Furness College Supports National Careers Week

Furness College is supporting National Careers Week this year with a variety of virtual workshops for all students to join in and interact with running from 1st March – 6th March.

The College has teamed up with College Alumni; Hello Future and Ask Apprenticeships to create useful webinars which will inspire students to believe they can achieve anything if they put their mind to it.

Careers experts from Furness College and Hello Future have created some great webinars for our students including a presentation from Paralympic athlete Karen Darke. Karen competed at the 2012 London Paralympics winning a silver medal in the Women’s road time trial H1-2. Karen’s story is living proof that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it and it is a great example for all our students to learn from, and take away valuable life lessons.

We also have an insightful interview with Furness College Alumni Sophie Ward. Sophie studied Law, Sociology and Religious Studies at the College and she told us all about her journey from College student to solicitor. Sophie has also given some great advice to students looking to progress down the same path.

National Careers Week has provided some great inspirational quotes to be used to show support for the campaign.

“Choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

“Think of your path to success in stages, you have just started the first stage.”

Alongside external individuals being used many College staff have pledged to support this week by dedicating time to tell the students about the opportunities available to them; inform them of their own experience, and how they got to the place they are now.

Sarah Carter, Student Services Manager and Careers Leader for Furness College, said by getting involved in National Careers Week it allows our students to expand their horizons and see how many opportunities they have the option to pursue.

“National Careers Week offers the opportunities to gain valuable information and advice from people who have been in the same or similar position to you so it is a great inspiration and proof that our students can achieve anything they put their mind to.”

“It is important we educate our students on the next steps after College, and prepare them for the world of work because the skills they learn from us are transferable to the careers they’re dreaming of and it is a great opportunity to show our students how they can get there because they do have the skills.”

“Here at Furness College we have invested heavily in quality Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance, we have professionally qualified Careers Advisers who are able to provide individual and confidential appointments to all our learners. In addition we also work closely with Inspira who can offer valuable careers guidance”

National Careers Week Case Study – Megan Skyrme

Megan Skyrme is using her apprenticeship to build an exciting career at BAE Systems in Barrow.

The 17-year-old says she was inspired to follow in her older sister’s footsteps and take on a Mechanical Fitter apprenticeship.

After leaving school, Megan was keen to experience a working environment while continuing to study, making an apprenticeship the perfect choice for her.

She says: “I have loved the opportunities and experiences that have come my way through my apprenticeship.

“I have also loved learning and building my skills that I can use for the rest of my life. I strongly believe that an apprenticeship is one of the best ways to learn as well as experience the working environment.

“My apprenticeship has also allowed me to meet new people and share my knowledge in a team of others, this has progressed to create amazing bonds and friendships with my fellow employees.”

Through her apprenticeship, Megan has honed a number of key employability skills that she hopes will help her to progress in the business in future.

She says: “I have learnt so much from a practical point of view. My apprenticeship is helping me to build my future by giving the foundations to a great career in mechanical engineering.

“I have also worked on my own personal skills. My apprenticeship has given me the confidence to speak to different people and perform to my best ability, and it has also given me the chance to focus on teamwork and helping others I work alongside.”

Megan is grateful to those who have supported her on her apprentice journey, and is keen to give back to the business in future.

She says: “I would like to thank my employer for giving me this opportunity and allowing me to have training and knowledge that can be used in the future of my career.

“I would also like to give thanks to my fellow employees that I work alongside as they have given me the confidence and motivation to come out of my comfort zone and gain a better experience.

“In the future, roles such as team leader and skills coach really appeal to me and they would allow me to share all the skills I have gained over the years and help those who are new to the business.”