Open Doors - North East, Summer 2012

Apprenticeships · cAreers · Jobs · trAining · A-LeveLs · coLLege · Uni

open D

oors – The Regional Training ProspectusIssue 6 | N

orth East Edition | Summ

er 2012

north eAst eDition issue 6 - Summer 2012ISSN: 2044-7159

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us on twitter @

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s!

[email protected] icaew.com/cfab-aca

ADVANCE YOUR CAREERGain key knowledge in business and finance in one year and get the edge when you apply for a job or a university place.

The Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB) will teach you the fundamentals of business and finance, just the sort of knowledge that you can use in any job anywhere in the world.

If you like what you’ve learnt with CFAB, take the next step with the ACA qualification. The ACA will make sure you have the financial and business intelligence, work experience and skills the business world demands.

To find out more, visit icaew.com/cfab-aca

[email protected] icaew.com/cfab-aca

ADVANCE YOUR CAREERGain key knowledge in business and finance in one year and get the edge when you apply for a job or a university place.

The Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB) will teach you the fundamentals of business and finance, just the sort of knowledge that you can use in any job anywhere in the world.

If you like what you’ve learnt with CFAB, take the next step with the ACA qualification. The ACA will make sure you have the financial and business intelligence, work experience and skills the business world demands.

To find out more, visit icaew.com/cfab-aca

Hello, we’re open Doors...

Open Doors – Summer 2012 - North East edition

Open Doors – The Regional Training Prospectus is published by Open Doors Media Ltd ©2012.

ISSN: 2044-7159All material is copyrighted both written and illustrated. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. All images and information is collated from extensive research and along with advertisements is published in good faith. Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this publication was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Publisher – Karl [email protected]

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To contact us:01765 694120 | [email protected]

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Training.Prospectus

FInD Us

on FACeBooK

feel free to put a link to our website www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk on your schools resources web pages or intranet

... and this is our Regional Training Prospectus, here to help you decide what to do next.

2012 is an exciting Olympic year! But it’s doubly exciting for school leavers like you, as you take that next step towards your dream career.

Whether you want to start earning qualifications and money with an Apprenticeship, get a taste of the working world with employer funded study, carry on learning at sixth form or college, or go to university, this Regional Training Prospectus will help you make the right decisions and choices.

In this issue we will profile some of the biggest sectors in your region and explain how to take the first step to a career in the ones that interest you. We’ll also explore employment trends in your area and take a look at some remarkable true stories of young people who have had success after leaving school. There’s a lot to sort out before September so we’ll give you a guide to all of the confusing qualifications out there and will answer some of the most common questions or concerns you might have too.

the future is in your hands ... right here in this prospectus. so turn the page and let’s get started!

QR Codes A QR (Quick Response) Code is a smart way to head straight to interesting websites, lots of colleges and providers have one, and using them couldn’t be simpler. All you have to do is download a QR Code reader app for your smartphone. Then launch the app, hover your phone over the code, and your phone will take you straight to the website you need. Give it a try with Open Doors Media’s very own code now!

Throughout this Prospectus, you’ll see lots of facts and figures about our region and its sectors. We get them from the Office for National Statistics, various Sector Skills Councils and industry experts. It’s all official stuff, there’s no Wikipedia where we’re involved!

www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk

03

the intro bits

07 SCHOOL LEAVERS PROBLEM PAGE Make sure you’re ready to leave school, take a look at some of the problems you might face

10 QuALifiCAtiOnS tABLE See how different qualifications add up, and how they compare

12 LifE StORiES Past and present students tell us all about their experiences and how they succeeded

17 EnGinEERinG SECtOR A varied sector with endless possibilities

21 tRAVEL & HOSPitALity SECtOR You could make a career of helping people enjoy themselves

25 BuSinESS & finAnCE SECtOR Fancy a high-flying career?

29 MOtOR VEHiCLE SECtOR Love cars? There are lots of careers on offer

33 HAiR & BEAuty SECtOR Get a career that never goes out of style

37 iMAGinE A CAREER... We give you a heads-up on the other sectors out there, which we’ll cover in later issues

p17 Engineering sector

The perfect place to start, jump straight to any section that instantly appeals or keep turning the pages and continue reading – it’s all here to help you find your dream career

COntEntS

The Intro Bits Careers Insight

The Intro Bits

04


43 spotlIGHt on tHe nortH eAst All about your region

52 More HelpFUl stUFF Useful links, contact details and more – because you can never have too much information

54 Free DownloADs Want more top notch careers info? Get downloading with Open Doors

p29 Motor vehicle sector

p25 Business &

finance sector

p33 Hair &

Beauty Sector

p21 Travel &

hospitality sector

Useful Stuff

HErE’S How IT workSEvery term we publish a new issue of Open Doors that covers five sectors in detail, giving you a good idea of what a career in these sectors would be like. Don’t worry if the sector you’re keen on isn’t one of the five – you can find a brief overview of every sector in the ‘Imagine a career’ article or if you head to www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk. We’ll cover five different sectors in detail in the next issue, so look out for us next term.If there is anything else you would like us to cover, or you just want to say hello, drop us an email at [email protected]. We want to make sure we cover everything you need to plan your future! Happy reading, and hope you have a great term.


05

the intro bits

With our industry approved Apprenticeships you’ll work in a real job from day one, it’s a great way to start your career and the perfect stepping stone to getting ahead. And the best part? You’ll earn a wage and gain invaluable experience too.

• Hairdressing and Barbering• Health and Social Care• Hospitality and Catering• Retail

Want to earn while you learn?

The employmentand skills group

Take your first step towards a brighter future and call us now on 0333 444 3973, or

text JOB to 80011 and we’ll give you a call back. You can also visit www.esggroup.co.uk

The choice is yours…

During your Apprenticeship you’ll receive training, within a work environment. All of our training is sector specific and will equip you with the right skills to get you where you want to be. You can get qualifications in areas such as:

• Business Administration• Childcare• Customer Service

Open Doors Advert Oct 2011 version.indd 1 03/11/2011 09:34

Around 70% of 16 year olds choose to remain in full time education

70%

Diplomas are achieved every year!

11,000+

(number of school leavers and graduates

who enter the job market each year)

800,000

(number of apprenticeship starts in england each year)

275,000+

there are more than

university places in the UK each year

500,000

sCHool leAVerproBleM pAGeGoing into sixth form, college, an apprenticeship, university or the world of work? Leaving school is an exciting time but sometimes you might face big decisions or dilemmas along the way, take a look at our problem page to make sure you’re prepared...


07

the intro bits

kEy DaTESYou don’t want to miss any deadlines or important days. Here are some important dates for your diary...

26th July 2012 – University offers must be replied to by this date.

16th August 2012 – A-Level results day.

23rd August 2012 – GCSE results day.

3rd September 2012 – New academic year.

It’s also important check the key dates for whatever route you’re taking, most education and training

providers have easy to use websites and will warn you of any looming deadlines. Make sure you know

when you have to be available. For example, many colleges have different enrolment dates, you may

have a place but that’s useless until you actually go and enrol!

SCHool lEavErCHECk lIST Speak to your school careers advisor –This seems obvious and by this point in the year it is likely that you have already spoken to your school advisor, but if even if you know exactly what you’re doing it can’t hurt to get an expert opinion. Your careers advisors are there to help you and going along for a chat may raise issues you hadn’t even thought of.Consider all the available options –Again at this point you’ve probably explored a few different avenues, or have applied for your dream course, but a back-up plan is always useful. For example, if you don’t get the grades you need to get on your course, is there a different type of qualification you can do to get into the industry you want to? There may be other colleges or providers who offer the same course too and it’s fine to go to open days at different places even if you’ve already applied elsewhere.

Think about money –‘Money makes the world go round’ is a cheesy catchphrase - but it’s true. Money is a big issue no matter what route you take: if you’re doing an Apprenticeship, you get paid, but need to consider possible travelling expenses; if you’re doing a further education course the old EMA funding system no longer exists; if you’re going to university you will be in control of your own household budget! Many students get part-time or summer jobs to help fund their studies, could this be an option for you?

sCHool leAVer proBleM pAGeIn our previous issues we covered some of the common questions you had about which options to take when you leave school and how to apply for them. Now you have a plan it’s time to consider some of the problems you may encounter and, more importantly, how to avoid them!

USEfUl lInkSwww.apprenticeships.org.uk – Website for

Apprenticeship vacancies.

www.ucasprogress.com – All about schools,

colleges and work-based learning providers.

www.ucas.ac.uk - University and higher education

courses. www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk – The best careers

site on the web.

the intro bits

08


part-time jobsProblem: You want to stay in further or higher education, and

have an ideal course lined up, but you’re worried about money.

Solution: There are funding options available for further and

higher education through government bursaries and scholarships;

however many students who don’t qualify for these still have

money worries. A popular option for many students is a part-time

or a summer/temporary job.

Not only will part-time work alongside your studies provide you

with money but it looks good on your CV too - many employers

consider workplace experience to be as important as education

and qualifications. There are lots of job sites out there with part-

time roles for students who need extra cash, so get your CV

online, but also consider doing a bit of networking or just taking a

CV round small local businesses. Lots of jobs are never actually

advertised, there’s no harm in asking local businesses if they

need extra staff and industries like the restaurant trade are always

looking for new people!

DIlEMMaS, ConCErnSanD proBlEMS... Here are some of the issues students have with the most common school leaver routes. But if you do a bit of preparation and make use of the resources available there’s nothing to worry about!

college enrolment Problem: You’ve got places at several colleges but you’re not sure where to go, or how to enrol.

Solution: If you’ve been unsure about what course you want to do, or where you want to do it, you may have places at more than

one college, or a place at sixth form and college available. This is completely normal and colleges understand that your situation may

have changed since application, especially if you applied for your course in the autumn term of year 11. Once you have decided which

course you want to do contact the college(s) you won’t be attending and inform them of your decision.

It’s really important that you enrol on your chosen course in time, as enrolment days at colleges can be hectic. Once you have been

offered a place most colleges will send you a letter telling you what you need to enrol and when enrolment is. Though each college is

different you may need photo identification, references, loan/fee payment information and qualification documents, with you when you

go to enrol. Most colleges have phone hotlines or email addresses you can contact if you are unsure about what you need and where

you need to go.

UcAs and UniversityProblem: You’re worried you won’t get the grades you

expected and may have to go through clearing.

Solution: Every year A Level results day is all over

the news with the clearing process in complete

pandemonium and gazillions of disappointed students.

However in reality the process is really straightforward.

If you’re unsuccessful with your first choice offer, but

meet the conditions for your second choice, you will

be accepted there. If you fail to meet the conditions for

either choice you can get a place through Clearing. Even

if you miss your required grades its worth checking if

the institutions that offered you places will accept you

anyway, especially if you’re just short of the mark.

Going through Clearing allows you to look at all of

the courses that still have places. You may use Clearing

if you didn’t receive any offers, missed your grades or

want to turn down the offers you have received. Through

Clearing you can speak to as many universities and

colleges you want, so you can decide what course

you want to do, but you can only accept one course.

Clearing is nothing to be scared of; thousands of

students get places through the system every year!

Alternatively you can always ask your teachers about

repeating your A Levels or even getting them re-marked.

ApprenticeshipsProblem: You’ve heard all about Apprenticeships, and would

like to do one so you can get paid and qualified, but you can’t

find any vacancies.Solution: More and more young people are interested in

Apprenticeships, and we gave you the info on how to apply

for an Apprenticeship in our last issue. Obviously your first

port of call should be www.apprenticeships.org.uk and the

online vacancy matching service, which lists all of the available

opportunities. You don’t have to leave your search there

though, why not do some networking?

