ACE the Youth Employment e-Magazine by Laura-Jane Rawlings

employ e t a e - cr advise

g n i c u d intro ht g i n K Alex editor ior n u j . E . A.C

in this edition: The Youth Contract – Contract To Fail? Work Experience: Join In On WEW 2014 In October

#SecretJobs

CAMPAIGN

pages on the jobs that that can clean up your career!

How To Make Your Student Finance Go Further Get Up & Work! Technopop Festival: 4 Weeks Packed With Technology – Find Out More Inside!

The Building Futures Group

UK FREE / #19 SEPTEMBER 2014

clevy m a i v l y s Welcome to the September edition of A.C.E. September is the anniversary month of me joining Youth Employment UK. It has been the most amazing year working on the e-Mag, and with the Youth Ambassadors, our brilliant and inspiring CEO Laura-Jane Rawlings. Whilst getting involved and meeting with youth organisations across the UK and hearing about the brilliant opportunities they offer young people and speaking to the young people they support. I’m really excited to share that for the last week I have been working with Alex Knight – our newly appointed junior editor! Alex will be working closely with the team at Youth Employment UK to curate and edit each edition of A.C.E. I’ll be handing this page over to Alex, to ensure that we are youth lead throughout the organisation... Hello readers, I’m Alex Knight, the new junior editor of A.C.E. I have been working closely with Sylvia on this edition to ensure that Youth Employment UK’s excellent knowledge of all things youth un/employment and my experience of being a young person in the job market combines to make it youth and business friendly. The magazine is crucial because it means that even when the media have moved away from the subject, A.C.E. and YEUK are dedicated to championing young people. Without young people there is no future and without nurturing every generation, you risk losing a decade or so of leaders. This edition has been a really exciting time to start as it offers a wide range of subjects, from gap years, to some brilliant Youth Ambassador stories and interviews, with social media tips also thrown into the mix. Whether you’re an employer or a student going to college, university, an apprenticeship or if you’re just unsure, there’s plenty of information in this month’s articles to put you at ease! Especially with the start of a regular feature informing you of the places to go if you need advice on any career issues. It is also getting nearer to the first ‘Youth Friendly’ National Awards, at Chelsea Football ground on November 25th, giving both our YEUK Youth Ambassadors and the National badge holders the chance to celebrate and see the progress YEUK has made. I hope you all enjoy this month’s A.C.E. magazine. Alex Knight

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YEUK 32 34-35 36

Labour Market Analysis – REC Our Sponsors Advertising Rates & Information

Hints & Tips 04-13 Social Media – You’re Hired 06 Nothing To Live For? 07 How To Make Your Student Loan Go Further 14 Boost Your CV With The STARR Method 18 Get Up & Work! 24 & 25 Plotr: Careers Help & Inspiration For You Is Here! 29 Preparing For University? 33 Where To Find Careers Information

this month’s pull-out: The Building Futures

CAMPAIGN #SecretJobs /////////////////////////

see centre pages ➔

News & Personal Stories 10 First Youth Friendly Radio Station, Desi Radio 12 & 13 How To Tackle Youth Unemployment 16 & 17 The Youth Contract – A Contract To Back Fire? 20 & 21 Technopop Exhibition 27 Taking A Gap Year? 30 & 31 Youth Unemployment Has Fallen – Or Has It?

Interviews 04 09 22

Interview With A Graduate Questions For Apprentice Tom Work Experience At Go Think Big

YouthEmploymentUK Youth Employment UK C.I.C. Group @yeuk

For Employers 05 19 26

Human Cost Of Skills Shortages WE Week 2014 – Get Involved Work Experience Barriers

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@YEUK2012

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

INTERVIEWS

Miki Vyse, age 23, spoke to YEUK Youth Ambassador Shakira Martin about her time at university and life finding work after she graduated. ////////////////////////////////////////////// I went to a Catholic High School, then a Local Community Sixth Form and then studied at Leeds Trinity University. I looked into loads of graduate schemes, as it seemed like the only thing anyone ever talked about and the only option of work after getting a degree. While I was at university, I volunteered in a local charity shop, but also did some overseas volunteering work and was the Student Union’s RAG officer (raising and giving) for four years! As part of our course we had to do professional development, but also we had a great careers service that could help with job hunting, interview techniques and applications. I always went

before I handed in an application to see how good my forms were. Luckily, I was elected so I was able to stop looking for work, and had my job. However, I am terrified to start looking as all my friends have either fallen into something really fast or had great struggles. It’s not easy and it’s the constant fight to prove that you are more than what is in your papers, which, when people only see your paper, is hard. As part of my course I did placements that were mainly unpaid, but as it’s part of the course you are still covered (ish) by your student loan, and you can still take time off to work, like when you study. I liked the idea, but fundamentally, it’s too expensive to live and study and do unpaid work, it’s just not fair. I am now employed and work for a Student Union, we do a lot around employment, creating jobs for students and helping students find part-time work and also fighting for worker’s rights.

My advice to young people: • Don’t give up, the job market is sparse at the moment and jobs are scarce but something will appear. • Don’t be afraid of rejection, everything is a learning curve. • Never forget that you are worth it, you are incredible and you are going to change the way the world looks at your field one day.

IN THE BEGINNING Imagine this. Just over 20 years ago there was no such thing as Social Media. One of the early pioneers was Yahoo’s Geocities. There’s no doubt things have significantly evolved since then. Thenextweb.com recently reported that Facebook passed “1.23 billion monthly active users, 945 million mobile users, and 757 million daily users” – wowser! (continued on p5)

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

by mike bedford

FOR EMPLOYERS

New findings from the Prince’s Trust suggest that skills shortages could affect levels of productivity and morale amongst existing workers. • Two-thirds of employers believe that their staff would experience increased stress and anxiety as a result of skills shortages (67%) • A similar proportion agree that employee morale and satisfaction would decline (64%) • More than 6 in 10 business leaders believe that a skills shortage would result in losing work to competitors (63%) Employers are increasingly looking to the next generation to help fill the skills gaps they are facing. However, the research also shows that young people – particularly those who are currently unemployed – still face negative stereotyping from business leaders.

• Almost three-quarters believe that the recruitment of young people is vital to avert a skills crisis (72%) • More than two-thirds of respondents believe that investing in better training for young people would help to fill skills gaps (68%) • Employers are facing difficulties with succession planning – 6 in 10 admit they are struggling to recruit the leaders of tomorrow (60%) Despite this: • 71% of UK businesses admit that jobless young people face stigma from employers • More than two-thirds warn of a culture where unemployed young people (69%) and those without a degree (67%) are unfairly overlooked in the jobs market Read the full report here: www.princes-trust.org.uk/pdf/ SkillsCrunch.pdf

YEUK says: The skills gap is a very real issue for employers and young people. Our major campaign is the Youth Friendly badge, getting more employers to support work experience, careers talks and mentoring is crucial. If you are doing these things as a business you can be recognised for it by the badge if you are not, then please take a look and see how you can help the next generation.

TELL ME MORE Ok then what is Social Media? Simply put it is to connect people with people (a huge community). Connecting with people is great right? Yes of course, but as with life outside the ‘virtual world’ you are still ultimately responsible for your actions. Think about it, if you put yourself out there in the public domain then you are an open target unless you use some good old fashioned common sense. What? Well let’s talk about job seeking for instance as it’s something we all have to do at some point unless you have filthy rich parents and even then that’s no guarantee of a free meal ticket. (continued on p6)

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HINTS & TIPS

EUK Y , n o k by ha ssador a b m a youth /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Earlier this year, I read an article on the BBC website that pointed out a shocking fact to me; 9% of young people in the UK feel they have nothing to live for! How can young people feel this way? When the tides are beginning to change? • Get proactive – If you look at the people who are getting jobs it’s because they are putting all their effort into it. • If you feel you are doing your best, stop and take stock. Find out what others are doing, get in touch with YEUK. • Remember that advertised jobs will be flooded by applications and often by over qualified people. Therefore, it is essential you also think outside of the box and get creative in your job search.

