Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

Price £2.95 Education, Careers, News & Insights Issue 6

Information on careers you may not have thought about Inspiration and ideas for your next step!

What’s next?

Information, advice, and case studies to help you make the right career choices!

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

1

Discover a new career in the great outdoors!

Are you creative, practical, have an eye for detail, interested in the environment and want to work outdoors?

Then landscaping could be the career for you.

There are lots of roles in landscaping...

Creatively solving problems in green spaces, designing plans that will improve or create new gardens?

This is landscape design.

Looking for something hands-on and physical? Want to be involved in planning and building landscapes using a range of structural materials to turn design into reality?

This is hard landscaping.

Can you see yourself choosing and planting a wide range of plants to transform green spaces, adding texture, colour, and scent? This is soft landscaping.

Making sure green spaces are looking their best, that they are safe, clean, and attractive to those using and visiting them? This is landscape maintenance.

To find out how to have a career in the great outdoors, visit www.golandscape.co.uk

2

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6 MTFY_GOLNDS_AD_FP_PROOF_V1.indd 1

28/05/2021 10:52

Make the Future Yours! is published bi-monthly.

To subscribe, visit: www.makethefutureyours.com Editorial Editor Claire Sutton

Welcome to another great issue of Make the Future Yours!

In this edition, we are very pleased to bring you interviews with not one but two Apprentices from AWE, the Atomic Weapons Establishment. At the cutting edge of engineering and technology, it was interesting to hear what roles Bayley and Natasha do there. We also hear from a dedicated physiotherapist and a talented garden designer, as well as some useful advice for anyone looking at renting.

claire@makethefutureyours.co

We always try to bring you the widest range of advice and interviews to help you with your career and life choices but do get in touch if there is a particular career or qualification we haven’t yet covered that you’d like to know about. And don’t forget to follow us on our social media and visit our website for all of our past issues of Make the Future Yours! and any new updates.

@edfutureyours Advertising hello@makethefutureyours.com 02394 004042 Publisher The Future Business Ltd www.thefuturebusiness.co.uk

Get social with us: makethefutureyours1 makethefutureyours makefutureyours Make the Future Yours makethefutureyours The reproduction of any material, whether whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without prior written consent of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to publish any letters and submissions. Prices and details are subject to change and The Future Business Ltd accepts no responsibility for omissions or errors. All materials sent at original owner’s risk. © The Future Business Ltd 2022. All rights reserved

Contents 4 6 8 10 13 15 18 20 23 23 24 27

Access to HE courses Careers in environmentally consious construction Five vital questions to ask before applying for university Mission critical, science and engineering A career in landscape Physiotherapy: Helping people live their best life T Levels - an employer view Tips for renting property Useful stuff: Volunteering?

10 Tips to getting mortage What is Marketing?

Useful stuff: Key dates and more

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

3

Access to HE courses What if, a bit later in life, you decide you want to go to university but didn’t have the opportunity to get the right entry qualifications before? Don’t let that stop you - that’s just the situation that Access to Higher Education (HE) courses were designed for. We look at what they are all about.

For most people, going to university is something they will do in their late teens or early twenties, after they have done A Levels, BTECs or other Level 3 qualifications. But that’s not the case for everyone. There could be lots of reasons why this traditional route wasn’t right for you, but it’s never too late to consider Higher Education. Some University Admissions Tutors will consider things like life-experience and industry qualifications when looking at applications, and it’s always worth checking with the Admissions Tutor to get their advice. However, a qualification such as Access to HE can really boost your chances of acceptance and success on your chosen course.

What is Access to HE? The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is a Level 3 (A Level equivalent) qualification designed to prepare adults to study in HE. They are open to residents of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and are typically a one-year, full-time course. Increasingly, many are being offered as online/distance learning options which might be more flexible to fit around your existing commitments. They are not usually suitable for younger applicants, so they are not offered as a substitute to A Levels at 16. Learners suited to an Access to HE course will usually have been out of education for at least a year, but probably longer. You will also need to hold GCSE English and Maths or equivalent Level 2 qualifications at grade C/4 or higher.

4

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

For more details and a list of all courses currently available, explore the Access to HE website at: www.accesstohe.ac.uk

What subjects are available?

Organisations who teach Access to HE courses have some scope to tailor courses to the demands of their local area or popular university courses. This means we have seen a growth in both subjects and combined subjects on offer around the country. Here is a quick summary of some of the most popular but this is not all of them so please check what your local colleges can offer too: • Animal & Land-based Professions, including Sciences, Zoology or Environmental studies • Business, including combinations with Accountancy Law, Management and Marketing • Construction & Built Environment, Civil Engineering and Construction • Education & Care, from Early Years to Teaching and Youth Work • Humanities & Creative Arts, including Creative and Digital Media, Drama, History or Fashion • IT & Digital, with Computer Game Design, Computer Science, maths or engineering • Law & Policing, such as forensics, criminology and legal professions • Medicine & Health, from Biochemical Science to Nursing and Midwifery, to Pharmacy and Paramedic • Sciences & Engineering, including Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Maths • Social sciences • Sport Fitness and Health Science, such as Physio and Sport Therapy or Coaching and Business Management

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

5

Careers in Environmentally Conscious Construction When you think about careers in construction, you probably think of traditionally skilled jobs like bricklayer, roofer, or plasterer.

