Careers World Yorkshire & Humber SUMMER 2014

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YORKSHIRE & HUMBER edition

SUMMER 2014

RADIO 1 SUPERSTAR

SCOTT MILLS “I really had to convince them that I was the person for the job, because they didn’t think I was!”

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

STUDYING IN AMERICA

Want to study stateside? We find out how!

CONFUSED ABOUT CLEARING? Clearing can be a minefield, fortunately we can help you navigate it and get that place

PLUS: WE GET THE LOWDOWN ON THE FUTURE OF APPRENTICESHIPS & OUR EXPERT PANEL TACKLE ANOTHER ROUND OF YOUR QUESTIONS

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The Sheffield College

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YOUR COLLEGE, YOUR OPPORTUNITY, YOUR FUTURE Foundation Learning | A levels | Apprenticeship | Vocational

Norton College Dyche Lane, Sheffield S8 8BR

Hillsborough College Livesey Street, Sheffield S6 2ET

Peaks College

Waterthorpe Greenway, Sheffield S20 8LY

Sheffield City College Granville Road, Sheffield S2 2RL

The Sheffield College of Applied Engineering Olive Grove Road, Sheffield S2 3GE

Visit www.sheffcol.ac.uk Phone 0114 260 2600 Email info@sheffcol.ac.uk

Apprenticeships

WANTED

Do you want to become an apprentice and get the skills you need to gain work or enhance your career prospects? The Sheffield College currently has vacancies that need to be filled immediately. If you want to earn as you learn and boost your job and career prospects, then get in touch with us immediately. Apprentices receive a wage. They usually spend four days a week with an employer, and one day a week at college to complete their qualification.

Contact us NOW Excellence

Employability

Enterprise

Visit www.sheffcol.ac.uk Phone 0114 260 2600 Email info@sheffcol.ac.uk E-Enabled

Engagement


Welcome to Careers World Magazine, the premier resource for careers information and guidance. The Summer term is a scary time for a lot of you, with some big decisions to be made about your future. Don’t worry, the Careers World team are here to help! We provide you with the facts on the most popular careers and sectors, and help you really get to grips with the industries that interest you. Get an insight into the lives of young people who have been through the careers process, with case studies and advice from successful professionals. In this issue we speak to radio superstar Scott Mills, who’ll let us know just how he got established in broadcasting. It’s never too late or too early to start thinking about your future career, and with Careers World here to help, you can’t go wrong!

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BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills chats to our editor about how he managed to turn his hobby into a career.

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Some tools, tips and tricks to help you make those important choices, from our very own editor!

11 We ask our specially selected panel to tell us what they can offer you!

Transport & Logistics

Education & Early Years

Finance & Law

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We give you the lowdown on all the other sectors out there, which we’ll feature in future issues.

The Sheffield College

15 The best of the best in your region tell us about themselves!

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Creative, Media & The Arts

Elliot Gardner, Editor

IT, Digital & Telecoms

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Some handy materials for careers advisors, plus some facts and figures about the world of careers.

We cover... The Summer Term Confused about Clearing? Qualifications Explained Apprenticeships Vs A-Levels

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Some contact details we think you’ll find useful, including web links, email addresses and phone numbers.

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And now for something completely different...

Published by Open Doors Media Ltd 01765 694 120 | info@opendoorsmedia.co.uk

Colouring inside the lines | James Sharman | Design design@opendoorsmedia.co.uk

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Joined up writing | Elliot Gardner | Editor editor@opendoorsmedia.co.uk

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All material is copyrighted both written and illustrated. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. All images and information is collated from extensive research and along with advertisements is published in good faith. Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this publication was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Careers World is published by Open Doors Media Ltd ©2014. ISSN: 2050-6554


DJ AND PRESENTER SCOTT MILLS

talks to our editor about tricks of the trade, the ups and downs of work in radio, and his long road into the industry. Scott has been in the business for over two decades and is one of the most well-known and respected names in broadcasting. He currently presents the Scott Mills show every weekday at 1pm on BBC Radio 1.

it’s fair to say that most people will recognise you from Radio 1, but what came before that? Well, I always wanted to do radio, from as far back as I can remember really. I was actually helping out at my local radio station when I was 12.

I THINK

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I had a weekly slot where I would do the chart run-down and tell awful jokes. I have a couple of copies of recordings from those times and my voice just sounds really high! I wrote to loads of radio stations in my area and offered to volunteer, which is a really good way of getting into radio. Eventually, after 2 or 3 years, one of them gave in to my constant hassling and let me do some voluntary work at the local commercial radio station in Southampton. your hobby and made it into something you might want to make a career out of? Yeah it was just a hobby, I used to go down to hospital radio every Tuesday and Sunday, I used to absolutely love it. From that point there was no doubt in my mind; I knew that if I could, that was exactly what I wanted to do. No doubt at all.

SO YOU TOOK

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inspired you go into radio though? I don’t know! It’s something that just absolutely fascinated me, and because I was quite a shy child it was a way of talking to a lot of people without actually having to meet them. I used to listen to a lot of radio back then in my room and there was something just magical about it. It was just ideal, even to the point that when I was 8 or 9 I would pretend to play songs on the radio in my bedroom to my mum. I was pretty determined, which is important I think, especially in a job like this, because there were, and there still are, knockbacks. You just have to be prepared to take it all on the chin. If you can’t take those then it’s probably not the job for you, because it’s not all plain sailing.

WHAT FIRST


weren’t in broadcasting, what career path do you think you would have gone down? Is there anyone that ever tried to convince you when you were younger to go down a different career path? I went to my careers advisor when I was at school and told them I’d like to be on the radio and they just laughed! Well I’m very interested in travel and everything that goes with that so maybe I would have gone down that road somewhere.

IF YOU

you would be on TV or radio doing travel? To be honest I’ve not thought about it too much because I’ve worked hard to make a career in radio. With radio you have to be prepared to move around a bit. I spent a few years at a station in Bristol, I did 2 years in a station in Manchester, and then I moved down to London to be on Heart for a bit. Then, after a lot of hassling, I managed to get the job on Radio 1, but that took years. Because I’ve been at Radio 1 for a long time people think that it was easy, but I really had to convince them that I was the person for the job, because they didn’t think I was.

DO YOU THINK

kind of assume that it was the first job you got. Well I would send them CDs of demos all the time. For 3 years every 2 months. I was very persistent! Then finally someone cracked and that’s how I got the early breakfast show.

I GUESS PEOPLE

you get knocked down at the first hurdle you need to keep trying? Yeah you really have to. And then when you come to Radio 1 you have to be prepared to start at the bottom again. So I did 5 years of early mornings, which is getting up at 3am. It’s kind of hard work but when you do it it’s worth it. I remember when I was 16, I couldn’t even get to the radio station because I wasn’t even old enough to drive, so I had this really naff little old scooter that I used to drive into work in all weathers. When they eventually gave me a break it was between 1 and 6 in the morning, obviously my mum wasn’t that interested in taking me in at that time so I had to find my own way to get there.

SO EVEN IF

honorary doctorate from Southampton Solent University… Yeah how did that happen! That was amazing. My whole family was there. Sometimes I forget and then I remember ‘oh yeah I’m a Doctor of Arts.’ I chose not to go to university; I didn’t even go to college. I left school and went straight into radio, so it’s quite an honour to be given something like that from a uni.

YOU RECEIVED AN

think you would have gone to uni even if you didn’t go into radio? I was so determined; it wasn’t even on my mind. I remember my parents saying you have to have something to fall back on, because radio seems like one of those jobs that no one gets. But my mum and dad totally supported me. They really did. There’s always a danger, it’s one of those industries that some people get into fine and some people never do. But I

DO YOU

wasn’t taking no for an answer, I was really determined. So it didn’t really cross my mind because I was already doing the job that I wanted to do. the craziest thing you’ve done through Radio 1? Well no two days are the same. Sometimes we have a day where we are just like ‘wow’. It’s honestly the best place to work in the world. I never thought of Radio 1 as a goal because I thought it was impossible, so I actually just really enjoy working here. When I first started working at Radio 1 they gave me a mental job. They told me to present backstage at the BRIT awards. We were in a little porta-cabin backstage and I’d only been there a year. They were kind of trying me out to see if I would sink or swim. I remember there was a queue of famous people, Elton John, Destiny’s Child, Eminem, and this is when I was really scared of interviews. I felt massively out of my depth. The other thing that sticks out in my mind is about 6 months after I got the job at Radio 1. They rang me and asked me if I wanted to do top of the pops next week. I’d never even done anything on television. I was actually physically sick before the show out of nerves. It was so terrifying. But you get given an opportunity and you just can’t say no!

SO WHAT IS

the kind of industry that you don’t really get the opportunity to say no to things? Absolutely, you can’t, and also if you did then I think you would kick yourself. I do things at Radio 1 all the time that really scare me. These are all things that wouldn’t have happened without my job. We did this trek through the desert in Kenya with Lorraine Kelly, Olly Murs and Dermot O’Leary 3 years ago for Sport Relief, and that’s something that I never thought I’d be able to achieve. Last year they made me do another thing for sport relief. I danced with Olly Murs on stage. It’s one of my worst fears because I can’t dance, but I did it!

IT SEEMS LIKE

a favourite guest from the years that you’ve been doing radio? When I started Radio 1 it was the late 90s. Bands were quite angry and people could be really rude, but now pop stars are generally really nice. Tinie Tempah is really nice to interview, and we had Will.I.Am in recently. He was hilarious, we didn’t play any music for 40 minutes because he’s so engaging and he’s got some good stories. The oddest one I think was one I did about 2 years ago with Nicolas Cage. He wouldn’t look at any of us in the studio so we had absolutely no eye contact with him at all. His answers to the questions were very strange as well, he was an odd one.

HAVE YOU GOT

anyone that you’ve really wanted to meet but then they’ve let you down a little bit? Pamela Anderson was quite rude. I expected her to be nice but she just wasn’t. I did a TV show with David Hasselhoff where I went to go live in his house for a bit and I expected that to be an icebreaker in the conversation, like ‘I lived with David and you used to work with him on Baywatch’, but she didn’t

IS THERE

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care, so I was a bit disappointed by that. You don’t really get that so much anymore. Even with massive people like Rihanna and Beyonce. I don’t know why, I guess people are just a bit nicer now. it now to back when you first started then? I do. It’s because I’m much more confident. I totally put it down to this job. If you told me now that I was going to interview Lady Gaga in five minutes then it wouldn’t really bother me, whereas back in the day I would have been absolutely terrified.

SO YOU PREFER

only having a couple of minutes before an interview, do you feel responsible for the success of Chris Stark? Well I kind of do actually! I’ve known him for years and he always used to make me laugh. I met him at university radio in Southampton because I was doing a bit of stuff there. We ended up DJing together and kept in touch. I just found him hilarious, and every time he was up in London we’d meet up and have a chat. I just thought to myself, ‘you’ve got something. I don’t know what it is, but I think you’re so normal that people will really like you.’ I don’t think I’m responsible for his success because you make your own luck, but I hope that I helped.

SPEAKING OF

done some TV in the past, with the National Lottery and documentaries and all sorts, would you consider more of that in the future? I really enjoy it when I do it but I’m too shy to be properly famous. I don’t fancy it, it’s not for me. When I went to the Brits this year I saw people with 30 photographers following them and I thought to myself ‘I would absolutely hate that’, it’s just not for me. I’m doing the Eurovision semi-finals again this year for BBC3, which I really enjoy, but yeah it’s my little hobby really, but I do love it because it’s a different skill.

YOU HAVE

give one piece of advice to your teenage self now what would it be? Stop worrying. Be yourself. I think in my job in particular it’s important that you are yourself. If you heard tapes of me when I was on the radio in Manchester, I just don’t sound like me. You wouldn’t even recognise me.

IF YOU COULD

it’s just a case of being yourself? It’s a case of relaxing and being confident enough to be yourself on the radio. That’s what Radio 1 teaches you, because they do want you to be you.

SO THEN

in radio about 24 years now, what’s the biggest change in the industry in that time? Social media. 100%. Even in the last 5 years. For Radio 1 to survive it needs to be where the young people go the most, and that’s on their phones and laptops, that’s where kids spend most of their time. The days of just listening to the radio are kind of dying out, so if Radio 1 wants to appeal to the next generation of 14-15 year olds, which they obviously do, then they have to be on their phones. It’s the first radio station to hit a million subscribers on YouTube, which is pretty impressive, but that is the way it’s going and that is the way it’s going to have to be.

YOU HAVE BEEN

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think social care “Knowing that I can make people happier is the most satisfying part of my job” There are a huge range of jobs available in adult social care, such as...

front line care workers, therapists, activity organisers, managers, administration… How do I g adult soc et into ial care? There’s more to social care than you might think – every day is different. You might be helping people to socialise with friends, go shopping or even go on holiday.

One of th e best ways to get into t he sector is through an Apprenti ceship. Earn whil e you lea rn. Gain qua lifications . Become a confide nt and skille d worker.

For more information about adult social care Apprenticeships:

www.skillsforcare.org.uk/apprenticeships or email: info@skillsforcare.org.uk


Each issue, we ask our editor to give you a roundup of the topics that might affect you, as well as the choices you need to make about your future. As you could imagine, there are plenty of things going on that tend to stay behind the scenes. Usually, you’d have to trawl through pages of information to learn all this, but don’t worry; we’ve done all that for you!

