Future Focus

Future Focus Guide to apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships & graduate recruitment

Tips for smart money management

Jamal Edwards MBE says follow your calling

Get ready to win Interview tips that rock

Manchester Metropolitan University has lots to offer

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LOOKING FOR APPRENTICES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? Croydon College is one of the largest providers of Apprenticeships in the South, helping guide businesses to grow and develop while utilising specialist skills and expertise.

We work with a whole host of employers providing high quality apprenticeship training in areas including: Construction I Engineering I Accountancy I Childcare Business Administration I Hospitality and Catering I Customer Service

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apprenticeships@croydon.ac.uk 020 8686 5700 www.croydon.ac.uk

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CONTENTS MAGAZINE EDITOR Trevor Raymond

24-25

PRODUCTION EDITOR Thierry Lagrin COMMERCIAL TEAM Trevor Raymond Garfield Robinson Yemi Williams Getnet Kassa Sylvester Amara THE VOICE www.voice-online.co.uk

04 OP-ED 04 - Keith Smith, Director Apprenticeships, ESFA – What makes National apprenticeship week special

FEATURES 05 - A guide to Apprenticeship options 10 - 11 - Getting ready for success – Tips for a great interview

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12 - Jamal Edwards MBE gets in tune with apprenticeships 22 - 23 - Money talks, a guide to smart money moves

CASE STUDIES 6 - 7 Future focus - MMU has a lot to offer so says Cinderella Orah.

9 - Journey of a Lifetime - Network Rail’s Samiul Choudrey tells his story 14 - 15 - Paige Neal – Holder shares her experience at the BBC 17 - Shaun Coltress -London Fire Brigades, ‘Man on a mission’ 18 - 19 - Opening doors with QA Apprenticeships

22-23

20 - 21 - Never ordinary – Opportunities aplenty with the RAF 24 - 25 - GSK continues to make its mark www.voice-online.co.uk

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National Apprenticeship Week 2020 looking beyond the outdated perceptions surrounding apprenticeships

By Keith Smith, Director, Apprenticeships, ESFA ence and nursing.

We are working to ensure apprenticeships are open to people of all backgrounds. It’s good to see that 12.5% of people starting an apprenticeship in 2018/19 were people from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds – the highest level in nine years. But we know there is more work to do to make sure more people from underrepresented groups can take advantage of the benefits apprenticeships can bring.

ENCOURAGING

Keith Smith his year’s National Apprenticeship Week ran from 3 - 9 February. The Week was an opportunity to e n c o u r - age young people, employers, parents and teachers to look beyond out-dated perceptions of apprenticeships and learn more about the amazing opportunities they offer.

Apprenticeships give people the chance to earn while they learn with the option to train right up to degree level in a huge range of professions including civil engineering, data sci-

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Our Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network is dedicated to championing diversity amongst employers, and encouraging more people from under-represented groups, including those with disabilities, women and members of BAME communities, to consider apprenticeships. It's also vitally important that apprenticeships are considered as a serious option by those who might traditionally have thought about going to university.

But we know out-dated attitudes including the belief that apprentices will be stuck doing low-paid jobs are still putting some people off apprenticeships, which means they’re missing out on great jobs and higher salaries. That is why we all - government, employers, careers advisors, teachers and parents - have a role to play to make sure people are aware that an apprenticeship can be a life changing opportunity.

DIVERSE Our recent partnership with SBTV founder Jamal Edwards MBE, to create a new track and music video with P Money, in collaboration with seven apprentices showcased the diverse range of opportunities apprenticeships provide. The apprentices helped with everything from sound and video production to drone engineering.

Of course, we must speak not only to young people, but to their parents

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or carers, who can play an influential role when it comes to their career choices. Ekansh Sharma, a Software Engineering apprentice from Accenture sums up how these barriers can often be higher amongst parents from minority ethnic groups.

Ekansh said: “I’m from a very traditional Asian household, so you’re either a lawyer, a doctor or an engineer! When I told my mum, she was a little annoyed, but accepted it. Now she’s a big advocate of apprenticeships – she’s telling all her friends.

The older generation sometimes don’t understand because the more traditional image is apprenticeships being for trades.”

The evidence is clear – diversity leads to increased creativity, better decision making and increased profits. We need everyone from teachers

to employers to embrace apprenticeships so more people can learn new skills and have successful careers.

There are range of apprenticeship opportunities available , so do please take a look at our website www.apprenticeships.gov.uk It provides lots of helpful advice and you can find out about all the great apprenticeships available, search for opportunities and apply today.

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A guide to higher and degree

A guide to

M

aking the right choice is never easy, here we provide some quick answers to your apprenticeship questions.

What’s an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a genuine job and under all circumstances an apprentice will be employed from day one. Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. An apprentice will: – work alongside experienced staff – gain job-specific skills • earn a wage and get holiday pay – be given time for study related to their role (the equivalent of one day a week) Why apply?

• Earn a real wage; • Be trained in the skills employers want; • Set yourself up for the future – apprentices enjoy marked salary increases when they complete their training, and those completing a higher apprenticeship could see increased earnings of an estimated £150,000 over their lifetime.* What levels are there?

All apprenticeships include elements of on the job and off the job training, leading to industry recognised standards or qualifications. Some apprenticeships also require an assessment at the end of the programme to assess the apprentice`s ability and competence in their job role.

What can they earn?

The national minimum wage (NMW) for apprentices is £3.90 per hour from April 2019. The apprentice NMW applies to apprentices aged under 19 or aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship. Apprentices aged 25 and over, and not in the first year of their apprenticeship, will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage.

This is the legal minimum pay per hour, most receive more. The Apprenticeship Pay Survey 2016 estimated the average gross hourly pay received by apprentices in Great Britain was £6.70

YEAR APRIL 2019

an hour for level 2 and 3 apprentices which is equivalent to nearly £14,000 per year. More details on salaries and entry criteria in specific apprenticeship occupations can be found on GOV.UK and search ‘apprenticeships’ Where to look for an apprenticeship?

With so many opportunities on offer, there are several ways you can find an apprenticeship. More information, including videos of current apprentices, is available at apprenticeships.gov.uk You can search and apply for vacancies on Find an apprenticeship on GOV.UK Once registered on Find an apprenticeship, email and text alerts can be set up about new apprenticeship vacancies which may be of interest. If you would like to view more information on a selection of well-known employers you can visit the vacancy snapshot at amazingapprenticeships.com It displays a range of employers fact files outlining the types of apprenticeship vacancies available at these companies across the year. If you have a specific interest in a certain employer, it is also worth going direct to their recruitment site. You could also meet employers and their apprentices through our new live broadcast feature. In these interviews, we take a look behind the scenes of a range of different employers and meet some of their apprentices amazingapprenticeships.com/ live-broadcasts.

