Employment and Voluntary Work

Employment

Employment or ‘work’ is one of the most important activities to plan for your adult life. Whether this is paid or voluntary there should be something suitable for you. Work helps people feel valued and good about themselves as they develop skills and knowledge, remain active, make friends and much more!

There are such a wide variety of jobs. You may be unsure about what is available or what opportunities are out there. Don’t worry, help is out there from agencies such as Career Connect or JobCentre Plus who can help you look for a job that is suitable. These agencies can help in:

Advice and Guidance
Job Search
CV Building and Application Forms
Interview Techniques
Interview Skills
Work Placements

You may need extra help and support to get into a job or whilst in work – don’t be put off, help can be provided. Contact a Career Adviser or JobCentre Plus for more information.

Apprenticeships

To get your career started you usually need a combination of experience and qualifications. An apprenticeship gives you both by combining on the job training with study (usually one day a week) meaning you can earn while you learn. With some apprenticeships you can even get a degree.
It usually takes between one and four years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which level you take. Apprenticeships are available across a wide range of industries and many high quality, prestigious companies offer them.
For more information and to apply for apprenticeships:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study.
As an apprentice you’ll:

work alongside experienced staff
gain job-specific skills
earn a wage and get holiday pay
study towards a related qualification (usually one day a week)

Apprenticeships take 1 to 4 years to complete depending on their level.
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Traineeships:

A traineeship is an education and training programme with work experience that unlocks the great potential of young people and prepares them for their future careers by helping them to become ‘work ready’.
Designed to help young people aged 16 to 24 who don’t yet have the appropriate skills or experience, traineeships provide the essential work preparation training, English, maths and work experience needed to secure an apprenticeship or employment.
For more information and to apply for Traineeships:
https://www.gov.uk/find-traineeship

Study Programme

Let’s take a look at what employers want from the perfect candidate. Will they assess you based on great exam results and solid technical skills? Of course this is a factor, but whilst these are key requirements of the job, employers know that young people can be moulded and taught technical skills.
Skills such as communication, attitude, and workplace etiquette and general likability are much harder skills to teach. When given the choice, an employer may be more likely to hire someone who has a well rounded skillset and is keen to learn, than someone who is very technically gifted and obviously capable, but is let down by poor employability skills.
This is where the study programme format comes in.
Participants will be taught these vital skills as well as your chosen technical and professional skills to bolster your job prospects, improve your employability and help you to land a job after their course. You’ll now have the chance to engage in personal and professional development as well as brushing up on your English and maths as part of your qualification.

Volunteering

There are thousands of projects across the UK looking for people to help them out.

NCS – National Citizenship Service

NCS is a great way to try out volunteering. At the end of the scheme there is a social action project that offers you the opportunity to give something back to your local community.
The National Citizenship Service gives young people aged 16 and 17 and all those in Years 11 and 12 the chance to go on short breaks and get work experience which can contribute towards UCAS statements and job applications.
This year’s scheme includes an outdoor pursuits adventure, a camping trip to Wirral Country Park and the planning and implementation of an important social action project in their local community.

Gateway Award

The Gateway Award is an awards programme for people with a learning disability, similar in structure to the Duke of Edinburgh Award. People access activities one day every week to achieve an award at the end of the year. It has been specifically designed for people with a learning disability and enables people of all abilities to develop new skills and achieve personal goals.
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