Way2Go - North West 6 by Distinctive Media Group Ltd

O T O L L E H SAY K O O L W E N THE WAY 2 GO! ISSUE 6 JULY 2008

LIVE/LEARN/ ASPIRE/ACHIEVE thewaytogoonline.co.uk

SKILLS FOR WORK IF YOU’RE UNDER 19

HEATHY EATING ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EATING HEALTHY AND MORE!±

at what age can I...?

playtime REVIEWS

WITH THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS...

WWW.THEWAYTOGOONLINE.CO.UK

INTRODUCTION

WELCOME TO ISSUE 6: ‘They think it’s all over........it is now’.

PAGE 12

Well, almost. Only a few more weeks and the summer holidays are here. Now it’s time to sit back, chill out and start to re-charge your batteries. This issue of W2G is packed with help and advice, so here are just a few things that we take a look at in this issue: We cover the world of Chartered Surveying, careers in the Police, RAF and the Army and we also have a feature on eating healthy this summer! In ‘Playtime’ we cast our eye over some of the latest games, DVD’S, CD’s and film reviews to hit the streets. Remember, we want to hear from you, we would love your feedback and thoughts on the new look W2G or if you have any ideas about adding to the content within the magazine let us know at www.thewaytogoonline.co.uk. Have a safe and fun summer! And we will see you in the new school year!

SKILLS FOR WORK IF YOU’RE UNDER 19

PAGE 20 WHAT YOU CAN DO AT WHAT AGE!

PAGE 32 Distinctive Publishing LTD, 7th floor, Aidan House, Sunderland Road, Gateshead NE8 3HU

T: 0191 4788300 Lorraine Hawthorne

Sales MANAGER

lorraine.hawthorne@distinctivepublishing.co.uk Ewan Waterhouse

Business Development Manager ewan.waterhouse@distinctivepublishing.co.uk

INFo ON EATING HEALTHY

LIVE/LEARN/ASPIRE/ACHIEVE

CONTENTS HAS ANYBODY SEEN USHER?

W2G NW|/ISSUE 6

HAS ANYBODY SEEN IRONMAN?

PLAYTIME PAGE04

NEW REVIEWS FROM THE oracle THAT IS THE ROLF

4. playtime - movie review 5. playtime - dvd review 6. playtime - music review 7. playtime - game review 8. WHAT NEXT? - MAERSK 10. PORTRAIT OF A NATION - HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND 12. SKILLS FOR WORK IF YOU’RE UNDER 19 14. GRAB CASH FOR MEDIA PROJECTS - NORTH WEST VISION & MEDIA 15. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE ASSISTANT - NWPN 16. ARMY STEERS PEOPLE IN RIGHT DIRECTION - ARMY 20. AT WHAT AGE CAN I...? 23. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...KIM NGUYEN - RAF 24. SO HOWS LIFE WITH YOU? - NWDA 26. ARE YOU A SECRET WRITER? - OPEN UNIVERSITY 28. THE WORLD OF CHARTERED SURVEYING - RICS 30. WHAT IS A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER? - GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE 32. HEALTHY EATING 34. NW WINNERS HAVE A FIRST CLASS DAY OUT - LSC 36. SARA PULLEN - AEROSPACE 38. LANGUAGES IN ACTION - RLN 41. STUDYING AWAY FROM HOME 44. OUR VISION IS SIMPLE - UNITED UTILITIES

playtime

by michael rolf

MOVIES... IRONMAN

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Not only was Iron Man the greatest comic book adaptation I have ever seen, this was quite possibly the greatest film I’ve ever seen!! Absolutely loved it! Director John Favreau (Made, Elf) brings us this classic tale of Tony Stark, played by the fantastic Robert Downy Jr (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang). Tony is a weapons designer for the US military until one day he’s captured by a group of terrorists, to escape he needs to build a metal action suit to protect himself. After doing so, he escapes back to the world he knows best, however he returns a different man. His experiences force him to perfect the suit he built to escape, therefore taking on the responsibility of becoming the Iron Man. With a star studded cast including; Terrence Howard (Crash, Awake), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shallow Hal) and Jeff Bridges (K-Pax) and a soundtrack that will blow your socks off, Iron Man is one terrific film I would recommend to anyone to go and see. It even has a few laughs along the way. I am already holding my breath in anticipation for Iron Man 2 and 3 and 4 and... FAVORITE QUOTES: RDJ - Well, you actually have excellent bone structure there, I’m having a hard time not looking at you now. Is that weird?

RATING hhhhh

IF YOU LIKED THIS I RECOMMEND YOU SEE: n Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang n X-Men ( 1, 2 &3) n Mission Impossible ( 1, 2 &3) n The Incredible Hulk (New Edward Norton Feature)

“this was quite possibly the greatest film I’ve ever seen!”...

PLAytime

“it isn’t in the same league as most modern Sci-Fi and super hero movies”

DVD’S...

JUMPER WELL LET ME START by saying that Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Snakes On A Plane) will literally take any role offered to him, good or bad. And this is definitely not one of his best performances. In this average film, Director Doug Liman (The Bourne Ultimatum) deserves some credit for the great use of some spectacular special effects and an astonishing use of locations. Jumper is a film about a young man called David Rice, played by Hayden Christensen (Awake), who finds out that he has a special power which allows him to ‘jump’ anywhere at any time. After taking full advantage of these powers, Rice finds out that there is a secret society lead by Roland (Jackson).

I did enjoy this film whilst I was watching it, however when i think back, it isn’t in the same league as most modern Sci-Fi and super hero movies that seem to be flooding our cinemas at the moment. Jumper is worth watching once but definitely not worth buying.

RATING hhhhh

FAVORITE QUOTES: Roland - Only God Should have this power. Griffin - I’m different, Boo!

IF YOU LIKED THIS I RECOMMEND YOU SEE: n Daredevil n Spiderman ( 1, 2 &3)

PLAytime

“Usher has spawned another masterpiece!”

mUSIC...

USHER: HERE I STAND THE WAIT IS OVER!! Finally, after the hugely successful ‘Confessions’, Usher has spawned another masterpiece! ‘Here I Stand’ is an incredible album, with some exciting vocal performances from; Will I. Am, Jay-Z, Beyonce and of course the extremely talented Usher Raymond. The album went straight to number 1 in the US and it is not surprising after listening to this amazing soulful/ funk album. I am a huge fan of Usher’s two previous albums, ‘8701’ and ‘Confessions’, and I can tell you that when listening to all three albums it is easy to see how much the ‘The King Of R & B’ has matured and evolved over the years.

RATING hhhhh

IF YOU LIKED THIS I RECOMMEND YOU SEE: n Mario - Go n Justin Timberlake - Future Sex/ Love Sounds

I strongly recommend that any R&B fan, or anyone who has enjoyed the sound of Usher’s music go out and buy Here I Stand....right now!! It is simply amazing! FAVORITE TRACKS: - Love In This Club (Parts 1& 2) - Something Special - Moving mountains - This Ain’t sex

PLAytime

GAMES...