Contact the National Apprenticeship Helpdesk for further support on 0800 015 0400 or by email: nationalhelpdesk@findapprenticeship. service.gov.uk. Our YouTube channel has useful hints and tips on applying plus other videos on apprenticeships, visit YouTube and search apprenticeships/NAS.

25 and over 21 to 24 18 to 20 £8.21

You can gain your qualification, learn professional skills, progress your career plus earn a wage, want to find out more? With a degree apprenticeship you can achieve a full Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. And just like traditional degrees, an apprenticeship is a great route to a great career.

£7.70

FOLLOW NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SERVICE: Twitter: @Apprenticeships / @FireItUp_Apps Instagram: @fireitupapps Facebook: FireItUpApps Visit: apprenticeships.gov.uk or call 08000 150 400

£6.15

Under 18 £4.34

ou can gain your qualification, Levels 4 and 5 are equivalent to a Higher Edlearn professional skills, pro- ucation Certificate/ Diploma or a foundation gress your career plus earn a degree, level 6 is equivalent to a Bachelor’s wage, want to find out more? degree and level 7 is equivalent to a Master’s With a degree apprenticeship degree. Typically, higher apprentices study you can achieve a full Bachelor’s part time at college, university or with a or Master’s degree. And just like training provider. Apprenticeships traditional degrees, an apprentake between one and five years My ticeship is a great route to a to complete. apprenticeship great career.

How do I find a higher or has benefitted me in every degree apprenticeship?

There were 494,900 apThe facts way possible. I’ve learnt key prenticeship starts in 2016 Apprenticeships are skills in engineering, to 17 in a wide range of available to anyone over the age of 16, living in mechanical and hydraulics, workplaces including Cap Gemini, Ford, ITV, Airbus, England and are available as well as the theory Rolls-Royce, Barclays and at intermediate, advanced, the BBC. With so many ophigher and degree levels. behind all of it. portunities on offer you can All apprenticeships are genufind the apprenticeship that’s ine jobs so all apprentices earn right for you. a salary. You must be paid at least the national minimum apprenticeship wage and many employers pay significantly more.

Apprentices should work enough hours each Applying is easy, just visit week so that they can undertake sufficient, GOV.UK/apply-apprenticeship There are regular training and on the-job activity, between 12,000 and 20,000 apprenticeship search ‘become an apprentice’ on GOV.UK vacancies on the site at any one time. for further information. Entry requirements depend on the sector and prior skills. If you If you require any support with your Find have achieved A-levels you may still be ex- an apprenticeship application please pected to start at intermediate or advanced contact: 0800 015 0400 (free from landlines level as some sectors, such as engineering, and mobiles) require you to build up your occupational Email: nationalhelpdesk@ skills. findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk For professional advice on making the right How are they structured? choices, visit: Higher and degree apprenticeships are avail- nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk able at levels 4 to 7. They combine work with or call: 0800 100 900 (free from landlines study and may include a work-based, aca- and mobiles). demic or combined qualification or a profes- Holly Broadhurst Higher Design Engineersional qualification relevant to the industry. ing Apprentice, J C Bamford Excavators

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Digital & Solutions Degree

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Cinderella Orah - Fujitsu

I

finished my A levels during what was quite a challenging time in my life. My mother was unwell, so when I started looking at my study I needed somewhere close to

options, home.

I wasn’t allowed to consider an apprenticeship, as my mother was really against them. The typical African mentality is to go to university and I felt my family were quite uninformed about apprenticeships. Because she was ill, I didn’t push it and I ended up going to university after my mother's death.

They didn’t have the course I wanted, so I ended up doing an undergraduate degree in electrical and electronics engineering, which was the closest thing to the route I wanted to do. It wasn’t really for me to be honest.

As my mother passed away just before I started university, I ended up becoming a carer for my siblings. It was too difficult for me to carry on with my degree and I had to take a break in learning.

CHOICE After a while I returned back to university while looking at other routes I could follow instead, that would fit in with my life at the time. I really needed to be earning money

by then.

I kept hearing more and more about apprenticeships and liked the idea of learning while earning. By this point, after a lot of searching, I’d set my heart on doing software engineering. I’d always been known as The Fixer in my family, as everyone would come to me to fix things when they broke, so it seemed like the perfect choice for me.

When I finally found out about degree apprenticeships, my actual thoughts were: “Oh wow! Where have you been all my life?”

They were such a game changer.

The job I’m in now was the result of the first interview I had. I’m originally from London and I’d been invited to an interview for a software engineer degree apprenticeship at a Manchester branch of Fujitsu, and I was pleased as it offered the degree qualification, so I went forward with the role at Fujitsu and re-located.

The interview was great and was really interactive. Walking through the doors at the assessment day, I was the only female there. I wasn’t shocked by that to be honest.

Fujitsu are always actively trying to recruit more women, but not a lot of women apply for the STEM jobs. I think there needs to be more awareness that women can get into STEM. One of my current mentors was

one of the only women in her degree apprenticeship and she’s really made her way to the top, so it’s great to speak to her and learn from her.

OPPORTUNITY I was really pleased when I got the role and I love my job. I get to work on really interesting projects. In terms of doing a degree apprenticeship at Manchester Metropolitan University, I do find it difficult to balance the work and the study, I’m not going to lie.

You’ve got to balance work and studying really well as prioritising one ends up affecting the other. It takes a lot of diligence, but long term the results will definitely be worth it. It’s hard but I have been doing great balancing the two so far.

I’m encouraging my younger siblings to pursue a degree apprenticeship and they’re all looking forward to the opportunity.

For women thinking about getting into technology, I’d say engineering is for anybody. The tech industry has no boundaries, it sees no colour, no gender, it has no preference. Anybody can do it. And we need more women. It makes it more creative to have a mix of people. Companies say they want creative minds but if you just have one group of people you’re not making the most out of what you could get.

Degree apprenticeships available at Manchester Metropolitan University HERE ARE THE DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS WE OFFER:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Masters) Architect (Masters) Chartered Manager Chartered Manager Fast-Track Executive Chartered Manager Health and Social Care Digital & Technology Solutions Digital & Technology Solutions (Masters) Digital Marketer Digital UX Professional Healthcare Science Practitioner Laboratory Scientist MBA Degree Apprenticeship Retail Leadership Social Worker

www.mmu.ac.uk/apprenticeships

Combine a fully funded degree and a full-time job to get ahead in your career. Learn more at mmu.ac.uk/apprenticeships www.voice-online.co.uk

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MyMy Apprenticeship Journey Apprenticeship Journey Samiul Choudhury Samiul Choudhury Former apprentice Former apprentice

Life after thethe scheme Life after scheme Sam started the level engineering apprenticeship Sam started the3level 3 engineering apprenticeship scheme in 2015 nowisanow Senior Technical OfficerOfficer scheme in and 2015isand a Senior Technical basedbased in London.

