Alternatives to Higher Education

1. Alternatives to Higher Education Herschel Grammar School June 2012

2. Session Outline • Awareness of post 18 options • Useful resources for job search • Questions and Answers

3. Alternatives to University? • Apprenticeships • Jobs • Foundation Degrees • Sponsored Degrees • Distance Learning (e.g. O.U.) • Gap Year / Volunteering

4. WORK

5. Advantages of Work • Start career early • 3 years more work experience than graduates • Progression for good performance and initiative • Some large companies have always attracted A level school leavers. High university fees mean that more large and blue chip companies are recruiting!

6. APPRENTICESHIPSwww.apprenticeships.org.uk

7. Apprenticeships • There are Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships • Open to 16-24 year olds • Earn and learn • Supported route into employment • May lead to higher qualifications such as NVQ4, Foundation Degree • Available in a range of career areas

8. Advantages of an Apprenticeship • Debt free training route • See the relevance of theory put into practice • Make an early start to a career • Some employers will fund to degree level • A high proportion of apprentices are offered jobs with their employer • Acquire transferable skills: problem solving, teamwork, IT

9. Disadvantages of Apprenticeship • Training allowance rather than wage • Fierce competition for places • Progression may not be available beyond level 3 • Unsuitable for certain careers

10. Andy Gardner 2012 Apprenticeships – leading to HE

11. Andy Gardner 2012

12. British Airways Apprenticeships available for Sept 2012 • Engineering • Engineering Business Support • Aviation Operations • IT Operations and IT Security • Business and Administration • World Cargo • Project Management (Brands / Customer Experience / Commercial.)

13. Next Steps For Finding an Apprenticeship • Prepare your CV and covering letters using the help guides on www.connexions-berkshire.org.uk • Apprenticeship information and vacancies at: www.apprenticeships.org.uk & www.notgoingtouni.co.uk • Yellow Pages / www.yell.com • Large companies will have their own apprenticeship application details on their websites e.g. Kaplan, KPMG, BAA,NHS, John Lewis, British Airways, BMW, the banks – HSBC, Barclays, Nat West, Nationwide, BT, British Gas.

14. Impact of New University Funding • Many universities are charging the full £9,000 • As a result, many young people are rethinking their options • Large companies have picked up on the feeling of unease and the pool of talent potentially available • Some large companies have traditionally offered post A level training schemes. MORE are now intending to do this e.g. Microsoft, Tesco, Marks and Spencer, Unilever, Proctor and Gamble and Hilton Hotels, KPMG, Price Waterhouse Cooper, Unilever, Marriott Hotels, BDO Stoy Hayward.

15. Notgoingtouni.co.uk Excellent website providing details on many alternatives to university: • Apprenticeships • Advanced apprenticeships • Foundation degrees • Sponsored degrees • College course • Jobs • Gap Year opportunities Register with them – they will send you regular update emails!

16. Andy Gardner

17. Andy Gardner

18. Foundation Degrees • Full-time or part-time • Level 5 qualification (equivalent to first 2 years of Honours Degree) • Blend of academic study and work based learning • Developed in partnership with employers • Top up to full Honours Degree with further year of study

19. Sponsored Degrees • Sponsored Degrees (or Employer Funded Study) are a great way of gaining a degree debt free • You are employed by the company, receive a salary and study part time or full-time at university for a course related to your work

20. Benefits of a Sponsored Degree • You receive a salary like any other employee • You have valuable work experience • You will finish your degree debt free • Many sponsorship programmes contract you to work for the company after you graduate • More companies are considering this option!

21. Areas of Work available to A level/BTEC Students • Business/ICT • Marketing/HR/Business Administration • Accountancy, Finance, Banking • Retail • Hospitality • Travel Agents • Airport – Customer Service Agent (Gain experience for Cabin Crew later??) • Construction / Engineering / Surveying • Local Government – Housing, Leisure & Tourism, Sports (Cutbacks at present) • Public Services – Police, PCSO, Ambulance, Health Care Assistant Army, Navy etc (Cutbacks in some areas)

22. Accountancy & Finance • PWC – Head Start Programme (Assurance & Pensions) 280 Points required • KPMG – Tax Advisor Trainee – AAT qualifications – ABB required • National Audit Office – AAT Fast Track Scheme – 4 year training contract – 300 points required • Lloyds TSB, Nat West, RBS – Business Specialist Programmes – rotational programmes 180-280 points

23. IT/Business • Logica Sponsored Degree Programme – BBB at A’ Level / 300 UCAS points. Day release over 3 years for BA (Hons) Management, £13,000 • Siemens –CIMA qualification (Accountancy) Takes 5 years – 280 UCAS points required • Pearson in Practice (formerly Zenos) – NVQ 3 study in Microsoft & CISCO systems. GCSEs required • QA – IT Apprenticeships. GCSEs required.

