Digi Skills Agency

You are here: Home / Archives for university

university

5 benefits of an Apprenticeship Vs University

by

When you’re ready to leave school, there are usually two paths you can follow in terms of future education. You can go to College/Sixth Form, maybe do your A Levels and go to University, or secure an apprenticeship. For many years there has been a stigma around apprenticeships. Views have developed that you will find it difficult to secure a high earning job if you follow this path and are simply not true. More businesses are taking on apprentices now than ever. By the end of this blog, you’ll understand 5 reasons why you should choose an apprenticeship over a university path.

 

  1. Earn While You Learn

With an apprenticeship, you will be able to earn a wage whilst gaining a qualification. This is one of the main attractions of apprenticeships as you can earn a qualification equal to that of a degree while making money simultaneously. Money and qualifications aren’t the only things you will get out of an apprenticeship, you’ll also gain experience. Experience is priceless.

 

  1. Experience and Education

As mentioned in the last point, experience in the real world of work is something that can be valued more than a degree. Experience in your chosen field will prove to employers that you understand the theory behind your job and you’ve demonstrated putting it into practice. Having a certificate on your wall is all well and good but ultimately, showing you can do the job to employers will automatically give you an advantage over someone who is sat in a lecture theatre for the past 4 years.

 

 

  1. Avoid Student Debt And University Fees

Going to university means you have to pay an annual £9000 in tuition fees. If you’re lucky you’ll come from a family who are financially comfortable and won’t find any difficulty funding your tuition, however, not everyone can say the same. Most people will have to take out a student loan to pay for their tuition. This means finding yourself in debt before you even start to work. These debts won’t be paid off easily, the typical UK university graduate accrues £20-44,000 in student loans by the time they graduate and many are still paying them off decades later.

 

 

  1. Incredible future prospects

Upon finishing your apprenticeship you could potentially find yourself in an incredibly good position. You could be kept on by your employer as a full-time employee with the opportunity of working your way up through the company to management positions. Or you could possibly move to a different employer and start fresh in a new company. Either way, the sky is the limit. With your qualification and work experience, the future is literally in your hands.

 

  1. Teaching and Training

Throughout your apprenticeship, you will be learning on and off the job from a variety of different angles. Within your workplace, you will be mentored by experienced workers, with the opportunity to watch closely how to do the job. Learning the trade from someone who has been doing it for years will teach you something no university can. Throughout an apprenticeship, you will also receive off the job training. Here you will learn the theory behind the work you’re doing in the workplace. The training you will receive on and off the job, will give you the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to tackle the role yourself.

 

With this information, you will hopefully make the decision to choose an apprenticeship route. If you’re struggling with deciding your career path or would like to know more information, please feel free to contact us on hello@graffitirecruitment.co.uk

 

Check out our Apprenticeship Jobs Available now. 

 

 

 

 

 

Alberto Plaza – Itecne.co.uk

I’ve Graduated…What Next?

by

I’ve Graduated – What do I do now? 6 reasons why you don’t need to panic!

It’s that time of year again! You have done all the hard work; you have received that really expensive piece of A4 paper that states you have officially entered into the adult world. Employment is looming and inspiration has yet to strike about your future plans, it’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of despair. All of your friends are starting fancy grad schemes or tracking off around Europe, while the only thing you’ve got lined up is a Game of Throne’s Marathon and scheduled panic attacks about the graduate job market, while mum and dad breath down your neck about getting a job!

Your student discount card is about to expire, and if another family member asks you about your career plans then you might just have a breakdown. Sound familiar? These six points might help to reassure you.

1. You’re still young

Those who started a three-year course straight from school will have only just turned 21, so there’s no rush to accept the first 9-5 job that you’re offered. Becky Williams, a recent graduate from Cardiff University, turned down several graduate jobs in favour of continuing with bar work.

She says: “I don’t see the point in accepting a poorly-paid graduate job that I’m not even sure I want to do, just because I’m expected to. I’d rather save up until I’ve had time to decide what I really want to pursue.”

2. Comparing yourself to other people is a waste of time

Just because your housemate has secured their ideal job doesn’t mean that you’re a failure by contrast.

3. You can’t discover who you want to be until you find out who you are

Personalities often change at university, which can be daunting beyond the bubble of campus life. Challenge yourself by experiencing something new, while you still have the chance. Chris Jenkins of Southampton University has just returned from Southeast Asia, in time for his graduation:

“I had wanted to travel and experience different cultures for a while, and the summer before starting work provided that opportunity. It was the best experience of my life. I thoroughly recommend going out into the world and seeing it for yourself, regardless of whether you have a job lined up for your return”, he said.

