Careersbox Blog

  Get In, Go Far!

Apprenticeships are changing. There has never been a better time for young people to consider them as career options alongside A-levels and university.

As well as the more traditional range of occupations, young people can now work, learn and earn with an Apprenticeship at some of Britain's biggest and brightest companies. They can gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, right up to degree level. In fact one in six Apprentices already progresses to Higher Education following their Apprenticeship, through college or university.

The new advertising campaign 'Get in. Go far' gives young people and their parents a taste of the wide range of Apprenticeships available across the country including Fashion Buyer, Tax Consultant, Software Engineer and TV Production Assistant. Among the major British and international companies featured are Google, ASOS, ITV, Airbus and IBM.

New Apprenticeship standards just announced include a further broad range of roles such as Land-based Service Engineer, Senior Culinary Chef, Solicitor, Journalist and Dental Practice Manager.

Apprenticeships are increasingly popular with young people, since this year alone over 800,000 Apprentices have been earning and learning. In 2012/13 there were 868,700 - the highest recorded number.

As a teacher, you can help students find out more by referring them to apprenticeships.gov.uk which has some of the best live vacancies, updated regularly, and case studies of those in the ad campaign. This page links to around 25,000 Apprenticeship vacancies and Traineeship opportunities which are now available online right now.

The Skills Show

The Skills Show is back between 13 and 15 November at the NEC Birmingham. Come along and give your students the chance to Have a Go at a wide variety of work-based skills, get careers advice and speak to a range of employers such as Crossrail, Toyota, NHS Careers and the BBC. Check out the Careers Education Zone for up-to-date careers education information and accredited CPD to support you back at school. Travel bursaries are available. Free entry - book now.

Why not encourage your learners to find out more about Apprenticeships in the #GetInGoFar challenge and win a trip for the whole class.

Careers Crowd School Tour

Get your students talking about careers and finding out the many exciting ways in their chosen careers. Careers Crowd, in conjunction with the National Apprenticeship Service and National Careers Service, are running a schools tour suitable for years 11, 12 and 13. To book a free workshop for your school please click here.

  APPRENTICESHIP VACANCIES

The following are just a selection of the Apprenticeship vacancies currently on the site. Please go to apprenticeships.org.uk and click on 'Search vacancies' to see up to 25,000 vacancies available now. To search for Apprenticeship vacancies while on the go download our app called AV Search available for android and iPhone.

A PROMISING FUTURE IN ELECTRICS, PLUMBING AND HEATING

Economic improvements have brought about a rise in career opportunities for those considering a future that is associated with building services engineering.

Covering electrical installation and maintenance, plumbing as well as heating and ventilation and also engineering maintenance, the sector is looking to catch up with apprenticeship recruitment and is already seeing levels rise to those approaching that of the pre-recessionary years. The biggest training provider in this sector is JTL - a charitable company that is currently working with some 6,000 apprentices across England and Wales, engaging with 3200 employers.

What fails to be recognised are the significant career progression opportunities that exist for young people aged 16+ who enter this type of work.

Work is not restricted to men, and some young women who enter the industry have achieved significant success, which includes establishing their own successful businesses and finding a welcome niche in their local market.

Average earnings for a young qualified electrician vary across the country but an average would be close to 25,000 pounds and with some top-up short courses this figure could comfortably rise to closer to 30,000 pounds per year.

The process of getting started on a JTL apprenticeship is to first review the full extent of the information on the recently-upgraded JTL website www.jtltraining.com.

Not all vacancies are currently advertised on the apprenticeship vacancy matching service, so no one should not be put off by a restricted number of on-line job advertisements.

One of the key features of the JTL website that is proving increasingly popular is the range of case examples presented on video. These include both men and women, all of whom with a story to tell on how their career has advanced.

  Welcome back to a new term - we hope your new students have settled in well and the term has got off to a great start!

What's new?

2015 Opportunities and events are now live at www.pwc.com/uk/schools - students can apply directly for our 2015 School and College Leaver opportunities or apply to our Flying Start degree programme through UCAS now, or register to attend an event to find out more.

What are the options for students leaving School or College?

