Careers & Future Planning Resources

See below a selection of some local colleges and the dates of their open events, follow the links for more information. 

Godalming College 

2nd October 2024 - Year 11 Open Evening 

Find out more

Guildford College 

Find out more

Farnham College 

Find out more Merrist Wood College 

Find out more 

Elmbridge Sports College 

Find out more 

South Thames Colleges Group 

ind out more

Activate Apprenticeships offers award-winning training for learners including School Leavers. We work with some of the UK’s top employers and provide fantastic opportunities for students across a variety of sectors.  

Find out more. 

We have apprenticeships in the following areas: 

·         Business Administration 

·         Construction 

·         Cycles 

·         Digital 

·         Early Years 

·         Education 

·         Furniture 

·         Hairdressing and Barbering 

·         Health and Social Care 

·         Hospitality and Professional Cookery 

·         Land 

Students in Year 11 can register their interest, regardless of whether they have yet found an employer to provide the apprenticeship. 

Register here. 

Applications for Activate Apprenticeships are now open for the 2024/25 academic year. 

Activate have given the following advice regarding applications:

• Please can you use an email address you have continuous access to (i.e., Not your school email)
• You must check spam folders for application updates.
• Save the Activate Learning phone number (0800 612 6008) as a contact in your mobile phones so that you can be sure to answer it (please note, not all students will receive a phone call during the application process this year)
• Include the name of your current school where requested.
• Add detail about any support needs so that they can continue to provide appropriate measures at college.              
• Update Activate Learning of any changes to contact details.
• Students are welcome to apply for more than one course, however you will only receive an offer for a maximum of two courses.
• Many of our courses are oversubscribed. Therefore, places will be allocated by application and enrolment date order. Students are advised to put their applications in early to avoid disappointment. 
• Offers are subject to GCSE results and enrolment completion. 

'How to apply' Guide 

ARC (Arena Racing Company) and the SLDF have joined forces to create a unique apprenticeship opportunity within the world of racing, specifically tailored for young people aged 16 to 24. 

Embarking on a journey at the heart of the racing world, working in roles that make a real impact that may otherwise would have been unattainable to some. ARC are currently offering apprenticeships in Maintenance, Administration, Hotel, and Estates at the iconic Lingfield Park racecourse. These apprenticeships provide a pathway to permanent employment, opening doors to a fulfilling and dynamic career in the racing industry. 

What's exceptional about this opportunity is that no prior experience or qualifications are necessary. ARC in partnership with the SLDF value positive attitudes and strong work ethics above all else. If you are a young person who is passionate, eager to learn, and excited to dive into a new adventure, consider applying.

Here are some of the exciting benefits that await the prospective apprentices: 

• Starting salary of £18,000 per year
• Fantastic work perks 
• A vibrant and inclusive workspace

Find out more 

Bird & Bird’s Early Bird Pathway Programme is their flagship social mobility initiative to support, develop and equip young people with skills they need to achieving their career potential. It’s a seven year programme of skill-based and insight workshops, receive networking opportunities and general support and guidance. The programme starts with the Early Bird Pioneer Programme which is designed for students to gain an insight into the legal sector and the full range of careers available within the professional services industry, as well as prepare you with relevant developmental skills for a successful career.

Find out more. 

The aim of the Early Birds Pathway is to help you kickstart your career in the legal sector by equipping you with all the key skills you need to fulfil your potential. The programme starts in Year 10 and lasts seven years in total.  

Eligibility Criteria:

Students who apply for the Early Bird Pioneer will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:

•      Must be in Year 10;

•      Must attend a state (non-fee paying) school.

•      Must be the first generation in your immediate family to potentially attend university; and

•      Should be on track to achieve at least 5 A grades or 5 Level 7 and above in GCSE, including English and Maths.

You must also fulfil one or more of the below criteria:

•       Have been or are eligible for free school meals;

•       Attend a sixth form college or school where more than 25% of pupils are eligible for free school meals;

•       Spent time in local authority care; and/or

•       Are, or have been, a parent or a registered carer.

Apply Here

National NHS Work Experience programme

Applications for the free National NHS Virtual Work experience programme have now opened for 2023-2024! This programme has supported over 30,000 secondary school students obtain free work experiences last year. Virtual work experiences have been accepted by the Medical Schools and Dental Schools Council as valuable alternatives to in-person shadowing, backed by the Health Education England Discovery report on the impact of virtual work placements. This programme is brought to you by Birmingham Universities Hospitals Trust in collaboration with Medic Mentor, and it is completely free. Not only is this a reliable alternative to in-person shadowing, but it also plays a significant role in preparing students for their in-person work placements with structured teaching and opportunities to speak directly with healthcare professionals. The opportunity is open to any student across the UK from 14 years old and above.

Apply here

UCAS Conference for Medicine

We are pleased to share with you that registration for the national free UCAS conferences for students interested in becoming doctors has opened. Students will be awarded a certificate of attendance which can be listed on their Medical School UCAS applications for ‘activities that support higher education’. The events have marked a valuable turning point for students and are open to students from any school and background in 10-12 year groups.

