Careers and Employability

#BeMoreBHASVIC Careers and Employability

BHASVIC students receive support with their progression and career planning via the tutorial programme and events such as our Futures Fair, Progression Week, Skills Week (which was new for 2023) and Careers Enrichment Day. They can access information and self-help resources from the Careers Advice and Work Experience section on our Virtual Learning Environment (BHASVLE). Students can book a personalised guidance appointment with our fully-qualified and experienced careers advisers by coming to the Student Services Centre and arranging a time with one of the reception team.

We know that for many students, parents and carers are the first people they turn to when considering their plans for the future. Therefore, our aim is to provide you with information and resources to help you guide and support them. If you have any questions relating to this content, please email careers@bhasvic.ac.uk.

The Careers Team

Careers and Employability Noticeboard

The most up-to date opportunities, including job opportunities, virtual workshops and work experience, webinars and apprenticeship news are available to students on BHASVLE. This information is available to parents and carers via the links below.

Please see the links below for list of opportunities, event and resources including information for parents and carers:

WEBSITES AND FURTHER INFORMATION WHICH MAY BE ESPECIALLY HELPFUL TO PARENTS AND CARERS

List of careers fairs nationwide 2024 - this does not include the college's own Futures Fair on 18th January 2024
National Green Careers Week 6th - 11th November 2023. Take a look at the website for useful information and resources. This includes a Parent's Guide to Green Careers which can be downloaded for free. Also featured, is a Parents Guide to What's Next which is free to download.
External support provided by the universities of Portsmouth, Sussex and Brighton for students making UCAS applications. This includes tutor group talks, workshops and 1:1 personal statement support. Students should book their places via BHASVLE on the Careers and Work Experience page.
Graduate Careers Live Broadcast - Register to watch this broadcast on catchup here. A special TV programme for Year 12 sixth-form students on the graduate job market & degree apprenticeships. Catch up with April 2023 broadcast here
BHASVIC Apprenticeship Guide - a short explanation on how apprenticeships work
Understandng Apprenticeships Guide - a guide for students to help them make informed decisions about apprenticeships as an option for starting their careers.
BHASVIC Skills Week - 1-5 July 2024 - Scroll down this page to view full details in the Skills Week Section.
Please see Employability & Enterprise Pathway and Visual Arts Pathway presentations following our Specialists' Application Event in May 2023.
Career Mag for Parents and Carers - A comprehensive guide to support you.
Get Career Confident - Has a range of resources for students and parents.
Amazing Apprenticeships An essential introduction to apprenticeships. Includes information about the Parent and Carers Guide.
Amazing Apprenticeships 'The Parent Perspective' Podcast An exciting new 8-part podcast series for parents and carers
Careers Guides - Saving the World with STEM Guide and Apprenticeship Guide all about careers in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) apprenticeships and university.
A Parents Guide from Success at Schools, a national careers website for students aged 11 - 19
BHASVLE Careers Resources This section of the BHASVIC Virtual Learning Environment (BHASVLE) contains subject specific information and access to licensed careers software which can also help students in their research and decision making.
Disability Rights UK Newsletter from GetAhead, including some information about apprenticeships
Higher Education . This link takes you to BHASVIC resource pages about Higher Education (university); webinar recordings and information on our Specialist Applications Events.
Widening Participation Frequently Asked Questions. Widening participation (WP) is a government initiative aimed at supporting social mobility and ensuring that "under-represented groups" have fair access to high quality information, advice and guidance in order to help them make appropriate decisions regarding their future. Not all BHASVIC students are eligible - we identify our WP cohort using a survey which all students are asked to complete prior to enrolment for year 1.

**PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE FURTHER INFORMATION & RESOURCES ON CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY AT BHASVIC**

Meet the Careers Team

Alison Cousens

Assistant Principal (Director of Student Services) & Careers Lead

Nigel Fisher

Head of Student Experience, Careers Leader (Operational)

Adele Fox

Careers Adviser & Personal Tutor

Sam Davey

Careers Adviser

Fi Langdon

Careers Adviser

Corin D’Enno

Personal Tutor, Teacher of ALS & Employability Enterprise Coordinator

Diana Heffelfinger

VP Global Services Group Operational Excellence Issue Management American Express

Jo Redfern

Governor. Committee Membership - Quality & Curriculum. BHASVIC - BHASVIC Careers Link Governor

Futures Framework Strategy

All Careers and Employability Information, Advice and Guidance at BHASVIC falls under our “Futures Framework” strategy. This has been reviewed and updated during 2022.

