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Events this summer with Central Events

Sam Newall is the Managing Director of one of Scotland’s largest marquee hire companies, Central Events. The company was founded by Sam and has grown to be one of the most trusted, reliable and successful marquee brands. Before starting his own company, Sam continued his education at the University of Stirling studying for a BA in Business Studies and completing the course in 2012.

 

We caught up with Sam to ask him about his experience of running a business, further education and the transition from being a student to full time employment.

 

An Interview with Sam From Central Events

 

 

  1. You recently got married, congratulations! Did it come in handy to own a marquee company?

 

Sam: Definitely! It’s also great to try and test the service for myself. I’d recommend us again.

 

  1. What made you decide you wanted to study business at University?

 

Sam: I studied business at Stirling University because I felt it offered me the correct curriculum that would help me in later life and stimulate my interest. I’ve always had a passion for business which I acquired from my family, so I knew I wanted to study business fairly early on.

 

  1. How did you find the process of applying for University?

 

Sam: The process to apply for University is tough. There wasn’t a lot of information available when I went onto study and going from secondary school to further education is a big step. That’s why it’s great websites like Leaving School offer helpful tips and advice for students to empower them during this transition.

 

  1. Did you enjoy University?

 

Sam: I really enjoyed the University life and made friends that I’m still in contact with today. Studying, learning and being able to put those theories and strategies into practice enhanced my thirst for business and gave me the confidence to build my business.

 

  1. So, you gained your degree from University, what made you decide to become a business owner?

 

Sam: Being a business owner isn’t for everyone; there’s an additional level of responsibility that comes with starting a business. However, I don’t shy away from difficult tasks or responsibility. I believe it comes down to the personality of the individual as to whether they want to become a business owner.

 

People always assume being a business owner means you can sit back and take it easy, whereas in reality, it’s the opposite. You have to work harder and manage more of the responsibilities. This is what drove me to starting my own business – I can take control of my own future. There were few companies offering marquee services with the quality standards I felt the industry required and I’m a hard-working individual, so knew I could make it a success. As a business owner, your earning potential is based on how hard you want to work, the standard of customer service you set and being able to grow your brand, so that’s why it appealed to me.

 

  1. What do you enjoy about being a business owner?

 

Sam:  I enjoy that everyday really is different. We work with businesses and individuals and get to support them in a variety of projects, which I have the opportunity to oversee. From a corporate marquee for a charity event through to a couple’s wedding day, we provide an array of marquees for hire and each event is tailored to the individual’s needs. As a business owner you’re constantly trying to reach perfection and ensure every customer is delighted with your service.

 

  1. If you had 5 tips for a person about to start, or currently in, further education what would they be?

 

Sam: Across my education and working life I’ve learned some valuable lessons and still use these today. My top 5 would be

 

  1. Focus on an objective: This can be very high level, but you should always have a plan in mind. Often the plan won’t work out or could be adapted and changed later on, but having a goal gives your mind something to strive towards and progress.
  2. Learn from mistakes: Everybody makes mistakes – it’s a natural part of life. The challenge is to not make the same mistake twice.
  3. Watch & listen: Some people I went to University with didn’t want to get a job, so continued to study to pro-long the inevitable. This isn’t always a bad idea as long as your listening to what’s going on around you. Opportunities and clarity can arrive at any time.
  4. Manage your time: In University you need to manage your time efficiently, especially if you’re working part time too. Being prepared is vital to success.
  5. Have fun: Life gets very busy the older you get, so whilst in further education try and have fun too. Study hard, but also make time for friends and enjoying the whole further education experience.

 

Thank you to Sam, Managing Director and owner of Central Events, for his insights into further education, employment and becoming a business owner.

 

Posted in Uncategorized |

Apprenticeships and the Run-up to the 2015 UK General Election

As the 2015 UK general election draws closer, so does the rhetorical fracas emanating from each conflicting political party on matters that we, the public, hold dearly. One concern that is gathering significant amount of coverage of late is the subject of apprenticeships. All three parties, the Conservatives, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats, have been vocal about the growing need for apprenticeships, and the important role that they provide for the young and unemployed.

