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On Monday we had a fascinating talk from Professor Robert Green OBE from the University of Kent. Professor Green talked about the importance of studying STEM subjects and explained what forensic science involves. He outlined some case studies  where forensic science had impacted on historical criminal cases. Professor Green has kindly agreed to return to SHSG in person in the new year to deliver an in person workshop.

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Chemistry and Forensic Science at Kent - University of Kent

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School of Physical Sciences - Reader in Forensic Science

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We host half termly online careers talks for our students. This year our first speaker was old girl Shuchishmita Maitra, the youngest DPhil candidate at Oxford who spoke about setting goals and seizing opportunities. Sushi reminisced about all the opportunities SHSG had provided her with and how these helped her to get where she is today. An engaging and inspirational talk that was a perfect set up for our new academic year.  Sushi has kindly agreed to come back into school in person to give a lunchtime workshop to our ambitious students and we look forward to welcoming her back.

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Year 10 Careers Carousel 'Ambition' Sept 25 

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Year 10 Careers Carousel 'Ambition' Sept 25 

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Careers Carousel.Our Year 10 students recently participated in an inspiring Careers Carousel focused on the theme of Ambition. It was a tremendous success, offering students invaluable insights into a wide variety of career paths.

We were privileged to welcome six fantastic speakers from our alumni, parent, and friend community:

Charlie Beevers (Cambridge University)
@Shuchishmita Maitra (Oxford PhD Scientist)
Madison Goodbody (Paediatric Nursing)
@Isla Lightfoot (Marketing)
Cpl Bates (RAF)
Andrew Elliott (IPECO engineering)

The students found the experience highly engaging and beneficial.  We extend our sincere gratitude to all our speakers for dedicating their time and sharing their journeys.

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This week, we had the incredible opportunity to visit Emmanuel College, one of the historic colleges within the University of Cambridge. The day provided us with a vivid and inspiring insight into what it might be like to live and study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed warmly and taken on a tour through the college’s stunning grounds. Walking through the peaceful courtyards, the library filled with centuries of knowledge, and the traditional dining hall, we began to understand the depth of history and academic tradition that surrounds Cambridge life, each space contains history, and deep academic tradition. We were even shown the student accommodation, which made the idea of studying there feel a little more real. Also, they even told us that they do your laundry for you, for free unlike other colleges you will have to pay.

Lunch at Emmanuel College was another highlight of the day, not only delicious but a genuine glimpse into student life. We were served a choice of roasted chicken with rice or cod loin, both beautifully cooked and accompanied by a generous selection of toppings and sides to suit every preference. For dessert, we were treated to indulgent brownies with cream or a rich caramel tart, both of which disappeared quickly! A variety of drinks were also available, adding to the sense that we were being warmly looked after throughout our visit. It was a meal that left everyone both satisfied and impressed.

One of the most impactful parts of the visit was the academic taster session. It wasn’t just a lesson; it was a completely different way of thinking. We were challenged to explore new ideas, question assumptions, and look beyond the obvious. It was exciting to experience, even briefly, what it means to think like a Cambridge student. The conversations didn’t end there, we were also guided through what A-level subjects are most useful for different courses and pathways, giving us a clearer idea of how to shape our choices now for where we hope to be in the future.

And of course, we couldn’t help but enjoy the lighter moments too, like spotting ducks practically everywhere (it’s their college, really), and the ducks as their mascot figures watching over us from the chapel.

We are truly grateful to Ms Casson and Ms Midwinter for the chance to see Cambridge up close. The visit to Emmanuel College was an unforgettable experience, one that left us all feeling inspired, informed, and excited about the possibilities ahead.

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Year 8 Careers Carousel 'Why I love my job' June 25

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Year 8 Careers Carousel 'Why I love my job' June 25

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Year 8 students had a unique opportunity to meet 6 key speakers in a Careers Carousel entitled, ‘Why I Love My Job’ on Wednesday morning.

We were joined by @Richard Collins Agricultural Director of Müller, James Fellowes, Programme, transformation and engagement lead at PWC, Johanne Turner, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence solicitor at BTMK, Liam King, Conservation Manager at Garon Park, Ellen Randall, Biochemistry academic, and Alicia Dieleman, Senior HR Consultant at Lighter HR.

Speakers explained their career trajectory to date and how career paths now often take the form of a climbing frame rather than a ladder. Students learned that in 10 years time many of them will be pursuing careers that haven’t been invented yet. They explored how AI is affecting all aspects of business development and communication, the importance of conservation, how rewarding an academic path can be and met some baby chicks! This experience has opened our students’ eyes to a plethora of different career paths and perhaps most importantly made them aware of how important job satisfaction is and why our speakers love their jobs.

We would like to thank our speakers for giving up their valuable time to inspire our Year 8 students as they begin their Careers education Southend High School for Girls.

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JP Morgan Insight to Asset Management day June 25

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JP Morgan Insight to Asset Management day June 25

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Student account of the day.

On Monday 30 June,  a group of economics students had the opportunity to spend a day at J.P. Morgan. We were fortunate enough to speak with senior figures in the firm, including Malcolm Smith, the Chief Investment Officer. He stressed the importance of strong soft skills, explaining that punctuality, professionalism, and how you present yourself can significantly influence your success. He also highlighted how confidence, the ability to take calculated risks, and strong interpersonal skills are essential traits in this field.

