The Bournemouth & Poole College is celebrating finding over 3,000 of their students jobs since 2012. Employability is a key theme at the college with students being able to access expert Careers Advice and Guidance, and an in-house recruitment service, in partnership with Reed NCFE, based in eLabs. The college also has close links with local, national and international employers.
The eLabs, located at both North Road and Lansdowne sites, are fully equipped centres with all the tools a student needs for finding that perfect job after or during their studies. These facilities give students online access to promote themselves directly to a huge data base of potential employers.
Students are helped with structuring CVs, writing personal statements and job searching. A key part of what the college does is to match students with the right employer for their future career.
The college’s internal Advice and Guidance Team plays a vital role in the process. They help students make important decisions about their course choices in order for them to find their perfect job.
Lara Tyler, Senior Employment Team Manager based in eLabs for REED NCFE, has been part of the advisory team since its inception. She said:
“With the eLabs and our data base of more than 1,000 employers, any student coming to us can have total confidence that they will get expert advice and a clear direction. In fact we also offer career support to students for up to a year after they finish at the college.”
A report in 2015 from the University and College Union (UCU) claimed students in general do not receive adequate careers advice and support. The report stated that three-fifths of those surveyed had never spoken to a careers adviser.
This has not been a problem at The Bournemouth & Poole College.
College Principal Diane Grannell, said: “We take the time to get to know our students and their ambitions, qualifications and skills. We also link up with local employers, and listen to their needs and tailor courses to match them.”
“Three thousand placements really is an outstanding achievement. It’s a number that makes us very proud.”