Join us straight after A-Levels Join our Flying Start Degree Programme Go to Uni and join us later Start with a 2 year training programme, leading to a longer term career with us Start with a 4 year degree programme, leading to a longer term career with us Start with a 3 day - 11 month work experience alongside your studies and join us when you graduate Gain a nationally recognised professional qualification relevant to your job Gain a degree in Accounting and work towards qualifying as a chartered accountant Start studying towards a professional qualification when you join us as a graduate Get real work experience from the start, coached by a team of experienced professionals Combine University student life with paid placements during term time Build your employability while you complete your degree Earn a competitive salary and start career building early! Enjoy the best of both world and a competitive salary while on placement! Get the University experience and earn a competitive salary during your placement!

Whichever route you choose, it could lead to a long and successful careers in business with PwC...

Useful Tools

Our Interview e-learn is designed to better prepare students for what an interview actually is, to help them to understand the different interview formats, provide tips on how you should prepare and also uses some examples for you to consider. We hope your students will find the e-learn useful, there's no other free tool like it currently in the marketplace.

www.pwc.com/uk/careers/elearn

We're also designing a new e-learn for psychometric tests which will be another extremely useful tool for students when considering applying for jobs. Watch this space for this new tool...

Come and meet us

Year 12 or 13's that are keen to find out more can sign up to attend a Careers Open Day. If they've got less time to spare, or would like to bring a parent or teacher then our Open Evenings or Virtual Events are a great starting point - visit our website to find out details on our next event.

Why not come along to our Open Evening at the Radisson Blu hotel in Belfast on the 9 September from 4pm onwards. You'll hear from our chairman and attend workshops and networking sessions to help you find out more about us. Visit our website to find out more and sign up.

Keep in touch

We'll continue to keep in touch throughout the year, but do visit the parent and teacher zone on our website to find out more and download our teacher toolkit

www.pwc.com/uk/parent-teacher-zone

Or for any questions or events you'd like us to attend, email [email protected]

Take the opportunity of a lifetime.

Visit our website www.pwc.com/uk/schools

Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/PwCCareersUK

  There are great career prospects in hairdressing!

Francesco Group education is more than just a training course; it's a motivating, inspirational and professional learning experience. The skills and knowledge that students acquire on our courses will set them up for a successful career in hairdressing that will make them irresistible to employers. We have been delivering beautiful hairdressing for over 45 years and training people how to do it for 30 years. Winners of the Training Award at the British Hairdressing Business Awards 2014, Francesco Group leads the way for providing relevant, commercial training that gives learners invaluable salon experience to supplement their learning.

The benefits of training with Francesco Group:

Proven career progression

Ofsted Rated Grade 1 Outstanding - for Outcomes for Learners

Four State-of-the-Art Training Academies

Eighteen Unique College Partnerships Across the UK

Trained Over 3,500 Students Last Year

Local School Partnership Programme

Inspirational Industry Role Models

Full Time Courses and Apprenticeships available at our Birmingham and Stafford Academies and across our salon network.

Take a look at some of the courses that we offer:

Advanced Apprenticeships

Intermediate Apprenticeships

NVQ Level 2

NVQ Level 3

Contact Lisa on 01223 410333 or [email protected] for more information.

  Earn a salary on your IT Apprenticeship with Firebrand

Are you interested in IT? Do you want to work for some of the biggest companies in the world? An IT Apprenticeship provides you with all of this, and you'll get the experience that employers look for:

Earn up to 270 pounds a week

We find you the job

No student debt

Salaries after apprenticeship start at 18,000+ pounds

Get official Microsoft certifications

How to earn while you learn

Get paid experience, as well as at least five full weeks of award-winning IT training worth 24,000 pounds. All we ask is that you have GCSE/A-Levels of C or above in Maths and English.

Every product and every business needs IT. Be part of this amazing opportunity, and apply for a paid IT Apprenticeship in your area now.

  Get your students thinking about a career in the NHS!

Students in years 8 and 9 can win a netbook computer or a generous Amazon voucher by entering the NHS Careers national schools competition!

