Opportunities Bulletin | Autumn Term, Week 8 I Date: 23 October 2026

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In this weekly round-up you will find information about a huge range of careers and further/higher education opportunities, including university open days, work experience, careers taster sessions, apprenticeship vacancies and lots more. The Careers section is followed by the Higher Education section.
We hope you find it useful!

Webinars and events taking place during school hours are aimed at Sixth Form students only. 

By listing providers or employers HGS is not endorsing them, so we recommend that you do your own research to ensure it's the right thing for you.


CAREERS / WORK EXPERIENCE / APPRENTICESHIPS




Do you know a Year 10–13 student who is curious about their future but isn’t quite sure where to start?

GSK’s Virtual Work Experience programme returns this October, giving UK students the chance to explore different career paths, build confidence and learn from people across GSK.

It’s completely free, self-paced and designed to fit around school and everyday life.

📅 26 October – 9 November 
🔗 Register here: Events - Get Ahead - Connectr



Years 10-13 

Sunday 1 November, 9.30am - 5pm

During this virtual work experience event, students will follow two patients from initial presentation to recovery. Participants will gain a unique insight into how patients interact with a variety of healthcare professionals, and what it’s like to work in an NHS multidisciplinary team. The focus of the session will be on Road Traffic Collisions.

This programme is suitable for students interested in the following careers:

Nursing
Midwifery
Paramedicine
Physiotherapy
Occupational Therapy
Dietetics
Radiography
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Speech and Language Therapy
Pharmacy

Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with healthcare professionals throughout the day, supporting them to make an informed career decision and demonstrate their commitment to healthcare in their UCAS applications.

Find out more and register




Browne Jacobson's Law and Business October Half Term Virtual Work Experience is back for its fifth year. This year's theme is Legal and Business Legends.

Key Details:

  • Tuesday 27 October, 9am to 4:15pm

  • Online and free, open to all school and university students

  • Register for your free place here

Keynote: Linda Plant, the "Queen of Mean" from BBC's The Apprentice

Linda is the businesswoman who grills the final candidates on their business plans at the interview stage. In her keynote she'll share what it takes to build a successful business and how to prepare for interviews, including exactly what she looks for in a candidate.

Also on the line-up

•     Lady Hale, former President of the Supreme Court

•     Dame Philippa Whipple, Lady Justice of Appeal, Royal Courts of Justice

•     I. Stephanie Boyce CBE, former President of the Law Society

•     Shaun Wallace, barrister and star of ITV's The Chase

•     Chrissie Wolfe, law firm owner, featured in Channel 4's Olivia Attwood: Price of Perfection

•     Katherine Barker, CEO of CILEX

•     Sally Penni MBE, barrister and CEO of Women in Law UK

•     Plus current trainees, apprentices and paralegal apprentices, the people doing the jobs right now, answering your questions

Why attend?

1.   Every route, one day. Law firms, chambers, in-house legal teams and business careers, through apprenticeships, degrees and graduate schemes.

2.   Advice you can use straight away. What to put in your applications, how to prepare for interviews, and what gets candidates hired.

3.   Something real for your CV. A full day of work experience with a leading UK firm to talk about in applications, personal statements and interviews.

4.   Free, online and in half term. Open to all school and university students. Join from wherever you are.

Register

ZSL Wildlife Careers Conference 2026

Thursday 29 October, 9:00am

Join us for this inspiring one‑day event for anyone interested in pursuing a career working with animals or protecting the natural world.


⏰ Online starts at 9:45–17:00 (including breaks)
💻 Live via Zoom
📍 Huxley Lecture Theatre, London Zoo

The day includes expert talks, interactive workshops and dedicated networking opportunities, giving you behind‑the‑scenes access to real career pathways in wildlife and conservation.

Ticket information

Tickets are FREE to attend online, £49 to attend in person.

We are committed to making conservation careers accessible to everyone. A limited number of free in‑person tickets are reserved for people from our target audiences. To claim a free ticket, please email workexperience@zsl.org if you meet any of the following criteria:

·       From a Black, Asian or minoritised ethnic background
·       Have a disability or chronic illness
·       Currently or previously in receipt of Free School Meals
·       Currently in care, a care leaver, or a young carer

Who Is This Event For?

·       This event is aimed at 16–25-year-olds.
·       Anyone under 16 cannot attend in person but is welcome to join online.

Find out more and register






Book your free tickets to What University? and What Career? Live at Olympia, London on 13 & 14 November to learn more about the full range of school leaver options.
This event is aimed at students in Years 11 - 13 and their parents/carers. 