However, increased environmental awareness and higher standards of environmental protection in construction led to an increase in demand for specialists, leading to a boom in exciting new careers in environmentally conscious construction. We highlight a few of them here.

6

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

Ecologist Ecology is a branch of science that looks at how animals, plants and humans interact with each other. Ecologists therefore play a key role in the construction of building developments. Before any works can start, Ecologists are on-site surveying all of the wildlife, plants, watercourses and the local environment to identify any potential negative impacts on the natural surroundings. Collected data is analysed and forms the basis of reports, with recommendations made in accordance with legislation and environmental standards.

Ecologists split their time between surveys, office time and site visits to ensure works are being carried out. Analytical thinking, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to work well under your own initiative are some key skills highly valued in Ecologists. A love for wildlife and all things nature would be a great benefit too!

Geological Surveyor A Geological Surveyor investigates and studies the rock composition beneath a prospective development site.

This helps the housebuilder understand if the land they’re going to build homes on is solid, important stuff if you want homes that last.

Techniques used include site surveys, analysing maps and plans, and the use of digital tools including AutoCAD and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to form threedimensional maps of the

subterranean landscape and geological makeup beneath the construction site. From a renewable energy point of view, geological surveys can help determine if a site is suitable to install Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs). GSHP’s use buried pipes sometimes over 100m deep to take warmth from below the Earth’s surface and use it to heat our homes and water.

With the UK and Welsh Government targets to phase out the use of gas boilers in homes, technologies such as Ground Source Heat Pumps are sure to be in high demand. Many people work in geology, from the on-site surveyors and data analysts to those who get to work with very big drills. An interest in sciences, geography or rocks and fossils would be a wonderful place to start.

Sustainability Consultant Environmental sustainability is the responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect global ecosystems to support health and wellbeing for all, now and in the future. A Sustainability Consultant works within the construction industry to ensure that sustainability is at the centre of the project, combining skills from business and environmental management. A Sustainability Consultant would look at all activities of a company to develop their business strategy including best practices for both now and the future. In home-building, this could be through helping reduce waste during construction to increase efficiency, maximising the use of renewable energy in the newly built homes, making recommendations on improving building fabric and insulation for a

more comfortable and efficient home, or on preserving and maximising green space.

Strong problem-solving, organisational and communication skills, as well as a strong interest in the wider scope of everything sustainability, would make you a great fit for this role.

Materials Scientist Materials scientists study the chemical and structural properties of man-made and natural materials. Through this research, Materials Scientists seek to understand the properties and limitations of existing materials, devising ways to strengthen these or by combining and developing new materials. This could mean developing a new type of plaster that has noise cancelling properties, a new type of insulation to help keep homes extra cosy in the winter, or a photovoltaic material to capture energy from the sun as solar power to run homes and businesses. It could also mean understanding the forces that materials are able to withstand and working hard to make sure this meets the needs of the project. New materials technology has a big part to play in improving the environmental sustainability of homes. An inquisitive nature and a drive to research and discover with strong mathematical skills are essential qualities for this fascinating career.

For more information about construction careers, go to the Go Construct website, www.goconstruct.org

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

7

Five vital questions to ask before applying for university Are you thinking about applying for university? Have you stopped to really think about why? Each year, around 6% of undergraduate students will drop out of their university course. This could be for a whole range of reasons, but a significant number are because their course or university life wasn’t what they were expecting.

Whilst a good many will successfully complete further study or training elsewhere, perhaps a little more thought in advance could have saved them this ‘false start’.

The fundamental question has to be whether a university course is the right thing for you, for your learning style and for your future goals.

But, how do you work that out? Here are a few questions to ask yourself that might help you to focus in on that decision.

Do you need a degree for the career you have chosen?

There are many professions which require a degree qualification as prerequisite of entry.

There are others where a degree is an advantage, if not actually a requirement.

However, there are other ways of achieving degree level qualifications than becoming a fulltime student, including part-time professional study, Open University and distance learning courses, and a growing number of Degree and Higher Apprenticeships. So, before you sign up

8

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

just because you feel you have to, it’s worth checking out if there are other routes into your chosen career.

Where will you live?

Many students choose to make going to university their chance to move away from home for the first time. If that’s true in your case, university accommodation offices can be brilliant in helping to find secure and reasonably priced housing options to ease you in. Many also offer different catering packages, if the idea of having to cook for yourself (or live on takeaways!) is filling you and your parents with dread.

However, it’s increasingly true that not all students do move away from home to study.

With the increasing costs involved, living at home can keep accommodation and living

expenses down. This might be something you need to discuss with your parents – is your idea of a great student social life compatible with their idea of a peaceful household? And chances are you’ll need to pay for your own travel, so don’t forget to factor that in.

Are you passionate about your chosen subject?