Upcoming Dates:

Saturday 27th April from 9:30am - 3:30pm

Following their attendance at our UCAS Get Into Medicine conference, your students can unlock a wealth of support:

- Gain valuable free medical work experience
- Schedule free 15-minute Zoom appointments with doctors and medical students
- Access free medical extracurricular activities to stand out
- Explore opportunities to apply for medical school scholarships and awards
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the application process to become a doctor

The Get into Medicine UCAS Conference is a comprehensive guide to the medical application process.The doctors and medical students will cover:

- Application Timelines
- How to Tactically Choose Medical Schools
- CV Building
- Personal Statements
- Medical School Interviews
-UCAT - Entrance Exams to Medical School
- Medical Leadership and Awards Programmes
- Accessing Work Experience
- Accessing Scholarships

Conference Registration Form 

As the end of the autumn term draws ever closer, it's easy to get caught up in the countdown to the Christmas holidays and forget that time is also running out to apply for some of the fantastic placements we have scheduled for the new year and beyond.

Here's a quick round-up of sessions with some of our favourite employers that you really won't want to miss! As the saying goes, there's no time like the present, and submitting an application really does take only a matter of minutes: simply pick a placement that appeals, hit apply, and follow the simple instructions. Come January you'll be grateful you did!

Love music? Join the University of Huddersfield for a 2.5-hour masterclass where you'll discover the huge range of careers available in sound, engineering, and music technology. - 31st January Apply here

What makes a Bentley so special? Join Bentley Motors for their first-ever 5-day placement to go behind the scenes and discover careers with at one of the world's most prestigious luxury car brands. - 1st July - 5th JulyApply here

Thinking about a job in beauty and healthcare? Join Boots for up to 8 hour-long sessions delivered over a 10-week period to learn more about the different career paths they offer. - 10th January - 13th March Apply here

Youth Employment UK - Free Online Skills and Careers Courses

For young people aged 14-24 to boost their skills and career confidence with online training. Courses include

• Journey To Work 

Aged 17+ This free online course helps build skills and careers confidence. Follow this link: Journey To Work - Free Online Course - Youth Employment UK

• Preparing For Your Future 

Aged 14-16. This free course helps build skills and careers confidence. Follow this link: Preparing For Your Future - Free Online Course - Youth Employment UK

• In Apprenticeships 

Youth Employment UK have partnered with The Careers & Enterprise Company to help apprentices during training. Follow this link: In Apprenticeships - Free Online Courses For Apprentices - Youth Employment UK

• Explore Apprenticeships 

Thinking about doing an apprenticeship? This introductory course is a great place to start. Follow this link: Explore Apprenticeships - Free Online Course - Youth Employment UK

Gaining valuable work experience is a must-have for medical and dental applications, and we understand the challenges students may face while finding the right placement. Luckily, medical and dental schools have accepted Virtual Work Experience as a valuable alternative to in-person shadowing, and can play a significant role in preparing students for their in-person work placements through structured teaching and opportunities to speak directly with healthcare professionals.

Our Virtual Work Experience Programme is brought to you by Birmingham Universities Hospitals Trust in collaboration with Medic & Dental Mentor. It is free to participate in, and is open to any student across the UK from 14 years old and above who has attended one of our FREE virtual Get Into Conferences!

Our next Get Into Medicine Conferences are:
- Sunday 29th September, 9:30am - 3:30pm
- Saturday 5th October, 9:30am - 3:30pm
- Sunday 6th October, 9:30am - 3:30pm
Register here: https://airtable.com/appgXnyzN5ZD9Iwk6/shry7MZYtt3MGPjvO

Our next Get Into Dentistry Conference is:
- Saturday 28th September, 9:30am - 3:30pm
https://airtable.com/appgXnyzN5ZD9Iwk6/shrBuiR7SBAcC19kE

The Get into Medicine or Get Into Dentistry Conference is a complete guide to the medical or dental application journey. Students get essential insights into the medical/dental UCAS application process (such as the NEW personal statement structure), connect with professionals, fellow students, and gain a deeper understanding of a future career in medicine or dentistry.

Our conferences will provide tailored advice, covering essential topics such as:
- Application Timelines
- How to Tactically Choose Medical/Dental Schools
- CV Building
- Personal Statements - New format from 2026
- Medical/Dental School Interviews
- UCAT - Entrance Exams to Medical/Dental School
- Medical Leadership and Awards Programmes
- Accessing Work Experience
- Accessing Scholarships

Students will be awarded a certificate of attendance, which can be listed on their UCAS applications for ‘activities that support higher education’.

Students and parents can register for FREE here:
Medicine: https://airtable.com/appgXnyzN5ZD9Iwk6/shry7MZYtt3MGPjvO
Dentistry: https://airtable.com/appgXnyzN5ZD9Iwk6/shrBuiR7SBAcC19kE

Please ensure you have a functioning camera and microphone for the session. It's also important that you have a parent or guardian present at these conferences, not only for safeguarding but also to gain insight and guidance to support you effectively.

Our doctors, dentists and medical/dental students look forward to welcoming your students at the conference and they will join our network of successful students who attended these programmes over the last ten years: https://medicmentor.org/successful-student-journeys-reviews/