Sixth Form College Students Enhance Employability Skills with the Barclays Prepare for Work Programme

Having had positive feedback about its higher education and careers work during past Ofsted inspections, The Sixth Form College is always looking at ways to support students in their personal development and this year took part in the Barclays – Prepare for Work programme which had students taking part in individual and group activities centred around entry to the world of work.

The College sends the single largest number of students on the Wirral to university every year, but with the competition in securing suitable employment after graduation it is vital that they also look at how they can market themselves to future employers.  The Barclays Prepare for Work programme has helped students identify what skills and experience they already have (and how to promote them) and which ones they can build up through the College’s extensive enrichment and work shadow programme.   Support and guidance is also offered to those students who are looking to take a vocational route into employment, especially through higher apprenticeships with some of the country’s most prestigious employers.

Ashleigh Boden, who is completing her A Levels in Information Technology, English Language and Mathematics, said “I have had great support in looking at higher education as an option but have become more interested in a higher apprenticeship that can also lead to a paid degree level qualification. I have had fantastic support from both the teaching staff and personal and guidance tutors and have successfully applied for apprenticeships with large employers such as Unilever and Capgemini. I have now got through to the final rounds of selection and I am confident that the work my tutor has done with me through the Prepare for Work scheme will make me a more confident candidate in my final interviews.”

Staff have also been impressed with the support Barclays has offered, Keith Hughes is a personal and guidance tutor at College with many years of experience working with young people in a careers setting,

“The quality and range of materials that Barclays has provided staff and students with is excellent and really gets the students thinking about what they need to do during their studies to prepare for employment and stand out from other candidates.  Schemes like this really support those of us working in education and Barclays should be commended for their generosity in providing the materials and the many staff on hand to extend this support. The Prepare for Work scheme has integrated seamlessly with other higher education and careers guidance programmes at the College. We are confident that our students will enter employment or further studies much better prepared for not just gaining employment but becoming positive and ambitious members of the workforce.”