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.

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.

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.