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR At this time of year there’s some big decisions to be made, and with all that pressure piled on, lots of young people take the easy way out and just go with what their parents or careers advisor want them to do. Of course these people know what they’re talking about and only want the best for you, but the only person who can REALLY decide what’s best is you! There’s been lots of talk lately of young people being convinced not to go down certain career paths because of a belief that they are either too clever or not clever enough for them, or that the course isn’t going to lead to a decent career. If you have done your research and know about the benefits that an Apprenticeship ,degree, or going straight into work can provide, then don’t just back down and submit to what someone else wants you to do, prove to them that it’s the right choice for you by giving it your all and enjoying it while you do!

THE FUTURE OF APPRENTICESHIPS Thinking about doing an Apprenticeship? Then you better make sure you’re up to date with these big changes that are coming soon. Most placements won’t be affected until 2017, but there are a few that are being reworked now! •

• • •

KEY FACTS

The aim is to make Apprenticeships more appealing to employers and to help apprentices become more employable. Changes to assessment methods. Two thirds of your grade will be assessed at the end of the Apprenticeship. Simple frameworks. No more reading through pages of information to find out what your course is about. Graded Apprenticeships. New ranks of ‘pass’, ‘merit’, ‘distinction’ and ‘fail’. Minimum duration. All Apprenticeships will now be a minimum of one year with no exceptions.

www.careersworld.co.uk

WHY ARE THINGS BEING CHANGED?

Apprenticeships are getting bigger and bigger, and lots more students are considering them as an alternative to college, sixth form, or university. The Government is really keen to keep this going and for it to be the norm that every pupil either studies for a degree or undertakes an Apprenticeship. With this in mind, Apprenticeships are being changed to make them as attractive as possible to employers. After all, if more employers want to train apprentices, that’s more places for you to apply to! All this means that you can expect to see lots of Apprenticeship vacancies opening up in small companies. These businesses are going to have a lot more say in what their apprentices study, which means that the chance of you getting a placement close to home is going to be much higher!

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IMPROVING EMPLOYABILITY

The other reason for all these changes is to make all apprentices more employable after their course is finished. What’s the point in doing a course if you’re not going to be able to get a job out of it! In the last issue of Careers World we talked about changes to Maths and English GCSEs that mean a minimum standard will be expected from every school leaver. This is going to be the same in Apprenticeships, with requirements being stepped up a notch. Employers will be able to set what level of Maths and English skill will be required to complete their Apprenticeship. As well as this, off-the-job training will be a vital part of all courses. No, this doesn’t mean training at the beach. At the minute, some apprentices don’t receive any training away from their place of employment. The new change is that all apprentices will have to spend 20% of their placement studying ‘off-the-job’ topics. This might still be in your workplace but won’t be related to your everyday position. More than likely, for those studying Apprenticeships through colleges or universities, this would mean studying in an education environment.

CHANGING ASSESSMENT

The method of assessment for your qualification depends very much on the actual Apprenticeship that you are

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working towards. Some focus on whether you can actually work to the level demanded of the position you are in. Others are geared towards more traditional exams. One thing that all Apprenticeships share is the mix of on-going assessment throughout the placement, and end testing. The change is to have a minimum of two thirds of assessment at the end of the Apprenticeship. The approach to testing probably won’t change much, after all there’s no point in all your exams being all written when you are trying to prove that you can be a builder, but a lot of Apprenticeships like to test you throughout the year so that you can show your development and constantly build up your skill set. The new method would involve a lot more revision, as well an end of year exam-type situation, with a broad range of skills being tested all at once, proving you are ready to work in that sector.

they plan to go about this is to make Apprenticeships graded. The new grades would be ‘Fail’, ‘Pass’, ‘Merit’ and ‘Distinction’ (Familiar to anyone who has completed a grade in music).

find what you need! On top of this, the description of each Apprenticeship will have to be less than one page of A4, which is a big deal because at the minute they’re more like twenty!

What this essentially means is that Apprenticeships will become more focused around your end-results, and the best grades will look amazing on CVs. There’s a down side though. If you don’t get at least a Merit in your Apprenticeship then an employer might see you as ‘only’ passing, instead of rewarding you for completing a demanding course. The point is to ‘incentivise’ Apprenticeships, in other words trying to get you to work as hard as you can, but you should probably be doing that anyway!

While most of these changes won’t come into effect fully until 2017, there are a few subjects that have already been affected, and will continue to change over the coming months. These are called ‘trailblazers’ and are mainly in the STEM subjects (that’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). So if you are thinking about a career in those sectors, you better double check your Apprenticeship is being delivered in the way you think!

SIMPLE FRAMEWORKS

There are over 250 different Apprenticeships in England, and lots of those have optional modules within them, making everything very complicated. There are so many different options, sometimes it can be GRADED hard to find out what course you APPRENTICESHIPS Right now, Apprenticeships need to do to get the job you’re are pass or fail. Lots of people actually after. like this way of doing things as it makes the whole process That’s why changes are being a lot less painful. In a degree, made. There will be one or A-levels, simply passing is separate Apprenticeship course often not enough because there for every job. That means it are so many grades, making should be simpler for you to everything more competitive. find the Apprenticeship you The Government are really keen need to get the job you want on rewarding high-achievement because you can just search in Apprenticeships, and the way for ‘Chef Apprenticeship’ and www.careersworld.co.uk

WHO IS AFFECTED?

The nature of Apprenticeships is definitely changing and the proposals that we’ve talked about above are really going to have a huge impact on every single apprentice in England. It’s so important that you keep your finger on the pulse if you are even considering Apprenticeships in the slightest. Deciding to become an apprentice can be one of the biggest and best decisions of your life so you have to make sure you are as informed as you can be. It’s like starting a new job thinking you’re in sales but getting there and finding out you’re working in the warehouse!


STUDYING IN AMERICA America is one of the most important countries in the world. We are constantly surrounded by US culture; whether it’s the clothes we wear, the TV we watch, or music we listen to. Visiting the United States is on the top list of things to do for thousands of young people in the UK, but did you know that in the quest for your ideal career that you can study full time state-side? At Careers World we’re asked all the time for information on American study, and since now is the time that you should be thinking about where to apply if you want to study abroad, we’ve put some information together about what American education can offer you.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY THERE?

HOW DO I APPLY?

Make no mistake, studying in America is not for everyone, but if you have a sense of adventure and want to learn at the same time, it could be right down your street. There’s a real emphasis on the social side of things at US universities. Uni’s in the UK have this as well, but to nowhere near the same level. Can you imagine a UK university sports club being televised and getting 50,000 fans attending every game? There are hundreds of societies to join, including a national competitive Quidditch league for you Potter fans!

The application process for UK nationals to study in the USA is a bit more long-winded and complicated than applying through UCAS, but then again you are asking a university from the other side of the world to accept you for study, so what do you expect! UCAS applications are based around your grades and other academic achievements, but the US system tends to evaluate your whole character. Obviously your grades are still a big deal, but they also want to know about your background, and what you do in your spare time.

If you don’t like being limited with the universities you can apply to, maybe the college or uni in your favourite city doesn’t offer your course, you’re pretty much guaranteed to not have the same problem in the US. There are just under 200 Higher Education facilities in the UK right now, but with over 4,500 offering undergraduate degrees in America right now, you’re spoilt for choice.

If you are worried about costs (it’s hardly cheap going to uni here, let alone in America!) then you should consider applying for a scholarship or funding. Funding looks at all of you, not just how much money you or your parents earn. If you can show that you are worth their money, the uni will sponsor you to study at their institution.

If you struggled to decide on what GCSEs or A levels to choose, picking just one degree course can be a bit of a nightmare. There’s nowhere near the same amount of pressure at American colleges and universities, they adopt a ‘liberal arts philosophy’. This means that you take several different classes in the first year of your degree, and then move on to choose your main ‘major’ subject after you’ve had a taste of a few. It’s also much easier than in the UK to switch courses if you change your mind.

According to figures from The Fulbright Commission, 65% of employers favour applicants with experience of work overseas. It really is a fantastic way to kick-start your career and improve your employability. The Fulbright Commission are jointly funded by the UK and US governments and operate the Advisory Service, the only official source of US study advice in the UK, so it’s worth checking them out at www.fulbright.org.uk. Don’t forget that the timetable for applications is a bit different than in the UK, so if you’re thinking about going to an American university next year, you need to be doing some research about where you want to go NOW!

www.careersworld.co.uk

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expert /’ekspərt/

Noun. A person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.

Ask the Experts

Adjective Having or involving such knowledge or skill. Synonyms noun. specialist - connoisseur - adept - judge - master adjective. skilled - skilful - skillful - proficient - adept

Are you frustrated by all the choices you face? Don’t you wish there was a way to compare all your options, or to have those key questions answered? Well, we’ve done it for you. We’ve put together a team of experts from your area to give you an insight into what kind of experiences, benefits and future they can offer you. We’ve asked the same questions to each expert, to help you decide on the right choice for you.

The Employer IS IT TOO LATE IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR TO START THINKING ABOUT CAREER PATHS AND OPTIONS?

We run, maintain and develop Britain’s rail tracks, signalling, bridges, tunnels, level crossings, viaducts and 17 key stations. Web: www.facebook.com/ontrack

Not at all. It’s never too late to look at your options. Some people decide very quickly on their future careers, others take their time. Network Rail’s Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme opens for applications in January, with successful candidates starting in September. Use this time to research whether the scheme is right for you, or come and visit us at one of our open days, which we advertise on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ontrack

WHAT IS IT THAT APPEALS TO YOUR APPLICANTS AND MAKES YOU UNIQUE?

The first year of our scheme is run on-site, at a purpose-built training facility in Hampshire. We provide all of your accommodation and food whilst you are learning. We focus not only on developing your skills in your chosen area of expertise, but also on helping you build your leadership and people skills. You will be offered a wide range of extracurricular sporting and development opportunities, that we encourage you to take part in. Our scheme is fun, hard work, a great learning opportunity, and a fantastic foundation for a rewarding career in the rail industry.

www.careersworld.co.uk

WHAT CAN SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES EXPECT IN THEIR FIRST MONTH WITH YOU?

During your first month on Network Rail’s Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme you will undertake a comprehensive induction package at HMS Collingwood and Sultan in order to prepare you for the challenges ahead over the next three year programme.

SELL YOURSELF IN ONE PARAGRAPH

Our railway is more popular than ever. Passenger numbers have increased at a faster pace than expected and every day 4 million people use the rail network. We carry 50 per cent more passengers today than 10 years ago. Modernisation and smarter ways of working have delivered more frequent, reliable, safer services, as well as brighter and better stations. We’ve achieved a lot over the last 10 years and we’ve a lot more to do! We’ve been given £38bn to carry out work over the next five years, and by 2019 the country’s rail network will be delivering 225 million more passenger journeys each year. Our Apprenticeship scheme helps us attract and retain key talent for the future that will help us meet our strategic goal - a better railway for a better Britain.

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The University IS IT TOO LATE IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR TO START THINKING ABOUT CAREER PATHS AND OPTIONS?

Dr Abigail Harrison Moore, Head of School Elect, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds Web: www.leeds.ac.uk

Absolutely not…If you have made a decision about what you would like to do then you can look at UCAS Extra or enter Clearing in August. You should contact the programmes that you are interested in with a copy of your personal statement and predicted/achieved results to hand, that way you can be ready to strike if a place is available. But don’t make a rushed decision just because it seems like all your friends are off to university. Perhaps you need to take a year to complete some work experience

The Training Provider

The Training Room is a fullservice careers provider offering a range of fully accredited personal training courses, from full-time fast track courses to part-time and e-learning programmes. We equip students with industry-ready qualifications and skills for entry into a career in personal training.

IS IT TOO LATE IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR TO START THINKING ABOUT CAREER PATHS AND OPTIONS?

It’s important to make sure that you enjoy what you do, so it’s never too late to start thinking about the options available. Not all training and career opportunities are restricted to the academic year, so it’s worth doing some research and finding out what’s out there. For example, our academies all run six-week rolling courses that start every two weeks, meaning that you can enrol whenever you want throughout the year.

Web: thetrainingroom.com

The College The Sheffield College

At The Sheffield College, we do things differently. Differently by building our whole approach around you and what you want to be. Whatever your starting point, you’ll discover The Sheffield College gives you much more than a qualification. The 20,000 young people and adults who study with us experience that difference every year. Web: www.sheffcol.ac.uk Tel: 0114 2602600

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www.careersworld.co.uk

IS IT TOO LATE IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR TO START THINKING ABOUT CAREER PATHS AND OPTIONS?