Throughout the day, we engaged with a range of employees who shared their career journeys and offered valuable advice. A recurring theme was the importance of fortitude, not fearing failure, and learning from mistakes. At J.P. Morgan, humility and honesty are key values that they have built a culture that encourages a growth mindset. One message that stood out was: “When things go right, the team gets the credit. When things go wrong, you share the blame,” reinforcing the idea that you are never alone.

Another powerful takeaway was the emphasis on emotional intelligence. While finance is highly analytical, being able to connect with people and remain grounded is equally important. We also learned that having interests outside of academics shows character and humanity which are qualities the firm values just as much as technical ability.

Overall, the experience was incredibly insightful and inspiring. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to spend time at such a prestigious firm and speak directly with people across different levels of the organisation. It deepened our understanding of what a career in finance truly looks like and motivated us to work even harder toward a future in the industry-and hopefully, one day, at J.P. Morgan itself.

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Drop in Q&A session for Year 11 and 12 in the meeting room, 24th March.

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2. National Apprenticeship week was a great success.

We had an information stand in the foyer all week. Students took part in activities during registration time. KS3 students completed a word search competition- winners to be announced after half term. Year 12  had a workshop presented by Exeter University that went through the application process and different types of degree apprenticeships available. The highlight of the week was our very well attended ‘Meet The Apprenticehip’ event where we were pleased to welcome back alumni and friends of SHSG from JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Deloittes and Legendre who told us all about their experience of degree apprenticeships and took questions from keen students in Years 10-13. Thank you to our speakers who were so generous with their time and advice.

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As part of careers week students were offered the opportunity to join an International Women's Day careers talk given by Airbus. Current apprentices explained their own roles and gave an oversight of the early careers opportunities available at Airbus. This was followed by a Q & A session with a panel of employees with years of experience at Airbus. The event was well attended by students in Years 8-12 who said that it was a worthwhile session and that they gained a lot of interesting information about the careers prospects for women in a large engineering company. More information about Early Careers at Airbus is available here Women at Airbus | Airbus

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Following on from the online Careers talk last week, old girls Bonnie and Marnie kindly returned to SHSG to give an in person talk on BBC Apprenticeships. They went into more depth about the different types of Apprenticeships that are available and gave really helpful advice on how to apply for the highly competitive opportunities. SHSG students were able to ask specific questions and Bonnie and Marnie spend a lot of time providing bespoke advice. It is always lovely to welcome ex students back ‘home’ and nothing is more inspiring to our current students than to discover what SHSG alumni go on to achieve.

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We were delighted to welcome the outreach team for Emmanuel College Cambridge to SHSG on Monday. Fran and Tom spent the whole day with us and delivered pitch perfect presentations to Years 8, 9, 10 and 12. They pointed out the advantages and opportunities a university degree at a top ranking establishment can offer young people. They explained the unique collegiate system of the Oxbridge colleges and broke down the application process for our students. They shared examples of good personal statements with Year 12 and emphasised the importance of pursuing supercurricular activities.

Fran and Tom were really generous with their time and advice and offered an open house drop in session for our busy Year 11s. This was very well attended with over 40 members of the KS4 Oxbridge Pathway club (which is open to all students in Years 10 and 11) coming along and getting their questions answered personally.

We were very fortunate to get Emmanuel College to come to us and we look forward to working with them in the future. For those students who were inspired by their encounter Emmanuel offer a lot of online webinars such as one coming up shortly on the importance of your post 16 choices.

Cambridge webinar: Subject Matters: The importance of your post-16 choices.

The subjects and qualifications you choose for post-16 study are important and this session is to help ensure you pick the ones you need for the universities, courses or other routes you might be considering

Subject Matters: The Importance of Your Post-16 Choices | Undergraduate Study

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Our half term online Careers talk for Years 8-12 came from old girls Bonnie and Marnie. Bonnie has completed the prestigious BBC Apprenticeship scheme and is now a BBC Marketing executive who recently led on the marketing campaign for the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special. Marnie is in her second year of a degree apprenticeship in News and Current Affairs. The sisters explained the different schemes available and gave some top tips for applications which were to:

Read the criteria carefully.

Show your passion.

Demonstrate transferable skills and give examples of what you have achieved.

State why you want to work for the BBC and why you would be the best choice for the role.

Most importantly to be yourself.

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Looking to join the world of work with an apprenticeship at BBC? Get your career at BBC started with a first-class apprenticeship from Careermap.

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National Careers Week Monday 10th March. 

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National Careers Week Monday 10th March. 

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We will be marking National Careers week on Monday 10th March. We will be running several activities for students to get involved in. Bonnie and Marnie have kindly agreed to return to SHSG on Monday 10th March to present an in person workshop at lunchtime in the Media Studio. Students from all year groups are welcome to attend.

We are also holding a Women In STEM event in the meeting room at lunchtime on Monday where students will have the opportunity to engage with top tech company Airbus. This session is aimed at any student in Key Stages 3-5 who is interested in learning more about STEM careers and the early careers opportunities available at Airbus.

In addition all year groups will have registration time activities to expand their awareness of Career paths that are available to them.

Ms Casson will be hosting a drop in session for students on Thursday lunchtime in the Media Studio for any students who would like some Careers advice on post 16 or 18 destinations.

