Just 19 percent of graduates thought about their career before starting their university course.
The Milkround Student and Graduate Career Confidence Report, a study of 1,730 students by the graduate recruitment website, found that although the majority of students didn’t consider future job roles before starting their course, once they entered first year this changed dramatically.
Four out of five (79 percent) first year students had considered the job they might want after university, having developed a greater understanding of the options available to them with their prospective qualifications.
Milkround spokesperson Mike Barnard said: “The Milkround Student & Graduate Career Confidence Report was produced to act as a barometer of current thought for how university students and graduates viewed their opportunities in the job market. We’re committed to giving students and graduates career confidence, and this report is a fascinating insight into their current confidence levels and how they view their opportunities to find work.”
The report found that 42 percent of respondents thought that the media had made them believe they wouldn’t be able to find a job after graduating.
Yet the respondents were divided as to how the media had influenced their motivation to get a job: 18 percent stating it had had a negative effect on motivation, 17 percent a positive one.
When asked about their biggest concerns when looking for graduate job roles, 69 percent said that too much competition worried them most, with ‘not enough jobs’ being the second most popular response (55 percent).
However, a quarter of students and graduates believe that the criteria for jobs is too high, suggesting many feel they do have all the skills and talent necessary to succeed in graduate roles, but are finding it difficult to get themselves noticed.
The current economic climate is having a huge effect on student career confidence, with just four percent of final year students feeling optimistic about the economy as a whole and 11 percent predicting they will feel better about it in six months’ time.
Graduates generally look negatively on the current salaries available for those fortunate enough to find jobs: 54 percent are pessimistic about potential earnings compared to 41 percent being optimistic.
Mike Barnard added: “Students must be given the information they need to make informed career decisions to enable them to take their first strides into employment after university. The perception that there are too few jobs, that other students have better experience or recruiters will overlook them because of their university choice can be tackled by clear guidance on where the jobs in their preferred industry are, how to get relevant experience while studying and encouragement to get career advice in their first year of university.”
Source: Onrec.com, Wednesday 30th May 2012
Jobsbody provides a dynamic forum in which businesses can view and connect with graduates.
Thursday 31 May 2012
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Barclays bids to fill the postgraduate student loans gap
The scheme, which has been suggested by Barclays, would aim to counter the gap in public funding for taught postgraduates, a situation previously described in a government report as a barrier to social mobility.
However, the details being put forward indicate that lending may depend on the "earnings track record" of graduates, potentially limiting it to certain students, according to one critic.
To the dismay of many in the sector, the lack of a funding system for postgraduates - who are not eligible for the publicly subsidised loans offered to undergraduates - was not addressed in either the Browne Review or last year's higher education White Paper.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England has been asked by the government to "examine the effect of the HE reforms on the postgraduate sector, both taught and research".
In the meantime, Hefce has announced an interim system of funding for subsidising taught postgraduate study - but the future of that funding is not certain.
David Willetts, the universities and science minister, said last week in response to a written parliamentary question that officials from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills "held discussions with Barclays Bank in February 2012 about postgraduate finance".
Chris Hearn, head of education at Barclays Corporate, told THE that the bank had been speaking to BIS and universities about how to help the first cohort of graduates to leave university under the higher undergraduate fee regime in 2015.
"What is their appetite going to be to then go into postgraduate study, especially taught postgraduate study?" he said.
Mr Hearn said Barclays was looking at ways of developing its existing professional and career development loans, available for those undertaking further vocational study, to help taught postgraduates.
"One of the other alternatives is that instead of a risk-share with BIS, perhaps a bank lends to students on a risk-share with universities," he said.
Asked about the details of such a scheme, Mr Hearn said: "The cost of [loan] facilities reflects the risk. If we've got graduates who don't have an earnings track record, or a strong earnings track record, it is going to be difficult to find the right price to lend into that client group if they go into postgraduate study."
He added that the sector did need to "consider different models" because "it may be difficult to justify adding postgraduate finance" on top of the existing public subsidy for undergraduates.
However, Tim Leunig, chief economist at the thinktank CentreForum, who last year called for a government-run postgraduate finance scheme, said a bank-based system could lead to wealthier students becoming more favoured by universities and banks because they would be judged to be most likely to meet repayments.
"If you want a socially equitable outcome, a bank is not the obvious place to go. That is what governments are for," said Dr Leunig, a reader in economic history at the London School of Economics.
The Treasury is "very unkeen on a publicly financed scheme", he added. But Dr Leunig said the government was able to borrow at zero per cent real interest rates at present, making such a scheme affordable.
A Universities UK spokesman said it would be "broadly supportive" of exploring funding solutions for postgraduate students "particularly in relation" to career development loans and also accepted that any long-term solutions would need to consider "the distribution of risk".
In July 2009, a Cabinet Office report from the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions, headed by former Labour Cabinet minister Alan Milburn, noted that postgraduate degrees "have increasingly become an important route into many professional careers".
But there is "no student support framework equivalent to the framework for undergraduates" available for the courses, which are often expensive, it added.
"If fair access is to be possible, this issue will need to be addressed."
Source: John Morgan, TimesHigherEducation.co.uk, Thursday 24th May 2012
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Rush For Graduate Jobs Means Decline In Gap Years
A new report by High Fliers Research shows that students are hunting for graduate jobs much earlier. The trend is likely to lead to a decline in the number of gap years being taken by students.
With competition for places increasing, over 40 per cent of final year students had already applied for graduate job positions last September or October. Only 1 in 8 of the students said they would be taking a gap year before looking for a graduate job, a figure that will have declined by over 60 per cent in the last ten years.
The research took into account the career plans of almost 18,000 students and highlights the level of competition for graduate jobs in the current climate.
Managing Director of High Fliers Research, Martin Birchall, said of the report’s findings: “Three years ago, when the recession first took hold, many students felt there was little point in looking for a graduate job in such a tough employment market and instead opted to take time off, go travelling or enrol for further study at university.
“Today's students aren't necessarily much more confident about the graduate job market but have been fighting really hard to secure the jobs that are on offer from employers,” added Mr Birchall.
The survey also revealed that the typical final year student of 2012 will have applied for an average of seven graduate jobs before completing their degree and will leave university with debts of around £20,000.
Source: Liz Savage, Studenttimes.org, Monday 28th May 2012
With competition for places increasing, over 40 per cent of final year students had already applied for graduate job positions last September or October. Only 1 in 8 of the students said they would be taking a gap year before looking for a graduate job, a figure that will have declined by over 60 per cent in the last ten years.
The research took into account the career plans of almost 18,000 students and highlights the level of competition for graduate jobs in the current climate.
Managing Director of High Fliers Research, Martin Birchall, said of the report’s findings: “Three years ago, when the recession first took hold, many students felt there was little point in looking for a graduate job in such a tough employment market and instead opted to take time off, go travelling or enrol for further study at university.
“Today's students aren't necessarily much more confident about the graduate job market but have been fighting really hard to secure the jobs that are on offer from employers,” added Mr Birchall.
The survey also revealed that the typical final year student of 2012 will have applied for an average of seven graduate jobs before completing their degree and will leave university with debts of around £20,000.
Source: Liz Savage, Studenttimes.org, Monday 28th May 2012
Monday 28 May 2012
New provider for KPMG’s ACA training programme
KPMG has announced that from September 2013, its professional qualifications training programme, which awards students the ACA designation, will be delivered by BPP Professional Education. The provider won the contract after a tender process, taking over from the current provider, Kaplan Financial.
Michael Walby, director of professional qualification training at KPMG, commented on the firm’s new choice of training partner: ‘The launch of our ground breaking School Leaver Programme in 2011 demonstrated KPMG’s ability to change the landscape of accountancy training in the UK. BPP demonstrated a similar forward thinking approach.’
Qualifying with a professional body usually takes about three years and comprises a number of exams and practical work experience. Most accountancy employers will pay for your exam fees and give you time off to study.
No one qualification is easier than another: standards are monitored by an overseeing body to ensure parity. The differences lie in the focus of the syllabus, the sector of employment in which you train and how you obtain the training. More often than not your choice of employer will determine which professional qualification you work towards.
In 2010 BPP, which provides exam and non-exam based training for a range of professions, became the first UK private sector organisation in over thirty years to be recognised as a university college by the UK Government.
KPMG’s pass rates for the ACA professional examinations are repeatedly over 90%, which is well above the industry average.
Source: Targetjobs.co.uk, Wednesday 23rd May 2012
Michael Walby, director of professional qualification training at KPMG, commented on the firm’s new choice of training partner: ‘The launch of our ground breaking School Leaver Programme in 2011 demonstrated KPMG’s ability to change the landscape of accountancy training in the UK. BPP demonstrated a similar forward thinking approach.’
Qualifying with a professional body usually takes about three years and comprises a number of exams and practical work experience. Most accountancy employers will pay for your exam fees and give you time off to study.
No one qualification is easier than another: standards are monitored by an overseeing body to ensure parity. The differences lie in the focus of the syllabus, the sector of employment in which you train and how you obtain the training. More often than not your choice of employer will determine which professional qualification you work towards.
In 2010 BPP, which provides exam and non-exam based training for a range of professions, became the first UK private sector organisation in over thirty years to be recognised as a university college by the UK Government.
KPMG’s pass rates for the ACA professional examinations are repeatedly over 90%, which is well above the industry average.
Source: Targetjobs.co.uk, Wednesday 23rd May 2012
Sunday 27 May 2012
Graduate tech jobs showcased in London
The Silicon Milkroundabout Job Fair is set to return to East London this weekend, showcasing tech careers for graduates.
Hundreds of the UK’s top start-ups will be in attendance at the Truman Brewery, offering more than 800 jobs to the UK’s brightest graduates.
Big names such as Twitter, Songkick, Moo, Wonga, Mozilla and Moshi Monsters will be there to promote careers.
Job search engine Adzuna.co.uk, published some graduate recruitment stats ahead of the event, showing there are over 4,000 graduate technical jobs currently available in the UK; up 33% since the last Silicon Milkroundabout, 6 months ago.
In addition to this, it is estimated that 7,000 computer scientists will graduate this summer from University in the UK, meaning just under 2 applicants for every graduate tech vacancy.
Mobile developers were shown to be particularly in demand, as job vacancies were up 65% year-on-year for Android developers and up over 100% for iPhone and iPad developers.