4. Many successful career-people have ‘fallen into’ their line of work

Recent statistics from the New College of the Humanities found that 19 out of 20 graduates had switched jobs within three years. Be confident enough to accept that your dream career might not be as you had hoped, and devise a new plan according to the aspects that you enjoyed.

5. Your degree won’t go to waste

Deciding that you don’t want to be a psychologist doesn’t necessarily mean that the three years and thousands of pounds spent on a psychology degree was all for nothing – any university education teaches a desirable skill set. According to Prospects, many graduate employers seek degree-level candidates rather than those disciplined in a specific subject.

6. You’re not alone

Marcus Zientek, a careers adviser at Sheffield University, says that many students are unsure of their plans after graduation:

“How uncertain they are does vary, from those who have an interest in a general area of work but have not yet decided about it, to those who describe themselves as not having any ideas at all.

“Panicking doesn’t help and is unnecessary anyway. Don’t let things drift – keep calm and make a plan. Realise that you’re not deciding what to do with the rest of your life, but choosing a good next step for you.”

What to do next – Keep you options open, and get yourself out there!

Graduate careers fairs are an important resource for graduate appointments – even if you don’t get a graduate placement as a direct result of the fair, you’re still taking steps towards your chosen career and moving closer to recruitment in your perfect job.

A suitable graduate placement can be difficult to find, and with the amount of competition vying for graduate appointments you have to use every avenue you can to maximise your chances of finding the right graduate placement for you.

Careers fairs are one of the best ways to find graduate appointments in your area of interest. A careers fair is an excellent opportunity to meet potential employers face to face and market yourself to your chosen industry. Even if you haven’t finished your course and are still in further study, careers fairs are still worthwhile as a source of information, contacts and interview experience.

If you are interested in attending a graduate recruitment careers fair, the upcoming ‘National Graduate Recruitment Exhibition’ may be the ideal opportunity for you. It will be taking place on the 4th and 5th of November and will be held inside the NEC in Birmingham. Check it out by clicking here.

 Job recruitment at careers fairs

Job recruitment careers fairs offer a multitude of benefits to graduates. If you’re ambitious and organised you can get a lot out of a career fair, including;

Honing your interview skills – Even if you aren’t offered a job, talking to prospective employers about graduate appointments gives you valuable confidence and experience of interviews.

Expanding your network – Meeting job recruiters and even fellow graduates helps you build useful contacts for future reference.

Learning industry information – Speaking to job recruitment professionals in your chosen sector is a great way to learn about the industry.

Gathering information about companies – Investigating the kind of graduate placements offered by a company tells you a lot about that organisation as a whole.

Job Hunting

It’s rare to fall straight into a job after you’ve graduated. Job hunting can take several months so it’s important to stay motivated in your job search and make the most of the opportunities and support out there. These jobseeking tips and tricks will help you choose your ideal career, search for job vacancies and stay focused on your career goals.

  • Research industries and companies that interest you
  • Get out there and speak to companies proactively at exhibitions etc..
  • Sign up to recruitment consultancies. Let them help and identify your next career move
  • Stay motivated. It can take a while to find that right job role. It will be worth it!
  • Graffiti Recruitment can give sound industry advice hints and tips on your next move.

If you are interest in IT Technology roles then be sure to check out some of our latest jobs by clicking here!

Need advice on employability? Look no further.
www.graffitirecruitment.co.uk

Search for Business Executive of the Year 2016

by

The search is under way to find the Business Executive of the Year for 2016.

The Business Executive of the Year will be chosen from the winners of three other categories – Small, Medium and Large Business Executives of the Year.

The awards, held by the Leicester Mercury in association with the University of Leicester, aim to celebrate the business people who have seen great success with their firms throughout the year.

Other categories include Non-Executive of the Year, Young Business Executive of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Last year, Priyesh Patel, of Leicester-based Cofresh, won the Medium Business Executive award and was named the overall Business Executive of the Year.

Mr Patel, managing director of the UK’s top Asian snack company, was crowed the winner after a successful year.

This included milestones such as increasing turnover by nearly £3 million in the 12 months to December 2014 compared to the previous year, moving into new premises in Menzies Road, Leicester, and announcing plans to crack the Indian market.
At the time, Priyesh – known as Pete – said: “Accepting both awards, one has to appreciate that these awards are only achievable with the right people around you.

“That includes support from my wife and uncles and key management and everybody on the packing lines.

