Monday 27 February 2012

Hibernia College UK - More Information

Further to the previous post on alternative teacher training routes, here is some more information from the above organisation from the Training and Development Agency (TDA):

Hibernia College UK Limited (HCUK) was accredited by the Training and Development Agency (TDA) as a new initial teacher training (ITT) provider in September 2011 and has been allocated maths, chemistry and physics initial teacher training (ITT) and subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) places for both 2011/12 and 2012/13 academic years.

Its first cohorts of maths chemistry and physics ITT and SKE trainees started their training on 23 January 2012. HCUK has further cohorts starting on 16 April 2012 and is planning additional cohorts for July and September 2012 starts.

HCUK offers:

• “freestanding” maths, chemistry and physics SKE courses that are open to trainees accepted onto other accredited ITT providers’ maths, chemistry and physics ITT courses (conditional on them undertaking an appropriate SKE course); and
• “SKE integrated” maths, chemistry and physics ITT courses: postgraduate ITT courses that deliver SKE, integrated with ITT, within a two year in length course.

Although HCUK is based in London, it is a national ITT provider for the simple reason that its courses have been developed as interactive, online courses and are accessible to potential trainees wherever they might be located throughout England.

Wetherspoons Careers Recruitment Day - Carlisle

Hot Press news is that Pub Chain J. D. Wetherspoon are holding a Careers Recruitment Day at Lloyds No 1 Bar Carlisle on Wednesday 29th February between 10.00 am and 4. 00 pm.

A poster on the bar in Lloyds invites applicants for posts as bar and kitchen staff as well as Trainee Managers.  Simply turn up on the day or apply via the Wetherspoon Jobs website if you can't make it.

It's not clear from the site if, as with their various festivals, other branches of 'Spoons are running a similar event on the same date.

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Should I Move to London?

Careers Advisers often advise clients to increase their chances of getting a job by being prepared to work away from home and since Dick Whittington, there has been a long tradition of hopefuls from the North treading the golden pavements of London to 'seek their fortune'.

But does it pay off?

Recent research by "Graduate Market Trends" (Winter 2011/12 edition) analyses regional trends in graduate employment since the recession to come up with some interesting contrasts between employment patterns in London and elswhere.  What it broadly shows is the following:
  • In certain key sectors, the London area dominates the UK employment scene so that over 50% of 2009 - 10 graduates working in some fields of work are based there.  In broad terms, London is a mecca for media careers (including editing), fashion and clothing design, finance, management consultancy and politics.
  • On the other hand there are some industries, notably Engineering, where opportunities are just as available elsewhere.
  • Although London has the highest number of graduate employers in the country, the rate of unemployment for London HE institutions is actually HIGHER than in other parts of the country.
  • The reverse of this paradox is shown in Scotland - although Scotland is the only part of the country to show a decrease in graduate employment since 2007, the unemployment rate for Scottish HE institutions in the lowest in the UK.
  • At 74% levels of private sector employment are considerably higher in London.  Elsewhere percentages of public sector employment  levels are a good deal higher*.  Additionally, only half of graduates in private sector employment outside London were considered to be in graduate level employment, whereas the figure for London was 67%.
  • It is therefore interesting to reflect that ongoing public sector cutbacks are likely to have a more profound negative effect on unemployment in areas outwith London.
Hopefully this gives some feel of whether it is worth packing your bags heading for the 'big smoke'.   The next stage is to decide how you feel about issues like higher living expenses, commuting, lifestyle...

* N.b. however this does not mean there are fewer health and education sector vacancies in London than Lancashire and Cumbria - the reverse is likely to be true! (Ed.)

Monday 20 February 2012

More NQT Jobs in Dumfries and Galloway?

The Scottish Government has been trying to create opportunities for newly-qualified teachers for some two years.Under the Teacher Refresh programme, local Councils can receive extra borrowing entitlements if they offer early retirement to techers aged 55+ and replace them with newly qualified teachers.

Initial take up of the programme was slow, with only two Councils signing up - Falkirk and West Dunbartonshire. But the pace has now quickened, as just nine miles up the M6 from Carlisle, Dumfries and Galloway Council have earlier this year granted 82 teachers early retirement. An article in last Wednesday's Dumfries and Galloway Standard further suggests that a second wave of 82 teachers will be retiring, to be replaced by 64 newly qualified teachers and 15 probationary (induction year) teachers.

Whether this means an extra source of vacancies for our own Education graduates in any number is questionable, but it does perhaps show that the glut of newly-qualified teachers in Scotland created by the "McCrone Year" arrangement is slowly starting to recede.

Saturday 11 February 2012

Running Your Own Business: Have You Got What It Takes?

There has been a recent stream of articles encouraging Careers Advisers to promote self employment options to students and graduates.  Those who are long in the tooth will recall this is something that happens now and again at times when youth unemployment statistics are particularly shocking.  Incidentally the latest US term for the current batch of well-qualified individuals who cannot find suitable opportunities is "Generation Limbo".

Ignoring the cynical interpretation that your country needs the unemployed to start up businesses because there aren't enough jobs to apply for, there is no doubt that self-employment is a serious options for many graduates.  And there is a lot of evidence that those who acquire the necessary skills also make themselves more attractive to employers.

It is sometimes stated that entrepreneurs are mainly born rather than created. But what are the qualities that mark out the potential business tycoon?  Here is my stab at listing seven key qualities that many self-employed people possess:

1) Creativity

Essential to the process of creating a business opportunity, your ability to produce ideas, spot new ways of doing things and find undersupplied 'niche' opportunities are often the vital factors that will help you decide the direction your business needs to take. 