We found out more his his in London.

We found out about more about experience as an as apprentice with Network Rail Rail experience an apprentice with Network What a particularly positive experience Why did you choose anchoose apprenticeship with was a particularly positive experience Why did you an apprenticeship with wasWhat during your apprenticeship training? training?

Network Rail? during your apprenticeship Network Rail?

"A positive"A experience would be that of be that of "After completing my A-levelsmy I was in two positive experience would "After completing A-levels I was in two people andpeople making friends minds about whether not to go meeting new and making friends minds aboutorwhether or to not to go to meeting new you'll be inyou'll contact with for a with for a university university or straightorinstraight to working that you know be in contact in tobut working but that you know long time.long I alsotime. really enjoyed decided todecided exploreto apprenticeship I also reallylearning enjoyednew learning new explore apprenticeship skills and gaining confidence". opportunities.

I wanted an apprenticeship skills and gaining confidence". opportunities.

I wanted an apprenticeship with a well-established engineering with a well-established engineering Working asWorking part of as a track means part team of a track team means employer".employer".

Did you have Did any you negative have anyexperiences? negative experiences? ensuring that the track is operating ensuring thatsystem the track system is operating to its optimum that trains can trains run and to its so optimum so that can run and What made "I wouldn't"Isay that there werethere any negative youmade apply?you apply? wouldn't say that were any negative What Britain canBritain keep on canmoving. keep on moving. experiences.

It does take time to adjust experiences.

It does take timeto to adjust to

Working on track Working on track

not being not around your familyyour whilst training "I explored"Ithe careerthe paths you paths can pursue being around family whilst training explored career you can pursue Track assets include allinclude rails, sleepers Track assets all rails,and sleepers and on the scheme though". though". along withalong profiles of profiles of at Westwood at Westwood on the scheme with ballast that support the trains together ballast that support the trainswith together with previous apprentices - it was a no previous apprentices - itbrainer". was a no brainer". their associated drainage structures. their associated drainage structures.

Working on track often involves Working on track oftenmaking involves making judgements based on experience and know-and knowjudgements based on experience how but new challenges arise howproblems but new and problems and challenges arise making it essential work asto a team to a team to making itto essential work as decide on decide the best solutions. onand thesafest best and safest solutions.

Can you tell usyou more yourabout journey I feel that Ithe Apprenticeship Can tellabout us more your journey feelEngineering that the Engineering Apprenticeship Track workTrack is an work all-weather, around thearound the since completing is an all-weather, the scheme? scheme with Network is oneRail of the bestof the best since completing the scheme? scheme withRail Network is one clock job where engineers could be out at be out at clock job where engineers could apprenticeship programmes available. It apprenticeship programmes available. It any time. It's kind challenge that our that our any the time.

It'softhe kind of challenge gives great foundation and there and is there is "3 years sounds likesounds a longlike time but when you a great foundation "3 years a long time Ibut when I you agives apprentices enjoy the most. apprentices enjoy the most. continuouscontinuous support along the along way tothe make look back, look it's clear the time support way to make back,that it's clear thathas theflown time has flown sure you get the most yourself by. Duringby. theDuring apprenticeship programme sure you getfrom the most fromand yourself and the apprenticeship programme there is always new to learn and role you've been working hard so hard theresomething is always something new to learnsecure and thatsecure that role you've beensoworking you're surrounded by teams and individuals for". you're surrounded by teams and individuals for". who are willing to support you. who are willing to support you.

No No looking back looking back

I completed the scheme inscheme June 2018 and 2018 and I completed the in June secured a secured permanent position only 2 months a permanent position only 2 months later. I'm now Senior as Officer as later.aI'm nowTechnical a Senior Officer Technical part of thepart track at the London Bridge ofteam the track team at the London Bridge Depot andDepot I'm really enjoying and I'm reallyit!enjoying it!

Page: Find out more at: networkrail.co.uk/careers

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Tips

to a great Not only will you have learnt more about your potential new employer but you will also feel far more confident and knowledgeable about the opportunity that you’re applying for.

For tips on how to write a winning application, How to write a winning application pdf provided by the National Apprenticeship Service.

Or if you've already got an interview lined up we have six tips that will help you ace your interview.

Good luck.

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1. Research the company First up, make sure you have thoroughly researched the company you have the interview with. The chances are that when you applied you checked them out and made reference to this in your application. Great stuff, you’re half-way there. But now you have an interview it’s even more important that you swot up.

Make sure you’re ready for the big question – “what do you know about our company?” . You can learn about them by browsing the “about us” section on their website. But to get all of the up-to-the-minute information it’s definitely worth checking out their social media, what are they tweeting, or posting about on Facebook? Also check if they have a LinkedIn business profile and read their latest updates.

When you’re asked the question, don’t waffle on, and just make reference to some of the things you've seen. If they've just won an award or a new contract casually congratulate them – mega brownie points for you.

2. Understand what the apprentice role is all about Make sure you have read through the job description carefully; if there is anything on the job description that you don’t understand call the employer and ask before the interview.

Write down key points they are looking for and write what why you are the best person to fulfil that role and how your skills and experience are relevant. Go over these notes regularly so that come the interview, when they ask a question you’ll be able to confidently talk about your skills and how they will enable you to do a super job.

3. What do you want to find out from the employer?

Asking questions about the apprenticeship on offer is a good thing. It shows a hiring manager that you are interested in the job and the company. Write down your questions neatly in a note book and take them to an interview with you: • What’s it like to work here?

• What would a typical day be like?

• Why are the business taking on apprentices?

• What qualification will I achieve at the end of the apprenticeship • How will my time be divided between working

and learning?

• Are you considering offering apprentices positions after the apprenticeship programme?

• What have apprentices gone on to do once they have completed their apprenticeship?

4. Plan your route to the interview You will be amazed how many people are late for interviews. Recruiters and hiring managers are very busy people. If you are late then their whole schedule is affected.

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes in advance. Sometimes things go wrong – the bus is late, there is a traffic jam or car breaks down. It’s not the end of the world, just make sure you call them as early as possible to let them know you are going to be late.

Getting there early not only looks good. It gives you an opportunity to compose yourself so you can go into the interview nice and relaxed. If you arrive really early then as Puddles The Monkey suggests, take a wander around the block a few times and then get to your interview about 10 minutes before you should.