Picking a subject that you enjoy or can see a clear purpose in is essential to giving yourself the best chance of success. Picking the subject that you just happened to do best at for A Level is not a guarantee that you will be motivated enough to reflect your best abilities. Think hard about what subject you choose to apply for and be as sure as you can be that it’s going to keep you engrossed for the length of the course. It is also worth reflecting on how you learn best and find out whether your chosen course will give you appropriate opportunities; it’s much harder to stay motivated if you’re a ‘practical’ learner who finds themselves trapped in lecture theatres or libraries most of the time.

Are you prepared for the financial consequences?

For about twenty years now, it’s been a reality that university students need to pay not only for their own upkeep but tuition fees as well. Clearly thousands of people do take that step every year; the interest and repayment rates are usually reasonable and have become as much as part of financial life as rent or mortgage repayments. And you don’t have to start paying anything back until you’ve reached the earnings threshold (currently £372 a week or £1,615 a month for Plan 1 loans). However, it can still feel like a big commitment, so it is worth chatting to a student finance expert to put your mind at rest. And taking out those loans for a course you’re not committed to could feel rather pointless in the long term.

Are you feeling brave enough?

Starting a university course is a big step for anyone, at any time in their life. For most, it means leaving behind friends from school and college and making a new start, if not in a new town, at least in a new institution. It’s reasonable to expect to be nervous but many people will take to it like a duck to water (as the saying goes) and, once they have settled in, they will never look back.

There are things you can do to help yourself with that settling in process, of course: Find out how many students will be on the course you apply for – smaller numbers will often mean that friendship groups form more easily than on courses with much larger numbers.

Think about whether a campus university or one based on a town centre site would suite you best; if you are in accommodation on a campus site, it might feel a bit more manageable while you get to know the ropes.

See if you can find out what sort of accommodation is on offer; would a house or flat-share be an opportunity to make friends more quickly than a large university hall of residence (although many halls are now organised into ‘flats’).

Be honest about your social skills and plan ahead to make this big step a little easier on yourself.

Overall, a university degree is a very positive experience for a very large number of people. Friendships formed at university can often last a lifetime, for example, and there are regularly surveys that show people with degrees earn more over their working life than those who don’t. However, being sure that you’re going to university for the right reasons for you is the best way to ensure you will get the most out of it.

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

9

Mission critical science and engineering For more than 70 years, the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) has been at the heart of the nuclear defence and safety of our country. Today, AWE employs around 6000 people across four sites, undertaking some of the most vital work, in support of the most important mission – keeping the nation safe. They have some of the most advanced research, design and production facilities in the world.

AWE regularly recruit apprentices to become the next generation of scientists, engineers, technologists, machinists, designers… and people that support some of the most unique and complex facilities and operations. We spoke to two current AWE Apprentices to find out what they enjoy about their roles.

Bayley, Manufacturing Engineering Apprentice How long have you worked at AWE? 1.5 years Why did you choose AWE? I chose to work at AWE because they offered a Degree Apprenticeship in Manufacturing Engineering. When researching for an apprenticeship, AWE stood out from the other employers as it provided a good level of experience in the manufacturing industry.

10

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship over other career routes?

I chose to do an apprenticeship over university as I can earn a wage while studying.

The qualification I gain in my apprenticeship is the same as someone who is at university, however I am gaining a large amount of experience, skills, and knowledge over my time here.

Tell us about your time at AWE? - What do you do?

The first 18 months, I gained a lot of knowledge about the business to support my apprenticeship. I spent a lot of my time within the Skills Academy where I learned the basics of Turning, Milling and Hand Fitting. Part of my time in the Academy, I learned how to use CNC machines which is an important skill when going onto the wider business. The Skills Academy is well equipped for the apprentices training, including supportive Instructors and there is always plenty to do.

At the start of our time in the workshop, we were given a pack of component drawings.

We received all the relevant inductions of the machinery, so we understood how to safely operate the equipment in the workshop. All the instructors are keen to help and ensure that we understood what we were doing.

During my time in the Skills Academy, I made a collection of components and by the end I was able to assemble the parts into a finished product.

For the next couple years, I am in various placements across the business, gaining the experience and knowledge to support my apprenticeship.

What’s the best thing about your job?

company can train and prepare staff to a high level and ensure that future jobs can be carried out successfully.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining an AWE apprenticeship?

It is important to be honest, trustworthy, and dependable. It is vital that you make the most of your time as an apprentice, learn from your colleagues and enjoy the experience at AWE.

You’ve got the talent, drive and determination and a real desire to keep learning – and earning while you learn!

University just might not be the right option for you. So, what’s the alternative to give you that start in your career?

With an AWE apprenticeship, you’ll be on the right path to becoming a skilled professional: whether it’s in engineering, science or one of the business functions.

I feel a sense of pride for the company I work for and the work that I get to do. I think back at my time at AWE so far and I am grateful for the experiences that I’ve had and the people that I have met and learnt from. I also really like the 9-day fortnight. This allows me to get an extra day off every 2 weeks without using up my annual leave allowance.

A positive of being a Degree Apprentice is that my degree is fully paid for by the company.

This means that I won’t have to pay anything back if I choose to continue working for the company after I complete my apprenticeship.

Why are apprenticeships important to AWE? And other organisations?

