Careers Advice

At HLNSC, we want to make sure you’re ready for life after college — whether that’s university, an apprenticeship, or starting work. That’s why employer engagement and careers learning are built into your course, giving you real insights, practical experience, and the skills you need to succeed.

What You’ll Get From Employer Engagement

Through a range of activities, you’ll:

• Meet real employers and hear about their careers and day-to-day work
• Take part in workshops, mock interviews, and CV sessions to develop your employability skills
• Experience workplaces through visits, work placements, or shadowing, so you understand different jobs and industries
• Explore your strengths, skills, and career goals with guidance from professionals
• Plan your next steps for university, apprenticeships, or employment

How You’ll Engage During Your Course

Your course will give you opportunities to:

• Attend careers events and employer talks
• Complete work placements or industry visits
• Take part in mock interviews, video interviews, and recruitment exercises
• Research and compare career options, including qualifications, skills, work environments, and pathways
• Receive 1:1 support and mentoring to help you plan your next steps

Why This Matters

These experiences help you:

• Understand what employers are looking for
• Build your confidence and professional skills
• Explore your options and make informed decisions about your future
• Gain hands-on experience that makes you stand out in applications

Get Involved

Look out for careers events and workshops throughout your course. Every step you take helps you build the skills, experience, and confidence to succeed after HLNSC.

Thinking about what you’re going to do once you’ve finished college? We can support you to research and compare career, further education and training options, and turn your research into a clear plan.

Apprenticeships – find out more about the apprenticeships the college offers and search vacancies.

GOV.UK Find an apprenticeship – Use the national apprenticeship vacancy service to search roles by location and level (e.g. Level 4–7). Many employers advertise and you can apply directly from the listing.

UCAS Apprenticeships – Search for apprenticeship vacancies and read advice about routes, entry requirements and how degree apprenticeships work alongside university study.

National Careers Service  – This service can help you with your career ideas, study options and training choices. Explore career ideas or try the Skills Assessment. 

Target Careers – A one-stop-shop for help and advice with all your study and careers questions.   

Alongside online resources, students take part in employability activities, employer encounters and (where relevant) work placements, and use labour market information through their course.

For further help or suggestions contact: 

Student Services
Telephone: 0800 032 1986 
Email: [email protected] 

We offer guidance on university routes, including encounters with higher education (talks, events and open days) and support with applications.

If you are interested in going to university after your time at college, here are some things that may help: 

• Have a chat with your tutor 
• Make an appointment with our careers advisor for advice on choosing courses or universities 
• Contact HLNSC Student Services and ask for support completing your application and personal statement 

• Think about gaining some work experience to strengthen your application 
• Attend university open days (see links below) 
• If you’re not quite sure, consider whether there are alternative ways to start your career through school leaver and apprenticeship programmes (try the NotGoingtoUni website). 

Useful websites

UCAS 
The University and College Admissions System (UCAS) runs the application process for British universities and colleges. The site includes useful information on applying to university, and there’s also information tailored to parents and guardians. 

Prospects 
Plan ahead in terms of what you can do with your degree by visiting this graduate careers website. 

OpenDays.com 
Find out the open days of the universities you are interested in applying to. 

University websites 
Universities have their own sites which give you lots of useful information! 

DiscoverUni 
A useful site that lets you search for and compare information and data for individual undergraduate courses across the UK. (You can find the data for some of our HE courses directly on the pages here on our website). 

Student Finance 
Everything you need to know about funding higher education, including student loans, bursaries, grants and more. 

UCAS Finance pages 
Find out what financial support you’re eligible for. 

Parents and carers guide