Our guide to getting a job - all updated!

Our website’s Getting a job section has just been revised and fully updated for 2013. It’s a step-by-step guide to help you find, apply for and get the job you want, and contains information on everything from job hunting and work experience to application forms, CVs, interviews / assessments and starting work. Plus you can download all this help in our Getting a job PDF booklet.

Connexions Birmingham holiday opening

Seasons greetings from Connexions Birmingham to all the young people we are working with!

Broad Street Connexions Centre will be opening between 12.30pm and 3.30pm over the holiday period but will be CLOSED on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Connexions outreach venues won’t be opening during Christmas and New Year. We will be back to normal opening times from Wednesday 2 January 2013. Our website’s Contacting us pages have details of how to get in touch with us, so you can check by phone or email about opening times before making a journey to visit us.

Connexions outreach now available in Aston

We've just opened a new Connexions Outreach service, at the Lighthouse, 100 Alma Way, Aston, B19 2LN. It's an appointment-only service, and is open between 1pm and 4pm on Wednesdays. Contact details, including phone, email and an interactive location map, are on our Connexions West Outreach webpage.

Aged 16-19? GET CONNECTED at our event in Kingstanding

Aged 16–19? Let Connexions Birmingham help you to become a success. Come along to the 610 Centre, 610 Kingstanding Road, B44 9SH on Thursday 22 November 2012 between 1pm and 4pm.

• Careers Advisers available
• Benefits/Housing advice
• Training Providers offering opportunities in varied career areas

Turn up on the day, or call us on 0121 675 4782 for more information.
WIN, WIN, WIN... come along and be entered into our prize draw. Bus Tokens also available

Visitors to the Broad Street Connexions Centre please note...

From Monday 5 November 2012 the Broad Street Connexions Centre will be open from 12.30pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday. If you are visiting Connexions Birmingham, full details — including maps — are in our Contacting us/Staying in touch webpages.

Aged 16 or 17 and NOT FIXED UP?

If you are 16 or 17, and

• struggling to find a job or Apprenticeship...
• college not for you right now...
• confused about what to do next...?

Drop in to our “NOT FIXED UP” event at Broad Street Connexions Centre, Tuesday 16 October 2012 between 10am and 2pm, and meet people who can help you get back on track
Can’t make it that day? Just pop in anytime during our normal opening hours. Contact details, opening times and maps are all on our website’s VISIT US section.

What next? information events for young people with learning difficulties or disabilities

18 October 2012:
The Saffron Centre
256 Moseley Road, Birmingham B12 0BS
Drop in between 1pm and 8pm

31 October 2012:
Carrs Lane Church Centre
Carrs Lane, Birmingham B4 7SX
Drop in between 3pm and 8pm

If you are a young person aged 13-19 with a learning difficulty and/or disability, or their parent/carer, or a professional supporting a young person with learning difficulties, this is your chance to find out about:

• Colleges
• Work Related Training
• Careers Advice
• Independent Living
• Social Worker Services
• Parent and Family Support

At both events there will be a programme of workshops that you can attend, starting at 6pm and lasting for about 20 minutes. The workshops will cover:

• Planning for Transition
• Social Care
• Family Information

Comments about last year's events:

• "Much wider range of support options than I was aware of" (parent/carer)
• "It's really helpful and it helps me know what to do in the future" (young person)

Coming to Birmingham in November - The Skills Show

The Skills Show is at the NEC, 15-17 November 2012. It gives you a chance to:

• meet top employers and talk to real people about real jobs
• try interactive Have A Go’s, offering you the chance to try a bite-size taster of a new skill, trade or profession
• speak to experts from some of the biggest names in skills, careers, Apprenticeships and education, to get free, impartial advice
• speak to colleges, universities and learning providers from across the UK, about the different entry routes into a host of different career sectors.

Entry is free — find out more and register at theskillsshow.com

Beyond 16 — all new and out now...

Beyond 16 is our guide - online and downloadable PDF - to help you make decisions about what to do when you finish Year 11. It has just been completely updated and revised for young people who will finish Year 11 next summer. It covers the four main options available to you at that time:

• taking an education course at school or college
• joining an Apprenticeship programme with an employer
• starting a Foundation Learning programme at school, college or with a work-based learning provider
• finding a job, which because of the Raising of the Participation Age will need to include training leading to an accredited qualification

You can get Beyond 16 through the Connexions Birmingham website.