Ask your friends, relatives, teachers and careers advisors,

if they know any local employers or providers who can help

you find an Apprenticeship. Alternatively if you have a part-time

job you could always ask your current employer to take you

on as an Apprentice! It sounds strange but lots of people who

do Apprenticeships already have jobs, because of the benefits

to the employee and the employer. You get qualified and your

employer doesn’t have to pay anything for the training if you’re

18 or under.

A Levels and sixth FormProblem: You’re not sure you’ve made the right choices for your A-Levels, and you don’t know whether to stay at your schools sixth form or go elsewhere.Solution: After getting your GCSE results, or just having a change of heart, you may want to do different A Levels from the ones you have previously chosen. Sometimes the best thing to do is allow time to adapt and get used to the course. However if you have the necessary GCSE grades you should be able to change before term starts without any problems. Most schools and colleges don’t allow you to change after a certain point in the term, but if you really want to change the best thing to do is talk to your teachers.

As mentioned in the college enrolment section it is common to have offers from more than one place. Hopefully you will have been to both college and sixth form open days so you should have a good idea of what both are like. It’s really a choice between the size and independence of a new college, or sixth form, or staying where you already know the teachers and have friends. There is no set answer about which is best, it really depends on what you think is best for your future.

09

www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk the intro bits

QUAlIFICAtIonsexplAIneD

Did you know that completing an Advanced Apprenticeship is the same as getting an A level? There are lots of different qualifications – here’s how they compare. Remember that within any one level, qualifications can cover a wide mix of subjects, and take different amounts of time to complete.

entry leVel leVel 1 leVel 2 leVel 3 leVel 4-8

entry level Certificates

5 GCses (grades D-G)

5 GCses (grades A*-C) A levels

skills for life

BteC Introductory

Diplomas and Certificates

Advanced Apprenticeship

Functional skills at entry level

(english, maths and ICt)

oCr nationalsBteC First

Diplomas and Certificates

Diploma of Higher education

Awards, Certificates, and

Diplomas at entry level

nVQs at level 1

Foundation Diploma

nVQs at level 2

Higher Diploma

HnD, HnC

IntermediateApprenticeship

FoundationDegree

HigherApprenticeship

GCe in applied subjects

BteC Diplomas, Certificates and

Awards

nVQs at level 3

Advanced Diploma

the intro bits

10


NORTH EAST LTD

Call your local ITEC centre now or apply on-line

0191 490 4670 | 01325 320052 | 01642 232550

www.itecne.co.uk

Business & Administration Communication Technology Customer Service IT Practitioner/Professional IT User Sales Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools Team Leading & Management

ITEC’s Apprentices learn on the job, building up knowledge and real skills, gaining qualifications such as NVQ’s and other nationally recognised qualifications proving their true ability in the workplace. Employers really do recognise and value their apprentices.

Start Learning & Earning

NVQ Levels2, 3 & 4

ITEC NE Ad Dec10 v3.indd 1 22/12/2010 13:35

lIfE STorIES EngagED anD parTICIpaTIngHayley signed up to the Go4it programme, which aims to find young people who are not in education, employment or training, a work placement that will offer the opportunity improve their key employability skills and hopefully lead to an apprenticeship, full-time job or educational course.

Hayley, a single mother, was offered a work experience placement with the North Tyneside Council Participation and Engagement Team. To make this placement possible Care to Learn provided a place for Hayley’s young child in one of North Tyneside’s nurseries. This made it possible for her to work full time, gaining the best experience possible.

During her initial training she worked with all of the members of the team in each sector of the department, learning what their duties and responsibilities were. When it was felt that Hayley’s training was sufficient she was assigned tasks that were to be carried out by her as though she was a full team member. This was carried out with great success, so much so that when a full apprenticeship became available within the department she was able to apply with confidence and attain the position on her own merits.

Hayley is now working towards an intermediate apprenticeship qualification in Creative and Digital Media at Tyne Metropolitan College, while continuing to work with the Participation and Engagement Team at North Tyneside Council.

Ian aIMS HIgH

Once a gang member at a very young age, Ian Perkins 21, knows only too well the tragedy of taking the wrong path in life and losing friends due to crime and unrest. Looking for his second chance in life and to prove wrong those people who once doubted him, Ian’s determination and will to succeed led him to Lifetime.

Enrolling into the Lifetime Fitness Academy and with the support of tutor Mark Pemberton, Ian successfully completed his Level 2 Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship; not only could Ian earn while he learned, but he was able to gain ‘on the job’ skills and a true understanding of the industry.

Ian says: “I have turned my life around, influenced people and shown never to give up on anyone. In the space of just 20 months I have come from “just an apprentice” to becoming the youngest ever Health and Fitness Manager of the largest Fitness First club in Europe. I have received two awards from my employer on consecutive months, which has never been achieved by anyone in the company. I always aimed high from the very start and never gave up on that goal.”

A bright future awaits Ian; he now teaches ‘PT Business’ courses and has worked hard to establish himself in the fitness industry. “Eventually I want to have a say in how the industry is run. I feel that my passion behind health and fitness can influence change; my ambition is to aim high!”

For more information please get in touchT: 0870 120 1207W: www.lifetimetraining.co.uk/looking-for-a-jobE: [email protected]

the intro bits

12


gET apprEnTICE Savvy for frEE

Apprenticeships are the gateway into employment for more and more young people with the obvious attractions of earning a wage, gaining skills and real prospects for progression in work or into higher education.

Apprenticeship credibility is currently riding high, especially amongst employers who appreciate the three elements included in an apprenticeship framework – a skills element – a competence element – a technical element – the perfect mix of ingredients to rustle up a truly valued employee. Learning provider ITEC North East, is running free weekly sessions at their training centres in Gateshead, Newton Aycliffe and Middlesbrough for young people aged 16 – 24, currently unemployed, not in full-time education and without an existing Level 2 or 3 qualification. Each weekly session covers a number of related topics to ensure candidates have the knowledge to achieve their Technical Certificates in Business & Administration or ICT Systems & Principles.

Small groups working together, gain knowledge and skills demonstrating their understanding of an employee’s role, so necessary in a wide range of businesses and organisations where admin and IT skills are invaluable. “Working together with people of the same age in a good atmosphere was a great experience.” “I found the course informative and helpful and it’ll save us time when we start our Apprenticeships as we won’t have to complete this element again.” ITEC’s staff are delighted with successful outcomes for some of their previous course attendees interested in Apprenticeships with a number of interviews and a couple of firm offers from employers.

To find out more about Technical Certificate courses scheduled throughout 2012 at each of ITEC’s centres, contact Laura Bell on 01325 328443 and see how it could help to improve your employment opportunities or visit - www.itecne.co.uk

apprEnTICE pHIlIp provES To BE a wInnEr wITH loCal gaMES CoMpanyAvid gamer Philip Moore proved to be a real winner when he landed his dream job as an apprentice with a leading mobile design agency that creates apps and games for iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Nokia and Android devices. Philip Moore, 21, from Cramlington, beat off competition from more than 100 applicants to win an apprenticeship position with Newcastle-based games company Fluid Pixel. Philip had just finished a full time Level 3 National Diploma in Media Production – Games Development - at Newcastle College when he began searching for apprenticeship opportunities to help him continue his education.

Philip said: “I’ve always loved playing computer games and then to find myself actually getting to play them as part of my job at Fluid Pixel is something I still can’t quite believe. “I wanted to do an apprenticeship because it was different to university. I wanted to get hands on real world industry experience as quick as I could. I would recommend apprenticeships as it gives people the chance to develop skills on the job whilst also receiving a wage to support their learning.”

Having completed his apprenticeship, Philip has now progressed further onto a FdSc Foundation Degree in Games Development at Newcastle College as part of his training. He is now a Quality Architect and Trainee Programmer responsible for all quality control throughout the production process for all new games and apps releases.

If you are considering an Apprenticeship as a future career route then give Newcastle College a call today on 0191 200 4000, or to see if we have a current Apprenticeship job vacancy that suits you go to: www.newcastlecollege.co.uk/apprenticeships.


13

the intro bits

lIfE STorIES TIppED for THE Top!Nine students studying at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington have been offered places at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Competition for Oxbridge entry is extremely competitive and offers are only made to students who perform well at interview and who are likely to attain outstanding A Level results. Three students are off to Oxford and six have offers for Cambridge.

At Oxford Allie Jennings will read Philosophy, Politics & Economics, Tyler Lowe will study Engineering and Allison Swinbank’s degree will be in Biochemistry. The six going to Cambridge are: Tom Gray, Emma Clark, Elizabeth Roe, Daniel Jones, Jack Barron and Gareth Handley. Tom will read Natural Sciences, Emma will study Maths, Elizabeth’s subject is Law, Daniel’s course is engineering whilst Jack’s place is for English and Gareth’s is for Computer Science. Provided they attain high A Level grades in this summer’s exams, they will begin their degrees at Oxford and Cambridge in the Autumn.

QE’s Principal, Tim Fisher comments: “I am delighted that nine of our students have been made offers by Oxford or Cambridge. Competition for such places is fierce and this is a tremendous achievement which builds on our tradition of sending a substantial number of students, each year, to these prestigious universities. The range of subjects they have won places for is wide and reflects the breadth of QE’s curriculum and the quality of teaching and support which is given to all students at QE.”

Simon Nicholson, Oxbridge Co-ordinator adds: “This is a superb achievement for nine very able students which mirrors their high levels of motivation and talent. It has been a pleasure to guide them through the application process.’’ ,Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form CollegeVane Terrace, Darlington DL3 8RTT: 01325 461315 E: [email protected]

gET CarEErS off To a grEaT STarTJill Wright, Director at Kirk Newsholme, an accountancy, taxation and business advisory practice based in Leeds which this year took on two AAT apprentices, says ‘We have benefited from the Apprenticeship route because in the current climate many very bright and capable students have taken the decision to train in a work environment’.

The two apprentices, Katie and Jamie, both left college with A-levels. Katie says ‘I took the apprenticeship route because I felt it had much more to offer than going to University. It works perfectly for me as it provides a good balance between work life and learning.’

They are progressing well through their apprenticeship, attending the BPP centre in Leeds for one day per week. The other days are spent in the office or out at clients’ premises and are supported by senior members of staff, developing their technical skills, background knowledge and personal effectiveness.

Jamie was considering going to University to become an accountant but after being offered the job at Kirk Newsholme, decided to start the apprenticeship. Jamie says, ‘The apprenticeship entailed fully paid study as well as a full time job, so not only would I be getting free education and job experience, I was going to earn money. As I aspired to be an accountant my business sense kicked in! My college experience at BPP has been superb with knowledgeable, supporting tutors easing me through the lectures’.

Visit bpp.com/apprenticeshipsOr call London & Croydon: 0845 485 1770, rest of the UK: 0845 485 1771

the intro bits www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk

14

Get careers o� to a great start.New BPP Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships with BPP are designed to accelerate careers and businesses, whilst equipping people with the real-world skills and knowledge to fl ourish from day one.

We o� er innovative and continuously updated curricula as well as fl exibility on how, when and where to train to balance work responsibility with study.

BPP Apprenticeships include:AccountingBusiness and AdministrationCustomer ServicePayrollLeading and Management

Learn how BPP can accelerate you or your business towards an ideal training solution.

Call: 0845 485 1770 (London & Croydon) 0845 485 1771 (rest of the UK) Visit: bpp.com/apprenticeships

YOUR AMBITION REALISED.

... AND ENGINEERSMEET THEIR FUTURE.

For potential engineers with drive, ambition and ability, Welbeck is where potential turns into bright futures as Officers in the Armed Forces or Civil Service.

• One of the UK’s top performing Sixth Form Colleges

• 98% of students from Welbeck were offered a place at University in 2011

• Tuition funded by the MoD• En-suite accommodation• Annual technical bursary of £4,000

at University

For more information visit www.dsfc.ac.uk or join us on

WELBECK DEFENCE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

WHERE LEARNING

MEETS ADVENTURE...

