Spring Conference 2026

Leave with the essential knowledge and practical tools. This workshop breaks down the most common challenges faced by students, schools, and colleges, providing clear, actionable strategies to review your current practice and strengthen your approach. You’ll identify key areas where targeted support can make the greatest impact, helping you guide students more effectively through every stage of their UCAS journey.

There is growing interest among pupils in apprenticeships as they increasingly see the benefits of blending work and education. With Higher Level Apprenticeships, there is the added benefit avoiding student debt. However, the apprenticeship space can be difficult to navigate. This workshop is designed for careers teachers who want to better understand apprenticeships and the Workplus application process. It will walk through the full journey—from exploring opportunities to submitting applications—so teachers can confidently support their pupils. Participants will leave with clear, practical guidance and resources to help pupils navigate – and succeed – in the Workplus process.

Discover how Northern Ireland’s rapidly expanding advanced manufacturing sector is creating exciting pathways for young people at 16, 18 and Post Graduate. This session introduces teachers to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), outlines the technologies shaping the future of industry, and highlights the career opportunities emerging across robotics, automation, digital design, composites, and sustainable engineering. With one in ten NI jobs linked to manufacturing and major investment set to create new roles and apprenticeships, this workshop equips educators with the insights needed to inspire the next generation of innovators.

This session shines a spotlight on the modern reality of Chartered Accountancy — a globally recognised business leadership qualification that opens doors far beyond “traditional accounting”. Today’s Chartered Accountants are trusted advisers and business leaders, working across finance and non-finance roles including operations, marketing, sales, strategy, technology and general management, in every sector of the economy. Careers teachers will leave with a clear, contemporary understanding of the profession, practical talking points for students, and renewed confidence in positioning Chartered Accountancy as an inclusive, flexible and future-proof career option for a wide range of learners.

Discover how to make the most of UCAS Hub tools and Student Hub activity tracking to inform planning, personalise guidance, and enhance every careers conversation.

Drawing on UCAS research and insights, this session provides practical strategies to help you connect students’ interests, behaviours, and aspirations to real opportunities. You’ll leave equipped to lead more meaningful, targeted careers conversations that empower every student to take their next step.

This session will take the form of a structured focus group with teachers to gather insights, experiences, and professional perspectives on the barriers their students face when accessing and succeeding in Higher Education (HE). The feedback collected will directly inform the development of activities tailored for NI Students coming to LJMU to reduce barriers during the student lifecycle, with a particular focus on continuation, ensuring these tools are grounded in lived realities across Northern Ireland.

The modern social housing sector is a professional, multi-disciplinary field driving positive change across Northern Ireland (e.g., sustainability, social cohesion, and complex management). This workshop is designed to equip careers teachers with the up-to-date knowledge needed to confidently present social housing as a first-choice career path, moving beyond outdated perceptions of the sector. We want to help map out the varied roles, necessary skills, and structured career development routes available, empowering teachers to guide students toward this rewarding sector.

This session will showcase how Young Enterprise NI programmes equip young people with essential financial literacy, employability skills, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Through real-world learning experiences, interactive resources, and employer engagement, we help students build confidence, resilience, and an understanding of how education connects to future career pathways. Attendees will gain insight into how our offering aligns with curriculum goals while enhancing students’ readiness for work and life. We will also introduce YE Potential, our pilot innovative digital programme that places students in control of their own development.