On Thursday 26th January Four Pillars will be in Alford library to help anyone interested in finding out more information relating to LGBT+ community.
The session running from 1:10pm – 2pm is for students only and the afternoon session 2pm – 4pm is open to members of the community.
We are pleased to make you aware of short courses which are on offer at NESCOL to assist candidates in preparing for end of year exams in Higher Sciences and Maths. All sessions are at Aberdeen City Campus, but physics is also available at Fraserburgh Campus.
Over seven evening sessions in the weeks leading up to the final exam, learners will work in small groups with other candidates to practice exam-style questions. Coaching during the class will help them improve the way they approach a range of questions. We will also cover aspects of the curriculum that have been identified as poorly answered in previous exams.
In previous years these sessions have been oversubscribed, so we would encourage early booking from any interested individuals.
Further details of all courses may be found on the links below.
Preparation for Higher Biology – commencing 27th February (Aberdeen City Campus)
Biology – North East Scotland College (nescol.ac.uk)
Preparation for Higher Chemistry – commencing 15th March (Aberdeen City Campus)
Chemistry – North East Scotland College (nescol.ac.uk)
Preparation for Higher Maths – commencing 1st or 7th March (Aberdeen City Campus)
Maths – North East Scotland College (nescol.ac.uk)
Preparation for Higher Physics – commencing 16th March (Aberdeen City and Fraserburgh Campus)
Physics – North East Scotland College (nescol.ac.uk)
Preparation for Higher Computing Science – commencing 29th March (Aberdeen City Campus)
Computing Science – North East Scotland College (nescol.ac.uk)
For further information on Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology please contact Douglas Fraser douglas.fraser@nescol.ac.uk or for Computing Science please contact Ben Thorn b.thorn@nescol.ac.uk
Weekly Update
Jobs | Events | Resources 22/12/2022
Career opportunities
The latest local apprenticeship opportunities are listed below. Remember to regularly visit My World of Work, Apprenticeships.scot and the Young Person’s Guarantee Opportunity Finder to view new opportunities as these go live.
| ORGANISATION | OPPORTUNITY | CLOSING DATE |
| Microcrom training | Trainee property viewing Administrative Assistant – Modern Apprenticeship | 10/01/2023 |
| ITC Global | Global VSAT Technician (Electrical Engineering) | 08/01/2023 |
| Aberdeen City Council | Children’s Social Work Service Modern Apprentice | 08/01/2023 |
| Aberdeen City Council | MA Pension Scheme Administrator | 08/01/2023 |
| Scott Agri | Service Engineer (Agricultural) | 06/01/2022 |
| Scot JCB | Service Engineer – Modern Apprenticeship | 06/01/2023 |
| New Look | MA: Retail Sales Assistant | 09/01/23 |
| Rotech Engineering Ltd | Stores Logistics Coordinator – Modern Apprenticeship | 10/01/2023 |
| Unspecified Employer | Trainee Property Viewing/Administration Assistant | 10/01/2023 |
| Add Energy | MA: Application Support Technician | 13/01/23 |
| Score Group | MA Stores and Logistics | 15/01/2023 |
| Score Group | MA Technical Services | 15/01/2023 |
| Score Group | MA Business Support Apprenticeship | 15/01/2023 |
| Score Group | MA Quality Control Apprenticeship | 15/01/2023 |
| Score Group | MA Machinist Apprenticeship | 15/01/2023 |
| Score Group | MA Valve Technician | 15/01/2023 |
| Red Rooster Lifting | MA: Electrical Load Cell Technician | 18/01/23 |
| Red Rooster Lifting | MA: Administration Assistant | 19/01/23 |
| Rubberatkins | Apprentice Admin Assistant (Finance) | Now taking applications |
| Rubberatkins | Apprentice Admin Assistant (Sales) | Now taking applications |
| TMM Recruitment | Administrator for Payroll Team | Now taking applications |
| Bell | Junior Administrator | Knowledge of Word/Excel required | Applications to r.mcgarry@bellgroup.co.uk. | Now taking applications |
| The Bread Guy | Apprentice Baker – send email to Thebreadguysbakery@gmail.com | Now taking applications |
| EY | Assurance Apprenticeship Programme | Register interest 2023 programme |
| EY | Business Administrator Apprentice | Now taking applications |
| Cruden Bay Golf Club | Apprentice GreenkeepersPlease apply by sending a covering letter & CV to Les Durno General Manager les@crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk | Now taking applications |
| Total Energies | Assistant AdministratorPlease apply by sending a covering letter & CV to Gillian Kimber gillian.kimber@totalenergies.com | Now taking applications |
| Baxterstory | General Assistant | Now taking applications |
| Applus UK Ltd | Apprentice Business Administrator | Now taking applications |
