Simon Heath

I aim to raise awareness of apprenticeship pathways into higher education and to offer information and guidance to students looking at applying for a degree apprenticeship. I develop presentations and workshops to deliver in schools and colleges and offer one-to-one drop-in services for individual applicants, CPD for teachers and advisors, and lead on organising Campus Experience Days to promote apprenticeships in each faculty. Supported during successful Ofsted inspection.

As a College Partnership Officer, I was a representative of Aspire to HE at Walsall College, delivering impartial one-to-one careers advice, interactive workshops and organising trips and guest speakers to raise aspirations. This was a widening participation role and, as such, I targeted students from deprived postcodes and underrepresented groups.

As a Progression Officer, my main role was to develop, deliver and evaluate Campus Experience Days. The days consisted of local schools and colleges spending the day on campus, with presentations and group workshops designed to help them make informed and ambitious decisions about their futures.

My main role was supporting the delivery of Campus Experience Days. I began the role as a student ambassador during my Master’s degree and then continued to work for Aspire after graduation. The role involved delivering presentations to visiting groups of young people on the various pathways into higher education. It required supervising groups safely around campus and setting up the necessary resources.

As a student Ambassador, I worked in the range of roles across the University, including providing tours of the campus for prospective students, assisting at open days, taking calls on the University’s enrolment hotline and leading gallery tours for British Art Show 9. I worked within various teams and departments.

This role was based at the NEC, Utilita Arena and Resorts World Arena, enhancing the customer experience of visitors at concerts, conferences and sporting events. It was a customer-facing role involving the management of crowds and solving customer queries. Each event was a large-scale operation, requiring me to work as part of a large team as well as individually, using my own initiative to ensure the safety and customer experience of those entering and exiting the arenas.

I have performed on a regular basis at festivals, gigs and private functions. This experience has contributed to the development of interpersonal skills and confidence within the public domain. I have been fortunate enough to tour America and perform at large UK festivals and gigs around the UK, as well as in France and Germany. I am responsible for managing bookings for gigs and private functions. This requires me to liaise closely with the customer to ensure they are happy with the arrangements for their event.

After graduating I became part of my family business, selling framed photography in shopping centres across the Midlands. My day-to-day responsibilities included discussing the products with customers, taking orders for delivery and making sure the stand remained presentable. It required me to listen closely to customers in order to recommend frames tailored to their specific requirements and I learned a lot about the importance of planning and organisation in the efficient running of a business.