Career opportunities for those not going to uni

Click the following link to see a wide range of opportunities currently being advertised by the not going to uni team, including

• training to be a pilot, without going to uni
• jobs in IT
• studying for Accountancy Technician qualifications (AAT) whilst you earn

...and many more.  Click here

Housing Apprenticeships

This email has been sent by the Institute of Career Guidance on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Housing

Getting into Housing
The Level 2 Housing Apprenticeships E-Factsheet from The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)

Working in housing isn’t often top of a young person’s careers wish list, yet the housing sector offers an incredible range of satisfying careers options – from delivering a quality housing management service to your tenants, residents and partners, through to helping a young family move into their new home, or supervising the multi-million pound housing development. Housing remains high on the political agenda and so it is more important than ever to attract talent into the profession to help deliver the sustainable affordable housing that it so desperately requires. There are many routes into housing and lots of opportunities for progression once you have landed your first job.

This factsheet focuses on the Level 2 Housing Apprenticeships and is designed for reference and use when considering careers opportunities in the housing sector with your clients.

What is the Level 2 Housing Apprenticeship?
The L2 Housing apprenticeship is a combination of work and study. The study component consists of:

• C&G Level 2 Certificate in Housing QCF (NVQ)
• Functional Skills (England) / Essential Skills ( NI) (English Level 1; Mathematics Level 1; Information Technology Level 1)
• CIH Level 2 Certificate in Housing
• Employment Rights and Responsibilities (ERR) workbook

What kind of work is involved?
At level 2 you could be employed as either an administrative assistant, customer services assistant or as a traditional apprentice. The work is usually office based, but the nature of the work means that you will have a lot of contact with other people in the company or company customers.

What is a housing workplace like?
Front line housing work is usually busy and a bit unpredictable – you never know what problems a customer is going to bring to you. People tend to work in small groups and there is usually a great team spirit and atmosphere, working in housing gives a great sense of satisfaction when you are able to help your tenants and residents and the whole community.

I want to be a housing apprentice! What do I do next?
There are two main ways to become a housing apprentice:

1. You need to find employment in the field of housing and discuss the possibility of doing the apprenticeship with your new employer.
2. You can look for specific apprenticeship vacancies with housing employers. Vacancies can be found on the Apprenticeships website

How do I find employment in housing?
You could try the following:

1. Register with local employment agencies and specify that you are interested in working in housing.
2. Keep up to date with vacancies on the Inside Housing website
3. Keep up to date with vacancies on the Guardian website
4. Keep up to date with vacancies from local housing employers, your local newspaper and local jobs websites
5. Visit the CIH Careers website and download the 'Why Housing' Booklet from the CIH website to find out more about the types of jobs available, where employers advertise and housing courses
6. Alternatively you may wish to send your CV and a covering letter to local housing employers and ask to be put on their mailing list for job vacancies.

Can I do anything to improve my chances?
You could:

1. Look at volunteering with local charitable and voluntary groups which work with homeless or vulnerable people. You should be able to find out who these are by contacting your local voluntary and community action. The National site has a list of local groups
2. Any work experience is valuable. If you can show you are a reliable and enthusiastic worker, you will improve your prospects.
3. Get involved in any community activities run by local housing associations.
4. Visit the Support and Advice page on the Apprenticeships website.

Interested in finding out more about opportunities in the housing sector?

Online information and resources
You can find out more information about the housing sector by visiting the CIH or Asset Skills websites. There are many publications and resources that you can download. One of those resources is a guide, produced by CIH and Ocean Media Group, titled 'Why Housing'. The guide is designed to show the wide variety of rewarding options on offer, the benefits of working for a housing organisation and the support available to help individuals make the most of their housing career. It also includes a number of job profiles of people actually doing just some of the roles in housing.

Download a copy of the Why Housing guide

ICG Insight Day - The Built Environment

Wednesday 23rd November 2011

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is one of four professional bodies working with ICG to deliver an Insight into Careers in the Built Environment event. The event will be held on Wednesday 23rd November in London. More details on the ICG website.

FREE Careers in Housing E-Bulletin

You can also sign up for the CIH twice yearly FREE Careers in the Housing Sector E-Bulletin. Subscribe and view the latest issue here

Interested in joining the Police? Interested in university?