DON KING’S PRIZE FIGHTER

DON KING, A BOXING PROMOTER LEGEND, lends his name to 2K Games’ Prizefighter, the company’s attempt to create a boxing game from the ground up. What hops in the ring is decent, with a solid control scheme and a selection of classic and new boxers. However, despite these few attempts to innovate, it just never delivers the knockout blow to win us over. Don King’s Prizefighter goes the same route as some of the promoter’s bigger fights – it’s too over-hyped for its own good. It’s a capable boxing game, with a decent control system that utilizes a combination of analog stick blocking and button-pressing punches. With acceptable-looking boxers that swell up with damage and a documentary-style presentation that can go a number of ways in Career Mode, it’s a worthy effort. However, Prizefighter doesn’t do anything over the long term to knock us out.

RATING hhhhh

IF YOU LIKED THIS I RECOMMEND YOU SEE: n Fight Night Round 3 n George Foreman’s Ko Boxing n EA Knockout Kings n Wii Boxing

“it just never delivers the knockout blow to win us over”

? t x e n What MAERSK...

3 years have passed since George Koklanakis, Rebecca Farrell and Natalie Stephens started their journey with Maersk. Studying at Warsash Marine Academy, they attended their passing out ceremony on Saturday the 21st of June to celebrate their 3 years of dedication, hard work and the end of their cadetship.

They now begin a new stage in their career;

What next? What vessel? Where in the World will they go?

What does the future hold? ThisisnottheendoftheirtrainingwithMaersk,itisjustthebeginning,everyvesselisanew experience, every country a new adventure. If you are looking for a career that offers a world of experience and gain a recognised qualification in the process please visit it us at

www.seacareers.co.uk

‘Portraitandof a Nation’ do YOU want to be? who are we

For the first time, a national conversation has been launched amongst young people encouraging them to discuss and share where they come from, who they are, and what it means for their future. From local dialects to fashion, places we hang out, to music we listen to, our lives are shaped by the cultures, places and people around us. ‘Portrait of a Nation’ is a year-long national programme of events and online activity that involving 18 cities across the UK, from Inverness to Brighton. Young people in Manchester and Liverpool are leading the way, working alongside other young people across the UK, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008. Together they have laid down a challenge for our generation to explore, debate and celebrate the impact that our cultural roots have had on our values and sense of identity. What is it about their town that young people in Liverpool value compared with those in Bristol, what does it mean to be a Manchunian? And what do we all have in common?

So what’s happening in the North West? ‘We Make Manchester’ is the title of Manchester’s contribution to Portrait of a Nation, in keeping with the city’s ethos that the people are its heart. Famed for being the home-city of a whole host of creative minds including fashion designer Matthew Williamson, writers such as Elizabeth

for creativity, vision and flair, a heritage at the centre of We Make Manchester. Six groups of young people aged between 13 & 18 years old have been working alongside some fantastic artists to create pieces of art, music, fashion, photography, writing and more besides, all of which will be brought together in a themed event, organised by young people, at Urbis, the city’s central cultural arts venue, in July. This will be followed by an artistic display in Liverpool at the end of the year, when the work of Urbis’ youth forum across the UK will be brought together to demonstrate their collective Portrait of a Nation.

“I think our performance will be awesome, I can’t wait to show everyone what we are made of!”

Throughout the year teenagers will be staging celebratory events to show what makes their city unique through a range of art, performance and heritage projects. In December 2008, the highlights will be taken to Liverpool to create a spectacular festival of the

nation’s identity through the eyes of its youth.

Gaskell and Shelagh Delaney and legendary bands like Joy Division, the Stone Roses and Oasis, Manchester has a strong reputation

The contribution from Manchester has been based around six key words, which the young people identified as summing up the city they love: Iconic, Misunderstood, Multicultural, United-City, Influential, Individual. “I think our performance will be awesome, I can’t wait to show everyone what we are made of!” Urbis Youth Forum

“We have discussed how Manchester has grown, adapted and embraced many cultures

www.portraitofanation.net

through its history…how this is still happening and how our community may change in the future.” Urbis Youth Forum Nearby, Liverpool’s Portrait of a Nation celebrations are an important part of the city’s year as European Capital of Culture 2008. Five arts organisations are working across Liverpool to explore the hopes and aspirations of young people growing up in the city’s neighbourhoods: n

In North Liverpool, the ICDC (International Centre for Digital Content) have helped young people develop a series of podcasts themed around issues ranging from gun crime to parental separation.

Museums Liverpool to create a range of artworks, including a large art piece called ‘The Portrait’, using images of graffiti and images of tattoos, piercing, clothes and hair styles representing youth culture today.

Liverpool Comedy Trust have been helping young people examine local culture, community and identity through stand-up comedy, sketch writing and animation. The project culminated in April with a showcase performance, giving participants a chance to demonstrate their new skills to a live audience.

In April and May, posters produced by young people from the refugee and wider BME communities were displayed around the city centre. Participants have also taken part in a debate at BBC Radio Merseyside.

FUSE – new theatre for young people – have been working with young people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds to draw on their experiences of Liverpool and England.

Watch this space as we chart the progress of the North West in 2008!

So how can you get involved?

The debate is happening live online at www.portraitofanation.net , with blogs, pictures and films. Get involved by adding favourite cultural ‘hot spots’ to your their home town.

n In Kirkdale, Speke and Garston young people have been paired with National

To watch a short film about what Liverpool teens have to say about ‘Portrait of a Nation’ go to YouTube – http://uk.youtube. com/watch?v=ZL2uBzoPoMo

www.portraitofanation.net

SKILLS FOR WORK IF YOU’RE UNDER 19

IF YOU WANT TO GET A JOB AFTER YEAR 11, IT’S IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE ONE THAT OFFERS YOU PLANNED TRAINING LEADING TO NATIONALLY RECOGNISED QUALIFICATIONS. Learning through work to boost your career

that you can use in the workplace, known as ‘Key Skills’ and ‘Skills for Life’.

More and more, employers are looking for workers with higher level skills and qualifications. So, if you want to start work, finding a job with training will give you better long-term prospects.

e2e is tailored to your individual needs, so it does not last for a fixed amount of time. As well as working towards a qualification, you can try out different work an learning situations.

You can learn through work in a way that suits you. For example, you could study part time during evenings and weekends, or through distance learning (online or correspondence).

If you are on an e2e programme, you may be able to receive money in the form of an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

Apprenticeships

New Deal is a government scheme designed to help people who are out of work. You’ll get a personal adviser who will look at your experiences, interests and goals so that a plan can be prepared for you.

If you want a job that guarantees excellent training, an Apprenticeship could be for you. Apprenticeships are available in a wide range of employment sectors. As an Apprentice, you earn money while you learn and study for nationally recognised qualifications.