• Have a good think about what you would like to do, research the small companies that operate in that sector and email, write or call them. • Don’t be picky – I have heard quite a few people turn down a job because either it didn’t pay enough or they felt it was below their skill level. Some of our greatest leaders started at the bottom. Like Steve Jobs said: “your grandparents would see working at McDonalds as an opportunity”. A smart person would see the opportunity to work hard, add value and then climb the ladder! Find what you are passionate about – be aware this very rarely happens on the first try, but don’t be afraid and don’t stop looking.

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH So what’s the fuss about? Well let me tell you. I worked in recruitment for a good few years and supported many employers when they were filling vacancies. I learnt a few tricks of the trade in this time including Social Media etiquette. Yes there really is such a thing (word to the wise – take note). Top tip: Google yourself. See what you can find and then ask yourself this simple question – would I hire me? If you didn’t find anything, take a closer look at your Social Media account and ask yourself the same question. We are all human and like to have a good time but are you presenting yourself as a safe bet or a risk to an employer? (continued on p7)

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HINTS & TIPS

-jane, a x e l a ssador a by b m a outh y K U E Y Being a student is expensive, especially if you are career-orientated like me. There are expenses involved with volunteering, attending talks and attending assessment centres (although most companies do reimburse you, it is after the fact). So, how do I make my student loan stretch further so I can do all these things!?

• Get yourself a NUS card. From £12 it saves you loads of money on the things you would normally buy. • Get yourself a 16-25 railcard. Snap this us as you won’t be this age forever! This comes in real handy when attending assessment centres or conferences which are usually in London or Birmingham. • Ever used cash-back sites? Before I purchase anything, I look whether the shop is on Quidco or TopCashBack. These are free to join and give you cash-back on purchases that you can either have back as Tesco points, Amazon vouchers (good for university books) or straight-forward money. • Coupons! My friends laugh at me about all the free events, samples and coupons that I get. Having discounts or free days out saves money for petrol, clothing and food associated with attending events. I always look on The National Trust website for events and events put on by the local council such as The Love Festival. • Get free samples to test and leave feedback! I am signed up to Bzz Agent which sends you free samples (this month it is four full sized bottles of Frizzi) and all I have to do is post reviews on Facebook!

ARE YOU LISTENING NOW? Employers are Social Media savvy make no mistake about it; they are using the internet to screen potential candidates before even shortlisting for interview. According to USA Today columnist Steven Petrow it’s important to help our “young people understand the long-term ramifications of their social media presence”. This reiterates what I just said earlier. Fear not. You can take some simple steps to protect yourself like changing your security settings on Facebook, unless you want the world to see you warts and all. In terms of a profile picture my view differs from several experts and I say that indeed (great job search engine – see what I just did) we are not robots so it’s ok to have a personality but you have to decide what’s a personality and what would someone draw from that image. (continued on p9)

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INTERVIEW

This month we caught up with YEUK Youth Ambassador Tom, who is currently an apprentice! He told us about how he is doing and what his plans are for the next three months…

I have been an apprentice now for 10 months with Spraylat International Ltd which is based in Corby, Northamptonshire. My apprenticeship provider is Business Impact UK.

What support have you been given by your manager and what has this been? My manager Lee is giving me all the support I need by helping me with questions in the creative thinking booklet (not my strong point), he has also been talking me through tasks I don’t fully understand but at the same time is trying to let me be more independent. Lee has also been giving me constructive criticism throughout my apprenticeship to help me learn my role as a Laboratory technician better.

I see my apprenticeship tutor every six weeks or less depending when we are both free and if I need to do an exam or not. I am working towards my Performing Manufacturing operations exam which I failed by about 1 mark last time.

What challenges have you had to overcome this month? Working with different surfaces we were testing became a real challenge as some of the surfaces were too thick, and they nearly broke the machine that we use to coat out with. But with another

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surface that we had to coat out we needed to stick onto glass as they were too thin. This month has been a real learning curve with only two months left of my first year’s apprenticeship. What do you hope to achieve in the next three months? Finishing my Level 2 Performing Manufacturing Operations apprenticeship and hopefully getting onto a Level 3 Laboratory Technicians apprenticeship.

DIFFERENT STROKES I love Twitter that’s a fact but in my humble view LinkedIn is one of the most useful and powerful tools on the WWW. There are over 300 million users as of January 2014 and membership is growing at a rate of 2 per second. Your profile is 11 times more likely to get viewed with a picture – I would recommend a picture on all Social Media sites as people like to see who they’re dealing with and try using the same one across all platforms. Don’t oversaturate yourself though, find your niche and stick to it. Listen to what others are saying – remember we have two ears and one mouth. Check out these LinkedIn stats. (continued on p10)

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NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES

We support young people between 15-24 years old, and depending on what they aspire to achieve dictates the opportunities that are made available by our radio station. My siblings and I have dedicated most our time to running the local radio station situated in the borough of Ealing. We are passionate about promoting cultural cohesion within our local community and providing members of the community with a platform to allow their voices to be heard. Our mission has always been to provide opportunities for our local community to enable them to gain skills and qualifications in order to realise their full potential and boost confidence. We do not have a set time limit in when a young person leaves; we absolutely love

and encourage young people to come up with new ideas to improve our radio station and how we communicate opportunities that are available. The next step in their career ultimately depends on them. We have had students go on to university to study media and technological subjects. Some students tend to find employment whilst volunteering at our organisation and others continue on radio training. We try to work through with the young people who are volunteering or hosting a radio show. If they have any questions or need assistance, we have quite a few of our members that they can approach at any time. Input from our young people is very important and ultimately provides us with an insight in to what more we can do to improve our services and what in essence is functioning well.

We are currently working on promoting the opportunities we have through creating videos and improving the website making it easier to apply. This project is 90% led by the young people. By working in a team they are able collate all their ideas and knowledge together. ////////////////////////////////////////////// If you would like to volunteer at Desi Radio and boost your CV skills, get in touch by emailing us: info@desiradio.co.uk

SOCIAL MEDIA & ME How has Social Media worked for me? I am a relative newcomer to Social Media probably only really discovering its true benefits in the last five years. I can only say that it has had an enormous positive effect on my life. I use Social Media in both a professional and personal capacity to share, learn and network. I am now a part of a huge community of very talented and gifted people and my life is greatly enriched as a result. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re already a regular Social Media user like me, check out this great piece from www.thenextweb.com â&#x20AC;&#x201C; take the test and see what your Social Media personality is (I am an Ultra). That sounds cool but in fact I feel itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually quite nerdy! (continued on p13)

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

Youth UnEMPLOYMENT It’s your fight, join us & let’s make the UK YOUth Friendly

If you are 16-24 then youth unemployment should be something you care about, if not for you then for some of the 1 MILLION young people currently NEET. We are working hard to fight youth unemployment but we need you, we want your voices to be at the heart of our work. Become a FREE member of Youth Employment UK CIC, Step Up to our Positive Youth Charter and help us make the difference you want to see.