Despite what appears to be a healthy level of tech jobs in the UK, 1 in 10 Computer Science graduates remain unemployed, according to the Higher Education Statistics Authority.
Andrew Hunter, Co-Founder of UK job search engine Adzuna said: “It’s amazing to see the start up scene in the UK really starting to boom and it’s even better to see the brightest minds in the UK picking jobs in startups over banks.
“Events like the Silicon Milkroundabout are fuelling this new, entrepreneurial wave in Britain.”
The event takes place following this week’s announcement from Hewlett Packard that it is to cut around 27,000 jobs, some of which will be from its six sites across the UK.
Source: Bdaily.co.uk, Friday 25th May 2012
Hundreds of the UK’s top start-ups will be in attendance at the Truman Brewery, offering more than 800 jobs to the UK’s brightest graduates.
Big names such as Twitter, Songkick, Moo, Wonga, Mozilla and Moshi Monsters will be there to promote careers.
Job search engine Adzuna.co.uk, published some graduate recruitment stats ahead of the event, showing there are over 4,000 graduate technical jobs currently available in the UK; up 33% since the last Silicon Milkroundabout, 6 months ago.
In addition to this, it is estimated that 7,000 computer scientists will graduate this summer from University in the UK, meaning just under 2 applicants for every graduate tech vacancy.
Mobile developers were shown to be particularly in demand, as job vacancies were up 65% year-on-year for Android developers and up over 100% for iPhone and iPad developers.
Despite what appears to be a healthy level of tech jobs in the UK, 1 in 10 Computer Science graduates remain unemployed, according to the Higher Education Statistics Authority.
Andrew Hunter, Co-Founder of UK job search engine Adzuna said: “It’s amazing to see the start up scene in the UK really starting to boom and it’s even better to see the brightest minds in the UK picking jobs in startups over banks.
“Events like the Silicon Milkroundabout are fuelling this new, entrepreneurial wave in Britain.”
The event takes place following this week’s announcement from Hewlett Packard that it is to cut around 27,000 jobs, some of which will be from its six sites across the UK.
Source: Bdaily.co.uk, Friday 25th May 2012
Saturday 26 May 2012
Is a double-dip recession that bad for students?
For most of us, it isn't really news that the economy is struggling: new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have recently confirmed that Britain went back into recession at the end of last year and we're still in a double dip. But should students and graduates be worried?
No. Even if the economic data signals a return to recession, exacerbated by the ongoing eurozone crisis, any bad news on the economic front does not necessarily mean certain career disaster for today's young and prospective workers.
Historically, even during the very worst UK graduate jobs market (which, facts fans, was in 1982, when 13.2% were out of work six months after graduation) most university graduates got jobs. In the last recession, when we saw the first run on a bank for 150 years and the deepest economic downturn since the 1930s, the unemployment rate for graduates after six months didn't get above 9% – too high, yes, but most graduates still got jobs.
It is the people with lower qualifications who suffer the most during recession. At present, about a third of the UK working population have some form of higher education qualification – when surrounded by other people in education, it's sometimes hard to recognise that most people in the UK have not been and never will go to university.
A recent ONS survey showed that youth unemployment is at its highest since the 1980s, rising in each of the last three recessions. But the most common jobs sought by young jobseekers in 2011 were in customer service and elementary occupations. While some graduates do start their careers in these roles, they're mostly occupied by people without degrees.
Simply saying "we're in recession" doesn't really affect how employers approach the jobs market, in the same way as the actual business conditions in their marketplace do.
Employers know what their market conditions are and have been dealing with the actual consequences of the current economic state daily. The Winter AGR Survey of graduate employers was conducted when Britain was already in recession. It showed that employers were largely cautious and concerned about the economy, but that hiring intentions were not much different to last year's.
Essentially, many graduate employers have already priced in a weak economy into this year's recruitment plans, and whether or not that outlook manifests as anaemic growth or technical recession is not especially important once those decisions have been made.
As a result, we can probably expect hiring to be as good as or better than last year in IT, engineering, energy and utilities; but in some sectors, especially investment banking, it is likely to be well down on last year.
A degree doesn't guarantee you a job – it never has at any point in UK history. Graduates will still have to work hard to get employment, and may not get the position they want straight away.
But student and graduate jobseekers should not get too perturbed by the news of recession. They will need to get all the help and support they can, visit university careers services, use advice sites, don't get disheartened, and above all, continue to apply for jobs.
In the end, students will probably get a job in time, but the more resources they draw on, the quicker and easier that will be. Oh, and keep an eye on the eurozone, of course.
Source: Charlie Ball, Guardian.co.uk, Friday 25th May 2012
No. Even if the economic data signals a return to recession, exacerbated by the ongoing eurozone crisis, any bad news on the economic front does not necessarily mean certain career disaster for today's young and prospective workers.
Historically, even during the very worst UK graduate jobs market (which, facts fans, was in 1982, when 13.2% were out of work six months after graduation) most university graduates got jobs. In the last recession, when we saw the first run on a bank for 150 years and the deepest economic downturn since the 1930s, the unemployment rate for graduates after six months didn't get above 9% – too high, yes, but most graduates still got jobs.
It is the people with lower qualifications who suffer the most during recession. At present, about a third of the UK working population have some form of higher education qualification – when surrounded by other people in education, it's sometimes hard to recognise that most people in the UK have not been and never will go to university.
A recent ONS survey showed that youth unemployment is at its highest since the 1980s, rising in each of the last three recessions. But the most common jobs sought by young jobseekers in 2011 were in customer service and elementary occupations. While some graduates do start their careers in these roles, they're mostly occupied by people without degrees.
Simply saying "we're in recession" doesn't really affect how employers approach the jobs market, in the same way as the actual business conditions in their marketplace do.
Employers know what their market conditions are and have been dealing with the actual consequences of the current economic state daily. The Winter AGR Survey of graduate employers was conducted when Britain was already in recession. It showed that employers were largely cautious and concerned about the economy, but that hiring intentions were not much different to last year's.
Essentially, many graduate employers have already priced in a weak economy into this year's recruitment plans, and whether or not that outlook manifests as anaemic growth or technical recession is not especially important once those decisions have been made.
As a result, we can probably expect hiring to be as good as or better than last year in IT, engineering, energy and utilities; but in some sectors, especially investment banking, it is likely to be well down on last year.
A degree doesn't guarantee you a job – it never has at any point in UK history. Graduates will still have to work hard to get employment, and may not get the position they want straight away.
But student and graduate jobseekers should not get too perturbed by the news of recession. They will need to get all the help and support they can, visit university careers services, use advice sites, don't get disheartened, and above all, continue to apply for jobs.
In the end, students will probably get a job in time, but the more resources they draw on, the quicker and easier that will be. Oh, and keep an eye on the eurozone, of course.
Source: Charlie Ball, Guardian.co.uk, Friday 25th May 2012
Friday 25 May 2012
Rush For Graduate Jobs Means Decline In Gap Years
A new report by High Fliers Research shows that students are hunting for graduate jobs much earlier. The trend is likely to lead to a decline in the number of gap years being taken by students.
With competition for places increasing, over 40 per cent of final year students had already applied for graduate job positions last September or October. Only 1 in 8 of the students said they would be taking a gap year before looking for a graduate job, a figure that will have declined by over 60 per cent in the last ten years.
The research took into account the career plans of almost 18,000 students and highlights the level of competition for graduate jobs in the current climate.
Managing Director of High Fliers Research, Martin Birchall, said of the report’s findings: “Three years ago, when the recession first took hold, many students felt there was little point in looking for a graduate job in such a tough employment market and instead opted to take time off, go travelling or enrol for further study at university.
“Today's students aren't necessarily much more confident about the graduate job market but have been fighting really hard to secure the jobs that are on offer from employers,” added Mr Birchall.
The survey also revealed that the typical final year student of 2012 will have applied for an average of seven graduate jobs before completing their degree and will leave university with debts of around £20,000.
With competition for places increasing, over 40 per cent of final year students had already applied for graduate job positions last September or October. Only 1 in 8 of the students said they would be taking a gap year before looking for a graduate job, a figure that will have declined by over 60 per cent in the last ten years.
The research took into account the career plans of almost 18,000 students and highlights the level of competition for graduate jobs in the current climate.
Managing Director of High Fliers Research, Martin Birchall, said of the report’s findings: “Three years ago, when the recession first took hold, many students felt there was little point in looking for a graduate job in such a tough employment market and instead opted to take time off, go travelling or enrol for further study at university.
“Today's students aren't necessarily much more confident about the graduate job market but have been fighting really hard to secure the jobs that are on offer from employers,” added Mr Birchall.
The survey also revealed that the typical final year student of 2012 will have applied for an average of seven graduate jobs before completing their degree and will leave university with debts of around £20,000.
Source: E4s.co.uk, Thursday 24th May 2012
Thursday 24 May 2012
Class of 2012 make record number of applications
Final year university students are pushing hard to enter the job market after graduation, but the number of jobs available to them remains below pre-recession levels.
This is according to two reports from High Fliers Research: the ‘UK Graduate Careers Survey 2012’ and ‘The Graduate Market in 2012’, based respectively on surveys of 17,737 final year student at 30 UK universities in March, and 100 top employers in December of last year.
The surveys show that the UK’s leading employers expect to increase graduate recruitment by 6.4%, the third consecutive year of growth, but graduate recruitment as a whole is still 6% below the level recorded in 2007. There will also be 50,000 more new university leavers this year than five years ago.
The number of students looking to take time off after university has dropped to its lowest level ever, just 12%, while a record 42% of current finalists made job applications to graduate employers in September or October of last year, up from 37% in 2011.
By March, a total of 61% of finalists had made graduate job applications, up from 59% the previous year, with the total average number of job applications has risen from 5.7 in 2010 and 6.8 last year to an all-time high of 6.9.
London remains the preferred employment destination for finalists, while for the first time since 2002, marketing is the most popular career space.
Applications for investment banking have returned to their highest level since 2008, while five sectors have seen a drop in applicants: the armed forces, engineering, government, law and the public sector.
Source: Recruiter.co.uk, Wednesday 23rd May 2012
This is according to two reports from High Fliers Research: the ‘UK Graduate Careers Survey 2012’ and ‘The Graduate Market in 2012’, based respectively on surveys of 17,737 final year student at 30 UK universities in March, and 100 top employers in December of last year.