It is never too late to start thinking about your career, but don’t leave it too long to apply or our most popular courses will start to fill up. Whether you want a stepping stone to employment, a recognised Apprenticeship scheme, or you’re aiming for a top university, we can offer something to suit you. Start thinking about your strengths, your interests, and any plans you have for the future. If you need guidance on your next steps, you can get support from a careers adviser at school or through the National Careers Service.


and apply when you have made an informed politics, and much more. We also teach SELL YOURSELF IN ONE PARAGRAPH decision? The oldest student I graduated fine art in the school, so you learn about I have recently been appointed head of the history of art in the presence of people school and am looking forward to working was 80, so you have plenty of time! making the art of the future. with our 700 students to help them make the most of their experience at Leeds. Two of WHAT IS IT THAT APPEALS TO YOUR the best things I am involved with presently WHAT CAN SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES APPLICANTS AND MAKES YOU organizing an event to celebrate having EXPECT IN THEIR FIRST MONTH WITH are run programmes in Art Gallery and Museum UNIQUE? Studies for 15 years, which has meant Unlike school, where you follow a nationally YOU? set curriculum, every university will teach They will be introduced to the important contacting and celebrating many successful their subject in a different way, so it is questions that we ask of our subject by graduates who work in museums and important to look beyond the subject looking at art from ancient history all the way galleries all over the world, and being area. For example, Art History at Leeds up until tomorrow’s masterpieces. They will involved with a competition in schools is celebrated for encouraging students have lectures and seminars, meet up with called ARTiculations, which was featured in to question how we look at and value art their personal tutor, go to receptions in all a special episode of BBC2’s Culture Show. from all different periods and places. As our museums and galleries, discover the joy such, it brings together history, philosophy, of studying in a city as exciting as Leeds, languages, literature, sociology, economics, and make lots of friends.

WHAT IS IT THAT APPEALS TO YOUR APPLICANTS AND MAKES YOU UNIQUE?

What makes The Training Room unique is that we are not just a training provider. We promise to get our students industry-ready as soon as possible, providing the vital support needed to help get them into work upon completion of their personal training course. We guarantee students an interview with one of our big-name partners, such as DW Sports Fitness and Pure Gym, once they qualify.

WHAT IS IT THAT APPEALS TO YOUR APPLICANTS AND MAKES YOU UNIQUE?

20,000 students choose The Sheffield College every year. We’re the largest education training provider in Sheffield, offering academic, vocational, higher education, and Apprenticeship options. You’ll find a large, vibrant, and diverse community of staff and students. The college features modern campus buildings and industry standard equipment, with a £15.6m upgrade to our facilities planned for 2015. Ofsted like what we do too; they graded us ‘good’ in 2013.

WHAT CAN SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES EXPECT IN THEIR FIRST MONTH WITH YOU?

Our courses are completed in just six weeks, after which you will be qualified to the highest possible entry level. So at the end of the first four weeks of your personal training certification at The Training Room, you will already be level 2 qualified, and on the path to progress to level 3 in just two more weeks.

WHAT CAN SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES EXPECT IN THEIR FIRST MONTH WITH YOU?

The first month at college is all about settling in. You’ll have the chance to get to know teaching staff and other students. We’ll make sure you can find your way around, from the Learning Resource Centre to the gym. You’ll start to meet the staff who can help you make a success of your time at college. You can talk to us about financial support, career decisions, and all the many activities you can get involved with. After that, you’ll be ready to get on with your studies.

www.careersworld.co.uk

SELL YOURSELF IN ONE PARAGRAPH

The Training Room is the perfect partner for college leavers with a love for health and fitness who are looking to begin an exciting career in an area that they a passionate about. We support our students every step of the way in preparing them for work in the fast-paced fitness industry, and once they qualify, they have everything they need to start a career as a successful personal trainer, straight away.

SELL YOURSELF IN ONE PARAGRAPH

We recognise how important it is for students to leave college prepared for the world of work, so we offer our students more than just a qualification. You’ll get the opportunity to develop enterprise and employability skills through activities or work experience, with lots of students getting support to set up their own businesses. There are many ways you can strengthen your CV while you study with us so that you leave college ready to succeed in the future, whether your chosen path is another course, a job, your own business, or a place at university.

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We like to keep you up to date with the latest goings-on of your local institutions, as well as providing you with case studies and stories from people who have been in your position and seen the light at the end of the tunnel; this is their forum for connecting with you.

Abbey Mason 24 year-old Abbey Mason’s career started out with retailer Laura Ashley, but when her office was closed, she found an Apprenticeship with Leeds City College enabled her to channel her creative talent into an exciting new direction. As Junior Marketing Executive at tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, she is currently working on the region’s most anticipated event of 2014 - the Tour de France Grand Départ. Abbey has already been to Paris for the announcement of the route, developed an interactive online map and taken part in a flash mob for the launch of the Yorkshire Festival 2014. Now she’s looking forward to a summer of exciting events.

Gain Experience: Industrial Placements Her one-year Apprenticeship with Leeds City College enabled her to gain relevant experience for the role and she found studying on the job straightforward. Her tutor visited her workplace regularly and the qualification, an NVQ Level 2 in Marketing, was tailored to the job. She enjoys putting her creative and organisational skills into practice, working on diverse projects from research to events and marketing campaigns. She says: “One day I could be sat in the office and the next I can be out in our Welcome to Yorkshire T-shirts at an event like the Harrogate Flower Show. It’s very exciting.”

Competition in the graduate job market has risen dramatically in recent years, and students are always looking for ways to stand out from the crowd. An excellent way of doing this is by choosing an industrial placement as part of your degree course. This involves spending a year working in industry, normally between your second and third years of study, enhancing your CV and gaining highly sought-after skills. Employers not only like to see people who have developed the necessary theoretical skills, it’s also great if a student has used their initiative and sourced opportunities to develop their employability skills. During your placement you will be paid by the employer and treated as a permanent member of staff. You will also gain practical experience that

can be invaluable both in your final-year project and when competing for jobs. Students with industrial experience tend to not only improve their final degree performance, but also develop clearer ideas about their future career path. We are aware that finding an industrial placement can be a step into the unknown for many students and we are here to provide support for you. We maintain regular contact with you, even when you begin your placement If you are interested in an industrial or sandwich placement, or a graduate job in the life sciences, biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries, make sure you take a look at the Cogent Placements website for all the latest opportunities.

Web: www.cogent-placements.com Find out more about Leeds City College by visiting www.leedscitycollege.ac.uk

www.careersworld.co.uk

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Yamna`s journey: from a U to a 2

Fionnuala McGowan Fionnuala is studying towards a BTEC Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment, which is an ideal course for those who wish to pursue a professional career in the construction industry. When asked about why she chose Leeds College of Building she said “Some might say that it’s unusual for a female to want to study construction but I’ve always had a passion for it. I like knowing how buildings are created and find the technical aspect really interesting. It’s a great career for someone to get into. My course covers a wide range of areas including construction management, quantity surveying, and Computer Aided Design.” As part of the course, Fionnuala had the opportunity to complete work experience. This gave her the chance to get out on site and see first-hand how

companies work. Her placement was with Land Securities, who were involved in building the new Trinity Shopping Centre in Leeds. Her initial placement was for two weeks, however Land Securities were so impressed with Fionnuala’s passion for the industry, and her interest in the project, she was offered a full year’s placement. Fionnuala is now hoping to complete a sponsored degree course via Laing O’Rourke. She said “I’ve found that Leeds College of Building want students to look to the future, not to just focus on short term gains but on what career path you want to follow. With the help of the work placement team I secured fantastic work experience which has reaffirmed my aspiration to work in the construction industry.”

Many young people feel let down and lost if they don’t get the exam results they need, but with the right guidance and support it’s amazing what they can achieve. In August last year Yamna Ahmed, now 17, felt disappointed, inadequate, and embarrassed when she got her GCSE results. In particular she felt she’d let herself down with her U grade in Maths. She wanted to do better and recognised that she would need more individual support to succeed. Already feeling that the class sizes at school wouldn’t enable this, she was hesitant about going to college too. Determined not to give up, Yamna attended a careers event where she spoke to an Aspire-i careers adviser and discussed the different options available to her. Yamna wanted to know more about aspire2work, a study programme offering a

Web: www.lcb.ac.uk Email: info@lcb.ac.uk Tel: 0845 129 7690

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variety of vocational courses, work experience, and further study in Maths and English. With courses available to 16-18 year olds, from a range of sectors such as Fashion, Retail, Hospitality, and Business Administration. Yamna was interested in the Health and Social Care course. A course offered by one of Aspire-i’s aspire2work providers, Age UK. She said: “I have a clearer idea of where I am heading now. I’ll get my level 2 in Maths and English and then hopefully progress towards a level 3. My ultimate ambition is to get a job as a Support Worker with children. “Since joining aspire2work, I am now at Age UK. My friends tell me that I have completely changed as I’m so confident now. I get up on a morning and look forward to coming to class – we are like one big happy family and I love it here!”

Web: www.aspire-i.com

www.careersworld.co.uk


John Leggott College John Leggott College is one of the best colleges for students aged 16-19 in the region. It’s all down to the fantastic results, superb facilities, amazing teachers, and outstanding experience offered to students who choose to come to JLC.

Shipley College Apprentice Wins A National Apprenticeship Award! Courtenay, a Shipley College Business & Administration apprentice at Bradford District Care Trust, has won the Advanced Non-Clinical Apprentice of the Year Award, run by NHS Health Education Yorkshire and the Humber. These awards recognise the success of individual apprentices and celebrate their achievements. Courtenay, who works four days a week as an assistant to a PA with the Foundation Trust Office and Communications Team, said: “I am over the moon. Winning the award is an incredible achievement and I couldn’t be happier! “The Apprenticeship scheme is fantastic; it’s helped me

to develop my business administration skills, which are invaluable for the career I want to pursue. I am so grateful to my Shipley College tutors and employers. “I would highly recommend Apprenticeships to other young people who would like to get on-the-job training, study for a nationally recognised qualification, and earn money while you learn.” Shipley College Principal Nav Chohan said: “We are so proud of Courtenay. The award is testament to all her hard work and dedication. She is a shining example of all that can be achieved through an Apprenticeship.”

Based in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, we have 2,000 students on roll from across North Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. In 2013 we had an A Level pass rate of 99%, with 50% of grades at A*, A, and B. We also celebrated a 100% pass rate in BTEC courses.

Our students can also boost their employability and life skills by participating in a new programme designed to complement their studies – the Insights Programme, which consists of more than 190 workshops, talks, and events. Students can opt in to the ones most relevant to their skill set and future ambitions. This year we have eight students holding places to study at Oxford and Cambridge, who have received specialist advice and guidance as part of the College’s A*spire Programme for gifted and talented students.

John Leggott College works proactively with the region’s employers to help inspire students, promote organisations to tomorrow’s workforce, and find out how the college community can support the business world too. We have more than quadrupled the number of work placements offered to our students in the last year.

Web: www.shipley.ac.uk Tel: 01274 327222 Email: enquiries@shipley.ac.uk

Web: www.leggott.ac.uk Tel: 01724 282998 Email: info@leggott.ac.uk

www.careersworld.co.uk

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Interested in Interior Design?

The National Design Academy has over 25 years of experience offering UK and overseas students a range of online interior design courses at diploma, degree and masters level.

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THE REAL WORLD From Sheffield’s Longley Park to New York’s Central Park! Students from Media, English, Photography, Art and Design travelled 3,365 miles from Longley Park to New York City. During the 6-day trip, students spent time exploring the various educational locations relevant to their courses, as well as some of the most iconic and famous sights the Big Apple has to offer.

Creative, Media & The Arts Facebook, Emmerdale, The Mona Lisa, Call of Duty. All these things have one thing in common – they all fall into Creative, Media and Arts sector and they could be the basis of your future career!

You ask us... WHAT’S THE CREATIVE, MEDIA AND ARTS SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

The Creative sector will soon become one of the most important in the country. As technology advances, people need to keep up to date and that’s where you come in. At present, the industry is worth £36 billion a year; in the time it takes you to read to the bottom of this section, the Creative sector have generated over £70,000. Around WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT will £1 in every £10 of our exports are in this TO EARN? sector, which means that other countries You’ll start off on somewhere in the region favour our approach to Media, Creativity of £10,000 to £18,000 depending on what and The Arts. you do. Some of the newer roles, such as interactive and digital media tend to pay WHERE IS THE WORK MOST more because they are more specialised, CONCENTRATED? but nearly all the career paths available will have room for advancement and as the It obviously depends on what you specialise market continues to expand new roles will in, but generally there is more work the further towards London you go. However, become available. the BBC has recently relocated a lot of its to Salford (near Manchester) WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD programming and there are of course independent I BE WORKING IN? publishing companies, newspapers and Most media companies work out of offices digital media companies all over the country. and studios; this isn’t anywhere near as It really is a case of moving to where the boring as it sounds as most creative offices work is, but once you become established, are bustling with ideas and tend to be more moving won’t be an issue. laid back than the bigger corporations. Of course TV and Film would have you working in various settings both indoor and outdoor and the fashion industry could take you from a cat walk to a high street shop. It’s everywhere. On your TV, on your computer, on your games consoles, in every newspaper, painting, t-shirt, magazine, book, website or newsletter, it’s a massive sector that covers the things we enjoy most at home.

www.careersworld.co.uk

The educational trip included a visit to the Guggenheim Museum, where masterpieces by Picasso and Van Gough are displayed. They also explored the world’s leading museum of modern art; The MoMA. Media students took part in an editing masterclass at the Museum of Moving Image before visiting the New York Film Academy and touring New York’s famous filming locations and sets. As well as the vast educational benefits this trip brings, students also got the chance to visit some of NYC’s most famous locations including the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Broadway, Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, and the 9/11 Tribute Centre. The experience the students gained from the trip has certainly inspired them in their coursework, which they will showcase during the end of year Creative Show in June. The Creative Show is a week-long exhibition, showing some of the fantastic work creative students have produced whilst studying at Longley Park Sixth Form College.