2) Commitment

The need to work very long hours in sometimes trying circumstances for little or initial reward is a component part of many business start-ups. Are you convinced it will be worth it?

3) Tolerance of Frustration


...resulting from the many obstacles placed in your way. Examples are legislation, tax, bureaucracy, problematic customers, suppliers and employees, banks and accountants. To even get started you will invariably have to produce detailed business and marketing plans for potential funders.

4) Acceptance of Risk

Although there are some businesses that can be run with minimal outlay, you need to be able to live with the possibility of spectacular failure and major financial loss.

5) Resilience

The stresses of being self-employed can affect your health and relationships. Are you the sort of person that sees an opportunity in every setback?

6) Networking Skills

Being self-employed can mean spending large amounts of time on your own, but you also need to be a great networker. Other people are potential customers, suppliers, partners and providers of new ideas. Can you win people over?

7) Obstinacy

If you read all this negative stuff, and still want the rewards and the freedom to determine your own destiny that self employment offers, then maybe you are the sort of person to give it a try!

For more information about self-employment, take a look at this Delicious stack put together by our Careers Advisers in Carlisle.

Note: This post was inspired by Dan Hawes' article "The Age of The Entrepreneur" in Phoenix magazine.

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Want to Teach? New Developments in Teacher Training

School Direct

Schools are able to bid to the Training and Development Agency (TDA) for 500 training places on this new programme for 2012/13. The school (or group of schools) will recruit trainees directly and then purchase the training from an ITT provider.  Once the trainee has completed training and gained qualified teacher status, the school will be expected to employ the trainee for at least their Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) year.
 
Trainees will be eligible for funding on the same basis as those completing university-based PGCEs (with the offer an additional payment, worth 25% of their bursary, to trainees based in schools where more than a quarter of pupils are eligible for free school meals).

In allocating School Direct places, the TDA will give priority to schools and subjects in greatest need.

TDA Premier Plus Service and School Experience Programme

The TDA is offering the Premier Plus Service to support prospective teacher of maths, physics, chemistry or Modern Foreign Languages (MFL).  Premier Plus includes one-to-one advice and guidance, special events, access to subject knowledge enhancement courses, reimbursement of the GTTR application fee and access to the School Experience Programme (SEP).

SEP itself offers classroom experience for one to ten days in a secondary school to applicants considering teaching maths, physics, chemistry, D&T, ICT or MFL.  The programme is available to final year University students and some others.

Distance Learning PGCE

The TDA have accredited Hibernia College to provide an e-learning based programme leading to a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in secondary maths, physics or chemistry. The two-year flexible programme is delivered through a combination of online lectures and tutorials, locally delivered workshops and school placements organised through the programme’s national network of hub schools.  Subject knowledge enhancement is included as appropriate.

Studio Schools

Studio schools are a new option at age 14.  They teach both academic and vocational qualifications in a practical and project-based way, often in conjunction with employers.  Study is combined with work placements in the schools’ partner organisations.  Some schools will be located alongside existing maintained schools and academies and others will be separate academies. 


Source: AGCAS Teaching Task Group

Monday 6 February 2012

Is An Academic Career For You? http://ow.ly/8SeJY careers research teaching

Friday 3 February 2012

Applying for Pools etc?

Here's a useful reference I just tweeted @uoccareers:

Your First Teaching Post - info from NUT including application procedures in English and Welsh LAs: http://ow.ly/8QPIR teaching vacancies.

The document, actually titled "First Post" also includes a lot of other highly useful information for applicants for NQT posts.

Thursday 2 February 2012

Getting Into the Film Biz...

post kindly provided by Luke Cairns, Producer, Butchers Hook Video Productions...

During a normal working week here at Butchers Hook Video, I’ve come to expect at least a dozen CV’s of young people interested in breaking into the film business in the UK. But one of the most common pitfalls I see when I receive CVs of young people is a total lack of experience in the business.

The film business is based on the “who you know” principle is simple.  People senior to you (technicians/producers etc) need to be sure they know and can trust people in their employ – because mistakes can reflect badly on them.

The very first step on the journey into the industry is to decide what specialism you want to take. If you want to break into a technical specialism (i.e. camera, sound, make up etc) the first essential is to have a good deal of experience with the equipment. For the auteur and post-production people, the best method is to get creating and make a decent show reel as an absolute priority. For people interested in the production side of the business, a solid grasp of figures and the ability to network and schmooze is ideal!

The next step is to get involved with as many free projects as possible in your local area. This can help you decide what area you want to specialise in and gain vital experience.  Aside from experience, the other major benefit of freebies is networking.  The importance of networking to those in the industry (from producer down) can’t be too emphasised too much. If you happen to be working as camera assistant (for example) for a DoP on a free shoot and do a great job, the chances are you will be remembered when the DoP is working on a paid job next time.

A great resource for finding jobs on low budget films in your local area is Shooting People

After a number of freebies you’ll have a great deal more experience and your CV will look like the kind of CV that producers want to see! When you progress to paid shoots you also need to have boundless energy and enthusiasm and stay 100% positive!

One of main ways people get into production is through the time honoured route of being a runner.  Now this isn’t a pretty route. They are also the most put upon and badly paid people in the business - I found it akin to slave labour! However runners are the work horses of the industry and are vital. Pay your dues (and work bl**dy hard!) and it pays off.

To conclude – entry to the film and video industry is tough but very rewarding if you work hard and know how to play the game properly!