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Our online registration talk to the whole school this half term was delivered by the RAF. We had a fascinating talk that explored just a few of over 60 different entry points and careers areas that the RAF offers. Did you know you do not need a degree to be a pilot and they do not recruit over the age of 23 as it costs £6.5 million to train a pilot? Students were given the opportunity to sign up for a follow up in person workshop and on Wednesday Cpl Bates visited us. He was able to advise interested students on their next steps. Key tips he gave us were to apply in the first year of university as there are lots of bursaries available to help fund degrees such as engineering, nursing and medicine. He also advised students to join university air squadrons which again often offer significant bursaries and 10 hours of flying experience. It was a really valuable session and Cpl Bates spent lots of time answering individual students questions. More information on careers in the RAF can be found here RAF Recruitment | Home | Regular & Reserve | Royal Air Force

Cpl Bates has promised to visit us again to help out with our Year 10 interview experiences in May and the Careers Carousel in September.

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KS4 students were invited to attend an in person workshop at lunchtime regarding pathways to careers in law. A large number of Year 10 and 11 students got to hear from representatives from local law firm BTMK. Parent Governor and solicitor, Johanne Turner explained how much she has enjoyed a 25 year career with BTMK, specialising in medical negligence claims. Johanne was keen to impress on the students the job satisfaction she gains from helping people whilst applying her impressive knowledge of the law. Paralegal Nadine Adeyemi explained different training routes and requirements for qualifications and how BTMK are opening opportunities to study for apprenticeships in law. Johanne and Nadine kindly answered our students questions and spoke at length to several individuals regarding the importance of taking up opportunities and securing work experience. Thank you to Nadine and Johanne.

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October 24 Richer Sounds CEO Alumni talk

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October 24 Richer Sounds CEO Alumni talk

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On Monday we hosted our first online Careers talk of this academic year. We heard from alumni Julie Abraham who left SHSG in 1984. After a varied career starting as a holiday rep in Spain to working for IBM in Bahrain, Julie has for the last 30 years worked her way up to become CEO of Richer Sounds. Julie was recruited to Richer Sounds by another ex SHSG student who was working as the Marketing director at the time. Julie started as a purchasing analyst, then worked as a buyer, moving on to a purchasing manager until she was appointed as CEO.

Julie recognised her success has stemmed from recognising the quickest most efficient way of getting things done, juggling her homework at SHSG was good training for this and she suggested students get the most difficult tasks done first.  Being a team player has helped her progress in her career and being willing to help out other departments. As she became more senior knowing when it is appropriate to delegate has been invaluable to keeping all the plates spinning.

Julie had the following advice for SHSG students in interviews.

1. Research the company, it’s a favourite question – ‘tell me what you know about us as a company’, ‘you sell TV’s’ is not the right answer.

2. Be able to answer the question ‘what do you enjoy doing when you are not working’, something other than ‘going out with my mates’.

3. Be aware of what’s going on in the news

4. Tidy up your social media – companies do look, and the more senior the job the closer we look!

5. Pursue Saturday jobs, working in hospitality is always good as it teaches you how to deal with the public and how to multi task.

Julie ended her presentation with a great motivator for a wet Monday morning;

'You are better than you think you are'.

Grateful thanks go to Julie, it is always lovely to hear from alumni. If you feel you could offer an online ten minute talk on a Monday morning please contact vcasson@shsg.org.

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Year 10 had an inspiring start to their Careers journey at Key Stage 4 today. They took part in a Careers Carousel focused on the theme of 'Ambition'. We invited 6 expert speakers in to talk  about T Levels and Apprenticeships, how to write a CV- to prepare them for their mock interviews in June. We welcomed parent, Isla Lightfoot who gave a fascinating insight into the many facets of careers in Marketing which we know from Unifrog feedback many of our students are really interested in. We were particularly pleased to welcome back several alumnae. Maddie  turned up in her scrubs to talk about her career in Medicine. Charlie a current undergraduate at Cambridge had lots of tips on how to prepare for Oxbridge entry. Johnny Jenkins ex editor of BBC Young Reporter and now producer on LBC radio for the Nick Ferrari breakfast show gave us a fascinating insight into the fast paced world of political journalism.

Year 10 will reflect on the theme of ambition in their follow up registration Career mornings and will log their experience in their online portal on Unifrog. We would like to thank our inspiring speakers for giving back to our school community and sharing their experience with our students who really enjoyed the morning.

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Year 8 took part in a  Careers Carousel, 'Why I Love My Job', on Wednesday 3rd July.

We invited in a wide range of speakers from our alumni.

Emily Moreton Smith, Senior Product Manager at the Stepstone Group.

Sam Goldring, Digital Brand Manager, Barclays.

Kirsteen Housten, A&E doctor.

We also invited speakers from our local community,

Parent and barrister Jeremy Scott-Joynt.

IPECO a local aviation company and community nurse, Kate from the NHS.

Year 8 had been prepared for the experience in their Lifeskills lessons where they were able to research the different careers areas.

They spent 30 minutes with each speaker who explained their career path, qualifications and skills required, what an average day is like for them and most importantly, why they love their job.

Students were able to ask questions of the speakers. 8 Hermes particularly impressed barrister, Jeremy with their inquisitive cross examination of him!

IPECO gave the students an engineering task to demonstrate how they problem solve. Our A&E doctor had the students finding their heartbeats with stethoscopes and the NHS nurse provided another hands on task where ultra violet light showed up the germs on their hands.

