Useful websites and documents for schools.
Apprenticeships
The ASK project
The Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge for Schools (ASK) project provides careers advisers and teachers with access to information on all aspects of apprenticeships. Services include: student information sessions, apprenticeship application workshops, careers fairs and events, parents events and staff CPD.
Find an apprenticeship
Use the Gov.uk Find an apprenticeship service to search and apply for an apprenticeship in England.
UCAS
UCAS provides detailed information on apprenticeships. Topics include: Who are apprenticeships for?; What apprenticeships are available?; What’s involved in an apprenticeship?; Entry requirements; How to find apprenticeships; and Applying for apprenticeships.
Find a provider
The Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Partnership is a network of over 30 training providers who deliver in the Gloucestershire, Wiltshire & Swindon local authority areas.
Employability workshops
Barclays Life Skills
Helping young people get the the life skills and training they need to enter the world of work. Free resources and curriculum-linked lesson plans are available for teachers to use in the classroom.
The Skills to Succeed Academy
Developed by Accenture, the Skills to Succeed Academy is an interactive, engaging, online employability skill training programme to help learners plan their career, get a job and succeed in employment.
Jobcentre Plus
Support for Schools, provided by Jobcentre Plus, can provide employability skills workshops for students as part of their offer.
Contact charlotte.merry@dwp.gsi.gov.uk for further information.
Employer-delivered classroom learning
STEM Ambassador Hub West England
STEM Ambassadors inspire and enthuse young people about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects by bringing real-life examples to the classroom to enrich the curriculum.
Swindon & Wiltshire Enterprise Adviser Network
The Swindon & Wiltshire Enterprise Adviser Network (SWEAN) is part of a national network that connects schools and colleges with employers and career programme providers, to create high-impact careers opportunities for young people.
Enterprise activities and competitions
Young Enterprise
UK charity that helps young people to harness their personal and business skills.
Tycoon in Schools
Tycoon in Schools is a free national enterprise competition, which aims to encourage the UK’s budding entrepreneurs to get involved in business.
The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition
This competition aims to recognise and reward young peoples’ achievements in all areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The TeenTech Awards
The TeenTech Awards were established in 2012/3 to help students see how they might apply science and technology to real world problems.
The Ryman National Enterprise Challenge
In this full-day enterprise programme, students work in teams on real business challenges set by real businesses.
The Step into the NHS schools’ competition
Aimed at years 8 and 9, this competition encourages young people to think about the breadth of opportunities open to them in the world of work, and more specifically the NHS.
Mentoring
Lucky Break Mentoring
Adviza’s Lucky Break mentoring service includes a programme called Captain of My Ship. This is delivered to 12-15 year olds in school over 12 1-to-1 sessions and 6 group sessions. Young people are selected for a number of reasons including risk of NEET, concerns about attitude, behaviour or attainment.
Careers and skills events
The Skills Show
Annual skills, apprenticeships and careers event, usually taking place in November at the NEC Birmingham.
https://www.worldskillsuk.org/
Careers websites
The National Careers Service
The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help people make decisions on learning, training and work. The website includes job profiles, an assessment to help people find out what kind of jobs could suit them, a directory of courses and learning providers, and advice on the different stages of a job hunt.
National Careers Week
National Careers Week is all about celebrating careers not only during National Careers Week but all year round. The website contains a comprehensive set of careers resources for use in schools.
Careerpilot
Developed by the Western Vocational Progression Consortium (WVPC), Careerpilot includes information for young people, advisers and parents about choices at 14, 16 and 18, and routes to different qualifications and job sectors.
icould
icould aims to provide career inspiration and information for young people. The website offers free access to over 1000 personal video stories, detailed job information, practical tips and advice, and free teaching resources.
Tomorrows Engineers
The Tomorrow’s Engineers programme provides a platform for employers to work effectively with schools to inspire more young people to consider a career in engineering. Tomorrow’s Engineers is made up of different projects and programmes, including careers information and literature, Tomorrow’s Engineers Energy Quest – in-school workshops, Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge, Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, and Big Bang Near Me events.
Start
Start is a free and comprehensive digital platform, offering schools and colleges a single starting point to help simplify and improve careers guidance in schools.
Structured and progressive activities, the platform caters for all students helping them to make more informed decisions about future study and career options at the right time and in good time.
Volunteering and citizenship
The Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Offering young people the opportunity to make a difference by helping people, their community, the environment or an organisation.
Engaging with employers
Swindon & Wiltshire Enterprise Adviser Network
The Swindon & Wiltshire Enterprise Adviser Network (SWEAN) is part of a national network that connects schools and colleges with employers and career programme providers, to create high-impact careers opportunities for young people. Your Enterprise Coordinator and Enterprise Adviser can help you connect with local and national employers for careers activities, such as careers fairs, careers talks, mock interviews and work experience.
Inspiring the Future
Inspiring the Future provide volunteers from the work of work to visit schools and help young people to make better informed decisions about their futures.
Speakers for Schools
Speakers for Schools provides students at state schools with inspiring insights and advice from senior figures in industry and academia.
Additional resources
WON Western Outreach Network
This page contains different resources for teachers, parents and advisers to help you encourage young people to access Higher Education at home or in the classroom. This includes links to information, videos and KS3 and KS5 Lesson and Tutorial plans.
Adviser Zone
The Adviser Zone is brought to you by the Western Vocational Progression Consortium and is part of the Career Pilot website but is aimed at providing teacher resources, presentations and training for schools covering careers education, information, advice and guidance.
Contacts
School Health