BHASVIC FUTURES FRAMEWORK OUR STABLE CAREERS PROGRAMME CAREERS & EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME The BHASVIC learner journey and the BHASVIC Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) Calendar
BHASVIC Events* Other events Tutorial activities/themes * Meeting the needs of individuals and groups****
Stage	Learner journey	Careers and alumni team involvement
Pre-enrolment	Year 10 Taster Day* Open Evenings* Schools Liaison visits* Interviews**** Moving On Day* New Parents Evenings*	Providing information in advance and available to answer questions from students and parents/carers at college events Maintaining and updating the careers information on BHASVIC website - accessible externally Careers and alumni team present and available at Open Evenings
Year 1		Ongoing work (throughout year 1) advice to early leavers one to one careers appointments by request maintaining careers information on website/padlet noticeboard etc advice, guidance and support for teaching departments developing employer contacts providing LMI for tutorials Careers Education on range of options delivered through tutorial Connect Work Experience App and Skills Week planning Widening Participation (WP) newsletters sent at least once per term Supporting targeted cohorts eg students with EHCP, ESOL students, Flourish students, WP students
August/ September	Enrolment days* Induction/Identity tutorials*** Course change window* Freshers and Enrichment Fair*	Careers appointments and advice for new students (including those who don’t meet our entry criteria) and A1 students around course choices and impact of changes to support with helpdesk queries Intended careers/destinations survey during term 1 Identify WP Cohort from student survey data Widening Participation criteria are part of the BHASVIC new student survey. Careers and alumni team present and available at Freshers and Enrichment Fair
October/ November/ December	Wellbeing * Meet the tutor evenings Progress Review#1** Open Evenings*	Launch WP programme to BHASVIC cohort Careers and alumni team present and available at Open Evenings
January/ February/ March	My Future Plans* A1-A2 transfer* BHASVIC Futures Fair* A1 Parents and Carers’ consultation evenings* National Apprenticeships Week National Careers Week BTEC Introductory Careers/ Work Experience sessions* Higher Education Information Evening* Interviewing applicants*	BHASVIC Futures Fair led by Careers team supported by Events Team National Apprenticeships Week and National Careers Week promoted via tutorials and on various channels Careers team visits to BTEC classes CEIAG-focused tutorials, including labour market information Careers and alumni team provide input to specialist applications evenings Careers team provide guidance and support for interviewers as required
April/May/ June/July	Progression Week* Summer Progression guidance**** Progression exams* Specialist Application Evening* All A1 students move into differentiated tutor groups depending on intended destinations* Drafting of student references by teachers and tutors* Skills Week including Work Experience, volunteering, social action and Careers Enrichment Day*	CEIAG-focused tutorials around progression Careers Team input into Specialist Application Evenings and Progression week Careers team provide 1 to 1 appointments for summer progression exam results Careers team provide direct input to Employability and Enterprise tutorials Careers, Events, Centre Ops and alumni team involved in planning and delivery of skills week, including support for work experience and Careers Enrichment Day
August	BTEC results day** GCSE results day**	Careers team available on results days to provide CEIAG to individual students
Year 2		Ongoing work (throughout year 2) Careers advice to early leavers one to one careers appointments by request maintaining careers information on website/padlet etc advice, guidance and support for teaching departments developing employer contacts Careers Education on range of options delivered through tutorial Supporting targeted cohorts eg students with EHCP, ESOL students, Flourish students, WP students
September/ October/ November/ December	Recovery and Portfolio Courses begin** differentiated programmes for A2 tutorials* Early applications to UCAS (Oxbridge/Medics)** UCAS applications Support for WP students Life skills tutorials*	Careers appointments available for A2 students around course choices and impact of changes, decisions to leave college Coordination of one-to-one personal statement advice for WP students (delivered by IntoUniversity, Sussex, Brighton and Portsmouth Universities) Input into life skills tutorials, including soft skills/employability Careers Team visit Enterprise and Employability groups to discuss work experience and careers resources
January/ February/ March	Futures Fair* Independent Living tutorials* Professionalism tutorials* National Apprenticeship Week Progress Review#4 National Careers Week	BHASVIC Futures Fair led by Careers team supported by Events Team National Apprenticeships Week & National Careers Week promoted via tutorials and on various channels Input into tutorials, including budgeting, banking and borrowing, accommodation and living independently, labour market information, professional CVs
April/May/ June	Moving On tutorials* A2 cross-college surveys and intended destination surveys** Leavers’ Event* Final exams/assessments**	Alumni team promote sign up through tutorial and Leavers Event Surveys include CEIAG- related questions
July/August	Results Days Post-results Help Desk**	Careers Team available at New Parents’ Information Evenings Careers team available on results days to provide CEIAG to individual students
After leaving BHASVIC	Final Destinations follow-up** Alumni Network promoted Information for ex-students on BHASVIC website**	Careers team available to former students to provide CEIAG Alumni network offers mentoring and buddying opportunities Careers and alumni team maintain up to date CEIAG on BHASVIC website

Road map

CEIAG: Futures Framework
Meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks

Gatsby Measures – for more info, please refer to p7-9 of Careers Guidance for FE & Sixth Form Colleges (October 2018)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/679639/Careers-Guidance.pdf

BHASVIC is working towards meeting all the Gatsby benchmarks. In addition to general cross-college activities listed below, curriculum departments offer specific activities which are listed in their annual self-assessment report.