Web: www.longleypark.ac.uk Tel: 0114 262 5757

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Creative, Media & The Arts

Careers Choices If you have the imagination to match your ambition and desire to succeed, then you will go far in this sector. From television to fashion, there’s a whole host of different career paths to be taken, but be aware that this is a very popular sector to get into, so it’s best to get some work experience behind you to make you more attractive to employers. Here are some of the biggest areas within this sector:

PUBLISHING

This magazine you are reading wouldn’t exist without publishing and it covers everything to do with written word. Most publishers are small and deal with specialist publications, such as career specific magazines or travel guides. Starting salaries are quite high, ranging from £15,000 to £20,000.

INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Also known as New Media, everything from Facebook and Youtube to apps and websites is covered here. You’ll have to move with the times, as in this industry something could go from popular to forgotten in just a few seconds. Remember Bebo? No, me neither. Starting salaries are pretty high because it’s a specialist subject; expect to earn between £16,000 and FILM & TELEVISION Fancy yourself as the next Phillip Seymour £20,000 with more to come as you become Hoffman? What do you mean who?! Well, more experienced. it’s not all about the actors; all those names that scroll at the end of the credits (that you FASHION probably leave the cinema half way through) If you know what’s hot and what’s not, are roles that make film and television work. what’s in and what’s out, then this could Cameramen, sound and lighting operators, be right up your alley. Fashion covers makeup artists, special effects specialists designing new clothes, patterns and styles and directors are just some of the roles as well as buying stock for high street shops available. Salaries usually start out fairly to sell. You can expect to start on between low (about £12,000) but will grow as your £12,000 and £15,000. experience does.

PERFORMANCE ARTS

All the world’s a stage. Not only does this cover the performers, but also the supporting crew; you could be in wardrobe, stage management or directing the whole show! Starting salaries are usually between £12,000 and £16,000 depending on your role.

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PUBLIC RELATIONS

PR is all about networking – you might be representing a small company looking to expand or a high profile celebrity in search of that next big blockbuster. Starting salaries in PR are usually higher than others in this sector; you’re looking at £19,000 to start out with, but experienced PR people at the top of the ladder can earn upwards of £100,000! That’s a lot of chicken dinners…

www.careersworld.co.uk

ANIMATION

Finding Nemo, Toy Story and Shrek; all are huge animated films that started life on a drawing board. Animators work on bringing still images to life. Animation isn’t just limited to film; it appears in TV, on websites, adverts and video games. Starting salaries are between £16,000 and £20,000 and can increase with experience.

CURATORS/CONSERVATORS

Museums, heritage sites and art galleries all require experts to look after the exhibits that guests come to see. Whether it’s bringing new exhibits in or restoring old ones to display quality, it’s a varied job that will give you a lot of gratification. There is a minimum salary (by law) of £20,895, which you can expect to rise as you gain experience.


55,900

PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED WITHIN TV - 11% OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY MORE THAN

1/3

OF PEOPLE WORKING IN MEDIA ARE FREELANCE

50%

OF THE TV WORKFORCE HAS UNDERTAKEN UNPAID WORK

Where to begin If you think this is the sector for you, read on to learn more about how you can kick your career off…

APPRENTICESHIPS

With over 48,000 different companies in this sector, an Apprenticeship might be the easier route to take to get into a very tough sector. Competition for places in this industry are super high, so having one foot in the door and earning as you learn could be a great way to go. Here are the frameworks you can expect to see in this industry and all Apprenticeships result in a Level 2 BTEC, Diploma or NVQ. Design • Games Testing • Performing Arts (Theatre) • Fashion and Textiles • Music Business • Creative

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS

These are the equivalent to A-Levels and can usually be joined after completing the associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. They are ideal for people who want a practical role as they learn while gaining valuable employment experience. Here are some of the Apprenticeship Frameworks for this sector and all of these will result in a Level 3 qualification such as a BTEC, a Diploma or an NVQ. Creative • Creative and Digital Media • Design • Performing Arts • Photography • Photo Imaging

A-LEVELS

A-Levels are the most popular gateway into university and are sought after by employers. Here are some of the relevant A-Levels for this sector: Art and Design • Dance • Drama • Fine Art • Graphic Design • Media Studies • Music Technology • Photography

FOUNDATION DEGREES

A Foundation Degree combines university lifestyle with practical, hands on work. It’s sort of like a cross between an Apprenticeship and an Honours Degree. They are often used as gateway qualifications to a full time Degree as they count towards the first two years of an Honours Degree. They usually take two years to complete and you’ll be both in the work place and on the university campus. Example degrees include Creative Writing, Animation and Photography.

COLLEGE COURSES

Creative, Media & The Arts

REGIONAL FOCUS Since the First World War, Bradford has been an important location in the world of film. Nowadays there are lots of exciting developments and opportunities in the city. The United Nations have titled Bradford the world’s first UNESCO City of Film because of the city’s rich heritage. The Yorkshire and Humber region is famed throughout the world for its gorgeous scenery, inspiring hundreds of artists to paint the beautiful landscape. The region has also been the home of some of the country’s great novelists, from the Brontë sisters to James Herriot.

College courses are also a great way to get into this sector and many colleges do Creative courses. To check which colleges do these courses, head to www.careersworld.co.uk. www.careersworld.co.uk

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IT, Digital & Telecoms Can you remember life before the Internet? Boring wasn’t it? Almost everybody in the world is linked by the World Wide Web and most jobs require some form of IT competence. From online advertising to providing technical support for businesses, IT is required in almost every sector in some shape or form, so it’s a good industry to work in!

You ask us... HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

WHAT’S THE IT, DIGITAL AND TELECOMS SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

Funnily enough, it’s all about computers and their various roles in society. From fixing hardware problems to designing new ways to combat viruses, it’s a varied sector that carries great importance; some companies depend entirely on their IT network so it’s vital to keep up to date with the latest technology and programming to make sure you can perform in an ever changing environment.

The IT, Digital and Telecoms industry employs over 1.5 million people and out of those there are 674,000 working in IT in other industries. This sector will require 500,000 new entrants in the next five years, so there’s no better time to get into IT!

WHERE IS THE WORK MOST CONCENTRATED?

WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?

The average IT professional earns £38,500 a year, so you can expect to earn good money in this sector. As companies move into a more digital age, there is a greater demand for qualified IT specialists. Starting salaries are between £16,000 and £20,000 depending on which career path you go down.

This is one of the few sectors that actually gets more concentrated as you head north. This might sound strange, but Sheffield, Leeds and Rotherham actually have the highest proportion of IT and Telecoms employment in the UK! As you can imagine, most work in IT is located in the larger towns and cities, but every company uses IT, so you won’t be hard pressed to find vacancies!

WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD I BE WORKING IN?

It’ll come as no surprise that you will be working in front of a lot of computer screens! Depending on your job role, you could be working in a school, an office or even from your own front room! You will have to have good interpersonal skills as computer problems stress people out and you’ll be encountering a lot of stressed people!

www.careersworld.co.uk

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IT, Digital & Telecoms

Careers Choices Well, there isn’t a bigger sector at the minute than IT. We all need it installing, maintaining and upgrading and you could be the one to do it! Most other professions require you to have at least basic IT knowledge, so it’s a valuable skill to have if you wish to branch out in your career. Here are some of the job roles you might encounter in this sector.

WEB DESIGNER

Every web page you visit on the Internet is the product of the creative process a web designer goes through. You’ll need an eye for detail as the page will have to be attractive, user friendly and functional in order to be a success. A lot of web designers work for themselves, but if you are working for a company, you will be heading up a team of programmers and specialists. Starting salaries are between £16,000 and £20,000.

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Software developers are responsible for designing programmes and applications for people to use. These range from simple programs like word processors and web browsers to more complex stuff like computer games and social media sites. It’s a technical role that requires a lot of knowledge and detail, but the starting salary reflects this and is between £20,000 and £26,000.

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IT TRAINER

If you wish to pass on the knowledge that you have learned, then you could set up your own teaching system to help people of all ability levels get to grips with IT. You could be teaching people anything from basic word processing and spreadsheet use to more technical stuff like networking computer systems and hardware installation. Starting salaries are usually around £18,000.

HELPDESK ASSISTANT

This is for people who have good inter-personal skills as well as a solid understanding of IT. You’ll be handling a range of different problems and will require knowledge about both hardware and software to cover all possible problems that might arise. Good customer service is also essential here. You can expect to earn £14,000 to £16,000 as a starting salary.

www.careersworld.co.uk

TELECOMS TECHNICIAN

Telecoms cover things like broadband, TV and Satellite, mobile phones and radio. It’s a varied occupation in which you’ll have to specialise. You could be installing satellite television in somebody’s home, or setting up internet access for a large international corporation! Starting salaries are usually between £14,000 and £16,000.


THERE IS A TOTAL IT & TELECOMS WORKFORCE OF

1.5 MILLION PEOPLE

105,000

BUSINESSES IN THE UK OFFER IT & TELECOMS PRODUCTS & SERVICES

IT ACCOUNTS FOR

4%

OF THE UK WORKFORCE

Where to begin If you think this is the sector for you, read on to learn more about how you can kick your career off…

APPRENTICESHIPS

If you are aged 16 and over you could enter an Apprenticeship, which would teach you the skills you need while you work and earn a salary. You’ll spend half your time in the classroom and half out on the job. Listed below are the apprenticeship frameworks for this sector, which when completed will give you a Level 2 qualification in the form of a BTEC, Diploma or NVQ: IT Applications Specialist • IT Software, Web and Telecoms Professionals

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS

A-LEVELS

A-Levels are the most popular gateway into university and are sought after by employers. Here are some of the relevant A-Levels for this sector: Computing • Design and Technology: Systems and Control • ICT

FOUNDATION DEGREES

A Foundation Degree combines university lifestyle with practical, hands on work. It’s sort of like a cross between an Apprenticeship and an Honours Degree. They are often used as gateway qualifications to a full time Degree as they count towards the first two years of an Honours Degree. They usually take two years to complete and you’ll be both in the work place and on the university campus. You can study a foundation degree in Information Technology.

These are the equivalent to A-Levels and can usually be joined after completing the associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. They are ideal for people who want a practical role as they learn while gaining valuable employment experience. People with Advanced Apprenticeships tend to progress up the ladder a lot quicker than COLLEGE COURSES those without, as the skills they learn are A college course is another way to get into more suited to management and supervisory this sector. For more information, check out roles. Here are some of the Apprenticeship www.careersworld.co.uk. Frameworks for this sector and all of these will result in a Level 3 qualification such as a BTEC, a Diploma or an NVQ. IT Applications Specialist • IT Software, Web and Telecoms Professionals

www.careersworld.co.uk

IT, Digital & Telecoms

REGIONAL FOCUS Hull is famous for being the only area of the UK to not sell their telecommunications off to the Post Office, meaning the phone boxes in Hull are cream, not the usual red that you see elsewhere in the country. Kingston Communications still own the Hull telephone system so are a unique company to work for if you are looking for a career in telecoms! Yorkshire has a high percentage of skilled IT workers, so if you are looking for a job in this region, you better make sure you have the qualifications!

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01484 437070

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THE REAL WORLD Take flight at Kirklees College

Transport & Logistics Imagine sending a letter to the USA; what happens after you pop it in the post box? That letter could travel by rail, sea, road or air – or all of them! Transport and logistics is all about the movement of goods and people from one place to another. The man who delivers your mail in the morning isn’t just a postman, he’s a logistics technician. His work involves planning, organising, troubleshooting, communicating and management. Whether it’s somebody’s order from eBay, a freighter full of oil or a plane full of passengers, the process of transporting goods and people is much more complex than what we see as consumers.

At Kirklees College we offer a selection of travel and tourism courses that will help you to develop the skills you need for a successful career in travel, tourism, or aviation. Developed with employers, our courses lead to a variety of roles in this dynamic and developing industry, whatever career you’re aiming for. With great links to industry, two major airports in close proximity, work experience opportunities, and residential study visits abroad and in the UK, learning at Kirklees College reaches far beyond the classroom. The college has invested in a state-ofthe-art aircraft cabin simulator, based at the new £74 million Huddersfield Centre, to enhance your studies with hands on experience. Students don’t have to leave the college to gain practical experience of food service and cabin safety demonstrations in a fully equipped air-cabin environment. The college supplies a uniform and has a 99 per cent pass rate in this subject area, making it a great place to step onto the travel and tourism career ladder.

