Year 13 Students at Ron Dearing UTC have gained valuable skills and insight to help them prepare for their next chapter after full-time education.

The UTC hosted a number of personal development activities during the Autumn term to give students vital skills to help them succeed when taking their first steps into the world of work.

Activities kicked off with an application preparation session hosted by one of Ron Dearing’s founding partners, Spencer Group.

The business’s HR Director Yvonne Moir spoke to students and provided information and guidance on best practices when preparing for and attending interviews and assessment days, including what makes a good covering letter and how to tackle tricky interview questions.

Students also participated in elevator pitches with partner, Harper Fox, and worked on putting together short pitches about their selves, highlighting their skills, experience and best assets to offer a potential employer.

Over 40 volunteers from 15 employer partners also ran mock interviews for the students, who had the opportunity to take part in multiple interviews, utilising the feedback from each one to improve their performance in the next.

 

A Level Photography and Digital Media student, Kai Bulliment, said: “Ron Dearing UTC prepares you for employment from Year 10. I’ve taken part in mock interviews and had really useful feedback covering both my strengths and weaknesses, which will stand me in good stead for when I have actual interviews.

“It’s boosted my confidence, as I know I am capable of making a good impression.”

The personal development activities culminated with Ron Dearing’s annual Apprenticeship Expo. Eighteen of the school’s founding and employer partners attended the event and spoke to students about the exciting opportunities available in fields such as renewable energy, IT, engineering, health and social care, design and recruitment.

Year 13 Double Engineering, Electronics, and Computing student, Olivier Dobosz said: “It’s been great to see what opportunities are available. In recent weeks we have been learning a lot about how to interview, how to speak with employers, how to draft CVs and personal statements, and so much more.

“This has all been really beneficial and I’m feeling confident about applying for jobs in the future.”

 

Many of the school’s alumni, who are now succeeding in their careers, were in attendance and spoke to current students about the experiences of stepping into employment.

One of those was Tom O’Loughlin, who is now a Trainee Engineer at one of the school’s founding partners, Spencer Group.

He said: “When I was at Ron Dearing UTC I learnt about the different employees which are partners of the school and Spencer Group stood out to me because of its diverse range of projects, and the chance to work in all kinds of different environments.

“As a former student myself, it has been great to attend the Apprenticeship Expo on behalf of Spencer Group and share my first-hand experience of going from the school into employment with the current students.”

 

Students were able to ask questions and network with employers, gaining valuable information ahead of apprenticeship and job applications.

Megan Coates, Graduate Development Scientist at Smith + Nephew said: “As a Hull-founded business and a partner of Ron Dearing UTC, it’s great to be able to meet local talent at an early stage.

“The students are always so well prepared for life after education, and events like this – as well as a recent mock interview event that we were also involved with – really contribute towards this.

“We love getting involved with work like this. It’s great to be able to see the enthusiasm from the workers of the future, and who we may end up working alongside in years to come.”

Concluding, Ron Dearing’s Senior Assistant Principal, Glenn Jenson added: “As an employer-led school, it’s vitally important that our employers play a leading part in our curriculum. Part of that is the destinations and the support that we give our young people.

“The Apprenticeship Expo is a fantastic event where our current Year 13 students that are looking to go into industry with some of these employers, can actually speak with them face to face and find out about the types of careers that are on offer this year, and what the companies are doing in a little bit more detail.”

 

Hull’s employer-led school has once again recorded a clean sweep with every single Year 13 student going on to a positive and exciting destination, paving the way for future success at leading businesses across the region and beyond.

A total of 47 of Ron Dearing University Technical College’s (UTC) 143 Year 13 sixth form students secured apprenticeships, including 27 with the school’s Employer Partners.

A further 53 students went to university, including nine at one of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, 30 went into employment and 13 moved on to further or higher education colleges.

The apprenticeships cover a wide range of roles, including aerospace engineering, research and development, IT, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), pipe fitting, wind turbine service and maintenance and more.

Global medical technology business Smith+Nephew, one of Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners, has taken on four apprentices from Ron Dearing UTC this year.

Heidi Porter, Charlie Pepper, Ethan McGowan and Reuben Hiley, all 18, have hit the ground running in their respective roles.

 

Heidi is an apprentice project engineer, Ethan is a manufacturing apprentice, Charlie is an apprentice electronics engineer and Reuben an operations engineering apprentice, all of them based at the company’s site in Hull.

Former Ron Dearing UTC student Imogen Connolly, 18, has also secured an aerospace engineering degree apprenticeship at BAE Systems in Brough, East Yorkshire, and will be an Aerospace Engineer when she completes her four-year course.

 

BAE Systems provides some of the world’s most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions. The business develops, engineers, manufactures and supports products and systems to deliver military capability, protect national security and people, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure.

The Brough site plays a key role in the air sector as a centre for digital engineering excellence and Imogen could potentially be working on exciting projects from the Global Combat Air Programme to the Dreadnought Submarines Programme.

Jon Milner, Capability Lead at BAE Systems, a Major Partner of Ron Dearing UTC, said: “Many of our senior leaders across the business started their careers as apprentices and they are very valued. We ask a lot of our apprentices, but we give them a lot of support, help and knowledge too.

