Aiming Higher

Aberdeen City and Shire - Aiming Higher

Aberdeen City and Shire

Preparing tomorrow’s workers, today

Aberdeenfuelling the UK economyHaving seen the athletes compete at

the Winter Olympics, our thoughts turnto the Commonwealth Games inGlasgow this summer. We will seeathletes who have spent years aimingfor this one moment – years of practice,preparation and planning to get to thispoint. Every athlete is trying to be thebest that they can be.You might wonder what this has to dowith this newsletter but all of us who

work in or around education and skills development areambitious for you – the title of this newsletter is to “AimHigher”. This is about making the most of everyopportunity, whatever job or sector you may work in.

Take time to plan and prepare for your future. Knowing andunderstanding yourself, what's important to you, your skillsand strengths and what’s out there is key.Make the most and grasp every opportunity you get. Forexample, work experience (see the article on page 3) is areally positive way you can learn about yourself as well asthe world of work. Volunteering or taking part in extracurricular activities all help you to build up skills and helpyou understand your likes and dislikes better.

We know it’s not always easy to make sense of all of this butthere are lots of people who can help – from teachers tocareers advisers to your own parents/carers. Feedback fromRGU’s Graduate Employability Strategy shows that not onlydo employers value work experience but they look forthose who are aware and confident of their interpersonalskills, strengths, personal values and motivators. Beingable to reflect and describe to others the skills you havegained from all your different activities - in or out of school- is something we all need to work on doing.

So, whatever you do, whether it’s off to University to studyBusiness, to College for Construction or taking up anApprenticeship as an Engineer, we challenge you to be thebest that you can be. Katie sums it up in her article on herapprenticeship in engineering “think big and aim for thehighest – it can be done”

Anthony Standing,Skills Development Scotland

Spring 2014

Welcome

Aberdeen is leading the way in jobcreation, with 7 out of 10 North-Eastbusinesses expecting to grow over thenext two years. That’s great news foranyone looking to enter employment,or move up the career ladder. Alreadyboasting some of the lowest

unemployment figures in Scotland, Aberdeen continues to offera wide variety of job opportunities for people of all skill sets. Thelatest figures from Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber ofCommerce show the confidence in the local industry:

57% of businesses anticipate that they will be increasing thenumber of FTE staff within the next two years to deliver growthaspirations

64% of businesses consider the quality of life in the regionhas a positive impact on growth

85% of businesses support learning and development foremployees. Initial estimates have suggested that between 2004and 2010, over 40% of the real growth in the Scottish economyoccurred in the North-East of Scotland.

ABERDEEN CITY AND ABERDEENSHIRE YOUR FUTURE IS HEREWhat is next for our key industry sectors?Energy: Creating a true global energy hub, with companies of every sizethriving within Aberdeen City and Shire.

Food and Drink: Expansion of the food and drink industry withinAberdeen City and Shire, across research and production.

Life Sciences: A vibrant life science industry, growing into aninternationally competitive life sciences community.

Sustainable Tourism: Growing visitor numbers, resulting in increasedlevels of business tourism and leisure based opportunities.

Construction: Growing businesses in Aberdeen City and Shire demandstate of the art premises creating a buoyant construction industry.

Katie Gauld talks through what life is like as an engineering apprentice. Herdetermination to follow her dream in a male dominated profession, shows thatwith hard work success is just around the corner.

As a lover of fashion and style, 20 year old KatieGauld isn’t too vain to put on a set of overalls andget her hands dirty.

Signing up to Shell’s ‘Girls in Energy’ programmeas part of her S5 course choice started her journeyto become a mechanical engineer. Looking backat the day release course at Banff and BuchanCollege, Katie said: “It was great to go out into thereal workplace and see what’s expected of you, itmade me determined to succeed as an engineer.”

Having left school and completed a NC as aMechanical Technician, Katie applied for anapprenticeship though Tullos Training. Followinga series of interviews she was offered three places,finally choosing a position as a modern apprenticewith Siemens Industrial Turbo Machinery. “Theopportunity to join a leading brand was hugelyexciting and brought many global opportunities.”

Joining a male dominated environment may sounddaunting but it hasn’t phased Katie, she said: “I wasthe only female engineer in the company but that

made me more determined to show what I coulddo. Everyone now just accepts me for the qualityof the work I produce.”

Now approaching the final year of herapprenticeship, and about to complete her HNC,Katie’s passion for engineering shines through, “Ihave fantastic opportunities to experience a widerange of engineering challenges as well as gainingan insight into customer focus and the businessside of the operation,” she said.

The Modern Apprenticeship programme Katiefollows has allowed her to realise her dream withthe support, and opportunities, afforded by thebacking of a global brand. Katie now has thechance to continue her study onto HND or degreelevel if she chooses, to back up her vast practicalexperience.