www.yeuk.org.uk

lphin o D y n by To Although youth unemployment has fallen sharply in the UK over the last year, there are still around three-quarters of a million young people, aged 16 to 24, looking for work – half a million if full-time students are excluded. More than one in eight of all young people are not in education, employment or training (NEET). The consequences of youth unemployment are so serious that the government should make tackling it a bigger priority. Research shows people who suffer a long period without work while young do worse in the labour market than their contemporaries throughout the rest of their lives. They are more likely to be unemployed in their 30s, 40s and 50s; and when they are in work they tend to earn less. We should aim to bring youth unemployment and the proportion of NEETs in the UK down to be among the lowest in Europe. Germany, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands all have NEET rates that are less than half the rate in the UK. In a recent report, IPPR (the Institute for Public Policy Research) compared the experience of young people in the UK with that of those in other European countries. We found that countries with the lowest youth unemployment rates have much stronger workplace-based vocational education and training systems, with a higher degree

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of employer involvement, and dedicated support systems for those who experience a difficult transition from education to work. We set out several steps that should be taken to bring the UK’s system into line with the best in Europe. Vocational education in England should be reformed so that it has a greater focus on employability. Higher level vocational education should be regarded as a valid alternative to a university education as a pathway into work. A crucial part of this reform should be increasing employers’ involvement in young people’s training to ensure that they develop meaningful, useful skills. Firms should be made to take a financial stake through the introduction of a youth apprenticeship levy, with the proceeds used to fund vocational education and training for young apprentices. Apprenticeships also need to be improved. They should be seen by students and employers as a high-quality vocational route into work for young people. No one aged 23 or over should be allowed to start an apprenticeship (except in exceptional circumstances) and few apprentices should be aged 25 or over. All apprenticeships should be at level 3 and above and should last for a minimum of one year. Apprentices should spend at least 30% of their time doing off-the-job training.

NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES

Careers education and guidance play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition from education to work in those European countries that have low rates of youth unemployment. Careers education should be embedded in the curriculum from primary school onwards and for pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 should involve a greater degree of contact with local employers. Careers guidance should be provided by specialist advisers and every secondary school should be required to appoint a full-time Careers Officer responsible for careers education and guidance

and for liaison with local employers.

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Finally, a distinct work, training and benefits system should be established for young people, with a youth allowance for those in further education and training or who are actively looking for a job; a guarantee of work experience to any young person who has been out of work and looking for a job for six months; and a personal adviser to help young people find work or to identify the most appropriate further education and training opportunities.

Tony Dolphin is Chief Economist at IPPR, the Institute for Public Policy Research. His recent report – Remember the young ones: Improving career opportunities for Britain’s young people – can be found at: www.ippr.org/ publications/remember-theyoung-ones-improving-careeropportunities-for-britains-youngpeople

FINAL THOUGHTS Don’t be afraid, dip your toe in the water, interact with others and see how you can use Social Media to benefit you and others around you. However, whatever you do – do not under any circumstances remain an anonymous egg… ever! #socialmedia #digitalinclusion #digitalskills #youth #employment #linkedin #facebook #internet #employability #skills #interview #business #twitter #network #whitewords

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About the author – Mike Bedford; A self-confessed Social Media addict blogger, tweeter and LinkedIn aficionado. Mike currently works at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills within the Digital Economy Unit (views expressed are entirely personal). He states that although he is a “technerd” he is a “user not a creator” of technology. He previously worked within recruitment for Jobcentre Plus specialising in working with and supporting young adults and employers. Mike is a committed volunteer and is passionate about supporting young adults and digital inclusion for all. Mike works tirelessly as a digital champion both professionally and personally. His current personal projects include supporting @LeedsEBP as a local youth champion and being actively involved with various digital inclusion community campaigns.

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

HINTS & TIPS

-jane, a x e l ador a s s a by b m outh a y K U E Y Here is a great way you can take any experience and make it more ‘attractive’ to employers. Experience: Working part-time in a supermarket

S - A customer came in looking for a specific washing powder as she has sensitive skin.

Usually the majority of applicants will write something along the lines of this in their CV: Example 1 ‘2010-Present: Checkout Operative at Valco Ltd Duties: Stacking the shelves Facing the shelves Processing stock Serving customers’ Yawn! First of all this is dull, it just lists the tasks you have done. The employer must read hundreds/thousands of applications very similar. Sell the SKILLS do you have to offer!

T - There was none on the shelf so I had the task of finding her the product.

A - I asked the customer to wait while I looked out the back for more stock. There were none available so I looked for a suitable alternative and searched the database for the next delivery.

Using the STARR method, it would read like this: Example 2 ‘2010-Present: Checkout Operative at Valco Ltd I worked as a sales assistant to help me fund my way through university. I am a very enthusiastic and positive person, who worked well with the public and other members of the Valco team. It was my job to be commercially aware of what customers wanted, at different times of year, to make sure their needs were met. This can be shown through the example as follows...

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R - I explained to the customer the next delivery would be in on Monday. As she needed the product then, she accepted the alternative and went away happy.

R - If I was doing this again, I would do it quicker as she had to wait a long time.

“

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lch, e w k c by ja dor a s s a b m youth a The grave overtones that Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg described as he announced in 2011 the ambitious roll-out of a £1billion ‘Youth Contract’ initiative, he rightly warned that “If people are out of work when they’re young, they bear the scars for decades.” More’s the pity after less than the intended three year life span to the 2015 General Election, the Youth Contract scheme is being wrapped up early by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and will reinvest the leftover funds into more targeted schemes, such as young Black Minority & Ethnic (BME) groups. Whilst it may be easy to look closely into the collapse of this highly expensive and overarching programme for the

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UK’s most vulnerable young people, the Youth Contract’s basis on the surface were at least honourable. This programme, the Youth Contract, which was designed for 16-17 year olds with poor educational attainment, would be trained with the aim to be ‘re-engaged’ with society with the longer term aim of having sustained employment. Organisations which would adopt participants and devise a programme that would remove their status as NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) would in turn receive up to £2,200 in return of the service they provide. This sounding perhaps too suspiciously simplistic and absurdly board in its aims would be correct to suggest its limitations as soon the initiative

was rolled out. With a staggering 160,000 as the ideal target to fill in vacancies from April 2012, in the midst of a sluggish economy that saw many familiar high-street names still falling under the great strain of the times, dire warnings ultimately proved that intentions fell short of delivery and less than 5,000 of those recruited were to see the fruits of potentially rebuilding their futures. In the official analysis of the scheme, it reports that as of September 2013, a meagre 489 of those individuals were in sustainable positions. To look further into the consequences behind this failure of promise, the House of Lords earlier this published a report entitled ‘Youth unemployment in the EU: a scarred generation?’ which indicates that amongst all EU states, youth unemployment alone has sat as twice as high as that of the overall population, even before the financial crisis. It noted in its report that in the UK especially, “there are a raft of measures to support harder-

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NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES

“There are a raft of measures to support harder-toreach young people, but that graduates and other young people moving from education to work do not have access to the same level of support.”

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to-reach young people, but that graduates and other young people moving from education to work do not have access to the same level of support.” This in itself results in a difficulty that both the most skilled, like graduates, and untrained individuals ultimately aim for the same unskilled careers that feel easier to come by. The reaches of the Youth Contract indicate that while government sympathises with those most in need, they are in direct competition with their own generation. Another criticism, as cited by Simon Bunney from Left

House of Lords report: ‘Youth unemployment in the EU: a scarred generation?’

Foot Forward, is that “programmes which treat young people as a homogenous group will inevitably fail to help those who need the most support.” With burdened local authorities and private companies that would struggle to deliver to some of the most troubled young people, where wellbeing conspicuously lacks as a high priority in the final report, understanding of some of the greater complexities of individual needs are crucial. In solution to this wake of criticism the government will

duly receive, it must accept that working alone, without the implementation of wider European initiatives, can fail. It will also serve them well to listen to non-governmental projects, like vInspired’s Talent scheme or the Big Lottery’s ‘Talent Match’, as to how flickers of success can arise. The UK, like many of its partners in the continent, is already ‘scarred’ by the horrors of youth unemployment. A more coherent, and collaborative, approach will have to be found to ensure successive generations are not wounded permanently.