5.Things to take Your CV – they will probably have this but make sure you have a spare copy to hand A note pad and pen – do write down notes in the interview.

The job description – you can refer to this in the interview.

Your questions – Make sure you write down the answers to show that you really care about them.

6. Dress how you want to be addressed How you dress will sometimes depend on the type of role that you are interviewing for. To make you feel at ease don’t be afraid to ask the employer in advance if they have a dress code.

Whilst it’s not always easy to get hold of a suit, make sure that you look smart. If you feel you are dressed appropriately you will undoubtedly feel more confident and feel the part.

The interview • Smile. As soon as you enter the

building you are being noticed. You will be nervous (the employer is expecting this) but do smile. Employers will always remember a happy per-

Gettin ready succe

son.

• Shake hands • Maintain eye contact • Introduce yourself. They will probably ask how the journey in was – It’s always good to reference your pre planning to make sure that you arrived early.

• Ask them how they are • Don’t be afraid to tell the employer if you are nervous. Anyone interviewing an apprentice will try to make you feel as comfortable as possible – remember they are just humans. Many interviewing managers are equally nervous about interviewing young people as it’s not what they do every day.

• Be yourself!

• Listen – make sure you are answering the questions that are asked. If you don’t understand the question then say so. Don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat the question.

• Ask questions – Don’t forget to bring out your pre-prepared list of questions. The hiring manager will love that you have been thinking about the interview.

Information taken from www.thestudentroom.co.uk/

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interview

Before you attend any kind of work interview it’s always a good idea to do some preparation.

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Department for Education and Jamal Edwards MBE join forces with seven apprentices to create new track “The Calling” by P Money Apprentice track and music video celebrates opportunity on offer through apprenticeships he Department for Education has today announced the release of “The Calling”, an exclusive new track and music video from grime artist P Money made in collaboration with seven apprentices and SBTV founder, Jamal Edwards MBE. The project, which forms part of the Department for Education’s wider Fire It Up apprenticeships campaign, is designed to showcase apprentice talent and the diverse range of opportunities that apprenticeships offer, beyond those that might traditionally be associated with this career route.

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SUPPORTED You can watch the music video on Jamal’s SBTV YouTube channel and stream the track on Spotify.

The production of the track has been supported by apprentices from professions including drone engineering, sound and video production, lighting and hair & make-up. It features grime artist P Money, whose lyrics are inspired by his own experience of starting out in his career and reflect the spark, energy and determination of apprentices. Jamal Edwards is the executive producer for the video, which is produced by Teddy Music.

Gemmaine Walsh, Director of Communications Group, Department for Education says: “JaThree ‘making of’ videos, which mal’s success building SBTV into show apprentices in action, can one of the UK’s most well-known be viewed at the bottom of the music brands shows what can be page. The first is about the recordachieved when you follow your ing of the track, and feapassion and choose a path tures Clara Kheraddifferent from the Jamal Edwards mandi, a 21-year norm. His authenold broadcast MBE says: ticity will resonate operator apwith both young “There’s still an prentice at people and busithe BBC. The assumption that ness owners in second shows helping us enyou can only do a p p r e n gage with some tices workapprenticeships in of the people that ing together we really want to trades like plumbing to promote the talk to. track, including and construction.

19-year old Shola FREEDOM West, a digital marketing apprentice at White“This partnership will prove inhat and 24-year old Tafadzwa valuable as we aim to show the Muchenje, a social media appren- breadth of opportunities apprentice at Channel 4. Nathan Dickson, ticeships can offer to everyone in 21, Associate Network Engineer the UK.” apprentice at BT, built and configThat view really needs to be reured the drone to drop a preview versed, and I hope this track and of the track at a launch party at accompanying films will help get Wilberforce College in Hull. the message out there.

The third episode shows the “It’s been incredible to be given making of the music video and the creative freedom to produce features 21-year old production something like this. I am really assistant apprentice Lilly Hudson, excited to be able to be part of this 18-year old electrical apprentice project and work with this talentKatie Harvey and 18-year old ed group of apprentices, share my hair professional apprentice, Kacy network, and help fire them up for Ruff. the future.”

YOUNG

“ ”

For more information on the partnership, take a look at: www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/thecalling Fire It Up on Facebook, the Fire It Up Apprenticeships YouTube channel, follow @Apprenticeships on Twitter and the National Apprenticeship Service on LinkedIn to keep up to date.

You’ll also find more on the partnership here: https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/thecalling Videos 1. Making of video one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTHV4nCML8A 2. Making of video two - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4BkHm7OYEw 3. Track - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9L4mb6C_OI

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TRAIN IN SKILLS AND ADVENTURE. GET YOUR APPRENTICESHIP WITH THE ARMY. Earn as you learn. Travel the world. Make mates for life. As a soldier in the Army, you’ll do more than you thought possible. You’ll be part of an organisation dedicated to helping you make the most of your potential. That means while you train to be a soldier you’ll have the opportunity to earn industry-recognised apprenticeships whilst earning around £18,800 per year.

This is your chance to challenge yourself.

As one of the UK’s largest apprenticeship employer providers, we have lots of different apprenticeships that are planned around your military training, including but not limited to: plumbing, bricklaying, carpentry, chef, driving, business administration, ICT and engineering.

We’ll give you the skills you need to reach new heights and a place to belong. Ready to show us what you can do? We want you and your potential.

SEARCH ARMY APPRENTICE www.voice-online.co.uk

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No

at all

I had never actually envisioned myself as being a journalist!

It wasn’t really a career choice for me before I began this apprenticeship because I had no idea what it c o u l d offer. And never, in a million years would I have expected to bag a job at the BBC as an 18 yearold. Especially as a woman of colour.

University really didn’t tickle my fancy, but I’d always been interested in going into media, so when I saw the Digital Journalism Apprenticeship scheme being advertised, I thought “oh go on then.” I had nothing to lose, so there was no harm in applying!

And the thing is, I had no experience. As in, none at all. Unless you count the one time I wrote a sentence in my school’s newsletter – pretty much gave Huw Edwards a run for his money if you ask me.

I did however, have enthusiasm and a bold attitude to working hard, which stays true to this day.

The BBC weren’t looking for a super qualified and experienced person, they were looking for potential and someone true to themselves. So my biggest advice for anyone trying to get into journalism is don’t try and change yourselves. Stay true to who you are! Be unique!

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By Paige Neal-Holder

Through the apprenticeship I’ve been able to do some pretty cool things. I’ve always loved the idea of presenting and reporting, both of which I’ve been able to do, and I’ve also been able to create some digital videos, such as when I filmed and interviewed Tim Peake, the British astronaut.