 

With the topic of apprenticeships at the forefront of political debate, the Conservatives have unveiled plans for a new apprenticeships scheme. The Conservatives’ latest apprenticeship pledge is aimed at people between the ages of 22 and 24 who have been unemployed for more than six months with the goal of eradicating long-term youth unemployment. According to David Cameron, the scheme would “train young people and get them off the dole and in to work.” The Prime Minister, if re-elected, plans for a three-year program to create 50,000 apprenticeships on top of an existing pledge to create three million apprenticeships. Interestingly, the Conservatives plan to finance this new apprenticeship scheme with bank fines. The party plans to use the money accumulated from the LIBOR scandal in which the German bank, Deutsche Bank was ordered to pay the UK Financial Conduct Authority £227million pounds in fines for misconduct related to the rigging of interest of rates. Cameron adds, “This is about taking money off those who represent Labour’s failed past; and giving to those who through their hard work and endeavour can represent a brighter Conservative future” and “about offering hope, spreading opportunity, sharing prosperity – it’s about securing a better future for you, your family and for Britain, and from now until polling day I’m going to fight for that future with every ounce of energy in my body.” According to the Financial Times, ‘Mr Cameron pledged to help 600,000 companies a year set up by 2020 as part of the Conservatives small business manifesto.’

 

Whilst the Conservatives aim to finance their apprenticeship scheme with the fines of global banking institutes, Labour on the other hand, has pledged to require a company winning a major government contract and any large employer hiring skilled workers from outside the EU, to offer apprenticeships focused on new entrants and lasting for at least two years. In opposition to the Conservatives, Labour has voiced a resolutely dissonant tone by consistently questioning the quantity and quality of apprenticeships available to young people since 2010. Ed Miliband broadly states, “What we see is, while this government has been trying to run a victory lap, they have been leaving the British people behind.” Labour’s discontent with the status quo, in particular, the Conservatives’ approach to apprenticeships, is reiterated by Labour’s shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna – “the Tories have failed to match Labour’s plans to guarantee an apprenticeship place for every school leaver who gets the grades and use government procurement to create thousands of new apprenticeship opportunities.” Umunna goes on to say that “one in five apprentices is receiving no formal training, while almost four in ten firms are unaware [that] the in-work training they provide is branded as an apprenticeship by the government.” Labour also disclosed that apprenticeships among the young had fallen, and stressed the need for reform within the scheme.

 

In a similar tone to both the Conservatives and Labour, the Liberal Democrats have gone full steam ahead and vowed to make the UK the ‘apprentice powerhouse of Europe’. The Lib Dems have said that they would double the number of employers offering apprenticeships to young people, with 360,000 firms offering on-the-job training. Nick Clegg stressed that he would not allow the Conservatives or Labour to put the recovery at risk in any coalition and that, as was the case in 2010, a Budget must be held within weeks of a new government being formed. According to the Financial Times, ‘The Liberal Democrats have promised to give 200,000 grants to employers for apprenticeships and expand the number of degree-equivalent higher apprenticeships.’ Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, and Skills, believes that apprenticeships are important in a “world [that] is changing at an accelerated rate and we need to equip our young people with the skills they need for the future, to ensure they can compete in a global marketplace.” The Lib Dems have also said education funding guarantees would be a “deal breaker” in any negotiations with their political rivals.

 

The run-up to the general election is an interesting time for the realm of apprenticeships, and their position within the UK. Whether it is expansion or reform, every party within the seats of Westminster has expressed an urgent lament for the fundamental need and importance of apprenticeships. Do you agree with the Conservatives’ plans to use Deutsch Banks’s fines to fund their new apprenticeship scheme? Do you disagree with Ed Miliband’s policies of reform within the current apprenticeships schemes? Feel free to leave your comments below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Apprenticeships |

Are Apprenticeships the Future of Further Education?

The university experience is, for many people, one that they will remember with great fondness throughout their lives. It is a time that affords young people the opportunity to live away from home, to engage with a diverse range of people, and to dedicate themselves to exploring a subject of their choosing. Moreover, entry into certain professions, such as medicine, of course requires that individuals have studied at university. The traditional context of higher education can be, therefore, both one of desire and necessity.

However, as has been widely publicised over the last few years, university in the UK now costs more than ever; with undergraduate fees typically totaling around £9000 per year, university students can expect to graduate with a minimum of £27,000 of debt. When accounting for living expenses as well, it would not be unusual for this figure to be twice as much. Although young people are, quite rightly, offered a range of loans, bursaries, and scholarships that should, in theory, allow anyone with the grades to go to university, the prospect of potentially accumulating around £50,000 of debt is understandably off-putting – especially since there is no guarantee of a job afterwards.

The increase in university fees in 2012 coincided with a 17% decrease in first year undergraduates. Conversely, demand for apprenticeships in recent years has increased significantly, with some figures suggesting that applications rose by as much as a third with the introduction of the new university fees. As a consequence, the demand for apprenticeship schemes now far outweighs supply; there are, on average, 12 applications for every position, and some training programmes have even more striking ratios, with, for example, 35 applications for every event promotion-based programme. With youth unemployment at close to a million, it is of little surprise that apprenticeships are in high demand.