Katie’s message to other girls considering a careerin engineering is simple, “Think big and aim for thehighest, it can be done!"

Aberdeen City and Shire - Aiming Higher

Your offers for University andCollege are in or on their way – jobdone! Or is it? After allowing yourselfto bask in a warm glow ofsatisfaction, take some time to makesure you have a Plan B in place - a“just in case” plan. This might belooking into Aberdeen University’sSummer School and/or Accesscourse or applying for a HND atCollege. North East Scotland Collegehas developed a range of “2 plus 2”courses that lets you study 2 years atCollege and 2 years at University toachieve your degree. You might alsowant to think about alternatives tofull-time study. See, for example,the article on Katie’s experience as aModern Apprentice. ModernApprenticeships are jobs withstructured training and are availableacross most work sectors. Look tooat volunteering as a way ofdeveloping your skills and gain vitalwork experience. There are lots ofoptions - the key is to take time nowto plan and prepare.

Katie leads next generation of girl power

Did you know that male workers in Aberdeen earn, on average, £47.90 more a week than elsewhere in Scotland? That rises to £51.50 more if you are a full time female worker!

Plan B?OPPORTUNITIES BUILDING IN2014 FOR CONSTRUCTIONAt a time of year when many young people will be assessing their ambitions for 2014, CITBScotland is highlighting the vast and varied career opportunities available in the constructionindustry in the next 12 months and indeed years ahead.

With such a high volume of construction work planned for Grampian over the course of thenext 5-10 years this is an exciting time for the economy of the region and for any new entrantshoping to come into the construction industry.

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the work that will be generated as a result of thenew roads network will open up opportunities for new entrants in all areas of construction.The good news is that these opportunities are hugely varied, from traditional craft trades tospecialist trades as well as technical occupations such as civil engineering and surveying.

Mark Davidson, Area Delivery Manager for CITB Scotland North, said: “This is a tremendouslyexciting time for the construction industry in the north east and represents a greatopportunity for young people in the region deliberating their potential career paths. In recentyears the general trend has seen a reduction in the number of applicants looking to enter intoconstruction each year as a result of such strong competition from other industries.”

However the demand from industry hasn’t diminished at all and opportunities are currentlyavailable to people who have the desire to forge a career for themselves within construction.“Now – more than ever – there is a real chance for local people to put themselves forward tothe region’s construction industry as strong applicants for the many apprenticeship places onoffer.

“Well in excess of 100 apprenticeships were available in the Grampian area in 2013 and CITBScotland North sees no reason why this number can’t be increased in 2014 if we continue toreceive such strong applications for the places being created. There has been widespreadreporting of a potential skills shortage within construction over the next decade so we need toaddress this concern by creating apprenticeship opportunities and by having the right peoplewith the right skills – and, importantly, the desire to succeed – available to fill these places.”

Interested in a career in construction?

Visit www.citb.co.uk or contact Mark Davidson via mark.davidson@citb.co.uk today.

c Imagine how you can change your city with a career in construction

It pays to be in Aberdeen

Top Tips for interviewPotential school leavers need to get organised for what lies ahead...

1 Do your researchRead the job description carefully and note down what skills and strengths they arelooking for. Check out the company’s website and learn about what it’s about.

For more top tips on interviews, applying for jobs and much more make sure you keep checkingthe latest information on My World of Work. Alternatively make an appointment to see a SDSCareers Adviser in school or visit the Skills Development Scotland Centre in Aberdeen. If you leaveschool keep in contact with your adviser to update your progress and receive continuing support.Skills Development Scotland Centre 381 Union Street, Aberdeen 01224 285200

Work Experience

Consideredfinance as acareer direction?

Want to find out more aboutcareers in Financial Services,Accountancy and Legal? Thentake a look at the Directionswebsite.

This website provides informationabout the different sectors withinFinancial and Professional Servic-es. There are over 70 job profilesdescribing the careers within theindustry, what qualifications youneed, salary expectations and reallife case studies.

Employers from Financial Services,Accountancy and Legal regularlypromote the current careeropportunities in their organisationwhich could include:

● high quality schoolleaver programmes;

● sponsored degrees;● modern apprenticeships;● Internships;● work experience; and● graduate training

schemes.

Once you have registered onthe website (which is free) thelatest updates will be sent directto your email.

We hope the information providedon this website will give you abetter understanding of theindustry, the career choices andthe different routes in.

Why not take a look!

www.directions.org.uk

Needing that something extra?

