Weekly Information - Friday 28th April 2023

The following students celebrate their achievements with Mrs Cochrane this week, congratulations to them all!

On Monday 24th April, our U15 girls travelled over to Stafford town FC to compete the county football final against Deferrers school. We started exceptionally strong, and went 1-0 up within the first few minutes of the game. We let Deferrers back in and the score went to 1-1. After that JT went from strength to strength, scoring 4 more goals before half time. After our half time team talk, we wanted more goals, and the girls delivered smashing another 2 goals in. At the full time whistle, we had won 7-2! This group of students put on an unreal performance and we are so unbelievably proud of the history they have created. We hope this inspires our younger year groups for future years. A massive shout out to the team: Liv, Krystal, Manon, Mica, Mollie, Ruby, Ella, Eva, Faith, Evie, Abi, Seren, Orla, Rosie. 

We have another final approaching with our U14 team so hopefully we will have a similar outcome!! 

Personal Development 

Please see the information in the link below detailing the topics being covered in Personal Development during summer term 1 (April - May).

⭐Aspiring Doctors Day Event for Students ⭐ 

Good morning, 

We are emailing today from Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust to kindly ask if you could circulate the link below with students that are interested in a future career in medicine. 

On Monday 26^th June 2023 09:00-16:00 MPFT are hosting a FREE 1 day ‘Aspiring Doctors Event’ at Centre for Health Innovation , Staffordshire University, Blackheath Lane, Stafford, ST18 0YB. 

During the day the successful applicants will take part in interactive activities and hear presentations from Doctors within our Trust. They will also have the opportunity to network with Doctors and Junior Doctors throughout the day. 

Refreshments and lunch will be provided. 

Places are limited and there will be an application and shortlisting process. The application form can be accessed from the link or QR code within the flyer. 

Closing date for applications is Friday 28^th April 2023, we will contact successful candidates with further details closer to the date.

The Jaguar Land Rover Customer Service Assistant Apprenticeship

Based: Stafford

Deadline: 26th May

Job description:

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques. The company employs almost 38,000 people globally and supports around 275,000 more through our retailers, suppliers and local businesses.

We recognise the importance of identifying talented people to become the next generation of professional retailer employees and help us achieve our ambitious growth plans. We are looking for people who share our passion to join our highly successful Retailer Apprenticeship Programme.

The Jaguar Land Rover Customer Service Assistant Apprenticeship

The Jaguar Land Rover Retailer Apprenticeship Programme is geared toward training the right candidate to become a qualified Customer Service Assistant. But what does a Customer Service Assistant actually do?

A Customer Service Assistant deals directly with customers and acts as a go-between between the customer and Service Technicians/Mechanics, scheduling vehicle service work. They will handle administrative and customer relations aspects of service department operations. Some of the duties include:

• Interpreting customer concerns and comments and liaising with technicians
• Booking/scheduling vehicle services
• Liaising with customers about any additional work required
• Estimating time and costs associated with repairs
• Handling customer complaints
• Responding to customer requests
• Tracking the vehicle through the workshop

We are looking for an enthusiastic, hardworking individual to join our team and embark on a long-term career, with excellent earning and progression opportunities once you complete your apprenticeship.

Please note, the Customer Service Assistant role varies slightly by the employer based upon the specific needs within the location.

Training Provided

As well as employment in our retailer, you will be given the training and support you need to develop both personally and professionally.

Using a combination of classroom-based training, e-learning, practical training and application of learning, you will be guided by your trainers and personal mentor along to the road to success.

This apprenticeship combines off-the-job training with on-the-job learning, and you will be supported every step of the way.

(England)

On successful completion of the one-year programme you will receive the following:

• Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner Standard
• Jaguar Land Rover-specific certifications

(Scotland/ Wales/ Ireland)

On successful completion of the 15-month programme you will receive the following:

• Level 2/ 5 Customer Service Apprenticeship
• Jaguar Land Rover-specific certifications

Scottish and Welsh training groups are subject to minimum numbers signed up on a course. Please speak to your recruitment advisor for further information.

Desired skills

As the main point of contact with our customers, you will require exceptional communication skills with the ability to multitask.

Application numbers for the Jaguar Land Rover Retailer Apprenticeship Programme are high so we're looking for you to demonstrate why you stand out from the crowd.