You ask us... WHAT’S THE TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

business park if the delivery is by road, a port if it’s by the sea or an airport/airstrip if it’s by air. If you’re working as part of a With more transactions taking place online, passenger transport company, you could retailers are relying more on logistics find yourself working on a train, plane or companies to deliver the products to the even a ferry to different countries! customers, instead of the consumer having to come and collect it. In fact, we can buy HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO just about everything we need without leaving our homes! The process of delivering OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY? products involves packaging, storing, The logistics sector currently employs sorting, loading, transport, unloading, filing, over 2.3 million people across the UK, recording and a whole host of jobs that you contributing £96 billion to our economy. wouldn’t even think of! This makes it the 5th largest sector in the UK. Because logistics is relied so heavily WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT upon by other sectors, there’s an ever increasing demand for skilled workers – by TO EARN? 2020 900,000 new starters will be needed. There’s a large range of salaries in this sector; you can progress quickly if you move WHERE IS THE WORK MOST into a management or supervisory role. A starting salary is usually between £10,000 CONCENTRATED? and £17,500, but you’ll find progression is Again, this depends on which part of the just as easy in smaller companies as it is in industry you work in. Transport by air will larger, better known ones, such as Network probably see you based at a major airport, Rail or Royal Mail. many of which are found in the London area. Marine focused logistics will see you WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD based at a port, such as Southampton, Portsmouth, Liverpool or Dover. Land I BE WORKING IN? based logistics companies are scattered Because this industry involves transporting across the country, but you’ll tend to find goods and people, you could be in a variety them closer to major motorways such as of different locations. The first thing to the M1 and the M25 because it’s quicker to consider is how the transportation is going get the goods out across the country. Many to take place; it could be by road, rail, sea logistics companies are international, so or air. Storage, packaging and sorting takes there’s a range of opportunities and travel place in a warehouse, which could be at a to work abroad. www.careersworld.co.uk

If you would like to find out more about travel and tourism at Kirklees College call 01484 437070 or email info@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

27


Transport & Logistics

Careers Choices It’s probably fair to say that logistics is one of the most important sectors in the country; without it business couldn’t get their products out to their customers, clients couldn’t travel to important meetings and the country as a whole wouldn’t function. The 2012 London Olympics was one of the biggest logistics operations the UK has ever seen; 17,800 athletes from 205 countries competed, with more than 590,000 people coming to the UK to cheer them on! Everything from rail networks and delivery companies to commercial airlines are covered in this sector, so if you want to a career that’s going places, look no further!

RAIL SERVICES & OPERATIONS

Rail Services covers passenger and freight transport, as well as the maintenance of the tracks they run on. Trains can carry any number of things, from people to plutonium and running the network so that the two don’t collide is a difficult task. You could be working on the trains themselves, or repairing the tracks and signals that they rely on. Starters in this line of work can expect to start out on around £13,000 for passenger rail services, while you can expect to begin with between £10,000 and £14,000 in rail freight job roles. With advancement in both industries you could be on double that in no time.

PASSENGER SERVICES

We probably take public transport for granted, but without it millions wouldn’t be able to get around. Driving buses and coaches isn’t easy; it takes plenty of training to be able to manoeuvre a vehicle of that size. It’s certainly a job that gets you satisfaction and if you’re a people person, then you’ll really enjoy it! Starting salaries are usually around the £13,000 mark, but overtime or extra shifts will get you more.

GOODS TRANSPORTATION

We’ve all seen lorries on the motorway, probably without giving much thought as to what they’re carrying. Drivers travel all over the country delivering loads and carrying products from one area to another and if you’re a fan of travelling you’ll really get a kick out of this career. You could also find yourself behind the wheel of a van, or delivering by bike or motorcycle. If you’re in a truck, there’s also a strong possibility that you’ll have to drive to somewhere in Europe, such as Holland, Belgium and France, as the UK relies on international logistics to import its goods from elsewhere. You can expect to earn around £11,000 when starting out, but the salary for a fully qualified HGV tanker driver is £35,000.

MAIL SERVICES

AIR FREIGHT & TRANSPORT

Everybody always thinks of pilots when they think of airlines, but cabin crews are just one cog in the smoothly oiled machine that is an airline company. Ground support staff, baggage handlers, air traffic controllers and customer service staff all work in unison to make sure passengers (and their luggage!) get to their destination on time safely. Moving freight by air is also a huge part of logistics, especially for high value goods such as fine art, machinery or even animals! Salaries start out between £10,000 and £15,000, rising to between £15,000 and £24,000 when you’re fully qualified.

SEA FREIGHT & TRANSPORT

As well as air, road and rail, goods can be moved by sea, both across the UK and around the world. People in these industries will work closely with port authorities to make sure the valuable loads keep moving and arrive on time. You could work as a crane operator moving heavy containers or as a port operative helping with the movement of passengers and cargo. Salaries start at around £12,000, but experienced operatives can earn in excess of £20,000 a year.

This isn’t just being a postman (sorry, logistics technician). While the delivery of products is an important part of this industry, it’s not the only part. Post has to be sorted, processed, and security checked before it is delivered and there are job roles from the sorting floor to right up to your front door! Salaries usually start out between £10,000 and £15,000, but jobs in the sorting office tend to offer a little bit more (around £14,000 WAREHOUSE & STORAGE When you order something off the internet, to £15,500) and have better prospects for REMOVALS & MOVING HOUSE chances are it’s coming from a warehouse advancements. When the time comes to make a big move, somewhere in the world. Warehouses you’ll be hard pressed to get everything in are used to store goods before they are the back of a Ford Fiesta. This is why we shipped out to customers. They’re found have the removals service, who load up our all over the place, but mostly near areas that possessions carefully and transport them to have access to various forms of transport, a new location. Salaries usually start out such as ports, motorways and airports. The around the £12,000 mark, but increases staff in warehouses require training to use with experience. machinery, such as forklifts, but there are also admin and management roles available. Starting salaries are usually around £10,000 to £14,000 for floor staff, but with training and experience you can expect to earn well over £20,000.

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www.careersworld.co.uk


OVER 90,000 WORK IN THE COURIER INDUSTRY (5% OF THE UK LOGISTICS WORKFORCE)

Where to begin Fancy a career in this sector? Well read on to find out how you can get started...

APPRENTICESHIPS

If you are 16 or over then you can enter an Apprenticeship, which would teach you the skills that you need while you work, you’ll also earn a salary. On your Apprenticeship, your time will be split between doing the job and learning in the classroom. Listed below are the Apprenticeship frameworks for this sector, which when completed will give you a Level 2 qualification in the form of a BTEC, Diploma or NVQ: International Trade and Logistics Operations • Warehousing and Storage • Logistics Operations • Rail Services • Rail Engineering (Track) • Rail Infrastructure Engineering • Driving Goods Vehicles • Bus and Coach Engineering and Maintenance • Commercial Moving • Mail and Package Distribution • Port Operations • Traffic Office

A-LEVELS

A-Levels are the most popular route into University and are sought after by most employers. The following A-levels provide a great path into this sector: English Language • Maths • IT • Geography • Business Studies • Foreign Languages • Chemistry • Physics • Technology

FOUNDATION DEGREES

A foundation degree combines the University lifestyle with practical, hands on work. It’s basically a cross between an Apprenticeship and an Honours Degree. They are both used as gateway qualifications to a full time Degree because they count towards the first two years of your Honours Degree. Foundation Degrees normally take about two years to complete and you will be in both the work place and on the university site. There are some very specialized degrees available, such as Air ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS These are equivalent to A-Levels and can Transport Management. usually be joined after you complete the associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. COLLEGE COURSES Advanced Apprenticeships are perfect for A College course is another good way to those who want a practical role as they get into the Transport and Logistics sector. learn while gaining relevant employment To find out more about these courses, have experience. People with Advanced a look at www.careersworld.co.uk. Apprenticeships often progress up the career ladder faster than those without, because the skills that they learn are more suited to management or supervisory roles. Here are some of the Apprenticeship Frameworks for this sector, completing any of these will result in a Level 3 qualification such as a BTEC, NVQ or Diploma. Warehousing and Storage • Logistics Operations • Rail Services • Driving Goods Vehicles • Bus and Coach Engineering and Maintenance • Rail Traction and Rolling Stock • Purchasing and Supply Management

www.careersworld.co.uk

5,600

STORAGE & WAREHOUSING WORKPLACES IN THE UK

41%

OF THE WORKFORCE IS UNDER 35 YRS OLD

Transport & Logistics

REGIONAL FOCUS Yorkshire is home to the biggest, busiest train stations in the north, with Leeds being a major hub of rail travel in the UK. On top of this, Sheffield and York are also big stations, connecting the north of the country to London and the south. Sheffield is the only city with its own mass-transit system, with trams running throughout the city. Hull is one of the UK’s major ports, with both passengers and freight being transported daily.

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More than

96%

*

of our students say teaching on their course is good at Craven College So why stay on at School at 16 years of age?

Raising of the Participation Age (RPA) The government has changed the law: from summer 2014, all young people completing year 11 at school will be required to continue in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 18 years old. Young people have a choice about how they continue in education or training post-16, which could be through: - Full-time study at Craven College, at a school or with a training provider - Full-time work or volunteering combined with part-time education or training - An Apprenticeship for example at Craven College

www.craven-college.ac.uk | 01756 791 411 * Data from Autum term course survey 2013


THE REAL WORLD Catherine Binns, BA Hons Young Children’s Learning and Development Catherine’s passion is to work to better the education of young children. She chose to study part-time for the BA (Hons) in Young Children’s Learning and Development at Craven College whilst working as Deputy Manager at Holme Garth Nursery, Sutton-in-Craven. It took a full 5 years but she says “It fitted in well around my job and family, and was manageable once I had established a set routine and was organised in terms of a work/life balance.”

Education & Early Years Some people say your best years are your school years; I’m sure many of you reading this will disagree. But teaching is a very rewarding career to be in, as it nurtures the talents of many young people and not only does it educate them in school subjects, it’s also responsible for helping young people through the transition into adults.

You ask us... WHAT’S THE EDUCATION & EARLY YEARS SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

Opportunities in the Education sector aren’t just limited to teaching, which might surprise a few of you (it certainly did us!). This sector also covers early years and nursery staff, as well as teaching assistants who assist teachers in a variety of classroom roles.

WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?

The starting salary for a teaching assistant is about £12,000 per year, this may not seem like a lot but there are many opportunities for advancement. A fully qualified teacher can earn about £35,000-£40,000 per year – however that will increase as you become more experienced.

HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

Last year £56.27 billion went into the Education sector and a lot of that will have gone to the teachers and other education workers. Schools in the South of England tend to gain more funding due to the sheer number of students they cater for, but with the education sector changing all the time, expect this unbalance to even out over the coming years.

Of the support received from tutors, Catherine said it was “Amazing!! The tutors made this course the success it was for me. The entire early years team provided holistic support throughout my time at Craven College. The tutors are very knowledgeable and obviously have a passion for the job and the sector, which shines through their teaching and group discussions.” Catherine found the course well-structured and relevant to her work. It has kept her knowledge up-to-date and given her confidence in what she does. Her future goals are to complete a ‘Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement’ and then work as an Assessor alongside her current role, and eventually to become an Early Years Inspector. Catherine summed up her experience by saying “My time at Craven has been very positive. Studying at a higher level has helped change me for the better both personally and professionally, and has enabled me to fulfil goals I never thought I would.”

WHERE IS THE WORK MOST CONCENTRATED?

Well, education usually takes place in schools, which you already know having been there for some time already! Bigger cities and towns have plenty of schools both in the centre and in ‘catchment’ areas, cover outlaying villages and areas WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD which outside the built up areas. However there I BE WORKING IN? are many nurseries and crèches all over Normally you’ll be working in schools and the UK as well where you can work in the sometimes nurseries – depending on the education sector too. area that you decided to specialise in. In a primary school the atmosphere will often be more relaxed but in a secondary school it won’t be quite so informal – you might have to wear a tie! If you are working in Ofsted then you will be going into schools and deciding whether they are performing adequately. www.careersworld.co.uk

Web: www.craven-college.ac.uk

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Education & Early Years

Careers Choices Education and Early Years careers are all about helping and teaching children and young people everything from the classic three times tables to the intricacies of intermolecular structures. Teachers, examiners, pastoral support workers and teaching assistants all work towards educating their students to achieve the best possible grades. Whether it’s twenty out of twenty in a spelling test or an A* at GCSE level, it’s the educators who are responsible for shaping the futures of their pupils. Here are some of the popular roles that you can expect to find in the Education and Early Years sector.

TEACHING ASSISTANT

This job is all about working with children; you have to support teachers in the classroom and help children with their educational and social development, both in and out of the classroom. Teaching Assistants work for about 30-40 hours per week and your starting salary is usually about £12,000 although that will increase as you gain additional qualifications.

PLAY WORKER

This job involves you to plan, organize and take part in play and leisure activities for 4 to 16 year olds. Getting the balance right between responsibility and fun is paramount here, but helping young people have fun is one of the most rewarding careers you can be in. Full-time playworkers can earn between £12,000 and £20,000 a year. Managerial staff can earn between £25,000 and £30,000 a year. If you work part-time then you may be paid an hourly rate. Most NURSERY NURSE If you’re a warm, caring person who wants playwork is in the evenings, at weekends to work with babies or toddlers, then and during school holidays. this is probably the career for you. Good communication skills, a fair approach and PASTORAL WORKER a responsible attitude are also required. This job involves working with schools, Your working hours will vary and often pupils and families to find solutions to include shifts to cover early starts and late problems that pupils may have. Good finishes to meet the needs of parents. The listening skills, a calm and sympathetic starting salary for junior nursery nurses can approach, the ability to build good working be between £10,000 and £12,000 a year; relationships with pupils, parents and this will increase as you become more teachers and an understanding of the experienced. law relating to education and childcare are essential in being a Pastoral Worker. You will normally earn around £20,000 to over £30,000 a year, depending on your qualifications and amount of experience. However visits to students’ homes and other schools are common. You will often be expected to have or be working towards a qualification in social work.