Some of the opportunities…

Through the apprenticeship I’ve been able to do some pretty cool things.

I’ve always loved the idea of presenting and reporting, both of which I’ve been able to do, and I’ve also been able to create some digital videos, such as when I filmed and interviewed Tim Peake, the British Astronaut.

I’ve also rediscovered my love for writing, as I’ve been able to have quite a few of my own articles published – in fact I even got my first article published within my first two weeks at the BBC. Another one of my highlights of the scheme so far was having my first radio package aired on Vanessa Felt’s breakfast show. I think it’s fair to say the apprenticeship has given me many amazing opportunities!

But, it’s not all just about the work and journalism side of things. The apprenticeship also gives you some great friends and jokes memories.

Some of us got so close, we even booked a holiday to visit Venice!

I mean, we did have to spend three months straight in Wolverhampton training at college together, so us apprentices kind of had no choice but

to like each other… they’re alright I guess.

Now I can’t lie, the apprenticeship can get very challenging and tiring at times, but that’s when you can turn to the friends you’ve made on the scheme and get them to cheer you up.

You really do go through a rollercoaster of emotions together which sometimes resorted to deep chats over a couple of cans of gin - but it does bring you together and you do end up with some amazing friends.

(Quick shout out to my work wife Susie who always helps me when I have a problem editing a video.)

learning on the job and developing my journalistic skills.

I’ve only got about 4 months left on this scheme, so I’m pretty much just going to be working as hard as I can so that it will all be worth it when I wear my cap and gown at my graduation!

What am I doing now?

At the moment, I’m with my main placement based with the Family and Education department. They’ve helped made me feel really welcome,

and I’m starting to consider what my next steps will be once I finish the scheme.

So far, I’ve sat all of my exams, and am yet to complete my End Point Assessment so that I can fully complete my apprenticeship.

Being an apprentice has been really good for me – it’s really helped me learn things about myself, as well www.voice-online.co.uk

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Man on a The Voice's Alannah Francis speaks with the London Fire Brigade's Shaun Coltress

haun Coltress, a station manager within the borough of Tower Hamlets, is responsible for four teams comprising of 28 firefighters.

Before he became a firefighter he did everything from being an estate agent to handling 999 calls.

Now he’s a leader in a life-saving service where every day presents a different challenge and opportunity to leave a lasting positive impact on others. Here he speaks to The Voice about what he loves about being a firefighter, connecting with communities and why a career in the fire service is for everyone.

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Connecting with communities It’s a misconception that firefighters spend their days running in and out of burning buildings. While that is indeed part of their jobs, there’s a lot more to it than that.

The majority of a fire fighter’s work is prevention focused, involving activities such as educating others about fire safety and ensuring they are well equipped and prepared in an emergency.

Affecting positive change within his local community is one of the ma-

jor highlights of being a firefighter for Coltress.

“For me, the best thing about working for the Fire Brigade is definitely about making a real difference in the community day-to-day, whether that be attending incidents and making people’s day a little it better, because quite often we come across members of the public when it’s what they would see as the worst day of their life,” he said.

This tangible impact on the community surrounding his station, that Coltress believes is one of the best things about working for the London Fire Brigade, has manifested itself in a number of ways.

During his time working as a London firefighter, Coltress has opened up the Shadwell fire station’s doors to the public in a variety of ways.

Thanks to him Shadwell became the first fire station in London to deliver NHS blood donation sessions, something that was particularly important due to the lack of BAME donors.

“We’re doing it in a really underrepresented area, Shadwell, with a really high Asian population here, which the NHS need blood donations from. So to be able to help the community in

that way and help the NHS for me was really massive thing,” he said.

The station has also hosted catchup vaccinations for young people in the local area who missed out on immunisations, employability workshops with charities and given a home to the local St John’s Ambulance unit.

“We actually got a regional commendation from the St John’s Ambulance for helping them to do that and what that does is give us access to quite a lot of people, vulnerable people especially within the borough of Tower Hamlets and allows us to carry out our prevention work in a really good way and build trust with the local community,” Coltress said.

A world of opportunities “If you’ve not got the aspiration to progress through the ranks, there’s still a lot of opportunity to develop yourself through different things,” Coltress said. “We have specialist units. You have what we call our rescue unit which will do things like land and water rescue, they’ll absail down the side of buildings to rescue people from window cradles if they have to.

You don’t have to go for promotion to do that but it’s a really specialised skill.

“We’ve got the fire investigation team where you investigate fires, which is really important. There are our aerial appliances, which are our high reach vehicles.”

For those hoping to rise through the ranks, Coltress is full of praise about the amount of support on offer and the variety of routes individuals can take.

“With the size of London and the size of the London Fire Brigade itself, there is a massive opportunity to get promoted if you want to. There’s the opportunity iitally to take on temporary promotion if you’ve been assessed as suitable so you can try out the role you’re going for eventually and get some experience in that role,” he said.

What makes a good firefighter?

With so many options and the ability to have a huge impact, Coltress strongly believes a career within the fire service is one for everyone but he highlights a willingness to learn, key traits for those considering the challenge.

“We need people who are going to work well as part of a team, who are resilient because there will be times in the job where it will be difficult – it could be 3 o’clock in the morning, snowing outside and we’ve got a job to do...so we need resilient people,” he said.

He added: “We also need people who have the right attitude that really want to prevent fires and injuries from fires in the community. Who are happy speaking with members of the community because that’s a really large part of what we do – the prevention work. We need people who are confident – we climb ladders to the fourth floor and we go into buildings, occasionally, that are on fire.”

For Coltress, a career in the fire service offers something that’s quite rare – the knowledge that you’ve made a difference on a daily basis.

“At the end of the day, when you go home there’s not many jobs like this where you can think back over your day and actually pinpoint where you’ve made a difference – whether that be to a person, to a community or to yourself,” he said. “No day is ever the same but you can always look back and say you know what, I made a difference in that community today, I kept some people safe.”

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APPRENTICESHIPS › GRADUATE RECRUITMENT › DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS

When it comes to your futu open and change th ver the last 10 years, QA has helped more than 25,000 apprentices start new careers in the fastest-growing industry in the world – tech. With average in- dustry salaries over £40k and vacancies booming, there’s never been a better time to fire up your future career.

Need some career inspiration? Meet Joshua Uwadiae, former IT apprentice with QA – now Co-Founder and CEO of WeGym and CoFounder of Bouncy Bros.