Exam results days 2012

Exam results days are here and at Connexions Birmingham we have revised and relaunched our seasonal webpages giving you results information and advice, focusing on what to do if things haven’t gone exactly as planned. There are separate sections for GCSE and A Level results.

Follow Connexions Birmingham on Twitter

We’re now using Twitter to get information to young people across Birmingham — we’ll be tweeting the latest apprenticeship or vacancy opportunities, plus other news items that might be useful or interesting. Our username is @CNXBham and you can follow us at twitter.com/CNXBham

New: Connexions Outreach across the south of Birmingham

We have looked at new ways to make sure that young people who we are working with across the south of Birmingham can get access to the Connexions service after we had to close the Northfield and Kings Heath Connexions Centres.

The Connexions South Outreach service starts on Monday 18 June 2012 and is based in a range of places, alongside various other existing services.

• The Factory (Longbridge)
• Frankley Youth Centre (Frankley)
• Maypole Youth Centre (Druids Heath)
• Quinborne Community Centre (Quinton)
• 641 Youth House (Selly Oak)
• The Square Club (Weoley Castle)

The Connexions South Outreach page on our website has opening times, full addresses and interactive maps for each of these new services.

What you thought about the future of Connexions - 2012

In early 2012, Connexions Birmingham ran a major consultation exercise to find out what you thought about our proposals for the future of the Connexions service. We had to make these proposals because of changes to the law about careers guidance, and because Birmingham City Council needs to save money. We had views from young people, parents, and schools and colleges. We have a summary of the proposals and what you told us about how you felt about them on our website.
As well as asking what you thought about the proposals, we asked how satisfied you — young people, parents and schools — were with the Connexions Birmingham service. It was great to see that, overall, 88.4% of people joining in the consultation were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” and the figure for just young people rises to 91.3%.

National Careers Service launched today

The new National Careers Service was launched on 5 April 2012 — if you’re aged between 13 and 19, you get the website at nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk and the phone helpline 0800 100 900, plus careers advisers via webchat and email. Remember that Connexions Birmingham is now becoming a service which offers careers information advice and guidance to targetted groups of young people who might need extra support. We will only be offering “universal” careers information advice and guidance to wider groups of young people if your school/college is buying that service from us. You’ll be able to find out more about these changes soon on our website.

One way to start a career in social care

Birmingham & Solihull Crossroads (Caring for Carers) is a local charity that supports informal carers and the people they support living within Birmingham and Solihull.

They are looking to recruit carer support workers who are committed to providing a quality service, and are looking for people who want to help and empower people and believe they can make a difference. The only qualification required is an eagerness and commitment to provide quality care to service users. Full training will be given to successful candidates and the opportunity to progress in a career in care.

They are hosting a recruitment event on 28 April 2012 for anyone interested in working for the organisation. This will give you the opportunity to learn more about Birmingham & Solihull Crossroads and the opportunities that are available. You will also have the chance to speak to existing members of staff to find out what working for Birmingham & Solihull Crossroads is really like.

If you would like to book a place, or find out more, please contact Emma Ashton on 0121 622 0573.

Interested in a career in documentary filmmaking?

Are you aged 18-25 and interested in documentary filmmaking? Working in partnership with The Grierson Trust, First Light is offering free places on a new Second Light training Lab which will concentrate on documentary filmmaking. (First Light work with young people from a variety of backgrounds, developing skills in media production, and are based in Birmingham.)

This is a great opportunity for new entrants, aged 18-25, to work with experienced professionals to begin a career in documentary production.

The Lab will be held in Birmingham for 3 consecutive days (week beginning 28 May 2012) and participants will then attend Sheffield Doc Fest as part of their training and development.

Reasonable travel expenses will be provided to the workshops in Birmingham, as well as lunch. Travel to, and accommodation at the festival will also be covered.

There’s more information here on the First Light website which includes the downloadable application form.

Deadline for applications: 12 noon, 26 April 2012

Do you have A Grand Idea for a business? Win £1000!

Win £1000 to start your own business — The Grand Idea is a competition open to all 16-19 year olds in Birmingham, run by Ideas2Business. They will want to know what your grand idea is, who your customers will be, and what it is about YOU that can make this business a success. The WINNER will receive £1000 to start up their business, plus all sorts of help and support from Ideas2Business.

