Derwen College will be celebrating National Careers Week, from 2nd to 7th March with activities planned for students across college, and the official launch of a ground-breaking new CV Builder ‘app’.
Events across the week will focus on the skills that students are learning at college to prepare them for the workplace. As well as competitions, activities and talks, the week will also feature an Open Day at the college on 4th March for prospective students to see the range of work skills they can learn.
The week will include a guest speaker from World Skills Thinking. There will also be the opportunity for businesses and employers to visit to see how Derwen College supports students into work, and to view a demonstration of the new CV Builder app.
Derwen College works hard to equip students with the skills and tools necessary to support them towards employment. The College has an on-site restaurant, café, print shop, Garden Centre, Shop and mini Hotel 751 that offer work experience for students. The College also works with national and local businesses to provide relevant off-site work placements for students, preparing them for employment when they return to their home area.
Derwen has created and developed innovative new apps to further support students into work. The College has developed a suite of app as part of a ‘Support Work’ project, funded via the Marches LEP Growth Deal with Government for capital skills projects.
These apps include a ground-breaking CV Builder app which allows people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to independently create a CV. The app provides students with step-by-step instructions using a choice of visuals, words or Makaton signs. They are guided through populating the CV with their skills, education and interests, and are also able to attach video or document evidence to further illustrate their work skills. The CV can then be sent securely to an employer, along with a link supporting employers in working with people with SEND.
Explaining the use of the app, Derwen College Quality Manager Sam Brown said:
“Introducing this new CV App to our learner group has enabled them to become more independent and take control of their future opportunities. Whilst working through each stage of the CV app they are identifying skills and qualities that express their own personalities, as well as identifying core industry skills they have developed. The app itself is an inclusive tool that enables any level learner to demonstrate their key attributes in a professional manner.”
Student G was able to compile his CV with minimal support.
He commented: “It’s super, I enjoy using the tablets to do my work, and the app was easy to use. I will use this to help me to get a job in the future. I am excited to use the app again to finish creating my CV.”
Derwen College Quality Manager Samantha Brown said that the College is constantly supporting students in the pursuit of suitable employment, and they were pleased to focus on Careers Week.
She said, “Careers Week provides a platform to celebrate the wider world of work. By embracing an across-college approach to career guidance and providing an insight into future work or learning possibilities through positive and fun exploration, we hope to empower students to develop and express their own aspirations.”
Any businesses or organisations who would like to see a demonstration of the app, meet the team or find out more about becoming an industry champion at Derwen are invited on Friday 6th March from between 10am and 12 noon to pop in to Derwen College – where you can also enjoy some of our home-made cakes and refreshments. Please email thehub@derwen.ac.uk to reserve a place.
