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

Godalming College 

Sadly, no further open events announced. 

1^st July – Going to Godalming College  Parents Eve

4/5^th July – Going to Godalming College Days

Find out more

Richmond Upon Thames College 

Open Event dates:

• Thursday 25 April 2024, 5-8pm
• Tuesday 18 June 2024, 5-8pm

Find out more

Guildford College 

Sadly, no further open events announced. 

Find out more

Farnham College 

Sadly, no further open events announced. 

Find out more 

Merrist Wood College 

Sadly, no further open events announced. 

Find out more 

Elmbridge Sports College 

Sadly, no further open events announced. 

Find out more 

South Thames Colleges Group 

Sadly, no further open events announced. 

Find 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 

Virtual Work Experience 

Students considering a career in the Allied Health Professions (AHP) are encouraged to secure their place on the programme as soon as possible. This will allow them to complete several sessions of work experience before the UCAS and apprenticeships deadline for NHS Health Careers in January.

The NHS Allied Healthcare Work Experience successfully invited 12,000 students to participate in its programme last academic year, making it the largest programme for students who are interested in the following careers:

- Nursing
- Midwifery
- Paramedicine
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Dietetics
- Radiography
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Pharmacy

Students are awarded a Work Experience Certificate for every session they complete. Those who complete the full 6-month programme will be awarded a Highly Commended Reference too. These are fantastic additions to their apprenticeship and UCAS applications!

During the work experience day, students will follow 2 patients from their initial presentation to recovery. They will gain a unique insight into how patients interact with a variety of healthcare professionals and what it’s like to work in an NHS multidisciplinary team.

Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with healthcare professionals throughout each day. This will empower students to make informed career decisions and demonstrate their commitment to healthcare in their UCAS applications.

Students can register individually at any time throughout the 6-month programme using the link below. We recommend booking early to gain as much out of this programme as possible. Places are £10 a session to cover administrative and technological costs.
 

Register Here 

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

Work Experience Preparation Presentation 2023 

In celebration of Midwives Day and International Nurses Day, Inspiring the Future and the NHS are partnering to deliver two virtual healthcare careers sessions, where students will have the opportunity to deep dive into the diverse worlds of midwifery and nursing respectively, and discover the range of career opportunities and specialisms within those professions, as well as pathways into them.

These sessions are tailored for students in KS4 and above, with a warm welcome extended to KS3 students as well. It will feature interesting quiz questions, insightful talks from distinguished healthcare volunteers, and dedicated time for Q&A. 

If you'd like to attend either or both of these sessions, please register via the links below. Upon registration, participants will receive a unique joining link via email.

Students can register individually by entering their name, email, school, 'student' for job title, and '1' for number of students while leaving other fields as 'n/a'."

NHS Careers Session: Midwifery, Wednesday 8th May, 9.30am - 10.30am

Midwifery within the NHS (National Health Service) in the UK is a crucial aspect of maternal healthcare. Midwives provide care, support, and advice for women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. 

For this session students will get a broad overview of midwifery, gain a deeper understanding of the role it plays in healthcare, discover the range of specialisms and career opportunities, and gain top tips for breaking in the field.

Speaker line up:

• Gaynor Armstrong - Director of Midwifery, Women's & Children's Group
• Roxanne Jones - Cross Site Integrated Digital Midwife
• Nadia Permalloo - Quality and Improvement Lead, Midwifery  
• Elaine Daly - Senior Charge Midwife

Midwifery Registration 

NHS Careers Session: Nursing, Wednesday 15th May, 9.30am - 10.30am

Nursing in the NHS involves providing essential healthcare services to patients across various settings, including hospitals, clinics, and community health centres. Nurses play a crucial role in patient care, working alongside other healthcare professionals to assess, plan, and deliver treatments and interventions.

For this session students will get a broad overview of the nursing profession, learn about the different types of nursing that exist and the range of career opportunities, and gain top tips for breaking into the field.

Speaker line up:

• Damian Griffiths – Lead Nurse, Surgery in Children
• Dinah Ofosu-Asante - Lead Nurse For Healthcare Support Workers
• Gemma George – Learning Disability Nurse
• Alejandro Pérez Miras – Research Nurse

Nursing Registration 

Year 10 Discovery Courses  June 2024  

We have been offered the chance for our Year 10 students to have the opportunity to go to Godalming college and find out about the courses they offer which they may not have had the opportunity to study at GCSE. These courses will help Year 10 students find out more about these subjects, how they fit in to any future career aspirations and perhaps give them an insight into a subject they may not have considered studying.

There are 15 discovery courses to choose from and each will run at Godalming College from 4:30 to 5:30pm each Tuesday afternoon from 4th to 25th June. It will be possible for students to book just one session or up four (one for each of the four weeks). All sessions are free of charge. Spaces are limited so book fast!

Book Here 

Toni & Guy – Apprenticeship online event

Toni & Guy are offering a half-hour zoom meeting on Wednesday the 29^th of May at 12.30pm to answer questions related to their apprenticeships. There will be five speakers: Charley Henery, Sarah Brockbank, Cathy Weston, Alexandra Aitken and Hannah Sheperd.

Register here