City Times (Winter 2011/12) - City College

Charley’s apprenticeship goes Upstream
Charley Heasman is only a few months into her Level 2 apprenticeship in Business
Administration with Brighton digital marketing specialists Upstream Connections but
she’s already delighted that she decided to take the apprenticeship route. “I knew I didn’t
want to go to university,” explains Charley, 18. “I think employers look for someone with
work experience.” After one of her tutors remarked on her people skills, Charley started
researching local apprenticeships. “With A Levels in Business Studies, English Lit and
History, I was looking for on-the-job training in the areas I find most interesting - marketing,
HR and business management.”
“I’ve already learnt
so much. It’s such
a confidence boost
- now I know that
I am capable of
doing whatever
anyone asks of me”
Charley saw the position of Operations Assistant at Upstream on the City College website
and applied online. After an interview with Upstream’s Operations Manager, Ruth Perrett,
she was offered the job and started in September. As overseers of the apprenticeship
programme, City College assessors provide Charley with ongoing support and education for
the 12-month apprenticeship.
As a multilingual SEO agency, Upstream Connections helps clients to improve their online
presence and search engine rankings. It’s a relatively small company, so Charley gets involved
with all aspects of the business. Operations Manager Ruth agrees that the apprenticeship
is proving to be a success: “We’re really enjoying having Charley as part of the Upstream
Connections team. She’s enthusiastic and willing to learn, and it’s brilliant to see her putting
what that she learnt in her A Levels into practice in an office environment.”
So, would Charley recommend an apprenticeship to other young people? “Definitely,” she
says. “I’ve already learnt so much. It’s great to get the experience and the QCF qualification
in Business Administration. It’s such a confidence boost too – now I know that I am capable
of doing whatever anyone asks of me.”
If you’d like to find out more about apprenticeships, contact Sarah Easy on 01273 667788
x 617 or email SEA@ccb.ac.uk
College offering work experience
opportunities
City College has introduced a Work Experience Scheme in conjunction with Brighton
Jobcentre Plus to provide eight week work experience placements for unemployed 18 to
24 year old candidates. The placements offer the candidates a taste of working life, while
boosting their skills and confidence to help their journey into employment.
During the summer, the College offered administrative support placements in City Business
Skills, Health and Safety and Human Resources. “We really noticed these young people’s
confidence levels improving with one candidate who worked with the HR team managing
to secure a job seven weeks into the placement, which was fantastic to see”, said City
College’s Head of HR, Kathy Scott. “To build on this success, we’ve now launched the
scheme formally and are extending it into other areas of the College Curriculum and Support
areas. It was very positive that so many departments wanted to get involved and offer a
placement opportunity.”
The College currently has ten work experience candidates already on a placement and
programme aims are continuing to work, with one of the candidates having already secured
a permanent job. It is hoped that the scheme will feed into future apprenticeship roles at
the College. Kathy Scott added: “We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with
Jobcentre Plus to offer more opportunities in this worthwhile and rewarding programme that
is helping individuals obtain greater future employment opportunities.”
If you are in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance and are interested in work experience
opportunities at City College, contact Tristan Court on 01273 647659 or email:
tristan.court@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
Short Courses
for Employers
Essential skills and certification
for your business:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Door Supervisors
Health & Safety
IOSH
Train the Trainer
Personal Licence Holders
Food Safety
First Aid
Using ‘Twitter’ to increase business
Paediatric First Aid
Find out more
For more information about these
courses, call City Business Skills on
01273 667756 and choose Option 2
www.ccb.ac.uk
www.ccb.ac.uk
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