Your future career
A key part of your programme is to gain industry skills and experience. This will enable you to progress into a great career or go on to further study. Here’s how NTU will help to prepare you for your future.
Practical sessions
You’ll develop important technical skills in practical sessions appropriate to your course. These might include:
- horse riding
- domestic animal handling
- tractor driving
- habitat management on our college estate.
Industry experience at Brackenhurst
You’ll have the opportunity to work with our technical teams to develop important employment skills right here at Brackenhurst. These skills will give you more confidence and the ability to take on more responsibility.
Experience gained in industry
As part of your learning, you’ll start a work placement where you will gain valuable industry experience. We’ll support you in choosing a suitable employer for your placement, and we’ll work with your chosen employer to ensure you gain the experiences you need to be job ready.
Weekly careers sessions
In these sessions, you can explore your options and next steps in depth. We’ll help you write your CV and personal statement to help showcase your skills and experiences.
Employer visits and speakers
As part of your course, you’ll have the chance to visit and hear from experts in your field of study. These visits offer valuable insight into employment and what it’s like to work in the industry.
Progress to higher education
If you’re already thinking about a career path, sometimes that might require degree-level qualifications. We’ll provide you with all the guidance you need throughout the university application process.
NTU Employability team
Our team of employability specialists are dedicated to supporting your transition into work. During your studies, you can receive individual careers guidance and support, including CV-writing workshops and mock interviews.
Explore our Employability and Careers services.
Further information
Careers education, information, advice and guidance has a key role to play in ensuring that all individuals, particularly young people and their influencers, are fully informed of the range of career opportunities and pathways available. This also includes ensuring they are all supported to maximise the options open to them and are encouraged to make career decisions which will lead on to better things, whether that be further study or employment.
In December 2017, the Department for Education (DfE) released the national strategy for careers guidance, "Careers strategy: making the most of everyone’s skills and talents". The objectives of this strategy are to raise the standards of careers education across the UK ensuring that:
- all young people understand the full range of opportunities available to them, to learn from employers about work and the skills that are valued in the workplace and to have first-hand experience of the workplace;
- all young people in secondary school and college receive an excellent programme of advice and guidance, that is delivered by individuals with the relevant skills and experience;
- everyone receives support tailored to their individual circumstance. All adults should be able to access free face-to-face advice, with more bespoke support for those who most need it;
- everyone receives the information they need to understand the job and career opportunities available to them, and how their individual knowledge and skills can help them in considering suitable careers.
The main elements of the strategy include the eight Gatsby Benchmarks which are based on national and international research and help to define the elements of an excellent careers programme.
| Benchmark | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. A stable careers programme | Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents, teachers and employers. |
| 2. Learning from career and labour market information | Every pupil, and their parents, 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 the best use of available information. |
| 3. Addressing the needs of each pupil | Pupils have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout. |
| 4. Linking curriculum learning to careers | All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. For example, STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths. |
| 5. Encounters with employers and employees | Every pupil 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. |
| 6. Experiences of workplaces | Every pupil should have first-hand experiences* of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks. |
| 7. Encounters with further and higher education | All pupils 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. |
| 8. Personal guidance | Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all pupils but should be timed to meet their individual needs. |
The Deputy Head of Further Education, Martyn East acts as Career Leader with strategic responsibility for the quality and impact of the careers programme. He also chairs the Careers Action Group that was formed to bring academics, leaders and employability together.
A dedicated team of staff who implement and deliver the careers plan across the college, support Martyn.
Careers guidance is embedded into the curriculum of every course and impartial advice and guidance is available from our dedicated Matrix accredited Employability team at Nottingham Trent University.
We have an embedded programme of career education and guidance across all levels of courses. Download our latest careers programme.
Careers guidance is important for every student as they progress through their college course. We work collaboratively with the NTU employability team to ensure that each student receives the guidance they need to make informed decisions about their future career.
Nottingham Trent University is here to inspire and enhance every stage of your career planning. Whether you are considering further study, employment, or training for your next step, we are here to help.
We will help, support, and guide you so that you can approach your search for a future career with confidence, knowing that you are making the right decision for you.
We will help you to:
Recognise key strengths and focus your career goals
- we offer specialist careers advice related to your course (both individually and in groups)
- you'll have access to a dedicated careers and employability learning room
- we'll give you help with developing personal and professional skills, attributes and behaviours.
Learn about opportunities and how to access them
- we organise a wide range of employer-led events throughout the academic year
- we'll invite you to our careers fair and guest talks with employers who provide guidance and networking for employment opportunities
- we'll offer help with setting up your own business through NTU Student Enterprise
- you'll get the chance to take part in a planned workshop to provide a taste of higher education
- you'll have the opportunity to meet students that progressed to higher education through our college courses.
Improve your employment opportunities
- you'll have access to online resources and useful information through our dedicated careers and employability learning room
- you'll have access to relevant careers events, work experience opportunities, apprenticeships, and jobs
- we'll give you support with sourcing and completing work experience placements related to your course
- you'll have access to the employability team for three years after completing your course
- you'll have the opportunity to take part in the pilot T-level programme, which encompasses an additional industry placement.
Feel confident and promote yourself
- we'll support with the UCAS application process, including personal statements, with other further study or training applications, or the job application process
- we offer CV and cover letter reviews, mock interviews and feedback support.
Brackenhurst hosts various opportunities throughout the year to meet employers during workshops and guest lectures. Students can get involved in the Careers Fairs where you'll get the chance to talk to lots of different employers and organisations. Further education students receive bespoke talks about higher education and careers in related industries and we encourage students to speak with professionals on an individual basis during these events and workshops.