For more information, contact Ideas4Business on 0121 224 7900. Entries are to be submitted by video message at www.ideas2business.co.uk/grandidea or by email to grandidea@ideas2business.co.uk

CLOSING DATE: 31 March 2012

Killer bracelet alert

It might sound like a hoax viral, but we’re passing this information on in case any of you or your families might be affected...

An alert that has been issued by various authorities with regards to the “Jequirity bracelet” which you may have bought or been given. They have been on sale at various retail outlets across the UK, including the Eden Project in Cornwall. Information has been issued from those retailers urging customers to return the red and black bracelets made from the Jequirity bean. See what the Eden Project have said here.
The Jequirity bean bracelet is made from the deadly seed of the plant abrus precatorious. It contains the toxin abrin that if swallowed, has the potential to kill in doses of just 3 micrograms. Abrin is chemically similar to ricin, a chemical warfare agent. People who have bought, or are in possession of the bracelets, are being urged to bag them, then wash their hands and avoid touching their eyes.
Anyone who has one these bracelets should double bag it, seal the bag and hand it in to your local police station where they will arrange safe disposal.

Young people and employment — did you know...

...that young people can be legally employed, on a part-time basis, from the age of 13? BUT the employer must apply to the local authority for a work permit?
...that children who take part in public performances must be issued with an entertainment licence, issued by the local council? [This doesn’t include school productions.]

Find out more from Birmingham’s Child Employment Team on 0121 303 8900 or email EWSHelpHO@birmingham.gov.uk

National Network for Child Employment & Entertainment www.nncee.org.uk

National Child Employment Fortnight 2012: 26 March – 6 April

Connexions Birmingham helps get vulnerable young people “Back on track” – with royal results...

Connexions Personal Advisers working with Birmingham’s Youth Offending Teams have helped young people get places on a new “Back on track” programme recently launched by Midland Heart. The programme is being highlighted at an event on 19 March with Her Royal Highness Princess Anne present.

“Back on track” aims to help young people who are most at risk of “falling into the gaps”, by offering a pre-apprenticeship programme to get young people up to the skill level needed for a National Vocational Qualification – and then on into a range of apprenticeships.

Connexions Birmingham is one of the the organisations working with Midland Heart to identify suitable young people, and we have supported them through the process – with 7 of “our” young people now successfully on the programme, a further 3 on reserve for when the next project starts in April, and 4 young people now on an apprenticeship.

Skills West Midlands — the region’s biggest hands-on careers and skills event

Are you 15-24? Do you know... what skills you need? what career you want? what training is out there?
Skills West Midlands lets you meet employers, apprenticeship training providers, colleges and universities.There’ll be hands-on careers and skills demonstrations with have-a-go demo areas.
Come along to New Bingley Hall, Birmingham, on

• Wednesday 21 March 9.30am-3pm and 5pm-7pm (evening opening so that families can come too)
• Thursday 22 March 9.30am-3pm

You can visit – free – at any time during the opening hours. Find out more and book online at www.skillswestmidlands.co.uk
New Bingley Hall is at 1 Hockley Circus, Birmingham B18 5BE

Are you aged 16-19, in the north of Birmingham, and not in education, employment or training?

Then come along to our event at Erdington YMCA (just off Six Ways roundabout) on Tuesday 13 March 2012, between 10am and 3pm. Work-based learning providers and colleges will be there, plus personal advisers from Connexions, to help you find suitable opportunities. And a prize draw for anyone attending too...

National survey finds that one in three schools has no plan to deliver careers advice

“Children & Young People Now” is reporting that a third of schools are yet to decide how to fulfil their new duty to provide careers advice for pupils, and changes to Connexions services have adversely affected four out of five schools across the country. Ths is based on a survey by the Institute of Career Guidance (ICG).

From September, schools will have a legal duty to “secure access to independent and impartial” careers guidance for pupils. Schools will be free to decide how to meet the new duty, but will not receive additional funding to pay for careers guidance, which has until now been funded by local authorities.

The ICG survey questioned 238 schools on how they are preparing for the changes. Asked what provision they plan to put in place from September, 8% said they intend to either do nothing, or refer pupils to websites and other online services, while one in three said they were yet to decide.

