gowales@cardiff.ac.uk

1. AGCAS Annual Conference Levelling the work experience playing field for under-represented students GO Wales: Achieve through Work Experience Aaran Graham, Andrew Kirby, Diya Ramful and Felix Shi gowales@cardiff.ac.uk

2. In this session, we aim to cover… • An introduction to GO Wales: Achieve through work experience • An overview of the delivery model • How we are embedding the programme at Cardiff University • Performance Data • Student Experiences: Diya and Felix gowales@cardiff.ac.uk

3. Employers put work experience at the top of their wish list when they recruit graduates. But some students, due to their personal circumstances face barriers in securing work experience… GO Wales levels the playing field by working with students to support them in getting career-related work experience. This develops and refines their job-related skills and knowledge and helps them become more employable.

4. Pan-Wales programme, part-financed by the European Social Fund • A partnership of HEFCW and the universities in Wales running from 2016 – 2022 • GO Wales website, student and employer database, employability assessment tool www.gowales.co.uk • 2161 students participating (Cardiff University 345) • 1839 undertaking work experience (Cardiff University 293) • 1745 students leaving the programme at reduced risk of NEET (Cardiff University 278)

5. Increasing Work Experience Ctrl + Click on image Talent, Diversity and Corporate Responsibility Talent Spotting • We work with full-time students under 25 years old, in full-time education and able to say ‘yes’ to at least one of the following: • Disability or work limiting health condition • Black and Minority Ethnic background • Caring or childcare responsibilities • In care, a care leaver or estranged from their family • From a low higher education participation neighbourhood. Levelling the playing field Flexible work experience placements: 3 – 30 days

6. Ctrl + Click on image Factors that restrict students from seeking work experience… • Social capital or networks to get their foot in the door • Support mechanisms and financial constraints • Feeling at the back of the queue, it is ‘not for me’ or not knowing where to start • Confidence to talk to employers about disability, workplace adjustments, flexible placements • Time and energy to focus on work experience due to personal circumstances, e.g. caring responsibilities, anxiety, study commitments • Not knowing about the support available

7. 10 minutes Quiz Time! kahoot.it 5 quickfire questions

8. GO Wales Delivery Model A key strength of the GO Wales programme is that it allows each student to have the tailored support of a GO Wales Project Officer… Initial Employability Assessment, career goals, work experience requirements, personal circumstances and support needs. Getting to know the student Preparation Sourcing a placement, setting objectives, meeting the employer, travel arrangements, talking about disability and workplace adjustments. Throughout the work experience journey: bespoke and flexible placements, travel expenses, equipment, accommodation, keeping in touch to review progress etc. Ongoing support Reflection Student reflection, employer feedback and next steps in their career planning. Post opportunity Employability Assessment – measuring distance travelled. Signposting Careers Guidance, CV support, Enterprise, Employer Engagement, Global Opportunities, Insights and Internships via the Work Experience Team.

9. Employability Assessment – Illustrating student progress

10. Employability Assessment – Illustrating student progress

11. Embedding GO Wales at Cardiff University Raising awareness for effective referral two-way referrals. Careers Guidance, CV support, Enterprise, Employer Engagement, Global Opportunities, Work Experience Team. Part of a broader Careers & Employability offer Links with Student Support Teams Disability & Dyslexia, Money & Advice, Wellbeing & Counselling, Academic Skills, Residence Life and Widening Participation Teams. Links with Schools and Colleges School Contacts: employability leads, tutors, disability advisers, placement officers, equality and inclusion leads.

12. Comms, Marketing & Student Engagement Data on GO Wales eligible students. GO Wales email to low HE participation students. Other student emails sent via Academic Schools, Disability Team and Money & Advice Team. Student Data Workshops, Careers Panels and Comms Careers & Employability Panels: BAME and Disabled leaders ASC Transition, WP Welcome, Dyslexia Awareness Events Careers Fairs, pop-ups, student intranet, comms & marketing. Giving Students a platform Student films, Students’ Union, Student Ambassadors, GO Wales student panel and focus groups.

13. Performance at Cardiff University… 132 females and 50 males 90 students who are disabled / work-limiting health condition 50 BAME students 90 students from areas of low participation 10 students who are care leavers or estranged from their families Reduced NEET 117 Signposted to C&E 128 Students 182 Work Experience 137 gowales@cardiff.ac.uk

14. Participating Employers… Acuity Law 10 108 Cardiff University 408 Wales Media Wales 7 Newport City Council 4 Are you interested in helping students develop skills for the workplace?

15. Group Activity • Thinking about your organisation… 10 minutes • What good practice exists in relation to engaging under-represented students in Careers & Employability? • If you could do one thing to develop your approach, what would it be?

16. Students Experiences… Diya Ramful Felix Shi

17. Ctrl + Click on the images to hear Student and Employer Stories… Vidhi: Computer Science Solviq and Properr Elly: Maths Office for National Statistics Will: BioChemistry Cardiff University IT Dale: Human Geography Cardiff City Council / Carmarthenshire County Council Emily: Media & Communications Introbiz and S3 Advertising Shereen Williams Newport City Council Owen Derbyshire CEO Properr Diya: Maths CU Research & Innovation

18. Th Thank You Any Questions? gowales@cardiff.ac.uk