The surveys show that the UK’s leading employers expect to increase graduate recruitment by 6.4%, the third consecutive year of growth, but graduate recruitment as a whole is still 6% below the level recorded in 2007. There will also be 50,000 more new university leavers this year than five years ago.
The number of students looking to take time off after university has dropped to its lowest level ever, just 12%, while a record 42% of current finalists made job applications to graduate employers in September or October of last year, up from 37% in 2011.
By March, a total of 61% of finalists had made graduate job applications, up from 59% the previous year, with the total average number of job applications has risen from 5.7 in 2010 and 6.8 last year to an all-time high of 6.9.
London remains the preferred employment destination for finalists, while for the first time since 2002, marketing is the most popular career space.
Applications for investment banking have returned to their highest level since 2008, while five sectors have seen a drop in applicants: the armed forces, engineering, government, law and the public sector.
Source: Recruiter.co.uk, Wednesday 23rd May 2012
Wednesday 23 May 2012
15,000 job applications and still no job... Now graduate stands in street with sign begging to be hired
A jobhunter with a degree has started wearing a huge Hire Me Please! sign after being rejected for 15,000 posts in 10 years.
Robin Norton walks down the road with the board strapped to his chest in his desperate search for work.
He has a masters degree in history and a number of NVQs yet has still been overlooked by employers.
Robin said: “Wearing the sign is a last-ditch attempt for me to get work, a real last resort. I spent a couple of months working up the guts to go and do it.
“I have applied for around 25 jobs a week for the past 10 years without getting anywhere. Sometimes I have applied for as many as 50 in one week.
“I usually don’t even get an email to say they received my application. I am looking for any full time work – I’m not picky.
"I have qualifications and experience but still don’t get given a chance.”
Single Robin, 40, worked for the Royal Mail for seven years and was a self-employed footcare technician until 2002 when he business went under.
Since then he has had odd-jobs including cleaning, gardening and building work but has received no full-time job offers.
Robin, from Birmingham, even stood at junction 4 of the M5 with the sign last week.
He added: “It is partly down to the recession but also my age.
“Companies don’t want to hire anybody in their 40s. It’s against the law to be ageist but, in the real world, it’s still here and it’s wrong.”
Robin has even set up an email address, hire_me_pleeaase@hotmail.co.uk, for potential employers can get in touch.
Source: Richard Smith, Mirror.co.uk, Wednesday 23rd May 2012
Robin Norton walks down the road with the board strapped to his chest in his desperate search for work.
He has a masters degree in history and a number of NVQs yet has still been overlooked by employers.
Robin said: “Wearing the sign is a last-ditch attempt for me to get work, a real last resort. I spent a couple of months working up the guts to go and do it.
“I have applied for around 25 jobs a week for the past 10 years without getting anywhere. Sometimes I have applied for as many as 50 in one week.
“I usually don’t even get an email to say they received my application. I am looking for any full time work – I’m not picky.
"I have qualifications and experience but still don’t get given a chance.”
Single Robin, 40, worked for the Royal Mail for seven years and was a self-employed footcare technician until 2002 when he business went under.
Since then he has had odd-jobs including cleaning, gardening and building work but has received no full-time job offers.
Robin, from Birmingham, even stood at junction 4 of the M5 with the sign last week.
He added: “It is partly down to the recession but also my age.
“Companies don’t want to hire anybody in their 40s. It’s against the law to be ageist but, in the real world, it’s still here and it’s wrong.”
Robin has even set up an email address, hire_me_pleeaase@hotmail.co.uk, for potential employers can get in touch.
Source: Richard Smith, Mirror.co.uk, Wednesday 23rd May 2012
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Gap years 'dying out' as students scramble for jobs
Figures show that just one-in-eight final year undergraduates are planning to take 12 months off to travel or do voluntary work this summer – the lowest number on record and down by two-thirds in a decade.
Most students are sacrificing a gap year because of mounting competition to find a well-paid job in the economic downturn, it was revealed.
According to research, the number of applications for graduate positions has increased by an “unprecedented” 40 per cent in just two years.
In all, the average student is now applying for a record seven jobs before finishing their final year of university.
The disclosure – in a survey of almost 18,000 final year undergraduates – will prompt fresh concerns over graduates’ prospects as businesses struggle to expand during the recession and public sector jobs are cut to save money.
The struggle to secure employment comes despite students leaving university with record levels of debt.
According to the study, the average undergraduate will owe £19,400 this year, rising to around £30,000 for those taking degrees at some London universities. A quarter of students also have short-term loans or credit card bills that need to be cleared within two or three years, it emerged.
Debt levels are certain to soar next year when student tuition fees almost triple to a maximum of £9,000.
Martin Birchall, managing director of High Fliers Research, which carried out the study, said: “The proportion of final year students planning to take time-off or go travelling after their studies is at an all-time low and record numbers of students are now opting to research their career options in their first or second year at university, rather than leaving job hunting until the final six months.”
The study – based on a survey of students at 30 universities across Britain – found that just 12 per cent were taking a gap year, down from 17 per cent in 2009 and 20 per cent in 2001.
At the same time, students are applying for graduate jobs in record numbers.
More than four-in-10 undergraduates now start making applications as early as September or October in their final year – almost 12 months before graduating, it was revealed.
In all, students are chasing seven jobs each, rising to almost 12 among those from the London School of Economics and 10 for University College London students.
The study said: “Together, these results account for an unprecedented 40 per cent rise in the overall volume of job applications compared with two years ago.”
Some 360,000 job applications have been submitted by students at the 30 universities so far this year, compared with 343,000 in 2011 and 257,000 a year earlier.
Source: Graeme Paton, Telegraph.co.uk, Tuesday 22nd May 2012
Monday 21 May 2012
Science careers under the microscope
What do you get when you mix popular family science shows such asBang Goes the Theory with particle-physicist professor Brian Cox and natural-world treasure Sir David Attenborough? The answer is an explosive enthusiasm for science among the general public and, though not scientifically proven, a possible reason for a recent surge in the number of undergraduates applying for science degrees in the hope of an exciting career path.
In 2011 there was a rise in demand for all university courses as studentsraced to beat the higher university fees regime starting this autumn but, even so, science snuck ahead of its arts rivals, according to Ucas figures, with physics applications up by 11.7% on 2010, biology up 6.8% and chemistry up 3.5%. Compare that to no change in applications for English and a rise of just 2.4% for history.
Encouraging noises from employers also galvanised interest. They say they want to employ graduates of science, technology, engineering and maths (know as the Stem subjects) because of their "analytical, problem-solving, numeracy and intellectual-rigour skills", according to the National Higher Education Stem Programme – even if some graduates of these very subjects still seem to struggle to get a foot on the career ladder.
Charlie Ball, deputy director of research at the Higher Education CareersServices Unit, says: "The recession hasn't been kind to science graduates for a bunch of reasons. Cuts in the public sector have hit life science graduates wanting clinical roles in the NHS and the ongoing problems in the pharmaceuticals sector have hit those in chemistry and pharmacology. Plus changes in the research councils, where they have been cutting their cloth, is making research funding difficult to get.
"That said, there are industries that are doing well, such as oil and gas, which have bucked the recession, especially in exploration, which needs engineers, geologists and geophysicists. They not only need to get the oil out of the ground and keep rigs going but they are constantly looking for new reserves."
He says that "fracking" is an obvious development that requires scientists and will have many and well-paid options … "so long as you are willing to travel. Science graduates have to be more flexible and if they are the awards can be great."
Another vibrant area is small business manufacturing. Ball says there are opportunities in hi-tech manufacturing, biosciences, life sciences and biotechnology and he points to the materials sector providing opportunities for chemists whether it is their input into developing building materials or sports kit. He reckons job hunters often neglect pigments, paint and lubricants.
Ball says: "These companies keep industry going and there is a lot of research going on." Agricultural science is also relatively fertile ground, with Ball adding: "A lot of the people are chemists, plant scientists and biologists. Graduates do have to consider their personal views about this sector as it covers fertilisers and pesticides and genetically modified foods. But feeding the population is a huge challenge and the UK has a significant presence in this area of research."
Physics
The Institute of Physics says the subject is fashionable: with students taking the subject at A-level rising by 19.6% in the past five years compared with a 7.7% rise across all subjects. Career paths for physics whizzes can be found in areas such as nuclear, space technology and computer games industries, all of which are predicted to grow over the next few years, the institute says.
According to a 2011 report by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta) for the government, about 20% of graduates working in the £2bn-a-year UK computer games industry have a degree in maths, physics, engineering or other science but it also suggests physics graduates – whose skills help the games look more realistic – consider the area; and they get paid more than their non-physics counterparts, too. The £7.5bn UK space sector employs more than 24,000 people and is expected to grow to £14bn by 2020.
Engineering
Paul Jackson, chief executive of Engineering UK, an independent organisation promoting the importance of engineering to the UK, says graduates looking beyond traditional areas such as manufacturing, industry and construction are finding exciting opportunities in areas such as alternative energy, where engineering skills are required to help develop solar, wind and tide technologies. Jackson says: "They are all looking at effective ways to store the energy, for example." Other hot areas include Formula One racing, with the UK a leader in this area. Jackson says: "They employ a lot of engineers, especially electrical engineers."
Even in construction, which has been in the doldrums, there are new areas of opportunity for developing energy-efficient buildings.
Biology
Bioscience graduates embark on a wide range of careers in both research and industry, says Dr Mark Downs, chief executive of the Society of Biology. He says: "The first step towards being a research scientist is to do a PhD, often funded by a government research council. Academic research in biology covers everything from biodiversity to neuroscience. I think food security is one of the most exciting areas of study at the moment: how are we going to feed a growing population in an environmentally sustainable way?
"Drug discovery is also changing rapidly. Chronobiology is a hot topic: studying our body's circadian rhythm. It is revealing that different drugs will be more effective if they are delivered at specific times of day. Our growing understanding of epigenetics – how the structure of DNA is important, not just the genetic code – is already altering the way we view certain diseases."
When it comes to industry, Downs says biology jobs crop up everywhere. He says: "You only need to walk around the supermarket to see how many scientists were involved with filling the shelves. From ensuring that cosmetics and medications are safe, to developing the varieties of crops we are familiar with, scientists are vital. Companies developing prescription drugs have a variety of openings too, from multinational pharmaceutical companies to small biotech startups."
