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Careers, work experience and progression

16+ and unsure of your next steps? Contact the National Careers Service for free, impartial advice. Whether you’re looking for a course, job, apprenticeship, or you have  absolutely no idea – they can help.

How our college Careers Service can help you

The Careers team is here to help you make informed decisions and to help you plan the next steps towards your future. From applying to work, university or apprenticeships, to identifying your interests, skills and aspirations, our Careers Advisors can provide you with the information, advice and guidance you need.

We are pleased to have achieved both the Matrix Standard and Quality in Careers Standard to ensure our work is of the highest quality.

To arrange an appointment with Harrogate College’s careers advisor, Jane Humphreys, please contact the reception and admissions team on 01423 879466 or email contact@harrogate-college.ac.uk. Parents and carers are welcome to contact us too.

We work closely with the National Careers Service. Advisors work in partnership with the staff to deliver sessions on employability and career planning to groups on full time and part time courses. They also provide a bespoke career advice service to our adult learners.
If you’re a Harrogate College student who is aged over 19 and you’d like to make an appointment with the National Careers Service advisor, please contact Hannah Grabham: hgrabham@edt.org

At college we also have Careers Champions. These are senior members of staff who lead on curriculum development alongside local employers. This ensures we meet skills needs in the local area, which will in turn equip our students to excel in the workplace.

Meet your careers advisors

Jane Humphreys

Harrogate College careers advisor

jane.humphreys@harrogate.ac.uk or click here to book an appointment.

Hannah Grabham

National Careers Service advisor

hgrabham@edt.org

Getting Harrogate College learners

set for their career

Work experience

As part of your study programme at college, you will be required to undertake work experience to gain an insight into the world of work. Work experience is unpaid but there are lots of benefits, as you’ll be working and learning alongside people who are very knowledgeable and experienced in the field you might want to go into.

These are the types of work experience you might undertake:

  • Work placement – working as a member of the team in a workplace for 1 or 2 weeks
  • Industry placement – working as a member of the team in a workplace for at least 45 days (if you are studying a T Level qualification then you will undertake an industry placement)
  • Work taster visit – a group visit to a workplace to find out about working life
  • Virtual work experience – undertaking virtual work-related activities on a virtual work experience site
  • Simulated work environment – undertaking work-related activities set by an employer
  • Social action project – undertaking a project to benefit the community
  • Student enterprise – running a student-led business

Your tutor will let you know which type of work experience you will be undertaking.

Why do work experience?

Work experience gives you the chance to step into the world of work and apply your skills in a work setting. If you’re studying a T Level qualification then you must complete an industry-specific placement to achieve your qualification.

For some, work experience is the first time working for an organisation. You’ll get hands-on learning in a working environment and will see what is expected of you in a workplace context.

As well as first-hand experience, you will develop the skills you’ll be talking about in job interviews, or on your personal statement should you want to go to university. You’ll be able to provide workplace examples that will highlight your knowledge.

When applying for jobs in the future, those who have completed work experience can ask the employer for a reference. Students who have shown exceptional work ethic and commitment during their work experience are occasionally offered part-time jobs. This will enable you to continue to develop your skills alongside studying your qualification at college.

To search for virtual work experience that could count towards your work experience, visit Springpod, look at free online courses on Openlearn and FutureLearn, and view the National Careers Service’s list of free courses.

How do work placements and industry placements work?

A member of the work experience team will visit your class to talk you through the process. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have. You can either find your own work placement, or tap into the bank of placements that the business engagement team source.

Once you have a placement confirmed, you will arrange a pre-placement visit with your employer so that you can meet the people you will be working with, practise travelling there, and find out important information such as the hours you will be working and what you need to wear. You will then attend your placement on the agreed days.

You will be using an online platform called Start – Digital Career Platform to log your placement. Learn more about Start – Digital Career Platform here.

International work placements

A smaller number of students have the opportunity to complete funded vocational and study placements overseas.