Alumnae Sam and Emily delivered exciting presentations that really emphasised how their time at SHSG had made them realise how important it is to take up all the opportunities school offers. Emily spoke about finding ones passion and then finding the right environment to do it in and then, as she herself did, help others to grow. Sam advised students to explore internships and work experience, to try before you buy and to find a mentor who can help you.

To follow up Year 8 will have another Lifeskills lesson to give them the opportunity to reflect and log this experience to their Unifrog locker. This experience and the evaluation held on Unifrog for the rest of their school careers will stand them in good stead as they enter Year 9 and begin to consider their GCSE options.

Many of the speakers were keen to advise on work experience and the importance of networking which our alumni often offer to SHSG students. We are always pleased to add to our connections to support our careers events from parents and alumni via our Linked in profile here (25) Southend High School for Girls: Overview | LinkedIn

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Students had a fascinating talk from Lucy Plummer from the London Fire Brigade on Monday. Lucy told us about the Fire Cadet programme Fire Cadets | London Fire Brigade (london-fire.gov.uk) that students could join now and the wide variety of Careers available in the fire service for the future.

The LFB is a huge employer and offers careers in diverse sectors such as education, finance, HR all the way to the technicians who maintain the fire hydrants, it is about more than 'just' fighting fires.

The Cadets meet weekly and take part in activities such as drills, using hoses, games, and learning from presentations. Uniform is provided. The Cadet scheme culminates in a passing out ceremony where family and friends can see the cadets riding the engines and taking part in activities. They are often called upon for big events and some of the London cohorts recently took part in Trooping of the Colour and the Kings Coronation. It is possible for young people to become an Officer Cadet which would be a fantastic opportunity.

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As part of the continuing Careers education provision at SHSG it is important that we enable students to have a hands on experience of what university life may be like. We work in conjunction with the charity 'Make Happen' who aim to make all students aware of their post 18 choices. Year 10 had a fantastic day out at Essex University. They had a tour of the extensive campus from student ambassadors and had a really detailed talk about student life, going into details such as the wide variety of societies that are available to how to do ones laundry. The students got to sit in sample lectures in law and sport psychology. It was a very warm but inspiring day, for many of our students it was their first experience of a campus university and will give them lots to consider for their future.

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This half term our Careers talk was from alumna Sam Goldring. Sam left SHSG in 2007 after studying A levels in Geography, Media Studies and Business. Sam completed a Bsc in Marketing and Communications at Newcastle university which included a year in industry with Glaxo Smith Kline. After graduation Sam worked her way up the corporate ladder and is now Head of Social Media at Barclays bank. In her 'spare' time Sam set up the running wear company.

If you have seen anyone running round in snazzy shorts they will probably have been from Sam's company!HappyStride recently celebrated their 20,000 order!

Sam is an inspirational speaker and left our current students with this advice that has helped her get to the top of her career field;

•Everything you do from now on can be used as examples in future uni applications or interviews. Take every opportunity!

•Get LinkedIn and use it to your advantage

•Find a mentor or someone in your chosen field who can help you

•Explore internships and work experience opportunities – try before you buy!

•Choose a career that you’re passionate about

If you have an idea, act on it! You never know where it might go.

Sam has kindly agreed to support us in July when she will be taking part in the Careers Carousel with Year 8 and explaining 'Why I love my job'.

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As part of their ongoing Careers provision, Year 9 had an interesting morning learning about careers in financial services. We welcomed speakers from SS&C a global financial services company with 42 offices around the world. Lisa and Nicola gave Year 9s a brief summary of what the world of finance involves, how stocks and shares work and how it is important for companies to attract investment. Students put this knowledge to good use as they took part in an 'Apprentice' style build a company activity. Year 9s were given a structure to devise a business plan for a restaurant, theme park, zoo or cinema complex. Lisa and Nicola were very impressed with the enthusiasm and professional delivery of their ideas. The best teams were rewarded with mock cheques for £100,000 and £50,000. Thank you to SS&C for visiting us and well done to Year 9 for being such promising entrepreneurs! SS&C have kindly agreed to offer a follow-up lunchtime workshop for any Year 9 or Year 10 students who would like to learn more about pathways into Careers in Financial Services. Please use the QR code to sign up by the 4th June

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Industries in Southend-on-Sea

There was a 2% increase in roles between 2021 and 2022. In England as a whole, there was a 2% increase.

Based on the total number of jobs, the largest industry in Southend-on-Sea is Other major industries include Human health and social work activities. Wholesale And Retail Trade; Repair Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles, Accommodation And Food Service Activities, Education, which represents over 10% of roles.

Financial & Insurance companies make up 3% of the Southend-on-Sea economy, and 3% of the roles across England.

2% of the total jobs in Southend-on-Sea are in Information and Communication. In England as a whole they make up 5% of total jobs.

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Southend-on-Sea Economy | Labour Market & Industries

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The GDP of Southend-on-Sea is £3.5 billion. Interactive economic charts and facts for Southend-on-Sea.

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Department presentations for National Careers week 4th March 2024

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Department presentations for National Careers week 4th March 2024

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Chemistry

MFL

RS

Physics

Classics

English

Business and Economics

Sociology

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Department presentations for National careers week

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Department presentations for National careers week

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Careers in Biology

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Careers in Biology | Careers | Biology | FuseSchool

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This week has been National Careers week. We marked the occasion by focusing on the variety of destinations our alumni take.