Police at the 2011 Careers Event at College

Each year, a number of students come to the Careers Department asking questions about joining the Police.  in fact, there have been several already this year.  Many others talk about University and appropriate courses for pursuing this occupation.  Up until now, one of the main courses has been Public Services however we have now been informed of another University-based course that may be right up your street.  Click this link

Worldskills London, 2011

The following information has come in about an exciting event that you could go to in London's ExCel Centre in a few weeks time.

Dear all,

WorldSkills London 2011 is the greatest skills Competition, careers and jobs event on the planet.

We would be grateful if you would circulate this link to students, parents/carers of your students. This will enable them to be aware of the opportunity for a complimentary visit if they register in advance. The flyer can be sent home with students on its own or copied into your regular newsletters...

Click the link...  download 

Royal Geographical Society Gap Year Grants – up to £4000 - URGENT ACTION REQUIRED

The RGS has Gap Year Scholarships available to students completing their A-Levels in 2012 and taking a year out in 2012/13. The scholarships include a grant of up to £4000 plus expert support and mentoring to plan a worthwhile experience.

Applications are welcomed from students going onto study Geography at a UK university who would not otherwise have the means or ability to participate in such activities. Applicants should also be wishing to spend at least part of the gap year undertaking meaningful activities and learning opportunities abroad, which will positively impact their future studies and career.

The deadline for applications is Friday 30th September 2011.

More information can be found on the RGS website - http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/LandL/gap+years.htm

Think you want to be an Accountant? What about Financial Services Instead?

There are a wide range of well-paid jobs available across the financial services industry including roles in I.T, HR and Marketing, as well as Trading and Stock Broking. You don’t need a degree to work in the financial services industry and there are jobs available throughout the UK and opportunities to work abroad as well.


Studying the CISI’s Introduction to Investment Award could really boost your CV and help prepare you for a career in financial services. The award has been specifically designed to meet the needs of new entrants to the industry and provides an overview of all areas of investment. You can self-study for this qualification in just 80 hours and if you are currently unemployed then you will receive a 50% discount on the cost of the course. Completing this qualification could help you gain a job in a top Investment Bank.

To find out more visit our profile or email getintofinance@cisi.org

Think Psychology think Bangor!

There are lots of reasons why we think students should consider studying at the School of Psychology, Bangor University. Here are just a few:

• Latest National Student Survey places Bangor Psychology in the UK top 5 for student satisfaction, a result underpinned by our highly rated academic and pastoral care systems
• 7th in UK for ‘Research Power’ based on the latest Research Assessment Exercise
• One of the largest Psychology Departments in the UK with staff and students from over 20 countries worldwide
• An ‘Excellent’ Teaching Quality Rating reflected in the fact that nearly 70% of students graduate with a 1st or 2:1
• One of a select few UK Psychology departments listed in the CHE European Excellence Rankings
• Bangor Psychology provides students with an excellent mix of transferable skills and employability courses ensuring students access to a varied range of professions
• A compact friendly city, in a stunning location, dominated by over 9000 students
• Easy to reach: 20 minutes from the Holyhead ferry terminal, about 90 minutes from Liverpool & Manchester airports and around 3 hours on the train from London

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like any more information. We look forward to hearing from you.



Phone: 01248 382629

Email : psychology@bangor.ac.uk

Website: www.bangor.ac.uk/psychology

Nottingham Trent University – Business, Law and Social Sciences courses, and Fully Sponsored Degrees

There’s been some exciting developments to the Business, Law and Social Sciences courses at NTU. We’ve introduced new in-company fully-sponsored business degrees which allow students to study and gain valuable experience, and in some cases companies will pay a salary and cover tuition fees. Find out how your students could benefit at www.ntu.ac.uk/nbssponsored .
We also offer our students the opportunity to study abroad with Nottingham Law Schools International Summer School and the Politics and Sociology Erasmus foreign exchange programme. They can also broaden their experience with work-based experience and volunteering opportunities and join one of the many student-run societies including the LEX Student Law Society which recently won the Society of the Year award at the annual Nottingham Trent Students' Union (NTSU) awards.
If students would like to come and see what we can offer them in person, they can visit us at our University Open Days on Saturday 17 September 2011 or Saturday 15 October 2011. These events are always very popular so visitors are advised to book their place online at www.ntu.ac.uk in advance.