91153 297x210 Welbeck Open Doors Ad.indd 1 16/03/2012 17:29

enGIneerInG seCtor

engineering makes up a fifth of the UK economy!

Workers in the aerospace industry in the UK

108,200

136,000 workers with level 3

qualifications are needed in the sector

– people like you are in demand

After an engineering

Apprenticeship you could be earning

£20,000 a year!

percentage of females working in

this sector

21%

percentage of employees in the sector

that are in managerial

and professional roles

52%

You could end up doing anything, from

shaving a millionth of a second off lap

times in Formula one to putting

communications satellites in orbit

£17,000 - £43,000(salary range for Mechanical engineers)

... AND ENGINEERSMEET THEIR FUTURE.

For potential engineers with drive, ambition and ability, Welbeck is where potential turns into bright futures as Officers in the Armed Forces or Civil Service.

• One of the UK’s top performing Sixth Form Colleges

• 98% of students from Welbeck were offered a place at University in 2011

• Tuition funded by the MoD• En-suite accommodation• Annual technical bursary of £4,000

at University

For more information visit www.dsfc.ac.uk or join us on

WELBECK DEFENCE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

WHERE LEARNING

MEETS ADVENTURE...

91153 297x210 Welbeck Open Doors Ad.indd 1 16/03/2012 17:29


17

careers insight

enGIneerInGFrom making aeroplanes fly to maintaining sophisticated machinery, engineers are behind the greatest achievements of mankind. get into engineering and you’ll be on one of the most exciting career paths out there!

norTH EaST foCUSThe North East has always been a hub of engineering. The most opportunities in this sector are clustered around Sunderland, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sedgefield. There are plenty of opportunities on offer: around one fifth of companies in the region are reporting vacancies that need to be filled. In fact, the industry is looking for young people with work experience.

Fast facts:• 63,900peopleworkinthissectorinthe

North East. • Themostjobopportunitiesarein

automotive, mechanical equipment and metal products subsectors.

• Theautomotivesectorproduces1inevery5 cars made in the UK, and employs over 26,000 people.

start learning!Want to find an engineering course in the North East? Then turn to page 52 to find out how to access your local 14-19 prospectus. It will tell you who’s offering what course in your local area, or you could visit who’s offering what course in your local area, or you could visit www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk

SalarIES If you get an Apprenticeship, you can expect to

start earning minimum of £95 per week – this

will increase as you train. Currently, many skilled

people in the engineering industry earn over £400

per week – that’s over £20,000 per year.

At the heart of every technological advance is an engineer. In fact, an engineer has played a role in almost every aspect of our society. Chemical engineers create new fuels to keep vehicles moving; civil engineers design our railways and roads; and aerospace engineers design the most modern aircraft.

Engineers use problem solving, creativity and imagination to come up with answers to problems. The main challenge is doing more with less. How can they make something more cheaply, quickly and effectively than ever before?

Engineering is one of the most varied sectors out there. Here are some of the main areas:

Chemical: The processing of raw materials into fuels, chemicals, plastics and pharmaceuticals. Chemical engineers are often researching new materials or helping to develop the plants that turn these materials into the finished product.

Mechanical: Designing motors, machinery and other engines. Mechanical engineers can work on small component parts or even extremely large machinery or vehicles. This is one of the most diverse engineering roles

Metals: The fabrication and welding of metals. Metal engineering contributes around £15 billion to the UK economy, because as well as creating metals recycling and reuse of used metals is now a huge industry in its own right.

Electrical: Designing and making electrical systems and components. This can range from small, individual, circuits and components to helping design and manage an entire electrical network, grid, or power station.

Aerospace: Designing and maintaining aircraft, missiles, weapon systems, satellites and space vehicles. (The UK’s industry is the second largest in the world, behind the USA.) Aeronautical engineers also work on individual components that make up these different vehicles and devices.

Marine: Designing ships, boats and other watercraft. This is a large sector in the UK because there is plenty of sea around us. Marine engineers may also work on offshore oil platforms and supply vessels.

Defence: Designing and maintaining aircraft, navigation systems, rockets, satellites etc for the Ministry of Defence. Many engineers working for the government would fit into one of the above categories, depending what their speciality is.

Apprenticeships are a recognised pathway into engineering. Popular job roles for apprentices in the region include: automotive or aerospace assembly, mechanical engineering, maintenance, welding, and fabrication.

careers insight

18


USEfUl lInkSwww.apprentices.co.uk - Search for engineering

Apprenticeships here.www.enginuity.org.uk - This website has lots of info about

engineering careers.www.thecareerengineer.com - Website for engineering jobs.

www.semta.org.uk - Sector Skills Council for

science, engineering and manufacturing.

www.careersbox.co.uk - Careers films on the web.

www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk - Our online careers resource.

gET qUalIfIED!To get into engineering, you’ll need hands-on experience and a good head for maths and science...

ApprenticeshipsAn Apprenticeship in engineering offers the best possible preparation to becoming a trained operator within the industry. Because the engineering industry is so big and varied, the type of work you do will depend on your employer and the engineering pathway you choose – this could be mechanical, fabrication and welding, electrical or electronic. You might work on the production of products or service and repair production machinery in many industries. Here are the Apprenticeship frameworks relevant to the sector, all of these are NVQ level 2:•Engineering•EngineeringConstruction•Heating,Ventilating,AirConditioning&Refrigeration•IndustrialApplications•MarineIndustry.

Advanced ApprenticeshipsAdvanced Apprenticeships are equivalent to A Levels, but like Apprenticeships are advantageous for practical roles. Historically Advanced Apprentices have progressed significantly in the industry and many have gone on to become supervisors or managers, because of the hand-on practical nature of the sector this is a good route to take. Here are the Apprenticeship frameworksrelevanttothesector,alloftheseareNVQlevel3:•Engineering•EngineeringConstruction•Heating,Ventilating,AirConditioning&Refrigeration•MarineIndustry

You can also do a Higher Apprenticeship, NVQ level 4 in:•EngineeringTechnology.

A LevelsA Levels can either lead to university or a Foundation Degree, which are explained below, but which ones are right for you depend on what role you want to do. Most employers and universities value practical and scientific subjects; these demonstrate you are able to understand how things work. Here are some recommended A Level subjects, which could set you in the right direction:•Biology•Chemistry•Design&Technology•Maths•MarineScience•Physics.

Foundation DegreesA Foundation Degree is a higher education qualification which combines academic study with practical hands-on experience. Designed jointly by universities, colleges and employers, they should give you the right skills to be ready for employment. They are university-level qualifications and are equivalent to the first two years of an Honours Degree. A typical full-time Foundation Degree takes two years to complete, and are different from Honours Degrees as they usually involve learning in the workplace as well as at university or college. They are available in a range of subjects; you can even do them in aircraft engineering.

vocational QualificationsVocational qualifications offer a more practical learning programme, which relates directly to specific job roles or sectors. There are loads of different types but here are some key ones to look out for: •NVQs•BTECs•Diplomas(These are available at multiple levels, you can see where they rank on our qualifications table on page 10) Many of your local colleges and training providers offer vocational qualifications in this sector.

To see who offers them in your region check out www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk and take a look at some of our online profiles.

CaSE STUDyA bright future for Robbie

Robbie Collins started with SW Durham Training aged 17 in September 2011 and joined our Toolmaking apprenticeship. He was based in centre full time undertaking training for his Performing Engineering Operations Level 2 qualification. In December he applied for a position with Springfield North East based in Chilton, County Durham and after an interview and a work trial, he was offered a position with the company full time where they would progress himtoaLevel3ToolmakingApprenticeship.Robbiehas also been entered in to the Metals Industry Apprentice of the Year Competition by his employer.

Robbie was asked to describe his role and said “I really do enjoy the variety of work the position offers me within the company. I have lots to learn which is really good, and the work that I will be carrying out is to a high quality standard and has to be very accurate. I am also looking forward to learning new skills like pneumatics, hydraulics and also one day when I have the manufacturing experience, I would like to be able to design special purpose equipment, jigs and fixtures”.

Robbie is just one of many talented engineers who have recently started with SW Durham and we expect he will have a very bright future.

If you would like to attend one of our recruitment taster events and find out more about a career in engineering, please contact Kirsty Haden on 01325 313194.


19

careers insight

Apprentices learn on the job in a real working environment, building up knowledge and qualifications and earning money at the same time. In most cases, Apprentices undergo college courses in order to supplement the learning that occurs with the employer.

Please call the Apprenticeship team for more information.

0191 518 8259Apprenticeship team for moree infoormmaaatttiiioonn..aatttioonnn.

www.eastdurham.ac.uk www.facebook.com/EDCollege

Apprenticeships at East Durham College Earn While You LearnEast Durham College currently offers Apprenticeships in the following occupational areas:

Active Leisure & Learning Agriculture Arboriculture & Forestry Beauty Bricklaying Business Administration Customer Service Electrotechnical Technology Engineering

Floristry Gas Installation Hairdressing & Barbering Health & Social Care Horse Care Horticulture - Landscaping Horticulture - Nursery Horticulture - Sports Turf Hospitality & Catering

IT Joinery Manufacturing Plastering Small Animal Care Support in Teaching & Learning Warehousing & Storage

Peterlee Campus Open Day & Apprenticeship EventSaturday 28th April, 10am - 1pm

Houghall Campus Open Day& Spring FayreSunday 27th May, 10am - 4pm

EDC Full Page Apprentice ad A4 Event 28 Apr, 27 May.indd 1 05/03/2012 15:21

trAVel & HospItAlIty seCtor

of the sector workforce is

part-time

47%4.9% of the UK’s economic output comes from this sector

£22,000 per year (average

travel agent salary)

More than half of the

people in this sector are

aged between 16 and 28

so why not get into one of the UK’s largest, most popular (and fun) sectors?

Which areas employ most people in this sector? (% of overall sector employment)

restaurants – 30.5%pubs, bars and nightclubs – 16.10%

hotels – 12.1%hospitality services – 17.6%

additional staff are needed in the sector by 2017

638,000 (people are employed

as chefs in the UK)

270,000


21

careers insight

travel servicesThese are the travel agents and tour operators who help people book their holidays. They work in both call centres and high street travel agencies (like Thomas Cook, STA Travel), advising people on anything from flight schedules and tour packages to travel insurance and visa information. Good customer service is an essential part of this career.Starting salary: ranging between £11,000 and £14,000 a year.

cateringThis is all about professional cooking – for restaurants, takeaways, canteens, pubs, cafes and anywhere else that boasts a menu. It’s an industry that rewards hard work and ambition. As you can imagine the types of cooking you could be doing vary massively depending on where you work, but many chefs who get into the industry with little or no qualifications can be very successful. After all, Jamie Oliver started out as a cooking apprentice.Starting salary: ranging between £10,000and£13,000ayear.

Air cabin crewFancy a career up in the air? These are the people who make sure we’re comfortable and safe during flights. The perks are lots of free travel and a career that’s always on the go. Good customer service, as well as a friendly and reassuring personality are vital in this career; air cabin crew have to ensure travellers are comfortable and be trained in passenger safety.Starting salary: ranging between £14,000 and £16,000 a year.

bars & wait staffWe Brits love to go out. This is the perfect industry for people who like to get out there and mingle. Bar and wait staff work ‘front of house’ in restaurants, pubs and nightclubs and serve customers. It’s all about good customer service…and the tips of course! Employers are always looking for outgoing young people to fill these job roles - bar and wait staff are the youngest in average age in the entire industry.Starting salary: ranging between £9,000 and £12,000 a year (plus tips).

hotels & resortsIt takes a lot of people to run a successful hotel – the receptionists who check in guests, the housekeeper who keeps the sheets crisp, the reservations assistant who makes bookings, the porter who ferries luggage to the room. This industry covers work in hostels, caravan parks and holiday parks too. Service with a smile is key to hotel work as customers expect excellent service and attention from hotel staff.Starting salary: ranging between £10,000and£13,000ayear.

trAVel & HospItAlIty

norTH EaST foCUSAll areas of the North East are attractive to

tourists for various different reasons, Tyne

and Wear brings in the most visitors, nearly

half in fact, but the other areas have their

attractions including beautiful coastlines,

Hadrian’s Wall and Durham Cathedral.