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www.careersworld.co.uk


8.2 250,000 MILLION PEOPLE WORK IN OVER

THIS SECTOR

Where to begin If you think this is the sector for you, read on to learn more about how you can kick your career off…

APPRENTICESHIPS

If you are 16 or over then you can enter an Apprenticeship, which would teach you the skills that you need while you work, you’ll also earn a salary. On your Apprenticeship, half of your time will be spent doing the job and the other half will be spent learning in the classroom. Listed below are the Apprenticeship frameworks for this sector, which when completed will give you a Level 2 qualification in the form of a BTEC, Diploma or NVQ: Early Years Worker • Care Worker • Assistant Youth Support Worker • Assistant Playworker • Play Centre Assistant

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS

These are equivalent to A-Levels and can usually be joined after you complete the associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. Advanced Apprenticeships are perfect for those who want a practical role as they learn while gaining relevant employment experience. People with Advanced Apprenticeships often progress up the career ladder faster than those without, because the skills that they learn are more suited to management or supervisory roles. Here are some of the Apprenticeship Frameworks for this sector, completing any of these will result in a Level 3 qualification such as a BTEC, NVQ or Diploma. Playworker • Nursery Nurse/Worker • Nursery Teaching Assistant • Youth Support Worker

A-LEVELS

A-Levels are the most popular route into University and are sought after by most employers. The A-Levels that you take should depend on which area of teaching you want to specialize in, for example if you want to be a History Teacher, then you should take a History A-Level. English Language • English Literature • Maths • Biology • Physics • Chemistry • French • Geography • German • History • Other Subjects

FOUNDATION DEGREES

A foundation degree combines the University lifestyle with practical, hands on work. It’s basically a cross between an Apprenticeship and an Honours Degree. They are both used as gateway qualifications to a full time Degree because they count towards the first two years of your Honours Degree. Foundation Degrees normally take about two years to complete and you will be in both the work place and on the university site. There are lots of Foundation Degrees available in this sector, such as Teaching Support and Primary School Teaching. Working with Children: Education and Wellbeing • Teaching and Learning Support

SCHOOL PUPILS ACROSS THE UK

THERE ARE OVER

24,000

SCHOOLS IN THE UK

Education & Early Years

REGIONAL FOCUS Throughout schools in the south of the region, those in Rotherham usually have the best results at GCSE, with Doncaster also performing brilliantly. In the more urban city areas, Wakefield and Calderdale are top. Traditionally, the Yorkshire and Humber region has a bad reputation when it comes to education, but with lots of exciting new developments in the area, such as the new Siemens offshore plant in Humberside, lots of highly educated and skilled workers will soon be moving into the region!

COLLEGE COURSES

A College course is another good way to get into the Education sector. To find out more about these courses, have a look at www.careersworld.co.uk. www.careersworld.co.uk

33


HOw FAR DO yOU wANT TO gO IN BUSINESS? THE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT. NO ONE’S BETTER QUALIFIED. london, shanghai, new york, singapore? icAew chartered Accountants have the work experience, financial intelligence and skills the business world demands.

Become ‘chartered’ and start your journey, visit icaew.com/betterqualified

A world leAder of the AccountAncy And finAnce profession


THE REAL WORLD Billy, Smailes Goldie Chartered Accountants, Hull Former Trinity House pupil Billy was awarded the 2009 Kaplan student scholarship during his first year at Wilberforce 6th Form College. He joined Smailes Goldie Chartered Accountants, based in Hull and Barton, three years ago after completing his A-levels in Business, Maths, I.T. and General Studies.

Finance & Law Making money; you’ve got to love it. But do you know how that money is made? Why some companies make more than others? Perhaps you want to defend somebody in court or play the other side and send somebody down? This sector will show you how you can get a career started doing just that.

You ask us... WHAT’S THE FINANCE AND LAW SECTOR ALL ABOUT?

posher. If you give financial advice, you might even find yourself working from home! In the Legal sector, you might be in Finance is all about cash. How it’s made, an office sorting case notes, or in the court who’s making it, who isn’t making enough room where the action is! and why. If a company isn’t making a profit, how can you improve their situation? On a HOW DOES THIS SECTOR COMPARE TO smaller scale, it’s about paying people their wages, working out expenses and giving OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY? out financial advice to people. Law is pretty This sector employs 1 million+ people in much as it says; it covers our legal system, the UK and takes on more than 70,000 new from legal secretaries and lawyers right the starters a year. It’s also one of the highest way up to the judges that deliver verdicts. paying; a fully qualified accountant could earn in excess of £50,000 a year! In the WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN I EXPECT Law sector, 250,000 people make up the work force, of which almost half is made up TO EARN? of solicitors and barristers! With regards to law, the starting salaries are quite high; usually between £14,000 and WHERE IS THE WORK MOST £17,000, Finance will be a bit lower to start with, between £10,500 and £13,000, but CONCENTRATED? progression can be fairly quick and people You will generally find both sectors are in the finance sector usually earn high based in the big cities. You might see a bonuses on top of their basic pay, which few private law firms in smaller villages is over £30,000 when you become fully and towns, but the bigger companies qualified in your field. prefer to be based in the main UK cities, such as London, Manchester, Leeds and WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD Birmingham. As Finance also covers banking, it’s worth pointing out that banks I BE WORKING IN? usually have branches in smaller places to In the Finance sector, you’ll probably be accommodate the town population. based in an office environment when you first start out. As you progress, you’ll find the building around you gets bigger and www.careersworld.co.uk

He managed to pass his Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) exams in less than one year, something which normally takes trainees up to two years to complete. Billy would recommend this route to other students interested in accountancy. He said: ‘It’s not just about the money; it’s about the way that you learn. You are not just studying; you are in the workplace getting experience in different aspects of accountancy. There are always going to be some things you cannot learn in the classroom.’ Nicki Shipley, the Partner responsible for training at Smailes Goldie, also joined the firm after completing her A-levels. She said: ‘Earning while you learn is a great way to enter the profession but we recognise that there’s no one solution that fits all, so we continue to recruit both graduate and school leavers.’ Billy is now working towards the ACA qualification, which will see him qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

To find out more about how to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant visit icaew.com/careers or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/ icaewstartingpoint

35


Finance & Law

Careers Choices Finance and Law is a very important sector; it runs the numbers and makes the rules that we live by. From working out tax deductions for a company to passing sentence on a criminal, Finance and Law is a truly diverse area to be in. It covers a lot of different job roles, so we couldn’t possibly list them all! Here are all the main ones for your enjoyment…

ACCOUNTANCY

Accountancy is all about crunching numbers and keeping track of both companies and individual people’s finances. Every company has an accountant, no matter what trade it’s in and you might be tasked with anything from profit forecasts (how much money the company is expected to make) to calculating how much tax is owed to the government (how much money the company is expected to pay in tax. Obviously.)

FINANCIAL ADVICE

Everybody needs financial advice at some point; whether it’s getting a mortgage for a new house, making a big purchase (a new car or big holiday) or planning for a baby, people need to know how to manage the funds they have to get the most out of their money. You’ll be giving out advice to a whole host of clients, from individuals and families to multi-national corporations.

LEGAL ADMINISTRATION

A court of law isn’t just a judge, council and jury; there are lots of people working behind the scenes to make sure the legal process is as smooth as possible. You could be arranging evidence for a case, making sure reports and studies are all in order and even taking notes in the court room on a hearing.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO EARN?

Salaries in the Finance sector vary depending on how qualified you are. Starting salaries are usually between £10,500 and £13,000, but in some sectors, such as banking, you receive yearly bonuses which increase as your salary goes up. Legal salaries tend to start a bit higher, somewhere around the £14,500 mark and then tend to go up based on your role and qualification. The average fully qualified legal administrator earns around £27,000.

BANKING

Banking is a broad term for everything to do with personal and corporate finances. It’s a huge sector that comprises 3 different sectors; Commercial Banking (local banks such as HSBC, Lloyds and Natwest), Corporate Banking (for businesses) and wholesale banking (for the government and other international banks). You’ll be tasked with managing money, approving loans, exchanging foreign money and paying in/ cashing cheques.

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www.careersworld.co.uk


MANAGERIAL ROLES ACCOUNT FOR

37%

OF THE WORKFORCE

Where to begin If you think this is the sector for you, read on to learn more about how you can kick your career off…

APPRENTICESHIPS

There are a few Apprenticeships you can undertake to get you into this sector. Apprenticeships count as a Level 2 qualification and you it will take the form of an NVQ, Diploma or BTEC. Accounting • Payroll • Marketing and Communications • Providing Financial Services

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPS

These are the equivalent to A-Levels and can usually be joined after completing the associated Intermediate Apprenticeship. They are ideal for people who want a practical role as they learn while gaining valuable employment experience. People with Advanced Apprenticeships tend to progress up the ladder a lot quicker than those without, as the skills they learn are more suited to management and supervisory roles. Here are some of the Apprenticeship Frameworks for this sector and all of these will result in a Level 3 qualification such as a BTEC, a Diploma or an NVQ. Accounting • Advising on Financial Products • Payroll • Providing Financial Services • Legal Services

FOUNDATION DEGREES

A Foundation Degree combines university lifestyle with practical, hands on work. It’s sort of like a cross between an Apprenticeship and an Honours Degree. They are often used as gateway qualifications to a full time Degree as they count towards the first two years of an Honours Degree. They usually take two years to complete and you’ll be both in the work place and on the university campus.

EMPLOYER FUNDED STUDY

If you don’t fancy going to uni but still want to be an accountant, you can train through organisations such as ICAEW and PwC. KMPG are ideal for school leavers and offer a 6 year course which will result in an internationally recognised award instead of an honours degree.

47%

OF UK FIRMS EMPLOY 250 PEOPLE OR LESS

THE LEGAL SECTOR DEALS WITH OVER

500,000 CASES PER YEAR

Finance & Law

REGIONAL FOCUS Leeds has the highest population of people employed in Finance and Law of any city outside London. This is probably because of the high amount of international banks and accountancy firms based here. Law firms tend to be located in the more urban centres, so Leeds, Hull, and York are the hotspots in the region. You can find a solicitor’s office in most medium sized towns as well, however they might be less willing to take on a trainee than the bigger firms.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

You can also undertake short courses to boost your credentials and specialise in a certain area of the Finance and Law sector. For example, to work in investment banking you could gain a CISI Introduction to Investment award.

A-LEVELS

A-Levels are the most popular gateway into university and are sought after by employers. Here are some of the relevant A-Levels for this sector: Maths • Economics • Business Studies • Law • Accounting • Statistics www.careersworld.co.uk

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Shipley College offer apprenticeships all year round. You could start working, training and earning right now. Apprenticeships last 1-2 years and many students are kept on as full-time staff afterwards. We have a great mix of Apprenticeships on offer: Accountancy Business and Administration Childcare (including Teaching Assistants) Customer Services Health & Social Care Horticulture IT Software Specialists IT Hardware Technicians Legal Services

Visit our JOBS BOARD at www.shipley.ac.uk for the latest Apprenticeships vacancies and apply TODAY. Shipley College, Salt Building, Victoria Road, Saltaire, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD18 3LQ t: 01274 327233

@Shipley_College

w: www.shipley.ac.uk

shipleycoll


Your Career,

Your Choice. We couldn’t possibly print an article for every sector; we’d have to change the name to ‘Careers World Textbook’! But, we also understand that the five sectors covered on the previous pages might not be to your tastes. Not to worry! Below are the other sectors we cover, which we will detail more in upcoming issues. You’ll also find some example job roles, expected starting salaries and the qualifications you can study to get into the sector to give you an idea of what to expect from each sector.

AGRICULTURE & ANIMAL CARE

We depend on this sector a lot more than most beautiful locations, or as a vet looking after most people think; most of our food comes household pets. from agriculture and with a growing number of people taking pets on, there is a demand for Example Job Roles: Ranger • Veterinary skilled veterinary staff to take care of them. Assistant • Farm Worker • Landscape Agriculture is a very broad term for working Technician outdoors. It’s commonly mistaken for farming, Salaries: Starting salaries are usually which while a large part of this sector, is not the around the £13,000 mark. be all and end all. Forests, rivers, mountains Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level and national parks all need looking after; not 2 and 3) • College Courses • Foundation to mention the animals that reside within them! Degrees (university is the best way into You might find yourself working as a park ranger, veterinary linked job roles) helping conserve the plants and animals in our

ARMED FORCES & EMERGENCY SERVICES

We rely on our emergency services when things go wrong and they are a vital part of our day to day lives. From the police who patrol our streets to the paramedics who save lives, this sector is all about helping people in the community. Of course, serving in the armed forces means protecting the country and providing international aid to other nations. Whether you are based abroad or in the UK, you’ll be working as part of a team in a variety of situations, some of which will take place in hostile environments so a cool head is a good trait to have!

