley College students secured an apprenticeship or employment in 2020

Katherine Ainley

CEO at Ericsson UK

Former student Katherine has recently gained the coveted position of CEO at Ericsson UK. She will be responsible for the mobile infrastructure and the rollout of 5G networks across the country.

Katherine, a former Standish High School student loved her time with us and said:

“It was a great transition between high school and university.”

After leaving college Katherine travelled to Kenya to teach English before studying a BSc in Government at the London School of Economics. After university, she joined Ernest Young (EY). She worked for EY for six years, then at Lloyds Bank for four, before joining BT where she stayed for thirteen years. In April 2021 she gained the role of CEO at Ericsson UK. Katherine said,

Winstanley Alumni

At Winstanley we have a truly amazing resource: our own former students!

Did you know we have Winstanley Alumni all over the world from Australia, USA and even Brazil and that these former student’s often come into college to talk about their careers with our students. Here are some examples of what former students are now doing.

“It has never been more important than during the past eighteen months to keep everyone connected during the pandemic so we can all work from home efficiently and keep the economy going.”

Katherine’s advice: “Throw yourself into it. It’s a really important two years where you can try new subjects and activities, before having to think about what you want to do in the future. Make the most of it and enjoy your time at Winstanley!”