“It always seems impossible until it’s done” – Nelson Mandela

As thousands of students found out their A-Level results this week, I can’t help but reminisce over my results day. It seems like only yesterday that floods of tears were streaming down my face as I read my results, which meant my mother thought that I had failed. How wrong she was!

Compared to 2012, the number of students scoring an A or A* has fallen by 0.3% but there was a rise in the number of students taking what are considered to be more academic subjects. This doesn't surprise me as much as the news that the number of people going to University is rising, despite the £9,000 tuition fees.

Its five years since my results day and I’d like to think I have a better understanding of my career path, than I did back then. During my school years, I hadn't the faintest idea what I wanted to do but fortunately through work experience and University I have come to discover my strengths. If I could give advice to 18 year old me, I would probably say:

‘Don’t worry about not knowing what you want to be in the future. You are most definitely not alone. Take everything in your stride, enjoy yourself, join University societies and with time, you’ll discover a bubbly, creative, confident side of you that you never knew about.’

If these past five years have taught me anything, it’s that life isn’t black and white. Yes, thousands of students go to University but there are other options too. Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to learn on-the-job. In Germany, students who don’t plan on going to University are offered a two to three year work placement – something similar to what is slowly being introduced in the UK.

This week I’ve been very fortunate to have been working at Target PR, helping me gain an insight to the world of PR. From day one I knew this was a sector I’d enjoy. From drafting press releases to editing a newsletter for the UK’s most trusted opticians, this work experience has certainly broadened my understanding of PR. I am extremely grateful to the team for welcoming me in and showing me the ropes.

To all those A-Level students worried about what awaits them, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of networking and researching. Talk to people, look on the web or visit your local Jobcentre and slowly but surely you’ll come to know what you want to do after studying.

A huge thank you to the Target PR team for this fantastic opportunity!

Lourizza Ball

Intern

Minister to visit Gloucestershire Skillsfest

Target is part of a team of local businesses, training providers and apprenticeship experts gearing up for the first Gloucestershire Skillsfest, taking place on 9 February.

The Skillsfest, which is being held at Gloucester Rugby Club, is a day-long programme of events designed to inspire and inform businesses and youngsters to take up apprenticeships, part of National Apprenticeship Week.

"We're really pleased to get involved in spreading the word - not just to businesses who may have never considered taking on an apprentice, but to young people and their parents trying to figure out their next steps after school," says Target's chief exec Sarah Bryars.

Beginning with a Business Breakfast, smaller businesses will hear how the Apprenticeship scheme works with contributions from a local employer and apprentice, and from Ian Mean, Editor in Chief of Gloucestershire Media and a prominent advocate of apprenticeships.

A seminar for some of the county’s larger businesses will be addressed by Chris Grayling, Minister for Employment, Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester, and Terry Chappell from the National Apprenticeship Service.

There will also be opportunities throughout the day to “Meet the Apprentice” and a briefing aimed at parents/carers to help them understand more about apprenticeships.

Terry Chappell is part of the team responsible for the event. He says: “Last year we ran a very successful Apprenticeship Jobs Fair, but this year we decided to think bigger and embrace the ‘past, present and future’ of apprenticeships.

“We’ll have people who have already been training as apprentices and employers operating successful schemes giving their inside view; live current vacancies so that jobseekers can talk directly to employers that are seeking apprentices now; and we’ll be whetting the appetite of youngsters still at school, who may be apprentices of the future, encouraging them to ‘have a go’ at a new skill.

“Throughout the day there will be an exhibition from local training providers and employers who run apprenticeships explaining what’s involved, the process, funding, employer incentives, and plenty of opportunities to hear directly from apprentices and their managers.”

Chappell concludes: “Our aim is to inspire businesses to create apprenticeship roles in their organisations, inform them how to do it, and get them started on a path that can bring fresh talent into their company and stimulate long term growth.

“We also want to excite young people about the opportunities to learn as they earn. The scope of apprenticeships is vast and caters for every level of education from the equivalent of GCSEs to degree standard, across a diverse range of sectors and types of organisation.”

The Gloucestershire Skillsfest has been organised by a collaboration of local businesses, training providers, GFirst and the National Apprenticeship Service.

GFirst Chief Executive David Owen said: “Nurturing Gloucestershire’s young talent is at the heart of GFirst and we want to encourage more apprenticeships within the county. They can be very beneficial for the apprentice but can also be invaluable to businesses by bringing in another skilled member to your team and fresh ideas. The Skillsfest is a really exciting opportunity to find out more about apprenticeships and we are sure it will be a great success.”

For details of the day’s programme visit www.GlosSkillsfest.co.uk or email glosskillsfest@apprenticeships.gov.uk or call 01242 500 009.

Winning entry showcases young skills

A joint entry by Year 9 pupils Tiffany and Lauren from Heywood Community School in Cinderford, Forest of Dean, scooped the prize for the best photograph in Target’s ‘have a go’ skills competition.

Part of a county-wide skills day for teenagers held at Gloucester Rugby Club, Target challenged youngsters to try their hand at either writing a press release or taking a photo to illustrate a PR launch story.

Tiffany and Lauren chose to create a photo that would help promote the launch of a new beauty product – the sumptuous Spa Paradisa body butter – and this is their winning image.

Sarah Bryars, Target’s chief executive, explained what impressed her and apprentice account executive Courtney Conroy, who both worked with pupils attending the event.

“Tiffany and Lauren had a really great attitude and approach to the task – they thought carefully about what they wanted to do and came up with the idea for the ‘warpaint’ pose themselves.

“It was a very clever idea: a great way of using the product within the image – the product itself will always be rubbed in (and therefore invisible) when used, so the warpaint idea was a clever visual solution. It also had a sense of drama.

“They listened carefully to the guidance from the professional photographer (who lent us his camera and experience!) and concentrated on the task. The result was a photo that was well composed, dramatic, and showed a good use of the product branding.

“It was great team work.

“The girls were being presented with their prizes by their headmaster in front of the whole school assembly at the end of term, so we look forward to hearing how that went down!”

Tomorrow's talent in PR

Choosing a career hasn't got any easier for today's youngsters, so Target was really pleased to be able to take part in a recent 'have a go' skills event at Gloucester Rugby Club.

The event saw hundreds of teenagers from schools across the county taking a couple of hours out of the classroom to sample skills from bricklaying and hairdressing, to 3-d computer design in engineering and, of course, PR.

Target's apprentice Courtney (pictured chatting with pupils) designed a couple of simple challenges based on real client scenarios - launching a new beauty product aimed at the teen market or opening a new Specsavers branch in the heart of a local high street. Pupils could choose to tell their story in the opening paragraphs of a press release, or create a photo that would appeal to the press. The incentive of a prize for the best in each category added a little extra motivation.

With some personal guidance from Courtney and Target chief exec Sarah, plus a photographer from Cirencester College on hand to lend a camera and his years of professional experience, the 14- and 15-year olds came up with some great entries. We'll be revealing the winners before the end of term!