In contrast to the massive amounts of debt that university students are likely to acquire, the training costs of those undertaking apprenticeships are covered by employers and individuals receive a wage for their contributions to the enterprise; a successful apprenticeship programme is an investment by the company in the apprentice. In addition to the financial incentives, there is the fact that apprentices can work towards the same level qualifications that undergraduates will be awarded. Indeed, apprentices who pursue accounting can actually achieve chartered accountancy status in less time than those who opted for university. Moreover, apprentices will also acquire work place experience, which can be difficult for university students, unless their course happens to involve a sandwich year or they are fortunate enough to be able to get relevant part-time or summer-based internships.

While university is, undeniably, for many a wonderful experience, and one that can lead to fulfilling careers, the respective increases and decreases in applications to university and apprenticeships are understandable given the cost of the former and the many benefits of the latter outlined here. Thus, although many will still opt for university, provided employers are willing to give young people a chance, the current generation of school-leavers is being defined by a revival of the apprenticeship model.

Posted in university, Apprenticeships | Tagged , , |

Studying for an Economics Degree

There are few subjects you can study which have such an immediate relevance to everyday life as Economics. Everybody’s lives are affected by it, and most decisions by governments are taken after they have consulted their economic advisers. The history of economic thought is very interesting, and a subject in its own right, but we only have to look at events since 2008 to see how deeply we are all affected by things that happen here and now in the world of Economics.

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Posted in university |

Results Day

Your results are here. Your school and college career is finally over. You are ecstatic, quietly satisfied, or wretched at the grades you have been awarded. If you have achieved the grades you wanted, or expected, or needed to win the university place you had set your hopes on, congratulations, the problem is behind you. Nothing more needs to be said. Go and start packing for your stay in the remote town you never imagined you would spend three years of your life in.

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Transferable skills: Communication

Last week, we highlighted the importance of transferable skills when you’re building your CV and applying for jobs. These skills will not only help you in finding a job, but in being successful throughout your career.

The second set of transferable skills that we think is important to highlight is communication skills. Almost every job under the sun involves the use of communication skills, whether these are directed at your colleagues, people who you are in charge of or customers. Good communication skills ensure very important things like everyone knowing what they need to do, or what they as customers will be getting for their money, or what a person’s rights and responsibilities are.

These are the secrets to developing good communication skills:

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Transferable skills: teamwork

When employers are looking to hire, what sort of things do they look for on candidate’s CV? Your instinctive answer to this might be things like impressive, high-level qualifications and fancy job titles. But while the education, training and career history sections of your CV are important to them, so too are skills that are common to pretty much all walks of life. Things like motivation, reliability and teamwork.

In some roles and at some workplaces, employers value these skills above more formal qualifications. Most bosses have a story to tell about someone who had great formal credentials on paper, but who turned out to be utterly useless once they were hired. When this happened, it tends to be due to a lack of these transferable skills.

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Tips for safe and secure travelling on a gap year

Whether you’re planning a gap year adventure for once you finish school or are going to be doing some travelling this summer, the chances are you’re pretty excited about what awaits you. This will especially be the case if you’re at the point of actually booking your flights, accommodation and so forth.

To make sure that enthusiasm and excitement doesn’t turn into a nasty shock, however, it’s worth being mindful of the ways you can make sure you take precautions when making your gap year travel arrangements. There are unfortunately people in the world who prey on the naivety of gap year adventurers, and there are also umpteen unforeseen things that can go wrong on a gap year.

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Posted in Gap years |

Filling in CV gaps

Perhaps the most troublesome thing you need to do when writing or updating your CV (and there are many contenders for this title) is making sure it doesn’t contain any gaps. We’re not talking here about erratic spacing creating big spaces (though that’s something you should also work on) but rather chronological gaps. But even though filling them in can be a pain, CV gaps of this nature are to be avoided at all costs.

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The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

What are the most important things you can do when your at school to help you to fulfil your potential and prepare you for your future? Obviously studying hard would be up there at the top of the list when answering this question. But being equipped to take on the challenges the world throws at you is about more than just having a good education. It’s also essential to be a well-rounded person. Someone who is aware of his or her responsibilities towards others; someone who can face unexpected challenges head on; and someone who appreciates the world around him or her. Although you can partly gain these skills in the classroom, outside of it is where you’ll have the best opportunities to nurture them. And there’s no better initiative that packages a young person’s development of these or other skills than the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

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