For Josh, a tech apprenticeship turned his life around. Josh grew up in Hackney, East London and enjoyed playing football for Victoria Park Rangers, but after failing to go pro, he was expelled from school at 15 after falling in with the wrong crowd. “Hackney was a rough and gritty place back then—I grew up around gangs and chaos,” he says. “Then I decided I wanted to better myself around the age of 15.”

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STUDYING Josh found a mentor and went to college, achieving a level 2 BTEC in IT, but he felt his course was just priming him for university.

“The concept of university, all the studying, wasn’t appealing,” he says. “I just wanted to get out there and work and do something. I started looking around at jobs, but I didn’t have the right skills.”

The turning point for Josh was seeing an ap-

prenticeships poster for Microsoft in his company’s breakout area. In 2012, he was accepted as a Microsoft IT apprentice in IT systems and networking for eCourier. The job involved learning about IT security, helping solve IT problems in the workplace and analysing IT servers and infrastructure. Highly motivated in his hands-on, technical role, he successfully completed an IT apprenticeship and came runner-up in the prestigious Microsoft Apprentice of the Year Awards, accepting his award in the House of Commons. He was promoted to Head of IT for the company, received the National Apprenticeship Service Ambassador award and became Global Education and Apprenticeships Ambassador for Microsoft.

INSPIRATION Josh then went on to build a successful fitness startup, WeGym, matching personal trainers with clients looking to work out in London.

His inspiration for the company was an idea from Richard Branson to solve his own problem – the frustration of not being able to find a personal trainer but not wanting to work out on his own. “The concept of

WeGym is to make personal training more accessible and fun,” he says. “We connect two to three friends or colleagues with the same goals and get them to share the costs of the personal trainer.”

AMBASSADOR In 2018, Josh co-founded a new marketing company, Bouncy Bros. He’s now looking at hiring his own apprentices, continuing to use his technology-based experience to grow his companies and acting as an ambassador for apprenticeships.

Looking back, Joshua is grateful for how his apprenticeship changed his perspective. “Doing my IT apprenticeship with QA was like being given the tools but having an open path – my future

was what I chose to make of it,” he says. “It changed my perspective of technology. With the training mixed with experience and the amount of impact it had on my career in a short space of time, I don’t think it’s comparable to anything else.”

“I was a kid from Hackney and in the blink of an eye I was in the House of Commons picking up my apprenticeship award. The recognition gave me a real sense that good things will happen if you work for them.”

Joshua Uwadiae

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ure, tech he game

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No oday’s modern RAF is the UK’s aerial, peacekeeping and fighting force.

It’s made up of impressive full-time Regulars and s p a r e - time Reserves who come from diverse backgrounds and work side-by-side to make a difference at home and abroad.

When it comes to recruitment our focus is attracting the best personnel, and ensuring they’re well taken care of during and after their service in the RAF. The Royal Air Force delivered apprenticeships are rated Outstanding

by Ofsted. Our apprenticeship schemes mean you gain a civilian recognised vocational qualification and upon completion you have a guaranteed job in The RAF, within your chosen field.

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There are currently 24 different apprenticeship roles or ‘Trades’ from Drivers and Caterers to Intelligence and Engineering.

You will gain a civilian qualification with a guaranteed RAF job at the end of your training.

TRANSFORM There are currently 24 different apprenticeship roles or ‘Trades’ from Drivers and Caterers to Intelligence and Engineering. You will gain a civilian qualification with a guaranteed RAF job at the end of your training. We have careers available for those without any formal qualifications and beyond.

You will need to complete phase 1 RAF training, where we will transform you from a civilian into an effective member of the Royal Air Force. Next, you work towards level 2, 3 or 4 apprenticeships as part of your phase 2 ‘Trade’ training which can last 1 – 3

Job years. All equipment required to complete your apprenticeship will be provided by us.

An RAF apprentice earns £15,200+ per annum from day 1, this increases once they progress into their phase two ‘trade’ training, and again on completion of phase two training. You’ll also receive free, on-base, medical and dental care.

TRAINING For those who wish to take on a leadership role from the start we have a variety of opportunities which could see you earning £26,500 from the start. With over 50 roles in the RAF the choice really is yours.

Most RAF personnel work normal hours, with evenings and weekends free to spend with family and friends. All Regulars live on-base throughout their training, meaning you can get to know everyone and get a feel for what life in the RAF is like.

After training you can choose to live on-base or off, it’s up to you. If you’re not on duty, and your family isn’t already living with you on-base you can leave to visit them after initial training, when off duty or during the six weeks paid holiday you’ll get every year.

The RAF has Bases (also known as Stations) across the UK and elsewhere around the world. Most are like small, self-contained towns with shops, gyms, playing fields, post offices, cinemas and

even bowling-alleys.

Personnel can join a club for just about any sport, from skydiving and scuba diving to tennis and sailing, football, netball, rugby, cricket, hockey and athletics. We also offer some less common sports like fencing, bobsleigh, power-kiting, powerlifting and gliding.

Adventure training is also a way of life in the RAF. It’s challenging, enjoyable and encourages teamwork. You can also get involved with organising expeditions and adventures at home and around the world. These could see you scuba diving in the Red Sea, climbing peaks in the Himalayas and kayaking the rivers of Canada, all while getting paid.

Food on base is subsidised and will cost you around £28 per week for three meals a day. You can expect good quality food that caters for all dietary requirements, including religious and vegetarian preferences.

Rent for those living in single barrack accommodation, also known as a Mess, includes all utility bills.

A furnished two-bedroom property for an officer is between £114 and £453 per month, and between £75 and £242 per month for other ranks.

We do everything we can to cater to your personal requirements, including religion. Chaplains are on hand, along with other religious counsellors. Prayer facilities are also usually available, and we’ll adapt your uniform, catering and

duty roster to meet your religious requirements, where possible.

To gain an apprenticeship or for any of our other roles you still need to meet all the entry requirements, which are role dependant and go through the application process, more details can be found on our website, www.raf.mod.uk/ recruitment where you can also apply.

OPPORTUNITY If you have the drive and ambition, we can offer you a unique and rewarding career. Follow our RAF Altitude Facebook page to get a feel for RAF life and for an opportunity to ask questions during our live Q & A sessions, follow the RAF Recruitment Facebook page.

Alternatively, you can visit our recruiting office, addresses throughout the UK are available on our website.

Entry age is from 16 through to 47 - up to 54 for Reserves – with roles as varied as Caterer, Chef, Aircraft Technician, Vehicle Technician, Weapons System Operator, Air Operations Controller, Cyberspace Communications and, of course, Pilot.

Alternatively you can visit our recruiting offices: addresses throughout the UK are available on our website.