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HINTS & TIPS

tt, a h b v a r by kesh th ambassado ou YEUK y

We continually cry out to our families and the government for help. What can we do? Where can we go? I’ve got a degree, I’ve got GCSE’s, I’ve got A Levels, I’ve got experience, I’ve got a dream and I want to be something in the world.

You gotta take it seriously, some of you are not where you want to be in life or where you’re supposed to be, yet, you party every weekend. What exactly are you celebrating? If you want that life you’ve always dreamed of, you gotta seize it with both hands.

But let me tell you the truth. So what you have all those things? So what?

The world, it doesn’t owe you anything. But you owe the world something. You owe it your time, your energy and your talent.

Some of you might have a good education behind you, some of you might even have a bit of experience, but, so what? So does everyone else. Life is about to LEVEL up on you, and you’re about to the face the big boss. Now is the time to ask yourself: do I have what it takes to break this cycle? Do I have the strength, not just to fight, but also, to endure? Because for every opportunity, every job you apply to, every interview you attend – you’re not the only one there with the necessary qualifications and relevant work experience. Yeah, some of you are already on the way, and others aren’t. But the guys with the money, the people who make the big decisions, are starting to come out of a couple of years of financial hibernation and NOW is the time for you to make your move. Fight hard now, and live forever as a champion.

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

Stop behaving like a child, and take responsibility for your world. For OUR world – we aren’t the next generation of leaders anymore. We are this generation of leaders, and this, is our time. We’re not unemployed because there isn’t any work. Look around – we’ve got a shortage of houses, climate change continues to be a problem, we need better education and schooling, inequality continues to grow, women continue to be raped – even in my local park, there is litter and all kinds of dog poo to be picked up. There is work to be done. There is a rapidly growing elderly population, and we are the ones who will have to look after their needs. The work is there to be done. The need is there. So what kind of world has need for work, but no jobs? It’s a world where work isn’t related to our needs. We have our work satisfying the profit needs of business. But guess what?

This country wasn’t BUILT by the huge corporations or governments. It was built... by the people. By the people who work. By the people who work 30 years, and get a pension that just about keeps them afloat. By the parents who slave every day in a dead-end job they don’t like, for their three kids at home. It was built by people who work. So ask yourself: who are you not to work? This town, this city, this country – this society – needs you to work. //////////////////////////////////////////////

s b o J t e #Secr

what’s inside: • • • • •

What Is Facilities Management? Skills & Experience One Sector, Lots Of Jobs Cleaning – A Career Fighting Grime Where To Find More Information

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Facilities management might include; IT, telephone & communications, catering & vending, cleaning, utilities & space management. • Maintenance – making sure a building is safe, clean and in full working order is vital. This hidden sector is facilities management and its associated industries, such as housing, property, cleaning and parking. Think of a big structure, such as a school or hospital - the people working to keep it maintained, clean, safe and in full working order all work in facilities management. To run

effectively, organisations and their staff need to be able to get into work and access a range of facilities, such as kitchens, toilets, IT and HR, and all before they can begin their own jobs. So you can see the importance of people working in facilities management, especially when they’re connected to so many other industries.

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People can find these sectors to be demanding, fast, challenging, technical, fun, varied and changing, so what sort of skills should you have? You could develop the skills and experience in a variety of ways, including: • Part-time work (catering, cleaning, & gardening). • Sports (team sports develop great skills for work, such as communication & teamwork). • Volunteering or community work.

• Car parking – for bigger buildings, this could be a huge task with high security. • Grounds – playgrounds, sports fields, play equipment & gardens all need careful maintenance. • Security – this can involve careful planning & strategy by indoor & outdoor security staff.

Th hund ere are r eds this s ector of jobs in , from positi o that r ns to entr graduate yeq and li uire few q level roles ttle ex ualific p a devel op on erience. Yo tions u t h can e job qua appre lifications , studying throu ntice cours ships or p gh a es if y ou w rt-time a n progr t to ess.

Facilities manager Facilities managers make sure that buildings and their services meet the needs of the people who work in them. They manage services, such as cleaning, security and parking. They also manage building maintenance, like heating and air conditioning systems. Facilities managers can earn from £26,000 to £45,000 a year. Senior or regional facilities managers can earn up to £60,000 a year or more. You would normally need a combination of relevant experience and qualifications to become a facilities manager. This could include (hard) technical skills related to buildings and property, as well as (soft) management skills. You may also be able to work your way up to this role by starting in an apprenticeship or other role and training on the job.

Related roles: • Reception • Maintenance • Engineering • Project management • Events • Cleaning services

Groundsperson or greenkeeper As a groundsperson or greenkeeper, you would look after sports grounds, such as football, cricket and rugby pitches, bowling greens, tennis courts, racecourses and golf

Catering manager Catering managers plan, organise and develop the food and beverage services of organisations and businesses, while meeting customer expectations, food and hygiene standards and financial targets.

courses. If you enjoy horticulture and working outdoors, this could be the job for you. As an unskilled groundsperson, you could earn between £16,502 to £20,160 a year. With experience and qualifications, a skilled groundsperson can earn between £20,596 to £25,163 a year. As a head groundsperson or grounds manager of a highprofile sporting venue, you could be earning up to £45,380 or more. There is no fixed entry route to becoming a groundsperson or greenkeeper. You may be able to find work as an unskilled groundsperson without relevant qualifications. You could then work your way up by studying towards qualifications and gaining experience.

Related roles: • Gardener • Landscaper • Crowd control • Security • Security management

Salaries for trainee catering manager roles range from £15,000 to £21,000. Salaries for experienced catering managers range from £25,000 to £40,000. A degree/HND in the following subjects may increase your chances: • Culinary arts or culinary management • Hospitality management • Food science & technology • Business or management studies • Health & safety manager. continued overleaf >

> continued from previous page Although a degree is not essential, you could work your way up to this management position by starting in an entry-level catering role or apprenticeship.

Related roles: • Vending machine operator • Delivery driver • Planning • Food inspector • Food and hygiene trainer

Purchasing manager Purchasing managers are responsible for buying the best quality equipment, goods and services for a company or organisation at the most competitive prices. They work in a wide range of sectors for many different organisations.

Graduate entry-level salaries (possibly at purchasing assistant/junior buyer level with no prior purchasing experience) may start at around £18,000. This could progress to £20,000 to £25,000 if the graduate has some relevant experience. Those who perform well can expect a fast promotion, and salaries at a higher level with further experience can range from £30,000 to £40,000. Senior managers and purchasing directors can expect to earn between £50,000 to £100,000 – especially in large organisations. Entry requirements vary depending on the type and size of the employing organisation. Large retail stores and wholesale distribution centres tend to prefer applicants who have completed a degree with a business emphasis.

A professional qualification from an organisation, such as the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), may be required or at least an agreement to work to this qualification.

Related roles: • Supply chain • Logistics • Customer services • Administration • Finance • Operations

A career in cleaning offers a range of benefits: • Variety – opportunity to take responsibility for a range of cleaning duties. • Career – progress to supervisory positions or even set up a cleaning business. • Options – cleaning offers a range of career options, from general cleaning to window, upholstery, biohazard, graffiti or even crime scene cleaning. • Challenging – experience the challenges associated with ensuring buildings are clean and safe on a daily basis. • People – have the chance to work with people with a wide variety of backgrounds at all levels.