A large number of the existing workforce at AWE joined through the apprenticeship scheme within the company. By doing this the

For more information about apprenticeships at AWE, go to awe.co.uk/careers

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

11

Natasha, Physics lab technician apprentice How long have you worked at AWE? 2 years Why did you choose AWE? What attracted you?

I have always been interested in a career in science. Prior to my apprenticeship I attended college and completed a level 3 extended diploma in forensic science. During my time at college a presentation was given by employees from AWE, and this is where my interest first began in the company.

Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship over other career routes?

I chose the Physics Lab Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship as I prefer to be more hands on, and I would describe myself as a visual learner. I like the fact that it is a practical work environment where you are earning a wage while learning. I preferred that option to university where I would accumulate debt that can take many years to pay off.

Why did you choose to do an Tell us about your time at AWE? What do you do?

I currently work as a lab technician apprentice within the NDA (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) team. I shadow and help other team members with setting up experiments and analysing the data recorded. Once I am competent in this area, I will be performing experiments alone on specific equipment that our team uses. After each experiment, a report is written on what was done and why for my evidence folder which is completed as part of the apprenticeship scheme.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at AWE where I hope to progress further through the company. I have seen and worked in many different areas of site since I started in August 2020, where I’ve been involved in experiments and builds within several teams organised as part of the apprenticeship scheme.

12

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

What’s the best thing about your job?

I enjoy the fact that every day at AWE is different to the next. There is always work to be done and different experiments to get involved in. The teams I have previously worked in had 10 to 12 members where everyone had their own work and research to be completing.

Why are apprenticeships important to AWE? And other organisations?

Apprenticeships are important to AWE to help people start a career with the advantage of being trained by mentors and supervisors to help teach the ways of AWE such as regulation, license conditions, health and safety etc. before progressing within into the company.

What advice would you give to someone about joining an AWE apprenticeship?

I believe that AWE was the best choice for me and those who prefer learning on-hands on rather than a classroom environment.

A career in the landscape Sam studied Uniformed Public Services at college, with a view to joining the Police when he left. However, at just 18, he was told he would need more life experience before he would be considered. Looking around for ways to get that experience, he found an apprenticeship at Hambrooks, a horticulture and landscaping business. In the ten years since then, Sam has realised that perhaps this was what he was meant to do all along. He tells us his story.

“Initially I felt a bit lost when my ‘plan A’ didn’t happen, but I had heard about apprenticeships and thought one of those would suit me instead. I wanted to find a career where I could learn, so that mixture of working and learning felt right. I had heard of Hambrooks as a friend’s Dad worked there and I knew they had been around a while, so they seemed like a good company to consider.

“I joined their Garden Maintenance team and started on a Level 2 Horticulture Apprenticeship through Sparsholt College, the specialist agricultural college near here. I really enjoyed working in the outdoors and maintenance was a great way to learn from the other guys in the team. After about six

months, they needed people in the Hambrooks Landscaping team, so I shifted to building gardens, rather than maintaining them. Throughout my apprenticeship, it was great to be able to see what I was learning about at college being applied day-to-day in my job.

“Hambrooks kept me on when I completed the apprenticeship, and I worked as an improver alongside my colleague Wayne. We got to work on all sorts of gardens, from smaller installs, like adding a pond, to whole gardens, worth thousands of pounds. After a couple of years, when I was about 23, I was promoted to team leader, so I was leading on some of those projects myself.

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

13

“With all my hands-on experience, I was learning a lot about what makes a ‘good’ garden, about how the hard landscaping (like patios) works around the soft landscaping (the plants), and I really enjoyed seeing the transformation that we could make to people’s lives. So, when an opportunity came to transfer to the garden design team, I didn’t hesitate! I started as a designer/estimator on a part-time basis, as we still needed people on the building side too, but it became a full-time role after about a year.

“Now, my typical week is a great mixture of tasks. Mondays to Thursdays, I will work on new designs, pulling together the plans and cost estimates, and I will often go out to see my designs that are being built. I love that I am there for our customers right through the process, from the initial discussions about what they want to seeing the job finished. I haven’t had anyone burst into tears like they do on those TV garden makeover shows, but I have had people give me a hug, they’ve been so pleased! Fridays is the day that I will go out with the business owner Norman to visit potential new customers to talk about what they want.

“My apprenticeship was definitely a brilliant grounding for being a designer as I think it helps me design better, knowing how a garden will be built. With support from my colleagues, I learnt how to use Keyscape and CAD design, so we can produce plans on computer. I have also had other learning opportunities here, from going on a course to learn about wildflower turf to getting my 7½ tonne lorry driving licence! We are currently recruiting apprentices and I love being the proof to them of what can be achieved. I’m now a manager, winning jobs for the business worth £90k or more.

“For anyone considering a career in this kind of job, I would say go for it. For me, the opportunity to meet so many people is probably what I’ve enjoyed the most, from colleagues to customers to suppliers at some of the big trade shows. It can also be a very outdoors job of course but, for every wet day there is a lovely sunny one to make up for it!

14

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

You’ll also learn lots of practical skills that can be really useful in life. I think gardening is helping to give back and make the world a greener place.”

Physiotherapy: helping people live their best life Kit Shill works as a physiotherapist in a local NHS hospital. Here she tells us about her experience of training and why she finds the job so rewarding, even the emotionally tough cases.