These placements generally last for two weeks and are reliant on the partnership work between the college and international partners in education and industry. The college also hosts international visiting students and staff.

Progression

There are many paths you can take after you finish your college course. Explore your options below:

Higher Education & University

Going to university can be an option if you have completed or are working towards a Level 3 qualification such as A Levels, T Levels, BTEC Level 3 or Access to HE.

Benefits of going to university:

  • With a degree you are more likely to enter into a higher paying job
  • Targeted career choices
  • Gain skills and experience for life and work
  • Meet lots of new friends – from all over the UK and the world
  • It gives you the opportunity to move away (if you want to) and gain new independence
  • In-depth study in a subject that interests you
  • It gives you the opportunity to be taught by and network with leaders in that subject field/industry

UCAS

All applications to University for full-time study must be made online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Here is some information to help if you are considering Higher Education. If you are already at college, you can contact a careers advisor who can help you to choose a subject or with your application.

Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable experience. Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification. If you don’t already have GCSE Maths, English & ICT, you may have the opportunity to complete Functional Skills alongside your apprenticeship.

You can view our apprenticeship vacancies here.

You can search and apply for apprenticeships through the Find an Apprenticeship GOV website

This video on Understanding Apprenticeships features current apprentices explaining their experience.

Levels of Apprenticeships:

There are four types of Apprenticeships you can apply for, depending on your current skills and qualifications:

  • Intermediate Level Apprenticeships (Level 2)
  • Advanced Level Apprenticeships (Level 3)
  • Higher and Degree Apprenticeships (Level 4, 5, 6 & 7)

Higher Degree Apprenticeships can lead to a degree. Studying for a degree whilst you work will allow you to gain valuable skills and experience. It can lead to a bachelor’s of arts/science degree, dependent upon the area studied. You will gain a degree without the debt.

Who can apply?

You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still at college. To start one, you’ll need to be:

  • 16 or over
  • Living in England
  • Not in full time education
Benefits:

  • Earn a salary
  • Employment in a real job
  • Gain job-specific skills
  • Receive holiday pay
  • Study towards a recognised qualification
  • Transferable workplace skills
  • Work alongside experienced staff
  • Open to all age groups above 16 years old

As an apprentice you will:

  • Earn a wage
  • Get holiday pay
  • Develop job-specific skills
  • Work with experienced staff
  • Be allocated time to study

Where can I get help or find an apprenticeship vacancy?

Contact a college Careers Advisor if you would like some help finding or applying for an apprenticeship.

Enterprise and Self Employment
Entrepreneurs, freelancers and self-employed people work for themselves providing either a product or a service for sale. They own or run their own business and this can vary from providing services such as dog-walking, plastering or hairdressing, to a company set up to produce and market a new piece of technology.

An entrepreneur is a person who starts a business based on an original idea for a product or service that is not yet available in their market.

  • Many entrepreneurs set up their companies on their own and have to find support like funding from investors or suppliers for the materials they need.
  • Entrepreneurs tend to start with limited resources and have to be prepared to take risks.
  • Many entrepreneurs support themselves with other sources of income while they’re starting their business, so that they can take the time to build up a customer base and make a profit.

Self-employed people own a business that offers a product or service that benefits its customers.

  • Typically, business owners have a thorough understanding of their industry and already know who their target customers will be.
  • Unlike entrepreneurs, the business is often the owners’ only source of income, so their main responsibility is to make it a success in order to support themselves and any staff they employ. Business owners are, therefore, less likely to be able to take big risks.
Freelancing is a form of self-employment. Freelancers offer their skills and talents to a number of clients on a flexible basis, for example in IT, Digital and Creative Media.

  • They aren’t employed by a company or committed to a single customer – freelancers have the freedom to choose the projects they’d like to work on and the clients they’d like to work for.
  • They usually work from home, although some rent studio or office space.

Whichever path you choose, it’s important to have a well-researched and costed business plan.