A career in cleaning can offer some great opportunities for career development that can lead to high salaries or even setting up your own business. It’s possible to start a career in a cleaning role without any formal entry requirements – once you’ve secured a position, there are a range of training options available leading to promotion and higher earnings.

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Cleaning operative A cleaning operative is responsible for making sure buildings and transport and their surrounding areas are clean and safe for people to use. Career prospects in commercial cleaning are good if you want to progress to supervisory or management positions. Alternatively, you could set up your own cleaning business. A cleaning operative typically earns £12,000 a year. After gaining experience, you could move on to become

a cleaning supervisor, with earnings between £16,000 and £20,000 a year. The ability to manage others and a cleaning supervisory course would be needed. Then there is the move to become a cleaning services manager and you could earn from £20,000 to £25,000 a year. You would need to be able to manage other staff and complete a managerial course.

Cleaning supervisors assign cleaning areas to staff, carry out daily inspections to ensure cleaning operatives are cleaning the premises effectively and ensure that employees follow health and safety procedures.

Skills required for this role: • Basic cleaning • Knowledge of health & safety • Organisational • Ability to use chemicals • Communication • Ability to use cleaning equipment • Customer service • Literacy & numeracy • Team working • Independent working

As a cleaning supervisor, you can earn between £16,000 and £20,000 a year. You need to be able to manage other staff and have a cleaning supervisory qualification.

Cleaning supervisor Cleaning supervisors have overall responsibility for the day-to-day cleaning operations. They still undertake cleaning tasks but have additional responsibilities, like administration, monitoring cleaning service quality and supervision.

Cleaning supervisors are responsible for ensuring that all cleaning operatives are adequately trained and that their workload is manageable.

On completion of a managerial course, you could become a cleaning services manager with earnings from £20,000 to £25,000 a year and then there is also the option of starting up your own business. Skills required for this role: • Basic cleaning • Multitasking • Organisational • Ability to use chemicals • Customer service • Communication

Where to go for more information • Speak with your school or college careers adviser • Talk to a Jobcentre Plus adviser • Call the National Careers Service – 0800 100 900 • Follow #secretjobs and find Twitter chats and useful careers information

USEFUL WEBSITES Asset Skills Employability www.assetskillsemployability. org/youth-employmentcharter/directory Universal Job Match www.gov.uk/jobsearch Youth Employment UK www.yeuk.org.uk Twin FM – facilities management news and events www.twinfm.com

National Careers Service www.nationalcareersservice. direct.gov.uk

Deverell Smith www.deverellsmith.com/ sectors/facilities-management

UCAS Progress www.ucas.com/progress

Hays www.hays.co.uk/fm

Plotr www.plotr.co.uk

Maxwell Stephens peter@maxwellstephens.com

Careers Box www.careersbox.co.uk

Metzger Search and Selection Morna.Metzger@metzger.co.uk

Icould www.icould.com

MYFM david.flower@myfm.co.uk Phoenix Resourcing Group mao@prsjobs.com

SPECIALIST RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

Randstad CPE freyja.jarratt@randstad.co.uk

McDonald and Company www.macdonaldandcompany. com/facilities-management-jobs Core Recruitment www.corecruitment.com

CAREERS INFORMATION The Building Futures Group www.thebuildingfuturesgroup. com/sector-skills-council/careers

Young Managers Forum www.thebuildingfuturesgroup. com/young-managers-forum Planet First www.planetfirst.co.uk

We hope you have found this guide useful and you find a career in facilities management or cleaning to suit you.

Graduate Talent Pool http://graduatetalentpool.direct. gov.uk

www.thebuildingfuturesgroup.com/secretjobs

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outh eer Y g.uk t n u .or ine Vol agaz yeuk @ m o f & n i g .uk tisin dver yeuk.org a h , t l u ria @ t Yo IC Edito t: emag ntac t UK C o n c uk e : en To org. cont rship . e k oym l b u p m 1 ye Em l me ww. 4 143 10 hoo w c : s t i & Vis ll: 0844 k ness a Busi uk.org.u or c e y @ r lj

GIVE YOUTH A CHANCE THIS WORK EXPERIENCE WEEK

FOR EMPLOYERS

Work Experience Week: 13th—17th October 2014 Discover how you can get involved by visiting www.giveyouthachance.com CALLING ALL EMPLOYERS, PROVIDERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE!

eek: w e c n perie x e k r o w- With only 27% of october 2014 Employers th — Employers offering experience -17 13thwork It’s about time to open your doors to fresh minded, motivated individuals that can support and bring your company forward.

Calling all employers, providers and young people! Employers – With only 27% of employers offering work experience, it’s about time to open your doors to fresh minded, motivated individuals that can support and bring your company forward. Training Providers – Do you provide young people with good quality work experience? Promote your offerings through Work Experience Week and the Quality Standard. Young People – Tell us about your work experience at www.giveyouthachance.com

Training Providers - Do you provide young people with good quality work experience? Promote your offerings through Work Experience Week and the Quality Standard.

Discover how you can get involved by visiting www.giveyouthachance.com //////////////////////////////////////////////

Young People - Tell us about your work experience at giveyouthachance.com

HOW YOU CAN HELP * CELEBRATE * TWEET ABOUT IT * OFFER OPPORTUNITIES * PLEDGE YOUR ////////////////////////////////////////////// SUPPORT * SHARE PHOTOS * ADOPT THE QUALITY STANDARD *

FIND US ON:

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How you can help: • Celebrate. • Tweet about it. • Offer opportunities. • Pledge your support. • Share photos. • Adopt the quality standard.

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

piring s n i f o s 4 week ion! t a c u d fun & e Technopop launches in Autumn 2014 at The International Quarter (TIQ) in Stratford City, London. Technopop aims to:

08-12 October

WEEK 2

IN TOUCH WITH TECHNOLOGY

WEEK 3

22-26 October

LOOKING UP

BUILT ENVIRONMENT

WEEK 4

29 October02 November

WEEK 1

15-19 October

• Excite & enthuse young minds • Educate, inspire and inform young people about the dynamic career opportunities in these sectors. • Be an interface between industry and academia. • Provide a launch pad for newtechnologies; innovators and entrepreneurs. • Highlight the UK’s reputation for innovation & technology.

SPORT SCIENCE & THE HUMAN BODY

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

‘Techpreneurs’ get a head start: Speed mentoring; ‘Pop-pitching’; Young entrepreneurs live

Careers & Skills

Whatever goes on above your head comes to Technopop • Astronomy • Weather • Aviation • Space Exploration

Getting in touch with technology – learning to design & code • Digital Design • Code Clubs • Hackathons • Office Hours™

Challenges and innovation in the world’s growing cities • Smart Cities • Future Transportation • Architecture Engineering

The human body is not just about biology but also technology, chemistry & invention • Sport/Fitness • Food Science • Nutrition • Medicine

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Teacher CPD Sessions

Activities to support World Space Week & World Teachers’ Day

Activities to support national curriculum

Olympic legacy and regeneration

Half term family fun celebrating innovation

NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES

THE TECHNOPOP EXHIBITION Open for the whole festival, this exhibition takes you on a tour of the ideas that are shaping the future. Science zone: Discover the science behind the inventions in both homes and industry.

3D zone: Indulge your imagination with 3D technologies, gaming, gadgets and robots.

Technology zone: Play a part in the future of leisure, work and travel from automobiles to start-ups.

Built Environment zone: Be inspired by the built environment as we embrace architecture and design, from green cities to intelligent houses.

