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Mahfuzur - Starting Out
I came to ITeC on a Starting Out course so that I could improve my Maths and English, get more experience with computers – which I really like using – and also increase my chances of getting a good job. I achieved all of these things! I am very proud of my achievements – I didn’t expect to get so many qualifications while I was here. As part of my course, I also did an administration placement at the Bengali Worker’s Assocation, which was great – I was doing data entry and reorganising all their files for lots of different projects. I worked on reception, helping visitors, answered the phones and also helped with their youth club. They must have thought I was OK because they offered me a paid job and I now work there part-time, whilst I am studying for a Level 3 National Diploma in Business 3 days per week at City of Westminster College. ITeC really helped me achieve my goals and made me take responsibility for what I needed to do to be able to move on and make a start in a good career.
Jason - Starting Out
I was a ITeC student in 2007. I was doing nothing with my life but my mum’s friend, who lives around Kentish Town, told me there was a centre where they had good courses for people like me. She said I should give them a call so I called ITeC and asked what course were available. I went to the centre and did an assessment, had an interview and they liked me. I got in the Starting Out course, involving ICT, maths and English. I learned quite a few things, including how to type faster and better use a computer. My English and Maths are now way better. I thought to myself 'when the course finishes there's no way I am going to waste another few months for no reason.' ITeC helped me start looking at colleges to go to. I called a few. Suddenly, I went on some website and spotted a football academy which looked good. I gave them a call and they asked me to attend a trial, in which I was successful. I was so happy with myself. It gave me so much confidence. Maybe one day my dream will come true.
Jakir - E2E
I came to ITeC because I was interested in an E2E course, which allowed me to gain some experience in a working industry before they put me into a career. I learnt about customer service, ICT skills, employment skills and also skills for life. The best bit about ITeC is that all the teachers and supporters have really good personalities and are always willing to help. Now that I have finished my E2E course, I am looking for jobs in retail or administration, which will allow me to gain some experience for my future career. The teachers at ITeC are also doing job searches for me, sending my CV to jobs which might suit me. I really enjoyed working at ITeC with my class students and teachers.
Shajahan
I chose to study at ITeC because I needed some qualifications to get into college. I have managed to gain Literacy and Numeracy level 1 qualifications as well as a part-time job with the help of my tutors and staff. I enjoyed my time at ITeC because the staff were so helpful and supportive. I am now studying a level 1 course in IT at Westminster Kingsway College and plan to progress to level 2.
Hassan - Young Apprenticeship
My Young Apprentice course is going very well and I am enjoying my time here. The staff are very nice and supportive and it’s a nice place to be. I enjoy the time I spend here and the work I have to do is fun because there are different tasks I need to complete. I interact with staff and feel free and like an adult when I come here – the staff are very friendly and easy to talk to. They were strangers when I came here, but now they feel like friends or even family to me.
Malik - Young Apprenticeship
During the time I have been at ITeC I’ve finished my preparation for employment and have gone to interviews and to see employers. I like the freedom of computer use and I have increased my typing speed. I am hoping to get a good experience of the world of work. I would rather come here than school as it is different and I get treated differently, and with more respect.
Makandi - Young Apprenticeship
I enjoy myself during the time I spend in ITeC because I have learned more about the things you need to do before you can actually go into a workplace, like mock interviews and typing up my curriculum vitae. I have actually gone for an interview at Comic Relief and I passed! This course will help me in the future and it’ll make things easier for me to get a good job as I have such good experience at such a young age.
Tarek - Young Apprenticeship
This year has been good so far because I started this course called Young Apprentice in Business. During this course you are able to make a CV and get a job at a company, although you work without pay (your travel is paid for though). This is a very good course because it can help you in the future when you have a job because then you know more about business and work placements and health and safety. Another thing that happened is that because I am a leading learner I had to go on a residential weekend to gain confidence and develop leadership skills. Now, I am more confident with people. This confidence has helped me apply for things I’m interested in – I’m currently signed up to a programme called Britain’s Got Talent that might help me to become a backing dancer in music videos doing street dance.