These attractions have helped to provide

the 60,000 jobs that exist in this sector.

Fast facts:• Therearearound7,400hospitality,

leisure, travel and tourism

establishments in the North East,

the vast majority of these are bars,

nightclubs and restaurants .

• Durhamisthebiggesthubforthese

workplaces.• Nearly90,000peopleareemployedin

this sector in the North East.

• Themajorityofemployeesinthissector

are under 25.

start learning!Want to find a course in the North East?

Then turn to page 52 to find out how to

access your local 14-19 prospectus. It will

tell you who’s offering what course in your

local area, or you could visit


This is one of the most popular sectors. In our country alone, it employs nearly 2.1 million people and covers a range of industries from restaurants and hotels to tour operators and nightclubs.

People working in this industry arrange our holidays, cook for us in restaurants, serve drinks at the bar, lead our tours, and more. It’s a buzzing, exciting sector with many opportunities to work in the UK and abroad. In fact, businesses in this industry take on close to 15,000 new apprentices each year.

Here are some of the major areas in travel & hospitality:

Fancy a career where you help people enjoy themselves, with opportunities to travel in the UK and abroad? then look no further than the travel and hospitality sector…

careers insight

22


USEfUl lInkSwww.people1st.co.uk – People 1st are the Sector Skills

Council for travel and tourism.

www.uksp.co.uk – UKSP is a guide for careers, skills and

training in this sector.

www.careersbox.co.uk - Careers films on the web

www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk - Our online careers resource

CaSE STUDyCatering Students Take Part In Wear Red Day

A group of college catering students got involved in this year’s ‘National Wear Red Day’ in a bid to help promote healthy eating to the younger generation of Hartlepool.

National Wear Red Day is a campaign run by The British Heart Foundation’s and the day saw people across the UK wearing red to raise vital funds for the charity’s life-saving work.

As part of the day every pupil at Hart Primary School, in Hartlepool, was given a pack containing healthy eating recipe cards and, to help get the kids excited about the special recipes, East Durham College’s catering students provided a healthy buffet for the children taken straight from the recipes.

Sharon Flower, Curriculum Leader for Catering and Hospitably at the College, said: “It’s been an absolutely fantastic event. Healthy lifestyles don’t have to mean boring food.”

Mr S. P. McDonnell, Executive Head Teacher at Hart Primary School, remarked: “It’s been a great day. I’d like to congratulate all the staff and students from East Durham College who helped make today a brilliant day for all, the food was fantastic!”

To find out more about East Durham College’s catering courses call 0191 518 8222 or check out www.eastdurham.ac.uk

gET qUalIfIED!There are plenty of vocational courses for this sector...

ApprenticeshipsApprenticeships are the recommended route into this sector. (It’s how Jamie Oliver started.) You’ll get a job with an employer and do half of your learning on the job, and half in the classroom with a college or training provider. There are Apprenticeships ranging from catering to air cabin crew. Here are the Apprenticeship frameworks relevant to the sector, all of these are NVQ level 2:• CabinCrew• CleaningandSupportServices• HospitalityandCatering• TravelServices.

Advanced Apprenticeships Advanced Apprenticeships are equivalent to A Levels, but like Apprenticeships are advantageous for practical roles. Advanced Apprenticeships help you become more qualified whilst gaining employment experience. Here are the Apprenticeship frameworks relevant to the sector,alloftheseareNVQlevel3:• HospitalityandCatering• TravelServices

A Levels A Levels can either lead to university or a Foundation Degree, which are explained below. Most employers and universities will value subjects that demonstrate you have solid base level knowledge and would be able to develop skills relevant to the industry. Here are some recommended A Level subjects, which could set you in the right direction:• FoodTechnology• TravelandTourism.

Foundation DegreesFoundation Degrees combine academic study with practical hands-on experience. Designed jointly by universities, colleges and employers, they should give you the right skills to be ready for employment.

They are university-level qualifications and are equivalent to the first two years of an Honours Degree. A typical full-time Foundation Degree takes two years to complete, and are different from Honours Degrees as they usually involve learning in the workplace as well as at university or college. You can do a Foundation Degree in hospitality and tourism management.

vocational QualificationsVocational qualifications offer a more practical learning programme, which relates directly to specific job roles or sectors. There are loads of different types but here are some key ones to look out for:•NVQs•BTECs•Diplomas.(These are available at multiple levels, you can see where they rank on our qualifications table on page 10) Many of your local colleges and training providers offer vocational qualifications in this sector.



23

careers insight

The CISI provide career advice and qualifications to help you to

get into financeFind out more:

cisi.org/getintofinance

[email protected]

020 7645 0714

its hard to know which way to turn

We can help you……

ü Find out about careers in Financial Services ü Develop the skills employers are looking for

ü Boost your CV with a professional qualification ü Earn extra UCAS points

The financial services industry employs thousands of people. The choice of employment opportunities is enormous with jobs available in Wealth Management, Stock Broking, Customer Service, Compliance, IT, Administration and many more.

so many doors

open doors 5.indd 1 11/8/2011 4:45:09 PM

BUsIness & FInAnCe seCtor

over 1.1 million people are employed in financial services

in england

consider a career ‘in the money’...?

£26,000 - £50,000 per year (typical salary range for a qualified

accountant)

private businesses in the UK employ around 22.7

million people

of workers in financial services are female

53%

(percentage of financial services

firms reporting skills shortages)

78%of UK private

enterprises operate in the business services sector

24%

Around 70,000 young people start new

businesses in the UK each year

70,000


25

careers insight

USEfUl lInkSwww.fssc.org.uk - Financial Services Skills Council.

www.icaew.com/careers - The Institute of Chartered

AccountantsinEngland&Wales.

www.accaglobal.com - The Association of Chartered

Certified Accountants.

www.cisi.org/getintofinance - The Chartered Institute for

Securities and Investment.

www.princes-trust.org.uk - Offer support to business start

ups.www.careersbox.co.uk - careers films on the web.


norTH EaST foCUSThe North East has a number of big finance

sector employees including Barclaycard,

Northern Rock and Newcastle building society.

The types of roles here include accountants,

book keepers, service employees and wage

clerks. This sector seems to attract more women

than men in our region.

Fast Facts• 3%oftheUK’sfinancesectoremployeesare

in the North East. • Over33,000areemployedinfinanceand

accountancy in this region.• Themajorityofpeopleworkfull-timeinthis

sector.

start learning!Want a course in the North East? Then turn to

page 52 to find out how to access your local 14-

19 prospectus. It will tell you who’s offering what

course in your local area, or you could


Put simply, the business and finance sector is about money – saving it, borrowing it, managing it and most of all, making lots more of it. It’s the UK’s most global industry and covers a wide range of services and products that everyone uses like bank accounts, mortgages, pensions, credit cards and insurance. The perk of working with money is that salaries tend to be higher than average, especially for experienced staff.

Here are some of the main areas within the sector:

AccountancyAccountants keep track of companies and individuals’ finances so they can manage their money properly. Depending on their client’s needs, they might produce account reports, forecast future profits, calculate tax or audit accounts. All organisations – from football clubs to supermarkets – need accountants, so they can work in many different sectors.Entry-level role: Accounts clerk, trainee accountant. Starting salary: ranging between £12,000 – £16,000 a year.

bankingThe banking sector is huge. There are loads of international and domestic banks who manage our money, give loans, exchange money and more. There are three types: retail banking (like your local HSBC or Lloyds), corporate banking (banking services for businesses) and wholesale banking (large transactions for big clients like governments and other international banks).Entry-level role: Customer service adviser, bank cashier. Starting salary: ranging between £10,500 – £16,000 a year.

Financial adviceIt’s not just for the wealthy – everybody needs financial advice at some point. Financial adviser’s help people make the most out of their money, whatever they have. A career in financial advice is about working with people to plan their financial goals, whether that’s choosing a mortgage, investing their savings or planning for their retirement.Entry-level role: Insurance technician, customer service adviser in a bank or building society. Starting salary: around £17,000 a year.

entrepreneurial Think you’ve got a fantastic idea for a business? Well almost two-thirds of entrepreneurs say that they had no experience of managing a business before they took the plunge. Organisations like the Prince’s Trust offer help and support to young people who are interested in starting their own businesses. If you have determination and are willing to put in the hard work starting your own business can be a wise career choice.

Money makes the world go round in this suited and booted sector. if you have ambition and a head for numbers, you could be set for a very rewarding career!

BUsIness &FInAnCe

careers insight

26


gET qUalIfIEDThere are plenty of academic and vocational courses for this sector...

Apprenticeships There are several Apprenticeships that will get you qualified in this sector.

The business and administration Apprenticeship covers all the skills

needed to start a career in the office. On the finance side of things, there

are a few options: payroll, accounting and providing financial services.

Here are the Apprenticeship frameworks relevant to the sector, all of

these are NVQ level 2:•Accounting•BusinessandAdministration

•MarketingandCommunications•Payroll

•ProvidingFinancialServices•TeamLeadingandManagement.

Advanced ApprenticeshipsAdvanced Apprenticeships are equivalent to A Levels, but like

Apprenticeships are advantageous for practical roles. Historically

Advanced Apprentices have progressed significantly in the industry and

many have gone on to become supervisors or managers. Many have

remained in business or finance for their whole career. Here are the

Apprenticeship frameworks relevant to the sector, all of these are NVQ

level3:•Accounting•AdvisingonFinancialProducts

•BusinessandAdministration•MarketingandCommunications

•Payroll•ProvidingFinancialServices•TeamLeading&Management.

You can also do a Higher Apprenticeship, NVQ level 4 in:

•Accounting.

A Levels A Levels can either lead to university or a Foundation Degree, which

are explained below, but can be particularly useful in this sector as big

companies such as KPMG or PwC offer funded training for students

who have just completed A Levels. Here are some recommended A

Level subjects, which could set you in the right direction for a career in

this sector:•Accounting•BusinessStudies•Economics•Maths•Statistics.

Foundation Degrees A Foundation Degree is a higher education qualification which combines

academic study with practical hands-on experience. Designed jointly by

universities, colleges and employers, they should give you the right skills

to be ready for employment. They are university-level qualifications and are equivalent to the first two

years of an honours degree. A typical full-time Foundation Degree takes

two years to complete, and are different from Honours Degrees as they

usually involve learning in the workplace as well as at university or college.

employer-funded studyYou don’t have to go to university to train to be an accountant.

Organisations like the ICAEW offer a training scheme for people who have

completed their A Levels. You’ll start working for an employer and gain

two professional qualifications in four years. As mentioned PwC have a

HEADstart scheme and KPMG also recruit school leavers. Though the

KPMG scheme takes 6 years the benefit is that by the time your friends are

finished university, you’ll be earning and able to command a good salary.

professional QualificationsProfessional bodies (such as CISI, ACCA and CIMA) offer short courses

which allow you to study specific areas of finance and gain a qualification

employers will value. For example, if you want to work for an Investment

Bank then the CISI’s Introduction to Investment Award could really boost

your CV and teach you more about the Investment and Securities industry.

CaSE STUDyJoe HayesCertificate for Introduction to Securities & Investment

Joe is among the first wave of candidates to take the Certificate for Introduction toSecurities&Investment,a new CISI introductory qualification for school and college students. The certificate is a two unit qualification and is the ideal place to start if you’re interested in a career in financial services.

