Be an Entrepreneur at University – run your own business before you graduate (or just after !)

Although a lot of the talk around education and qualifications is focused on them leading to a specific job or career area, there is one career that doesn’t require anyone to say they will take you on. This is the position of being Self Employed or working for yourself. This is a huge area and covers many occupations from Hairdressing to Building to Barrister and Medical Consultant. Increasingly many universities are recognising this fact and encouraging students to develop business ideas and companies whilst at University. In the south west Plymouth brands itself as the ‘enterprise’ university http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/enterprise whilst other institutions such as Bristol Uni offer a range of support for students to pursue business ideas http://www.bristol.ac.uk/red/students/ .  I realise that entrepreneur is quite a buzz word at the moment, but if you want something a bit unusual then a report on the way that dance provision in the HE sector develops employability and entrepreneurial skills in the student dancer does make fascinating reading ! http://www.palatine.ac.uk/files/723.pdf

Whichever university you are considering it may well have something similar available and is well worth checking out. Look at the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship website for more info  http://www.ncge.com/home.php.  Business success isn’t limited to a particular degree, university or grade, but a good idea well executed. Other general advice is available from your adviser/tutor or through the links shown on our website page for employment support http://www.connexions-somerset.org.uk/jobs/Jobhuntersguide/Job_Seeking_on_web.html#wfy

Speak to someone about Higher Education – or just look at a website ?

Getting advice about Higher Education is am important thing, but who makes sure the advice you get is impartial and independent? Lots of people have opinions and thoughts about HE, but how helpful is it with the people giving the advice being trained? Some people do theirs training via their professional organisation, or by attending university events. However in Somerset we are putting 10 of our advisers through the new Higher Education Advisers Certificate run and validated by London South Bank University. This is a Masters level programme and builds on the skills and experience of our staff that between them have many years of working at this level. Indeed we do have staff who already give HE advice to undergraduates and graduates but have never been able to have this aptitude certified. Such an award will be in addition to the specific careers advisory qualifications they already need to be a Careers and Skills Adviser. At Connexions Somerset we feel it is important to build on the skills of our staff and develop our ability to help people make positive career choices. Higher Education can be expensive, involve commitment of time and applied academic effort. All of  which means that good advice on this option is important to ensure that you can benefit from the opportunity. There was an interesting article in the Guardian about this whole issue of speaking to someone who is able to offer professional advice and guidance on this area, compared to just looking at some websites and deciding by yourself. I’m sure all tutors and staff in 6th forms and colleges would recognise the work entailed in this area. As a prospective student by all means look at the web resources, log-on to various social networking sites and check out the various message boards that you might find useful, but do speak to someone who can give you unbiased advice as well. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jan/05/higher-education-careers-advice-professional

Somerset College HE Student of the Year

Engineering and design are two natural areas of expertise, wedded in many people’s minds by such items as the Dyson vacuum cleaner range or the iPod. However mechanical engineering and design was behind many great inventions and revolutions in our history and this expertise is still needed today. Starting her HE studies at Somerset College led Natalie Gilbert on to a BSc in Mechanical Design Technology at Plymouth University and winning the HE Student of the year at Somerset College. Courses in STEM areas, (Science Technology Engineering and Maths), can open the doors to many careers, check out http://www.futuremorph.org/ for ideas, plus you can start your degree studies in Somerset colleges if you wish. http://www.somerset.ac.uk/news/somerset-college-he-student-year-pictured-at-division-technology-awards-ceremony.html