Science communication and public engagement has potential for biologists, with museums, conservation organisations, businesses and magazines on the look out for scientists who are good communicators. The society's spokeswoman Rebecca Nesbit says biologists are adaptable: "It is easier to teach law to a biologist than biology to a lawyer."
Many biology graduates would be green with envy at Robert Hollingworth's job. The 32-year-old former Bath University biology student has combined his academic qualifications with a love of photography to become a natural history cameraman. While at Bath he also attended many lectures and workshops at the BBC's Natural History Unit in Bristol and Wild Screen, while honing other practical skills through lighting work at the Theatre Royal in Bath.
He has just completed work on Kingdom of Plants 3D with Sir David Attenborough, to be shown on Sky 3D and Sky Atlantic HD on 26 May. Hollingsworth says: "My biology knowledge has been vital. You need to know how a plant or animal is going to behave in a particular habitat. You also need to be able to communicate with the scientists." Kingdom of Plants, which involved Hollingsworth patiently filming plants at Kew Gardens for long spells to capture them bursting into bloom, including the Queen of the Night cactus, which flowers for night only each year, is his first major camera credit.
It is not an easy career path to join, he admits: "Perseverance and passion are key. For a long time I did weddings, events photography, PR shots, and developed a stock archive all of which helped hone my skills and enabled me to concentrate on the natural history."
Computing and IT
Graduates of IT can sometimes be blinkered, thinking the only sensible career paths are with the big-name technology companies such as Google or Microsoft, according to Joanna Poplawska, performance director of The Corporate IT Forum. She says: "Less than half of IT graduates go into IT, with many working in the non-IT areas, helping businesses use technology to grow. They just have to realise there are plenty of exciting opportunities out there. It's realising that buying a carton of orange juice involves a lot of information technology skills, starting from the plantations to the packaging to the recording of the transaction when you pay for it."
Romeena Mann, 27, graduated with a degree in business management and computing from Brunel University in 2007 and is now a manager in the global IT strategy division of healthcare firm GlaxoSmithKline, specialising in monitoring IT developments in the outside world. West London-based Romeena joined the company's IT graduate programme in 2008 after previously securing a work placement there as part of her degree. She says: "I find out about latest trends and look at promoting it and how technology can add to the business. I really enjoy what I'm doing as the technology changes so fast and I'm always learning something new. The great thing about a career in IT is you learn transferable skills. You can choose technical or non-technical."
Chemistry
Chemistry graduates heading along more classic career routes have been hampered lately by the cyclical downturn in the pharmaceutical sector and the contraction in areas such as the printing industry. But the Royal Society of Chemistry says most graduates find work quickly and points to several areas with opportunities, including sustainability, nanotechnology, and the nuclear industry as well as pure research, research and development, analytical chemistry, quality control and policy. The society's careers adviser Charlotte Ashley-Roberts says: "Some do accounting or patent law and quite a few go into publishing. In fact, we take on 35 students a year into our publishing division."
The prescription for success
Kirtana Vallabhaneni, who is about to sit her chemistry, biology, maths and English literature A-levels, is the 17-year-old winner of UK Young Scientist of the Year 2012, sponsored by organisations including the Big Bang Fair and the British Science Association.
The student of West Kirby Grammar School, who needs three As and a C to take up her place in September on a medicine course at University College London, impressed the judges (including a Nobel prize winner) with a presentation on her work on a research project at Liverpool University, a four-week placement she gained by applying for a Nuffield Foundation science bursary.
She worked with a team identifying harmful cells that cause pancreatic cancer and how to target them with chemotherapy. Vallabhaneni says: "I spent a lot of time cultivating and growing cells and keeping them alive. It changed my perception of science. Some people think working in a lab is tedious but I found it satisfying." She adds: "I am interested in cellular biology and what happens when things go wrong with DNA."
Source: Sally Hamilton, Guardian.co.uk, Friday 18th May 2012
Sunday 20 May 2012
Sunderland graduates get a hand up onto the career ladder as 150 internships announced
Businesses are getting ahead after tapping into a pool of skilled workers – thanks to Sunderland University’s graduate scheme.
The university has received European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) to extend its Graduate Internship Scheme for a further two years.
This will help provide another 150 graduates with the opportunity to work with a variety of small and medium-sized businesses across the North East.
Since the scheme was launched in 2009 to help regional business and industry deal with the crippling economic downturn, the university has worked closely with organisations across all sectors, ensuring their specific needs are met.
More than 110 Sunderland graduates have now been placed with these businesses, which ensure they get a minimum of six months’ worth of high-quality expertise.
More than 85 per cent of the graduates have been offered full-time employment or a contract extension and the recent ERDF funding is recognition of the scheme’s success.
David Donkin, associate director of research, innovation and employer engagement at the university, said: “This scheme is proving that graduates can make a difference to business, during turbulent economic times.
“It’s also helping to retain graduate talent in the region in local organisations and crucially, helping to create and strengthen relationships between the university and business.”
Gary Hutchinson, chairman of the Sunderland Committee of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “ERDF funding for this scheme for smaller companies makes it a very cost-effective way of bringing in new talent, energy and ideas to projects at a difficult time.”
The Graduate Internship Scheme offers businesses a financial contribution to employ a graduate on a six-month, fixed term contract.
For graduates, they gain six-months experience at a graduate level job, are paid a minimum salary of £14,859, develop their skills and gain valuable work experience that will help secure future employment.
The success of these graduates is another example or how having a degree can change your life.
The Echo, in partnership with the University of Sunderland, is running the Degrees of Success Campaign, inspiring Wearsiders to make the life-changing decision to go to university.
The campaign aims to help increase the number of graduates on Wearside, giving people with talent, regardless of background, the opportunity to fulfil their career ambitions, increase their earnings potential and ultimately enjoy a truly life-changing experience.
Source: Ruth Aiken, Sunderlandecho.com, Saturday 19th May 2012
The university has received European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) to extend its Graduate Internship Scheme for a further two years.
This will help provide another 150 graduates with the opportunity to work with a variety of small and medium-sized businesses across the North East.
Since the scheme was launched in 2009 to help regional business and industry deal with the crippling economic downturn, the university has worked closely with organisations across all sectors, ensuring their specific needs are met.
More than 110 Sunderland graduates have now been placed with these businesses, which ensure they get a minimum of six months’ worth of high-quality expertise.
More than 85 per cent of the graduates have been offered full-time employment or a contract extension and the recent ERDF funding is recognition of the scheme’s success.
David Donkin, associate director of research, innovation and employer engagement at the university, said: “This scheme is proving that graduates can make a difference to business, during turbulent economic times.
“It’s also helping to retain graduate talent in the region in local organisations and crucially, helping to create and strengthen relationships between the university and business.”
Gary Hutchinson, chairman of the Sunderland Committee of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “ERDF funding for this scheme for smaller companies makes it a very cost-effective way of bringing in new talent, energy and ideas to projects at a difficult time.”
The Graduate Internship Scheme offers businesses a financial contribution to employ a graduate on a six-month, fixed term contract.
For graduates, they gain six-months experience at a graduate level job, are paid a minimum salary of £14,859, develop their skills and gain valuable work experience that will help secure future employment.
The success of these graduates is another example or how having a degree can change your life.
The Echo, in partnership with the University of Sunderland, is running the Degrees of Success Campaign, inspiring Wearsiders to make the life-changing decision to go to university.
The campaign aims to help increase the number of graduates on Wearside, giving people with talent, regardless of background, the opportunity to fulfil their career ambitions, increase their earnings potential and ultimately enjoy a truly life-changing experience.
Source: Ruth Aiken, Sunderlandecho.com, Saturday 19th May 2012
Saturday 19 May 2012
Up to 1,000 new doctors could face unemployment
Official projections from the Department of Health body in charge of medical education shows that hundreds of medical graduates will be without a job next year, the Telegraph has learned.
The number of places in medical schools has been expanded since 2002 with the aim of the UK becoming self sufficient in doctors.
However, applicants from within the EU and a shortage of training posts means that for the first time there is a genuine prospect of doctors being unemployed.
It costs the UK taxpayer, £260,000 to put each medical student through university and each student graduates with debt averaging £70,000.
The issue is being raised at the British Medical Association's junior doctors conference in London.
Also the Commons Health Select Committee will publish its report on education, training and workforce planning next week which is expected to criticise 'boom and bust' approaches to training with budgets raided to pay off deficits.
UK graduates leave medical school qualified as a doctor but must complete a foundation year, which is effectively an apprenticeship where they work under close supervision, before they are allowed to join the General Medical Council register and practice freely.
Dr Ben Molyneux, deputy chairman of the Junior Doctors Committee said: "This is a problem that has been getting steadily worse in recent years and for the first time next year we certainly cannot guarantee that there will not be medical unemployment.
"Even the optimistic projections are that hundreds of graduates could be without a foundation place and the worse case projections are up to 1,000.
"It is a tragedy not only for the taxpayer but also on a personal level, these doctors graduate with a small personal mortgage of debt."
He said medical graduates would be left in limbo because without their foundation year they cannot work as doctors abroad and would be faced with treading water and applying again the following year, increasing the pressure for places.
"Most would end up leaving the profession," he said. "These are people who are going to provide service for the NHS for the next 40 years. It would be a drop in the ocean of the NHS budget to provide foundation places for them, " Dr Molyneux said.
The projections have been made by Medical Education England, the body in charge of postgraduate education and training of doctors.
There are more than 7,600 foundation places this year and the numbers of graduates leaving medical school only slightly exceeded that number.
However next year it is expected there will be up to 1,000 more medical students graduating than foundation places for them to work in.
The average starting salary for a foundation year doctor is £22,500 in England.
A court case due to be heard in Prague in October could exacerbate the problem as a medical school there has argued that its graduates should be allowed to apply for foundation place jobs in Britain on the same footing as UK graduates.
However in the Czech Republic and many other European countries, doctors graduate from medical school having effectively already completed a foundation year which could put them at an advantage when applying for jobs in Britain.
Source: Rebecca Smith, Telegraph.co.uk, Saturday 19th May 2012
The number of places in medical schools has been expanded since 2002 with the aim of the UK becoming self sufficient in doctors.
However, applicants from within the EU and a shortage of training posts means that for the first time there is a genuine prospect of doctors being unemployed.
It costs the UK taxpayer, £260,000 to put each medical student through university and each student graduates with debt averaging £70,000.
The issue is being raised at the British Medical Association's junior doctors conference in London.