Historically models of work experience provision in schools have focused upon a one week“entitlement” model. The Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) has initiated a move from this modelto an entitlement based on defined outcomes and achievement. This Personalisation meansthat the work placement experience is customised to meet the needs of the individual,supporting them to achieve positive and sustained destinations in the future.From an employer’s view point there is a clear business case for investing in young people tosupport long term competitiveness and growth in an ageing society. It enables businesses tosuccession plan and assists them in plugging future skills gaps. The Work Experience Servicewhich forms part of the Sports and Communities Team at Aberdeen City Council providessupport to schools to source, arrange, and RiskAssess employer placements for young people.With in excess of 1500 placements arranged inthe academic year 2012/2013 the Team work withthe business community and partners, tonegotiate placement opportunities for youngpeople which will develop their employmentskills and their awareness of the world of work.

For further information related to workexperience provision via please contact:schoolsworkexperience@aberdeencity.gov.uk

opportunitiesforall@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Think of several examples of times when you accomplished something important. Bespecific about what the task was. How you went about it, and any problems you faced.Remember to think about what skills and strengths you used to succeed.

Arrive on time2Write down the address, work out how you are going to get there and, if you can, do apractice run. Aim to arrive 15 minutes before the interview is scheduled to start. Whenyou arrive remember to switch off your mobile phone.

Review your CV3

Interviews put you under a lot of pressure and can make you forget important things.Reviewing your CV before the interview will help remind you of important skills andexperience that you can bring to the job.

Go into detail4

Ask QuestionsThis not only gives you an opportunity to clarify anything you are unsure of, it also showsyou have an enquiring mind and are genuinely interested in the job.

6

PHOTO: ALAN TULLOCK, ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL

Aberdeen City and Shire - Aiming Higher

Dress appropriatelyBut before you even sit down, they’ve already started forming an opinion – becauseregardless of whether you are about fashion or not, appearance is a big factor inmaking a good first impression. Stylist Victoria Martin says: “First impressions arelasting, so wearing something which makes you feel and look confident is important.”

5

Project SEARCH -is this what you’ve been looking for?Project SEARCH seeks to provide preparation for employment to young people withdisabilities through a mix of education and work experience placements,.

disabilities who are seeking employment. Therefore, it is anticipated that Project SEARCH will assist in addressing this local issue.

Twelve students with disabilities were selected to form the first cohort of participants ( or Interns) on the project for the academicsession which commenced on 2 September 2013. During the one year programme, the 12 “interns” will develop a range of skillsfor employment . Participants are supported to undertake three internships/work placements within their host employer on a full-time basis. They study to attain a vocational qualification and upon the conclusion of the programme, receive support to sourceand sustain paid employment.

The programme is delivered entirely on the University of Aberdeen campus, with the main base of operations being the ProjectSEARCH classroom in the King’s Pavilion. This complete immersion in the workplace ensures that the participants receive aseamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration and on-the-job training and support.

Want to find out more?

Contact: Andrew Thomson (Project SEARCH Tutor) an.thomson@nescol.ac.uk Kelly Clark (Job Coach) kelly.clark@inspiremail.org.uk

Project SEARCH is a collaboration between the University of Aberdeen, Inspire(Partnership Through Life) charity and North East Scotland College. The project seeks toprovide preparation for employment to young people with disabilities through a mix ofeducation and work experience placements.

In 2012, the Scottish Government sought to extend the programme, which originates inAmerica, within Scotland and provided funding for three licences to be issued, one of whichwas awarded to Aberdeen. As one of the main employers within the Grampian area, theUniversity of Aberdeen was identified as the partner for the project.

The national unemployment rate for adults with learning disabilities is 90% and in theAberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Council areas, there are over 1,700 individuals with

Aberdeen City and Shire - Aiming Higher

Just say YES! Did you know?● In 2014, 50% of oil and gas

operators and 73% ofcontractors anticipate anincrease in totalemployment.

● 7 out of 10 North-eastbusinesses expect togrow over the next twoyears

● 64% of businessesconsider the quality of lifein the region has apositive impact ongrowth

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SCOTLANDY.E.S. has been designed to provide opportunities for unemployed young people inAberdeen City and support business growth for local employers. The programme will helpto unlock latent demand in the local labour market and provide new employmentopportunities for young people. The programme can provide 50% of the NationalMinimum Wage for up to 26 weeks.

To be eligible for this programmeYou must be:

ü Between 16 and 24 years old, unemployed for up to six months or currently working through Community Jobs Scotland.

üOr a vulnerable young people aged 16-24 who is furthest from the labour market facing significant barriers to work.The company must be either a :

üSmall or medium employer with not more than 400 employees. ·üThird Sector or Voluntary Sector Organisation or Charity.

Young people and companies interested, should contact Jobcentre Plus for furtherinformation: employer.partnershipaberdeen@dwp.gsi.gov.uk