If you’re looking for work ENTRY TO EMPLOYMENT - E2E If you’re not ready to start an Apprenticeship, employment with training or further education after Year 11, you may benefit from an Entry to Employment (e2e) programme. To qualify, you must live in England and be aged between 16 and 18. e2e is intended to develop your motivation and confidence. It will also help you build skills

NEW DEAL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

You can apply for the New Deal for Young People if you are aged between 18 and 24 and have had a continuous claim to Jobseekers’ Allowance for six months or more. If you take part in one of the full-time education or training options, your course fees will be paid. Help with the costs of books, travel or equipment is also available.

If you’re in work- but there’s no training If the job you have found offers little or no training, you could be eligible for something called Time Off for Study or Training (TfST).

You can qualify if you are 16 or 17 and did not get any Level 2 qualifications at school. Level 2 qualifications include: n n n

GCSEs at grades A*-C an NVQ Level 2 certain other qualifications, such as a BTEC First Diploma

TfST entitles you to reasonable paid time off during normal working hours to study or train for an approved qualification. This must be a Level 2 qualification that will help improve your future employment prospects. The time off you get will depend on the course, your circumstances, and your employer’s needs. If you’re 18, you’re also allowed to finish any qualifications that you’ve already started.

Where your training can lead You may be able to use the qualifications you gain through work-based training as a route into university or higher education. This can further improve your job prospects and potential earnings in the future. The work experience you gain could also be really useful if you want to apply to do a Foundation Degree. Foundation Degrees combine academic study with work-based learning

LAST CHANCE TO GRAB CASH FOR MEDIA PROJECTS Young people from across the Northwest are being offered access to up to £40,000 in funding to help them set up media projects. But groups will have to act fast to take advantage of the offer - because the deadline for 2008 Mediabox applications is only weeks away.

see what makes a great application, and find out what the priorities are for the Northwest,” says Deborah. “TV and film projects did really well last year, so this round of Mediabox funding is prioritising projects in other, alternative media. That’s why projects in print, photography, radio, games and interactive media, graphic novels or mixed media advertising campaigns are all particularly welcome at the moment.

Northwest Vision and Media, which works on behalf of the TV, film, radio and digital content industries in the region, is championing the Government-sponsored Mediabox initiative. “This is a fantastic “Mediabox is all about producing good quality projects, so it’s way for young people across our region to get their media ideas and important that we give as much guidance as we can to people with projects off the ground,” explains Deborah Parker, Regional Mediabox their applications before they send them in.” Co-ordinator for Northwest Vision and Media. Anyone unable to make it to the roadshow can still apply for “Whatever form of media you’re interested in, from film to TV, digital Mediabox funding, and Deborah is available via email (deborahp@ to games, we’re really keen to hear what you’d do if only you had visionandmedia.co.uk) to offer expert advice on applying. some cash,” says Deborah. Funding is open to youth and/or media focused organisations across The Department for Children, Schools and Families has invested £2 England. Those who are successful will also be eligible to take million in Mediabox for 2008 and it’s Northwest Vision and Media’s advantage of time with a specialist media mentor to ensure their aim to attract as much of that money as possible into our region. Run projects are successful. in conjunction with First Light Movies, Media Trust, Skillset and the UK Film Council, Mediabox gave out more than £600,000 in 2007, “People who applied for Mediabox funding last year are not eligible supporting over 600 Northwest young people. for support in 2008/9, so I’m looking forward to receiving lots of new, exciting and fresh ideas,” says Deborah. “Many of those supported were from diverse backgrounds, with 42% from ethnic minority backgrounds and 78% having experienced some “This round of applications is the last opportunity for Mediabox form of disadvantage,” explains Deborah, who is hoping for even more funding in 2008, which is why I’m so keen to make sure our youth impressive results this year. groups don’t miss out. We had some really exciting applications in the first round of funding and I’m hoping for similar success in this last To help generate the sort of applications which will catch the judges’ round,” she adds. attention, Deborah will be holding a Mediabox roadshow at Gallery Oldham on July 18, where she’ll be further explaining how the n Places at the Mediabox Roadshow are limited. To reserve a place, scheme operates, giving guidance on how to apply before the August email Deborah Parker deborahp@visionandmedia.co.uk 19 deadline. n For more information about Mediabox, visit the Northwest Vision and Media website at www.visionandmedia.co.uk/page/mediabox “The roadshow is an ideal way to come and learn more about the fund, n Mediabox application forms are available at www.media-box.co.uk

Life as an apprentice Health and Social Care Assistant If you are interested in becoming an apprentice in any area, get further advice from your careers advisor, or go to www.nwapprenticeship.co.uk

Hi, my name is Ashton and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to explain what my role as an Apprentice Health and Social Care Assistant involves. I attend Burnley College one day a week to study for my NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care, whilst working four days a week at Abbeycroft Nursing and Residential Care Home as a Care Assistant. The shifts at the care home can vary from 8am-8pm, 8am-5pm, 8am2pm and 2pm-10pm. My duties as a Care Assistant include getting the residents up in a morning or ready for bed at night, helping them at mealtimes, assisting them going to the toilet, bathing them and taking part in activities with them during the day. There are around 30 residents at Abbeycroft and I really enjoy spending time talking to them to find out about their experiences, interests and families.

enjoyed the opportunity to put into practice the theoretical knowledge I have learnt during my NVQ Level 2 and prior to that on the BTEC 1st Diploma in Health and Social Care. I am regularly visited at work by my form tutor or Training Development Officer, to check that the tasks I am doing as part of my job are helping me towards achieving my NVQ and to discuss and answer questions that I or my employer has about my progress. The NVQ in Health and Social Care opens up a number of development opportunities within the Care Sector, and I am hoping to move on to the NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care before progressing to university to study for a qualification which will help me to pursue a career in the mental health field. Ashton is employed by Abbeycroft Nursing and Residential Care Home, Rossendale, and her Training Provider is Burnley College Training

Since I started working at the care home in September 2007, I have developed my nursing skills and my confidence has grown. I have

ARMY STEERS PEOPLE IN RIGHT DIRECTION Tired of staring at the same four office walls, seeing the same people, sights and sounds every day? You wouldn’t be alone. The Army offers over 140 trades to those looking to utilise and build upon their existing skills sets and promises to never offer a dull moment!

Formally a Liverpool cabbie and educated at Savio High School, Bootle-born Corporal Barry Vint (32) from 156 (North West) Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteers) now works at the Barracks MT having been a member of the TA for 12 years. During this time he has been on two operational duties, most recently working as the military driver for the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in southern Afghanistan. Barry’s experience proves that like the Regular Army, the TA also provides great travel opportunities. In recognition of his achievements within the TA, Barry was recently presented with his Afghanistan Operational Service Medal by HRH The Duke of Kent at a ceremony at Edinburgh Castle. Commenting on the medals parade, Corporal Vint said: “It was a very proud moment receiving my medal from a member of the Royal Family, and in such a wonderful setting as Edinburgh Castle. “Over 50 Territorial soldiers were presented with medals at the ceremony, and it meant a great deal to all of us to be awarded our decoration in front of senior officers, family and friends. “It was made even more poignant as it tied in with the centenary of TA100, celebrating 100 years of the Territorial Army.”