Example Job Roles: Paramedic • Police Officer • Fire Fighter • Coastguard • Soldier • Fighter Pilot • Navy Cadet • Royal Marine Salaries: Military salaries usually start at around £13,000, while emergency services salaries are usually around £19,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3 – HM Forces run their own apprenticeship schemes) • College Courses (such as police studies) • A-Levels (useful for officer training)

AUTOMOTIVE

If you know your spark plugs from your spare and problem solving mentality, but this sector is tyres, then you’ll probably have a future in the generally favoured by those who enjoy working automotive industry. This sector covers the with their hands. maintenance of any vehicle with an engine, from cars and motorcycles to more complex Example Job Roles: Mechanic • Vehicle systems such as combine harvesters and Service Technician • Panel/Paint Technician luxury coaches. You could find yourself working Salaries: Salaries in this sector tend to start in a garage fixing up customer’s vehicles, or at around £13,000 a year. in a workshop specialising in things like body Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 work, paint and windscreen repair. You could and 3 – this is the most popular route into also work in one of the main car dealerships, this sector) • College Courses • Foundation diagnosing and repairing cars and offering Degrees • HNDs advice to customers. You’ll need an analytical www.careersworld.co.uk

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BUSINESS & CUSTOMER SERVICE

If you’ve got a good eye for making a bit of dough, then you might be a natural business guru! Business is all about the money; how to invest it wisely, how to hang onto the money you already have and of course, how to make more of it. Good customer service ensures that customers become regular users of the business and that new clients can be attracted. It’s not just answering the phone; there are jobs in areas such as public relations, networking and social media. If you’ve got a friendly demeanour, a nice smile and good conversational skills, you’d be well suited to a job in customer service!

Example Job Roles: PR Officer • Business Consultant • Personal Assistant • Human Resources Officer • Management/Team Leader Salaries: Starting salaries in business are generally quite high, usually starting around £17,000. Customer service salaries start at around £12,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • College Courses • Foundation Degrees • A-Levels (Business Studies and IT are useful)

CONSTRUCTION

Building structures is something the human race has always prided itself in; from simple houses to the Empire State Building, every building requires a different method of planning and construction. Actually building the structure is just one part of the process; there are a whole host of job roles in this sector! Civil engineers and surveyors plan and design building projects, scaffolders construct safe platforms for others to use, plumbers fit pipes for various water outlets and painters make everything look eye catching. This is an industry that combines both practical and design orientated job roles.

Example Job Roles: Bricklayer • Plumber • Plasterer • Surveyor • Civil Engineer • Painter/Decorator • Joiner • Carpenter • Scaffolder Salaries: Civil Engineering starting salaries are around the £15,000 mark. Salaries around practical roles such as Joinery and Bricklaying tend to start at around £13,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3 - this is a popular route into this sector) • A-Levels • College Courses • Foundation Degree • HND

ENERGY & RENEWABLES

Traditionally, our energy came from burning This sector offers job roles in a wide variety of fossil fuels, which were pretty harmful to the areas, such as plant maintenance, recycling atmosphere. But, being a smart, proactive operations and nuclear working. species, we’ve adapted our energy sources to make the most of our environment. Now, Example Job Roles: Recycling Operator • we can generate power via wind turbines, Plant Technician • Radiation Monitor geothermal reactors, tidal generators and solar Salaries: Starting salaries in this sector are panels. We also have nuclear power, which quite high, starting at around £17,000. might not sound environmentally friendly, but it Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 generates a lot of energy and is relatively cheap and 3) • A-Levels (Sciences are useful here) to run. The government has also invested a • College Courses • Foundation Degrees lot of money in recycling our household waste and goods, in a bid to keep our country clean.

ENGINEERING

Engineering is a vast sector which can be choose to work in, you can be sure that your broken down into seven main categories; work will be challenging and varied. chemicals, mechanical, metals, electrical, aerospace, marine and defence. Chemical Example Job Roles: Systems Engineer • engineers manufacture everyday products from Aerospace Engineer • Electrical Technician • raw materials such as crude oil. Mechanical Lab Technician engineers work with high-tech machinery, Salaries: Salaries start at around £14,000. while the metal engineering industry covers Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Levels 2 the creation of steel and other alloys. Electrical and 3) • A-Levels (Technology and Maths are engineers work with, you guessed it, electrical helpful here) • College Courses • Foundation systems and aerospace is all about creating and Degrees improving things that fly. Defence is all about, er, defending the country. Whichever area you

HAIR & BEAUTY

In an age where getting your hair and nails done is no longer considered girly (come on guys, don’t kid yourselves), making people look and feel good has become big business. And it doesn’t stop at feeling great on the outside; this sector also covers spa therapy, which is a growing industry in the UK. You could be working in a salon styling hair, recommending a nail design or in a country retreat providing seaweed wraps; whatever you choose to do, you can be satisfied that you’ve helped give somebody a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

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www.careersworld.co.uk

Example Job Roles: Spa Therapist • Hairdresser • Barber • Nail Technician • Beauty Therapist Salaries: Salaries in this sector tend to start at around £13,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • College Courses


HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Our healthcare system is renowned for being one of the best in the world, so what better sector to get into? Nearly 1.5m people work for the NHS, which is the main employer for healthcare in this country. But this sector also covers private companies and professions, such as therapists, dentists, social workers and support staff. You could be working in a hospital helping to heal sick people, or going out visiting patients and clients in their own homes. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll find this sector provides you with a rewarding and satisfying career.

Example Job Roles: Healthcare Assistant • Dental Nurse • Maternity Support Worker • Optical Care Assistant • Social Worker • Clincial Support Staff Salaries: Starting salaries are between £11,000 and £18,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • A-Levels • College Courses • Foundation Degrees

MANUFACTURING & PROCESSING

This is a sector that is, to all intents and purposes, all about making things. What that is could be anything from a microwaveable chicken curry to a car windscreen. It’s literally that diverse. Food and drink, metals, ceramics, textiles, building materials, electronics are just some of the areas you could be working in. Manufacturing is split into so many different areas and job roles that we could probably dedicate a whole magazine to it! Your work could take you from an offshore oil rig in the North Sea to a production line in a factory on home soil!

Example Job Roles: Production Line Supervisor • Extraction Operative • Pipe Fitter • Welder • Refrigeration Technician • Jewellery Technician Salaries: You can expect to start out on around £12,000, but supervisory roles tend to pay more. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • A-Levels (Any technology or science subjects would be useful in this sector) • College Courses • Foundation Degrees

RETAIL

Well, who doesn’t love shopping? Retail is big business in the UK and we spent £311 billion on shopping last year (when I say we, I mean the country, not me and the missus...), therefore there is a need for skilled retail staff to cover the demand. Retail covers all forms of shopping, from high street clothing stores to giant supermarkets. Customer service and communication skills are vital to this industry, so if you are a helpful, happy person, then a career in retail could be right up your street. Get it? Street? Shopping? Ah, never mind.

Example Job Roles: Sales Assistant • Visual Merchandiser • Manager/Supervisor/ Team Leader • Retail Buyer Salaries: Starting salaries in the retail sector are usually around £11,500. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • College Courses • Foundation Degrees

SPORT & FITNESS

Getting fit and healthy has become a really important part of people’s lives. This sector is all about helping people improve through various forms of exercise; this might be in a gym using weights, or on a football pitch playing in a cup final. Either way, this sector is about making people feel good about themselves so you’ll need good interpersonal skills and a determined nature to help push people to achieve their goals. You could find yourself training somebody in a health club, or outside coaching athletes in a variety of sports.

Example Job Roles: Personal Trainer • Sports Coach • Fitness Instructor • Outdoor Activities Supervisor Salaries: Gym based job roles tend to start out at around £13,000, while coaches start on anywhere between £12,000 and £18,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3, inc. a route into professional sports) • A-Levels (Sport Science and Biology will be of use) • College Courses • Foundation Degree • Industry Specific Qualifications

TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY

Everybody needs to let their hair down from time to time and this sector allows you to work in an area dedicated to helping people have a good time. That could be here in the UK working in bars, restaurants and hotels or abroad acting as a holiday representative or a travel agent. That’s right; you could actually go on holiday for a living! This sector is ideal for those with good people skills, as you’d be working with plenty of different people from all sorts of backgrounds. Travel is also a great way to get out and see the world while also earning a salary!

www.careersworld.co.uk

Example Job Roles: Bar Staff • Front/Back of House Staff • Chef de Partie • Overseas Rep • Travel Representative • Cabin Crew Salaries: Starting salaries are between £11,000 and £16,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships (Level 2 and 3) • College Courses • Foundation Degrees • Industry Specific Qualifications

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c:\Careers Hub>_

We appreciate more than anyone the importance of giving appropriate careers advice to students between the ages of 14 and 19. To help we have put together some aides, guides and FAQs to help you to make up your mind and make the changeover from pupil to employee that bit easier. Over the next few pages, we will tackle some of the common problems and concerns students face during the summer term.

The Summer Term This time of the year is arguably one of the most important for, and dreaded by, students of all ages. From 14 to 19, there are end of year reviews and final exams. Most older students will have by now decided on what route they want to take after school or college, but for others there may still be important decisions to be made. There will no doubt be much excitement about the future, but there will inevitably be a fair amount of disappointment too, with grades not being to the required level, or not getting that dream University place. For this reason we’ve put together a guide to one of the most important processes for those who haven’t quite gotten on to the course they’ve dreamed of, Clearing. Also included is a ‘versus’ guide, to help students decide between Apprenticeships and A levels, as well as useful links for your area, to make it easier for you to get in touch with those important contacts.

CLEARING

If you haven’t got the university place that you were hoping for, and your reserves haven’t worked out either, then all is not lost. Clearing helps over 55,000 students every year find places in universities and colleges that they didn’t originally apply for. The process is basically a way for higher education bodies to fill up any spaces that are left over from the initial application period. It’s all done through your UCAS profile, so this is the first place to turn to if you didn’t get that much sought-after university place. There are several reasons you might need to use Clearing: You didn’t get the grades…If you didn’t meet the requirements of your conditional offers then the first thing you need to do is check UCAS. There’s often a bit of leeway and they may have still accepted you. If you are shown as conditional, then you might have to give the uni a bit of time to process you. If after a couple of days there isn’t any change then you can

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give them a call and they’ll let you know what’s what. You can always contact UCAS if the uni is taking too long! You will be provided with a Clearing number on your online profile if it ends up that they haven’t accepted you, and you should quote this to any universities with Clearing courses that you are interested in so they can look at your profile and decide if they want to interview or accept you.

convince you to stay, but at the end of the day they’re not going to force you to stay in a place that you don’t want to! You applied late…Every year there are those that miss the UCAS application deadline. Sometimes a university will tell you to apply anyway, but there’s no guarantee that you will get a place. If you applied after 15th January and you haven’t been successful in getting an offer, or you applied after 30th June, then you will be placed into Clearing automatically. You will have to complete the UCAS online application in the normal way, as well as paying the £22 fee for a degree application if you haven’t already. Your Clearing number won’t show up until after they have processed your application, but you can always do some research on what courses, unis and colleges you fancy going to while you wait.

You changed your mind… Picking a course, as well as a university or college, is a very tough decision. You might get all the way through to the final stages of your application, even get accepted, but then decide that you were pressured into studying Maths, or you don’t fancy living in London. If you really don’t think you can cope with the course you have been accepted on then the first thing you need to do is ring up the university or college you applied to and ask them to release you. They might not be happy It’s important to keep your about it, and will probably try to mind open when you enter

Clearing. Options are limited, so making the choice to defer your application or to decline your offers should not be a quick and easy decision. There is a reason that applying to do a degree is a lengthy process and not just a free-for-all! Everywhere you want to go may already be full up, or you might have to do a foundation course or different degree so you can go the university you want. The good news is that if you don’t have your mind set on a specific course then you are not limited to one degree. You could enquire about English with French at one university and Modern Foreign Languages at another, you won’t be penalized.

CONFUSED ABOUT CLEARING? WHICH QUALIFICATION? APPRENTICESHIPS VS A-LEVELS

Call 0800 100 900 or search online for National Careers Service

Helping you take the next step www.careersworld.co.uk

National Careers Service

13/03/2014 09:19

43


Careers Hub

Confused about Clearing?

1

YOU HAVEN’T BEEN OFFERED A PLACE AT UNI - ARE YOU LISTED AS ‘CLEARING’?

NO WAIT A WHILE PROVIDER MAY STILL BE CONSIDERING YOU

RING THE UNI OR COLLEGE IF IT IS TAKING A LONG TIME TO GET AN UPDATE ON YOUR APPLICATION

YES

TALK TO SOMEONE - YOUR SCHOOL OR COLLEGE CAREERS ADVISOR WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION - FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN BE A BIG HELP TOO!

2

DO YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH CLEARING? YES

3 4

E N D

CHECK OUT WHO STILL HAS SPACES VIA UCAS ONLINE (THE SITE IS UPDATED REGULARLY) - THE TELEGRAPH ALSO PRINTS CLEARING COURSES

DO YOU STILL WANT TO STUDY THAT COURSE? YES

NO CHECK YOUR ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS SEE BOX RIGHT

NO

YOU ARE WILLING TO CONSIDER A DIFFERENT COURSE

GO TO

1

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

THERE ARE LOTS OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE: • RE-SIT A-LEVELS • TAKE NEW A-LEVELS • GAP YEAR • EMPLOYMENT YOU CAN ALWAYS APPLY AGAIN IN THE FUTURE

GO TO

4

THAT COURSE IS PERFECT FOR YOU AND YOU CAN’T THINK OF ANOTHER YOU WANT TO STUDY

CONTACT YOUR CHOSEN UNI OR COLLEGE FOR MORE INFORMATION DID THEY TELL YOU TO PROCEED?