“Imogen’s apprenticeship is more than just engineering. We’re supporting her to develop as a person and she will also have the opportunity to travel as part of her role in the future.

“We’re delighted to be a Major Partner of Ron Dearing UTC and it’s a great opportunity to shape our future workforce and develop the talent pipeline needed to deliver engineering capability.”

Rolls-Royce Submarines is another major business which has taken on a former Ron Dearing UTC student as a Nuclear Scientist and Nuclear Engineer Degree Apprentice.

Oliver Moss, 19, works at the company’s Operations Centre in Derby while also studying at the University of Derby. He is the second Ron Dearing UTC student to be taken on by the company after Evie Hadfield began a Project Management degree apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce in Derby in 2022.

 

Opened in 2017, Ron Dearing UTC caters for students aged between 14 and 19, offering a unique model of employer-led education with a specialist focus on creative arts, digital technology, computing and engineering.

Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “We’re so proud of all of our students moving on to amazing destinations and carving out such brilliant futures for themselves.

“Working with our fantastic Employer Partners who help to shape our unique curriculum, we equip our students with crucial skills and opportunities to set them up for life.

“We love hearing the many success stories from our alumni and the incredible feedback from the employers who open the door for them to excel in their chosen careers.”

Students studying Digital Media at Ron Dearing UTC have received a glimpse into the real-world opportunities waiting for them when they leave school after connecting with businesses working in the industry here in Hull.

The group of Year 12 students took part in a three-week industry programme at Hull’s tech hub, C4DI, to help them gain new skills and insight into the industry.

The students engaged in sessions with some of the C4DI businesses which are working in a variety of digital media sectors including Meehan Media and Comms, Influence Media, Larkin PR, Future Humber, Mattix Design and T=Ø.

 

Topics included changes in technology, job opportunities in digital media, career pathways, attributes that employers look for and much more.

The students also had the opportunity to practice their communication skills by pitching questions to people already working in the industry and networking with business leaders.

C4DI’s Head of Partnerships, Linsey Brown, said: “One of the key reasons we’re passionate about supporting these initiatives is our commitment to growing local talent. By opening our doors and sharing our expertise, we’re creating pathways for young people to understand and access careers right on their doorstep.

“We know that the media industry, like many other creative and technical sectors, thrives on fresh perspectives, new voices, and up-and-coming professionals who bring energy and innovation.

“By supporting students and teachers through these sessions, we hope to inspire the next generation, ensure the continuity of skills in our local area, and contribute to a thriving community where homegrown talent can flourish and shape the future of the industry.”

The programme was managed by C4DI’s Projects Assistant, Ellie Parsons, who is herself an alumna of the UTC.

Ellie’s own journey—from student to professional—perfectly illustrates how Ron Dearing’s unique, employer-engaged curriculum sets its students up for successful careers.

Having come through the UTC’s supportive environment, she’s now in a position to give back, guiding new students towards opportunities that can kick-start their own paths to success.

Ellie said: ”Attending Ron Dearing UTC was a life-changing experience that gave me the guidance, skills and confidence to pursue qualifications towards the career I would like to follow.

“The teachers were incredibly supportive, helping me every step of the way and opening doors to future opportunities. If you get the chance to join RDUTC, take it – it’s an opportunity that can shape your future.”

 

Ron Dearing’s Lead Practitioner – Creative, Kate Blowman added: “Thank you to C4DI and all the businesses involved for providing this fantastic opportunity to our young people.

“It was a great chance for the students to expand the knowledge they’ve learnt in the classroom and hear real experiences and advice from professionals in the industry.

“It was also fantastic to see our former student Ellie thriving in her career and sharing her experiences with the next generation of students. It was really inspirational for our current students hear about Ellie’s journey.”

Budding medical students from Ron Dearing UTC received a valuable insight into careers in the healthcare sector, after taking part in a workshop day.

A group of seven A-Level students who are interested in pursuing a career in the medical fields recently attended the Young Medic Day, hosted by Hull York Medical School (HYMS).

The day included a range of informative sessions and talks, as well as a hands-on workshop to showcase the career pathways in medicine and health and social care.

The group had the opportunity to speak to current third-year medical students about what life is like for them and their journey so far.  They also met  a HYMS admission tutor to learn about the process of applying for medical school.

In addition, the students took part in sessions with medical professionals including a doctor, phlebotomist and a radiologist to find out more about a few of the different roles available in the medical field.

After the information sessions it was time for the students to get hands-on by taking part in a practical phlebotomy workshop.  Working with fake blood and fake veins, the students used real needles to learn the technique of safely drawing blood from patients.

Ron Dearing UTC Science Teacher Sarah Britchford said: “The day was really informative and gave students a hands-on, real-world insight into careers in healthcare which you can’t replicate in a classroom.

“The students especially loved the phlebotomy workshop, and from the feedback they received from the team at HYMS, they really excelled at it!

“It was also a perfect opportunity for our students to ask questions about life as a medical professional, and the life-changing impact they make every day on patients’ lives.

“Thanks very much to all of the team at HYMS for organising a fantastic and memorable day. Hopefully it has inspired some of our students to pursue a career in healthcare.”