Each department area shared the wide variety of opportunities their subjects can offer for the future. Many also shared successes of past students with our current cohorts to inspire them. The students found it really fascinating and were surprised by the wide variety of careers ex SHSG's have found themselves in.

KS3 had assemblies on the impact AI will have on future careers.

All year groups had the opportunity to explore the definition of a career and their own career aspirations in registration time.

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It is always great to hear from ex students and we were very happy to welcome alumni Bonnie Grieve who gave a fascinating talk last week as part of our National Apprenticeship Week celebrations to all students in Years 10-13. Many of our students wanted to learn more so they were given the opportunity on Friday to meet Bonnie in person. In a lunchtime workshop, Bonnie went into more detail about her experience and the application process. Students were given the opportunity to ask questions and Bonnie was able to allay their concerns about aspects such as;

missing out on the social life of university- there is a lot of networking and fun between all the apprenticeships, what could be more fun than working backstage at The Big Weekend?

how to juggle studying and working- Bonnie was given plenty of time and support from her managers to study and what better information than learning on the job?

what happens after the apprenticeship ends? -Bonnie is now a fully fledged 'marketing executive' at the BBC.

Bonnie has very kindly agreed to support SHSG students if they wish to apply for the scheme. Students can get in contact via Ms Casson.

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Get test careers advice and info on apprenticeships and school leaver jobs.

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Year 10 have started learning how to create effective CVs to support them in their upcoming interview experience on the 17th and 18th April 2024.

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To celebrate National Apprenticeship week all students in Years 8-13 had the opportunity to learn about Apprenticeships in their form periods via the Unifrog platform.

We were also lucky enough to hear from almuni who have completed the BBC Apprenticeship scheme. Old girl Bonnie will be returning to school to offer an in person lunchtime workshop on Friday 16th February.

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BBC Apprenticeships talk and workshop Feb 24

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BBC Apprenticeships talk and workshop Feb 24

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As part of our half termly Careers talks and to celebrate National Apprenticeship week we were delighted to welcome alumni Bonnie Grieve to speak to students in Years 10-13 on Monday.

Bonnie left SHSG in 2019 after studying A levels in Media Studies, Spanish and English Language and Literature. Bonnie started on the Level 6 Business Management Degree Apprenticeship at the BBC and is now a Marketing Executive for BBC TV Channels working on Marketing Campaigns such as; The Traitors, Planet Earth III and The Apprentice.

During her Apprenticeship Bonnie completed various placements in Audience Research for TV, TV Business Systems, BBC Global News, Radio 1 Marketing and Live Events.

She also gained a Degree in Business Management and a Chartered Management qualification.

Bonnie gave a clear outline of the different kinds of apprenticeships that the BBC offer.

Bonnie has kindly agreed to come into school in person at lunchtime on Friday 16th February to talk further to interested students about her experience and how to apply for the BBC Apprenticeship scheme.

Students should sign up here.

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As part of ScreenSkills Discover! Creative Careers Campaign, Year 12 and 13 Media Studies students took part in a really interesting online workshop hosted by Screenskills. It covered careers and opportunities in the television industry and was delivered by the Sky Discovery Workshop with Sky Studios Elstree.

Students watched a back stage tour of the new Sky Studios in Hertfordshire. It is the size of four football pitches! All of the different ways to get into the different Sky apprenticeship and training schemes were outlined.

Students were able to interact with the presenters and posed the following questions. There are some really useful links included in the responses.

How hard is it to get the apprenticeship for Sky ?

I think this depends on the apprenticeship. All apprenticeships are competitive in the media industry – but I would encourage you to apply as you could be the right person for the role!

How much do you get paid on an apprenticeship?

Again, this depends on the apprenticeship and the level of the programme. Don’t forget your employer also pays for your education as well! A lot of apprenticeships also lead on to permanent roles with the company.

How long are apprenticeships and what is being a freelancer?

The length of the apprenticeship will be different depending on the level but at Sky they range from 12 months to 5 years. For more information about our apprenticeships – please go to https://earlycareers.sky.com/. If you are looking for wider information about apprenticeships have a look at https://amazingapprenticeships.com/.

The internship at Sky Studios Elstree is 12 months.

A freelancer is someone who works for themselves – so if you were looking to work on a film or TV show as a crew member you would most likely work as a freelancer.

For more information about what life is like as a Freelancer – please see this free e-learning module from ScreenSkills. There are also lots of other learning modules on how to get into the industry, what the different roles are and how to start your career.

Do you offer runner roles in production?

Our Future Talent internship at Sky Studios Elstree offers studio runner positions with the aim that you would work on site with the productions, this can lead to opportunities to work on set with the productions, but this does depend on the productions themselves.

There are lots of other runner roles out there as this tends to be the most common entry level role – for more information about how to get runner work have a look at the ScreenSkills Job Profile for Runner.

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This half term’s online registration Careers talk came from ‘Old Girl’ Emily Moreton-Smith. We fondly remember Emily as a student here for having the tenacity to secure herself work experience at Channel 4. Emily pursued journalist Jon Snow down to Southend East station after he had given a talk to students at SHSG!  Emily’s outgoing and gregarious personality has served her well in her career at Global, a major media company. Emily described her career journey to date as being more of a ‘climbing frame’ than a ladder, an evocative image in an industry where many jobs that our students will end up doing haven’t been created yet.

Emily kindly offered to share her Linked in profile for students and provided an extensive motivational reading list.