More students than ever got involved in the popular 'Step into the NHS' schools competition, run by NHS Careers, last year. Now in its seventh year, the competition supports the non-statutory framework for careers education, has strong links to the curricula for PSHE, citizenship and English, and raises awareness with young people about the 350+ career options available within the NHS.

Students are challenged to select one of the many NHS roles and create the ideal job description and an exciting advert that appeals to their peers. New resources have also been created with practising teachers to make the competition more accessible to students with special educational needs (SEN).

Get your teachers pack now

Download your teachers' pack now or email [email protected] to request a hard copy.

Competition entries must be submitted to NHS Careers before 30 January 2015. The panel of judges will select the winning entries and we will be in touch with the winning schools by 28 March 2015.

Good luck!

The final word(s)

Whether you work with 14-19 year olds, undergraduates or adults, NHS Careers’ e-newsletter will help you keep your information advice and guidance current and up-to-date. Don’t miss out - sign up today to receive the NHS Careers newsletter!

www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/newsletter-sign-up-form

We hope you find the information in this Careersmail useful. Please share this with anyone who might also find these opportunities and resources of interest.

Sharing is easy, just click here.

The Careersbox Team

What does a career in chemistry look like?

If your students want to know more about career options in chemistry, point them to the job profiles section of our new careers website. It could be the kick-start their inspiration needs.

From forensic scientist to Olympic triathlete, it's full of real-life examples of what students can do with a chemistry qualification, and guides to getting there.

Explore what different roles involve. Explain the qualifications they need. Show them how far a career in chemistry can take them.

Visit rsc.li/careers-future today.

Best wishes, Royal Society of Chemistry Careers Team

Apprenticeships - Expanding Horizons

The annual exam results period is fast approaching and many young people will be considering their next steps. For those ready to enter the world of work Apprenticeships are a great way to gain qualifications, progress in a chosen career and earn a salary.

Types of Apprenticeships

There are three levels of Apprenticeship from Intermediate and Advanced to Higher Apprenticeships at degree level. So whether young people are receiving their GCSE or A Level results there is an Apprenticeship that could suit them. Apprenticeships are available in 1,500 job roles across 170 different industries. To find out more visit the Types of Apprenticeship section at apprenticeships.org.uk

For young people not quite ready to start an Apprenticeship there are Traineeships. They give young people essential work preparation training, work experience, maths and English skills needed to get an Apprenticeship or other job.

Vacancies at your fingertips.

An easy way for young people to be aware of all the jobs available in their area is by using the Av Search App. It is FREE to download for Apple or Android phones, and you can search for Apprenticeship vacancies or Traineeships by level, region, type or salary. To start applying for roles straight away register via the website. For help registering or applying for a vacancy see the 'How to write a winning Apprenticeship application' guide, or to speak to the Helpdesk on 0800 015 0400 / 02476 826482, or email [email protected].

Careers Education Resources

There are a number of resources available for Careers Advisers and Teachers on our IAG page, including presentations, factsheets and lesson plans and workbooks. Our film content on apprentice.tv is designed to inspire and inform potential apprentices. Look up the Sector in the Spotlight films or 'How to Apply for an Apprenticeship'.

Schools and organisations can also have a FREE live feed of Apprenticeship vacancies on their website, this is called Av Live. It allows you to show current Apprenticeship vacancies and Traineeship opportunities in a particular area or sector. Click here for more information.

Further Careers Information and Support

The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help individuals aged 13 and over to make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. If you have young people that are unsure of the type of learning, Apprenticeship, degree or career they want to pursue, the National Careers Service can help by providing confidential and impartial advice.

An adviser can be contacted between 8am - 10pm (7 days a week), on 0800 100 900.

Webchat, email, text and a free call back service are also available on the website, as well as guidance on CV writing and interview skills.

APPRENTICESHIP VACANCIES

The following are just a selection of the Apprenticeship vacancies currently on the site. Please go to apprenticeships.org.uk and click on 'Search vacancies' to see up to 20,000 vacancies available now. To search for Apprenticeship vacancies while on the go download our app called AV Search available for android and iPhone. 