| Wolseley UK | Technical Sales Apprentice | Now taking applications |
| Wolseley UK | Sales Advisor Apprentice | Now taking applications |
| Survitec Group LimitedPeterhead | Apprentice Service Technician | Now taking applications |
| Lifetime Training | Sales Advisor Apprentice | Now taking applications |
| Bristow | Aircraft Engineering Apprenticeship Programme | Expression ofInterest |
| Banana Moon Day Nursery | Trainee Nursery Early Years Practitioner | Now taking applications |
| Konecranes | Service Technician Apprentice | Now taking applications |
| Scot JCB Group | Apprentice Service Engineer – Aberdeen | Now taking applications |
| Scot JCB Group | Apprentice Service Engineer – Huntly | Now taking applications |
| Arnold Clark | Apprentice Mechanic | Now taking applications |
| Arnold Clark | Apprentice Aftersales Customer Advisor | Now taking applications |
| Escone Solutions | MA:Helpdesk Support | 28/01/2023 |
| Hays Travel | MA: Travel Consultant | 02/02/2023 |
| Northern Heating | MA: Operations Assistant | 31/12/2022 |
| CHC Helicopter | Resource GroupApprentice Aircraft Engineers – CHC Helicopter | 31 December 2022 |
| Johnston Carmichael | Accountancy School Leavers Programme | August 2023 |
| KPMG | Audit Apprenticeships KPMG Careers here | Hiring Now |
| Arnold Clark | Trainee Area Sales and Administration Manager | Now taking applications |
| The Prince’s Trust | Do you know someone aged 16-25, who is out of Education, Training or Work? Would they like to increase their Confidence, Motivation, get new skills or take on a new challenge?
The Prince’s Trust Team Programme is a full time course offering a range of exciting experiences including team building activities, a community project and the chance to obtain nationally recognised qualifications and gain work placement experience. |
Courses starting 2023 |
Careers events and activities
| EVENT DETAILS | ORGANISER | DATE |
| Big Spin Business Challenge: Does your class have what it takes to pitch a fantastic business idea and win funding to start a small business? | Sustrans | Ongoing |
| Christmas coding competition This year’s challenge: Code a Christmas themed project that includes or mentions Santa. | Dresscode | 13th January |
| Overview of Scottish Apprenticeships webinar | For parents and carers | Skills Development Scotland | 19th January |
| The Alexa Young Innovator Challenge Amazon’s brand-new coding competition for ages 13-18 invites students to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and be in with the chance of winning some amazing prizes. | Amazon | 3rd February |
| Scotland Virtual Insight Event with Accenture and KPMG
Want to know what it is like to work at Accenture and KPMG in Scotland?Then we have you covered! Attend this Virtual Insight Event to learn more about the different opportunities that these companies can offer you. |
Pathway CTM | 19th January |
Careers & Further Education Links
The websites below are key careers-related resources for young people and those who support them. The sites are worth bookmarking and revisiting regularly.
| RESOURCE | PROVIDER |
| School Leavers Toolkit | Scottish Government Education |
| Young Person’s Guarantee Opportunity Finder | Skills Development Scotland |
| DYW Digital Resource Hub | For young people, educators, and employers | DYW Scotland |
| My World of Work | Advice and tools to help plan careers | Skills Development Scotland |
| DYW Northeast, You Tube Channel | Careers related videos and insights | DYW Northeast |
| Buzz Quiz Careers Test – What job could you do? | UCAS |
| Apprenticeships.scot | Apprenticeship information/vacancies | Skills Development Scotland |
| ABZ Works | Information on skills, training, and work opportunities | Aberdeen City Council |
| Foundation Apprenticeships | A guide to Foundation Apprenticeships at NESCol | NESCol |
| ECITB Scholarship Technician Programme | Starts Aug 2023 | ECITB | NESCol |
Alford Academy S3 Modern Studies – RAF Humanitarian Aid Mission Challenge
S3 Modern Studies pupils received an input today from Flight Lieutenant Morris of the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Pupils were given an insight into the variety of careers available within the RAF. Flight Lieutenant Morris explained the important role of the RAF in Humanitarian Aid Missions across the world.
During the lesson the pupils were tasked with a scenario based challenge whereby they were given a mission brief that outlined that a (fictitious) Caribbean Island has been hit by a storm. The Island’s emergency services were struggling under the pressure and much of the infrastructure had been destroyed. The RAF were being deployed to coordinate the provision of aid throughout the country and work with the hospitals to deal with the casualties.