Also the Commons Health Select Committee will publish its report on education, training and workforce planning next week which is expected to criticise 'boom and bust' approaches to training with budgets raided to pay off deficits.
UK graduates leave medical school qualified as a doctor but must complete a foundation year, which is effectively an apprenticeship where they work under close supervision, before they are allowed to join the General Medical Council register and practice freely.
Dr Ben Molyneux, deputy chairman of the Junior Doctors Committee said: "This is a problem that has been getting steadily worse in recent years and for the first time next year we certainly cannot guarantee that there will not be medical unemployment.
"Even the optimistic projections are that hundreds of graduates could be without a foundation place and the worse case projections are up to 1,000.
"It is a tragedy not only for the taxpayer but also on a personal level, these doctors graduate with a small personal mortgage of debt."
He said medical graduates would be left in limbo because without their foundation year they cannot work as doctors abroad and would be faced with treading water and applying again the following year, increasing the pressure for places.
"Most would end up leaving the profession," he said. "These are people who are going to provide service for the NHS for the next 40 years. It would be a drop in the ocean of the NHS budget to provide foundation places for them, " Dr Molyneux said.
The projections have been made by Medical Education England, the body in charge of postgraduate education and training of doctors.
There are more than 7,600 foundation places this year and the numbers of graduates leaving medical school only slightly exceeded that number.
However next year it is expected there will be up to 1,000 more medical students graduating than foundation places for them to work in.
The average starting salary for a foundation year doctor is £22,500 in England.
A court case due to be heard in Prague in October could exacerbate the problem as a medical school there has argued that its graduates should be allowed to apply for foundation place jobs in Britain on the same footing as UK graduates.
However in the Czech Republic and many other European countries, doctors graduate from medical school having effectively already completed a foundation year which could put them at an advantage when applying for jobs in Britain.
Source: Rebecca Smith, Telegraph.co.uk, Saturday 19th May 2012
Friday 18 May 2012
Graduate recruitment to rise in 2013, says survey
As the university year draws to a close, a new survey, from CareerBuilder.co.uk, shows university graduates can expect up to 20 percent higher starting salaries than they did in 2011. Finding that dream role could be less demanding too, with 17 percent of employers saying they are planning to recruit more graduates this year than last.
Six in 10 employers are planning to hire new graduates this year and more than half (53 percent) plan to hire up to 10 graduates while 29 percent are planning on taking on 11 to 50.
“It is encouraging to see that the majority of employers plan to add recent university graduates to their companies this year,” said Tony Roy, President of CareerBuilder EMEA.
“Employers across the UK are placing a strong emphasis on recruiting fresh talent for positions designed to drive revenue - and in certain areas - they’re willing to pay more for high-skill, educated labour.”
The online job site surveyed 100 employers across the UK and companies that are particularly keen to recruit recent university graduates include Information Technology (37 percent), Sales (28 percent), Business Development (27 percent) and Marketing (25 percent).
Employers are looking for a variety of skills from recent university graduates but strong written and verbal communications top the list with 65 percent of employers looking for these followed by technical skills (42 percent) and maths skills (40 percent).
Source: Paul Pearce Couch, Inspiresme.co.uk, Thursday 17th May 2012
Six in 10 employers are planning to hire new graduates this year and more than half (53 percent) plan to hire up to 10 graduates while 29 percent are planning on taking on 11 to 50.
“It is encouraging to see that the majority of employers plan to add recent university graduates to their companies this year,” said Tony Roy, President of CareerBuilder EMEA.
“Employers across the UK are placing a strong emphasis on recruiting fresh talent for positions designed to drive revenue - and in certain areas - they’re willing to pay more for high-skill, educated labour.”
The online job site surveyed 100 employers across the UK and companies that are particularly keen to recruit recent university graduates include Information Technology (37 percent), Sales (28 percent), Business Development (27 percent) and Marketing (25 percent).
Employers are looking for a variety of skills from recent university graduates but strong written and verbal communications top the list with 65 percent of employers looking for these followed by technical skills (42 percent) and maths skills (40 percent).
Source: Paul Pearce Couch, Inspiresme.co.uk, Thursday 17th May 2012
Thursday 17 May 2012
Why teaching is attracting the UK’s top graduates
“I enjoy working with people from different backgrounds,” says Alistair Dixon, 27, who teaches Spanish, German and French at Coombe School in Surrey. “In the classroom, those differences don’t matter.
It dawns on you that you could inspire somebody else. I could have a student who, in a few years, remembers my Spanish lessons and feels like they meant something.”
These words will resonate with teachers everywhere. While there are many reasons to choose a classroom career, the rewards are more than financial. As Dixon says: “You get out what you put in – especially when it comes to the kids.”
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, one of the largest teachers’ unions, describes teaching as “a career for those who are committed to doing the very best for young people, supporting them to achieve their full potential.”
Pay and conditions reflect the importance of and respect for the profession. “Young people are entitled to be taught by those who are recognised and rewarded as highly-skilled professionals and have working conditions that enable them to focus on their core role of teaching and learning,” says Keates.
UK teachers begin on an average salary of £23,010, with those in inner London starting on £27,000. These figures compare favourably with average starting salaries for other graduate jobs, which range between £17,720 and £23,335. Further down the line, classroom teachers earn an average of £34,400 a year. It isn’t difficult to see why Lin Hinnigan, CEO of the Teaching Agency, believes there’s “never been a better time to teach”.
“There are lots of opportunities for progression early on too,” says Dixon, adding that these career development opportunities may not always be based on your tenure, but on “how good a teacher you are and how ambitious”.
He is a case in point: just two years into teaching, Dixon is moving into a role as head of Spanish.
“Compared to friends who graduated at the same time as me, I have progressed faster up the ladder in terms of responsibility and management,” Dixon notes. “And, because languages are a shortage area in teaching, I got a bursary to train as a teacher.”
Impressive bursaries and scholarships are still available for high quality graduates. Those starting Initial Teacher Training in 2012 can apply for tax-free bursaries of up to £20,000.
Nothing is guaranteed, but as a trained teacher you currently enjoy good employment prospects. Latest data shows that nine out of 10 newly qualified teachers who want to teach found teaching jobs in the first 12 months.
Most of all, teachers talk of the variety of the job. “You have to think on your feet,” says Dixon. “Even when you’ve planned a lesson carefully, you don’t know how a class is going to react, so you have to be able to adapt. Added to that, the curriculum is always changing, and there are always new ideas and approaches – there isn’t just one way to teach, there are lots, and you can copy, adapt, share. That creates a sense of collaboration within the department – it’s everyone working together as a team.”
It’s the same with training, which is frequently available. When a member of staff at Coombe School receives continuous professional development (CPD), they are invited to share what they have learnt with other teachers in their department. Dixon says: “As a newly qualified teacher, that was particularly great, because not only did I benefit from other teachers’ experiences, I was able to tell teachers that were far more experienced than me something new.”
“Everyone in the school is working towards the same goals and supporting each other,” Dixon concludes. “That works brilliantly for everyone.”
Case study: Sarah Davy
Sarah Davy is a science teacher at Rivers Academy in West London. She studied pharmacology at Newcastle University.
I loved science. I was passionate about it. However, I never really made the connection that it was something I wanted to teach.
Before I came into teaching, I thought everything was planned out – that teachers were told ‘lesson one will be on cells’ and so on. I now realise how much freedom you have to explore and throw your own personality into your teaching.
Sometimes in lessons – particularly with Years 7 and 8 – you will be telling a child something for the first time. They have never heard it before. For example, they might have no concept of the planets, or what gravity is. You just don’t get that in other jobs. I didn’t expect the long hours in the first year. It’s hard work. But if you put in the effort, I feel like I’ve been rewarded with my classes in what they’ve given back to me.
Science is an explorative subject. Within a 50-minute lesson, students can go from knowing absolutely nothing about, say, the way rocks are made, to thinking, actually, I do know how sedimentary metamorphic and igneous rock are made.
They might not know it in much detail – but they get to leave with what they do know, and I think that does a lot for their self-esteem.
I mentor a trainee teacher in the school. It’s really nice to get together to discuss how school is going.
We can help each other. I have my own mentor too, who is the deputy head of the school. We have meetings every two weeks where we discuss my progress and things I need help with, and we work through them together.
There’s a support network within the school.
I hope my students leave my classes feeling as though they’ve understood the work, as well as enjoying the day and the practical work they’ve undertaken.
My first day
Clare Benton left a career in computing to become a maths teacher. She works at Greenford High School in West London.
“Suddenly, it was my responsibility to make sure children not only learnt but also enjoyed my subject. That was exciting, but there was fear too. I remember thinking; will they listen? Will I be able to do this? It’s a fascinating journey, learning how to communicate knowledge.
For me, teaching is about helping students feel secure. On my first day, I wanted to show them all that they can do maths, even if they think they can't.
It’s about making sure they’ve learnt – and to do that, you need to reflect on your practice.”
Source: Independent.co.uk, Thursday 17th May 2012
It dawns on you that you could inspire somebody else. I could have a student who, in a few years, remembers my Spanish lessons and feels like they meant something.”
These words will resonate with teachers everywhere. While there are many reasons to choose a classroom career, the rewards are more than financial. As Dixon says: “You get out what you put in – especially when it comes to the kids.”
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, one of the largest teachers’ unions, describes teaching as “a career for those who are committed to doing the very best for young people, supporting them to achieve their full potential.”
Pay and conditions reflect the importance of and respect for the profession. “Young people are entitled to be taught by those who are recognised and rewarded as highly-skilled professionals and have working conditions that enable them to focus on their core role of teaching and learning,” says Keates.
UK teachers begin on an average salary of £23,010, with those in inner London starting on £27,000. These figures compare favourably with average starting salaries for other graduate jobs, which range between £17,720 and £23,335. Further down the line, classroom teachers earn an average of £34,400 a year. It isn’t difficult to see why Lin Hinnigan, CEO of the Teaching Agency, believes there’s “never been a better time to teach”.
“There are lots of opportunities for progression early on too,” says Dixon, adding that these career development opportunities may not always be based on your tenure, but on “how good a teacher you are and how ambitious”.
He is a case in point: just two years into teaching, Dixon is moving into a role as head of Spanish.
“Compared to friends who graduated at the same time as me, I have progressed faster up the ladder in terms of responsibility and management,” Dixon notes. “And, because languages are a shortage area in teaching, I got a bursary to train as a teacher.”