“It was a very proud moment receiving my medal from a member of the Royal Family”

156 (North West) Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteers) is located in Liverpool, Manchester, Birkenhead and Bootle. For more information about joining the TA, please visit www.armyjobs.mod.uk and to learn about the 100th anniversary of the TA, see www.ta100.co.uk.

www.armyjobs.mod.uk

“Would you believe you can pilot a plane at the age of 17”...

e g a t a h w t a can I...?

You might not be seen as an adult in the eyes of the law until the age of 18, but as you get older you are legally allowed to do certain things. That can also mean you are legally responsible for your actions, so it’s important to know what’s what.

WHAT YOU CAN DO!? At 14 YOU can enter a pub, but you can’t buy or drink alcohol there. A boy can be convicted of rape, assault with the intent to commit rape and unlawful sex with a girl if she is under 16. YOU can be convicted of a crime. YOU can work part-time with your school’s consent.

At 16 YOU can have a full time job if you have officially left school. You need to remember that you can’t work full time until the last Friday in June - even if you have turned 16 before this. YOU can live independently, subject to certain conditions being met. YOU can get married with your parents’ or guardians’ consent. YOU can ride a moped of up to 50ccs. YOU can pilot a glider. A girl must be 16 before she can legally have sex with a boy. IT is illegal for a boy or man to have sex with a girl under 16, even if she has agreed. A male may consent to a homosexual act if he and his partner are both over 16. YOU can have an abortion without your parents consent. A boy can join the armed forces with his parents’ or carers’ consent.

YOU can apply for your own passport. YOU can have beer or cider whilst eating a meal in a restaurant or an eating area of a pub, but not in the bar. YOU can buy a lottery ticket.

At 17 YOU can hold a license to drive most vehicles. YOU can pilot a plane. YOU can emigrate. A care order can no longer be made on you. YOU can be tried before an adult court and sent to prison or fined up to £2,000. YOU can go into a betting shop (but not bet).

At 18 YOU are legally seen as an adult in the eyes of the law. YOU can vote in general and local elections. YOU can get married. YOU can open a bank account in your name without a parent or carer’s signature. YOU can buy and drink alcohol in a bar. YOU can ask to see your birth certificate if you are adopted. YOU can change your name. YOU can be called to serve on a jury. YOU can sue or be sued. YOU can make a will. YOU can place a bet. YOU can have a tattoo. YOU can buy cigarettes and tobacco.

A DAY IN THE

LIFE OF... Kim

Nguyen

“The RAF has presented me with an opportunity to develop myself educationally, mentally and physically. The emphasis is placed on being part of a team whilst fulfilling a career that will ultimately take you to all areas of the world” My Role ‘My trade is Information Communication Technology (ICT). We are the specialists who provide, manage and maintain the RAF’s wide ranging ICT and electronics equipment. I am currently based at RAF Kirton in Lindsey in North Lincolnshire, working on a deployable command and control radar. I work in Number 1 Air Control Centre, (1ACC) which employs 182 personnel from various trades within the RAF. 1ACC has a long range radar which monitors the skies and feeds the picture of the air space into a Tactical Air Control Centre (TACC). The TACC contains some specialist equipment that allows the radar picture to be analysed. My primary responsibilities are the maintenance and deployment of the TACC. Also, being in the RAF and especially when we deploy to a theatre of operations, we have to maintain a high standard of military skills, weapons handling, first aid, etc. My particular job also requires me to be trained in fibre optics as well as driving a variety of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs)’.

involve ensuring that all consumables used by Section personnel are replenished prior to any deployment and I also closely monitor corrosion control of the equipment shelters that we use. I’ve had the opportunity to complete many civilian-recognised courses and a Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering. All of these qualifications further my ability to work, both in Civvy Street and in the RAF’.

My Experiences ‘1ACC is currently deployed to Afghanistan and I was part of the initial team that deployed the equipment there in October 2006. Recently, we have also deployed the TACC to Portreath in Cornwall and South Wales for training exercises. I regularly take the opportunity to participate in adventurous training and most recently I have been skiing, diving and sailing. I also play football and go rock-climbing with friends from my Unit. I enjoy boxing and have recently qualified as an Official for the Amateur Boxing Association. Most of this is funded by the RAF’.

One Day in My Life

My Life

‘I prepare the Section’s equipment so that the operations staff can carry out their own specific roles: operational; exercising or training. I carry out fault diagnosis and maintain the high equipment standards associated with the Unit’s high tech equipment. Other duties

‘The RAF has given me access to many great life changing experiences. I plan to continue furthering my education, whilst pursuing my interests in boxing and adventurous training. My aspiration is to become a commissioned officer in the RAF’.

So how’s life with you? Are the last days of summer fading to a distant memory, with scary thoughts of courses, jobs and careers on the horizon? Relieved that your part time summer job in your local bar/ hotel/ café/ nightclub paid enough for you to enjoy the summer while it lasted? And it was actually a great way to meet new friends, experience the camaraderie within a team, the buzz of working with the unpredictable general public and get paid!

employees working for the travel and tourism services sector in the U.K, and over 8,000 between the ages of 16 and 19, and there are vocational and academic routes into the industry.

Vocational Qualifications Routes

Many universities and some colleges offer degree courses in Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism subjects. The opportunities are vast.

Young Apprenticeships

These are industry qualifications taught in conjunction with work based learning. They are available in many different subjects, Academic Routes usually lasting between 1 and 2 years, and split between class room lessons and work There is a wide choice of academic options experience. Assessment is through course available for study from Travel and Tourism work and exams as well as practical work GCSE’s, through to A & AS level qualifications. based assignments.

Don’t you just wish it could last forever?

A Young Apprenticeship in Hospitality allows you to gain valuable on the job training and skills and also a number of qualifications. The main qualifications being worked towards will be either the BTEC First Diploma in Hospitality or a choice of industry specific NVQ level 2s. You are of course paid while you learn!

Your choice of career impacts on your life hugely. It determines where you live, how you spend your days, who you meet and who you socialise with - it’s a lifestyle choice. A career in Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism certainly fits this bill. It’s a career that offers a whole range of opportunities in a host of different locations at home and overseas in customer facing, back of house and support functions. A career that sets you up for life and a truly inspired choice.

Springboard Charitable Trust is a dynamic company established from the need to promote great opportunities in the Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism industry to the right candidates. As Springboard celebrates its 18th Birthday and coming of age, let’s explore the choices available to help you make the right decision for your future and career. With so many qualifications available it’s hard to know what is best. There are over 100,000

The Young Apprenticeship Scheme in Hospitality is a great start for a young person looking for a career in the sector. With the sheer breadth of careers available, the Young Apprenticeship Programme creates a huge choice in your career path. There are many roles that you choose to follow, from traditional to the more unusual.

Well.....maybe it can. Welcome to the wonderful world of Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism - the world’s largest and fastest growing industry. In 2006 the UK tourism and leisure industry was responsible for bringing in 106.9 billion pounds to the local economy and employing 1.8million people, and with just over a third of those being under 25, it makes this industry an incredibly young and dynamic one to join.

