Careers World magazine

The Summer edition of Careers World magazine is available in the School Library.  It has features on how Apprenticeships are changing, studying in America and how to navigate the UCAS Clearing process.  It also has in-depth articles on the careers areas of: Engineering, Retail, Health & Social Care, Construction and Sport & Fitness. They give you all the details you need, including entry pathways and, most importantly, how much you can expect to earn!

If you can't get to the Library, visit the website www.careersworld.co.uk

Apprenticeship opportunities

The school regularly receives information from local and national companies about Apprenticeships they are offering.  Below are some recent examples but keep checking back for new opportunities ...

• Willows Forge ( www.willowsforge.co.uk ), based in London Colney, are looking for a Level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration in partnership with Oaklands College.  Contact me at school for more details.
• AECOM, a local engineering firm, ( www.aecom.com ) is offering an Apprenticeship as a Sustainability Trainee for a school leaver at 16 or 18.  For more details, click here.
• DGS Chartered Financial Planners ( www.dgsifa.com ) has recently launched a Trainee Financial Adviser Apprenticeship Scheme and has a number of places at their St Albans office.  This is in association with Bromley College of Higher Education and is based on the following framework - Advanced Apprenticeship in Providing Financial Services (Level 3).  They are looking for bright business/maths/science students who may not feel university is the right path and who would like a career in the financial services industry. The Apprenticeship is for 18 months and DGS is looking to take the apprentices on permanently after the scheme. Click here for more information.

There's more to Apprenticeships than spanners and hair-straighteners!

Most people are waking up to the "earn as you learn" opportunities available through Apprenticeships but many still think they're aimed just at Hair & Beauty or Construction-based careers.  Well, they're wrong!  For example the BBC is offering 45 local Apprenticeships in its radio stations across the UK as part of Director-General Tony Hall's pledge to open up the BBC to people from a wide range of backgrounds. Applications opened this month and successful candidates will start their jobs in September, working as Apprentice Broadcast Assistants (England, Channel Islands) and Apprentice Content Assistants (Wales, Scotland and N Ireland).  For more information, click here.  

What's more, world-wide you can find Apprenticeships in fields such as Tasting Dog Food, Trimming Cow Hooves, Milking Snakes and being a Pet Detective! [Source: TCHC Training].  For more local Apprenticeship opportunities, visit: www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Apprenticeship Event at Marlborough School 29th April 2014

On April 29th, Marlborough School is hosting an Apprenticeship Event on behalf of Hertfordshire Local Authority for parents, carers and students across St Albans from 6.30 – 8.00 p.m. 

For further information about this event and booking details, click here.

Opportunities for Work Placements and Internships

Student Ladder offers a wide range of opportunities for Work Placements and Internships for young people between the ages of 16 and 24.  The placements are grouped under major headings such as Media, Engineering, Charity Work and Medicine, with companies such as the BBC and Channel 4 listed alongside other organisations with what they offer and when to apply.  They also have a useful school leavers list of companies who offer jobs and training

at 16 and 18.

Almost half of all firms are planning to recruit Apprentices ...

Almost half (44%) of businesses in the country plan to take on apprentices in the next five years, according to a report last week by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and Skills Funding Agency.  This compares to just over 3 in 10 (36%) employers when asked the same question last year.

The study of 600 businesses also reveals that a fifth (20%) of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises plan to take on one or more apprentices in the next 12 months alone, with more than a third (37%) of larger businesses planning to do the same, compared to 15% and 28% respectively in February 2013.  Around a third (32%) of those that plan to take on apprentices say this is because they are a core part of their growth strategy.

                                                 [ source: SSAT Policy and Curriculum Radar ]

National Apprenticeship Week 2014

Apprenticeships: The Facts ...

• Currently, more than 100,000 employers offer Apprenticeships at 200,000 different locations across England, covering more than 1500 types of job. There are up to 20,000 vacancies for Apprenticeships available on www.apprenticeships.org.uk at any one time.
• An Apprenticeship lasts for a minimum of 12 months but can extend up to 4 years, depending on the level of study involved. For example, a Higher Apprenticeship is equivalent to a degree qualification.
• Anyone over 16, living in England, and not in full-time education, can apply for an Apprenticeship.
• Employers love Apprenticeships! Research has shown that trained apprentices are viewed as 15% more employable than those with other qualifications.
•  Over your lifetime, you can expect to earn between £48k and £74k extra with an Intermediate Apprenticeship qualification; between £77k and £117k extra with an Advanced Apprenticeship and around £150k more with a Higher Apprenticeship.

For more advice and information, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk , apprentice.tv or www.whatapprenticeship.co.uk

[ source: Careersworld magazine ]