                           

Degree Apprenticeship Programme - Law

Causeway Education are working with Wedlake Bell (independent London law firm) for the third year running to host a free insight programme to support students who are interested in this pathway.

Wedlake Bell hire two solicitor apprentices each year and this programme can provide specific support for their application but also support more generally for other solicitor apprentice applications. Solicitor degree apprenticeships are highly competitive, so engaging in this programme is an excellent way to get free guidance and support to help students succeed.

💻 Webinar: Thursday 3 December, 4.15 - 6pm on Zoom
This application masterclass will provide step-by-step support for the solicitor degree apprenticeship application, which will be useful generally but will feature specific Wedlake Bell examples and support, ahead of their deadline. This webinar is interactive with breakout rooms and Q&A opportunities. 

Deadline for the online webinar: Monday 1 December, 5pm.

Apply


Are you thinking about studying law? Do you want to boost your university application? Pathways to Law might be perfect for you and we are excited to announce that applications are now open for 2026. 

Pathways to Law is an 18-month programme for students interested in pursuing a career in Law. In your time with us, you will take part in a wide range of activities including:
  • Meeting legal professionals from a wide range of lived experiences, from trainees and apprentices to high court judges and barristers
  • Hearing from current students and apprentices from similar backgrounds to you, some of whom also took part in Pathways to Law
  • Taking part in Mock Court and Mooting Events
  • Experiencing university-level lectures and learning from academic experts in the field of law
  • Taking part in at least one legal work experience placement. Previous opportunities have included international law firms such as Hogan Lovells, banks such as Santander UK, and Barristers' chambers such as 39 Essex Chambers
  • Visiting top law firms, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Inner Temple
On top of all of this, you will have the opportunity to meet like-minded students from across the country at the Pathways to Law Annual Conference and gain skills and knowledge that will enable you to succeed in whatever you want to do next, whether that’s with us at Queen Mary or elsewhere.

Pathways to Law is free to take part in, and we will financially support students to travel to and from events as and when needed. The majority of events take place during the school day so do make sure you chat with your school to make sure you can commit before applying. 


The deadline to apply is Monday 26th October.

Please see more information and eligibility criteria at this link here.

If you have any questions at all about Pathways to Law, please do not hesitate to contact the team at pathwaystolaw@qmul.ac.uk.

FURTHER & HIGHER EDUCATION


We are excited to invite you and your Year 13/final year Level 3 students to step inside our multi-award-winning School of Creative Arts this November. We have an action-packed line up of free, deep-dive sessions, covering a range of creative degrees. Our expert tutors are sure to develop the creative passions you have already inspired in your students, as they think about their futures.

Here are just a few of our recent accolades:

  • 1st for Animation and game design, Guardian University Guide 2027

  • 1st for Graphic Design, UK, World Brand Design awards, 2025-26

  • Best Creative Arts School in the UK, the Rookies 2025

  • Guardian Top 40 University, Guardian University Guide 2027
     

Creative Arts University Experience Days

Location: University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, AL10 9AB

Dates: 13-27 November 2026

Subjects At a Glance 

Date 

Time 

  • Fashion and Fashion Business. Hands on workshop. 

Fri 13 Nov 

11:00-14.00 

  • Music. Studio based workshop. 

Fri 20 Nov 

13:00-16:00 

  • Architecture and interior architecture. Hands on workshop. 

  • Film and TV Production. Studio-based workshop. 

  • Media and Communications. 

  • Digital Arts and Technologies. 

Wed 25 Nov 

10:00-13.00 

  • 2D Animation. 

  • 3D and VFX Animation. 

  • Comics and Concept Art. 

  • Games Art and Design. 

  • Graphic Design and Illustration.  

Wed 25 Nov 

14.00-17.00 

  • Model Design and Special Effects/Character Design and Character Effects. Workshop. 

Fri 27 Nov 

10.00-13.00 

For further details: Session Descriptions.docx

Students can attend as individuals (if aged 17 and over) with the permission of their school/college.

Book here




We have a variety of exciting events coming up for sixth form students to take part in:

  • Loughton (East 15) Open Day: 24 October 2026 
  • Stage Management Visit Days: 23 October and 19 November 2026 
  • Winter Insight Day: 11 November 2026 
  • British Science Week Exhibition: 10 March 2027 
  • Spring Insight Day: 14 April 2027 
  • Life Sciences Discovery Day: 14 April 2027 
  • Annual Teachers and Advisers Conference: 24 June 2027 
  • Summer Insight Day: 6 July 2027
  • Life Sciences Discovery Day: 7 July 2027