Whatever your exam results please don’t despair many people in interesting job roles across Scotland and at Alford Academy haven’t taken a straight, obvious or traditional path to get there…
Everyone’s journey is different. There is #NoWrongPath.
The BECTU Vision Roadshow is here to help.
Do you know anybody looking to get into film & tv? We’re touring Scotland in May and June with our free to attend events which will be sharing insight on:
Each fun and informal Roadshow consists of a 1-hour presentation followed by an opportunity for coffee and a mingle where we’ll have industry professionals on-hand to share their experience and advice.
Attendees will be the first to find out about a range of exciting opportunities coming up in 2023, which includes our flagship training course Hit the Ground Running, monthly sessions and networking events.
Book ticket via the links below:
⭐ Aberdeen: Tuesday 30 May 2023, 18:00, Aberdeen Arts Centre
⭐ Inverness: Thursday 1 June 2023, 17:30, Eden Court
⭐ Dumfries: Tuesday 6 June 2023, 19:30, Robert Burns Centre
⭐ Dundee: Monday 12 June 2023, 18:00, Dundee Contemporary Arts
⭐ Glasgow: Thursday 22 June 2023, 17:00 , Grosvenor Picture Theatre
⭐ Edinburgh: Tuesday 27 June 2023, 18:00, Grassmarket Community Project
We welcome all ages to the Roadshow. Under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult. All venues are fully wheelchair accessible. We offer BSL interpretation on request via vision@bectu.org.uk
Paramedics from Scottish Ambulance Service came into Alford Academy today to teach pupils how to deal with a casualty who has suffered cardiac arrest. The input was part of a series of scenarios S1 pupils have been going through with Guidance teachers called – ‘keeping yourself safe’. 
The pupils learned how to –
Pupils were able to put their learning into practice by using the manikins to perform this sequence.
Alford Academy would like to thank Scottish Ambulance Service for providing such fantastic, worthwhile and potentially lifesaving training to our S1 pupils.
The S3 Admin & IT class visited Alford Golf Club on 16th May with their teacher Mrs Forsyth and the school’s DYW Employer School Coordinator, Romana Richards to present their admin and business project.
Iain Affleck (club manager), Harry Yorston (club captain) and Stuart Storrie (Club Council / School Liaison) represented the golf club and each of the pupils took it in turns to present their findings and suggestions on how the club could move forward in terms of technology. The pupils had researched the best options for the club’s filing system (saving files onto the cloud instead of locally), a facility for scanning images into usable documents, improving their website, social media presence to appeal to members of all ages, and a human resources app for staff. The presentation was very well received by the club and made the pupils and teachers feel very welcome.
Head Teacher Angela Wotherspoon said “The project was a valuable experience for our pupils as they were able to transfer the knowledge and skills that they have, to help solve a real-life problem.
Thank you to Alford Golf Club for giving our pupils the opportunity to work alongside them and for being so accommodating and open to their ideas, it is much appreciated”.
Alford Academy say thank you to our partners by hosting a Business Breakfast
On Friday 5th May 2023 Alford Academy hosted a Business Breakfast and welcomed partners into the school. The event celebrated our successes and explored how we can further enhance our relationships to prepare the young people of Alford Academy for the world of work and life after school.
Head Teacher Angela Wetherspoon welcomed guests and thanked them for their ongoing and invaluable support to the young people of Alford Academy.
Romana Richards, Employer School Coordinator, Developing the Young Workforce – explained her role of connecting employers and educators at the school. She outlined how partners have worked with the school and explained further opportunities to collaborate. 
Stuart Cookson, Depute Head – discussed the forthcoming events that partners can support. He explained the wide variety of Foundation Apprenticeships opportunities currently available to pupils and detailed how partners can get involved.
Jenni Rees – Jenkins, Principal Teacher of Achievement Pathways & Partnerships, explained the School Leaver Profile (SLP) which highlights the nine core meta-skills Alford Academy collectively feel are important for our young people to develop throughout their time at school to provide them with the most success for the future. She outlined how partners can support the SLP to bring it to life for the Young People of Alford Academy.
Partners were shown a video explaining how they can become involved in the Young Persons Gua
rantee to support Young People aged 16-24 to reach a positive destination. Young Persons Guarantee
Following the presentation partners and staff enjoyed a delicious breakfast and discussed future partnership working.
Thank you to everyone who came to Alford Academy on Friday morning and made it such a positive event. Your support is very much appreciated and we very much look forward to growing our partnerships further.