“I remember that horrible conversation at 6th Form College about what you want to ‘BE’. I had no idea! I knew I wanted to work with people or animals and not in an office.

Having gone through the list and worked out what I didn’t want, the only job left was physiotherapy! I didn’t really have any idea of what the job involved, but both my parents are dentists, so I think that probably influenced me towards healthcare. Although I’d done well at GCSE, I tanked my A Levels (in biology, chemistry and French) so I took a year out to travel and do resits. I applied to the universities that would do remote interviews and I was accepted at Bradford.

“The degree course was three years but, actually, about half of the time is on

placements of some sort, actually starting to treat patients. For example, just in my first year, I did four weeks supervised placement that really helped me get a sense of what the role was. The university tried to give us experience of the different aspects of the role, including neuro, respiratory and MSK (musculoskeletal), and in different settings – hospital, community and virtually - so that you have an idea of what each is like.

“In our final year, we had loads of lectures on interview technique, applying for jobs, etc., to help us with applying for our first junior role when we left. After you finish your degree, most of us start ‘rotations’ of about 6 to 12 months in a particular area, although that depends on how the NHS Trust you work Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

15

for operates. If you don’t know what you want to, it’s actually a great way to experience the variety of the role. You can choose a static placement if you already know what you want to specialise in, but we were encouraged to move around to get the experience.

“My first role after university was in the neurobrain injury unit in Southampton. I loved it; the team were amazing, really inspirational. I was lucky enough to do my final university placement with them; it was the first placement where it really clicked for me, so I was happy to come back when I graduated.

The patients were amazing, too. I was working with people who suffered brain injuries as a result of trauma, some from stroke and some degenerative. It was a residential home so it was as if we were treating them in their own home, some supported, some living more independently.

Whatever caused their injury, the result was either a lack of movement or cognitive impairment: some couldn’t walk, some couldn’t swallow, others perhaps couldn’t use their arms. So, our role was to optimise function for them and hopefully to get them back to independence but, if not, to get them coping as best they can. Sadly, some will never be able to live independently so we help them realise their potential, to understand where their limits lie, so they can still have a fulfilled life in spite of their injury.

“My next rotation was at Bradford Hospital, where I spent two years working around different areas. Working with outpatients, we were seeing individuals with physical movement issues who would come into the hospital for an appointment. Community was me going to them. These were often elderly patients who aren’t so mobile and they often presented with a variety of issues, such as loneliness or lack of confidence, as well as what I was treating them for. I often found that I would be involved in organising other support for them, too. Working in Respiratory was back in hospital, split between surgery, medical and paediatric (children). In surgery you might be on ICU (intensive care) dealing with people who have had an operation.

16

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

“

I often found that I would be involved in organising other support for them.

People don’t realise that much of physiotherapy is about airway clearance, particularly if you aren’t strong enough to cough after surgery or illness, so I would see a lot of oesophageal and chest patients.

Medicine was more about chronically unwell patients with longer-term illnesses. In paediatrics, we were dealing with children with lots of different conditions where they don’t have the strength to cough.

“When my boyfriend was headhunted back down south, I found a place at Winchester Hospital, largely in general care, before finding a paediatric specialism back in Southampton that allowed me to move around different areas again. I started with neuro-muscular, then acute neuro (spinal tumours, brain tumours), then to orthopaedics (broken legs etc) then outpatient musculoskeletal for children.

“I then rotated out to a local children’s hospice, Naomi House, which offers end-oflife and respite care for children and young people. I really didn’t know what to expect or

how I’d feel but, actually, the respite care is amazing; you usually see really sick kids in hospital but we see them living their best life, like they are on holiday and having days out.

The end-of-life care is tough but a privilege to be part of those final memories with the family; the team are amazing and provide so much support to families who have lost someone.

“My current job is in paediatrics and neuromuscular, supporting people with neuromuscular conditions. I still support Naomi House and I took on an extra contract to support adult neuro-muscular in hospital, too, so I’m quite busy!

“There is so much involved in physiotherapy; people think of it as just about physical movement but there is so much more to it than that. The beauty of physio is that it is so broad, you could specialise or change specialism if you wanted to. There is no excuse for being bored and your job doesn’t have to stay the same for the rest of your working life.

“I also love working as part of a team which includes other health professionals, like speech therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, doctors and psychologists; after a diagnosis, it’s a team approach. The nice thing about being a physio in a hospital is that we can be the ones with a bit more time than some nurses or doctors. If someone is poorly on a ward, we perhaps have the time to take people outside to see their visiting pet or to

get an ice cream. We have the time to do the extras – living and breathing isn’t enough.

“To be a physio, I think you have to be a good communicator: you often have to get the patient on board with what your approach is going to be, never mind their family and your colleagues. No day is the same so you always have to be prepared to learn; there will always be something you haven’t come across before. I think it also helps to be a proactive problem-solver. I should add that I hate the sight of blood! As a physio, I’d say you have to be OK with phlegm and vomit but I’m not a fan of other bodily fluids.

“I have chosen to stay within the NHS, but there is lots of scope to join a private practice if you’d prefer. You have to have a business mind if you want to set up your own, and there are lots of private clinics you could join.

