Eight young University employees help to launch CareerStart@cam

At the ceremony the YEP scheme was re-launched as CareerStart@cam in line with new government legislation on age.

Eight participants in the programme were presented with awards by Peter Deer, Director of Personnel, for gaining their target vocational qualifications in a range of skills.

They were: Adam Durrant (AAT intermediate); Claire Edwards (AAT Foundation, Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in Business Administration and NVQ Level 3 in Administration); Cara Geach (HND Building Services Engineering); Catherine Hall (Advanced Modern Apprenticeship with NVQ Level 3 Admin); Douglas Ross (NVQ Level 2 with City and Guilds Electrical Installations); Jamie Secker (Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in Plumbing); Kristy Smalley (NVQ Level 2 Admin); and Charlie Willers (Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in Carpentry).

Peter Deer presented the 2006 Trainee of the Year award to Claire Edwards, an administrative assistant in the Office of Communications in the Old Schools. Claire, who was brought up in Cambridge and attended Netherhall School, heard about the programme for young employees through her mother who was working for the University.

At the age of 17, Claire joined the Communications Office as a trainee in 2001, after an interview with Staff Development. “My first few weeks of work in the real world were pretty scary as I’d had absolutely no experience with computers, either at school or home, which is quite hard to believe now,” said Claire.

“While working full-time I have done a series of courses to gain skills. My initial training was delivered by an outside trainer who ran sessions for a small group of us. I then did courses in business administration, finance and accounts, and typing.”

Claire says that her work has brought constant challenges, the opportunity to gain a wide range of experience, and the chance to make lots of new friends. “I’m really, really glad that I signed up for the programme as it’s given me the opportunity to learn such a range of skills,” she said. Claire’s supervisor commended her “dogged determination and tenacity to succeed”.

The re-launched programme is now offered to a wide range of participants, including those new to the workplace at any age or those in the early stages of their career to support them in training for a vocational qualification. It is expected that the programme will attract increased interest by widening its range of potential participants.

CareerStart@cam aims not only to increase the qualification base of University employees, but also to encourage recruitment and retention. “The Programme provides the opportunity to ‘grow our own’ employees of the future as well as giving participants a well-supported start to their careers”, commented Jenny Tootal, CareerStart@cam co-ordinator.

Far from resting on their laurels, most of the participants (including Claire Edwards) are already embarking enthusiastically on their next qualifications.