Bournemouth & Poole College’s career service a success with students and employers

Bournemouth & Poole College’s new Career Ready Hubs have proven to be a vital service for hundreds of students preparing for post-college life.

The Career Ready Hubs were developed to help address skills gaps locally by creating a one-stop-shop for learners to access the guidance they need around careers, employability, apprenticeships, or higher education. The Hubs, situated at both the North Road and Lansdowne campuses, provide the opportunity for local and national employers to meet with students on-site to discuss employment and apprenticeship opportunities.

Pippa Allner, Personal Development Manager at Bournemouth & Poole College, said: “The Career Ready Hubs have created a much more holistic, collaborative and responsive service for our students. We’re only six months into launch and we’ve had such fantastic feedback from students already.

“We work with young people at such a crucial stage in their lives, so we are proud to be able to confidently provide the services they need to leap into the working world.”

Student services including Careers Guidance Appointments, Employability Coaching Sessions and employer events are available to students at the hub and are a cohesive space for The College’s careers and apprenticeship teams to provide a streamlined offering for students.

Since their introduction in October 2021, the hubs have been received extremely positively by students, with the College noting increased confidence within students making the first steps in their employment journey.

One student said: “It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I had no idea how or where to start when writing my CV, so the help I will continue to receive is invaluable.”

Another student stated: “These appointments have made me more confident in my ability to be employed.”

Following the success of the Career Ready Hubs, Bournemouth & Poole College is planning to expand its services to focus on giving young people more meaningful encounters with employers.

A Festival of Employability, hosted by Employability Skills Coaches, will be held at both North Road and Lansdowne campuses, with many employers such as BCP Council, Lush, HSBC and Marriott in attendance.

The Festival takes place at the North Road campus on 4th May and the Lansdowne campus on 11th May, providing students with the opportunity to speak to employers about the skills and qualities they seek in their workforce. Both events will take place from 2-5pm.

For more information on Bournemouth & Poole College, please visit www.thecollege.co.uk