Interested in Studying in America?

If you interested in studying in America, then the US-UK Fulbright Commission may be able to help!

As part of the EducationUSA advising network, we are the only official source of US study information in the UK.

- Visit our website (http://www.fulbright.co.uk/) for a step-by-step guide on the US admissions process
- Attend USA College Day, the UK’s only US university fair (London, 1 October 2011)
- Hear from experts in the field at our seminars, webinars and advisor training sessions
- Register for our monthly E-newsletter or join our online communities

Need more help? Call, email or visit our advising centre in London

A new way of searching for courses on ucas.com - information to help you on their pages

This year, for 2012 entry, applicants will get a clearer and more personalised picture than ever of the choices open to them when searching for their ideal course. UCAS is launching Course Finder, alongside the existing Course Search function on ucas.com this autumn.

This exciting new development will give applicants and their advisers a test version of the new product, which will fully launch later in the year. It will allow applicants to carry out a detailed or broad search for a course based on subject, provider and location and to filter and sort search results by factors that are important to individuals, including fees.

Course Finder will run in parallel with Course Search for a few months, so applicants will see a choice when they come to ucas.com. This is to ensure there is time to fully test the system before its full launch. We’d welcome any feedback which should be sent to comments@ucas.ac.uk

NHS funded courses - 2012 University Applications

For those of you who may be applying for a university course funded by the NHS, UCAS advise that students view the details provided on nursing courses on the UCAS website - www.ucas.com/students/choosingcourses/specificsubjects/nursing - for the latest information in relation to the provision of these courses, it is also important to view the institutions own website too.

UCAS Application Deadlines

It is essential that all students who are thinking about applying to university for 2012 entry do so within the internal deadlines set by the college.  The closing date for applications (for standard courses) is to have paperwork submitted by the 4th November, unless you wish to apply for medicine, veterinary medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, or any course at Cambridge or Oxford.  In the case of these courses, see the deadlines below. 

The college deadlines ensure that applications are submitted in plenty of time, and long before the UCAS deadlines.  This will ensure you have the greatest chance of a fair consideration of your application and in plenty of time before decisions are made.

There are actually three UCAS application deadlines for entry onto 2012 courses - 15 October, 15 January and 24 March - it is important that you check the deadline for your chosen courses. Applications can include courses for a mixture of closing dates but the correct deadline must be adhered to for equal consideration to be guaranteed.


The deadlines mean that universities and colleges guarantee to equally consider applications received by these dates:

15 October - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses and for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
15 January - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all courses except those listed above with a 15 October deadline, and art and design courses with a 24 March deadline. Check the ‘Course information’ screens on Course Search to find out if art and design courses have a 15 January or 24 March deadline.
24 March - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for art and design courses except those listed with a 15 January deadline. Check the ‘Course information’ screens on Course Search to find out if art and design courses have a 15 January or 24 March deadline or go to www.ucas.com/students/applying/whentoapply  to view a list of courses with the 24 March deadline

Closed courses – if, after the application deadline (15 October, 15 January or 24 March) has passed, universities and colleges have received enough applications for any of their courses, the Universities will be able to close them. This will prevent applicants, who are making applications after the deadline has passed, from wasting one of their choices.

Careers Department

Opportunities at Ernst & Young

If you want to get into the business world but don't want to go to university, the School Leaver programme at Ernst & Young can give you access to an incredible combination of training and work experience.

EY School Leaver programme
This is a five-year 'straight to work' programme for students who want to study towards a professional qualification without going to university. You join straight after A-levels and work with Ernst & Young from the start. By the end of the programme, you will be professionally qualified with considerable experience of accountancy in the real world.

Your journey with us will run alongside that of someone going to university. At the end of the five years your career and salary will be the equivalent to that of our graduates. It's simply a different route to the same excellent career. We pay you a full salary for five years and fund your qualifications, so there are no student debts to worry about.

So, when you've done the School Leaver programme, what next?