Physios usually work regular hours, rather than shifts, with perhaps the occasional oncall session or weekend.

“Sometimes it can be tough and emotionally difficult. What is amazing about our team is that support is never far away; if you do have a bad or tough day, there is always someone to listen. What gives me the most satisfaction is that I’ve made a change for someone, I’ve allowed them to be the best version of themselves they can be. I like to fix things; you can’t always fix everything, but you can usually do something to help, or you can find a colleague who will.”

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

17

T Levels – an employer view T Level (short for Technical Level) courses are an alternative to A Levels, Apprenticeships and other qualifications for students typically aged 16 to 19 years. The first colleges began delivery of some T Level subjects in September 2020, with more colleges and subjects coming on stream since then. What makes T Levels different to traditional qualifications is the emphasis on meaningful industry experience; students will spend around 20% of their time working alongside a real employer. We have spoken to one employer to see how they are finding the new qualifications and how the placements are working for them.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (ICS) is a partnership of NHS and local government organisations working together to join up health and care services to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the communities they serve. Emma Gotz works as part of their +350 NHS Careers education team

18

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

and is responsible for organising and supporting T Level placements.

“NHS Trusts have really seen the value in T Levels,” explained Emma. “We see them as the pipeline for our future workforce. We have a lot of vacancies at the moment and T Level placements are a great way to engage

with interested young people. By engaging with them early, we hope that we’re building a positive relationship with future employees.

“In our area, we are already working with students taking T Levels in Healthcare and Healthcare Science. It’s a rigorous area but studying these subjects mean that the students have already made a commitment to them. We are able to offer students a really meaningful placement, where they can put what they have learnt in the classroom into practice. The placements for Healthcare and Healthcare Science can include working in labs, midwifery, adult nursing, mental health and more. We would like to open up as many options as possible, both Allied Health professions like physiotherapy and paramedics, as well as clinical and community healthcare teams.

“T Levels in Health are the obvious link to the NHS, but we also recognise that we are a huge local employer so we should also be able to offer placements that are exciting and interesting in other departments too. Going forward, we hope to be able to look at catering, IT, marketing and digital, business admin, estates and facilities (areas like plumbing and electrical) and even finance and accounting. We want to map as many of the T Level subjects as possible to our business so we can offer exciting placements. There are more than 350 different careers in the NHS, after all!

“In terms of the practicalities, the colleges we are working with prefer to organise placements in blocks, rather than on a dayrelease basis. I have to say, in the NHS where many staff work a shift pattern, that tends to work for us and the students too, so they get to know the team they are working with.

Sometimes we ask the students to do shifts as well to make the experience as real as possible. We prefer to take Health and Healthcare Science students in their second year, once they have some knowledge already, but I can’t see that being as necessary with other T Level subjects.

“In terms of career progression, T Levels in Health or Healthcare Science seem to be acceptable for any of the Allied Health professions, nursing and paramedics. It’s not yet being accepted to study pure medicine.

Of course, you do need to have decent GCSE science results in order to be accepted on to the T Level course; most colleges are asking for Grade 5s. The science content is robust on the T Level, so you do need the core knowledge there. It’s not the easy option.

After completing a T Level, we would hope that the students we have worked with will consider going on to do a Degree Level Apprenticeship, a full time degree in this area or come to work with us.”

Emma also recognises that working with T Level students is good for her colleagues, too.

“It’s a great opportunity for our staff to work with young people and to positively influence them. And we gain an extra, enthusiastic pair of hands!”

There are currently three T Levels in Health and Science: • • •

Health Healthcare Science Science

For more information on each one, go to: https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/students/subjects To find a college offering them, go to: https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/students/find

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

19

Tips for renting property Most of us will live in a rented property at some point in our lives, whether we’ve moved away to university or we’ve relocated and are renting until we find somewhere to settle. Although we tend to assume that buying your own home is the norm, actually lots of people rent quite happily for years.

Hundreds of thousands of people rent property, either a room or the whole property, very happily so it really isn’t that difficult or scary. However, it can seem like there are lots of pitfalls and dangers you need to look out for. If you’re renting for the first time, here’s our advice on questions to ask and things to check.

“How to rent” The Government has published a really useful guide to potential tenants covering all the important things you should know about renting a room or a property. In fact, it’s so useful, your landlord is required to give you an up-to-date copy of it and give you a new copy if you renew your tenancy (contract) or if the guide is updated. I would encourage everyone considering renting to read it thoroughly. It’s called ‘How to rent’ and can be download from our website, www.makethefutureyours.uk/howtorent It has advice on looking for a new home, things you should check before you sign a tenancy agreement and what to do if things go wrong. It’s worth noting that it does not cover lodgers, people who share a house with their landlord.

Who to rent from There are two ways to rent a property: either directly from the landlord or through a letting agent, who works on the landlord’s behalf.

Either way, they must be members of a redress scheme, which is an organisation who can step in and sort out any problems that could arise between you and them. They must also be part of a scheme that protects the money you pay them, especially your 20

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

deposit. Check that whoever you are going to rent from is a member of both these schemes, and you might want to ask if they also have any accreditations. Make sure you also have the landlord’s name and an address in England or Wales to contact them. Do not pay any rent until you have this!

