Committed to offering its Sixth Form students as wide a range of courses and subject options as possible, St Joseph’s College is equally broad minded when it comes to Futures advice.
The school has long looked to its students’ Futures rather than doling out old-fashioned Careers advice, and in a Business Breakfast on 7 May it continued that trend by introducing local companies and professionals to the possibility of hosting Degree Apprenticeships.
Futures advice permeates the school but really comes into its own as the students reach Years 10 and 11, and the Sixth Form. By that time, they will already have taken part in workshops with visiting professionals and practised their interview skills with parents and other members of the St Jo’s community in their day jobs, as representatives of a wide range of industries and professions.
While many students choose the more traditional path of going on to university, many others have been early adopters of the Degree Apprenticeship route. Past students are currently flourishing on apprenticeships with national entities such as the Bank of England and Unilever, while others are doing equally well hosted locally and regionally by firms including DS Smith (Business), DPL Group (Engineering), CBRE (Surveying), and Ensors and BDO (Accountancy).
With its established record of helping students achieve their Degree Apprenticeship ambitions, St Joseph’s College is convinced of the benefits of that course for certain individuals. No tuition fees and years of relevant experience gained whilst earning a salary is hard to argue with.
These points were underlined at the event by former students, Alanna Demicoli-Keeling and Stan Warner, who are pursuing Degree Apprenticeships with Fignum and STC Teamwear respectively. Three other Degree Apprentices in attendance came from Ellisons Solicitors.
Main speaker at the Business Breakfast was Tara Price, of Anglia Ruskin University, which partners with employers to deliver Degree Apprenticeship courses in the region. She ran through the pros of the scheme, the government funding available, the easily managed processes employers need to follow and what the scheme entails for the apprentices themselves.
There was also input from Mrs Rae Warner, St Jo’s past parent and Director of STC Teamwear. An experienced apprentice employer, Mrs Warner expanded the company’s scheme to include a Degree Apprentice after she and the family concluded it would be perfect for their son.
And Stan bore that out, saying he had been determined to continue learning and expanding his horizons but had no wish to go to university. A Degree Apprenticeship was the right alternative for him.
Companies in attendance were A H Surveying, Anglia Ruskin University, Clip ‘n Climb, Fleximize, Ellisons, East Anglia Property Maintenance, Shared Ambitions, STC Teamwear, Fignum and Fiducia Wealth.
A follow-up event on Degree Apprenticeships is to be held at St Joseph’s College in the near future, this time aimed at the students considering taking that course rather than the companies delivering it.
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