Teach Secondary - Issue 13.2

study and work back from there. Are there any related apprenticeships students could pursue?Who are your local providers, and how can you work better with them? One route we’ve found to be successful for us is to make links with small local businesses who want college leavers they can train. While this doesn’t provide formal qualifications, it echoes the old apprenticeships model and can work very well. We’ve built relationships with a number of local businesses via our annual careers day. Students get to take part in initial meetings with businesses that are relaxed, but have previously resulted in employers later asking students to formally apply for work. Irrespective of whichever approaches may be right for your school and students, the key is to not see work as a second-class route, but rather as the high value option it is. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Hannah Day is head of art, media and film at Ludlow College TEACH SECONDARY SPECIAL CAREERS CASE STUDY 2: Amelia Sayce, apprenticeship Studied Graphic communication, English literature and sociology A Levels, 2020-2023 Career path Digital marketing apprenticeship, The Den Kit Company Why not university? “I’m a practical person, learning though doing. I completed some initial research into uni, as no one mentioned apprenticeships, but I knew I wanted to work.” Do you feel you made the right choice? “Yes, definitely. I visited a friend who’s at uni, and met people there doing the same thing as me, but not enjoying it – and not getting paid to do it.” What do you wish college had done to better support you? “It was only because my tutor talked about apprenticeships that I started looking into them. I’d have liked college to have given me more input with CV writing and what’s expected at job interviews. I also wish they’d talked to us about how pay works, and the paying of tax and pension contributions. Non-uni highlight so far? “The independence – being given design tasks for marketing and then seeing them online. I helped design the Christmas newsletter which was sent out to people working in PR.” Your personal top tip? “Get in touch with the training place first, even if they don’t have any jobs advertised. They can work with you to find the right placement.” For more information, visit thedenkitco.com Studied Photography, fine art and graphic communication A Levels, 2018-2020 Career path Founded his own Had Davies clothing and accessories business while still at college Why not university? “I went to uni for one week, but returned due to COVID leading to uncertainty around studio access. I knew I didn’t want to go, but had had no advice on freelancing and didn’t know what else to do.” What made you opt for university initially? “Everyone I knew was going to uni. I didn’t know there was another option. If you want to do arts, the pathways are very limited where I live.” What do you wish college had done to better support you? “Let me know that a non-uni route is a viable option. Options were either ‘go to uni’ or ‘do an apprenticeship’. Neither were right for me. A job with opportunities was what I would have liked. Something that offered career routes through experience. I didn’t know that being self-employed was something I wanted to do, but lockdown while I was still at college gave me so much time to work on my business. I found out what I wanted to do while I was doing it.” Non-uni highlight so far “Seeing my original pieces selling in both John Lewis and Battersea Power Station.” Your personal top tip? Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. Plus, online courses are a great – and more affordable – way to keep learning new skills. For more information, visit haddavies.co.uk CASE STUDY 1: Had Davies, Self-Employed 35 teachwire.net/secondary C A R E E R S