BAM NUTTALL CIVIL ENGINEERING APPRENTICESHIPS - INSPIRING CHANGE, SHAPING THE FUTURE

GET A HEAD START IN YOUR CAREER!

Recently listed in The Sunday Times 100 Best Mid-Sized Companies to Work for 2014, BAM Nuttall is a UK based Civil Engineering contractor, who have been continuously committed to investing in Britain's national infrastructure since 1865. Our work covers the breadth of the Civil Engineering Industry from roads, bridges, rail, tunnelling, maritime and nuclear projects - to name a few.

Come and join us today and be a part of our 2 year Advanced Apprenticeship Programme, where you will study a Level 3 BTEC in Construction in the Built Environment and NVQ Level 3 in Construction Contracting Operations. During the Apprenticeship your time will be divided between block placements at our college in Leicestershire and working on one of our many sites across the UK.

Once complete, you can progress onto our HND Programme and work toward attaining your Technician Membership with either the Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE) or the Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES). After 4 years, you will be as qualified as those who have undertaken a degree in the same field; you will gain invaluable experience with a reputable company and have the opportunity to be a part of our award winning Apprenticeship programme, recently voted the BAE Systems Large Employer of the year 2013.

On top of the generous weekly salary that you will receive, we will contribute toward the cost of your work related travel and accommodation that you may require during your Apprenticeship.

If you have a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical subjects, then this is a perfect opportunity for you!

Our application process is now open and you can apply online through our website.

Let today be your first step in investing into a bright, invigoration future!

Free Schools Resource Pack Whether you are a teacher, careers adviser or an ACCA member visiting a local school, this Schools Resource Pack will provide you with everything you need to explain careers in accountancy to young people. This resource pack has been designed by ACCA to fill the gaps in knowledge around accountancy and finance, and you can photocopy appropriate pages for distribution including sector specific information and career entry routes. You can find out everything you need to know about accountancy as an industry and where accountants work. There is also information about the different roles accountants perform and what skills they need to get there. From football clubs to high street banks, accountants work in a vast range of organisations, and in this School’s Resource Pack you will find a range of testimonials from ACCA students and members that will inspire young people.

    Share this newsletter with your contacts

Careersmail January Edition  From Careersbox

GET STARTED NOW!

In education? Learn about yourself and the variety of careers available to you. Looking to join the industry? Find a career that matches your existing skills and experience.

Modern Apprenticeship Scheme

The Upstream Oil and Gas Industry Technician Training programme equips motivated candidates with the skills and knowledge to work offshore and onshore in four varied disciplines - click here for details

Download and share the poster. Click the link below to visit the website and find out more about exploring your future in Oil and Gas.

      From the Careersbox team

Careersmail January Edition 2014 

  Cogent is updating its STEM career information and science career mapping resource.

www.sciencecareerpathways.com shows entry levels and progression routes for over 200 roles, with industry standard job descriptions, case studies and salary levels. The new site is a development of Cogent's existing careers site but with a new database-driven list of roles that will grow as more sectors and businesses provide information.

Users, advisers or parents can explore routes into great careers through apprenticeships, higher apprenticeships and graduate opportunities. And for existing employees there are opportunities for career progression through new skills and continuous professional development. The site allows you to search, filter, build a career path and print reports.

Cogent hopes to work with the Career Development Institute to run workshops with careers professionals to help them understand, navigate the breadth of STEM career opportunities and become more closely involved with our planned Science Industry Partnership (www.scienceindustrypartnership.com).

More information about these STEM careers workshops will be available shortly. In the meantime, if you are interested in taking part please email:

[email protected]

All the details are on Cogent's brand new website including a career pathways poster.

       The CareersboxTeam

December Newsletter

Welcome to the December issue helping you bring alive the world of work for your students.

Latest Film Releases - A day at the races...

From jockey to farrier, we are delighted to announce 7 new films covering a broad range of jobs from the exciting world of horse racing which are ideally suited for early years PSHE programmes and/or GCSE options selection. Take a look...

Teaching as a Profession

For students interested in a career in teaching, our Teaching TV Channel gives them an insight into the opportunities available, showing the diversity of teaching roles within the profession from University Lecturer to teaching English as a foreign language.