The pupils were tasked with a series of questions to assist the RAF in deploying a variety of aircraft and specialists to help with the Humanitarian Aid Mission on the Caribbean Island. Through their answers the pupils decided what personnel, aircraft and resources should be deployed and were able to explain their reasoning.
The pupils fully engaged with the exercise and the feedback was positive. Pupils asked a range of questions about the variety of careers available within the Royal Air Force.
Thank you to Flight Lieutenant Morris for coming into Alford Academy today.
Are you interested in finding out more about our undergraduate courses in nursing, midwifery and paramedic practice?
We are running a bespoke Visit Afternoon on Wednesday 18 January, 12:00 – 15:00 at our Ishbel Gordon Building on our Garthdee Campus and would love for you to join us.
REGISTER NOW
Register now – 18 January 2023
At the event you will have the opportunity to:
If you have any questions regarding our Visit Afternoon, please don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing: visit@rgu.ac.uk
The latest local apprenticeship opportunities are listed below. Remember to regularly visit My World of Work, Apprenticeships.scot and the Young Person’s Guarantee Opportunity Finder to view new opportunities as these go live.
| ORGANISATION | OPPORTUNITY | CLOSING DATE |
| Sixth Sense Training | MA IT Service Desk Assistant | 16/12/2022 |
| New Look | Modern Apprenticeship: Retail Sales Assistant (apprenticeships.scot) | 18/12/2022 |
| Add Energy | Modern Apprenticeship: Finance & Digital Administration (apprenticeships.scot) | 20/12/2022 |
| The Nursing Partnership | Modern Apprenticeship: Recruitment Support (apprenticeships.scot) | 20/12/2022 |
| Microcrom training | Trainee property viewing Administrative Assistant – Modern Apprenticeship | 10/01/2023 |
| ITC Global | Global VSAT Technician (Electrical Engineering) | 08/01/2023 |
| Scott Agri | Service Engineer (Agricultural) | 06/01/2022 |
| Scot JCB | Service Engineer – Modern Apprenticeship | 06/01/2023 |
| New Look | MA: Retail Sales Assistant | 09/01/23 |
| Rotech Engineering Ltd | Stores Logistics Coordinator – Modern Apprenticeship | 10/01/2023 |
| Unspecified Employer | Trainee Property Viewing/Administration Assistant | 10/01/2023 |
| Add Energy | MA: Application Support Technician | 13/01/23 |
| Score Group | MA Stores and Logistics | 15/01/2023 |
| Score Group | MA Technical Services | 15/01/2023 |
| Score Group | MA Business Support Apprenticeship | 15/01/2023 |
| Score Group | MA Quality Control Apprenticeship | 15/01/2023 |
| Score Group | MA Machinist Apprenticeship | 15/01/2023 |
| Score Group | MA Valve Technician | 15/01/2023 |
| Red Rooster Lifting | MA: Electrical Load Cell Technician | 18/01/23 |
| Red Rooster Lifting | MA: Administration Assistant | 19/01/23 |
| Rubberatkins | Apprentice Admin Assistant (Finance) | Now taking applications |
| Rubberatkins | Apprentice Admin Assistant (Sales) | Now taking applications |
| TMM Recruitment | Administrator for Payroll Team | Now taking applications |
| Bell | Junior Administrator | Knowledge of Word/Excel required | Applications to r.mcgarry@bellgroup.co.uk. | Now taking applications |
| The Bread Guy | Apprentice Baker – send email to Thebreadguysbakery@gmail.com | Now taking applications |
| EY | Assurance Apprenticeship Programme | Register interest 2023 programme |
| EY | Business Administrator Apprentice | Now taking applications |
| Cruden Bay Golf Club | Apprentice GreenkeepersPlease apply by sending a covering letter & CV to Les Durno General Manager les@crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk | Now taking applications |
| Total Energies | Assistant AdministratorPlease apply by sending a covering letter & CV to Gillian Kimber gillian.kimber@totalenergies.com | Now taking applications |
| Baxterstory | General Assistant | Now taking applications |
| Applus UK Ltd | Apprentice Business Administrator | Now taking applications |
| Wolseley UK | Technical Sales Apprentice | Now taking applications |
| Wolseley UK | Sales Advisor Apprentice | Now taking applications |
| Survitec Group LimitedPeterhead | Apprentice Service Technician | Now taking applications |
| Lifetime Training | Sales Advisor Apprentice | Now taking applications |
| Bristow | Aircraft Engineering Apprenticeship Programme | Expression ofInterest |
| Banana Moon Day Nursery | Trainee Nursery Early Years Practitioner | Now taking applications |
| Konecranes | Service Technician Apprentice | Now taking applications |
| Scot JCB Group | Apprentice Service Engineer – Aberdeen | Now taking applications |