Unit 1 – Vocational qualification that provides a basic introduction to the financial services industry

Unit 2 – Project that allows you to gain up to 60 UCAS points which could help you secure a place at University

“I had previously studied economics and am very interested in the financial services industry. I believe the Certificate will give me a head start in the financial sector, as City firms often ensure that graduates complete an element of this course on entering the industry. It will show that I am passionate about this industry and help to differentiate me from other applicants.

In terms of classwork, I have enjoyed looking at the structure of the industry, considering such things as custodian banks and insurance companies.”

Find out how the CISI can help you achieve a successful career in financial services

www.cisi.org/getintofinance 020 7645 [email protected]


27

careers insight

Advert_Layout 1 06/09/2011 15:20 Page 1

Motor VeHICle seCtor£20,000 per year

(potential earnings of vehicle repair technicians)

there are 70,000 firms in this sector in the UK, of these:

14,000+ are in vehicle sales39,000+ are in Light vehicle Maintenance

9,000+ are in parts Distribution

the UK is home to 8 formula one teams, employing 50,000

people

50,000Automotive

manufacturing contributes £6.5 billion to the UK

economy

there are around 570,000 people

working in this sector in the UK

Why not consider a career working in the motor vehicle industry?

there are over 200,000 employees in vehicle sales


29

careers insight

Motor VeHICles

The motor vehicle sector deals with all aspects of cars, vans and motorcycles – selling them, fixing them, servicing them and even rescuing stranded drivers. There are lots of career paths on offer, from technical to customer-service based roles – it all depends on what interests you.

The good news about this sector is that vocational training is the best way to get into it, though academic routes, such as engineering degrees are a possibility. Here are the main areas within the motor vehicle sector – there are vocational routes into all of them.

Maintenance and repairOne of the most popular areas, maintenance and repair is about keeping cars roadworthy. These technicians service, fix and replace parts of all sorts of vehicles. They can work in independent garages or as part of dealerships, say working on just BMWs. Some technicians specialise in things like electrics or motorcycles.Starting salary: ranging between £13,000and£20,000ayear.

body and paintBody and paint technicians fix cars that have been damaged in accidents. Body work can be sorting out rust or dents and scratches and paint work is about sprucing up after to make everything look like new again. You need a good eye for detail and an understanding of vehicle bodywork in these roles.Starting salary: ranging between £13,500and£18,000ayear.

roadside assistanceWhen someone’s car breaks down on the side of the road, it’s the roadside recovery technician who comes to the rescue. They either fix the car onsite or safely tow it back to a garage and need a high level of technical ability. Workers in this role may also need to available for on-call services.Starting salary: ranging between £13,000and£16,000ayear.

FittingMotor vehicle fitters repair and replace parts on cars, like tyres, batteries, brakes and exhausts while the customers wait. Workers in this role will also need to advice customers on simple maintenance issues. They can work in fast-fit centres, dealerships or alongside motor vehicle technicians.Starting salary: ranging between £12,000 and £15,000 a year.

parts operationsThis area is about selling car parts to the public – dealerships, motor vehicle technicians and everyday customers. It’s a customer-service based role that requires good organisation to process payments, manage inventory, advise customers, and more.Starting salary: ranging between £9,000 and £14,500 a year.

salesnegotiation skills. It’s also about understanding people – sales people need to find the car that’s right for the customer, and have the confidence to seal the deal.Starting salary: ranging between £10,000 and £15,000 a year, plus commission.

there are 32 million vehicles on the UK’s roads, and all of them need to be serviced, repaired, bought and sold. that’s where the motor vehicle industry comes in…

norTH EaST foCUS The North East is home to the Nissan’s UK manufacturing base, which continues to provide jobs. Whilst in other regions the amount of motor employment has declined, our region has seen an increase in employment in this sector which has created more career opportunities than there once was.

Fast facts:• Thereare2,410workplacesinthemotorvehicle

sector based in our region.• HometoNissanMotorManufacturing(UK)Ltd

and Evans Halshaw.• Thissectorcontributesaround£1billiontothe

region’s economy every year.

start learning!Want a course in the North East? Then turn to page 52 to find out how to access your local 14-19 prospectus. It will tell you who’s offering what course in your local area, or you could visit www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk

careers insight

30


gET qUalIfIEDThere are plenty of vocational courses in this sector...

ApprenticeshipsApprenticeships are the recommended route into this sector.

You’ll get a job with an employer and do half of your learning

on the job, and half in the classroom with a college or training

provider. Here are the Apprenticeship frameworks relevant to the

sector, all of these are NVQ level 2:• RoadsideAssistanceandRecovery

• VehicleBodyandPaintOperations

• VehicleFitting• VehicleMaintenanceandRepair• VehiclePartsOperations• VehicleSales.

Advanced ApprenticeshipsAdvanced Apprenticeships are equivalent to A Levels, but like

Apprenticeships are advantageous for practical roles. Historically

Advanced Apprentices have progressed significantly in the

industry and many have gone on to become supervisors or

managers, because of the hand-on practical nature of the

sector this is a good route to take. Here are the Apprenticeship

frameworksrelevanttothesector,alloftheseareNVQlevel3:

• RoadsideAssistanceandRecovery

• VehicleBodyandPaintOperations

• VehicleFitting• VehicleMaintenanceandRepair• VehiclePartsOperations• VehicleSales.

A LevelsA Levels can either lead to university or a Foundation Degree,

which are explained below, but which ones are right for you

depend on what role you want to do. Most people take the

vocational routes into the motor industry, but you could do

the more practical Foundation Degree after A Levels or study

something like mechanical engineering at university.

Foundation DegreesA Foundation Degree is a higher education qualification which

combines academic study with practical hands-on experience.

Designed jointly by universities, colleges and employers, they

should give you the right skills to be ready for employment.

They are university-level qualifications and are equivalent

to the first two years of an honours degree. A typical full-time

Foundation Degree takes two years to complete, and are

different from Honours Degrees as they usually involve learning

in the workplace as well as at university or college. They are

available in a range of subjects, from motor vehicle performance

to mechanical engineering, and are a good way to get qualified

and gain experience.

vocational QualificationsVocational qualifications offer a more practical learning

programme, which relates directly to specific job roles or sectors.

There are loads of different types but here are some key ones to

look out for: •NVQs•BTECs•Diplomas.(These are available at multiple levels, you can see where they rank

on our qualifications table on page 10) Many of your local colleges

and training providers offer vocational qualifications in this sector.

To see who offers them in your region check out

www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk and take a look at some of our

online profiles.

CaSE STUDyAward winning Gemma wins again

Northumberland College student Gemma Hadden, who works at Newcastle City Council, has won the top prize in the transport and vehicle maintenance category at the annual Association for Public Service Excellence (ASPE) awards.

Gemma, who is a single mother and works as an apprentice mechanic, collected her prize at a black tie ceremony in Stoke and walked away with a trophy, certificate and £50 prize money.

The 25 year old mother of one first enrolled on a motor vehicle course at Northumberland College in 2009 and hassinceprogressedfromentryleveltolevel3andisnowon an Advanced Apprenticeship in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair.

Gemma said: “My job involves carrying out maintenance and repair on a massive range of vehicles such as bin wagons, gritters, transits, grass cutters, a fleet of cars and road sweepers and I’ve got my HGV driving qualifications too.

“Studying a full time course at the college was a great way to learn the basics and build the foundations of my knowledge and I’ve been able to build on this and develop new skills working at the council. At college, everything went smoothly and as planned but it’s totally different in the workplace.

“I’d definitely recommend an Apprenticeship to anyone who wants to work as a mechanic, it’s worked for me!”

Gemma has won numerous awards in the time she has been a student at Northumberland College. In 2009, she won a car for her success, behaviour and attendance on the course and won the award for Motor Vehicle Student of the Year at the college’s annual student awards ceremony.

For more information on what courses and Apprenticeships Northumberland College offer call 01670 841200, email [email protected] or visit northumberland.ac.uk

USEfUl lInkSwww.motor.org.uk - The Institute of the Motor Industry is the

Sector Skills Council.

www.autocity.org.uk - Careers site from the Institute of the

Motor Industry.

www.remit.co.uk - National training provider specialising in motor

vehicle apprenticeships.




31

careers insight

HAIr AnD BeAUty seCtor

35.3%

90% of workers in the sector are female

30% of workers in this

sector are aged 16-24

over

(percentage of workers

in this sector with Level 2

qualifications)

Almost 9% of employers in this sector are reporting

skill shortages – they need

you! of salons have job

vacancies

20.5%


33

careers insight

£21,000 (average

managerial salary in

the sector)

this exciting and stylish sector is always looking for young people with proper

training….

the industry has an annual turnover of £5.25 billion

HAIr & BeAUty

norTH EaST foCUSThe hair and beauty sector here is strong,

which means that health and beauty is a

big employer for us. Roles within this sector

vary from hairdressing to nail technicians,

the most common workplaces here are hair

salons, followed by beauty salons.

Fast facts• Nearly5%ofthesector’sworkforceisin

the North East.

• TheNorthEast’sshareofthehealthand

beauty sector is higher than their share

of the UK workforce in general.

• Over4%ofbusinessesinthissectorare

located here.

start learning!Want a course in the North East? Then turn

to page 52 to find out how to access your

local 14-19 prospectus. It will tell you who’s

offering what course in your local area, or

you could visit www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk

We all want to look and feel our best, which is why the UK’s health and beauty sector makes billions each year (and people will always want to look good, so there’ll always be jobs available.) A career in this sector could see you working in a busy salon, a resort spa or even on the set of a fashion shoot.

There are many different paths within this sector, depending on your interests. All of them require common skills: creativity, the ability to work on your feet for long hours, good hand-eye co-ordination and up-to-date knowledge of what’s in (and what’s out). Most importantly, you’ll need to be good with people and sensitive to their needs.

Here are some of the main areas:

hairdressing Part of the fast-moving fashion industry, this covers cutting, styling and colouring all types of hair. Hairdressers begin by training in salons and helping customers improve their look. With talent and experience, many hairdressers go on to prepare models, work on magazine shoots, or even style celebrities! The UK hairdressing industry is considered the best in the world, so there’s opportunity to travel internationally for successful hairdressers.Starting salary: Training salaries start low (around £10,000), but can increase to around £16,000 with a qualification and experience.

beauty therapyThis covers treatments and services that enhance a client’s appearance and well-being. It can include anything to simple facials and make-up to more complicated electronic treatments to remove unwanted hair or improve body tone. Some of the treatments, like body massage, aid relaxation and help relieve stress.Starting salary: ranging between £12,000 to £17,000 (with experience) a year.

spa therapySpa tourism in England is worth £1.4bn a year and is one of the fastest growing industries. Similar to beauty therapists, spa therapists give treatments that improve appearance and well-being. They offer a full range of treatments to suit a client’s needs, which may include Indian head massage, aromatherapy, holistic treatments and all aspects of heat and wet treatments (like hydrotherapy, sauna and steam). Some therapists may focus on health and fitness while others on relaxation.Starting salary: ranging between £12,000 – £14,000 a year.

nail servicesThere are roughly 18,000 businesses that employ nail technicians in the UK. Their job is to improve the appearance and condition of the skin and nails on hands and feet. They offer basic treatments like manicures and pedicures, as well as nail enhancements like wraps and hot wax treatments. Nail technicians are also skilled in creative nail art, which includes air brushing designs on the nail.Starting salary: ranging between £10,000 to £15,000 a year.

if you have creative flair, style and a desire to help people feel relaxed and good about themselves, then you might want to consider a career in health and beauty…

careers insight

34


gET qUalIfIED!There are plenty of vocational courses for this sector...

ApprenticeshipsApprenticeships are the recommended route into this sector. You’ll get a job with an employer and do half of your learning on the job, and half in the classroom with a college or training provider. There are Apprenticeships ranging from barbering to spa therapy. Here are the Apprenticeship frameworks relevant to the sector, all of these are NVQ level 2:•Barbering•BeautyTherapy•Hairdressing•NailServices.

