I started my journey as an 18 year old girl who had just completed her A levels but didn’t know what she wanted to do. At the time, I had two part-time jobs and had been studying IT and media. I found out about apprenticeships through school and looked further into them. I applied for tonnes of apprenticeships in IT as I thought this was the career path I wanted to take, but never heard back. By this time I had no idea what I was going to do and if I would ever find an apprenticeship. I thought I would try looking for a media apprenticeship and found one with a local company. I applied and got an interview, and afterwards I remember thinking ‘well I’m not going to get that job, better get home and apply for others’. There was actually...
Throughout my time at school, I was unsure about what I would do afterward. I knew that I wanted to go to university but had no idea as to what I would study, where I would study or what career I would take afterwards – it took three personal statements to determine which course I ultimately chose.
After attending a UCAS event in London, I found out about IBM and their ‘Futures’ gap-year scheme. Although, prior to this, I had very little knowledge of IBM, I did a little research on the company and decided to apply. As I had just been rejected by the University of Oxford – my first-choice university – I felt that this was the perfect opportunity to take a short break from academia and gain invaluable experience in a fast-growing industry, before re-applying to university.
Just over a year later, as I am reaching the end of my gap-year, I stand by this decision 100% and wholeheartedly believe that...
School leaver programmes give you a direct route into the world of work. They allow you to learn new skills, meet new people, and earn a wage while you’re learning. Not sure if it’s the right path for you? Ziyad, from PwC, shares his story.
Why did you choose the programme?
I’ve always wanted to work in the accounting profession. I attended university for one year, but realised it wasn’t the right path for me, so I left to join the apprenticeship programme at PwC. I saw the value in getting into the workplace sooner, and gaining practical, hands-on experience.
What have you gained from the experience so far?
I’m a qualified tax technician, and have gained practical...
I am an Accounting and Finance student at Leeds Beckett University and I am currently on a placement year as part of my 4-year sandwich course. Amongst other Universities, Leeds Beckett offered the opportunity to take a year out for a placement and this forms part of your final grade as it is classed as a final year module. This really appealed to me as not only will it allow me to gain exposure in a real business environment, but it would also be something different to studying and working in the classroom.
I am on a year’s Finance internship at Dowty Propellers which is a subsidiary of GE Aviation. My role is very versatile as I am involved in all areas of finance, so each day is different depending on what is...
Apprenticeships are a way to gain the skills, knowledge and experience you need to get into many careers. They combine work, training, and study, letting you 'earn while you learn'. Scott, from PwC, shares his story.
‘I joined PwC as a higher apprentice in August 2013, in the Reading People and Organisation Tax Team, straight from sixth form, having just turned 18. I was very nervous prior to starting, as I had no experience of working in a corporate environment, but realised soon that I didn’t need to be anxious. There is a really good support network of buddies, mentors, and coaches to help get you up to speed as to what your job involves. Even from early...
I study business management at the University of Chester, and graduate in 2020. While applying to university, I noticed many universities offered the courses with a ‘year in industry’ making it into a four-year course. This was something that really appealed to me as I was unsure what area of business I wanted to create a career in, so I thought gaining real-world business experience would give me more clarity on the different career paths I could take. It would also make me stand out from the crowd compared to other graduates, so doing a year in industry was a no-brainer for me!
Sport has always been my passion but when I graduated from the University of Brighton in 1996 with a degree in Sports Science, there were few opportunities to work in high performance sport. I therefore spent many years working in various jobs developing my management skills which included project management, relationship management and then when joining UCAS I added communications management to my skillset. All of which proved to be essential skills for a career in Elite Sport. After spending almost 3 years at UCAS, in 2014 I was fortunate enough to secure a job as a Paralympic Podium Road Coach with the Great Britain Cycling Team. I really enjoyed my first experience of high...
Open days are a great opportunity for you to get to know a conservatoire better. You get to see the facilities and they give you the chance to meet current students and staff so you can ask any burning questions. Before you attend one, make the most of your visit by following these four simple steps:
1.Make a shortlist – visiting every conservatoire might be a bit ambitious, so choose the ones that offer the course you’re interested in. There are eight conservatoires and all open days are listed on their website:
When filling in your application, one part you may need a little extra help with is entering your Nationals, Highers, and Advanced Highers. In this blog post, we’ve compiled some of your frequently asked questions, to help you complete this section!
Where do I find the option for SQA qualifications on the application?
Once you've added your school/college in the Education section, you'll have the option to ‘add qualifications'.
Type the name of your qualification into the search box, or select it from the shortlist if your school/college has created one. Advanced Highers and Highers also include the curriculum code, so you should be able to find the exact subject you’re taking.
Do I need to add my Highers on the UCAS application, even if I am taking Advanced Highers?
Yes, if you’ve taken a Higher, the unis want to see the grade you received. Even if Highers are not included in the course entry requirements, they will still add value to...
Apprenticeships offer the chance to earn while you learn, and get a qualification at the same time. You’ll also gain valuable work experience at some of the biggest companies!
Want to learn more? Check out the story of an apprentice at Framestore, an organisation who create scenes for some of Hollywood’s biggest pictures, such as Captain Marvel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Avengers: Infinity War, and the record breaking sequel, Avengers: Endgame.
‘When I was 11, I went and saw ‘The Avengers’ for the first time in the cinema with my brother. I was inspired so much by how things were created behind the scenes. From then I knew I always wanted to get into film, but more specifically visual effects.
‘Not being very academic and coming out of school with only two GCSEs (luckily, they were my English and maths), I stayed on at sixth form, unsure with what I...