Predictably Irrational (Dan A) - is about how the human brain is often irrational in its decision making and in predictable ways, he has a few books and they are all worth a read.

Atomic Habits - how to develop good habit by breaking them down in smaller commitments.

The Psychology of Money - insight into how money messes with people and 12 little stories to help explain.

Never Split the Difference - book on negotiation, people try to get to yes but getting to no is actually more helpful sometimes.

Surrounded by Idiots - book on personality types and why groups often conflict.

Utopia for Realist - a book about the fact that we often are not communicating with the real facts.

Quirkology - similar to predictability irrational but nice little insights.

The Art of Thinking Clearly - a book about giving you insight on where your brain trips you up each day.

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This week has been Green Careers week. Students had the opportunity to discover more about Green careers opportunities in their registration time. They discussed definitions of Green careers and using our online platform Unifrog were able to explore possible study options and career routes. Students were given the opportunity to request specific job roles that they would like to discover more about. Interest was expressed in sustainable architecture, recycling projects and conservation and wildlife. We would be delighted to hear from any parents or friends of the school who would be willing to give a short talk on any of these areas as part of either our Careers registration programme or lunchtime lectures. Please email Ms Casson at vcasson@shsg.org if you feel you could support us with this. More information on Green Careers can be found here Organisations 2023 - Green Careers Week

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We were delighted to welcome Petty Officer Mike Barnes from the Royal Navy who spoke to students on Monday morning. Mike explained that there are six different areas of the navy, the surface fleet, fleet air arm, submarine service, Royal marines, auxiliary and reserve service. There are over 100 jobs and apprenticeships available across different departments such as engineering, aviation, logistics, medical, warfare and even the Royal Marines band service for musicians.

Mike and his team will be coming into school to offer a longer lunchtime workshop for interested students. He also suggested researching further via this link for more information about the wide variety of roles available in the Navy. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/madeintheroyalnavy?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5uDT94r6gQMVCPjtCh1k6gQREAAYASAAEgKIsvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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It is always good to hear from ex-students and learn about their successes. We were delighted to hear from ex Head Girl, Danielle Zamora in our May careers session. Danielle left in 2020 and now works in strategic management and finance at Morgan Stanley. Danielle deferred a place to study Law at Durham in favour of pursuing an 18-month apprenticeship with Morgan Stanley in their front office. After completing the scheme Danielle was promoted to a full-time analyst and has now become a manager. Her firm are funding further study at Cambridge University which will allow her to fast track to an MBA with no debt. Danielle explained the different kinds of roles available in Investment banking, it is not all maths! She has had lots of opportunities to travel which is positively encouraged. There is stress but only as much as school and she pointed out there is stress in every job. There is a clear hierarchy in banking, but the progression route is very clear and if you are ambitious, you will be supported to succeed. Danielle advised current students to take subjects you enjoy as HR look more at grades than subjects. It is very competitive for instance Morgan Stanley have 10,000 applications for 9 graduate placements. Danielle's parting advice was to not feel too pressured about what you want to do and study subjects that you enjoy. Danielle shared the following links for more information to access fantastic, free schemes that Morgan Stanley run such a 'step in step up' https://morganstanley.tal.net/vx/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/2/opp/14848 and Morgan Stanley's Summer Academy https://morganstanley.tal.net/vx/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/2/opp/15417 Danielle is very keen to support SHSG students and we look forward to working with her again in the future.

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Year 10 had a wonderful Careers day at the Colchester Campus of Essex University. The day was organised by Make Happen and consisted of a tour of the beautiful campus and lectures on Student Life and finance, science in society and an inspiring law lecture where our students proved themselves to be astute potential barristers. Bea and Anna M told us they really enjoyed hearing from the Essex student ambassadors regarding the wide variety of clubs and societies that are available and thought they might like to try out some new sports activities. Ms Rymill found the law lecture particularly interesting as the lecturer from Make Happen  outlined different avenues to enter the law rather than studying for a straight law degree. Mr Andrews enjoyed remembering his time at Essex as an undergraduate as we had the campus walking tour.
At lunchtime we were delighted to be greeted by ex SHSG student (1981-1988),  Dr Pamela Cox who is now a professor at Essex University. Dr Cox is a social historian who has presented BBC history series , 'Shopgirls: The True Story of Life Behind the Counter' tracing the history of Britain's shopworkers and consumer cultures from 1860 to the present, and 'Servants: The True Story of Life Below Stairs', a history of domestic servants from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. Dr Cox is also the Labour parliamentary candidate for Colchester'.

A warm but very enjoyable and informative visit that inspired our students and opened their eyes to new possibilities.

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Since January all Year 10 students have been following a careers programme in their registration time and Life Skills lessons. They have learned how to research different career paths using our online platform Unifrog, how to write CVs and apply for specific jobs with a covering letter. Over two days this week we welcomed over 30 'friends' of the school, alumni, governors, careers advisors and local business owners. They very kindly gave up their time to conduct 15 minute interviews with all 180 of our Year 10s. Students received verbal feedback at the time and we will celebrate those who particularly impressed with an achievement assembly later in the term. Interviewers were most complimentary at the high standard of our students' responses. They gave excellent answers to the questions and are to be congratulated for rising to the occasion, demonstrating ambition and conducting themselves with confidence and maturity.