Where can I get help?

North Yorkshire

Leeds & West Yorkshire

Volunteering

What is Volunteering?

Supporting local charities, businesses and vulnerable people in your spare time. A volunteer isn’t paid for their work, however they will gain employability skills and valuable workplace experiences.

Benefits of volunteering:

  • Improve your CV
  • Gain employability skills
  • Personal development
  • Improved confidence
  • Training and support
  • Meet new people
  • Helps with UCAS personal statement
  • Work in an industry that interests you

Useful Resources:

Parents, Carers and Guardians

As parents and carers, you play a key role in helping your young person to make decisions about their next steps. With so many choices available, navigating the options can feel a bit overwhelming. The career-related sites below provide helpful sources of support and information for you and your young person.

The National Careers Service has great careers information and a telephone helpline that anyone 13 and over can use on 0800 100 900. They are open 8am to 8pm, 5 days per week and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and Bank Holidays. You can contact them for information and guidance for yourself, or for your child.

Useful links to career related sites:

General Careers

National Careers Service – lots of useful information and guidance about options and practical advice about searching and applying

Future Goals (West Yorkshire) – Information about options, progression and the labour market in West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire

iCould – Information for Parents – A range of articles for parents and carers to help you navigate the different options available to your young person at key decision points

Skills for Life – Start exploring your child’s training and career possibilities or get help working out their options.

ParentKind – Look at the services and facilities on offer to help you and your child make informed choices about their next steps.

Inspiring choices – working with schools, colleges and communities across North Yorkshire and York to support young people to make informed decisions about their future education and career.

Apprenticeships

.GOV.UK – Use this service to search and apply for apprenticeships in England.

Amazing Apprenticeships – Parent Zone – Guidance for parents and carers

Amazing Apprenticeships – Hints and Tips for Parents and Carers

Amazing Apprenticeships (Parent Pack) – The latest apprenticeship information & advice for parents, supported by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

The Parent Perspective Podcast – Amazing Apprenticeships – Podcast series for parents and carers, helping them to support their children with careers advice and guidance.

A Guide to Apprenticeships for Care Leavers – learn more here

Degree apprenticeships – Learn more here

North Yorkshire Construction Training Group – construction training group

Humber and North Yorkshire health and care partnership – careers in health and care

Apprenticeship vacancies through Harrogate College

Higher Education

UCAS Advice for Parents – Everything you need to help your child decide on their next steps. Includes free guide, containing everything you need to support a young person with their options and decision-making, and help them through the UCAS application process.

Go Higher West Yorkshire (Parent & Carer Guide) – This guide contains key information you may need to be aware of when supporting your young person through their education journey.

Go Higher West Yorkshire (Uni Connect Podcast) – Help your child to understand their future options.

Inspiring choices

Advice and Information for parents of children with
special educational needs or disability (SEND)

North Yorkshire Council (SEND Information for Parents and Carers)

GOV.UK Disabled Students’ Allowance – Help for students with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability.

Go Higher West Yorkshire HE transition pack for disabled learners

Humber and North Yorkshire supported internships

Leeds Local Offer

Bradford Local Offer

Reviewing and evaluating the Careers Programme

Quality assurance and continued improvement are central to the work of the Careers and Progression Team at Harrogate College. We hold the Matrix Standard Award, the Quality in Careers Standard and are an affiliated member of the CDI (Careers Development Institute). We are committed to working in line with the Gatsby benchmarks to enable us to measure the effectiveness of our CEIAG programme to improve and develop our careers programme.

The impact of our CEIAG programme is evaluated through the following measures:

  • Destination Tracking
  • UCAS data
  • Feedback obtained from students after personal guidance appointments
  • Feedback from students and external stakeholders after key events including Careers Fair, HE Fair and Career Insight talks
  • Career Insight talks
  • Quality assurance of resources
  • Staff feedback
  • Student voice

Useful documents:

Provider access policy