Visit: www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/ apprenticeships

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Money, pplying for an Apprenticeship or training position may seem time consuming and depending on your preparation or lack of it …. stressful.

It’s understandable that you just want to get started, but while you are moving at pace and dec i d i n g the next steps in your journey… it would be wise to spare a thought for the idea of financial planning.

Here we provide a simple checklist that you can use as a starting point.

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Make a simple budget

Whether you use pen & paper or go for a simple Excel spreadsheet it is a good idea to make a log of your cashflow.

Incomings - student loans, grants plus any job income in addition to any other sources of financial support. minus any Outgoings - rent, bills. food, transport, socialising This is in order to see if you have anything left over each month to put into a rainy day/savings account.

Keep it straight forward

A straightforward approach to make this more effective is to look at ways to increase your incomings and or reduce your outgoings so that you have more money to put into your rainy-day pot.

Saving even £10 a month is a start and can add up at the end of the year or whatever period you are working with. The mindset to adopt is anything is better than nothing, and adopting these habits early can help you establish a life long control over your finances.

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dosh

Adopt an easy strategy

Good ways to reduce outgoings • Bring your own lunch to Uni or work • Buying new clothes & shoes less often (do you really need a new item every time you plan to go out?), • Always ask if a retailer offers a student discount, • Take a look at your recent bank statements for the last couple of months to see where you spend most of your money.

This way you can determine If you able to cut back on these recurring expenses.

E.g. Can you try at-home workouts instead of going to the gym? can you do some beauty treatments at home instead of paying for them all the time?

Be creative, it will all pay off…(literally) in the end.

Great ways to increase income • Look out for paid studies, • You can start selling unwanted items on: Depop www.depop.com Ebay www.ebay.co.uk Gumtree www.gumtree.com or Shpock www.shpock.com/en-gb to name a few good sites.

• Taking on extra work over summer break • 50:30:20 rule as a guide for budgeting (more about this later)

Finance 101

What is a student bank account?

Well a student bank account is just that, an account for students, and getting the best student bank account should be a priority.

Not only do you want a generous, 0% overdraft that lasts you the length of your course or apprenticeship - you'll also want to make sure you get a deal that gives you the best perks suited to you.

make log of y cashfl

Some providers and accounts are: Nationwide: Flex Student www.nationwide.co.uk/products/current-accounts/flexstudent/ features-and-benefits Santander: 123 Student www.santander.co.uk/personal/current-accounts/123-studentcurrent-account HSBC: Student www.hsbc.co.uk/current-accounts/products/student/ Read more: www.which.co.uk/money/banking/student-and-graduate-bankaccounts/student-bank-accounts-ablvm7t6pdjr 

What is an overdraft?

An overdraft will allow you to borrow money through your current account. Usually there’s a charge.

Overdrafts can be useful for some people. An arranged overdraft can help you avoid fees from bounced payments for bills that happen when your account doesn’t have enough money in it.

As stated earlier always make sure that you get an account with a generous, 0% overdraft that lasts you the length of your course or apprenticeship What are the risks to having an overdraft?

Overdrafts should only be an emergency fund or short-term back up credit option because this is money that you have to pay back, and you are in fact incurring a debt.

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Saving even £10 a month is a start

Finance Tips for success

50:30:20 budgeting rule.

The premise is simple — you allocate 50% of your budget for your essentials, 30% for extras, and 20% for debt and savings.

Essentials- should really consist of a few main items Rent Food Bills Travel Extras - are really that, extra things that are not essential Gym Clothes Socialising Debt & Savings – important for long term peace of mind Credit card bill - (If you have one) Overdraft - (If you haven’t taken advantage of one of the 0% accounts listed earlier) Savings …. Try it, you might like it….

Going Digital

Digital savings & budgeting tools There are several really cool digital platforms available that are there to make your life easier, here we briefly take a look at a few.

Monzo Monzo is one of the challenger banks that has been around a while know and is increasing in popularity, it offers an app based and controlled bank account that has a host of interesting

options. Among them are ‘pots’ that you can put money in that make it easy for you to plan your monthly budget and stick to it.

This will be very useful if you are implementing the 50:30:20 budgeting rule.

Visit: www.monzo.com for more information.

Chip This app provides an easy way to save even if you're in your overdraft, it allows you to set savings goals that it sets about achieving by looking at your account and working out the best time to put away some of your money towards this goal.You set the level at which you want this done most people settle for a moderate strategy others may want something a little less or more aggressive, either way you are starting to save your money. The algorithm used will quickly become a reliable friend, works in conjunction with your student bank account, so you need to get one first.

Visit: www.getchip.uk for more information

Checks and balances

Make sure you download your bank's mobile banking app and make a point to check transactions and balances often so you can see how you're sticking to your budget.

Make sure you know when the interest-free period on your student overdraft runs out (that’s if you decide to take an overdraft) Remember to get in touch with your university's finance department if you need any support with your finances/want to ask any questions - they are there to help and support you and will be happy to help you if you need it.

For additional useful tips on good financial housekeeping: www.moneysupermarket.com/money-made-easy/money-management-for-students/ Good luck.

Revolut Revolut is a good versatile digital platform with a host of features, it comes complete with an incorporated bank account in case you want to use it, and the choice of a physical or virtual debit Visa card. You control all aspects of the card via an app and can quickly freeze the card if you lose it. Excellent for online transactions as you are not using your main student account (which needs to be attached to it in order to transfer funds). Another great function is that Its good for using abroad and avoiding foreign exchange charges as it allows you to convert your balance into a host of other currencies at the touch of a button.

Visit: www.revolut.com for more information

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‘I now feel confident in the wor e are a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. Our 3 global businesses – Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare – research, develop and manufacture life-enhancing products for our patients and consumers.

Together, they are responsible for everything from measles vaccines and major pain relief brands, to research into new medicines to treat a range of diseases.

Our goal is to be one of the world’s

W

uring sixth form, I knew I wanted to do engineering, so I considered both apprenticeships and university. University in some ways w a s the safer option as there was a lot more support and information about it. I also have an older sister who went to university, so I was aware of what to expect. However, I felt that an apprenticeship would outweigh the benefits of going to university for me, as I’d be able to simultaneously experience the world of work and get the qualifications I needed.

My parents weren’t very sure about an apprenticeship, mostly because they didn’t know what it would involve and whether it was the right thing for me. Like many parents, their goal for me was the traditional university route as that was all they knew.