Careersbox Library - Helping students understand job roles.

Skills for Care Support Worker

Scottish Power Graduate Engineers

ICAEW Forensic Accountant

Opito Managing Director

Careersbox Social Media

Did you know that Careersbox is on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr? Just click and follow our social networks to find out about the latest films, opportunities and careers news.

  National schools competition – don’t miss out!

There’s still time to get your Year 8 and 9 students to enter our National Step into the NHS schools competition, designed to raise awareness of the breadth of careers available in the NHS.

Teachers from one of last year’s winning schools said they would recommend other staff and schools get involved as the competition is a great way for pupils to learn. And a winning pupil said: "I enjoyed taking part in the competition and am now more aware of the jobs available in the NHS.”

National and regional winners could win a netbook computer or Amazon voucher, so make sure students at your local schools are in with a chance!

Click here to download all the materials

What your students need to do

As well as raising awareness of the breadth of careers available in the NHS, the competition supports the non-statutory framework for careers education, has strong links to the curricula for PSHE, Citizenship and English. Year 8 and 9 students are challenged to select one of the many NHS careers available and create an advert and job description for the role; they can work individually or in groups of up to four. There’s a category for special educational needs (SEN) students too.

Order your competition pack today

You can either download all the materials at www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/schoolscompetition, or order a pack by calling 0345 60 60 655.

The pack includes:

• Teacher guidance booklet containing full details on the requirements for entering the competition and lots of activity ideas • PowerPoint slides to help you introduce the competition and examples of last year’s winning entries • Case studies showing a mix of NHS staff and what they do • Student briefing sheets giving students all the information they need to know about the competition • Job description examples to assist students with the job description competition task • Official entry form

All competition entries must be received no later than 31st January 2014. A panel of judges will select the winning entries and be in touch with the winning schools by 28th March 2014. 

The final word(s)

Whether you work with 14-19 year olds, undergraduates or adults, NHS Careers’ e-newsletter will help you keep your information advice and guidance current and up-to-date. Don’t miss out - sign up today to receive the NHS Careers newsletter!

www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/newsletter-sign-up-form

We hope you find the information in this Careersmail useful. Please share this with anyone who might also find these opportunities and resources of interest.

  Apprenticeship Winners Announced

Five companies, three apprentices and one former apprentice took top prizes in their category at the annual National Apprenticeship Awards. Beating off competition from over 1,600 entrants, the winners were presented with their awards by Skills and Enterprise Minister, Matthew Hancock at The Skills Show at the NEC in Birmingham on the 14 November 2013.

The Awards, now in their tenth year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Service and recognise excellence in two areas: businesses that grow their own talent with apprentices and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was guest of honour at the Awards and said: “To lock in our economic recovery we need a new generation of talent entering the world of work and I am committed to making sure young people today get the opportunities they need to realise their full potential.

Since 2010, we have created a million and a half new Apprenticeships but none of that would have been possible without events like this and the support of businesses who go that extra mile to help our apprentices progress.

I was delighted to be able to meet so many of our young apprentices and businesses from across England at the Apprenticeship Awards tonight - it is the drive and ambition that we celebrated here that will, in the years ahead, help our country and its people thrive.”

Read the full release here.

Traineeships

A Traineeship is an education and training programme with work experience that is focused on giving young people the skills and experience that employers are looking for. At its core are work preparation training, English and maths for those who need it and a high quality work experience placement.

Traineeships are an ideal opportunity for young people who are motivated to get a job, or apply for an Apprenticeship, but lack the skills and experience that employers are looking for.

Find out more about Traineeships in the Adviser Fact Sheet, read the case studies and use the material that’s available here. Young people can read about the benefits and opportunities at apprenticeships.org.uk. They can also register to apply and receive notifications of Traineeships opportunities in their area on the free Apprenticeships vacancies site.

APPRENTICESHIP VACANCIES

The following are just a selection of the Apprenticeship vacancies currently on the site. Please go to apprenticeships.org.uk and click on 'Search vacancies' to see up to 20,000 vacancies available now. To search for Apprenticeship vacancies while on the go download our app called AV Search available for android and iPhone.

