Tomorrow's World of Work promises exciting challenges and change! Check here for the buzz on Careers Education, Information and Guidance available nationally, locally, and in school. Employment and training opportunities, together with information on events, open days and useful websites. No responsibility is taken for the content of external websites referred to.
Mrs Shaw, Careers Coordinator

Tuesday, 28 April 2015

Business Management Higher Apprenticeship with the BBC

Great opportunity with the BBC, leads to BA degree in Business Management AND earns a salary and experience with the BBC.  Expect huge competition for these places, but absolutely no reason not to go for it!     Here are the details.

Monday, 27 April 2015

Royal Institution Summer Schools

Royal Institution Summer Schools 2015 now open for booking
Fill your holidays with Science!

Science, mathematics, engineering and computing workshops

Here is the list of sessions available and to book online. The workshops are not free but still good value (and this shows you the value of the events that we can arrange in school for free or very little cost!)
See here for all about the Royal Institution.  The workshops are held at their prestigious headquarters in London's Albemarle Street.

NB I have discovered the Greenline!  Take the 758 bus into London for £13 return, far less expensive than the train if you have to travel at peak times.  There is a cheaper rate for children but only when travelling at off-peak times.
 

Your Future Fair in St Albans

Careers Fair being held on Monday 11th May at the Alban Arena in St Albans
2pm-7pm, free entry, no booking required. Suitable for ages 15+, parents and carers welcome.
Here are the details
Lots of information about universities, colleges, apprenticeships, training and vacancies.
There are 15 minute presentations on a range of topics too.
I won't be taking a school trip there but do go along if you can, it's open till 7pm. We went last year and there were many interesting opportunities to find out about, lots of ideas to discover and explore.

Whether you do or don't know which career direction you will follow, this is an ideal chance to practise speaking to employers, and even to ask about work experience once you've heard what they do and found out the ones that interest you!




Thursday, 23 April 2015

Oaklands Open Evenings - next week!

Visit Oaklands College next week for information about all their courses.
Tuesday 28th April at St Albans Campus
Wed 29th April at Welwyn Garden City Campus
Both events are open 5pm-8pm, no booking required.
See the college website for more information about what they offer.
Here's the link to the flyer for the open events.

School Sports Apprenticeship vacancies

DSSN is looking for sports apprentices to support the delivery of PE and
school sport within Dacorum Primary Schools. The role will begin in
September 2015.
The apprentice will:
 be based in a primary school (4 days/ week)
 work for DSSN (1 day/week)
 earn approximately £4200/year
 receive a NVQ- Activity Leadership level 2 qualification
 be aged 16-21 and not in full time education
The apprentice should:
 Have some leadership experience
 Have good organisational skills
 Be self-motivated and able to use their initiative
 Want to inspire others.
If all of the above sounds like a career for you please contact
Clare McCawley on 01442 278737 or via e-mail to:
C.McCawley@cavendish.herts.sch.uk for more details and an
application form.
Closing date Friday 29th May 2015

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Barratt Foundation Degree programme (paid work and study)



Build connections. Build your career.


Residential Development & Construction
Foundation Degree Programme
Up to £24,000 + benefits
Opportunities nationwide
Housing is big news. Just like this opportunity. Demand for all kinds of homes - from the affordable, to the extravagant - keeps rising. Which makes construction a fantastic sector in which to establish a sustainable future. As a FTSE 100, award-winning house builder, Barratt is the place to do it.​
If you're seeking an alternative to full-time Higher Education, we have the answer. Our three-year Foundation Degree Programme in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University combines full-time work with study to give you everything you need to transition into your new career - including accredited qualifications, professional experience and valuable connections.
Don't just take our word for it. Here's what our students say:
"I was attracted to Barratt as the company has an ethos of improving environments where they build. Each day offers new challenges. The best part of my job is when the home we have been constructing is complete and the street scene is created. There is a huge sense of pride and seeing customers excitedly move into their homes is rewarding. The achievements I have made in such a short space of time have set me up in the industry."
Sean Regan
Discover more and apply here.



Visit our website: www.notgoingtouni.co.uk

Thursday, 19 February 2015

Access Professions

Excellent website for soon-to-be school leavers to find routes into quality work experience, insight days, summer school and other opportunities.  Register with them to get relevant opportunities emailed to you in time to apply.
Currently many opportunities on offer to help you find out about working in Business.
Covers uni route and also alternative routes too.
http://www.accessprofessions.com/ 


Apprenticeships with Aldi - application window opens 9th March

Aldi is the fastest-growing supermarket in the UK today. But that’s not just down to our award-winning products and super low prices. It’s our people. They have that little bit of sparkle, making our stores not only a unique place to shop, but also a rewarding place to work
Our Apprenticeship Training Programme gives ambitious school leavers a three-year springboard to a successful career in retail. Whether you choose Store or Logistics Management, you’ll be given a competitive salary (starting at £5.30 per hour) and a supportive environment where you can learn from the very best.