We're not looking for the finished article; rather we want to identify those people that are ambitious and demonstrate a willingness to learn, who are excited by the prospect of working with our fantastic, technologically advanced vehicles and really engage in the recruitment process. Key personal skills to demonstrate include:

• A willingness to learn
• Teamwork
• Engineering interest
• Quality focus
• Personal responsibility and resilience

Minimum entry requirements

GCSE grades 9 – 4 (A – C) or equivalent in English, Maths and two other subjects are required.

In Scotland, applicants must have or be predicted to achieve Scottish National 5 Grades A – C or above in English, Maths and either a Science or Technical subject.

'Equivalent' grades include:

• BTEC first diplomas and certificates
• OCR Nationals
• Key Skills Level 2
• NVQs
• Essential Skills (Wales)
• Functional Skills Level 2
• Core Skills (Scotland)

We accept predicted grades and conditional offers can be made based on predicted grades.

Future Prospects

There are lots of opportunities to develop your career within our expanding Retailer Network. Once qualified, the earning potential for a Customer Service Assistant is between £20,000 and £30,000, so it is well worth considering the future opportunities that lay beyond the apprenticeship.

Your early development is carefully mapped through your Apprenticeship journey with your learning focused toward achieving an industry-recognised qualification. Embedded within your training are the Jaguar Land Rover global training materials. This is the grounding for your future development within the network and our Learner Management System, Excellence will guide you through your short, medium and long-term career path.

Further notes 

We understand the importance of diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, especially underrepresented groups such as female applicants or applicants from ethnic minorities.

If you can’t apply online, please contact us on 020 3897 3889.

Please do not contact the retailer. Inspiro Training are the main point of contact for this vacancy and carry out the full recruitment service for the Jaguar Land Rover network. Approaching the retailer directly will not always help your application.

Salary: £192 per week

Location of job: Stafford Land Rover

CMS is the 6th largest law firm in the world, with 78 offices in more than 40 countries. 

We believe that a career in law should be open to everyone, regardless of background. Therefore, we are delighted to be launching two programmes for Year 12 E&W/S5 Scotland/Year 13 NI students; CMS Law Scholarships and CMS Connect (work experience). 

Both programmes are for those from backgrounds which research shows are less likely to secure opportunities at prestigious firms/universities and are focused on improving access to the legal industry. 

New for 2023 - we will be hosting a live webinar on 11 May at 16:30. Come along, invite your students, their parents, and any other contacts to hear all about the two initiatives. Speak to programme alumni, learn how to ace applications, and find out how these opportunities could benefit you or your students. 

Sign up to the webinar here: https://meetandengage.com/cmsearlytalent 

CMS Law Scholarships 

Since 2012, we’ve helped some of the brightest and most creative legal minds launch their career through the CMS Law Scholarships programme. 

10 successful applicants will benefit from: 

• Financial support (up to £10,000) during their university studies
• Mentoring during their UCAS applications
• Career support from a trainee solicitor
• Paid work experience during their first year of University 

Eligibility

Scholarships are aimed students who will be the first generation in their family to go to university. There are also certain financial criteria that students need to meet. Full details of these and how to apply can be found on our dedicated Scholarships website: https://www.cmsearlytalent.com/programmes/law-scholarships/

To apply, you will need to submit an essay – the questions are on our website. 

CMS Connect (work experience) 

CMS is a founding member of PRIME, an organisation formed by various UK law firms committed to improving access to the legal profession.   

During the sustained programme of support, students will develop skills that all employers look out for, not just those in the legal profession. This happens through: 

• Paid work experience this summer (7th - 11th August 2023)
• Mentoring
• UCAS application skills workshop 

And much more! Successful applicants can also be spring-boarded to the CMS Solicitor Apprenticeship or undergraduate careers programmes. 

We will be running CMS Connect across our London, Bristol, Sheffield and Glasgow offices. 

To find out more, check eligibility and apply, visit: www.cmsearlytalent.com/programmes/work-experience/

Applications for both programmes opened 24 April 2023.  Applications close on: 

CMS Connect                   9 June 2023

CMS Law Scholarships   12 July 2023 

Please do share this information with any students, parents or careers advisors you think would be interested. Perhaps you could add it to your newsletters or careers bulletins. 

A presentation about both programmes and how to apply is attached. 

If you would like any more information or would like to speak to a member of our team, please do get in touch at [email protected]

London Med Schools Conference follow-up event

Wednesday 26 April 2023 at 16:00 – 17:00 

As part of the London Medical Schools Teachers and Advisors Conference, we are delivering an additional two events to provide further guidance to share with your students interested in medicine and healthcare.  The first of these bonus events is on the topic of Alternative Careers in Healthcare and is taking place virtually on Wednesday 26 April at 4 – 5pm.