Advanced Apprenticeships Advanced Apprenticeships are equivalent to A Levels, but like Apprenticeships are advantageous for practical roles. Advanced Apprenticeships help you become more qualified whilst gaining employment experience. Here are the Apprenticeship frameworks relevant to the sector, all of theseareNVQlevel3:•Barbering•BeautyTherapy•Hairdressing•NailServices•SpaTherapy.

A Levels A Levels can either lead on to university or onto a Foundation Degree, which are explained below. In this industry a lot of your success will be down to your personality and experience rather than academic qualifications; but if you’re interested in management or a support role, here are some recommended A Level subjects, which could set you in the right direction:•BusinessStudies•Economics•ICT.

Foundation DegreesA Foundation Degree is a higher education qualification which combines academic study with practical hands-on experience. Designed jointly by universities, colleges and employers, they should give you the right skills to be ready for employment.

They are university-level qualifications and are equivalent to the first two years of an Honours Degree. A typical full-time Foundation Degree takes two years to complete, and are different from Honours Degrees as they usually involve learning in the workplace as well as at university or college. A Foundation Degree could be a good step after working in the sector for some time, for example there is a Foundation Degree in salon and business management.

vocational QualificationsVocational qualifications are work-based and often more involve practical learning, relevant to a specific industry or sector. They have different names depending on the awarding body. Here are some key ones to look out for: •NVQs•BTECs•Diplomas(These are available at multiple levels, you can see where they rank on our qualifications table on page 10) Many of your local colleges and training providers offer vocational qualifications in this sector.


CaSE STUDyFive star work placement turns to job success for talented Faye

A talented beauty therapy student has scooped a job at one of the UK’s top spas after completing a successful work placement.

Redcar&ClevelandCollegestudent Faye Robinson was offered the position of Junior Therapist at Rockliffe Hall after undertaking a three-day placement at the hotel’s five starspaaspartofherLevel3course in Beauty Therapy.

“As soon as we were told that we’d be able to go on a spa placement at the start of the year I wanted to come to Rockliffe Hall because it has such a good reputation,” said Faye

Faye was one of two students from the college who took part in the placement programme at Rockliffe, with other students from the college carrying out placements at spas across the region.

“The placement was hard work, but really enjoyable and to be offered a job at the end of it is just a dream come true,” Faye added.

Rockliife Hall’s Head Therapist Charlotte Wilson said:“This is the first time we’ve had work placements in

from a college in the Tees Valley and we’ve been massively impressed, so much so that we decided to offer Faye a permanent position with us.

“Faye worked with us over a particularly busy weekend and showed massive commitment and potential. She has shown a real enthusiasm for the work she was doing and asked all the right questions. We think she has a bright future in the industry.”

Debbie Wilson, Faye’s tutor, added: “We’re delighted that Faye’s talents have caught the

eye of Charlotte and her team at Rockliffe Hall and have no doubt that she’ll be a big success there.”

For more information call 01642 473132 of visit www.cleveland.ac.uk

USEfUl lInkSwww.habia.org – A useful point of contact for all things

relating to hair and beauty training.




35

careers insight

We offer a different way of learning that leads to great jobs with exciting prospects.

COURSES AVAILABLE IN:-n Adventuren Agriculture & Land Managementn Animal Management

& Vet Nursing

n Butcheryn Countryside & the Environmentn Land-based Technologyn Equinen Forestry & Arboriculture

n Horticulturen Motorsport Engineeringn Outdoor learningn Skills for working lifen Floristry

These areour classrooms.

Imagine what the leisure facilitieslook like.

York College Tel: 01904 772277

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Bradford College Tel: 01904 772211

Scarborough Sixth Form Tel: 01904 772211

Wakefield College Tel: 01904 772211

Newton Rigg College Tel 01768 893400

OTHER COLLEGE CENTRES AT:

Askham Bryan College, Avenue Place, Guisborough, Cleveland TS14 6AXT: 01287 633 870 E: [email protected]

www.askham-bryan.ac.uk

IMAGIne A CAreer...

there are loads of opportunities right on

your doorstep, find your perfect career...

Around 293,000 people work in

agriculture in the UK

293,000there are 270,800

chefs in the UK

270,800

people work in creative industries in the UK

678,000

of job vacancies require it skills

92%

the UK retail industry is the 3rd largest in

the world

2.5 million people are employed in manufacturing in the UK

over 1.1 million people are employed in financial services

the nhs is europe’s biggest employer – with over 1.3 million staff

construction provides employment for 2.35 million people in the UK

engineering makes up

1/5 of the UK economy

1/5


37

careers insight

yoUr CAreer, yoUr CHoICeWondering what other careers are out there?here are some of the other sectors in your region...

Armed Forces Britain’s armed forces – the Army, Royal Navy, RAF and MoD – all invest

a lot in their personnel to give them an

education that’s relevant in the civilian

world as well as in the services. They

all offer Apprenticeships so recruits can earn nationally recognised trade qualifications alongside their regular training. For example, a cook for the Royal Navy could also complete a chef

Apprenticeship. Each organisation offers different schemes, so visit their

websites for more details.

Salary:Startingaround£13,400the

first year, with excellent benefits and

progression. Qualifications: The armed forces offer Apprenticeships in many areas, including Engineering, Fitting,

Maintenance, Cookery, IT, Admin, Marine Engineering and more.

constructionIts more than just bricks and mortar.

The construction industry is worth billions and builds the world around us, from hospitals and houses to bridges and football stadiums. One of

the most popular ways into this career

is the Construction Apprenticeship Scheme, which takes two years for a Level 2 award, and one more year

fortheLevel3qualification.Toapply,

you’ll need to have found an employer

that will sponsor you.

Job roles: Bricklayer, labourer, joiner,

painter and decorator, plasterer.Salary: Apprentices can expect to earn around £8,700 the first year, £11,600thenext,and£15,350the

third year.Qualifications: Construction Apprenticeships; Foundation Degrees.

creative, Digital & Media This sector covers a range of exciting and creative careers in TV, film, graphics, publishing and journalism. Production assistants help out on television and film sets; graphic designers create adverts and billboards; journalists write news stories; publishers print books and magazines; and photographers shoot and edit images. If you thrive on a creative buzz, there’s no better industry to be in. Competition for jobs is high so work experience is highly recommended.

Job roles: Graphic designer, web designer, production assistant, editing assistant, photographer assistant. Salary: Startingbetween£13,000and £17,000. Qualifications: Apprenticeships in Creative and Digital Media; Foundation Degrees from Creative Writing to Animation.

customer service & AdminAny business that wants to be successful has to make its customers happy. From helping a shopper find the right size at Topshop to answering customer queries at a BT call centre, customer service jobs come in all shapes and sizes. Another thing businesses can’t function without is effective admin. Administrators are responsible for running the daily operations of the office. They answer the phone, input data, type up letters and anything else that needs to be done. Since administration and customer service are needed in most organisations, you could work across many different sectors.

Job roles: Admin assistant, office junior, personal assistant, customer service representative.Salary: Starting anywhere between £13,000and£18,000peryear.Qualifications: Apprenticeships in Customer Service and Business &Admin;FoundationDegreeinCustomer Service Management.

careers insight

38


energy & renewablesThis essential sector deals with the

utilities we rely on: water, electricity and gas. It also covers waste management and alternative sources

of power like nuclear energy, wind power and solar energy. Careers in this sector cover the distribution and supply of gas; the generation and transmission of electricity; the collection and purification of water;

the treatment of sewage; and nuclear

fuel processing. Apprenticeships are a recognised route into this industry and offer excellent career progression.

Job roles: Gas network engineer, gas service technician, wastewater

plant worker, process operator, decommissioning operative. Salary: Starting anywhere between

£12,000 and £20,000 a year. Qualifications: Apprenticeships in Gas, Nuclear and Utilities; Foundation Degrees, including Power

Distribution.

entrepreneurialAn entrepreneur is someone who starts their own business or enterprise, they’re the boss! Entrepreneurs are amongst the most

successful people in the world but they have to work hard, be very determined and of course have a money making idea. Businesses created by entrepreneurs are vital to

the UK’s economy.

Job roles/Salary/Qualifications: All of these things depend on the individual. The beauty of creating your own business is that you don’t

need any special qualifications. You might need some help in setting up a business though so head to www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk to see

what’s out there to support young entrepreneurs.

environmental & Land-based This broad sector offers lots of opportunities to make a difference to the planet, from farming and protecting wildlife to looking after parks and conservation. The main areas within this sector are:Horticulture&landscaping,Agriculture, Animal care, Environmental conservation, and Land-based engineering.

Salary: Starting between £12,000 and £18,000. Landscape engineers make between £20,000 and £26,000 a year. Qualifications: Apprenticeships from Animal Care to Agriculture; Foundation Degrees.

Food & Drink Food and drink is one of the largest industries in the UK – in fact, it even helped pull the country out of the recession. This sector is about taking what’s grown by farmers and transforming it into our favourite foods and beverages. It takes a lot of people working together to make this happen, which means loads of career paths on offer. You could be processing ingredients, fixing machines on the production floor, processing meat, baking cakes or testing quality.

Job roles: Production operative, bottling operative, baker, warehouse worker. Salary: Starting between £11,000 and £17,000 a year. Qualifications: Food Manufacture Apprenticeships; Foundation Degree inFood&DrinkManagement.

health & social care If you’ve got a big heart and want to work with people, then a career in Health and Social Care could be for you. This sector is about helping people live healthy, full lives. Health care covers careers in medicine (nurses, physiotherapists, dental nurses, etc) while social care is about supporting people with special needs. Most people in this sector work for the NHS while the rest are employed by private practices. Because healthcare is an essential part of our society, there’ll always be jobs on offer for qualified people. In fact, this is one sector that continues to thrive during recessions.

Job roles: Care assistant, nursing assistant, dental nurse, porter. Salary:Startingbetween£13,000and £16,000 a year. Qualifications: Apprenticeships and Foundation degrees in Health and Social Care.

it & telecoms From mobile phones and satellite TV to broadband and fibre optics, IT &Telecomsareamajorpartoflife– it helps us keep in touch with our friends, stay entertained, conduct business and more. The IT side of things is all about computers and information systems – designing them, developing them, making them, selling them and installing them. Telecoms is a broad term for any technology that transmits information, like phone lines, broadband, TV, mobile phones and satellites. This industry includes internet suppliers, mobile phone companies and the big companies like BT and SKY.

Job roles: IT trainer, helpdesk assistant, telecoms technician, customer service representative. Salary: Starting £16,000 - £20,000 for IT and £12,000 - £15,000 for Telecoms. Qualifications: IT Apprenticeships and Foundation Degrees.


39

careers insight

Increase merits

Improve attendance

Reduce demerits

Improve grades

Improving Learningand Employability

SAVE

Supporting a young person back into education through one of our programmes could

Local Authorities £15,000 per young person,per annum

We CAN reduce the numbers of young people not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).

OUR programmes HELP young people to achieve success. Evaluation of our work proves that we can:

If you are a young person eager to succeed ask your Teacher or Careers Advisor to Get in Touch with us...

Brathay Trust, Brathay Hall, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0HPt: 0844 225 3100 www.brathay.org.uk

STarT lEarnIngWant to find a course in one of these sectors? Then turn to page 52 to find out how to access your local 14-19 prospectus. It will tell you who’s offering what in your local area.

Manufacturing From the cars on the motorway to the clothes in your wardrobe, many of the things we rely on have been manufactured. This sector is all about making things on a massive scale: cars, TVs, clothes, aeroplanes, fuel… it’s a very important industry. There are many career paths in the sector, from operating machinery that makes plastics or testing the quality of finished engine parts.