Who to rent from There are two ways to rent a property: either directly from the landlord or through a letting agent, who works on the landlord’s behalf.

Either way, they must be members of a redress scheme, which is an organisation who can step in and sort out any problems that could arise between you and them. They must also be part of a scheme that protects the money you pay them, especially your deposit. Check that whoever you are going to rent from is a member of both these schemes, and you might want to ask if they also have any accreditations. Make sure you also have the landlord’s name and an address in England or Wales to contact them. Do not pay any rent until you have this!

Deposits It is common to pay a deposit at the start of your tenancy. The landlord or agent must keep this money safe and pay some or all of it back when you leave. They may keep some of the deposit if you owe any rent or if you have

caused damage to the property. If your rent is less than £50,000 a year, the maximum you have to pay as a deposit is 5 weeks’ rent. It’s important to note that you cannot be charged to look around a property or to set up a tenancy.

What your landlord will check In the UK, the law requires your potential landlord or agent to check two things: that you are who you say you are, and that you have permission to live in the UK. Therefore, you should expect them to ask to see documents that prove your identity, for example, passport or driver’s licence, and, if you have lived elsewhere, any document that proves you are entitled to live here. They may reasonably want to take copies of these documents, but they should not need to keep the originals.

Information the landlord must give you Your landlord is required to give you, either paper or electronically if that suits you, a copy of a number of important documents.

These are: •

A copy of the Government’s ‘How to Rent’ guide.

•

A gas safety certificate when you move in. This should be updated each year when the gas is serviced and if any new gas appliances are fitted.

•

Paperwork to show you paid a deposit and that they will keep the money safe.

•

An Energy Performance Certificate that says how much it costs to heat and run the property. This should say band E or higher.

Questions you should ask Who pays the bills?

•

It will usually be you as the tenant who pays for things like electricity, gas, water, council tax, TV licence and any other relevant bills, but it is worth checking. Your landlord should have Buildings Insurance, but you will probably need to arrange you own insurance for your belongings: Contents Only insurance.

Landlords are also advised to give you the following documents, so feel free to ask if they don’t volunteer them:

•

Papers about electrical checks on the property. Your landlord must prove that the legal 5-yearly checks have been done.

Is the room/property safe?

•

Proof that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working when you move in.

Check for things like smoke alarms on each floor of the house, and a carbon monoxide alarm if there are solid fuel (e.g. wood) burners, gas fires or boilers. Check that lights and toilets are working properly, and that windows and external doors shut and lock securely.

If relevant to you, ask if you can you smoke or keep pets Does the landlord have rules about things like smoking, pets, keeping a bike, rubbish and recycling. You can expect there to be some common rules especially in a shared house or HMO (house of multiple occupancy).

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

21

Signing the paperwork When you are happy with your decision to rent, you will be asked to sign two documents. These are: A Tenancy Agreement Read it carefully and only sign it if you understand what you are agreeing to. Ask for advice if there is anything you are not sure about, for example, from Citizens Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk If you are unhappy with the agreement, the law says you can change your mind and the landlord must give back your deposit. Make sure you keep a copy of the tenancy agreement.

An Inventory The inventory is a list of everything in the property, from bookshelves to fridges. Check it before you move in and take photos to show whether things are damaged or not.

This will help later if you and your landlord disagree. Sign the list if you are happy with everything and keep a copy. Your landlord cannot charge you for the inventory.

Happy renting!

Remember, most landlords and letting agents are lovely people. They just want to find nice tenants who will look after their property and earn them a little income. They will expect you to have lots of questions about the property so don’t be shy of asking them anything. I know from experience that a happy tenant is more likely to be a good tenant!

22

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

Nikki bought her first property to solve a very real problem; her son at university couldn’t find a decent room to rent. Several years later, Nikki now owns a handful of properties in her area and enjoys renovating and refurbishing them.

She likes to think her houses ‘aren’t just magnolia’ and have a bit more personality than the average rental.

Find out more about Nikki at www.moxeyproperties.co.uk

Nikki Moxey landlord

Useful Stuff Volunteering?

We think – to get the most out of volunteering - you really have to pick something you enjoy and that you can believe in. There are lots of opportunities to volunteer near to you.

Head to our website for more information: www.makethefutureyo urs.uk/volunteering

“

Scouting has a clear focus on skills for life. I would agree that it has

given me many of the skills I have needed to get to where I am now. I also think it influences the kind of teacher I am. I believe that young people need to grow up being given the skills to prepare them for the world in which they will live. Both Scouting and teaching enable me to support this.

James, Secondary School Teacher

10 top tips to getting a mortgage - Peter Johnson from Homes of Hampshire 1. Save to get as big a deposit as you can afford 2. Avoid surprises by knowing your credit score 3. Pay off unsecured debts and close any unused accounts 4. Avoid any evidence of regular gambling 5. Avoid properties that Banks may be reluctant to lend on. e.g. flats over commercial shops or houses built by unconventional means.

