Elliott Hudson College hosted a conference for our World of Work students, led by Credera Consultancy. The conference was an opportunity for students to gain valuable information and experience to prepare them for applying to apprenticeships and seeking employment after college. Credera are an international consultancy firm, who work with Google, Microsoft, and many other multinational companies.

World of Work is comprised of all the EHC students who do not intend to apply to university and are instead wanting to either complete an apprenticeship or go into full-time employment after finishing college. We support these students by offering bespoke tutorials led by our Careers team and opportunities to take part in unique events tailored for students who do not want to go to university.

The conference included a series of short tasks intended to support students in building key skills that will support them beyond college. One task had students working in teams to create a CV and elevator pitch for a celebrity, and presenting their pitch to an audience! Students were shown how to use the STAR model to pitch & promote themselves effectively, and learnt the importance of showing off soft skills such as resilience, teamwork, and organisation. The speakers from Credera discussed the use of technology in constructing an effective application, including using AI tools to create a draft pitch more efficiently. The conference also included a look into the world of consultancy, and how the role of consultants working for companies mirrors how people market themselves for job applications. With check-ins throughout the conference, students were able to track their progress and see which skills they were developing.

The World of Work students had an amazing time at the conference, and even had the chance to win prizes such as White Rose gift vouchers! One student told us that “I felt I learned a lot about myself. I worked with people I don’t normally work with, and got really useful advice about the application process [for degree apprenticeships]. I really enjoyed it”.