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Parents and guardians, we know talking about careers can be daunting but we’re here to guide you through the maze of post-16 and post-18 options.

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Meet the Russell group webinars 25th-27th April

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Meet the Russell group webinars 25th-27th April

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Where can my subject take me? (padlet.com)

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Meet the scientists | My #Smashing Stereotypes story | Teaser

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Summer work experience with KPMG webinar Thursday 23rd March 5-6pm

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Summer work experience with KPMG webinar Thursday 23rd March 5-6pm

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KPMG is one of the most prestigious professional services and accounting firms in the world. They offer audit, tax, legal and advisory services to enable brands to grow, succeed and maintain their global status. Forming one of the Big 4, KPMG has some huge profile clients, such as PepsiCo, Barclays and Pfizer. KPMG operates in over 150 countries, with over 200,000 employees, with revenues in excess of £30 Billion a year.

On Thursday 23rd March 5pm - 6pm there is an insight event with KPMG to showcase all of their work experience and school leaver opportunities. This virtual webinar will be held via Zoom so you can join us from anywhere in the country! It will be a fantastic evening that will give you an insight into what KMPG do and what a career at such a huge global firm can look like. They will be sharing tips on how you can succeed in the future, and we will be hearing from top professionals who will be sharing their personal insights to a Big 4 firm

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A reminder to Year 10 to have their CVs and covering letters submitted this week for their interview experience in April.

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As part of our Careers week we were delighted to welcome our local MP James Duddridge into school where he talked to students about his career in politics.

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We were delighted to welcome Petty Officer Michael Barnes from the Royal Navy to SHSG on Monday 20th November. Michael gave one of our regular Monday morning registration talks online in October. We gave students the opportunity to sign up for a longer lunchtime talk and over 20 students expressed an interest in finding out more about careers in the Royal Navy.

Michael gave a fascinating talk where he went into more depth about the array of opportunities the Navy offers. We learned about the different levels of entry, it is possible to express an interest in Apprenticeships from the age of 15 years and 9 months for example. Michael explained that the biggest reason for candidates failing to be accepted is down to their fitness and directed students to check out the 'Get fit to apply' webpage that explains the different standards required.https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/joining-process/get-fit-to-join

Michael explained that the Navy can help with funding for degrees in medicine and engineering but that it is very competitive and students would need to check the specifics of suitable engineering qualifications.

Our students impressed Michael with the high quality of their questions such as how the Navy supports with humanitarian efforts. Michael was kind enough to talk to some individuals at the end about their ambitions.

A well spent lunchtime and of course everyone loves a free pen! We hope that Michael will return to SHSG for more careers events in 2024.

We would like to offer more of these lunchtime lectures in the future. If students have specific requests for career areas they would like to learn more about or if parents/guardians would like to offer their expertise to talk to our students we would be pleased to hear from you.

Please email vcasson@shsg.org.

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PWC insight opportunities- deadline 10th March 23

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PWC insight opportunities- deadline 10th March 23

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View great career opportunities at PwC UK

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View great career opportunities at PwC UK

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We welcomed Jeremy Huband (HSBC Director of Corporate Healthcare) who was invited in by the Business department to speak to our Year 12 and 13 business students this week. He spoke on what banks do, how they make their money, and the risks they take.  He also spoke to a packed room at lunch, to a wider audience of students,  for a ‘spotlight on banking’ session, where he touched on topics such as roles within banking, making a good impression at interview, and the importance of having an entrepreneurial spirit. Noor F in Year 10 said, 'It was really interesting, highlighting the routes into banking including apprenticeships and internships.'  Rasheeka D in Year 12 said, ‘at lunch, the room was full of students, ranging from Year 10 all the way to Year 13. He shared with us his experiences, the need for more diversity in banking,  how taking risks is a large part of the job, and how enjoyable as well as challenging it is in the financial sector. There were lots of questions about his career and what he would like to see from people applying to work at a bank. To conclude the event, we were given some interview tips and we were also lucky enough to be told about Mr Huband's successful ventures as an entrepreneur, which linked closely to what students covered recently in business lessons.  He had a brilliant sense of humour which we all appreciated!’

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We were delighted to welcome the BBC into school on Tuesday 13th December for a Careers talk on careers in the BBC and creative industries to Years 9 and 10. We also held a very well attended lunchtime session that was open to all students.

We heard from panellists who work in the BBC in diverse areas as presenters, researchers as well as  marketing brand manager from local company 'Revive'. We were particularly excited to welcome 'old girl', Hayley Clarke who is now working as a journalist for the BBC. Hayley kindly visited Media Studies students in the morning and was very impressed by the final edits on the Social Science magazine 'Genazine' which is due for publication very soon.

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Revive Media | Grow With The TrendCreate content and engagement for your brand through social media management.revivemediaco.com

Panellists described their often non linear career paths and emphasised the importance of pursuing ones passion and what makes you happy and fulfilled. Hayley reinforced the importance of resilience as she had tried several times to get onto the BBC's advanced journalism apprenticeship scheme before she was successful on her third attempt. As an old girl Hayley was no stranger to the concept of 'aiming high' and encouraged our students to believe in themselves and if they want to be a journalist to start writing now!

The team were keen to encourage students to engage with Careers - BBC Bitesize which has loads of information on the huge amount of careers available, not just in the creative industries.