We’re about to open our Apprentice window on 9th March. We tend to have a high response so it’s worth thinking about it now. Have a look at our website and check out Chloe’s video. She’s the perfect person to tell you how it really is and why you need to be a hardworking, determined sort of person to join us.

For an Apprenticeship Programme like no other, emailaldi.apprenticeships@first4skills.com and kick-start your career!

Friday, 30 January 2015

Good websites for Year 9 students considering their option choices

Icould.com  Lots of career information, video clips and articles.  In particular for Year 9 option choices, try What's your subject page Click on your favourite subjects and you will find real life examples of people who have used the subjects they are interested in within their career.  Also Information for parents page has good articles and a link to Choices at 14 page

Bright-knowledge     Good articles and advice in the section on Years 9-11

Kudos Online   Online quiz (takes 15 mins, very easy) to help young people think about the work they would like to do.  Results from the quiz show how your preferences are matched to job roles which you can then explore further - what's involved, entry requirements, further career paths.
For this site you will need the Cavendish licence code - email Mrs Shaw for this as our licence is paid for by Youth Connexions Hertfordshire.  But do use this one, it's very helpful and by logging in, your preferences are saved to re-visit later.  Several sites have career-matching quizzes - this one is excellent and specifically designed for young people.

Plotr    Excellent website for young people with a game and lots of advice and information

National Careers Service    This is the official government site with information for all ages. There is lots of advice to explore and links to further information.
The young people's section has articles to help you consider the choices open to you.
The job profiles section is where you can look up a job-role for what's involved, pay rates, entry levels, progression paths, and statistics for that employment sector (how many jobs there are in the sector, growth rates, etc - often called Labour Market Information).

Youth Connexions Hertfordshire  
YCH have advisers that you can meet with face to face at their base on the first floor at XC in Jarman Park.  They are open 1pm-5pm on weekdays, for young people and their parents.  Drop in or phone ahead to arrange a time.  Here are the contact details.
Their advisers are qualified in Careers Guidance, they are impartial and highly knowledgeable, and their service is FREE to residents of Hertfordshire.  They also run lots of other events and projects for young people in Herts.  Wonderful, friendly and helpful!
Their website has advice and links too, try their Choices page and others.

Thursday, 29 January 2015

Local apprenticeship vacancies 21/1/15

Latest list of local vacancies is available here, some great opportunities to look out for.

This list is updated regularly and is posted on school website Careers page.   The jobs shown on this list are just a selection of the vacancies available now/soon. They are here to give you an idea of the range of opportunities which are available.
For more information on each of these vacancies and to apply, you need this website, which is the national one. https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

There are other ways to find apprenticeships too. For example the construction industry (from trades to technical) have their own separate website http://www.citb.co.uk/bconstructive/ 

When you want to apply, make your application the best it can be. Give yourself time, ask for help, and get someone you trust to run through it before you submit it.  There is often huge competition for these jobs, but that's because they are worth it!   Ask for help and advice.


Then when you are offered an interview, do plenty of preparation beforehand (again, ask for some help and there are lots of interview tips online).

Apprenticeships are advertised all year round as vacancies become available.  Jobs starting from July onwards might be advertised any time, but particularly from about April onwards - be ready to apply by preparing a draft application which you can customise when you spot the perfect vacancy.  Every vacancy is different, depending on the employer. 



FCO Services Apprenticeships

If you're interested in electronics and technology, have at least five GCSEs at C or above, including English, Maths and either Physics biased Science or Electronics and are ready to get your hands on some big projects, this is the perfect opportunity.
On our structured three-year programme you'll start out at college - gaining a wide range of technical engineering skills, and working towards achieving core qualifications.
Website

Opportunities for school leavers

Here are some ideas to explore if you are looking at alternatives to university ie you have (or expect to have) UCAS points. Not all employers will require you to have UCAS points, they may just want GCSEs plus vocational/technical qualifications, relevant experience, and enthusiasm.  Many of these links offer advice as well as opportunities to apply for.  Also see other posts on this blogspot site - check the labels on the right hand side for sectors and other labels according to your interest area.

These opportunities are competitive so be sure to make your applications really OUTSTANDING.  They are at least as difficult to complete as a UCAS application.  Seek help and advice and don't leave your application till the last minute.    You can get help from Youth Connexions with making your application, or ask in Careers Office, or ask someone you trust especially if they already work in the sector you are aiming for.

Don't be daunted if you are turned down - just learn from the experience and make your application better next time.  Vacancies come online all year round. Unlike UCAS, you can apply for as many as you want and at any time.  Just do plenty of research and only apply if you fit the criteria in the vacancy exactly - or can at least put a good case together to make the employer interested in you.

Youth Connexions Hertfordshire have compiled a list of national employers with opportunities for school leavers who are looking for alternatives to uni.  The list is organised by industry sector. These opportunities normally require 280+ UCAS points (predicted or actual) to apply and will include a structured training (paid) with a view to a permanent position.   See the list here.

