Careers Events

We run 5 annual careers events across the academic year, bringing industry experts on campus to talk to you directly. You will also have access to online careers materials, attend visits to employers and hear talks from numerous guest speakers to help you develop your future plans.

Our Careers Department will use their wealth of contacts and experience to help you smoothly transition onto your next steps; whether that’s university, an apprenticeship or employment. Throughout your studies, you’ll be invited to meet a range of representatives and experts, with the opportunity to talk to them about their industry, organisation and career history. These will provide valuable practical insights into different work environments, what different jobs entail and how to progress along a particular career path.

Whilst we have currently put guest speaker visits to the college, or student trips to external organisations on hold, we are pleased to add that we are still planning to continue with a programme of online Masterclasses and interviews for students, as we work hand-in-hand with our regular, trusted partners, Career Ready and Form the Future; charities who aim to develop student insights into the world of work by showing them what pathways are available out there, and by delivering workshops to develop the necessary skills to support their qualifications.  It is an approach we believe in strongly and will endeavour to do the same throughout the 2020-21 Academic Year.

Progression Fair

Sadly, we were forced to cancel our Annual Progression Event in the Summer Term 2020, asking over 30 organisations to suspend coming to the college due to COVID-19.

This is event is billed as one of the best in the County, introducing students to representatives from all the different progression routes available to them, however, we did manage to replace it with a full programme of Zoom Interviews between staff and external links.

All students had the opportunity to join in discussions, ask questions, or simply observe.  We recorded these too and made them available to those who couldn’t make it via our video and podcast library.

Apprenticeship Careers Fair

Our Annual Apprenticeship Careers Fair is held in Spring Term, with our Careers department working in conjunction with local charity, Form the Future, to host this exciting event. Together, we offered students the opportunity to speak to a broad range of employers and Apprenticeship Training Providers, so that they could think through this option and ask any pertinent questions to help with their progression planning.

Last year 20 separate organisations took up stands and discussed their opportunities with our students, giving  insights into potential career paths, as well as answering general questions on, “…what it means to be an Apprentice.”

We were also pleased to welcome back former students Alicia Cunnew (Applied Science graduate 2019, now working for Astra Zeneca) and Ryan Brazier (graduate of Business Studies 2019, now working for Morgan Sindall).

Health and Social Care Careers Fair

This is a bespoke Careers Event for Health and Social Care students held annually in the Autumn Term.

A wide range of employers, Apprenticeship providers and local FE college reps providing workshops that helped students to develop self-awareness and insights into developing good strategies to secure a future job role.

In addition, students had the chance to access a “speed-date-style” event, moving between 15 stands for short presentations about jobs and organisations in the sector.

After Long Road – Parents Event

This is an opportunity specifically for parents to find out about some of the different progression routes open to students after they finish Long Road.

It is aimed at Parents of Year 1 students but all parents are welcome to attend.

Previous speakers include Anglia Ruskin University, University of East Anglia apprenticeship opportunities and industry professionals.

UCAS Higher Education Fair

Not sure if university is right for you? What university to go to? Or what to study? Don’t panic!

All of our Year 1 students are invited to the UCAS Higher Education Conference held in Cambridgeshire every summer.

This event gives our students the opportunity to talk over 100 university staff and students from across the UK face-to-face and attend workshops led by UCAS experts.

Higher Education Month

Every October we celebrate Higher Education Month, inviting a number of universities on campus to talk to our students about their progression options.

University representatives spend the day in our Learning Resource Centre, where students are able to talk to them on an individual basis; having their questions answered and finding out what each university has to offer them.

In 2019 we had 13 universities visit our campus:

• Anglia Ruskin University
• Coventry University
• De Montfort University
• Dundee University
• Leeds Beckett University
• University of Bedfordshire
• University of Brighton
• University of East Anglia
• University of Essex
• University of Hertfordshire
• University of Lincoln
• University of Plymouth
• University of Suffolk