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Careers - BBC BitesizeGet the low-down on the world of work, with Bitesize Careers. A site to help you find out what jobs you may be suited to, with videos and profiles from young people sharing their real-life career ...www.bbc.co.uk

Common themes were encapsulated by BBC researcher and producer Chris Regan who said, 'people hire people so be happy in what you are pursuing. Creativity is a team process and everyone brings their own talents to the table'.

Students were given the opportunity to ask questions at the end. Producer Charlie told me that the team were impressed at the very high standard of questioning from our students, they were 'the best we have ever had, I was amazed at their maturity'.

I was delighted at the students' behaviour and response to the talks. I would urge them all to record it in their 'locker' in Unifrog to track their careers experiences.

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Apprenticeships and T levels at SEEC March 23

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Apprenticeships and T levels at SEEC March 23

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As part of our programme of Careers registration talks we were pleased to welcome speakers from South East Essex College on Monday who spoke to us about Apprenticeships and T levels. Hannah and Simon explained about the flexibility of courses they offer from 16+ from one to four years in duration. Hannah expressed the advantage of gaining hands on experience and being paid whilst learning. A useful piece of advice was to look at Linked In as a first step to gaining a placement as apprentices need to find their own placement and the college will then complete the paperwork.

Simon explained that T levels are the equivalent of 3 A levels that can be used as UCAS points.

SEEC offer T levels in construction, engineering, mechanics, health and science, childcare, business and lots more on the way, around 24 different levels will be available.

T levels have been developed by industries to plug gaps that they have found and as such offer very up to date skills in the form of 9 weeks of work experience in the first year alone. Assessment is slightly different to traditional exams as they are focused on testing the core skills that you have learned and are assessed via 6 tasks over 4 weeks often in as presentations.

A useful and informative talk that enabled students to consider alternatives to traditional A level courses.

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Careers: We were delighted to welcome into school two local magistrates to deliver a bail application workshop. The bail process was explained to students from Years 7-13 and they were presented with a scenario where a criminal had pleaded guilty to burglary but asserted that their personal circumstances had changed and that being held on remand would cause severe hardship to their young family. It was a complex case and our students impressed the magistrates with their intelligent and insightful discussions. In the end the group were split in their decision and the magistrates revealed that due to the defendant's previous criminal history they would indeed have been remanded in custody. A brilliant experience for our students and one we hope to repeat next year.

Please see student review below.....

The Magistrate Bail Application workshop was very interesting. The 2 magistrates that came in to talk to us were very friendly and they were also passionate in what they were talking about, which made me very intrigued. The activity we did was also inclusive and fun. It was a great opportunity to have taken up

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We started the new half term with a fascinating talk from our Enterprise Advisor, Rob Brooks. He specialises in coordinating NHS apprenticeships and informed us that there are over 350 different apprenticeship schemes in the NHS alone, including the start of a medical doctor apprenticeship which is due to start this year.

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Years 9 and 13 students attended an online presentation by top HR specialist Mr David Andrews in Monday morning registration. David explained the typical professional assessment processes that students can expect when applying for apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and graduate jobs.

David covered differences between a CV and a covering letter. How behavioural assessments work. On demand videos and live online assessments.

Particularly interesting was David's explanation on why employers go through this rigorous approach. It needs to be fair and transparent, they need to be able to compare candidates and ask everyone the same questions.

It is a buoyant job market and its important that you get the right fit.

Top tips- be concise a CV should be no longer than two pages

enthusiasm and passion should appear in the covering letter.

be honest in the behavioural assessments as they are designed to ensure you will fit into the company and with their ethos/working practices.

Apply for what you are passionate about, do your research and if you find yourself really interested after two hours of research its probably the place for you!

Be bold, brave and honest in applications.

Research

Practice

Composure

A copy of Mr Andrews very informative powerpoint has been placed on Unifrog. Students must ensure they add this experience to their Unifrog locker for their future reference and complete the QR feedback link so we can track engagement.

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This half term we have found that many students have been researching careers in the law. We already offer a programme of workshops at KS4 & 5 with a working barrister. This week we heard from the chair of South East Essex magistrates Mr Richard Lehman JP. Mr Lehman gave a fascinating talk during registration time explaining the magistrate service, how it works and who they are. We discovered that the age of 10 is the youngest age that someone can be brought to court. One can become a magistrate at the age of 18 and they are not paid it is a voluntary service. Mr Lehman has kindly agreed to host two lunchtime workshops in January for those students who wish to learn more

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What is a Magistrate 22nd November v2 (1)

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On Tuesday Years 8-13 had a fascinating online careers talk from 'old girl' Beverley Ngo who left SHSG in 2017. Beverley is in her final year of a degree apprenticeship with Jaguar Landrover at Warwick University. Beverley explained how she applied for the exciting course and how she fits in studying at University one week per half term followed by six weeks of work. Beverley ran through the many advantages of degree apprenticeships such as being paid whilst getting hands on experience of the workplace. There was some time for questions and Beverley revealed the coding language she has found most useful (Python). The talk was enjoyed by staff and students alike. It is always lovely for staff to discover how ex students are getting on. Younger students were interested in the concept of degree apprenticeships and older students were inspired by Beverley's advice on how to best prepare applications.

We would like to offer more of these careers experiences. If you would like to offer 15 minutes to deliver an online talk or if you would be willing to conduct mock interviews please contact careers@shsg.org. We are particularly interested in hearing from our alumni as it is so inspiring for current students to see where studying at SHSG can get you!