During this event we will cover:

• The variety of careers available in healthcare.
• The experience of those involved in popular and lesser-known career pathways.
• Learn more about the graduate entry route into medicine.

This online event is free and also open to those who were unable to register/attend the main conference last month.  Please complete this short form to let us know that you would like to attend.

Please find attached job profile information for a Trainee Procurement Assistant position for which we are inviting suitable applicants. 

We would be grateful if you could circulate this document to any interested students coming towards the end of their time at A Level / BTEC learning, & looking for a full-time employment opportunity. The position is available for an immediate start, so we will be reviewing any applications upon receipt. 

We would also be happy to offer work experience placements for any students with a keen interest in construction, with the opportunity for full-time employment following this.

Apprenticeship Vacancy - Wabtec

Law & Energy Work Experience Day - London

South Staffs Water’s Young Innovators’ Panel

This is the second year of South Staffs Water’s Young Innovators’ Panel - an exciting opportunity for sixth formers to get involved in the running of one of the largest businesses in our region. Students will gain valuable work experience, working closely with senior executives at South Staffs Water to bring their views as young adults into the company’s decision-making process for the future.

We’re hand-picking 24 individuals from the students that apply to join the board, which will allow their voices to be heard at executive level and provide a unique opportunity for them to kickstart a career in the world of business. They must live in the South Staffs Water region to take part, and applications will be chosen based on suitability and to ensure a diverse panel of students representing all schools in the area.

Blue Marble is an independent market research agency facilitating this project. We abide by the Market Research Society code of conduct, which means that personal details of applicants will be protected during the project, and then destroyed afterwards in a GDPR compliant manner.

How will your sixth formers benefit?
They will have real influence on the decisions made by senior management as well as:

• see inside the workings of a major business
• meet other like-minded sixth formers from around the region
• get a formal reference for use in UCAS or apprenticeship applications
• get a £100 reward for taking part.

What’s involved?
The Young Innovators’ Panel will attend board meetings on two occasions, Tuesday 27^th June and Wednesday 19^th July at South Staffs Water’s headquarters in Walsall. The meetings will start at 10am so applicants need to be able to get to Walsall for this time.  We will reimburse individuals for all travel expenses to board meetings. The meetings will finish at approximately 4pm and will include a mix of briefings from senior executives about the business and the challenges it faces, and facilitated problem-solving exercises.

The Young Innovators’ Panel will work in teams to come up with a teaching resource suitable for KS3 (11-13 year olds), which will form part of South Staffs Water’s armoury of tools to deliver water efficiency education to schools across the region.

Between the two board meetings, members will prepare team presentations on their teaching resource which will be judged by a panel of senior executives.

Who should apply?
We would expect sixth formers to be one or more of the following:

• Someone who enjoys getting their point across: taking an active part in class discussions and debates and problem-solving.
• a good team player: a good listener as well as a good talker, and interested in collaboration!
• The Panel is relevant to students of all subjects, for example Geographers reflecting on water efficiency and the challenges of water resources, Business students looking to develop their awareness of business plans and decision making, and Performing Arts students focusing on presentation and delivery.

We are looking for sixth formers from all social backgrounds: this really is an opportunity for anyone who is interested. We’re hoping that you will encourage pupils to apply who might otherwise think something like this is ‘not for me’.

Supporting your school or college
South Staffs Water will be publicising the work of the panel to local media and we would like your school/college to be part of this exciting venture. We are contacting all sixth forms and colleges in the region, and would encourage you to publicise the initiative to your sixth formers so they have the opportunity to get involved.

As part of this research initiative school contact details will be shared with South Staffs Water to be used for schools outreach, and stored by them and Blue Marble until 30^th April 2025. After this date, both organisations will need to either gain reconsent to store the data or destroy it.  If, during the period of data storage you would like your contact details to be destroyed please contact [email protected]

How to apply

You can apply by following this link: https://forms.office.com/e/rBxFZEHJjc

The application form is quick and easy and should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete.  The closing date for applications is 26^th May 2023. You will be informed of the result of your application by the 17^th June.

Those that are not selected will still have an opportunity to share their views with South Staffs Water. Once the panel has concluded we will be disseminating surveys to participating schools. Participants can opt into a prize draw on completing the survey, with the chance of winning a £100 Love2Shop voucher as a thank-you for taking part.

