University has been the top choice for students all over the UK for longer than we can remember, but is this down to its constant advertising by the government since university was...
Going to university or college if you’ve been in care – our top ten tips for success
Making a decision about university or college can be tricky, and there may be more to think about if you are care experienced. There are lots of misconceptions around so this guide will help you find out all you need. And if you need more information, you can read our information and advice for care experienced students.
1: There is financial support available to help care experienced students
Everyone worries about finances, but this shouldn’t be more of a concern for students with care experience than anyone else – in fact, there...
Starting a small online business whilst you’re a University student is a great way to start your journey into entrepreneurship and gain some first-hand experience on how the world of business works.
You don’t need vast amounts of financial backing to start a small online business, I started Protein Package with £300 of savings during my first year at University. We allow customers to pick and mix healthy snacks without needing to order large quantities of protein bars and be stuck with the same flavour for weeks on end.
Pick a niche that interests you
Firstly, the best place to start with your online business is to select a...
Though as the popularity of apprenticeships grows, now is a great time to refine your recruitment techniques to make sure you can hire quality apprentices when you need them. Here are some areas you could consider.
1. Multiple touch points
Younger people consume more content, use more social channels and are more likely to be hired as a result. When coupled with the relevant criteria on your job description – e.g. education level and brand enthusiasm – you’ll have your ‘warm candidate’.
If you tend to recruit at certain times of year, your costs will be lowered by generating a ‘warm candidate pool’ ahead of these times – so your ideal candidates will be ready to go. These apprentices tend to be less aware of your brand initially, but better advocates of it once they’re on board – often, even before formally starting in the role.
2. Optimise year-round recruitment
Another agile recruitment tactic is to check whether your data includes...
We’re talking about the awareness of your brand, your apprenticeships, the support you offer, and what it’s like to work in your organisation. School leavers need to know about these things from a younger age, so they can choose their subjects accordingly and consider apprenticeships alongside the other higher education options.
Bring your apprenticeship programmes to life
We know applicants have a much lower awareness of higher and degree apprenticeships than they do of traditional university and college learning experiences. So we’re working to raise awareness – providing students with information, advice, and guidance that makes it easier for them to consider the various options. This is something employers can help with too.
From social connections and brand awareness to job ads and recruitment events, there are many ways to showcase your apprenticeships. The more ways the better!
Our UCAS Media team can help you reach our student audience,...
The Guaranteed Offer for Care Experienced applicants in Scotland has been a welcome addition to the admissions landscape. Whilst many institutions have been offering adjusted offers for some time, in July 2019 the Guaranteed Offer was formally launched by Universities Scotland in an event co-hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University and Who Cares? Scotland. The Guaranteed Offer seeks to provide equality of access to degree-level study for those who have experience of the care system – there’s no upper age limit and therefore anyone who has experience of care at any point in their life is eligible. Who Cares? Scotland has produced a guide to the Guaranteed Offer which guide takes you through the principles of the policy as well as answering some frequently asked questions.
Creating an early talent pipeline through degree apprenticeships isn’t simply valuable, it’s the future.
With the government’s 2021 Skills for jobs white paper we have a strong indication that apprenticeships will play a key role in filling the digital skills shortage – and that employers will lead the way.
‘Training and qualifications must meet the needs of employers. We will achieve this by aligning the vast majority of post-16 technical education and training to employer-led standards by the end of the decade.’
1. You can make in-house apprenticeships extremely relevant to your organisation
If you’re willing to invest time and effort into engaging with the rules of running your own degree apprenticeships, you’ll see the extent to which you can embed your organisation’s goals into the programme.
Whether you’re suffering from skills shortages, or you need new energy and insight to transform an aspect of your business – degree apprenticeships are a great solution. You’ll be able to build a more diverse workforce and benefit from training that’s tailored to your business. And with funding from the apprenticeship levy, it’s a cost-effective recruitment solution.
2. There’s plenty of support to help you run apprenticeships in-house
The Care Leaver Covenant is a national inclusion programme for care leavers between the age of 16-25 in England. The Covenant is a promise made by the private, public and voluntary sectors to provide support for care leavers through 5 key areas: independent living; education, employment and training; safety and security, mental and physical health and finance.
The Covenant team works with organisations such as John Lewis, Amazon, Barnardo’s, Metro Bank and many others to find (or in some cases develop) and promote a variety of opportunities direct to the care leaving community.
These opportunities could take the shape of internships and employment, work experience or taster days, specialist bank accounts and access to employment support or CV workshops, for example. The Covenant may also be a resource to direct someone to an independent...
If you are care experienced and looking to apply to higher education, there are some key things to consider when choosing your university or college.
Does the institution have information on the support it provides for care experienced students on its website? This should include details of a designated person, or team, who are available to guide you and help with the transition to university. Will you receive any additional financial support? This might be a specific bursary or priority access to other funding. What about other services such as study skills or support for mental health and well-being? If you are planning to move, will you be able to stay in university accommodation all year round or will other support be available to help you find a good place to live? As well as the information available on UCAS, you can find details of many...