Spring Conference 2025

Workplus is the organisation offering a centralised application system for Apprenticeships and Higher Apprenticeships. In this workshop, they will provide an overview of their system. They’ll be explaining the application process, including the aptitude test they use and how to prepare pupils for it.

Gain confidence in your new role supporting students with UCAS. This session offers a clear, big picture look at how the UCAS process works, what students need to know, and how to make the most of the UCAS website as a key tool in your guidance toolkit.

We’ll highlight the most useful parts of the site; share tips for helping students explore their options independently, and show how UCAS resources can support conversations around course choices, entry requirements, and timelines. You’ll leave with practical advice, insight into common challenges, and a better sense of how to guide students—without having to figure it all out on your own.

This workshop will guide you through the fully funded programmes offered by social mobility charity SFS, highlighting how educators and students can access on-demand careers inspiration talks and our full-range of work experience. We offer opportunities in diverse sectors throughout the academic year, supporting local based employers to deliver high-quality work experience programmes that include technical, professional and generic employability skills practice. Come along to find out how you can integrate our fully funded programme offer into your careers education planning and support meaningful work experience.

A workshop designed to give insights into the different career options in the software sector, dispelling common myths about the industry. We will highlight the skills and qualities required to work in the sector and ultimately aim to show that software can be for all!

Two of our RICS NI Chartered Surveyors who are also regional board members will take the delegates attending on a journey and explain the benefits of choosing surveying as a career to their students i.e. globally recognised qualification, able to travel the world, competitive salaries equal to architect, engineer and more.

A step-by-step guide to the CAO application process for NI applicants, with a focus on completing the GCE/GCSE Section of the application form, supplying supporting documents (via the new document upload facility), how documents/qualifications are processed/checked, an introduction to the new scoring scheme, and some of the common pitfalls.

A workshop led by a member of staff from Queen’s University Student Finance to provide a comprehensive overview of the costs associated with degree study and outline the awards and scholarships available across the university.

This interactive workshop covers all you need to know about Higher Level Apprenticeships: what they are, their history, the levels of qualification and progression routes, as well as funding and employment opportunities. Whilst focusing on SRC, it will also cover the macro NI picture and include some case studies.