You can apply for apprenticeships - with UCAS points you can apply for a Higher Apprenticeship, or you can apply for an Advanced Apprenticeship - most of these require GCSEs not A levels, but the better ones (more technical, higher paid and better prospects) will require more maturity, experience and engagement than someone leaving from year 11.

Pure Potential is an independent organisation which raises the aspirations of thousands of sixth-formers every year, encouraging them to apply to and achieve offers from excellent universities and leading employers.   Good section on School Leavers, including a booklet to download  "Guide to Alternatives to University 2014".  See their events page too: some of these are free if you register early enough.

AllAboutSchoolLeavers for actual vacancies and advice on how to apply. They list School Leaver Programmes, Higher Apprenticeships and Sponsored Degree programmes.

Total Professions Careers Spotlight: New Routes to the Professions.Aiming to improve access to professional careers.

Future-talent      Apprenticeships and Sponsored Degrees.  Advice and opportunities.

Not Going to Uni - the one stop site for apprenticeships, gap years, distance learning and jobs.
From apprenticeships to debt-free education, there are literally thousands of other opportunities out there. The Not Going to Uni team are here to help you find apprenticeships, college courses or work experience to start building your future.

Not Going To Uni Newsletter 26-1-15  Opportunities with Skanska, Army, Smith & Williamson (financial services), Merchant Navy, Laing O'Rourke.

Tesco training programmes inc Management training and apprenticeships.  Tesco is a very large employer which holds potential for employment in almost every sector, not just retail.  For instance they need people in HR, marketing, finance, logistics, operations - as do many large employers.

Find your future in finance and law with Directions.  All you need to know about careers in the finance sector and how to get a rewarding career through work experience, school leaver schemes, apprenticeships, internships and graduate schemes.                        


Apprenticeships: a Parent's Guide

See this guide for answers to questions such as...
What is the difference between Advanced Apprenticeship and Higher Apprenticeship?

Main site for young people wanting information on Apprenticeships, including finding a vacancy and how to apply.

Youth Connexions Hertfordshire

Youth Connexions provides youth work, information, advice, guidance and support for young people aged 13 and 19 (up to 25 for young people with learning disabilities). It also provides support for young people leaving care, up to the age of 21, through the Youth Connexions One Stop Shops.
Hemel Hempstead One Stop Shop is in the XC at Jarman Park, open weekdays 1pm-5pm.  Contact details here.

Information on University Technical Colleges

University technical colleges (UTCs) are government-funded schools that offer 14-18 year olds a different way of learning from traditional schools. They teach students technical and scientific subjects in a whole new way and are educating the inventors, engineers, scientists and technicians of tomorrow.  They work in partnership with a university and local employers. Each one will have one or two specialisms (but cover other subjects too, including A levels).

The nearest ones to Hemel are
Watford UTC (hospitality and communications)
Elstree UTC (creative and technical)
Bucks UTC (construction and IT)

Open events at local colleges - Spring 2015

If college is an option for you, find more information on their websites and I recommend going to visit their open days.  Applications are accepted throughout the school year but early action means a better chance of accessing the course you want.  

You can apply for more than one option, in fact applying for a 'Plan A' and also a back up route is recommended.  By making an application, you are expressing a firm interest in that route, rather than making a commitment at this stage.  Final decision time comes just after exam results are issued, when you can accept any offer you have received following your applications.  In the meantime, you can work to achieve the best grades you can, knowing the entry targets your offers may depend on.

Click on the links below for more details on the most popular colleges within reach of Hemel Hempstead.  There are other specialist colleges too.  More information at Youth Connexions and help with completing the application form if you need it.

West Herts College (Watford/Kings Langley/Dacorum)
To get there: Bus 500 from Hemel
Open events: Dacorum campus 28 Feb, Kings Langley campus 28 Feb, Watford 7 March (all Saturday mornings)

Oaklands College (St Albans/Welwyn)
To get there:  Bus 300/301 from Hemel
Open events: St Albans campus 10th Feb, Welwyn campus 11th Feb (5pm-8pm both events)

Amersham & High Wycombe College 
To get there:  Take the subsidised bus from Jarman Park
Open events: Amersham campus 11th March, Wycombe campus 17th March (6pm-8.30 both dates)

Also consider the new UTCs - see separate post under 14-16 label.
Note the application deadline for Cavendish Sixth Form is end of January.

Wednesday, 28 January 2015

Network Rail: 200 Apprenticeship Vacancies Nationally

Network Rail is seeking to recruit 200 young people from across Britain for its award-winning apprenticeship scheme, as it continues the largest investment into the railway since Victorian times.
The scheme offers anyone over the age of 17, a fantastic opportunity to earn while they learn, gain valuable qualifications and skills and to build a career in engineering.  More details here.
The Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship scheme is open to anyone who is 17 by 31st August 2015. Further details on the scheme, including cases studies of current and former apprentices talking about their own experiences, can be found on our website: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/apprentices.