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EXPERIENCE I applied for the GSK Engineering apprenticeship programme around the same time as my UCAS application. The apprentice application process had multiple stages; the first stage was a simple application form where I expressed my interest, gave my qualifications and prior experience. I then took an online test - the World of GSK - which showed several videos and asked multiple-choice questions on what would influence your decisions if you were at GSK. The last stage was the assessment centre, where I could show everything I had expressed in the previous stages. I was able to see the site and meet the people working there and this was a great opportunity to see for myself whether this apprenticeship was right for me. Luckily, I passed and was given an offer to join the programme.

EARNING My parents then took time to understand the apprenticeship. One of the real benefits was the fact that I would be earning while my education was being paid for and I would even have the chance to do my degree. All in all, there was no reason to not accept the offer.

When I started the apprenticeship, it was hard to see all my friends who went directly to university having a great time during freshers week; I did feel like I was missing

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most innovative, best-performing and trusted healthcare companies.

Whatever area you join, you’ll find our values and expectations are at the heart of all we do. Our values are Patient focus, Respect for people, Transparency and Integrity, and we’ll expect you to share them too. Along with our four expectations – Courage, Accountability, Development and Teamwork – they guide our actions and decision making, so we can achieve extraordinary things for our patients and consumers.

We’re 100% open to all talent – whatever your gender, marital status, religion, age, colour, race, sexual orientation, nationality or disability. We

want to recruit the right people for GSK from the widest possible backgrounds, so we can better serve the diversity of our patients and consumers. And also because it’s the right thing to do.

A key priority for GSK is to make sure we can all be ourselves, feel good and keep growing. Our Employee Resource Groups – Embrace (ethnic minority), the Women’s Leadership Initiative, Spectrum (LGBT+) and the Disability Confidence Network - ensure we continue to progress in creating an inclusive environment where everyone can be their best.

How does an apprenticeship compare to university?

Our apprenticeship programme is a smart alternative route for students who want to start their career from day one.

out. Although I had been very excited prior to starting, after some time I started to become doubtful and wondered if it really was the best option for me. It was a hard adjustment and I realised that going from school to a full-time job is a very big jump.

OPPORTUNITIES But once I fully settled in and got into a routine I started to enjoy it more and more.

You’re surrounded by colleagues of all ages, but there are many who are starting their career, from the apprentices to the placement students to the graduates, so we’ve gradually built a network. I’ve been able to connect with apprentices all around the world through events such as the Outward Bound week which is a residential trip filled with team building activities and we also have an online platform called NxtGen which is our global network of apprentices.

I’ve been invited to other networking opportunities such as the WISE awards, and an Institute of Engineering & Technology event, and hopefully many more will come my way.

TECHNOLOGY I am now in the second year of my apprenticeship and I’m seconded to the Automation team where we create and apply technology to monitor and control the production of data, products and services.

I really enjoy this side of engineering. It’s such a broad career and there are many opportunities and different paths I could take.

In December 2018, I completed my Electrical HNC course and this September I’ll register to complete my Electrical and Electronic Engineering Degree – at one of the universities I had on my UCAS form! I’m interacting with a variety of people across different areas of work and constantly broadening my knowledge. I now feel confident in the workplace and hope to spend the rest of my apprenticeship learning more and becoming a real asset to the company.

Meet GSK

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rkplace’ says Natalie from GSK You’ll benefit from early responsibility and opportunities in the world of work, enabling you to reach your career goals whilst studying towards academic and industry accredited qualifications.

What does an apprenticeship involve?

Apprenticeships give you hands-on experience in your chosen discipline and the opportunity to play a key role in contributing to the future success of the company, while learning on-thejob from industry leaders, earning a

competitive salary and studying towards a degree, postgraduate or academic qualification.

What are the learning and development opportunities?

The opportunities range from science to engineering, from manufacturing to business operations. We have many different ap-

prenticeship programmes as shown in the diagram below.

You’ll have the opportunity to grow and develop with GSK and reach technical specialist, management and leadership levels. Our differentiated training and development programme consists of learning on the job from industry experts, to having an assigned mentor or buddy, as well as the more formal qualification part of your apprenticeship. To support your soft skills development, you’ll be engaged in teamwork, making presentations and building communications experience. You’ll also take part in development weeks where you will meet and network with other apprentices from the UK and beyond.

At which sites can I undertake an apprenticeship at GSK? GSK offers apprenticeships across many of our sites in the UK. Ideally, you’ll live within a 60 minute commute of your chosen site, either at home or with close family or friends. The roles we have available vary from site to site, so please think carefully whether we have the right role you for in the right area.

Who can apply?

We offer Advanced through to Higher and Degree apprenticeships. There is no age restriction and the level of apprenticeship you apply for depends on your current skills, qualifications and of course, your area of interest.

If you have completed: GCSEs, Scottish Standards or equivalent • You can apply for an Advanced apprenticeship A Levels, Scottish Highers, BTEC or equivalent • You can apply for a Higher apprenticeship • You gain a foundation degree or equivalent A Levels • You can apply for a Degree (Level 6) apprenticeship • You gain a full Bachelor (Honours) degree, the same qualification if you had studied at university

GSK Apprenticeship have no age restrictions.

How can I apply and what is the selection process?

There are 5 stages to the process which are outlined below and there’s more information on our careers website www.gsk.com/careers

Will there be a permanent job at the end?

Apprenticeships are now an essential component of our talent pipeline. We establish all our apprenticeship programmes with the ambition of offering a permanent position upon successful completion of the programme.

To date, over 95% of our former apprentices are still with the company in full time roles.

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One programme.

Countless destinations.

Vehicle maintenance at Royal Mail isn’t what it used to be. From working on the general public’s cars to fixing our next-generation electric vehicles, there’s more under our bonnet than you’d expect.

With 47,000 vehicles in our fleet, 50,000 commercial customers and 87 locations, the variety we offer is unrivalled. You could be replacing simple parts one day, and solving complex faults the next. Working with an award-winning team, recognised by the industry and committed to reducing carbon emissions, you’ll learn everything there is to know, inside out.

Our Apprenticeships • Light vehicle maintenance • Heavy vehicle maintenance • Body repair technician Passion, excitement and an eagerness to learn. That’s what we look for in our apprentices. You don’t need to be an expert, if you’re curious, enthusiastic and have a flair for mechanics, we’ll turn you into an engineering expert.

Apprenticeships are an ideal way to start a rewarding career. And Royal Mail is the ideal place to begin your journey. Whether you’re working in our Fleet, Planning and Programmes, Finance, Sales, Fleet Management, Engineering, Logistics or Operations, your work is pivotal to our future.

Find out more and apply for Fleet apprentice positions starting in September 2019. earlycareers.royalmailgroup.com/apprenticeships Royal Mail and the cruciform are trademarks of Royal Mail Group Ltd. © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2019. All rights reserved.

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