The variety of jobs on offer is exceptionally diverse. You could work in an office, on a cruise ship, behind a bar, in a kitchen or even on the piste- so what’s the view like from your workplace?

National Vocational Qualifications

“I believe the Hospitality industry is an exciting and versatile industry to work in”

TOURISM...

Katie O’Sullivan Sapporo Teppanyaki Ltd ‘I believe the Hospitality industry is an exciting and versatile industry to work in. There are great opportunities to progress and move into different areas. I have done everything from washing dishes to serving celebrities and now work in Human Resources! Gaining experience early in your career will open up rewarding financial and social opportunities – skills and experience can take you to many jobs anywhere in the world. The industry focuses around people and so, as people are different every day, so is the job! I would advise anyone considering working in Hospitality not to worry about what others think, about the hard graft, the complaining customers but to take the step early, gain experience and many doors are guaranteed to open!’

New 14 – 19 Diplomas in Hospitality and Travel and Tourism By 2010, new Diploma qualifications in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism will be introduced, each are available at three levels, and they represent a groundbreaking

innovation in 14 -19 curriculum and qualifications. Designed as an alternative to traditional GCSEs and A levels, Diplomas are multi-component qualifications themed around an industry sector. Young people undertaking the Diploma curriculum will be guaranteed to learn practical, functional skills in English, mathematics and ICT, as well as concentrating on the personal, learning and thinking skills so highly prized by employers and higher education.

helping you with your future, showcasing the Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism industries and providing you with honest, accurate guidance.

0845 293 2515 or email info.careers@springboarduk.org.uk

Edward Viita

Edward Vita, the 25 year old bar Manager at The Langham in London is a prime example Although Diplomas will offer an excellent of someone who didn’t intend to make the grounding in the employment sectors, they are hospitality industry his career! designed to be education rather than training. Their role is to motivate and engage young people by putting their education into the context of the contemporary world of work and ensuring that their learning programme has real coherence and relevance. For further information on vocational qualification see the People 1st website, www.people1st.co.uk However you may be looking to get straight into work, if so, e2e maybe for you.

Entry to Employment (e2e) If you’re not ready to start an Apprenticeship, employment with training or further education after Year 11, you may benefit from an Entry to Employment (e2e) programme. To qualify, you must live in England and be aged between 16 and 18. e2e is intended to develop your motivation and confidence. It will also help you build skills that you can use in the workplace, known as ‘Key Skills’ and ‘Skills for Life’.

“Hospitality just offers so many choices and if you’re ambitious and prepared to work hard, the sky is the limit.” He entered the industry as a means of supporting his studies of music and philosophy and realised the potential and fantastic opportunities that hospitality offered and has never looked back. In May this year he won the Olive Barnett Award and now has even more opportunities to make it to the top. Today he is responsible for the day to day operation of the 5-star hotel’s new rum bar, Artesian, and with a staff of 13, has brought the bar to the attention of the media and the London elite. The cocktail menus he designed have received high acclaim in the British press, including presentation at VinExpo, Bordeaux, for the Drinks International Wine and Spirit Competition and on UKTV Food’s ‘Market Kitchen’ programme. Edward says, “Hospitality just offers so many choices and if you’re ambitious and prepared to work hard, the sky is the limit.”

e2e is tailored to your individual needs, so it does not last for a fixed amount of time. As well as working towards a qualification, you can try out different work and learning situations. For further information about e2e; www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/ 14To19 There are a vast range of opportunities to make a fabulous and exciting career available in the Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism industry, whichever entry route you choose to take. You will be surprised at how fast you can progress in this industry with the right attitude and motivation. Springboard CareerScope is a virtual careers advice and guidance centre; dedicated to

TOURISM...

Are you a Secret Story Writer? Nervous of taking that small but crucial step... ...showing your work to outsiders?

Would it help to haveâ&#x20AC;Ś. Ideas and suggestions to get you started? Constructive criticism from objective readers? Help from an experienced University tutor?

Why wait?... 26 www.openuniversity.co.uk/way08

You can find out whether you really have talent And build confidence in your own imagination, fluency and judgement by taking the Open University’s short course ‘Start Writing Fiction’ alongside your AS and A2s. The course lasts 12 weeks, it introduces you to the basic rules of writing fiction using examples and advice and sets a series of practical exercises leading up to two short stories for assessment. But what students say really helps is the discussion with your tutor, the feedback from other students in the same position and the judgement you need to make about their work in return – all on line. Even if you don’t turn out to be the World’s greatest novelist the writing skills will be useful in all sorts of ways…and you can prove to University’s and potential employers that you are an independent learner capable of University level study.

“He’d spread his kit out the night before, across the dreary kitchen of his cottage. Before him were the various utensils he may need in the course of his duty. Taking up a long bladed knife, he drew it from its worn leather sheath and tested it against the calloused skin if his palm. He could feel the edge, nicked yet deadly. Resheathing the knife, he threw it, along with the rest of his arsenal, into a tattered knapsack. Wary of doing himself an injury, he slowly eased the heavy bag onto his shoulders. Too warm for his overcoat, but a dusty broad-brimmed hat, which had been hanging in the hall as long as he could remember, would keep off the sun. Finally he picked up his spade, brandishing it as a samurai would their sword, and scowled at his reflection. He knew his duty – and he was not prepared to fail.”

“Slowly but surely she found herself succumbing to a strange new feeling. It was unfamiliar and a little unsettling, yet remained warm and undying insid e her – could this be happiness, that long lost emotion she had lamented for so long? She sat down in front of the mirror and for the first time in months let her forced brave face fall. And still the face smiled back at her, only this time it was an easier smile; this time it was a real smile. Although her face was pale and sickly from spending so long in the dark confines of a mask, she was glad to see it. She finally felt like a person again, she couldn’t wait to show her family her real self.”

from ‘A Job for Life’ by Kerry Morris age 17.

from ‘Saving Face’ by Emma Ashton age 17

You too can do a University level Course in writing alongside your AS and A2s. You enrol with the OU in your college or school. There are short courses called ‘Start Writing Fiction’, ‘Start Writing Poetry’ and ‘Start Writing Plays’ as well as in a variety of other topics such as music, digital photography, robotics and archaeology. Go to the website to find out more www.openuniversity.co.uk/way08. Then get in touch with your head of sixth form or personal tutor and ask them to contact E.F.Walker@open.ac.uk