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Event highlights, include: World Space Week includes: • Mission X: How to train like an Astronaut • NASA: Humans in Space installation • Introducing astronauts live from UK and Houston

Also featuring: • International Teacher’s Day celebrations • Workshops for teachers: ‘Learn to code in a day’ • Speed mentoring by inspiring industry role models • Family shows by the Science Museum • Hackathons by The Stemettes • Code Clubs • Digital design workshops • Class of your own: Design your own eco-classroom • Science workshops with classroom medics • Ocean’s Project’: Meet Sarah before she rows solo around the UK

A TASTE OF TECHNOPOP Join It Is 3D to discover where 3D technologies can take you. Generating digital 3D information and physical products means there is no limit to your imagination. Experience, understand and use the latest 3D technologies that are being adopted in the real world both in industry and in the creative sector. From product design and jewellery to scale models and art, 3D technologies can bring every subject to life. www.itis3d.com

Download the full exhibition information pack by clicking here

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INTERVIEWS

Youth Employment UK welcomes, GoThinkBig, a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Youth Friendlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; organisation that offers careers advice and brilliant work experience opportunities!

to different sixth forms and colleges in Bristol & Newcastle for outreach. I have helped out with project management by tracking advertising in online and printed magazines. I have also been with the editorial team, pitching my own ideas for features as well as suggesting what they could include on some previously published articles. I have published an article about my experience at GTB and have written a feature on A Level advice for the features page on the website.

GoThinkBig supports young people aged between 16 and 24. We aim to support them to take their first step on the career ladder, whatever their education and background. We do this through inspiring editorial content and amazing work experience opportunities. What age does the young person leave the organisation and what are their next steps? GoThinkBig offers a range of opportunities for young people, which means their engagement is different. The main aim for each individual is to help them take that first step on the career ladder, so they may join us for a one day shadowing opportunity or a three month paid internship. //////////////////////////////////////////////

////////////////////////////////////////////// Name: Jessica Kendrixs Age: 18 Location: London //////////////////////////////////////////////

How did you find out about Go Think Big? I found out about GoThinkBig through my college, they were talking about work experience and their website (gothinkbig.co.uk) which offers advice and also work experience. I signed up for one of their flagship GoThinkBig sessions in London, where I became even more interested and involved with everything that GoThinkBig offers. What projects are you currently working on? I have been included in lots of projects including: researching entry level music industry roles for someone who needed advice,

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

What difference has being part of GoThinkBig made to you? And your career path? I gained new skills such as data validation, using social media software and coding for Facebook. My experience has shown me the many different roles available for me in the future and that I do not have to go through a particular path to get where I want to be. I was very grateful for my time with the editorial team as they allowed for me to pitch my ideas to them, offered advice and suggested improvements. The advice that I have heard across the entire team regarding my future career has been great and I cannot be thankful enough.

Youth Employment UK CIC Youth Friendly Badge (CC) The Youth Friendly Badge (CC) celebrates and recognises your commitment to young people in the UK. It is a public demonstration of your pledge to be a “Youth Friendly” business. In the UK nearly 1 in 5 young people are unemployed; youth unemployment is a growing social, economic and moral problem with a cost to every member of society, but above all, to a young person, somewhere near you. Already thousands of businesses in the UK support young people by attending careers fairs, providing work experience opportunities and taking on young people through apprenticeships, internships, graduate or entry level roles. We know that there is still more to be done and so we want all UK employers to apply for the free Youth Friendly Badge (CC), demonstrating to their communities, to young people, to future employees and to their customers that they are invested in supporting youth employment. There are just 3 simple steps to receiving the Youth Friendly Badge (CC). There is no charge and no financial obligation. You just need to be prepared to invest in supporting young people. Not only will you benefit from the recognition the badge brings to you, but your organisation will also benefit by its investment in its future workforce and future customers.

What are the Steps? 1. The Positive Youth Charter is

Step 1

• Sign the Positive Youth Charter

• Commit to at least 2 activities from the "Youth Friendly" Menu Step 2

an agreement signed by employers, young people & training providers. It creates a common language and commitment by all of those working to fight youth unemployment.

• Self-Assess "Youth Friendly" behaviour

2. The Youth Friendly Menu lists all the great activities that employers can support young people and schools with. Talks, Site Visits, Work Experience, Mentoring, the list is endless and we can also help connect you with organisations that support employers to do these things.

Step 3

3. Finally to receive the certificate you must check your current business behaviours against our 8 Youth Friendly ones to see how your organisation supports young people within its operation. Meet 6+ of the criteria and you will receive a certificate for your organisation.

For more information please visit www.yeuk.org.uk Youth Employment UK CIC is a not for profit campaigning and membership organisation dedicated to fighting youth unemployment. We are wholly committed to making the UK the most “Youth Friendly” place to work. The Youth Friendly Badge (CC) is created under a Creative Commons license, for more details visit www.yeuk.org.uk

parame

aviour h e b l a anim ist special risk con We all know that making decisions about the career you might want or the best qualification or apprenticeship to study can seem a little “needle in the haystack”. Add in that the world of work keeps changing, that there are jobs available that didn’t even exist five years ago or that some jobs haven’t been invented yet and it can start to cause a tailspin! Young people told us that they want a careers website that made careers fun, that gave them some ideas to think about based on their likes and dislikes and had the best information about apprenticeships, qualifications and work experience in one place. Even better if they can search for vacancies, work

experience opportunities and apprenticeships in the same place! So here at Plotr we set to work, we created just that; a brilliant inspirational and independent source of careers information for all young people to access FOR FREE at any time. What’s more if you set up an account you can receive alerts about your ideal jobs, opportunities in your area, save your searches and just keep coming back for more inspiration as and when you need it. At the heart of Plotr is a psychometrics game that takes you through different levels to help map some of the careers that might inspire and suit you (our job profiles are the most up

buyer t i u c s i b s facilitie

to date on the www). We then add in a dose of information like salaries, qualifications and pathways, a scoop of videos so you can find out what people doing the job think, we splash in the links we have to vacancies and opportunities and finally we sprinkled on some help like CV, interview tips and SMART goals to help you get to where you want to be. The result? A recipe for a place to help you design what your future may look like. Thinking about your future should be fun and you should be able to explore all the possibilities open to you and that’s just what we are here for. What’s more we have only just started; we will be developing, improving and moving Plotr on all the time to ensure that it is always what you need, when you need it. Take a look, play the game, keep in touch and watch out for Plotr competitions, new opportunities and things you can get involved in to help plot your future.

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

edic

HINTS & TIPS

roller t n o c l financia

ator n i m r r e e t ex design e r a w t sof ineer g n e g d n u i IT clo arket m l a t i g di t ntor e m g n i nsultan learn ineer g n e y her g p a r ner g e o chore st i c i t e n ge eper e k e s r u e ho manag

Plotr UK contact details: www.plotr.co.uk @Plotr_UK info@plotr.co.uk The Game: www.plotr.co.uk/ career-advice-quiz/

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A.C.E. MAGAZINE

FOR EMPLOYERS

ight n k x e l by a

Work experience is believed to act as a barrier to employment in Britain according to results of a poll commissioned by The Whitehouse Consultancy (ComRes). The poll found 48% of the 2,000 questioned said that youths were unemployed due to firms not wanting to employ young workers because they didn’t have work experience. This follows a recent trend of top business leaders such as the Dragons Den’s Piers Linney claiming that in order to land a job in the current economic climate, qualifications needed supplementing with not only drive but experience too. Despite this recent emphasis on work experience, the same poll also found that schools aren’t doing enough to provide it. As the poll found that 40% of the sample felt that the current system in the UK isn’t preparing youngsters for entering the big wide world beyond the school gates. This has emerged in stark contrast to Office of National Statistic figures, that they revealed the level NEET’s had fallen to its lowest level since 2005 in the three months to June. Over the same period, youth unemployment dropped 0.9% to 16.9% and university applications rose 4%.