6. Ensure you have all relevant documents ready for checking (Passport, Driver’s License, utility bills, three months of bank statements, evidence of employment and salary) 7. Know the type of mortgage you require 8. Ensure you are on the electoral roll 9. Ask your bank and an Independent mortgage broker for a quote 10. Most importantly, make sure you can afford the mortgage payments Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

23

What is marketing?

Many people think of advertising when we talk about marketing.

While that is part of the role, marketing covers so much more than that. It’s also very true that digital and social media channels have seen a revolution in the tools available. Here’s our summary of what marketers do and the skills you might need if you’re thinking about entering the profession.

“Marketing is the management process for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably” or that’s how the Chartered Institute of Marketing (the CIM) define it. The CIM is the largest association of marketing professionals in the world so they should probably know. But, while this is useful as a quick soundbite, it doesn’t really begin to describe what marketing people actually do every day.

Marketing as a business discipline really only began to find its feet in the 1950s when consumer spending power became worth competing for. Marketers realised that it wasn’t enough to say that “our ice cream 24

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

tastes the best”, you also had to get the price right, and where you sold it right, and get the packaging right, and that you advertised it in the right places. Understanding what your customers needed and then convincing them you have the solution seemed to be the answer. It's probably fair to say that most marketers have an interest in human psychology or, at least, what makes their customers tick. And as consumers have become more sophisticated, so marketers have had to up their game to keep up.

Perhaps the first task that marketers need to be doing in order to sell their product or service is market research: Is there anyone

who will buy what we can sell? If not, what can we sell that people want to buy? Market research methods can vary from things like taste tests and focus groups to mystery shoppers and online surveys. Conducting research in an organised way is one skill, interpreting the results is another. This can often be where a love of detail and spreadsheets comes into its own; most marketers love to ‘crunch some numbers’ to see what trends or patterns they can find in their data. Those patterns then inform decisions going forward, from what colour should it be to how much should we charge.

With the arrival of digital platforms, every post becomes a mini piece of live market research, that we can record and analyse for results.

Having identified that you have something that will sell, marketers then need to go about promoting it. As well as all the traditional methods: billboards, magazine adverts, direct mail, sponsoring a sports team, celebrity endorsement and so on, the digital explosion of the 21st century has probably quadrupled the methods we have access to. Perhaps the biggest challenge for every marketer is to balance out which of them are going to be most effective to reach their potential customers, how quickly they will work and fitting that all within the budget you’ve got.

Even something like free posts on social media take time to produce, so need to be allocated a cost.

Once we have our marketing campaign roughed out, we then need to populate it with images, videos and text appropriate to our messages and the marketing channels we have chosen. This is perhaps where the traditional creative or artistic types are in their element; drafting different colour schemes for brand images, setting up photo-shoots or writing blogs and articles about their product.

We need to make sure that any content we produce is appealing to our target audience so we may go back to our market research skills at this stage to test out different options.

Marketers then need the organisational skills to make sure their marketing campaign happens on time and on budget, monitoring activities as they happen to perhaps make

‘live’ tweaks as they go. And then there will be the need to reflect on how it all went and what could be even better next time. Time for a dashboard or spreadsheet again!

Increasingly, marketers are seen as the experts in communication so marketing teams in some organisations may also have a role to play in internal communications keeping colleagues informed, events, including charity activities, and recruitment. It is true to say that marketing continues to evolve, meaning the diversity of roles available within marketing has expanded, often to become more technical and specialist than they used to be. Marketing is an exciting and constantly developing profession which can offer huge variety and frequent learning opportunities.

Agency vs. In-house?

Marketing specialists tend to work either in a company, promoting their services, or work for an agency, who are hired by other companies.

Very broadly, the difference is: •

If you like to get under the skin of a business, working in-house for a company will probably suit you better.

You may get involved in all types of marketing activity from events to website design for that organisation.

•

If you would like to specialise in a particular area, for example paid social media, you might find an agency allows you to do that. You will just focus on this particular aspect of marketing, but for lots of different businesses.

Both agency and in-house roles can offer variety and learning opportunities, but perhaps in slightly different ways.

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

25

Skills today’s marketers need or need to learn Creativity – not necessarily ‘arty’ but certainly to have an eye for style and what looks good.

Literacy – even a tweet needs to be written by someone so good grammar, spelling and vocabulary will be a big plus.

Number skills – you don’t need A Level Further Maths to be a good marketer, but you will regularly need to balance budgets or analyse Google Analytics stats, so being comfortable with numbers is essential.

IT Skills – using digital and social platforms has meant that marketers need some understanding of how these platforms operate: you don’t need to go

26

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

‘full geek’ although there are roles in marketing where that’s essential, marketers need an idea of how today’s rapidly changing technology works.

Teamwork and communication – Marketers do not operate in isolation; they will work with teams of people, from production colleagues to agency staff. And it’s not just about telling them clearly what you want, you need to listen to information or potential problems that are flagged to you.

Organisation – marketers often need to juggle their day-to-day work with events or campaigns on top of that, so being methodical and a good multi-tasker helps.

24th August

17th August

8th August

Make the Future Yours! Issue 6

27

More than just glasses You’ll know us for one thing but we’re so much more.

Find out just how many opportunities we have for an amazing and rewarding career.