Almost everyone in the survey believes that face-to-face guidance is “very important” or “quite important”, but less than half said their school is planning to purchase impartial career guidance services from external careers guidance providers or independent careers advisers.

Nationally, the changes to Connexions services have adversely affected four out of five schools, half of which said they now have a “reduced” or “seriously reduced” careers service for pupils. A further 13% said careers guidance services for pupils have ceased completely since the changes to their local Connexions.

Here in Birmingham, Connexions is proposing that from April 2012 we continue to deliver a free careers information advice and guidance service to young people in schools who have learning difficulties or disabilities or who are in other vulnerable groups. Schools in Birmingham may also meet their new legal duty by purchasing additional careers information, advice and guidance services from Connexions Birmingham.

Connexions is changing

From April 2012 onwards, Connexions Birmingham will be changing quite a lot. On our website we have a “Connexions is changing... for young people” page where we try and explain what’s going on and how it will make a difference to people who have used Connexions Birmingham before. We’ll update this page whenever we can add some new or more detailed information so it’s worth checking back there from time to time.

Why is all this happening? Why are you changing things?

There are two reasons:

• The law has changed. From September 2012 it becomes the responsibility of schools to make sure that their pupils get impartial careers information, advice and guidance. Up until now this has been the role of Connexions. 
• As part of the City Council, Connexions Birmingham needs to make budget savings for next year (2012-2013).

National Apprenticeship Week: 6-10 February 2012

Apprenticeships give you the chance to start work, learn skills and gain qualifications.

Come to Broad Street Connexions Centre during National Apprenticeship week to find out more about the opportunities available locally. From Monday 6 February to Thursday 9 February, each afternoon between 1pm and 5pm there will be a range of local learning providers at the Connexions Centre, for you to find out more about the Apprenticeship opportunities they currently have available.

You can also find Apprenticeship vacancies by using our website’s Job Search page, or from the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching service at www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Are you a parent of a young person?

We’ve just updated our online information which helps parents of young people understand what’s happening in their son/daughter’s life. You’ll find information, useful links and guidance about how YOU can help them. All the information is also available in handy downloadable weblet form. There are Parent Guides for:

• Year 8/9
• Year 10
• Year 11
• Year 12/13

Aged 16-19 and looking for a job, training or Apprenticeship?

Come along to our
OPPORTUNITIES EVENT
WEDNESDAY 25 JANUARY 2012
Drop in between 11am and 2.30pm at the BROAD STREET CONNEXIONS CENTRE

Your chance to talk to a range of providers, with opportunities in Construction, Retail, Hair & Beauty, IT, Sport, Childcare, Admin, Motor Vehicle and many more...

Want to attend? Ask your Personal Adviser for more details, or just come along on 25 January! It’ll be great to see you there...
And to thank you for coming... you’ll receive a bus token to help in your opportunity search AND you’ll be entered in a prize draw with the chance to win High Street Vouchers.

Thought of a career in Nursing?

Birmingham City University is recruiting right now to its BSc (Hons) Nursing programmes (Adult, Child, Mental Health and Learning Disability fields) which start in April 2012.
Visit their Nursing Open Day on Saturday 4 February (10am–3.30pm) to find out more. Details about the Open Day and more are at www.bcu.ac.uk/aprilstartnursing or call 0121 331 5595. BCU’s Faculty of Health is also at www.facebook.com/bcuhealth

Connexions in Birmingham needs to change — have YOUR say!

We need to change from April 2012, because of changes to the law about careers guidance, and because Birmingham City Council needs to save money.
WE WANT YOUR VIEWS on the service that we will provide from April onwards — so please fill in OUR ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE (it’s quick and anonymous). [Survey ended - link now removed]
The survey closes on Friday 27 January 2012 so please have a look soon. We'll publish the results here and on our website in early April. Thank you!
ADDITIONAL NOTE: a summary report is now available at What you thought about the future of Connexions - 2012 on our website.

Closure of Kings Heath Connexions Centre

We are having to close the Kings Heath Connexions Centre.
The last day of opening will be Friday 13 January 2012. After then, the staff will be based at the Northfield Connexions Centre. If you want to visit Connexions Birmingham, please go to Northfield or any of our other Connexions Centres.