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

But this progress will be stunted if the ComRes poll results are an indication of the whole country. It suggests that a combination of the trust of younger workers by companies and a closer relationship between schools and employers are needed. The trust, in order to get those currently NEET into work and give them a chance to prove themselves in the workplace can only be gained if young workers are given a chance. In turn, the barriers of today can be hurdled by making closer relationships, using the latter years of secondary education focused on the future after school. By utilising pastoral lessons to build soft skills, teaching customer service techniques or basic financial skills that that make candidates more employable. What is certain though, is that progress is being made as youth unemployment is falling. This poll gives food for thought – how the government and business react to it, could shape youth employment over the coming years. ////////////////////////////////////////////// Are you 16-24? Looking into work experience, check out this handy work book to get you started! http://fairtrain.reubeninternet.com/ uploaded_files/portlet_images/ images/Youth-Handbook.pdf

NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES

uigan, g c m d r ssador a by gera b m a outh y K U E Y As many students across the UK embark upon their A Level studies (or indeed highers for those in Scotland), there comes the daunting task of selecting UCAS choices for entry into university. Whilst for many this will come as an easy task, choosing a career and set university pathway from as early as 16, others may find themselves uncertain as to what they wish to pursue or indeed feel pressure to enter immediately into higher education without much thought as to what they wish to study. This is ok! This article will focus on the pros and cons of taking a gap year and why this might just be the best choice for you as a soon-to-be school leaver. Generally speaking, most academics and higher-level institutions see great value in taking a gap year, if spent wisely. The key word here is wisely, for if you intend on taking a year to do little other than troll Facebook or binge-watch Netflix’s latest offerings, the chances are you’ll not impress at interview or be able to justify taking a year out. This aside, there is a lot to be said about the benefits of a gap year if you are undecided as to what you want to study at university. I personally did not take a

gap year, choosing to study Law with French immediately following my A Levels. Looking back now, I wish I had done. I don’t necessarily regret my course choice, but I feel I may have made a more informed decision had I taken a year to gain experience in different areas I was interested in or try my hand at some volunteering. I have friends who have taken a gap year and couldn’t recommend it any higher; some chose to engage heavily in charity work or develop sporting skills and as a result they have entered university with a much clearer focus and are more determined to work hard and succeed. Above all, the concept of a gap year appears to be stable, if you use your time correctly. For many it’s the opportunity to plan the trip of a lifetime with friends (more info at www.gapyear.com), or challenge yourself by learning new skills or embrace new cultures and societies. Besides the personal benefits this can bring, a recent study by Lattitude Global Volunteering has shown that 88% of those surveyed found that taking a gap year actually boosted their employability chances!1 No matter what you choose to do, it’s vital that you take

the time to carefully plan the next stage of your education, whether that involves taking a gap year to figure out exactly what you want to do or dive straight into higher education or professional courses. The most successful gap year students strike a balance between gaining work experience, volunteering, and independent travel, which enables them to become more rounded individuals and use their time wisely to really impress future employers! ////////////////////////////////////////////// References: 1) www.lattitude. org.uk/2013/03/gap-year-bynumbers/

A.C.E. MAGAZINE

Recruitment

Raising Your Profile

We are reaching out to thousands of young people across the UK through our e-magazine, social media and membership. All of our members are promoted to our young supporters:

We are committed to supporting our members and ensuring they are a big part of our work. Our members get to:

. All young members can access our employer members database. . You can promote your recruitment pages through our members database and social media channels. . You can promote your events to our young supporters . You can attend our events and will be offered opportunities to present to our network of education ambassadors* . Expert support for your recruitment strategy and youth engagement programmes*

. Contribute editorial and case studies for our e-magazine. . Have your logo on our website and in our e-magazine. . Be seen on our members database. . Receive support through our social media channels. . Get involved in our events, competitions and lobbying work. . Work with a dedicated account manager * (*corporate members only)

(*corporate members only)

Information

CSR

All of our members get unlimited access to our online platform and information services:

As a not-for-profit we reinvest 100% of our membership income to developing the services and support for young people across the UK.

. Good Practice Documents . E-Bulletins . E-Magazine . Online Forum . Networking . Resources & Guides . Discounts for YEUK events

. You will be supporting our lobbying and campaigning work. . Sign up for the free national Youth Friendly badge and show your business supports our young generation. . All members have to sign the Positive Youth Charter which shows a deep commitment to youth engagement. . Simply with your support you are investing in a unique and progressive youth organisation.

Visit us online at: www.yeuk.org.uk Call: 08444 143 101 Email: info@yeuk.org.uk

YouthEmploymentUK Youth Employment UK C.I.C Group @yeuk @YEUK2012

HINTS & TIPS

irii s y d n i by

When preparing for university, it can be a daunting and rather exciting experience altogether. Everything happens all at once and before you know it, you are trying to adjust to university life.

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Five MUST DO’s before going to university: 1. Make sure you only pack the essentials needed – it is very easy to pack EVERYTHING you have! 2. Remember to complete your enrolment registration form online for your course and sign up to all the course related requirements.

It is normal to feel anxious about making new friends and getting used to living in a new environment. However, always remember that other students are in the same situation as you. You’re not alone! • Be open-minded. • Join societies on campus which excite you. Who knows, you could make a bunch of new friends along with gaining new skills and confidence. You could even start your own society on campus! • Do visit your student Union and check out what they have on offer! • Try familiarising and introducing yourself with all your tutors on your course and DO NOT be afraid to ask questions! In fact they love when students interact and challenge the content being taught.

3. Do some reading & research on the course you will be studying at university. You can never be too prepared!

• Make the most out of all the opportunities and experiences that will be presented to you during your time at university.

4. It is highly recommended that you plan your budget before going. It can REALLY help you in organising your finances.

• There will always be someone to help you whether you are finding the course content difficult or simply needing someone to talk to.

5. Most importantly, try and spend as much time as possible with your family & friends before packing up and undertaking a new journey.

• Do not be scared to try new ideas and to voice your viewpoints during seminars. It can be an overwhelming experience but it will help you gain a incredible amount of confidence and self-belief.

• Take it one step at a time and before you know it, you will notice the difference in yourself and the progress you are making.

University will be a life changing experience and like you all; I too shall be starting university this year. I am looking forward to learning new skills and meeting some great people along the way. Whilst preparing for university, I have learnt that you can never be absolutely ready for anything.

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covery e r c i m nd? cono i e h s e i b h t n could neratio e g a g in be leav Good news for politicians, business leaders, and friends and families: The unemployment rate has fallen, along with the jobseekers claimant rate and number of young people not in education, training or employment. Statistics released from the ONS in June show that the rate of employment has jumped 1.4% from 71.5% to 72.9% over the past year, meaning that’s a whopping 780,000 more people in work. A more recent report published in August states that the percentage of young people

who are not in education, training or employment, has fallen to just 16.5%. This is excellent news, as the unemployment rate has been restored to its 2008 levels – but does this economic recovery leave behind the same market for young people? Rising employment figures have long been contested, and there is evidence to suggest that more people – especially amongst the young – are struggling to make ends meet after paying their bills, resulting in diminishing

living standards and potentially throwing out any motivation for young people to seek out work in the first place. Surprisingly, unemployment figures do not even include full-time students; meaning large groups of young people are at risk of being forgotten. This is dangerous and could potentially increase the amount of cases where graduates and school leavers are uncertain about their future, prospects, and options when they leave school. Young people remain concerned about the lack of support and careers advice available whilst