“Everybody puts in 100 per cent and the passion they have for the business is reflected in everything we do.

“The true inspirations are my father Dinesh who started the business and my mother Savita.

“The business has picked up many awards and my father has also picked up awards, but this is the first time I have picked up an executive award.”

The winners for this year’s event will be announced at a glamorous black tie event on Thursday, November 3 at the King Power Stadium in Leicester.

The other winners at last year’s event included Bob Woods, chairman of Enderby-based wealth management company Mattioli Woods (Lifetime Achievement), Andy Cliffe, of East Midlands Airport (Large Business Executive), Geoff Rowe, of Big Difference Company (Small Business Executive) and Will Prentice, of Elite Scooters (Young Business Executive).

The nominees for the Business Executive of the Year Awards are compiled by the Leicester Mercury business team and the judges.

The judging panel consists of Stephen Gould, from Everards Brewery, Eileen Richards, who runs Eileen Richards Recruitment, Alastair Cunningham, East Midlands agent for the Bank of England, Chris Darlington, partner at Mazars, Chris Shaw and Anjuu Trevedi, of the University of Leicester, KPMG East Midlands senior partner Ian Borley, Mike Kapur of Signum Corporate Communications, Mike Waterfield, director of Torr Waterfield, Dr Nik Kotecha, chief executive of Morningside Pharmaceuticals, Tim Horrocks, head of the Quilter Cheviot Leicester office, Tim Maxted, chairman and chief executive of Berkeley Insurance, Emma Knight, of East Midlands Trains, Mercury publisher David Simms and business editor Tom Pegden.

The judges will also be joined by representatives from the following sponsors to help them in making their decisions: AON and Handlesbanken.

The University of Leicester is the headline sponsor for the awards.

A University of Leicester spokeswoman said: “This is the university’s fifth year of sponsoring the awards, which we choose to do primarily because we want to support businesses and the local area by recognising, applauding and celebrating the excellent work undertaken by leading business executives.

“It is important that we recognise and celebrate the dedication, passion and innovation that local business leaders bring to their roles, as these are essential ingredients to the success and growth of their own businesses, the Leicestershire economy and the many people they employ.

“Secondly, the university wishes to engage and build mutually beneficial long-term working relationships with innovative executives and their businesses from Leicester and Leicestershire.

“By sponsoring the Business Executive of the Year Awards, the university is able to identify successful executives and their great businesses.

“We have established a number of industry facing initiatives to enable us to work with local businesses such as the ASDEC

(Advanced Structural Dynamics Evaluation Centre), the UK’s first commercial 3D (non-contact) measurement and modal analysis centre offering specialist structural dynamics expertise based at HORIBA MIRA near Hinckley, and the Leicester Innovation Hub, a dedicated space where companies can meet and work with our research scientists.”

– IFrodsham

Could you see yourself with the ‘Business Executive of the Year’ title? If the answer is yes then check out our latest Business Development Executive role!

360 Video: Shropshire Students’ Formula 3 Car in Action

by

A virtual driving experience showing what it is like to be behind the wheel of a racing car has been created by to show off the work of university students in Telford.

The video has been produced using a 360-degree camera in the cockpit of the University of Wolverhampton’s Formula 3 car.

Students from the Priorslee campus of the University of Wolverhampton have built the car themselves to run in this year’s F3 championship, taking part as UWRacing.

The new video brings racing fans about as close as they can get to the feeling of hurtling around a track at speeds in excess of 120mph and provides an insight into the life of the world’s top Formula 1 drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

The university is the only one in the country which has a team competing in the Formula 3 Cup Championship.

Dave Allen, digital and creative services manager in external relations at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We’ve created our first 360-degree video to really showcase what our engineering courses offer – giving potential students the chance to virtually see what it’s like to sit in and drive an F3 racing car around a world-famous track.

“The university has invested £10 million in engineering facilities at our Telford Innovation Campus and the new virtual video shows off our drive towards innovative, hands-on education for students.

“Our venture into yet another new realm of technology is very exciting and will provide people with a completely new – and panoramic – perspective on engineering.”

Engineering students at the university are heavily involved in its race team which are taking part in the F3 Cup Championship and is so far dominating the grid.

They are taught how to run a car professionally to the standard of a Formula 1 team under the help and guidance of professional motorsport engineer, Matt Fenton, and professional driver and team mentor, Shane Kelly. The team competes in all rounds across the season at world famous tracks.

– Shropshirestar

 

© 2025 Digi Skills Agency Ltd. All rights reserved. Sitemap

Website Design by Yellow Marshmallow.