24. Retail • Arcadia Group PLC – Retail Management trainee (2 A Levels or equiv) • Tesco – A’ Level fast track management programme. • BAA Retail Academy – Retail & Customer service, hospitality, warehousing etc

25. Travel, Leisure, Sport Thomson, Going Places, Thomas Cook – offer NVQ training programmes in customer service/tourism (overseas) Leisure/Sports Centres – can offer leisure management apprenticeships Hotels – can offer hospitality and catering training opportunities (Holiday Inn, Marriott Hotels, Hilton, Jurys Inn.)

26. Construction, Engineering, Surveying BAA – 4-year apprenticeship scheme in Engineering maintenance with day release to Kingston College (4 GCSEs req) £13000 Network Rail – electrical apprenticeships (4 GCSEs req) Carillion – Construction Management incl surveying. Apprenticeship leading to Bsc Construction BP Shipping – (Ship Management, Offshore exploration) Sponsored degree programme NATS – Air Traffic Control traineeship – Training in Bournemouth, £18,000, 2 A2s or equiv

27. NEW NHS Practitioner Training Programme. Sponsored degrees. Uni study and work based learning • Assistant physiotherapist / occupational therapist www.nhscareers.nhs.uk www.jobs.nhs.uk • Dental nursing • Dispensing optician

28. Skills Employers Want • People skills Teamwork Interpersonal skills Leadership • Self reliance skills Networking Self awareness • Specialist skills IT Languages • Problem solving skills

29. Job Search Strategies • A winning CV • Use networks • Job search websites • Target employers websites • Speculative applications • Interview preparation • Be flexible

30. GAP YEAR

31. Gap Year Advantages • Gain vocational experience • Gain new skills Language/business • Increase employability • Improve your finances • Become more independent and mature Disadvantages • Disinclined to return to study • Some courses advise against it

32. Advantages of Work Experience There is competition for non graduate and graduate jobs. Economic climate makes entry to employment harder. • Work experience sets you apart from other students • Work experience provides the “soft skills” – teamworking, networking, negotiating skills, time management skills, problem solving, tact and diplomacy

33. Advantages of Work Experience • Sandwich courses at university are a good way of gaining w/experience • Gap Year work experience is very useful • Volunteering can be a way in • Graduates find it difficult to land a job with no work experience • Use employment agencies, smaller firms, the voluntary sector. Approach family contacts, friends, school work experience placement • Plan work experience during school holidays • Any work experience is helpful!!

34. Career Goals Unsure? • www.connexions-berkshire.org.uk • Kudos • Eclips • Careercomp@nion Online • Next Step Job Profiles and Careersbox • www.prospects.ac.uk (Options With Your Subject)

35. Parallel Planning Unsure? Keep options open: • Do your H.E. research. Choose 5 courses. • Apply to university (usually do not decide on offer until May) • Apply for apprenticeships and school leavers programmes from Autumn term for Summer entry • Monitor job market AND application deadlines. Some School leaver programmes close early (February.)

36. Websites for Job Search • www.apprenticeships.org.uk • www.notgoingtouni.co.uk • www.connexions-berkshire.org.uk • www.connexions-berkshire.org.uk/node/747 • www.thebigchoice.com • www.totaljobs.com • www.monster.co.uk • www.fish4.co.uk

37. More Useful Websites • www.allaboutcareers.com • www.yearoutgroup.org • www.gapadvice.org • www.yell.com • www.kaplan.co.uk (accountancy) Volunteering • www.csv.org.uk • www.do-it.org.uk • www.vinspired.com • www.volunteerslough.org.uk

38. Andy Gardner 2012

39. And...... • Local employment agencies e.g. Reed • Websites of large companies e.g. O2, Computer Associates. • Websites of the banks • AND local newspapers helencole@connexions-berkshire.org.uk

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