Job roles: Production and process engineers, technicians, maintenance engineers, welders and machine setters. Salary:Startingbetween£13,000and £18,000 a year. Qualifications: Manufacturing Apprenticeships and Foundation Degrees.

MaritimeMaritime basically involves every industry where business takes place in harbours, at ports or on vessels. Marine engineering is also an area in this sector, which has plenty of job opportunities. This involves designing and constructing both ships and equipment to be used at sea or on the water. This sector remains vital to our economy as the sea remains the best way to bring products and materials into the country.

Job roles: Commercial sea fishing, marine leisure, maritime search and rescue, merchant navy, ports and harbours.Salary: Starting salary after completing a marine industry apprenticeship can be anywhere between £12,000 and £17,000.Qualifications: Apprenticeships in Maritime Occupations and Marine Industry; Foundation Degrees.

public services In this sector, your work could help

other people and improve your local community. Public services are an essential part of our society – education, housing, the police, and the fire service are all services that the government provides for its

citizens (that’s you and us). In this sector, you could help organise a community arts programme, work for

a housing association or support a teacher in the classroom. Your local

council is a large employer in this sector. Contact them directly for job

vacancies.

Job roles: Classroom assistant, nursery nurse, admin assistant, youth

support worker. Salary: Startingbetween£13,000and £16,000 a year. Qualifications: Apprenticeships and Foundation Degrees in Public Services.

retailRetail is about the sale of products and services to consumers (that’s people like you walking around the shops). It covers high street shops,

supermarkets, independent shops,

large national chains and more. It’s also one of the most fun and young

industries out there, with more than

one third of the workforce under 25

years old. Whether your strengths are creativity or organisation, there’s a role for you in Retail. The main areas are: store operations, buying, visual merchandising, and management.

Job roles: Sales assistant, visual merchandiser, team leader, buyer.Salary: Starting between £12,000 and £18,000 per year.Qualifications: Apprenticeships and

Foundation Degrees in Retailing, Employer sponsored traineeships.

sport & Fitness Many people think the only way you can get a career in sport is to become a professional athlete or a PE teacher – but this couldn’t be further from the truth. This sector is about promoting health and fitness. For example, exercise and fitness instructors work for gyms and leisure centres and help people stay fit and healthy. Sports coaches teach skills and techniques at all levels, from beginner to professional. Outdoor activity instructors help people enjoy themselves in the great outdoors and operations managers make sure gyms and leisure centres run smoothly.

Job roles: Personal trainer, fitness instructor, swimming coach, leisure centre assistant, playworker. Salary: Starting around £12,000 and can rise to £25,000 with experience and qualifications. Qualifications: Apprenticeships in Sports Management, Leadership and Coaching; Foundation Degree in Playworking.

transport & Logistics This sector deals with all sorts of vehicles and their different purposes – the cars and motorcycles we drive, the lorries that transport goods, the trains and buses that travel across the country, even the aeroplanes that arrive and depart from our airports. All of these vehicles require skilled mechanics to keep them running, drivers to operate them safely, and organised people behind the scenes keeping everything to schedule. Many jobs involve manual and mechanical skills, however many roles deal with the public, so people skills are important too.

Job roles: Vehicle technician, bodywork repairer, rail engineering technician, lorry driver, baggage handler. Salary: Starting between £12,000 and £17,000 a year. Qualifications: Apprenticeships and Foundation Degrees.

41


41

careers insight

Construction · Horticulture · Business & Administration Customer Service · Employability Skills · Work Tasters

Personal & Social Development · Functional Skills

Learn New Skills · Gain Qualifications · Develop Life Skills Get a Challenging Career · Earn Money · Reach Your Goals

S&D Training Ad NE.indd 1 02/09/2011 11:36

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spotlIGHt on tHenortH eAst

nissan’s north east site is a £3.3 billion investment

the north east is home to 5 renowned

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More than 2.5 million people call the north east home

percentage of jobs accounted for by the

tourism sector

10%

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the north east is Leading the way in low

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1/3


43

Useful stuff

Northumberland

Key college: Northumberland College.

There are plenty of job opportunities in Northumberland, particularly

within green low carbon technology, pharmaceuticals and

engineering. The New and Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth is vital

in the development of new technologies, and places like Berwick-

upon-Tweed are investing heavily in sustainable living and energy.

These developments have attracted lots of international businesses.

Northumberland is largely rural and unspoiled so Tourism is

huge here too! Northumberland is famous for its ancient castles,

Hadrian’s Wall, gorgeous coastlines and picturesque market towns.

Thousandsoftouristsvisiteveryyear,whichiswhytheleisure&

tourism industry is booming.

Key places: Berwick-upon-Tweed, Morpeth, Hexham, Blyth.

Key employers: Covance, Northumberland County Council.

14-19 prospectus: www.my-steps.co.uk

take a look at some of the major opportunities in the north east

yoUr reGIon

County durham

Northumberland

Tees Valley

Tyneside

sunderland

Newcastle and Gateshead

County durhamKey colleges: Bishop Auckland College, Darlington

College, Derwentside College, East Durham College,

New College Durham, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form

College.Key university: Durham University.

LiketheotherpartsoftheNorthEast,leisure&tourism

plays a big part of Durham’s local economy. The cathedral

city of Durham is home to the backdrop for much of the

Harry Potter films, a stunning cliff-top castle and one of

the UK’s oldest and most prestigious universities. It’s no

wonder visitors flock in there each year. The wider area of County Durham has a world-class

science, engineering and technology sector. Some of

the most exciting leading edge technologies in the world

are under development in Durham across fields such as

nanotechnology, microelectronics and stem cell research.

The North East Technology Park in Sedgefield was

recently awarded £10 million to develop new facilities!

Key places: Durham, Darlington, Bishop Auckland.

Key employers: Durham County Council, NHS,

Durham University, GlaxoSmithKline.

14-19 prospectus: www.help4teens.co.uk/

wElCoME To THE norTH EaST

Useful stuff

44


TynesideKey colleges: South Tyneside College, Tyne

Metropolitan College.

North Tyneside has one of the fastest growing

business scenes in the North East. Tesco’s banking

division are setting up a new contact centre in the

area and there has been lots of investment from North

Tyneside Council. The area is home to the UK’s largest

officepark,whichhousesbignameslikeProctor&

Gamble, Newcastle Building Society, and Orange.

South Tyneside has some of the most beautiful

beaches in England and as with many other coastal

areas the importance of renewable energies and

technologies is on the rise, with companies like

McNulty Offshore being awarded major wind farm

contracts. More traditional industries of engineering,

manufacturing, ship-repair and offshore services are all

vital here too.

Key employers: Procter&Gamble,Orange,

Newcastle Building Society.

14-19 prospectuses: www.get-it-sorted.org.uk,

www.ST19.net

Newcastle and GatesheadKey colleges: Gateshead College, Newcastle College.Key universities: Newcastle University, Northumbria University.

Newcastle&Gatesheadareworldleadersinfurtherandhigher education, home to both Gateshead College and NewcastleCollege.Therearealsoaround37,000full-timestudents living in the city, studying at either Newcastle or Northumbria University and many of these graduates stay in the local area after their degrees. These educational institutions and buildings like the Life Centre in Newcastle give the reputation of a science city.Newcastle&Gatesheadisanimportantbusinesscentreand cultural centre of the North East, partly as more people liveherethananywhereelseintheregion.Newcastle&Gateshead has a vibrant nightlife, shopping, culture and high profile sporting events like the Great North Run. This nightlife, and the stunning quayside area with its amazing riverside view, also ensures there are plenty of visitors too, with tourists contributing £1.2 billion to the local economy.Key employers: The Sage Group, Newcastle City Council.14-19 prospectuses: www.newcastleroutes.co.uk, www.gatesheadprospectus.co.uk

sunderlandKey college: City of Sunderland College.Key university: University of Sunderland.

Sunderland has plenty of career opportunities at the forefrontofthecreative,digital&mediasector.Thecity is fast becoming a digital centre of excellence with organisations like Codeworks and Sunderland Software City, which has been a huge success in attracting foreign investment and local graduates.

There are career opportunities in the automotive and manufacturing sectors too. Sunderland is home to Nissan’s UK operations, Europe’s most efficient car plant. Sunderland is a hub of research and development in the car industry with the electronic Nissan LEAF being produced here. However innovation does not stop here, a planning application to build England’s tallest bridge over the River Wear has been approved by the city council.

14-19 prospectus: www.sun1419.net

Tees ValleyKey colleges:ClevelandCollegeofArt&Design,

Hartlepool College, Hartlepool Sixth Form College,

MiddlesbroughCollege,Redcar&ClevelandCollege,

Stockton&RiversideCollege.Key university: Teesside University.

Tees Valley is a hub for Chemical Manufacturing

andtheenergy&renewablessectors.Likemany

areas in the North East there is a commitment here

to developing renewable energies, using the natural

advantage of the coast and new technologies.

Tees Valley is home to more than half of the UK’s

petrochemical industry with a vast complex of

chemical companies near Middlesbrough.

There has been a creative renaissance in the Tees

Valley area. The Digital City initiative, which has been

developed with Teeside University aims to transfer

academicknowledgeofthecreative,digital&media

sector into real jobs for people like you!

Key Places: Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough,

Redcar&Cleveland,Stockton-on-Tees.

Key employers: Barclaycall, British Energy,

Santander, PD Ports.14-19 prospectuses: www.campusstockton.orgwww.next4me.co.ukwww.pools1419.net

DID yoU know…?Research predicts that there will be more jobs available

in the North East that will require higher skill levels, which

makes it important for young people to have the right

skills and qualifications. There are loads of apprenticeship

opportunities here and training in the region is a priority for

businesses and employers!Tees Valley


45

Useful stuff

North Tyneside Council Work Based Learning

Our apprenticeship programmes ensure that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs to

succeed. We have a team of highly qualified and experienced tutors able to deliver the very best learning experience in a number of vocational areas. Our learning centres have a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with excellent facilities and workshops.

We believe that ‘Every Learner Matters’ and will ensure our apprentices are supported to allow them to reach their full potential. We also provide a friendly, welcoming and safe learning environment were all of our learners will be respected and valued.

North Tyneside Council in partnership with Constructing Communities offers employed and sponsored apprenticeship opportunities, specialising in:• Business Administration• Customer Service• Construction Trades• Children and Young People’s Workforce• Health and Social Care

Apprenticeships provide you with the opportunity to:• Earn while you learn• Achieve a National Vocational Qualification• Train in the workplace, building up knowledge• Work with North Tyneside Council and / or other local employers

All vacancies are advertised on the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service, website address www.apprenticeships.org.uk

or for further information please e-mail [email protected]

Construction Communities Ad February 2012.indd 1 09/02/2012 10:16

0 50000 100000 150000 200000

Other service activities

Arts, entertainment and recreation

Human health and social work activities

Education

Public administration and defence

Administrative and support service activities

Professional, scientific and technical activities

Real estate activities

Financial and insurance activities

Information and communication

Accommodation and food service activities

Transportation and storage

Wholesale and retail trade; repair of vehicles

Construction

Water supply; sewerage, waste management

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning

Manufacturing

Mining and quarrying

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

SIZE OF THE NORTH EAST WORKFORCE IN EACH INDUSTRY (TOTAL 1,143,100)

norTH EaST workforCE qUalIfICaTIonS

SIzE of THE norTH EaST workforCE In EaCH InDUSTry

NE

avEragE pay In THE norTH EaST

FULL-tiMe WorKers£451.80 (Weekly)£11.45 (hourly)

MALe FULL-tiMe WorKers£486.20 (Weekly)£11.89 (hourly)

FeMALeFULL-tiMe WorKers£412.40 (Weekly)£11.03 (hourly)

the north east is leading the way in science and technology, but there’s much more than that going on...

In tHe nortH eAst...