If you would like to work with Alford Academy to support young people into a positive destination please contact Romana@dyw.org.uk
Don’t forget to discover current job vacancies and opportunities for young people across the North East through the following websites –
| Website | What you’ll find |
| Apprenticeships.scot | The latest apprenticeship opportunities, which are searchable by location. |
| DYW North East Jobs Portal | Entry-level positions, including apprenticeships, from local employers. |
| Young Person’s Guarantee Opportunity Finder | A one-stop shop for jobs, apprenticeships, courses and volunteering opportunities. Searchable by location. |
Don’t forget to discover current job vacancies and opportunities for young people across the North East through the following websites –
| Website | What you’ll find |
| Apprenticeships.scot | The latest apprenticeship opportunities, which are searchable by location. |
| DYW North East Jobs Portal | Entry-level positions, including apprenticeships, from local employers. |
| Young Person’s Guarantee Opportunity Finder | A one-stop shop for jobs, apprenticeships, courses and volunteering opportunities. Searchable by location. |
Alford Academy hosted an employer-led Land-Based Careers morning for S1 pupils arranged and facilitated by Countryside Learning Scotland. The aims of the event were to introduce pupils to the diversity of rural careers, at all levels by hearing from those who work in rural industries. S1 pupils were split into four groups and they rotated around the different employers for 8 minute interactive inputs.
A Nature Reserve Officer from Nature Scot who works at Forvie Nature Reserve talked about the geography of the reserve and the different elements of his role which he split into three broad categories; 1. Maintaining the fabric of the reserve. 2. A Field Biologist / scientist recording and identifying the wildlife and 3. Protecting the nesting birds from predators through electric fences. He allowed the pupils to handle and ask questions about the vital equipment he uses day to day to carry out his job.
Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups are a collection of sporting estates from across the six regions of Scotland. Grampian Moorland Group brought along a gamekeeper who talked about all the different activities he is involved in day to day and how he had been inspired to follow a Land-Based career. Grampian Moorland Group discussed the variety of careers available within the rural estates. This included conservation of rare heather moorland and the wildlife which lives there.
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) went through some of the 61 courses they currently offer from Agriculture, Environmental Conservation, Animal Nursing, Equine Studies to many more. SRUC offer Modern Apprenticeships where the courses are between 12-24 months and are assessed through on-the-job activities rather than sitting exams. The pupils were able to see and hear about real life equipment that is used in Equine Studies course.
James Jones & Sons Ltd explained the process of growing and harvesting trees. They discussed what careers were available from tree planting, building Fencing, building forest roads, architects, engineers, truck drivers and the apprenticeship opportunities. They talked to pupils about the environmental importance their forests play in capturing carbon. 
The S1 pupils thoroughly enjoyed the event and got a lot from being able to handle equipment and engage with people who currently work in Land – Based jobs. Alford Academy would like to thank Countryside Learning Scotland, Nature Scot, Grampian Moorland Group, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and James Jones & Sons Ltd for being part of this really invaluable opportunity for S1s to learn more about the rural careers landscape.
F
or the latest local Jobs, Events and Resources opportunities Click Here to visit the Career Pathways section of the Alford Blog. This is updated weekly.
Career opportunities
The three websites below are regularly updated with apprenticeships, entry-level positions and other opportunities. Please bookmark all three and visit them frequently to view new opportunities as these go live.
| Website | What you’ll find |
| Apprenticeships.scot | The latest apprenticeship opportunities, which are searchable by location. |
| DYW North East Jobs Portal | Entry-level positions, including apprenticeships, from local employers. |
| Young Person’s Guarantee Opportunity Finder | A one-stop shop for jobs, apprenticeships, courses and volunteering opportunities. Searchable by location. |
Alford Academy Travel and Tourism S4, S5 and S6 pupils visited the Port of Aberdeen and NorthLink Ferries today to learn more ab
out the travel and tourism sector and the career opportunities available.
The pupils started the day with a unique experience of being invited to climb aboard a NorthLink Ferry and have a behind the scenes look at the huge amount of logistics that go into the smooth running of the company’s operations. Pupils met with the Captain in the bridge who explained his role, the different routes into his profession and the career path he had taken. 
The young people met a variety of NorthLink Ferry staff members from the Customer Services Manager, Hospitality Director, a Chef and an Engineer, who all took time out of their busy day jobs to give fantastic insights into the wide-ranging careers available at NorthLink Ferries and within their sector. Pupils were able to sample first hand the comfort of the sleeping pods and have a look at the cabins on offer to passengers.
The pupils then travelled to the Port of Aberdeen South Harbour expansion where the Geo Environmental Project Manager gave an explanation of the development and construction of the South Harbour. The Visitor Centre Coordinator outlined the important role 
the Port of Aberdeen plays in attracting tourists to the area through the cruise liners. They both covered the wide-ranging careers available at the Port of Aberdeen.
It was fantastic for the pupils to see the harbour from such an amazing vantage point and understand how it is such an integral part of the infrastructure for the North East of Scotland. A pod of Dolphins also made an appearance which was an added bonus!
Thank you so much for NorthLink Ferries and the Port of Aberdeen for providing such interesting and invaluable insights into the tourism sector.