22 Working In The South West 200620072008 Work based training19.7% 19.2% 19.6% Employment ( with no training) 24.0% 24.1% 20.0% Full- time education41.6% 42.5% 43.8% Not in education, training or employment14.7% 14.2% 16.6% iParticipation in Education, Training and Employment by 16- 18 year olds 2009. DCSF. iiRegional Economic Profile 2009. South West Regional Development Agency. iiiSouth West at a Glance 2008. SLIM. ivState of the South West 2009. South West Observatory. vSouth West Healthy Labour Market Review 2008. SLIM. There are many reasons why some 18 year olds choose employment over higher education. Financial: . wanting to have money to spend. . a need to support themselves or others. . a fear of running up substantial debts during higher education. . concerns about finding sufficiently well paid work after graduation. Social: . no family history of higher education. . friends already in work. Emotional: . feeling jaded with years of studying and exams. . wanting to get out into the real world. Some of these might ring true with you. You may have other reasons. What 18 year olds did in 2006 - 2008i Trends in the south west job market The UK economy entered recession for the first time in two decades at the end of 2008. The downturn started in financial services, construction and anything to do with property. UK economic activity plummeted after October for both production ( led by manufacturing) and services ( led by retailing). At the same time, the labour market started to shrink with many more redundancies and a fall in vacancies. Generally it is agreed that 2009 will be the worst year for the global economy. An upturn in the UK economy, especially in terms of employment growth, is expected in late 2010/ early 2011. ii Nearly 20% of employment in the South West is in distribution ( wholesale, retail and motor industry). This is followed by business services ( 15%), health and social care ( 13%), manufacturing ( 11%) and tourism and leisure ( including hotels and restaurants) ( 8.7%). Agriculture, utilities ( electricity, gas, water, sewage) and mining are the smallest employing industries. iii The South West has high levels of self- employment. 14.3% of the region's working age population were self- employed between July 2007 and June 2008. iv Where the jobs are Occupational forecasts for the period 2007- 2017 predict that the largest increases in employment in England and the South West will be in: Culture, media and sport Customer service Caring Corporate management Teaching/ research professional occupations. The biggest declines are forecast to be in: Secretarial Skilled agricultural trades Process machine operation Other skilled trades. v However, while the overall numbers employed in these sectors are predicted to decline, employers will still need to recruit staff. This will be to replace those who leave or retire.

Work Based Learning & Job Seekers' Tips Getting started When searching for a job you should choose one that offers training leading to nationally recognised qualifications. People with qualifications have better long- term job prospects, are more flexible in the job market and generally earn more. Employers are increasingly interested in people who want to continue improving their skill levels. There is a shortage of workers in the South West with skills at Level 3 ( for example, A/ AS levels, BTEC Nationals, International Baccalaureate, Advanced and Progression Diplomas) and Level 4 ( for example, Higher National Diplomas, Foundation degrees, Honours degrees, postgraduate qualifications). i Apprenticeships Apprenticeships are an excellent way of gaining nationally recognised qualifications and workplace experience. And you'll earn as you learn! There are over 190 types of Apprenticeships within a variety of industry sectors ranging from accountancy and engineering to veterinary nursing and floristry. They are offered by over 130,000 companies across the UK. Both large and small companies use Apprenticeships to increase productivity and improve competitiveness. All Apprenticeships include: . a minimum of 16 hours per week paid employment. . a work- related qualification to either Level 2 or 3. . key transferable skills such as problem solving, working in groups and using new technology. . a technical certificate like a BTEC or City and Guilds ( in most cases). . a module on employment rights and responsibilities. Apprenticeships generally take between one and four years to complete. The qualifications gained during an Apprenticeship can count towards a university application. In- house training Some companies will offer their own in- house training programmes. These often lead to nationally recognised qualifications or a company's own qualification. Check out company websites for details. Always ask about training opportunities at interviews. " Going for a job at 18 doesn't mean you're not bright enough for uni. HE isn't for everyone so don't be afraid to be different!" - trainee administrative officer. Job seekers' tips The main aim of application forms, CVs and interviews is to show an employer what you have to offer in terms of skills, experience and potential. When you reply to a vacancy make sure you read it thoroughly and demonstrate you have what the employer is looking for. Many vacancies are never advertised. Put effort into producing speculative letters/ CVs that are targeted at specific employers you are interested in. Use the internet and business directories to do your research into companies. Try to send paperwork to a named individual within the company. Other things to do: . Use positive words in letters and CVs. Words like dedicated, enthusiastic, adaptable, effective and flexible all give the right messages. . Get someone to proofread all letters, application forms and CVs. Don't rely on a spell checker. A spelling mistake is the quickest way to the reject pile. . Create a professional email address. Employers are unlikely to reply to Hotstuff@ hotmail. org. . Be prepared to progress into your ideal job - not walk straight into it. Be realistic about where you are now and focussed on where you want to get to. . Keep positive and realistic. The process of finding vacancies, preparing tailored application forms/ CVs and going for interviews will take time and energy. Learn from disappointments - ask for feedback. iReview of Level 3 Skills in the South West 2007. SLIM. 23