| Scot JCB Group | Apprentice Service Engineer – Huntly | Now taking applications |
| Arnold Clark | Apprentice Mechanic | Now taking applications |
| QA Apprenticeships | Recruitment Support Apprentice | 20/12/2022 |
| Arnold Clark | Apprentice Aftersales Customer Advisor | Now taking applications |
| Escone Solutions | MA:Helpdesk Support | 28/01/2023 |
| Hays Travel | MA: Travel Consultant | 02/02/2023 |
| ScotRail Trains | MA: Customer Service | 16/12/2022 |
| Set Training | MA: Service Desk Coordinator | 17/12/2022 |
| Northern Heating | MA: Operations Assistant | 31/12/2022 |
| CHC Helicopter | Resource GroupApprentice Aircraft Engineers – CHC Helicopte | 31 December 2022 |
Careers events and activities
| EVENT DETAILS | ORGANISER | DATE |
| Big Spin Business Challenge: Does your class have what it takes to pitch a fantastic business idea and win funding to start a small business? | Sustrans | Ongoing |
| Christmas coding competition This year’s challenge: Code a Christmas themed project that includes or mentions Santa. | Dresscode | 13th January |
| Overview of Scottish Apprenticeships webinar | For parents and carers | Skills Development Scotland | 19th January |
| The Alexa Young Innovator Challenge Amazon’s brand-new coding competition for ages 13-18 invites students to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and be in with the chance of winning some amazing prizes. | Amazon | 3rd February |
Careers & Further Education Links
The websites below are key careers-related resources for young people and those who support them. The sites are worth bookmarking and revisiting regularly.
| RESOURCE | PROVIDER |
| School Leavers Toolkit | Scottish Government Education |
| Young Person’s Guarantee Opportunity Finder | Skills Development Scotland |
| DYW Digital Resource Hub | For young people, educators, and employers | DYW Scotland |
| My World of Work | Advice and tools to help plan careers | Skills Development Scotland |
| DYW Northeast, You Tube Channel | Careers related videos and insights | DYW Northeast |
| Buzz Quiz Careers Test – What job could you do? | UCAS |
| Apprenticeships.scot | Apprenticeship information/vacancies | Skills Development Scotland |
| ABZ Works | Information on skills, training, and work opportunities | Aberdeen City Council |
| Foundation Apprenticeships | A guide to Foundation Apprenticeships at NESCol | NESCol |
| ECITB Scholarship Technician Programme | Starts Aug 2023 | ECITB | NESCol |
S6 Horizons Programme Mock Interviews
On Tuesday 6th December as part of the Horizons Programme TotalEnergies’ Eilidh Stewart – Human Resources, Fiona Rankin – Process Environmental Engineer and Andy Bain – Environment Manager came to Alford Academy to provide Mock Interviews for S6 pupils.
The feedback from the pupils was really positive. They said it was beneficial and a good experience.
The TotalEnergies employees were really impressed with the standard of the answers and how the young people of Alford conducted themselves.
Fiona RANKIN Total Energies (Process Environmental Engineer) said – “I really enjoyed conducting the mock interviews with some of the S6 pupils of Alford Academy. It was good to see so many young people engaged and turning up with the right intention. I feel this is an invaluable opportunity for young people to receive constructive feedback in a safe environment. Personally, I use the STAR model structure to my answers in interviews – Situation, Task, Action and Result. I explained this method to the pupils to enable them to focus their answers. I am glad I was able to help Total Energies in their commitment to aid the preparation of Young People for the world of work”.
Well done to all who took part in the Mock Interviews and thank you to TotalEnergies for allowing Fiona, Andy and Eilidh to attend.
We have a range of new and pre-loved formal wear items available in school for you to borrow at no cost. These will be available for all pupils during ticket sales this week, if you would like a chance to view the items in a more private environment then please make contact with Mrs J Munro or Mrs L Taylor and this will be arranged
Items will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and should be returned to Mrs J Munro by close of school on Thursday 22nd December, we are happy to wash items upon their return.
We have a number of jackets in our lost property. If you have lost a jacket recently then please access the attached link below to review the images and contact Jo Munro (jo.munro@aberdeenshire.gov.uk) to have it returned to you.
All items left in school by Wednesday 7th December will be donated to our preloved winter jacket resource. Lost Property – Winter Jackets Nov 2022