www.openuniversity.co.uk/way08 27

Surveying is one of the most diverse and exciting professions in the world There’s a lot more to surveying as a profession than most people realise. Contrary to popular belief, surveyors don’t spend all of their time valuing people’s homes and checking for damp, subsidence and rot. Although some undoubtedly do. Surveyors are involved in preserving coral reefs around the world, creating computer games, ensuring that music festivals and sports events run smoothly, valuing antiques, creating sustainable environments, farm property management and creating the vision behind major construction projects – such as the new Wembley Stadium, the 2012 Olympic bid and Terminal 5 at Heathrow This diversity ensures that no two days are the same for a surveyor, making it one of the most interesting professions around. Many surveyors travel extensively all around the world, meeting people and marking their mark on the earth. Some surveyors even end up multi-millionaires! One thing for certain is that surveying is never boring. RICS – which stands for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – is the pre-eminent organisation of its kind in the world - representing everything that’s good in the world of surveying. We already have a membership of around 140 000 members who play a leading role in shaping our world. We create most of the world’s degree and diploma courses for those students interested in becoming professionally qualified surveyors. We are also here to help you be able to tell your students all about surveying and what an interesting, varied and dynamic profession it really is. At RICS we’re totally committed to communicating the scope of the profession to careers advisors and their students. To this end we produce a wide range of brochures and other communication materials to help demonstrate how chartered surveyors are often the driving force in a diverse range of important and exciting developments around the world. These support materials are designed for use by students aged between 15-18 years of age. We can also arrange presentations by RICS members at your school or college and have a number of work placement and work experience schemes in place in the UK and in other parts of the world. To find out more about how you could benefit by becoming an RICS member, or to discuss the most appropriate way for you to qualify please contact us on +44 (0) 870 333 1600. Email us at contactrics@rics.org or visit the website www.rics.org/careers Write to us at: RICS Contact Centre, Surveyor Court, Westwood Way, Coventry CV4 8JE

WWW.RICS.ORG

dy u t s f o n o i t a me bin m d e o l c b e â&#x20AC;&#x153;Th ena s a h my rk o d n w a d , y an kl c i u q ng n i r y a e v e l r su to f o nd e a c n d e e i i r var n expe e e b has r a f so gâ&#x20AC;? n i t a l stimu

Jack Talbot MSc Quantity Surveying, London South Bank University Graduate QS EC Harris LLP How did you get into surveying? Having obtained a first degree in French and subsequently worked in the energy industry, I decided that I would prefer a more challenging and varied career in construction. I have just finished my first year of a two year part-time Masters conversion course in Quantity Surveying at London South Bank University. The combination of study and work has enabled me to learn quickly, and my experience of surveying so far has been varied and stimulating.

WWW.RICS.ORG

What does your current job involve? I joined EC Harris in September 2006 and my first placement was with the Commercial team where I was able to gain experience working on a variety of projects, including office, hotel and mixed-use developments. I have just joined the Residential team for my second placement, which will help me to broaden my experience.

What are your future ambitions? Although I have not yet worked on any overseas projects, I hope to travel at some point in my career, both within Europe and beyond. My ambition is to climb the career ladder, gaining a variety of experience within the surveying profession, and possibly try another discipline within the construction industry later in my career.

What is a Community Volunteer? 30

Being a Community Volunteer means giving your time to help Greater Manchester Police improve its quality of service to our communities.

The amount of time you decide to volunteer will be up to you and will be agreed during the application process. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Police service is a challenging working environment that is constantly changing. We aim to have Community Volunteers involved in a number of aspects of the service we provide to the public of Greater Manchester. We understand that your time is valuable and that there are many and varied reasons for volunteering. In return, once the vetting procedure has been completed, we will aim to develop your skills as a volunteer within Greater Manchester Police.

What do I get for being a Community Volunteer? Training: You will not be expected to perform any tasks that you are not qualified to do, therefore appropriate training will be provided. Support: If you are approved as a Community Volunteer, you will be provided with advice, guidance and support to help you carry out your activities. Expenses: Community Volunteers can claim certain travelling and out-of-pocket expenses. These will be agreed before you start as a volunteer and we will aim to locate you at the Police Station nearest to where you live.

You will also gain: n The opportunity to develop your interpersonal skills n The possibility of additional and relevant training n The chance to meet and make new friends n The enhancement of your CV n The understanding that you are helping to improve the quality of service for your local community n The knowledge that your commitment to volunteering is making a difference in the area where you live.

What kind of roles might I be doing? As n n n n

a Community Volunteer you could be asked to: Provide information to people who report crime Help the Police to become more accessible to the community Help the Police to better understand the issues that affect the community Help the Police to deal with the things that matter in the community.

Want to know more? Contact the Positive Action Team on 0161 856 1141 or email positiveactionteam@gmp.police.uk

g n i t a e healthy Young adults’ bodies have very demanding nutritional requirements because of physical and mental development that you go through from about the age of 12. At this age you also have much more control over what you eat than you did as a child, so make sure you know what your body needs, it will affect the way your body and brain develop. Think of food as fuel for your body. You need to put in the right sorts of fuel in the right amounts to get the optimum performance out of your body. This together with regular exercise will give you more energy, control your weight and even make you concentrate better.

If you want to have a healthy diet try to: n Increase the amount of cereals and starchy foods such as wholemeal bread, rice, noodles, cereals, potatoes and pasta n

Increase the amount of Fruit and vegetables in your diet it helps set you up for a healthier lifestyle. Best of all, there is so much variety to choose from, all year long, there’s enough to keep even the fussiest eaters happy.

n Get the best health benefits, your 5 A DAY portions should include a combination of a variety of fruit and vegetables. That’s 5 portions altogether, not 5 portions of fruit and 5 portions of veg. n Eat more regular, smaller meals rather than snacking

n Reduce the amount of foods containing fat n Reduce the amount of foods and drinks containing sugar n Reduce the amount of foods containing salt

Why bother with breakfast? Breakfast being the most important meal of the day is not just an old wives’ tale, it’s absolutely true. By breakfast, often you will have gone without food for about 12 hours. You need to re-stock your body with nutrients and fuel to replace what it has used up over night ready for the day’s activity. If you don’t eat until lunch, or even until break, your body will get in the habit of storing what food you put in it later in the day ready for the following morning without food, rather than using it up effectively. It will leave you with less energy all day and you could be more likely to put on weight.

What if I want to eat healthily and lose weight? As a teenager, remember that your body is still growing and your body shape is likely to change. If you feel you need to loose some weight, have a look at the lifebytes website from the link on this page. They have top ten really useful tips for young people who want to lose weight whilst making sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs to grow. Don’t try fad or crash diets and risk cutting out these essential nutrients.

Healthy diet for vegetarians It is perfectly healthy to eat a vegetarian, or even a vegan (no animal products whatsoever) diet, providing you make up for the nutrients from animal products that you miss out on through other foods.

“You should be aiming for one hour of moderate intensity activity each day” Red meat, fish and poultry are the main sources of protein. As a vegetarian, you need to eat more alternative sources of protein such as milk, cheese, eggs and pulses like lentils and beans.

You also need to make sure you are taking in enough iron. The main non-meat sources of iron are pulses, cereals and bread fortified with iron, and green leafy vegetables. You should also eat plenty of foods containing vitamin C, especially with a meal containing iron rich foods as it is thought to help us absorb the iron.