Impressive bursaries and scholarships are still available for high quality graduates. Those starting Initial Teacher Training in 2012 can apply for tax-free bursaries of up to £20,000.
Nothing is guaranteed, but as a trained teacher you currently enjoy good employment prospects. Latest data shows that nine out of 10 newly qualified teachers who want to teach found teaching jobs in the first 12 months.
Most of all, teachers talk of the variety of the job. “You have to think on your feet,” says Dixon. “Even when you’ve planned a lesson carefully, you don’t know how a class is going to react, so you have to be able to adapt. Added to that, the curriculum is always changing, and there are always new ideas and approaches – there isn’t just one way to teach, there are lots, and you can copy, adapt, share. That creates a sense of collaboration within the department – it’s everyone working together as a team.”
It’s the same with training, which is frequently available. When a member of staff at Coombe School receives continuous professional development (CPD), they are invited to share what they have learnt with other teachers in their department. Dixon says: “As a newly qualified teacher, that was particularly great, because not only did I benefit from other teachers’ experiences, I was able to tell teachers that were far more experienced than me something new.”
“Everyone in the school is working towards the same goals and supporting each other,” Dixon concludes. “That works brilliantly for everyone.”
Case study: Sarah Davy
Sarah Davy is a science teacher at Rivers Academy in West London. She studied pharmacology at Newcastle University.
I loved science. I was passionate about it. However, I never really made the connection that it was something I wanted to teach.
Before I came into teaching, I thought everything was planned out – that teachers were told ‘lesson one will be on cells’ and so on. I now realise how much freedom you have to explore and throw your own personality into your teaching.
Sometimes in lessons – particularly with Years 7 and 8 – you will be telling a child something for the first time. They have never heard it before. For example, they might have no concept of the planets, or what gravity is. You just don’t get that in other jobs. I didn’t expect the long hours in the first year. It’s hard work. But if you put in the effort, I feel like I’ve been rewarded with my classes in what they’ve given back to me.
Science is an explorative subject. Within a 50-minute lesson, students can go from knowing absolutely nothing about, say, the way rocks are made, to thinking, actually, I do know how sedimentary metamorphic and igneous rock are made.
They might not know it in much detail – but they get to leave with what they do know, and I think that does a lot for their self-esteem.
I mentor a trainee teacher in the school. It’s really nice to get together to discuss how school is going.
We can help each other. I have my own mentor too, who is the deputy head of the school. We have meetings every two weeks where we discuss my progress and things I need help with, and we work through them together.
There’s a support network within the school.
I hope my students leave my classes feeling as though they’ve understood the work, as well as enjoying the day and the practical work they’ve undertaken.
My first day
Clare Benton left a career in computing to become a maths teacher. She works at Greenford High School in West London.
“Suddenly, it was my responsibility to make sure children not only learnt but also enjoyed my subject. That was exciting, but there was fear too. I remember thinking; will they listen? Will I be able to do this? It’s a fascinating journey, learning how to communicate knowledge.
For me, teaching is about helping students feel secure. On my first day, I wanted to show them all that they can do maths, even if they think they can't.
It’s about making sure they’ve learnt – and to do that, you need to reflect on your practice.”
Source: Independent.co.uk, Thursday 17th May 2012
Wednesday 16 May 2012
Two-thirds of Employers Plan to Hire University Graduates in 2012
As the university year draws to a close, a promising new survey, from CareerBuilder.co.uk, shows university graduates can expect up to 20% higher starting salaries than they did in 2011. Finding that dream role could be less demanding too with 17% of employers saying they are planning to recruit more graduates this year than last.
Six in ten employers are planning to hire new graduates this year and more than half (53% ) plan to hire up to 10 graduates while 29% are planning on taking on 11 to 50.
“It is encouraging to see that the majority of employers plan to add recent university graduates to their companies this year,” said Tony Roy, President of CareerBuilder EMEA.
“Employers across the UK are placing a strong emphasis on recruiting fresh talent for positions designed to drive revenue - and in certain areas -- they’re willing to pay more for high-skill, educated labour.”
The online job site surveyed 100 employers across the UK and companies that are particularly keen to recruit recent university graduates include Information Technology (37%), Sales (28%), Business Development (27%) and Marketing (25%).
Employers are looking for a variety of skills from recent university graduates but strong written and verbal communications top the list with 65% of employers looking for these followed by technical skills (42%) and Math skills(40%).
Tony Roy has some top tips to share with new graduates:
You may have more experience than you realise – While recent university grads are likely to highlight internships and part-time jobs on their CVs, they may not know that many employers will consider course work (43 %), managing activities in university clubs and societies (42%), volunteer work (40%) and part-time work in another area or field (40%) as relevant experience.
Make social media your friend, not foe – One in ten employers (13%) would also consider social media (personal or school-related blogs, social networking pages) to qualify as relevant experience. However, before you start to apply for positions, remove any photos, content and links that can work against you in an employer’s eyes.
Be respectful of the interviewer’s time – More than half of employers (57%) reported that the recent university graduate acted bored during the interview while nearly half (48%) said the graduate came to the interview with no questions about the company. Forty-two per cent of employers reported a recent university graduate did not turn his/her mobile phone off during a job interview. It’s important to show enthusiasm for the job, arrive prepared and leave the mobile phone at home.
Source: Onrec.com, Wednesday 16th May 2012
Six in ten employers are planning to hire new graduates this year and more than half (53% ) plan to hire up to 10 graduates while 29% are planning on taking on 11 to 50.
“It is encouraging to see that the majority of employers plan to add recent university graduates to their companies this year,” said Tony Roy, President of CareerBuilder EMEA.
“Employers across the UK are placing a strong emphasis on recruiting fresh talent for positions designed to drive revenue - and in certain areas -- they’re willing to pay more for high-skill, educated labour.”
The online job site surveyed 100 employers across the UK and companies that are particularly keen to recruit recent university graduates include Information Technology (37%), Sales (28%), Business Development (27%) and Marketing (25%).
Employers are looking for a variety of skills from recent university graduates but strong written and verbal communications top the list with 65% of employers looking for these followed by technical skills (42%) and Math skills(40%).
Tony Roy has some top tips to share with new graduates:
You may have more experience than you realise – While recent university grads are likely to highlight internships and part-time jobs on their CVs, they may not know that many employers will consider course work (43 %), managing activities in university clubs and societies (42%), volunteer work (40%) and part-time work in another area or field (40%) as relevant experience.
Make social media your friend, not foe – One in ten employers (13%) would also consider social media (personal or school-related blogs, social networking pages) to qualify as relevant experience. However, before you start to apply for positions, remove any photos, content and links that can work against you in an employer’s eyes.
Be respectful of the interviewer’s time – More than half of employers (57%) reported that the recent university graduate acted bored during the interview while nearly half (48%) said the graduate came to the interview with no questions about the company. Forty-two per cent of employers reported a recent university graduate did not turn his/her mobile phone off during a job interview. It’s important to show enthusiasm for the job, arrive prepared and leave the mobile phone at home.
Source: Onrec.com, Wednesday 16th May 2012
Tuesday 15 May 2012
Professional and Career Development Loans – what’s the deal?
The future is looking bleak for this year’s graduates. With youth unemployment at a record high, the number of university leavers dashing in the direction of post-graduate study has risen sharply.
It’s normal for people to seek further qualifications in an economic downturn, but this time it coincides with rapid price-rises for Masters programmes and cuts to funding bodies, which are making scholarship money increasingly hard to come by. One of the few options available to those who don’t have parents with the necessary funds is to take out a Professional and Career Development Loan, a bank loan which the government (or the Skills Funding Agency to be precise) pays the interest on until you finish your course.
PCDLs, as they’re known, are available from the Co-op and Barclays to people between the ages of 18 and 69 who wish to undertake further training or education – that means any approved part-time, full-time, or distance learning course that lasts up to two years (three years, if the course involves a year of work experience). You can take out between £300 and £10,000 and you pay it back at a fixed interest rate of 9.9 per cent per annum over a period of one to five years, previously agreed with your bank.
The loan can be used to pay up to 80 per cent of your course fees, or 100 per cent if you’ve been unemployed for three months. Once your course is over, you have one month to find work before the repayments start. In the current climate, that is no mean feat.
Greg Davies, 24, took out the full £10,000 in 2010 to fund his Masters in Occupational Psychology at Manchester University’s Business School. As his course neared its end, Greg began frantically searching for work.
“I was just really lucky and a week after finishing my Masters I started a job. For a bit it looked like I wasn’t going to find work in time, but it was just a case of perseverance. I applied to everything and anything. I wasn’t picky in the slightest.”
His job was as a researcher in the employee relations research team of a market research company and, although he thinks the loan worked for him, he’s keen to stress that it’s not a decision to be taken lightly: “You need to be 100 per cent certain that you’re going to find work and can afford the repayments, especially if you’re taking out the full amount.”
Some don’t get lucky so quickly and Andrew Wilson, 24, who also took out the full £10,000, didn’t find a job immediately after finishing his Masters in International Relations from the LSE. Upon graduation he was offered a sought-after internship in Brussels which, although paid, wasn’t going to leave him with enough money to start repayments of just over £200 per month. Under certain special circumstances, both Barclays and the Co-op will allow you to delay or lower your repayments, on condition that you discuss the matter with them before you are due to start repaying the loan. Such circumstances include being unemployed and claiming benefits, or being on a government training programme.
“It’s actually more flexible than it seems,” says Andrew. “Considering the economic climate they’re aware that graduates are finding it very hard to find jobs, especially ones where they can pay back £200 per month.” Andrew rang his bank and explained his situation. They allowed him to lower his repayments to £100 per month, subject to review every three months. “I was nervous about talking to them and I thought I was going to have to haggle and get it down, but they were actually really understanding.” Now Andrew has a job working for the Civil Service and has started making his repayments in full.
“I think the main thing to say is that you need to know what you want to do and that you’ve researched how the course will benefit you,” says Francesca Turner, a careers advisor at the National Careers Advice Service. “For some students who’ve recently finished undergraduate study it can be tempting to fall back into the comfort of education, bypassing experience. There’s no point doing a course unless you’ve researched where it’s going to take you and you’ve asked whether it’s best to get a bit of experience first of all.”
She stresses that it’s vital to assure yourself that the course you’re considering is recognised, something the National Careers Advice Service can help you with. There’s no point getting into debt doing a course that won’t help you find the job you’re looking for.