1) A stable careers programme – an embedded programme of careers education and guidance that is known and understood by students, teachers/tutors, governors and employers

Our stable careers programme is outline in the table above

2) Learning from career and labour market information - Every student should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information

Labour Market Information (LMI) is utilised in tutorials
Communications via Student Bulletin / Student Services social media / VLE / website
Students have access to our Careers team
LMI is shared with curriculum teams

3) Addressing the needs of each student - Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each individual. A college’s career programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout

Our tutorial programme includes time for 1:1 support
Our WP programme has a range of activities for students from groups which are "under-represented in Higher Education"
We work closely to provide careers support for particular target groups such as students with EHCPs and ESOL students
We have a differentiated A2 tutorial programme which reflects different progression options (Employability and Enterprise, Oxbridge, Medics, Visual Arts, UCAS)

4) Linking curriculum and learning to careers. All teachers/tutors should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of career paths

Curriculum teams include careers, employability and skills in their annual strategic reviews and action plans
The careers team have named employability links in each department
Careers Enrichment Day (part of Skills Week) is led by curriculum teams to promote careers related to their subject areas

5) Encounters with employers and employees. Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes (Two meaningful encounters per year: one linked to curriculum)

We organise a range of activities which introduce students to employers and employees including:

Futures Fair (January)
Tutorial activities linked to National Careers Week (March)
Skills Week and Careers Enrichment Day (July)
Green Careers event (new for 2023)
Alumni mentoring (new for 2023)

6) Experience of workplaces. Every student should have first-hand experience of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and /or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks (after two years, at least one experience of workplace)

We organise a range of activities which introduce students to the workplace including:

Skills Week and Careers Enrichment Day (July)

- Green Careers event (new for 2023)
Work experience for students involved in our medical careers enrcihment programme

7) Encounters with further and higher education. All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace

Tutorial Programme: My Future Plans / Oxbridge / Medical Careers / EE / Visual Arts / UCAS
Widening Participation Programme
Futures Fair (January)
Progression Day (June)

8) Personal guidance. Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal or external, provided that they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made (every student has one careers interview by 18 in addition to one by 16)

Careers team
Guidance team

A1 (First Year) Skills Week - Runs from 1 - 5 July 2024

BHASVIC A1 Skills Week runs from 1-5 July 2024 for all first years and it's not too early to start preparation for a work experience or volunteering placement.

Students will be expected to organise and complete a placement during Skills Week unless they are on a college residential trip.

The placement can be in-person or remote/online and students will learn in depth, during their tutor sessions, the details of Skills Week and how to make enquiries about placements by contacting a range of people, organisations and employers.

The Student Experience team will be sending parents and carers further detailed information in the coming weeks/months.

Careers & Employability Subject Links

Employability & Enterprise at BHASVIC - Please click on the link here to see how subjects combine with career opportunities.

Employers and Local Authority/Other Providers

Information for employers and other careers advisers: If you are an employer who is able to offer work experience or is interested in contributing in other ways to our Careers and Employability Programme, please contact careers@bhasvic.ac.uk. Please also use this email address if you are a careers adviser from another organisation and would like further information; or would like to be represented at our annual Futures Fair careers event usually held in January.

Please see: Application for Provider Access 2023 Document

Further details about how and when to get involved can be found here

Parents' and Carers' Apprenticeship Information

Amazing Apprenticeships Parents' and Carers' Packs - previous copies also available
University Degrees v. Degree Apprenticeships (applies Y13)
The Parents Guide to Apprenticeships (Success at School)
Apprenticeships Top 100 Employers 2023

Useful Online Careers Resources

Below is a list of careers resources that students and parents/carers may find useful.

Barclays LifeSkills Tools & Tips for Families
Careers Advice for Parents from Youth Employment UK
Parents' guide to tips to support your young person
I Could, National Careers Service, Milkround
The Creative Industries
The Skills Builder Universal Framework shows how to build essential skills at every stage of life
A Parent and Supporter's Guide to University Entry with Future Learn

Further resources are also available on our website for Higher Education

Resources for Early Leavers'

A useful guide for BHASVIC early leavers: Careers Information Guide for Parents/Carers and Early Leavers
A useful list of Apprenticeship providers and schemes for those leaving after the first year: Apprenticeship Providers.
List of Local Colleges and Contacts for those leaving after the first year.