Tarek’s supervisor:
Since starting here Tarek has shown a great keenness and has gained more confidence in his own ability. I am very happy with Tarek’s progress. He is a very smart young man, and arrives early for work. I have given him many different tasks to do, all of which he is happy to see through.’
E2E/Fast Track Learners Point of View: Cornellius
I first came to ITeC as a confused individual – I was not sure which path in life I wanted to take. I had previously left college having not completed my course. Kindly, ITeC took me on – I was given a place on their E2E course, which I was then guided through and helped to complete. Whilst on the course, I was given help with finding a job in an appropriate way such as interview techniques and skills, which I took and used to find a job. After various attempts, I was given a job in the WH Smith cash office department in which I used most of the skills I attained at ITeC. After a while I felt it was the right time for a change, so I came back to ITeC to do a Fast Track communications course which I also completed and found a job at Ladbrokes betting shop where I have been for almost 6 months now.
Andrew Taylor – Young Apprenticeship
Andrew is a Year 11 pupil at Lilian Baylis Technology School, who is currently working towards a Young Apprenticeship in Business Administration with ITeC. Having already achieved several qualifications on the programme, he now attends a work placement one day per week and is working towards an NVQ Level 1.
I wanted to do this course because I think that it will help me to further my career in the future. If I start learning about work early, I will have a better chance of getting a good job in the future, as I will know how to behave in the workplace and how to deal with problems. I think it will look good when I am applying for jobs if it says on my CV that I completed on a Young Apprenticeship course, and it will show that I have good experience in the workplace.
I also wanted to do something that I will benefit from in the future. For my work placement, I wanted to work somewhere where I will feel comfortable and somewhere where people will help me if I don’t know what to do. ITeC found me a placement where I get on with my supervisor and get to learn new things about the workplace. I’m enjoying my Young Apprenticeship and looking forward to passing with flying colours!
Stefan Lightbody – Entry to Employment and Apprenticeship
Stefan has recently completed a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Business Administration at ITeC, having progressed from the E2E programme to a full time position with great prospects.
I heard about ITeC through Connexions in February 2005. I thought this would be a good college to go to because they had an ECDL course running that was of great interest to me. I chose E2E because I had previous experience of IT GCSE and Business Studies GNVQ intermediate level.
E2E includes the main packages of Microsoft Office that will be very useful in an office environment. I could have chosen to carry on in college to do an advanced Business Studies qualification but I decided I wanted to do an apprenticeship so I could work and study at the same time. I completed my ECDL and key skills within five months of being at the ITeC. This was thanks to having a great trainer who put time and effort into teaching me and my classmates. I then went on to work placement for two months in a music distribution company, where I worked as an IT support assistant. When my work placement finished I was offered a Business Administration apprenticeship within the Human Resources department at Mace, a construction and project development company who are known for constructing the London Eye.
I thought this was a good choice for me, as it gave me the opportunity to gain more work experience whilst earning and continuing to learn. I have recently completed my Business Administration Apprenticeship less than a year after starting it. I’m now looking forward to starting my Advanced Apprenticeship and continuing to develop my career at Mace.
Davida Wulff-Vanderpuije
Davida joined the Fast Track to Employment programme in March 2006 and very quickly gained full-time employment at a doctor’s surgery.
I came to ITeC because I was looking for a course to help me to improve me communication and ICT skills. I joined the 9 week Fast Track to Employment programme in March 2006, and by the end of April I had been employed in a great position at a doctor’s surgery!
I found the programme and staff at ITeC very helpful. The sessions on interview techniques were particularly useful, and really helped me in my real-life interview. I think that the ITeC is a good institution for helping people who need some extra support to find a job and move on with their lives.
I’m really enjoying my job as a Receptionist/Administrator, and feel this job has given me great experience that will help me in the future. In September I’m starting a course either in Journalism or Communication with French at Middlesex University, in order to enhance my career prospects.
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