National Careers Week (NCW) is a one-week celebration of careers guidance and resources in education across the UK to help support young people develop awareness and excitement about their future pathways.

To celebrate Careers Week, SMB College Group hosted careers fairs for their students at their Brooksby and Stephenson Campuses.

The Workshops were designed to prepare students for their many opportunities after College, workshops included:

• CV Workshop/ Interview Techniques presented by Futures for you,

• Presentation Skills with George Bain

• Starting up Businesses by Martin Hagman

• Apprenticeship Awareness presented by SMB College Group's Apprenticeship Team

• Looking for University's/Understanding student finance presented by Nottingham Trent University

• The benefits of Higher Education/ Make the most of your Summer presented by De Montfort University

• A day in the life of a student presented by Sheffield Hallam

Also, in attendance at the Careers Fair were Ragdale Hall Spa, Tilbury Douglas, the University of Wolverhampton, Autotech Academy, Agricultural Recruitment Specialists, and more!

All of the careers activity and industry engagement that SMB College Group do with students really pays off when students' progress into the wide world of work, with the college having a wide range of very successful alumni spanning multiple industries, including:

Joseph Woodward

Joseph joined SMB College Group in 2020-22 and studied BTEC Level 3 in Sporting Excellence and Performance. Joseph is now a Centre/Fly-half for Leicester Tigers, he also represented England U18s and was selected Captain.

Joseph said,

"My time at SMB College Group has given me many opportunities to learn, achieve and help others both on and off the field.

At Brooksby I can train at different parts of the day as well as my rugby session ran by the coaches, whether it be before breakfast on the Wattbike or in the evenings after dinner for a weight's session. Training hard is made easy by having a good group of lads around me that are also trying to go far in their rugby career, it gives motivation to do the extras."

Christopher Tendai

Christopher studied Performing Arts with SMB College Group back in 2009-2011, after leaving College, Christopher went on to have a successful career spanning both Musical Theatre and the commercial world. He has worked on a range of impressive shows including Hamilton, Matilda, West Side Story, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Christopher is currently the Resident Choreographer for the 50th Anniversary of Drew Mconie's Olivier Award Winning Jesus Christ Superstar UK Tour 2023/24.

Christopher said,

"I studied at SMB College Group back in 2009 to 2011. Studying here broadened my perspective of musical theatre and the industry and it allowed me to creatively develop my practice, which I utilised through going to drama school and still to today in my own dance company and working on the west end. My college lecturers especially gave me the confidence to take this on as a real career and it gave me the tools to take into drama school."

Samantha Ward

Samantha recently studied Animal Care Level 2 and Level 3 with the College as an adult learner looking for a change to her career.

Samantha said,

"Returning to college as an adult learner was by far the hardest decision I've ever made but thanks to Brooksby, I am now fulfilling my dreams of working in a veterinary practice. I have been able to show my children that it doesn't matter how old you are, it's never too late to chase those dreams. If I can do it, anybody can."

SMB College Group is one of the region's leading providers for apprenticeships and business training, helping students get the right start to their future careers.

Find out more about how you can work with SMB College Group to assess your company's skills needs and build your workforce of the future by getting in touch with our expert team: enquiries@smbgroup.ac.uk.