Birmingham students benefit from unique partnership

Foundation Learning Students at BMet are being given a helping hand into a range of local apprenticeships and training posts – thanks to a unique partnership with Department of Education funded ASK.

The BMet students have been equipped with key information and skills to give them access to a range of local apprenticeships and traineeships, thanks to the partnership with ASK.

Representatives from the leading national careers support provider came into BMet’s Matthew Boulton and Sutton Coldfield Colleges to provide students with unique sessions geared towards widening learners’ knowledge of the pathways available to them.

The Apprenticeship Support & Knowledge for schools and colleges programme (ASK programme) is funded by the Department for Education. It aims to support schools and colleges in England to increase awareness of apprenticeships, traineeships and T Levels amongst students, parents, carers, teachers and careers advisers.

During the BMet sessions, students gained invaluable advice for career-focused aptitudes including CV writing, interview skills and IT usage. Streamlined support was also given to students to help them find suitable apprenticeships and traineeships.

Vocational Studies students were full of praise for the initiative. Raul said: “It has been a very good experience for me. I have only recently come to England and have acquired knowledge that will be very useful for my future career.

“I would like to be a chef in the future and now know how I could apply for and gain an apprenticeship in this area.”

Kallie said: “It has been an incredibly insightful day for me and I have gained a variety of useful tips that will help me in my future.

“Although I am not seeking to gain an apprenticeship, I still gained obtained helpful information that will help me pursue a job as a Forensic Psychologist.”    

BMet welcomes partnerships with like-minded organisations to attend their career-focused events, which take place across James Watt, Matthew Boulton and Sutton Coldfield Colleges.

Further planned activity to support students in their goals and careers include:

• Monday 18 March, Employability Day, 10am-3pm, Sutton Coldfield College.
  Meet employers and professional role models to inspire students to reach higher in their career choice.
• Tuesday 19 March, Careers Opportunities Event, 10am-2pm, Matthew Boulton College.
• Wednesday 20 March, Careers Opportunities Event, 10am-1pm, James Watt College.

ASK Apprenticeship Days-
ASK advisers will run tutorial sessions as well as running marketing stands to answer students’ questions about getting an apprenticeship on:

• 9 April 10am-3pm, Sutton Coldfield College.
• 10 April 10am-3pm, Matthew Boulton College.
• 11 April 10am-3pm, James Watt College.

Coventry University Partnership Days-

• 15 April at James Watt College. Coventry University will send Lecturers from Engineering and Construction degrees to work with BMet students.
• 16 April at Sutton Coldfield College. Coventry University will send Lecturers from a wider range of subjects to work with BMet students.

Personal Statement Week, 22 – 26 April

Universities will be sending representatives to all colleges to advise Level 3 Year 1 students on how to write and effective personal statements for 2025 entry.

• Jobhunting through LinkedIn Day with Coventry university on 30 April 10am -2pm at SC

Jenny North, head of Careers Guidance & Careers Leader, said: “The sessions this week have been extremely effective and rewarding in making students aware of the wealth of career focused pathways available to them.

“It is especially good to be able to support our Foundation Learning Students, who sometimes need that extra bit of support.

“Many such learners have a desire to obtain an apprenticeship or traineeship. So partnering with ASK has been a mutually beneficial opportunity for us all, as our end goal is to increase the career chances of our students.”

Ask Ambassador, Daniel Birch, who delivered the sessions said: “It was a lovely day engaging with a variety of different students. It was good to talk to learners on a 1-2-1 basis about career pathways, which was very rewarding.

“It was good to work with BMet and to visit Matthew Boulton and Sutton Coldfield Colleges, as we are both on a mission to help students in their next step to gaining future careers.”

If you are an employer/organisation wanting to join one of BMet’s career events, contact Jenny.North@bmet.ac.uk or careers@bmet.ac.uk.

You can find out more about BMet’s partnerships with employers, who are also invested in the career opportunities of students, on their website. Information about their careers advisors can also be found on their website.