Be Wiser Insurance Services has 25 vacancies for Apprentice Insurance Consultants in its Andover office. You will undertake an Advanced Apprenticeship in Providing Financial Services and pursue professional qualifications to certificate level (Certificate CII in Insurance) fulfilling a role within one of their departments. The weekly wage is £278.80. The closing date for applications is 11 December 2013.

Click here for more information using vacancy reference number VAC000337898

    Webhelp UK Holdings Ltd has 24 vacancies for apprentices Customer Advisors at its Contact Centre in Warrington, working on their mobile services campaign. You will undertake an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Customer Service. The weekly wage is £288.46. The closing date for applications is 15 December 2013.

Click here for more information using vacancy reference number VAC000336804

  Rolls-Royce Plc has 10 vacancies at its office in Derby for Higher Apprenticeships in Planning and Control. You will be part of a team responsible for making sure supplies, components, parts and products are wherever they need to be, right around the world. The weekly wage is £200.00. The closing date for applications is 3 January 2014.

Click here for more information using vacancy reference number VAC000327761

  Digit has a vacancy for a Video technical operations apprentice in its London office. You will undertake an Advanced Apprenticeship Creative and Digital Media. This is an excellent opportunity to join a young, dynamic, friendly and fast growing company that is going places in the future media world. The weekly wage is £170.00. The closing date for applications is 10 December 2013.

Click here for more information using vacancy reference number VAC000351836

  Computacenter UK has 12 vacancies for First Line Analyst Apprentices, at its Milton Keynes office. You will undertake an Advanced Apprenticeship IT, Software & Telecoms and perform a range of technical work activities either remotely or at customer site to meet business and customer requirements. The weekly wage is £100.50. The closing date for applications is 7 December 2013.

Click here for more information using vacancy reference number VAC000350339

  JCB Excavators Ltd has 20 vacancies for engineering apprentices in Staffordshire. You will undertake an Advanced Apprenticeship Engineering Manufacture (Craft and Technician). This is a 3-4 year apprenticeship scheme commencing in the summer of 2014. You will begin with a company induction and will also be given a home business unit to enable you to become an integral part of the team. This will be in one of the following areas Development Workshop, Maintenance (Mechanical or Electrical) or Tool making. The wages are competitive. The closing date for applications is 13 December 2013.

Click here for more information using vacancy reference number VAC000343263

  Carillion Construction Ltd has 1000 vacancies for Construction apprentices.  You will undertake an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Construction, with the opportunity to move onto an Advanced Apprenticeship.  Carillion offers apprenticeships in the main building trades of carpentry, bricklaying, painting & decorating, plastering, general construction operations and dry lining. The weekly wage is £100.00. The closing date for applications is 13 December 2013.

Click here for more information using vacancy reference number VAC000247273

  Online Safety and Cyber Security Careers - Free resources from e-skills UK

A whistleblower holed up in a Russian airport. A teenage victim of bullying online. A covert war in the Middle East. The arrest of a criminal mastermind.

Today, cyber security is headline news and touches every corner of society.

You can now lift the lid on this exciting topic with Secure Futures - a brand new teaching resource from e-skills UK careers advice website, BigAmbition.

What’s available?

Our free, dynamic resources not only teach your students how to stay secure online. They also make the link between the techniques they can use to ensure their own safety, and those used by government and business to protect the nation from cyber threats.

Initial Sessions: A series of 20-30 minute modules that can be delivered separately in form time, during assembly or concurrently during a lesson, to provide an introduction to cyber security.

Games and Lesson Plans: Our two online games test students knowledge of cyber threats and their ability to manage disasters against the clock. You can give additional context with case studies relating to the real world.

Cross Curricular Resources: Explore cyber bullying and security in creative and innovative ways using our resources for Art, Classics/History, English and Technology.

Exciting Careers Advice: Challenging, well-paid and always in demand, working in cyber security is the career of the 21st century. Enable your students to meet the diverse range of professionals working in the field through our advice and videos.

Get started

Or to find out more about cyber security, watch our introductory video on Careersbox.