What Work Leicestershire
• Sandwich course A sandwich course , offered by many universities , is where you experience working in industry or working or studying abroad as part of your degree . Through this , students should gain valuable work experience and transferable skills that can enhance their CV .
• Year in Industry This programme arranges paid placements for students during their gap year before starting their degree course . www . yini . org . uk
Other options include studying abroad , work shadowing at a higher level or for a different position while already working and volunteering on a regular basis . Try www . do-it . org
Gap year
A gap year usually means taking a year before starting higher education to do something else . This could be travelling , working , doing voluntary work or learning new skills and you would need to fund this yourself . Many people take a gap year before starting at university .
A gap year could help you to :
• meet new people
• learn new skills
• experience different cultures
• improve your confidence
• learn a language
• get work experience for your chosen careers
• improve your grades
Top tip
You can apply to university or college before your gap year and defer for a year . Talk to a careers adviser or sixth form / college tutor about the best option for you . Don ’ t just think in terms of ‘ What will I do with my gap year ’, but also ‘ What will I do when I come back ’? Use your year wisely .
Many employers , universities and colleges value candidates with gap year experience , especially if the experience is relevant to the job or course applied for . As well as gaining extra skills and experience your year out will give you the chance to think carefully about your future career .
The secret to a successful gap year ? Plan it well and make the most of the time you have ! More gap year advice is on : www . prospects . ac . uk .
Prince ’ s Trust
There are a number of programmes run by the Prince ’ s Trust across the Leicester and Leicestershire area . These include helping people to build confidence and skills for work : www . princes-trust . org . uk
School leaver schemes
Some national employers offer training schemes or apprenticeships for young people leaving school or college . You can find a list of opportunities here : www . allaboutschoolleavers . co . uk
National Citizen Service
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to develop confidence , employability skills and make new friends . It ’ s open to 15 to 17 year olds and includes an adventure weekend away at an outdoor pursuits centre , then skills days with a range of workshops . www . leics-ebc . org . uk / national _ citizen _ service /
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