“You should also make sure you’ve exhausted all other possible sources of funding before taking out a loan,” adds Francesca.
Don’t be fooled – a PCDL is a bank loan and, although the government pays the interest on it while you’re studying, once you’ve graduated it’s just like any other commercial loan.
“In an ideal world we’d all get funding from elsewhere,” she says. Possible sources of funding include universities (which sometimes offer discounts to students who did undergraduate qualifications with them), charitable organisations, research councils and professional bodies relating to your chosen course of study.
“The funding that’s available can be very specific to the course you’re looking to do, so it’s best to speak to a career advisor who can inform you of your options,” she says.
“I would recommend a PCDL if there’s no other way of doing it,” says Andrew. “It’s helpful, but taking on such a large amount of debt on a commercial basis is scary and the repayments might seem very high initially.” But, he adds, there are up sides to this. “In a way, what’s good about it is that it puts the responsibility on you to make the right decision and make a sound investment. Because that’s what it is - an investment. You’ve got to ask yourself whether you’re going to maximise the return on your investment and if you’re not, it’s a lot of money to waste.”
Greg says that the repayments don’t have to be seen as terrifying: “I factor in the repayments to my monthly outgoings, so I think of it as another tax. It’s 50 per cent of my monthly rent (in London), so if I didn’t have to make the repayments I would have a nicer flat and be able to do more things, but at the same time I might not have got such a good job if I hadn’t done my Masters, so swings and roundabouts.”
Overall, the advice is to be careful. “If it hadn’t been for the availability of Professional and Career Development Loans I wouldn’t have been able to do a Masters,” says Greg. “I just didn’t have that money and nobody could have lent it to me. But you need to be aware of the effect it’s going to have. You’ll be paying it off for five years, so you need to be prepared.”
Source: Frances Perraudin, Independent.co.uk, Monday 14th May 2012
PCDLs, as they’re known, are available from the Co-op and Barclays to people between the ages of 18 and 69 who wish to undertake further training or education – that means any approved part-time, full-time, or distance learning course that lasts up to two years (three years, if the course involves a year of work experience). You can take out between £300 and £10,000 and you pay it back at a fixed interest rate of 9.9 per cent per annum over a period of one to five years, previously agreed with your bank.
The loan can be used to pay up to 80 per cent of your course fees, or 100 per cent if you’ve been unemployed for three months. Once your course is over, you have one month to find work before the repayments start. In the current climate, that is no mean feat.
Greg Davies, 24, took out the full £10,000 in 2010 to fund his Masters in Occupational Psychology at Manchester University’s Business School. As his course neared its end, Greg began frantically searching for work.
“I was just really lucky and a week after finishing my Masters I started a job. For a bit it looked like I wasn’t going to find work in time, but it was just a case of perseverance. I applied to everything and anything. I wasn’t picky in the slightest.”
His job was as a researcher in the employee relations research team of a market research company and, although he thinks the loan worked for him, he’s keen to stress that it’s not a decision to be taken lightly: “You need to be 100 per cent certain that you’re going to find work and can afford the repayments, especially if you’re taking out the full amount.”
Some don’t get lucky so quickly and Andrew Wilson, 24, who also took out the full £10,000, didn’t find a job immediately after finishing his Masters in International Relations from the LSE. Upon graduation he was offered a sought-after internship in Brussels which, although paid, wasn’t going to leave him with enough money to start repayments of just over £200 per month. Under certain special circumstances, both Barclays and the Co-op will allow you to delay or lower your repayments, on condition that you discuss the matter with them before you are due to start repaying the loan. Such circumstances include being unemployed and claiming benefits, or being on a government training programme.
“It’s actually more flexible than it seems,” says Andrew. “Considering the economic climate they’re aware that graduates are finding it very hard to find jobs, especially ones where they can pay back £200 per month.” Andrew rang his bank and explained his situation. They allowed him to lower his repayments to £100 per month, subject to review every three months. “I was nervous about talking to them and I thought I was going to have to haggle and get it down, but they were actually really understanding.” Now Andrew has a job working for the Civil Service and has started making his repayments in full.
“I think the main thing to say is that you need to know what you want to do and that you’ve researched how the course will benefit you,” says Francesca Turner, a careers advisor at the National Careers Advice Service. “For some students who’ve recently finished undergraduate study it can be tempting to fall back into the comfort of education, bypassing experience. There’s no point doing a course unless you’ve researched where it’s going to take you and you’ve asked whether it’s best to get a bit of experience first of all.”
She stresses that it’s vital to assure yourself that the course you’re considering is recognised, something the National Careers Advice Service can help you with. There’s no point getting into debt doing a course that won’t help you find the job you’re looking for.
“You should also make sure you’ve exhausted all other possible sources of funding before taking out a loan,” adds Francesca.
Don’t be fooled – a PCDL is a bank loan and, although the government pays the interest on it while you’re studying, once you’ve graduated it’s just like any other commercial loan.
“In an ideal world we’d all get funding from elsewhere,” she says. Possible sources of funding include universities (which sometimes offer discounts to students who did undergraduate qualifications with them), charitable organisations, research councils and professional bodies relating to your chosen course of study.
“The funding that’s available can be very specific to the course you’re looking to do, so it’s best to speak to a career advisor who can inform you of your options,” she says.
“I would recommend a PCDL if there’s no other way of doing it,” says Andrew. “It’s helpful, but taking on such a large amount of debt on a commercial basis is scary and the repayments might seem very high initially.” But, he adds, there are up sides to this. “In a way, what’s good about it is that it puts the responsibility on you to make the right decision and make a sound investment. Because that’s what it is - an investment. You’ve got to ask yourself whether you’re going to maximise the return on your investment and if you’re not, it’s a lot of money to waste.”
Greg says that the repayments don’t have to be seen as terrifying: “I factor in the repayments to my monthly outgoings, so I think of it as another tax. It’s 50 per cent of my monthly rent (in London), so if I didn’t have to make the repayments I would have a nicer flat and be able to do more things, but at the same time I might not have got such a good job if I hadn’t done my Masters, so swings and roundabouts.”
Overall, the advice is to be careful. “If it hadn’t been for the availability of Professional and Career Development Loans I wouldn’t have been able to do a Masters,” says Greg. “I just didn’t have that money and nobody could have lent it to me. But you need to be aware of the effect it’s going to have. You’ll be paying it off for five years, so you need to be prepared.”
Source: Frances Perraudin, Independent.co.uk, Monday 14th May 2012
Monday 14 May 2012
Pharmaceutical graduate gets business bug
A Sunderland PhD graduate has swapped her lab coat for her new business, aimed at promoting the North East.
Donna Petch, 30, studied a BSc in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and completed a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at Sunderland University before moving to Leeds, where she worked at St James’s Hospital and Leeds University in Cancer Research.
Fast forward three years and Donna, from Roker, moved back to her home town where she set up The North East HUB. Donna contacted the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) for advice and courses on how to start her business. Donna explains:
“I came back to the North East initially to get a job as a chemist and be closer to my family, I missed my home town. In the meantime I wondered if I could find something to occupy my time that I both enjoyed and was good at. I came up with the inspiration of helping to promote the North East with an online organisation, using social media, blogs, tutorials and much more and it was from this that The North East HUB was born.”
“The BIC have been fantastic I have learnt a lot; not only about how to promote myself but I have learnt about marketing strategies, and the actual launching of my business.”
Jo Sinclair, Business Support Officer, commented:
“It is always rewarding to see people reap the benefits of being hard working and having a can do attitude. The most favourite part of my job is seeing people succeed in their dreams of becoming their own boss. Donna’s business has gone from strength to strength in a short period of time and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for The North East HUB.”
The North East HUB launched earlier this year and already has a variety of businesses, events and more being promoted on the blog site every week. Most recently Donna helped local singer Jason Isaacs with his successful campaign to win a record contract. Jason said:
“Donna and The North East HUB have been really supportive in helping to promote our gigs and raise our profile in the area. She is a quite inspirational in her energy, passion and the innovative ways in which she engages the public, we are extremely grateful to have her fighting our corner!”
In the near future Donna will be helping Jason to promote his first single as well as working with Roger Armstrong promoting his new sci-fi film which is being filmed in the North East.
Donna adds: “If I could give one piece of advice to anyone wanting to start their own business is to just do it, especially if it is something you enjoy and have a passion for.”
Source: Bdaily.co.uk, Monday 14th May 2012
Donna Petch, 30, studied a BSc in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and completed a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at Sunderland University before moving to Leeds, where she worked at St James’s Hospital and Leeds University in Cancer Research.
Fast forward three years and Donna, from Roker, moved back to her home town where she set up The North East HUB. Donna contacted the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) for advice and courses on how to start her business. Donna explains:
“I came back to the North East initially to get a job as a chemist and be closer to my family, I missed my home town. In the meantime I wondered if I could find something to occupy my time that I both enjoyed and was good at. I came up with the inspiration of helping to promote the North East with an online organisation, using social media, blogs, tutorials and much more and it was from this that The North East HUB was born.”
“The BIC have been fantastic I have learnt a lot; not only about how to promote myself but I have learnt about marketing strategies, and the actual launching of my business.”
Jo Sinclair, Business Support Officer, commented:
“It is always rewarding to see people reap the benefits of being hard working and having a can do attitude. The most favourite part of my job is seeing people succeed in their dreams of becoming their own boss. Donna’s business has gone from strength to strength in a short period of time and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for The North East HUB.”
The North East HUB launched earlier this year and already has a variety of businesses, events and more being promoted on the blog site every week. Most recently Donna helped local singer Jason Isaacs with his successful campaign to win a record contract. Jason said:
“Donna and The North East HUB have been really supportive in helping to promote our gigs and raise our profile in the area. She is a quite inspirational in her energy, passion and the innovative ways in which she engages the public, we are extremely grateful to have her fighting our corner!”
In the near future Donna will be helping Jason to promote his first single as well as working with Roger Armstrong promoting his new sci-fi film which is being filmed in the North East.
Donna adds: “If I could give one piece of advice to anyone wanting to start their own business is to just do it, especially if it is something you enjoy and have a passion for.”
Source: Bdaily.co.uk, Monday 14th May 2012
Sunday 13 May 2012
Adopt an Intern promoted in the Highlands by graduates
Two graduate interns have been recruited in the Highlands to spread the word about a nationwide Adopt an Intern programme that offers unemployed graduates paid work experience.