Completing the School Leaver Programme gives students all the foundations for a great career. You'll have learned a lot over the five years, gaining the confidence and knowledge to decide where to take your career.

Find out more and apply at www.ey.com/uk/careers

CBI comments on latest unemployment data - Thinking about the future has never been so important.

Last week the CBI commented on latest official unemployment figures showing the number of people out of work rose by 80,000 to 2.51 million in the three months to July. Neil Carberry, CBI Director for Employment Policy, said: “This rise in unemployment is troubling, particularly the growing number of young people out of work. With one in five 16-24 year olds currently unemployed, tackling youth unemployment must be a priority. Businesses are eager to play their part through apprenticeships, training and work placements, but now the Government must do all it can to create the right conditions for the private sector to create much-needed jobs.”

Thinking about the future has never been so important.  All students should be working with parents, teachers, the Careers Department etc., to try and develop a focus for their future.  The sooner you start, the better you will be in the long run, with well informed insight into the possibilities that lie ahead, and the steps you will need to take to achieve your goals.

Volunteering at Addenbrookes Hospital Young Person's Programme, 2012

Any students who are interested in volunteering for work experience on the Addenbrookes Hospital Young Person's Programme, 2012, should see Jolene Barrett, or Jennie Crisp in the Careers Department as soon as possible.  Closing date for applying for a place will be 10th September, 2011.

Careers Department

Welcome back from the Careers Department.

Welcome to Long Road Sixth Form College, for the beginning of the 2011 academic year.  Over the year we will be posting a number of articles here on our BLOG, and hope you find them both interesting and inspiring.

If you would like us to feature anything in particular in this BLOG, do come and see us, or drop us an email with your suggestions.  We'll do our best to provide you with the help you need to progress successfully from the college into a suitable career.

With this in mind, it's never to early to start.  So, for those of you who are interested in Apprenticeships, or would like to find out more about what they are (they apply to one year and two year students), try some of the links below to watch some short films about Apprenticeships in a range of occupations.

Regards, Andy Goodwin, Careers Manager

• Introduction – www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1q6FTBfN7Y


• Sports turf - www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lup_wLDv0o

• Business Admin - www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnJ9fcSDBd8

• Electro technical - www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNG-zYQG9RQ

• IT - www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SiJ1f4DnWQ

• Vehicle maintenance - www.youtube.com/watch?v=530fYaGNHL8

• Hairdressing - www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KthC3A5pB0

• Health and social care - www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPNWy58VOv8

• Customer services - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BXTo3RQxJQ

Get SMAART - emag - Focus on Fashion Retail

The Fashion Retail Academy promotes full and part-time courses for those interested in pursuing this career.  Click below for access to their latest e-mag with details of many opportunities...

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/146e4b62#/146e4b62/34 

UK Clinical Apptitude Test (UKCAT)

Please note, students wishing to apply to study Medicine or Dentistry for entry in 2012 (or deferred entry in 2013) will need to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) this summer. Click here for a one-page guide. 

The 26 University Medical and Dental schools that require candidates to take this test as part of the admissions process are as follows:

University of Aberdeen; Brighton and Sussex Medical School; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Cardiff University; University of Dundee; University of Durham; University of East Anglia; University of Edinburgh; University of Glasgow; Hull York Medical School; Keele University; King’s College London; Imperial College London Graduate Entry; University of Leeds; University of Leicester; University of Manchester; University of Newcastle; University of Nottingham; University of Oxford Graduate Entry; Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry; Queen’s University Belfast; University of Sheffield; University of Southampton; University of St Andrews; St George’s, University of London; Warwick University Graduate Entry.

The test is offered at a choice of over 150 UK high street test centres and over 300 testing centres worldwide. The closing date for registering to take this test is 23 September 2011.  However, due to high demand, students should register to take this test immediately to ensure they get a test slot at their chosen test centre.

Important Dates:
Registration opens: 3 May 2011
Bursary applications processed from: 3 May 2011
Testing begins: 5 July 2011
Registration deadline: 23 September 2011
Bursary application deadline: 23 September 2011
Exemption application deadline: 23 September 2011
Last testing date: 7 October 2011
UCAS application deadline: 15 October 2011

To enable candidates to register and book a test, please visit the UKCAT website at http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/.