NO

SEARCH FOR NEW COLLEGE OR UNI AND TRY AGAIN

GO TO

4

YES IF THEY LIKE YOU AND WANT YOU TO APPLY, THEN

TAKE A LOOK AROUND THEIR CAMPUS OR WEBSITE/S

5

ADD THEM AS YOUR CLEARING CHOICE ON THE UCAS WEBSITE - YOU CAN ONLY MAKE 1 CLEARING CHOICE AT A TIME

DID THEY SAY YES? YES

OR SEARCH FOR NEW COLLEGE OR UNI AND TRY AGAIN

GO TO

NO CHECK YOUR ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS SEE BOX ABOVE RIGHT

E N D

4

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU’RE GOING TO COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY!

Where are you heading? 44

NO

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Call 0800 100 900 or search online for National Careers Service

Helping you take the next step www.careersworld.co.uk

National Careers Service

13/03/2014 09:19


Careers Hub

Which Qualification? There are tonnes of different types of qualifications at varying levels; for example, a Level 3 NVQ is the equivalent to an Advanced Diploma. This can be confusing and trying to figure out what is the same level as what can be mind boggling. Below is a handy chart, listing all the levels of study and the qualifications students can take, making it easier to tell your diplomas from your degrees!

LEVEL

5 GCSEs

LEVEL

SKILLS FOR LIFE

LEVEL

BTEC

LEVEL

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS

LEVEL

OCR NATIONALS

AWARDS, CERTIFICATES & DIPLOMAS

LEVEL

NVQs

FOUNDATION LEARNING

LEVEL

ENTRY LEVEL

CERTIFICATES

(GRADES D-G) 1

5 GCSEs

LEVEL

(GRADES A*-C) 2

INTERMEDIATE

HIGHER APPRENTICESHIPS

BTEC 2 NATIONALS

LEVEL

DIPLOMA OF

NVQs

LEVEL

NVQs

ADVANCED DIPLOMAS

LEVEL

BTEC HIGHER NATIONALS (HND, HNC)

OCR NATIONALS

LEVEL

LEVEL

LEVEL

BTEC FIRSTS

LEVEL

LEVEL

NVQs

LEVEL

1

1

FOUNDATION LEVEL 3 DEGREES 4+

LEVEL

3

APPRENTICESHIPS

FOUNDATIONS 1

A LEVELS

2

2

FOUNDATION LEVEL FOUNDATION LEVEL DIPLOMAS 1 DIPLOMAS 2 OCR LEVEL NATIONALS 2

ADVANCED APPRENTICESHIPs

GCE IN APPLIED

SUBJECTS

LEVEL

3 3 3

HIGHER EDUCATION

LEVEL

4+ LEVEL

4+ LEVEL

4+ LEVEL

4+

SPECIALIST LEVEL 4+ 3 AWARDS

LEVEL

3

Top Tip It’s tempting when revising for exams to think that you only need the grades to get into college or get onto the course you want. You end up setting yourself a low bar to make yourself believe that you don’t have to do as much work. You have to cut that out right now! Your GCSEs are likely to be the first really important exams you take, and even those are taken into consideration by employers, universities, Apprenticeship providers, and more. You can go through the entire educational process and still be expected to give your school grades on a job application form, so that’s real incentive to try as hard as you can!

Where are you heading? 109483 BannerAd 15_180 SS1.indd 1

Call 0800 100 900 or search online for National Careers Service

Helping you take the next step www.careersworld.co.uk

National Careers Service

13/03/2014 09:19

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Careers Hub

Apprenticeships Vs A-Levels Apprenticeships are becoming more and more popular for those looking for qualifications beyond GCSEs, but do they really stand up to the traditional after-school route of studying A-levels at college or sixth-form? We’ve given you the facts on both to help you figure out which direction you want to go in with your education.

APPRENTICESHIPS

A-LEVELS

Very different to the academic route, Apprenticeships are a form of ‘vocational’ education, which basically means you will be learning trade skills. You will be in a work environment instead of a classroom. You will specialise in a job role and learn all about the ins and outs of that occupation.

A-Levels are very academic and are, in many ways, similar to school. You will inevitably be taking exams and will probably have some form of coursework, though the environment is a bit more grown up this time around. The experience also differs between college and sixth form.

YOU’LL EARN A REAL WAGE, GET TRAINING & RECEIVE QUALIFICATIONS

FREE PERIODS TO STUDY OR SOCIALISE

A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT, NOT A CLASSROOM

MEET LOADS OF NEW PEOPLE AT COLLEGE OR STICK WITH YOUR FRIENDS AT SIXTH FORM

FANTASTIC JOB PROSPECTS: YOU ARE LIKELY TO BE KEPT ON AFTER YOUR TRAINING

RECOGNISED QUALIFICATIONS THAT YOU CAN USE TO APPLY FOR A WIDE RANGE OF CAREER ROUTES

UCAS ACCEPT APPRENTICESHIPS: DON’T THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVEN’T DONE A-LEVELS THAT YOU CAN’T GO TO UNI!

MANY APPRENTICESHIPS ARE ACTUALLY HARDER TO OBTAIN THAN UNIVERSITY PLACES

APPRENTICES EARN ABOUT £100,000 MORE OVER THEIR LIVES THAN THOSE WHO CHOOSE OTHER ROUTES

NOT AS MUCH FOCUS ON SCHOOL UNIFORM. COLLEGES OFTEN DON’T HAVE ANY UNIFORM RULES AT ALL!

APPRENTICESHIP FRAMEWORKS ARE DESIGNED BY EMPLOYERS: THE MATERIAL IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY SEVERAL SUBJECTS. YOU COULD BE ACTING IN DRAMA ONE MINUTE, THEN DESIGNING A CAR IN CAD THE NEXT

Where are you heading? 46

109483 BannerAd 15_180 SS1.indd 1

Call 0800 100 900 or search online for National Careers Service

Helping you take the next step www.careersworld.co.uk

National Careers Service

13/03/2014 09:19



UNIVERSITIES

UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL COLLEGES

The University of Bradford www.bradford.ac.uk 0800 073 1225

Sheffield UTC www.utcsheffield.org.uk 0114 260 2327

The University of Huddersfield www.hud.ac.uk 01484 473969

COLLEGES NORTH YORKSHIRE Askham Bryan College www.askham-bryan.ac.uk 01904 772277 Craven College www.craven-college.ac.uk 01756 791 411

The University of Hull www.hull.ac.uk 01482 346311

Harrogate College www.harrogate.ac.uk 01423 878 211

University of Leeds www.leeds.ac.uk 0113 243 2336

Selby College www.selby.ac.uk 01757 211000

Leeds Metropolitan University www.leedsmet.ac.uk 0113 81 23113

York College www.yorkcollege.ac.uk 01904 770400

The University of Sheffield www.sheffield.ac.uk 0114 222 2000 Sheffield Hallam University www.shu.ac.uk 0114 225 5555 The University of York www.york.ac.uk 01904 320000 York St. John University www.yorksj.ac.uk 01904 624624

ENTREPRENEURS ARE NOT BORN, THEY’RE M DE! Founded by entrepreneur and star of Dragons’ Den, Peter Jones CBE, the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy offers unique courses in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship for those aged 16 and above. Our pioneering business courses, which are being delivered in colleges across the country, ensure that our students achieve an accredited qualification and also gain the necessary experience and skills that are vital for employment or running their own business. There’s nothing quite like one of our Enterprise courses, each one embraces the Academy’s ethos of ‘learning by doing’ by combining innovative teaching methods with sessions from industry experts. We currently offer BTEC Levels 2 and 3 and our ‘Ignite’ Apprenticeship programme, which includes the Advanced Apprenticeship in Enterprise and the new Higher Apprenticeship in Innovation and Growth.

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SOUTH YORKSHIRE

HUMBER

WEST YORKSHIRE

Barnsley College www.barnsley.ac.uk 01226 216 216

Bishop Burton College www.bishopburton.ac.uk 01964 553000

Bradford College www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk 01274 433333

Dearne Valley College www.dearne-coll.ac.uk 01709 513355

East Riding College www.eastridingcollege.ac.uk 0845 120 0037

Calderdale College www.calderdale.ac.uk 01422 357357

Doncaster College www.don.ac.uk 0800 358 7575

Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education www.grimsby.ac.uk 0800 315002

Huddersfield New College www.huddnewcoll.ac.uk 01484 652341

Longley Park Sixth Form College www.longleypark.ac.uk 0114 262 5757 Rotherham College of Arts and Technology www.rotherham.ac.uk 08080 722777 Sheffield College www.sheffcol.ac.uk 0114 260 2600

Hull College www.hull-college.ac.uk 01482 598744 John Leggott College www.leggott.ac.uk 01724 282998 North Lindsey College www.northlindsey.ac.uk 01724 281111 Yorkshire Coast College www.yorkshirecoastcollege.ac.uk 0800 731 7410

Leeds City College www.leedscitycollege.ac.uk 0113 3861996 Leeds College of Building www.lcb.ac.uk 0113 222 6000 Shipley College www.shipley.ac.uk 01274 327222 Wakefield College www.wakefield.ac.uk 01924 789789

“ “

Kirklees College www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk 01484 437000

Choosing the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy instead of A-Levels was a perfect decision. I am now National Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 and running my own business!

Harry Day, Solihull College

To read more about the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy courses and to find an Academy near you, get in touch today! www.pjea.org

0207 471 0520

info@pjea.org

29/08/2013 14:43:50

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Find us at www.facebook.com/careers.world and follow us on twitter using the handle @careers_world. We are currently running a competition which rewards all of our Facebook friends; every time we get another 500 likes on the Careers World page, we’ll choose one lucky winner to receive a prize! What’s even better is that the prizes will continually get bigger and more exciting as we get more likes!

COMPETITION WINNER! In our last issue, we asked you to send in an article with the title ‘What Not to do at an Interview’. Congratulations to Jessica Cameron of Baysgarth School in Humberside who will be receiving a £50 Amazon Voucher! You can read her fantastic article below:

K££P YOUR WALL£T W£IGHT£D Whether you’re off travelling after school, doing a placement abroad or away from home, or going to uni; one thing’s for certain, you’re going to have to start looking after your own cash. Here’s our advice. Don’t take it seriously. • • • • •

• • • • •

50

You can get a good four uses out of pants by wearing them backwards and inside out. Note: does not work with thongs Make friends with someone with a car. It’s the cheapest possible public transport Own-brand beans Go vegetarian. Have you seen how much meat costs? Eat like a rabbit and you can afford to have the heating on that week Sell everything you don’t need online. People will buy anything on eBay. Lost one of your shoes? Flog the spare on the internet Freezers are your friends. I’ve made a loaf of bread last a year before now Own-brand beans Running is cheaper than the gym. You’re probably going to be mal-nourished from not eating anyway There’s a coupon for everything. Google it before you leave the house. …Own-brand beans

So, you’ve got an interview. Possibly the most important of your career; you cannot risk losing out on this job, nothing can go wrong. You know exactly what you need to do; you’re confident, your CV is word perfect and your references are impeccable. But… have you thought about what not to do at an interview?

There’s the obvious, we all know you probably shouldn’t turn up late, insult your prospective boss or pick your nose, but have you ever thought about the less obvious? Not everybody does and it’s often these subtleties that are more significant and perfecting them could set you apart from your competitors. Bear in mind your posture; don’t slouch or look uninterested. Appear confident; don’t avoid eye contact or give yes/no answers. It’s the simple things like this that may very well get you the job you’ve been waiting for. Never turn up in a creased shirt or with unwashed hair; be polite and courteous, be confident and be yourself; don’t leave wishing you’d never entered the room. Every interview is important, and could change your life. Remember though, picking your nose at an interview is still a definite no no.

There’s a species of jellyfish that regenerates its cells so well, it can never die if it is never hunted. It’s the time-lord of the sea When a rabbit is excited it makes a movement called a ‘binky’ A flamingo can only eat when its head is upside down Male puppies let female puppies win in play-fights, what gentlemen! Polar bears are left-handed A giraffe can clean its ears with its tongue The Common Swift never lands, it flies for all its life, eating flying insects to stay alive You can housetrain an armadillo, but they’re smelly and nocturnal. That’s not an excuse to call your brother an armadillo Gentoo penguins mate for life, and instead of a ring they propose using a pebble. You can lead a cow upstairs…but not down again

www.careersworld.co.uk



Ready to make some tough decisions about courses, careers and your future? You don’t need to make your big career decisions alone. The National Careers Service can help you: • assess your skills • find the right course • choose the right uni • understand the job market • find out about careers • develop your CV Text your name and ‘advice’ to 07766 413 219 and a National Careers Service adviser will call you back for free.

You can also search online for National Careers Service, or call us on 0800 100 900.


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