Healthy living A healthy diet is only part of the story, most people your age are physically active for about half an hour a day, most days of the week. This may sound good, but it’s not enough to get the full health benefit. You should be aiming for one hour of moderate intensity activity each day. Moderate intensity activity makes you feel warm and breathe more heavily than usual. More vigorous activity is fine as long as you feel okay and are still able to talk. This is known as your comfort zone. If you are unable to do this, you are probably working at too high an intensity. You don’t have to do one hour of activity all in one go. You can build up over the day, for example: 10 mins walking to school 20 mins football at lunchtime 10 mins walking home from school 20 mins dancing around your room to your favourite tunes! Every little bit counts, but try to include some activity that is nonstop for 10-15 minutes which will really help your heart health.

North West winners have a first class day out

High-achieving apprentices and learners from around the North West have enjoyed a first-class day out in London to celebrate being named winners in the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North West Learner Awards. They had each been chosen as overall winners for the North West Awards after previously winning their categories in one of the five LSC regions in the North West - Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Greater Merseyside and Lancashire. As winners in their region they were each presented with a trophy and a cheque for £250. To celebrate their achievements, the winners were taken on a oncein-a-lifetime trip to London, where they were whisked by first-class train to a reception and lunch at the Houses of Parliament. Their local MPs were on hand to give their personal congratulations before they were given a whistle-stop tour of the building. Lunch was followed by a private flight on the London Eye, and with the clear blue sky on what was said to be the hottest day of the year so far the views of the capital couldn’t have been clearer. The day was rounded off with a sumptuous dinner in the Hoxton Apprentice, a training restaurant which provides skills and training for the homeless and long-term unemployed. At the end of a long and memorable day, the winners took the first-class journey home.

Speaking before the event, the LSC North West Regional Director John Korzeniewski said, “I hope the winners enjoy their celebration day in London. They truly are a testament to the success that can be achieved through learning. I am confident they will continue to succeed throughout their future careers and develop the learning habit they have so obviously embraced.” The LSC’s North West Learner Awards were held to recognise and reward excellence in learning, skills and achievement in individuals and organisations. They form part of the LSC’s National Apprenticeship Awards which this year attracted record entries, rising by over 40 percent since last year. The North West attracted the highest number of entries in the country, with 20 percent of the national total. The North West award winners were: Further Education Vocational Award – Sarah Jane Maher (Greater Merseyside) Further Education Academic Award – William Downes (Greater Manchester) Apprentice Employer of the Year – Delta International (Greater Manchester) Young Apprentice of the Year - John Shead (Cumbria) Personal Achiever of the Year (two winners) – Jessica Daisy Clark (Cumbria) and Victoria Snook (Preston) Apprentice of the Year – Michelle Officer (Greater Manchester) Advanced Apprentice of the Year – Craig Robinson (Cheshire & Warrington)

Sara Pullen Airworthiness Capability Specialist

How did I get to where I am now? My granddad used to work in Boeing in Seattle, Great Auntie Nellie used to weld-up sections of the Concord and they both loved recalling stories of working on aircraft and derived much satisfaction from watching the planes they’d worked on fly, so it was hardly surprising that I ended up becoming an engineer in the aircraft industry! After leaving school in 1996, I joined BAE System, signing up for the modern apprenticeship scheme where I was taught the basics of engineering, milling, welding, sheet metal working, electrical, fitting and toolmaking. After one year, I was required to ‘choose a trade’, and I opted to focus on toolmaking – programming five-axis CNC machines to build the huge moulds that are needed to manufacture the carbon-fibre panels on sections of the wing of the Eurofighter.

Where do I work? I currently work at BAE Systems Warton, in the Airworthiness department as an Airworthiness Capability Specialist. The Airworthiness Department plays a central role in establishing policies and procedures to ensure safe design, maintenance and operation of its military aircraft. Aircraft are very complex and potentially lethal product. International and state requirements have been established within which designers, manufacturers, operators and maintenance organisations must work. These requirements, and the professionalism of all those involved, ensure that risks are maintained at acceptable levels.

It is my role within this organisation to: n Help develop and insert capability to deliver product safety across BAE Systems air vehicles; n Raise awareness of the need for safety & associated product liability. n

Contribute to establishing the highest standard of airworthiness and safety through the insertion of best practice, safety and certification methods and processes throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring customers are able to operate company products with safety and confidence;

n Contribute to ensuring deployed processes comply with all current airworthiness and statutory requirements;

The modern apprenticeship appealed to me because BAE Systems not only provides on the job training, but supports its apprentices through a one day per week release scheme in which they can study for higher qualifications. So for four days a week I was being trained up as a hands-on engineer, in addition, one day a week I was studying at BAE Systems Preston Training School where I obtained ONC, HNC and HND BTEC qualifications in mechanical and electrical engineering over a five year period. Once I’d completed my apprenticeship, I decided to leave the shop floor and to beat a more technically-oriented career path, a route that involved me gaining exposure to all aspects of BAE Systems’ Warton operation - spending time in engineering, procurement, commercial, and marketing. I eventually settled down to work in the ground support of the Eurofighter where I stayed for three years. As part of my job, I

“The most satisfying part of the job was having an end product that worked and then demonstrating it to the nations”...

www.aerospace.co.uk

developed ‘toolkits’ to allow maintenance technicians to disassemble parts of the aircraft. These toolkit are currently being used in service at all the air-bases where Eurofighter flies out of. The job involved ascertaining the best way to do it, talk to the design engineers who would draft together a toolkit that would be needed, send it off to the manufacturers who would make it, and then try it out on the aircraft to see if it worked. The most satisfying part of the job was having an end product that worked and then demonstrating it to the nations – the people who jointly build the aircraft and supporting equipment – Italy, Spain, the UK and Germany.

“My advice is just go for it, engineering is a brilliant career, you’re at the cutting edge of technology, developing tomorrows world”... I worked on the Ground Support Equipment Team at BAE Systems until the end of my HND after which I transferred to work on characterising the new Eurofighter helmet. I worked with the Head Equipment Assembly Team (HEA Team) and was involved with developing and qualifying various components of the helmet which will be flown on the Typhoon in-service. After joining the HEA team to work on the helmet, I enrolled into a part time degree at Blackpool and The Fylde College studying one day a week on a BEng (hons) degree programme in Mechanical and Production Engineering. The course covered mathematics, mechanical engineering, technology management, CAD and manufacturing techniques as well as robotics. During my time within the HEA Team I won the prestigious award of ‘young woman engineer of the year’ I was both surprised and delighted to receive such an accolade. It was an honour to be nominated in the first place, but to actually win it has definitely changed my life! I now regularly attend functions to promote young people in engineering and I am also involved in helping to promote vocational qualifications with the national Vocational Qualification (VQ) day being launched on the 23rd of July.

a good engineer. I personally think hands-on experience coupled with education is more valuable than just an education. It’s all very well having a degree but you have to have some practical knowledge and know how to apply it as well. Most importantly I plan to keep learning about the different subjects within engineering, of which there are many! and to keep enjoying myself in such a rewarding and excellent career and industry.