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nvQ level 4 + - 25.5%

nvQ level 3 - 17.2%

trade Apprenticeships - 5.2%

nvQ level 2 - 18.2%

nvQ level 1 - 14.1%

other Qualifications - 6.7%

no Qualifications - 13%

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Serco improves the quality and efficiency of essential services that matter to millions of people around the world. The work we do for national and local governments involves us in the most important areas of public service, including health, education, transport, science and defence. Our private sector customers are industry-leading organisations in a wide variety of markets.

We have nearly 50 years’ experience of helping our customers achieve their goals. Many want us to improve their productivity and service quality. Others need us to support their rapid growth. Government customers face crucial issues such as economic development, congestion, security and climate change. They value the innovation and passion we bring to these challenges, and the collaborative, flexible and imaginative way we work.

Serco is a values-led company with a culture and ethos that is at the heart of everything we do. We give our people real

responsibility, allowing them to put their ideas into practice and to truly make a difference for our customers and the public.

Our people strategy is at the heart of our approach, it’s designed to ensure we continue to have the people and expertise we need to face today’s challenges and those ahead of us. It recognises that a good business depends on good people. This drives our commitment to support our national Apprenticeship programme which has enabled us to recruit some exciting new talent into the business.

Our approach has made us one of the world’s leading service companies and our vision is to be the world’s greatest. Our service ethos means that our customers come back to us again and again. These long-term relationships help us to meet their changing needs and to do what we do best...

..bringing service to life.

Current Apprenticeship Programmes within Serco

Aeronautical – Avionic Customer ServiceGeneral Engineering Craftsmen

Mechanical Building Maintenance

Aeronautical – Ground Radio

Digital Satellite Communications

Ground Support Equipment Technician

Motor Vehicle Maintenance

Aeronautical – Mechanical

Electro-TechnicalQuality Assurance -Health and Safety

Plumbing

Bike Mechanic – Barclays Cycle Hire London

Electro-Mechanical Health and Social Care Project Engineering

BoilermakerElectronic Systems Engineering

Horticulture Project Management

Building ServicesElectrical Systems Engineering

IT Support Technician Shipwright

Business Administration Engineering Maintenance Leisure and Tourism Support Services

Childcare Facilities Management Life GuardAircraft Survival Equipment

Contact Centre Operations

Finance Management Team Leading

Custodial Care Fitness InstructionMarine Seamen – Deckhand

Warehouse Management

Lesley Watson,

UK Apprenticeship Manager,

Serco

Chair Apprenticeship

Ambassador Network South-

West of England, National

Apprenticeship Service

At Serco we find that apprentices

are motivated, flexible and loyal. They bring increased productivity, improved competitiveness and a committed, competent workforce.

To apply for a Serco Apprenticeship

log-on to the Apprenticeship Vacancies Website

apprenticeshipvacancymatchingservice.lsc.gov.uk • [email protected]

Apprenticeships within Serco

Aeronautical Apprentices, RNAS Yeovilton Motor Vehicle Apprentice, RAF Cranwell

Apprenticeships within Serco are key as we recruit the new talent we need to continue delivering high quality services. Apprenticeships are available in numerous diverse sectors within Serco as we continue to grow the scale and breath of the programme. We do all we can to make sure apprentices get maximum learning from the job and are supported through their studies and into employment.

SER07512 DPS ad.indd 1 15/3/12 15:42:39

Christopher Hyman

Chief Executive,

Serco Group

Throughout Serco, we appreciate the potential of young people and place great significance on providing them with the opportunities to

develop the skills and experience necessary to enter work. We are delighted to be offering these opportunities, which are exciting for the people involved and the company, as we look to recruit the new talent we need to continue delivering high quality services for all our customers.

Lee Catterick, turned his life around when he was given the opportunity to train as a horticulture Apprentice. Lee is just one of the young people to take up the Apprenticeships offered by our grounds maintenance team at the London Borough of Newham, in association with agricultural college Capel Manor.

Leaving school at 13, Lee got in with a ‘bad crowd’ and spent a year in

prison. Now, he enjoys his work and looks forward to the future: “The best bit of my Apprenticeship? Getting up and going to work – doing something that gives me a feeling of self-worth. As an Apprentice I’m learning a skilled trade, a recognised trade, and I’m earning while I’m learning. All in one. The bonus is there’s a qualification.”

The Senior Supervisor and Lee’s mentor John, says: “Lee is enthusiastic about whatever we ask him to do. I think he will be a credit to himself and the Apprenticeship scheme.”

The horticultural industry as a whole desperately needs skills to be passed down to the next generation. “A lot of people are already coming up to retirement age and we will lose their skills,” explains John. “Through apprentices those skills are passed on and shared. Our apprentices are full-time, they’re part of the team and do a vast range of jobs.”

Our UK and Ireland Apprenticeship Footprint 2012

As part of our commitment to employee development the Apprenticeship in Customer Service is offered to all employees enrolled in The Listening Academy which is an adviser development programme offered to contact centre staff in Serco.

Matthew Varty was one of the first employees at our site in Newcastle to complete his Apprenticeship in Customer Service.

This is what Matthew and his Team Manager had to say:

Matthew said, “I was really keen to progress so I often came in early or stayed late after shifts to work with the assessors – who were really helpful. They helped me through my Numeracy and Literacy assessments as well as the Key skills and communication workbooks. I’m really pleased to have been the first person on the Newcastle site to have passed this. I feel I have achieved a lot and I’m really looking forward to getting my certificate.”

Matthew’s Team Manager Scott High said, “I’m really proud that Matthew is the first person on site to complete his Apprenticeship. He’s been really enthusiastic throughout the process and has consistently displayed great customer service skills – something which is starting to rub off on his colleagues. Well done Matthew!”

Apprentice Varty Completes the Apprenticeship in Customer Services

Lee Carrick looks forward to the future with a Serco Apprenticeship

Apprentice Team Building 2011: International Fire Training Center

Apprenticeships within Serco

www.serco.com

SER07512 DPS ad.indd 2 15/3/12 15:42:42

14-19 prospectus disclaimer: As councils are

no longer obliged to provide 14-19 prospectus

websites, some of these links may be out of date.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you spot any

errors as we will be updating this list each issue.

MAjor ColleGes

newCAstle & GAtesHeAD

Gateshead Collegewww.gateshead.ac.uk01914900300

Newcastle Collegewww.ncl-coll.ac.uk0191 200 4000

tynesIDe

South Tyneside Collegewww.stc.ac.uk01914273500

Tyne Metropolitan Collegewww.tynemet.ac.uk 0191 229 5000

sUnDerlAnD

City of Sunderland Collegewww.citysun.ac.uk0800 092 6506

CoUnty DUrHAM

Bishop Auckland Collegewww.bacoll.ac.uk0800 092 6506

Darlington Collegewww.darlington.ac.uk01325503050

Derwentside Collegewww.derwentside.ac.uk01207 585900

East Durham Collegewww.eastdurham.ac.uk0191 518 2000

New College Durhamwww.newcollegedurham.ac.uk01913754000

onlIne 14-19 prospeCtUses

County Durhamwww.help4teens.co.uk

Darlingtonwww.futures4meindarlington.com

Gatesheadwww.gatesheadprospectus.co.uk

Hartlepoolwww.pools1419.net

Middlesbroughwww.next4me.co.uk

Newcastle upon Tynewww.newcastleroutes.co.uk

North Tynesidewww.get-it-sorted.org.uk

Northumberlandwww.my-steps.co.uk

South Tynesidewww.ST19.net

Stockton-on-Teeswww.campusstockton.org

Sunderlandwww.sun1419.net

UseFUl lInKsDIreCtory

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52


Middlesbrough Councilwww.middlesbrough.gov.uk

Newcastle City Councilwww.newcastle.gov.uk

North Tyneside Councilwww.northtyneside.gov.uk

Northumberland County Councilwww.northumberland.gov.uk

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Councilwww.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

South Tyneside Councilwww.southtyneside.info

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Councilwww.stockton.gov.uk

Sunderland City Councilwww.sunderland.gov.uk

otHer UseFUl sItes

Careers Boxwww.careersbox.co.uk

Jobcentre Pluswww.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

National Apprenticeship Servicewww.apprenticeships.org.uk

Skillwww.skill.org.uk

UCAS Progresswww.ucasprogress.com

tees VAlley

Askham Bryanwww.askham-bryan.ac.uk01287633870

Cleveland College of Art & Designwww.ccad.ac.uk01642 288000

Hartlepool Collegewww.hartlepoolfe.ac.uk01429 295000

Hartlepool 6th Formwww.hpoolsfc.ac.uk01429 294 444

Middlesbrough Collegewww.mbro.ac.uk01642333333

Redcar & Cleveland Collegewww.cleveland.ac.uk01642473132

Stockton Riverside Collegewww.stockton.ac.uk01642 865400 nortHUMBerlAnD

Northumberland Collegewww.northumberland.ac.uk 01670 841 200

loCAl CoUnCIls

Darlington Borough Councilwww.darlington.gov.uk

Durham Councilwww.durham.gov.uk

Gateshead Councilwww.gateshead.gov.uk

Hartlepool Borough Councilwww.hartlepool.gov.uk


53

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What are you waiting for? Head to www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk/downloads and get downloading today!

www.openDoorsMeDIA.Co.UK/DownloADsYou’ve reached the end of the magazine, but that’s not all we have to offer...

• Doyouneedextra careers resources for your students?

• Doyou want to know what careers are out there for you, but don’t have time to fish through millions of pages of info?

• Doyouwant a free, quick and easy careers guide that you can print off with no fuss?

If any of these apply to you, you need to check out Open Doors Media’s downloads page. Designed for students, careers advisors, teachers and parents, our resources page lets you download all of the careers and training info you need for free!

How Do yoU USE IT...?Getting your hands on these free careers resources couldn’t be easier, just follow these simple steps:1. Head to www.opendoorsmedia.co.uk/downloads2. Have a look at all of the available resources and click on what interests you.3. Once you’ve clicked on what you want, your computer will download the resource as a PDF.4. Now you’ve downloaded the PDF you can print it out, email to friends or colleagues, or just read it on your computer screen All of the resources are in colour and some are in A3 as well as A4 – they could be posters for brightening up your careers office or school!

3 SECS REMAINING

wHaT’S on THErE...?

The beauty of our downloads page is that you get a brief overview to read, or give to someone else, without having to

mess about with an entire website or magazine. However, all of the resources are of the same Open Doors quality and

reliability, so you’re getting the best info in the easiest possible way. The resources available include:

• OpenDoorsMedia’sfurthereducationandtrainingadvice.Our ‘FAQ’s’, ‘How to Apply’ and ‘Why

choose an Apprenticeship?’ pages will give you all the info you need to take the right path.

• Posterstodirectstudentstoourprintandonlineresources,aswellas‘The Complete Careers Pack’

that allows users to download all of our careers cards at the same time.

• Individual‘Careers Cards’ for each sector. These can either be used in A4, or folded into a two-sided

A5 card, and they cover all of the different qualifications and job roles in each sector. All of these sectors

are available for download: Armed Forces, Business & Finance, Construction, Customer Service & Admin,

Creative, Digital & Media, Energy & Renewables, Engineering, Entrepreneurial, Environmental & Land Based,

Food & Drink, Hair & Beauty, Health & Social Care, IT & Telecoms, Manufacturing, Maritime, Motor Vehicle,

Public Services, Retail, Sport & Fitness, Transport & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality.

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Earn

whilst you

learn!Get the career you want, choose an Apprenticeship in:

• Business and Management • Construction• Education• Engineering and Science • Hairdressing and Beauty • Health and Community Services • Horticulture• IT and Telecoms• Motor Vehicle

• Professional Services • Retail• Veterinary Nursing

0191 200 4000www.newcastlecollege.co.uk

Open Doors - North East, Summer 2012

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