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NEWS & PERSONAL STORIES

“Rising employment figures have long been contested, and there is evidence to suggest that more people – especially amongst the young – are struggling to make ends meet after paying their bills, resulting in diminishing living standards and potentially throwing out any motivation for young people to seek out work in the first place.” /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// studying. An Ofsted report published in 2012 found that schools were “failing to provide a decent service” to the students. As a result, these students will then fail to understand how they can apply their experience and academia to the working environment. Which is why it is dangerous to assume that in a growing economy, young people will naturally become independent and find themselves a career. Just because the economy is growing does not mean we should rest and sit back. It is also important that our next generation is equipped with the correct information to identify ways in which they can make the right choices, and to aid them in securing their future and ambitions. Similarly, graduates repeatedly fail to find the right opportunity, and often discover themselves working in a stockroom of a supermarket taking orders from somebody who is nowhere near as qualified as them. This is not a degree-versus-experience argument, this is a graduate sent to work in the wrong industry, and as a result of insufficient

support and career guidance during their studies. It is still common to witness students pick the wrong courses, and not ones that are most beneficial for them.

el tran a h c i m by

These statistics serves a gentle reminder that there is a small risk where the hard work and progress demonstrated by the Government, communities, and charities who tackle youth employment together, could be placed on a back-burner. Further cuts to the local council’s education budget means we still face the same employment issues encountered during the recession, making it increasingly difficult to work together to inspire young people to achieve their ambitions they deserve. Youth unemployment was an issue long before the recession, and we still have over 1 million out of education, training and employment. The challenge now, is for us to prevent it from becoming a crisis, and to provide consistent support, guidance, and information whenever possible to every young person out there, whether they are in employment, training, education or none at all.

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YEUK

Every month we receive the ‘Report on Jobs’ publication produced by Markit and sponsored by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG LLP. It tells us about monthly trends in the job market, the sectors that are performing and what the outlook for employment looks like. The key points from the August survey were:

Which sector recruited the highest number of permanent staff? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Engineering Nursing/Medical/Care IT & Computing Construction Accounting/Financial Secretarial/Clerical Executive/Professional Blue Collar Hotel & Catering

Which sector recruited the highest number of temporary staff? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Nursing/Medical/Care Engineering Construction Blue Collar Secretarial/Clerical Hotel & Catering Accounting/Financial IT & Computing Executive/Professional

• Demand for staff increases at fastest pace since April 1998. • Growth of staff appointments remains marked, despite easing. • Candidate shortages fuel strong pay growth. A worrying trend was revealed though, with a candidate shortage emerging as a developing problem. It is beginning to fuel pay growth, as demand for suitable candidates is higher than the supply of candidates in the labour market. This is causing pay increases, as it becomes a battle between firms to land the candidates available. This has stunted the amount of growth in appointments, as companies can only take on staff, if suitable candidates emerge. It means that measures need to be taken to ensure that the strong demand that is becoming prevalent in the job market doesn’t go to waste. It suggests that more education and experience is needed, so

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that candidates can take the jobs available to them. In turn, it is crucial for the sector as a whole, so that they can keep competitive and make the most of the potential growth an increase in demand can bring. The sectors that were the most active in recruitment this month are shown in the table below. Engineering and Nursing/Medical/ Care sectors are very strong across temporary and permanent staff. Engineering has made a strong growth, having risen from fourth this time last year to leading the way in appointing permanent staff. Executive/Professional led the way in August 2013, but has slipped down to seventh in terms of appointing permanent staff.

/////////////////////////////////////// The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is the professional body for the recruitment sector AND a supporter and member of YEUK. We would like to thank the REC for their support to YEUK and for allowing us to share this data.

HINTS & TIPS

ollege? c , y t i s r e nt, univ t know, e m y o l p ips, em nd if you do no h s e c i t appren r you? a p? o f t x e n l o for he what is g ////////////////////////////////////// u o y n a c e r e wh CAREERS INFORMATION & SUPPORT The National Careers Service is the government’s portal for all things careers and advice – you can connect with them online or talk to an advisor over the phone. You can browse over 750 different career profiles, check your skills, build a CV and much more. 0800 100 900 https://nationalcareersservice.direct. gov.uk/aboutus/contactus/Pages/ contact4.aspx

Youth Employment UK – you can of course join our social media pages Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest where we promote latest news, views, advice and opportunities. Be sure to also register to be a Youth Member or Youth Ambassador – you will then get access to a load more resources and information. www.yeuk.org.uk

We have some BRILLIANT member organisations who offer support to young people, so along with the main government sites we are happy to encourage you to look at these too!; Employability Hub https://dash.bloomfire.com

Colour Your Success www.colouryoursuccess.com/

Your Career Mentor Bright Track www.brighttrack.co.uk

Persona HR

We also like Careers Box – a website packed with videos showing you the range of careers and opportunities on offer, and Careers Advice for Parents and Young People which covers all the bases in simple bite-sized articles.

Accross College

www.careersbox.co.uk www.careersadviceforparents.org

ENTERPRISE

Tresham College www.tresham.ac.uk

NCC Resources www.ncctrainingresources.co.uk

Take a look at Prince’s Trust.

APPRENTICESHIPS The obvious starting point is the National Apprenticeship Service – you can find out more about apprenticeships, funding and search for vacancies and training providers near you.

www.princes-trust.org.uk

Or our friends; Rock Star Youth www.rockstaryouth.co.uk

Young Britain www.youngbritain.com

www.apprenticeships.org.uk

EMPLOYMENT

Also, there our members websites; The Apprenticeship Guide

There are job search websites that also advertise vacancies from apprenticeships to internships and graduate employment. Try; Universal Jobmatch

www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk

Baltic Training www.balticapprenticeships.com

ApprenticeSupermarket

www.gov.uk/jobsearch

www.apprenticesupermarket.com www.apprenticeships4england.info

Or our friends; Future Talent

Joint Learning

www.future-talent.com

Apprenticeship4England www.jointlearning.co.uk

Rate my Apprenticeship

Care Training

www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk

www.ctem.uk.com

EDUCATION You can search for thousands of college or universities through the UCAS and Unistats websites. http://search.ucas.com http://unistats.direct.gov.uk

Aspira Consulting

Also our education members; Petroc College

www.aspira-consulting.com

www.petroc.ac.uk

www.personahr.co.uk

www.accross.ac.uk

Our list is not exhaustive and there are a lot of resources, guides and services for young people. If you have not been able to get help from this list, let us know and we will put you in contact with a specific organisation. Or if you have been helped by an organisation not listed, let us know and we will signpost to them too! emag@yeuk.org.uk

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zing a m a r ou o t s k n a ors: s n o with th p s and s r e b mem

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YEUK

ent m y o l p em h t u o y A.C.E. zine a g a m news e • Published monthly • Distributed nationwide • Subscribers/readers >36,233 (March 2014)

The A.C.E. e-magazine is a free online publication that is subscribed to by a wide audience including: universities, FE colleges, schools, UK employers, training providers, Job Centre Plus and young people.

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ARTWORK SPECIFICATION

display advertising

ACCEPTED: InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop files. High resolution PDF, PNG and TIF files with all fonts embedded. (Artwork in Microsoft Word NOT ACCEPTED).

Display advertising includes a promotion on our Facebook & Twitter pages.

All images must be to scale, at minimum 300dpi in EPS or TIF format. All fonts must be supplied.

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COPY DEADLINES • • • •

Full Page 2,480px (w) x 3,500px (h)

Half Page 2,480px (w) x 1,750px (h)

Quarter Page 1,240px (w) x 1,750px (h)

(price per issue)

1 issue

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////////////////////////////////////// To make enquiries or book your advert:

special sector pull-out advertising Each A.C.E. e-mag will have a six page centre pull-out dedicated to careers in one sector. The careers information will also be published on the YEUK youth members platform.

Email emag@yeuk.org.uk Call 0844 4143101

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