My advice to you? Being an engineer is such a satisfying job. Whether your coming up with a concept, designing parts, building up systems, testing equipment or qualifying the end product, there are so many areas within engineering it makes it a great career choice, because you can generate a very broad spectrum of knowledge and its never ever boring! Being an aircraft engineer at BAE Systems is one of the most satisfying things, you work on these magnificent pieces of technology, testing and building them up, and as you’re walking around site, and you hear a rumble and you look up to see a brand spankingly new military aircraft performing its first test flight, you think, yes! That’s why I do it, to see these machines fly! My advice is just go for it, engineering is a brilliant career, you’re at the cutting edge of technology, developing tomorrows world, and you’ll be missing out if you don’t join us!

Just under a year ago, I made another transfer to where I currently work, in the Airworthiness department.

What does the future hold? With the general engineering honours degree under my belt, I’m now looking at the possibility of taking a more specialised degree at either Lancaster or Loughborough. The MSc in System Safety would complement my current role at BAE Systems within the Airworthiness department. Alternatively, a PhD course might be waiting in the wings. But, I’m realistic enough to realise that qualifications alone do not craft

www.aerospace.co.uk

: n o i t c A n i s Language

David Klass, As s o Gide Loyrette N ciate Solicitor, ouel LLP Associate Solicitor David Klass is a prime example of the benefits of gaining languages skills from an early age and transferring them to the working world.

the study of literature; the language element of the course focussed around the year he spent abroad – 10 months living in Paris and two months in Dusseldorf, Germany. Of his time spent in Europe, David says: “Living in a different country is the most effective way to learn its language.”

Armed with a BA Hons in Modern Languages from Oxford University, former Manchester Grammar School boy David, 31, now works for leading international law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP from their offices in London.

“Having languages on your CV can only be a positive in today’s international climate”, he continues. On graduating, David knew he wanted a career in law. Gide Loyrette Nouel is a French law firm with numerous international offices and is the exclusive member firm for France of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms. David’s language skills have helped him a great deal in his role as Tax Associate for the firm. David has regular opportunities to use his French and German, and at the firm he has regular exposure to the tax laws of France and Germany (amongst other jurisdictions), working closely with his colleagues based there.

French was an essential component of the school curriculum for David from the age of 11, as was German from age 13. His passion for languages continued throughout his school years and spilled into further education. David’s university course was predominantly based around

It’s not difficult to understand why David appreciates the value of languages in his career. “Today’s business is rapidly expanding into a wider international community, and with this growth we are required to develop and nurture our language skills and become familiar with cultures outside the United Kingdom.”

“Having languages on your CV can only be a positive in today’s international climate” For more information about the Regional Language Network North West, including its Business Language Champions from various sectors, see the website www.rln-northwest.com

It’s not only fun, but a productive and supportive role to play in the future of the region’s business”

PUPILS GET LANGUAGE COACHING FROM LOCAL BUSINESS Tabula Trading Company Ltd has gained Business Language Champion status, an initiative of the Regional Language Network North West (RLN NW). The initiative, a vehicle for student learning, serves to instil the importance of languages in the workplace. RLN NW promotes the importance of language skills and cultural understanding in business. The Business Language Champion initiative is an exchange between schools and businesses, to offer young people first-hand experience of language skills in the working environment. Tabula Trading Company, a Lancashire-based outdoor furnishing company, hosted a visit from students of Our Lady Catholic College, Lancaster. These pupils were shown the practical benefits of how languages and cultural awareness can be carried forward and utilised within business. Nick Barnicoat, managing director of Tabula Trading Company says: “The pupils really absorbed the importance of languages when they visited our company. The majority of our suppliers are Brazil-based so

I have learnt Portuguese to facilitate our daily business interaction. In doing so I think we are a great example of the value of language as a vital business communication tool. Being a Business Language Champion also means we can help support the work of the RLN NW, not least to show young people how language skills are invaluable in many different kinds of industries. It’s not only fun, but a productive and supportive role to play in the future of the region’s business”. Dr Cristina Sousa, managing director of Regional Language Network North West says: “By working closely with schools in the region, our Business Language Champion initiative provides students with an opportunity to observe the practical benefits of gaining language skills and adapting them to the working world. RLN NW’s key message is to encourage and motivate an interest in languages from an early age, and feedback from students has already shown us that the on-site exchange helps stimulate their learning in the classroom. We are delighted with the success of the programme to date and hope many more exchanges will follow”.

www.rln-northwest.com

y a w a g n Studyi . . . e m o h from When you’re going to college or university, you don’t just have to think about your course and finances, you also have to think about where you’re going to live - well that’s if you’re not staying at home! Fortunately there are several options. Most universities have accommodation on campus or nearby, either Halls of Residence or privately-run housing - you should find details in your prospectus or from Student Services. If you are looking to privately rent a shared house, bed-sit or flat, ask Student Services for a list of recommended housing that is available.

When to look As you can imagine, in August and September each year, lots of students are going to be looking for accommodation. When you have had your place on your course confirmed, you need to sort out where you’re going to live as soon as possible. Most first year students choose to live in halls on campus or in university managed accommodation, it’s easy to meet people, safer and you won’t have utility bills to worry about so it can be easier to manage your finances too. After the first year you may decide to rent a house with your friends, it can be lots of fun, but you’ll need to learn to live with other people and to budget as a group.

What to look for When you’re looking at places it’s important to check: n You’ll be near to where you need to get to - lectures, shops, nightlife. n Public transport or parking is easily accessible. n The rent is within budget - be prepared to pay a bond, deposit and rent up front, and don’t forget to allow for bills in your budget too. n Appliances such as gas and electricity have the relevant certificates and are well maintained. n Smoke alarms are fitted and have batteries. n There are no damp or unpleasant smells. n Check your contract carefully. Don’t sign on the spot, take it away to read and if in doubt go to your Student Union for advice - once you’ve signed it’s too late to get anything changed.

Who can help Speak to Student Services or the Student Union at the college or university that you’ll be studying at. They will be able to tell you what accommodation is available both in Halls of Residence and privately. The accommodationseek website tells you all you need to know about finding accommodation. www.accommodationseek.co.uk

www.accommodationseek.co.uk

UNITED UTILITIES IN TO DO Our vision is simple… To be a world class operator of utility infrastructure.

Every minute…

Focusing on our core skills within water, wastewater, electricity and gas, we will sometimes own but always operate utility assets.

Every hour…

Who we are, what we do n Operating water, wastewater, electricity and gas networks n Investing £3.5 billion between 2005-2010 to improve our utility infrastructure and the environment

We treat 1.3 million litres of wastewater for our UK customers

We invest £85,000 improving our capital infrastructure

Every day… We are working to improve our 20,000 hectares of land through our Sustainable Catchment Management Programme

Every second…

n Providing utility services to over 20 million people in the UK and worldwide

We serve 20 million customers in the UK and overseas

n Working in the UK, Eastern Europe, the Philippines and Australia

We receive over 150,000 visits to our website: www.unitedutilities.com

n A FTSE-100 company with annual turnover of over £2 billion, employing 9,000 people

Every month…

Every week… We invest over £57,000 in community projects

www.UNITEDUTILITIES.com

www.thewaytogoonline.co.uk

n EDUCATION n CAREERS n LIFESTYLE