Need to know more? If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Evie Fleck directly: [email protected] or call 07732901572

CMS is the 6th largest law firm in the world, with 78 offices in more than 40 countries. 

CMS believe that a career in law should be open to everyone, regardless of background. Therefore, they are delighted to be launching two programmes for Year 12/S5 students; CMS Law Scholarships and CMS Connect (work experience). 

Both programmes are for those from backgrounds which research shows are less likely to secure opportunities at prestigious firms/universities and are focused on improving access to the legal industry. 

New for 2023 - CMS will be hosting a live webinar on 11 May at 16:30. Come along, invite your students, their parents, and any other contacts to hear all about the two initiatives. Speak to programme alumni, learn how to ace applications, and find out how these opportunities could benefit you or your students.

CMS Law Scholarships

Since 2012, CMS have helped some of the brightest and most creative legal minds launch their career through the CMS Law Scholarships Programme. 

10 successful applicants will benefit from:

• Financial support (up to £10,000) during their university studies
• Mentoring during their UCAS applications
• Paid work experience during their first year of university

Eligibility

Scholarships are aimed students who will be the first generation in their family to go to university. There are also certain financial criteria, such as free school meal eligibility that students need to meet.

Full details of these and how to apply can be found on their dedicated Scholarships website:

CMS Connect (Work Experience)

CMS is a founding member of PRIME, an organisation formed by various UK law firms committed to improving access to the legal profession.   

During the sustained programme of support, students will develop skills that all employers look out for, not just those in the legal profession. 

This happens through:

• Paid work experience this summer (7th - 11th August 2023)
• Mentoring
• UCAS application skills workshop

And much more! Successful applicants can also be spring-boarded to the CMS Solicitor Apprenticeship or undergraduate careers programmes. 

CMS will be running CMS Connect across their London, Bristol, Sheffield and Glasgow offices.

Applications for both programmes open TODAY, 24 April 2023.  

If you would like any more information or would like to speak to a member of our team, please do get in touch at [email protected]

Are you studying maths or science subjects and considering studying a STEM subject at university?  Did you know that there is an accredited virtual summer school which can help you decide which degree course might be right for you and also enhance your UCAS application?  It will provide you with an opportunity to interact with university academics, admissions tutors, current undergraduates, and STEM professionals in exclusive live sessions.  

This course is like no other! With the mix of live sessions, recorded lectures and hands-on practical STEM activities and projects set by leading UK universities and global STEM companies, you will have a unique opportunity to access all this amazing content in one place, pick-and-choose subjects that interest you and do as many as you wish at your own pace over the summer.

Here is a selection of what’s on offer this summer:

·       Life Sciences from University of Warwick

·       Materials Science from University of Cambridge

·       Maths from Lancaster University

·       Food Science from University of Nottingham

·       Chemistry and Drug Design from Kingston University

·       Chemical Engineering from UCL

·       Forensic Science from Abertay University

·       Engineering from University of Sheffield

·       Computer Science from University of Liverpool

·       And lots more!

Don’t delay, apply today: https://www.etrust.org.uk/insight-into-university

Student Recruitment Team  

EDT (Engineering Development Trust) 

A recording of yesterday’s programme on the graduate job market and degree apprenticeships is now available to watch on YouTube:

Graduate Careers Live! is the new twice-yearly TV programme for Year 12 students and their parents that provides inspiration, information and practical careers guidance on how university – or one of the growing number of degree apprenticeships – can lead to ambitious, rewarding careers in the future.

Zoe Thomas, author of The Times Sunday Times Good University Guide was a special guest on yesterday’s programme, which featured the very latest research on the graduate job market and details of which universities and degree subjects are most-likely to lead to successful graduate employment.

Graduates and degree apprentices from Rolls-Royce, Dyson, Royal Navy and accounting & professional services firms PwC and BDO gave their own personal accounts of how they progressed from Sixth Form to graduate employment.

And senior recruiters from Lloyds Banking Group, the NHS, Deutsche Bank, law firm Slaughter and May, and defence company AWE each gave expert advice for Sixth Form school-leavers on the opportunities on offer in their sectors – and the different entry routes available.

The programme also included an introduction to degree apprenticeships and a countdown of the country’s top graduate employers featured in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers.

We do hope that you’ll have a chance to watch the programme and that you’ll find it useful – the recording will remain online until the end of May.