Eilidh Finlayson and Gemma Gentles have begun a paid three-month internship to promote the programme and help attract graduates and interested organisations.
Adopt an Intern was created by the Centre for Scottish Public Policy (CSPP), an independent think-tank, in January 2010. The programme gained Scottish Government funding in March of that year.
However, these two new internships have been made possible by the Highland Council through an Innovation Challenge Grant of just under £10,000 for which the programme successfully applied.
The council agreed to supply desk space for the graduates, as well as some useful guidance from its staff in the planning and development service department.
The graduate interns are busy meeting with key public agencies and businesses across the region to encourage them to employ a graduate for a minimum of three months and up to one year.
The Adopt an Intern team are dispersed throughout Scotland. They provide a free recruitment and shortlisting service to help make the process as cost-effective as possible for the host organisation.
To date, they have placed 153 graduates, 12 of them in the Highlands and islands.
The interns have already met careers service staff at the University of the Highlands and Islands and all UHI graduates will be advised of the opportunities presented by the programme.
Eilidh and Gemma are both graduates of Edinburgh University.
Eilidh said: “Having been looking for graduate employment in the Highlands, where I was born and brought up, I have experienced how few opportunities there are for graduates and how difficult it is to get a job close to home.
“To find a job, graduates first need experience in the workplace and the Adopt an Intern programme provides this important opportunity, as well as promoting a paid internship culture in Scotland.”
Gemma said: “It would be great if public agencies and private businesses take part in the programme and help job-seeking Highland graduates gain vital work experience near their homes, keeping local talent local.
“The programme has already witnessed the positive benefit this brings to local businesses and organisations alike. Our own internship is much appreciated and will give Eilidh and I important experience in project management.”
The council’s director of planning and development, Stuart Black, said: “The Highland Council recognises the challenge of graduate unemployment at the current time.
“The Adopt an Intern programme is an important way of tackling this issue and we were pleased to support the CSPP with their project in the Highlands.”
Source: Pressandjournal.co.uk, Friday 11th May 2012
Saturday 12 May 2012
Internships: with age comes the search for experience
The number of interns over 25 is rising, but while maturity brings expertise – and benefits the economy – apprentices face a number of age-related issues.
A tuft of grey chest hair pokes out of the top of Alan Kean's stripey shirt. It catches my eye as we drink tea amid the deafening chatter and the expensive fig trees in Portcullis House where Alan, 55, is six months into life as a parliamentary intern.
In recent months there has been much gnashing of teeth over young people flooding into these positions, unpaid or poorly paid, with scant observation of working rights, desperate to get a foot on the career ladder. That has left little room for discussion around a lesser-known trend: of the 457,200 apprentice positions started in 2010-11 in the UK, 182,100 were started by people aged 25 or over, according to the Data Service. Five years ago, only 300 people aged 25 or older took up these roles.
Of the overall rise between 2006-7 and 2010-11, 68% were in the 25-plus age group, according to the National Audit Office (NAO); an increase it attributes to Tony Blair's government, which, in 2003, widened the age eligibility criteria for government-funded, private company-run apprenticeships to include over 25s.
Many people presume that interning, or being an apprentice (the two are used almost interchangeably) is for graduates or school leavers only and the newly-launched National Careers Service doesn't disabuse would-be applicants of that notion.
Jobs websites bring up advert after advert seeking "ambitious graduates" with a "work hard, play hard attitude" to fill numerous unpaid or minimum-wage internships and apprenticeships – wording that barely complies with age-discrimination law and makes plain the cultural advantage younger, cheaper applicants have over older ones. Part of the problem is that the National Apprenticeships Service pays up to 100% of the training cost of placements taken by 16-18 year olds, and up to 50% for ages 19-24, but makes only an unspecified "contribution" for placements taken by those aged 25 or over.
"The impression is that the government doesn't provide routes for older people like that. We know there's no such thing as a job for life anymore, but culturally, we're yet to develop that broader attitude," says Rosemary Thomas, a research assistant at the Work Foundation, previously a work psychologist at Jobcentre Plus.
"At Jobcentre Plus I worked with lots of long-term unemployed, or over-25s that hadn't worked out what they wanted to do. An apprenticeship or internship would have been a perfect solution for them, but it was so hard to come across anything. We tended to guide them down the voluntary route."
What kind of people make "mature interns"? A Leicestershire boy who left school with no qualifications, Kean fell into hotel work and meandered through "low administrative level" jobs in the NHS and the local branch of the Department for Work and Pensions, later working in the community football stadium in Doncaster where he and his wife relocated, before moving again to London. After a short employment contract with Harrods, he worked as a volunteer with Locog interviewing other potential Olympics volunteers. Then he saw that the Social Mobility Foundation was offering nine-month internships working for parliamentarians, paying £17,500 for that period.
"I did wonder if I was too old to apply because most interns are 18-25, aren't they?" says Kean. "Once upon a time someone like me would be at the end of their working life. But I'm not ready to lie down," he adds. "Like most working-class people I've not had a career, but I've shown in my work that I can do almost anything – I'm flexible and the labour market has a need for that. Being stuck in a rut is a luxury of years gone by. The more strings you have to your bow, the easier it should be to find paid work."
The forthcoming rise in retirement age makes refreshing your skills and competitiveness important. And while older interns and apprentices are doing that, they're providing the UK taxpayer with value for money. In a February 2012 report, scrutinising the government's apprenticeship programme, the NAO found that its advanced and intermediate apprenticeship models produce returns of respectively £21 and £16 for every pound of public funding they receive (the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills estimates those returns at respectively £24 and £35, using a different calculation).
At 27, Ben Harford is an older intern, one of many thousands trying to break into the creative industries, where, though much criticised, poorly-paid internships are all but mandatory. Redundancy last Christmas brought a small sum of cash that Ben ploughed into a career change, retraining from public sector administration to graphic design. A Gumtree advertisement led him to a full-time internship designing sponsorship collateral for a Premiership football club. The commute costs him £500 a month, taking up most of his minimum-wage salary, and he relies on his girlfriend's income to shore up their living expenses.
The work is enjoyable, says Ben, but could end at any time. "It was meant to be six weeks, but it always gets extended for another week, another two weeks … they keep their cards close to their chest, so you're always in limbo," he says. "In this industry you've got to earn your stripes by working for not much money. Even junior positions expect one year's experience. So you've got to start with an internship." His fellow interns, most of whom graduated last summer, "have rich boyfriends or live at home rent-free – they can enjoy being 21 and survive on the minimum wage with their parents' backup. They don't have the responsibilities I've got."
But it can work. Mike Mann was 39 when he joined Pricewaterhouse Coopers' Headstart scheme in 2007 – its equivalent to a graduate scheme, but for those without many formal qualifications – leaving behind a long-established career in sound production. Apprentices are paid a salary to work full-time and study for their accounting qualifications.
He now manages audits for the businesses he was attached to when he started. "I was fed up working in an environment where we were incredibly experienced technically and commercially, but had no real business understanding. I wanted to understand what makes businesses succeed and felt strongly that I needed a mixture of hands-on work and formal training," says Mann. "It was very daunting at first, but being in an environment where everyone is enthusiastic about learning is so refreshing."
He adds that one of his oddest apprenticeship experiences was revising for exams at the kitchen table alongside his daughters who were studying for their GCSEs and AS levels: "Not what you expect to be doing at 40."
The Headstart scheme pays between £16,000 and £20,000. Can an older apprentice survive on that? "This has been the hardest part, but in less than five years I'm back to a healthy salary and over the next few years it will easily surpass what I could have earned before changing career," Mann says.
The NAO report says that completing an advanced apprenticeship is associated with raising earning power by 18%, and completing an intermediate internship raises salaries by 11%.
The cultural barrier to older people accessing these positions remains strong. Some think employers presume they will want too much money, defend their workers' rights too strongly or even show them up professionally. "Employers might be put off because they think they'll expect lots of money, but they might have come out of a well-paid career and aren't motivated by money any more," says Rosemary Thomas.
Kean, the oldest participant on the parliamentary interns scheme, agrees. "So many MPs and their interns have no expertise and haven't worked anywhere else, so I've brought in some procedures here to make things run smoothly," he says. "But I think some employers might be intimidated by someone a bit older with a mind of their own like that. We're more likely to stand up for ourselves, while young workers are new to the workplace and don't know what's expected of them – which is why they are abused."
The government intends to invest more in apprenticeships, and given the return on investment older participants appear to provide, it makes sense to give them more funding.
But Chris Ball, chief executive of The Age Employment Network, sees the cultural blockade at its strongest within the government's apprenticeship machinery. "There are huge issues around economic inactivity among older people, and the fact is the government has put far more energy into supporting young workers than older workers," he says.
"Older people need to feel there is somebody out there working for them, but they're just not a priority – they have to wait six months before they're allowed onto the Work Programme, in which time demoralisation and self-pity can set in. You'll look like a far better prospect to an employer if you're doing something like interning than if you're out of work."
Case study: the translator
Well travelled and multi-lingual, Marta Rodriguez, 34, is the epitome of the progressive European prepared for tomorrow's labour market. A BA twice over, and currently studying an online Master's degree as a mature student, she is highly experienced in translation work.
She is halfway through a six-month internship with a west London translation company, on a scheme operated by the European commission which aims to "help students to adapt to the requirements of the EU-wide labour market".
For Marta, it's a shrewd way to see how her translation clients work from the inside while getting paid. The position was advertised unpaid except for €500 for living costs. But Marta got lucky: her employers pay her £500 per month on top. "They're happy because I think they were expecting an intern with whom they had to spend a lot of time teaching and explaining things."
Marta is the agency's first intern and is seven years older than her manager.
"At the beginning they thought I'd be working on their database all day long, but I'm translating, I'm proof-reading translations from our freelance translators, and I'm about to do some project management," she explains.
"They weren't expecting me to be as experienced as I am or to know what I'm doing. They can rely on me and delegate things.
"I hadn't even thought about the possibility of being an intern before. I thought my employer Erasmus wouldn't accept me because of my age – that they might think 'oh, she must be a loser'," Marta admits.
"That's about my preconceptions – that there's an established way. You finish university, you do your internship, then you get a job, you get a better job and that is what you do with your life – so I thought that was how society would behave towards me."
Source: Melanie Stern, Guardian.co.uk, Friday 11th May 2012
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