Students gain valuable Careers Guidance at The Sixth Form College’s Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair

20 March 2015

Following National Careers Week on 2^nd - 6^th March, The Sixth Form College held a Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair to offer valuable advice and guidance to students considering alternative options to Higher Education.

Students were able to find out information across a range of different career sectors including Legal Apprenticeships, the Business and Financial Industry, Construction and Housing, IT and Engineering, Retail, Human Resources and Buying, Sales and Marketing as well as opportunities in The Merseyside Police Force and the Armed Forces including the Royal Navy and the RAF. The Jobs Fair was well attended by organisations including KPMG, The Law Academy, Virgin Media, Airbus UK, Skills for Health Academy, Kaplan plus many more.

Head of Learner Services, John Doherty commented, “Although this year we saw a record number of students applying for Higher Education, 10% of our second year cohort applied for higher level apprenticeships and vocational courses. We think it is important to host events such as the Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair to allow students to meet with local and regional employers and to really explore their options so they can make informed decisions when deciding the best pathway for their future career.”

John added, “The delegates commented that our students came with some well-researched enquiries and they were all impressed with how much they already know about possible career paths, testament to the excellent careers support available from our team of dedicated personal and guidance tutors.”

First year student, Jack Sanders, who is currently studying Biology, History, Law and Psychology at the College commented on how he found the event to be beneficial in helping him to decide his future career plans, “I found it to be a really useful starting point at getting information on the career and apprenticeship options available. It has definitely helped me to make up my mind about pursuing a career in the RAF in the future, so it was a great opportunity to be able to speak with them at the Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair.”

Fellow student Matt Clare, a former student at Calday Grange Grammar School added, “I also found it really beneficial. It gave me a better idea of what an apprenticeship will involve and has opened up my options.”

Stephanie Waldron and Hollie Newton, both successful applicants to the Airbus UK apprenticeship programme, commented on what a good opportunity it was to be able to speak with students directly, “It is great to offer the students a better understanding of what it is that we can offer them within an apprenticeship scheme. We’ve also been able to offer tips on the best way to apply for an apprenticeship and have had lots of interest.”