Four industries bursting with opportunities for young people this #NCW21

Four industries bursting with opportunities for young people this #NCW21

With this week marking ten years of National Careers Week, it’s a great time for Berkshire’s young people to access the support, resources and information they need to step into a rewarding career close to home.

There are over 1,800 entry level positions currently advertised on Berkshire Opportunities, for roles as diverse as business sales executives to care workers, nursery educators to software developers and web designers.

Young people throughout the country have found coronavirus particularly hard. While this is a really difficult time, the great news is that there are still options and opportunities out there for them to find fulfilling and rewarding careers. Employers are actively recruiting, exciting training options are open for applications and support and information is available.

Here, the careers experts at Berkshire Opportunities share insight and inspiration for the industries currently thriving in the county, offering great opportunities for young job seekers.

1 – Life-saving careers in Life Sciences 

Did you know that the pharmaceutical company behind one of the coronavirus vaccines currently being administered across the UK – Pfizer – has a large base in Berkshire? There are over 135 medical technology and biopharmaceutical companies based in Berkshire. From major pharmaceutical companies such as GSK and Bayer to innovative digital health startups, Berkshire is a hub of exciting innovation in life sciences – with the careers opportunities to match. With a growing workforce of over 8k, this is one of the biggest industries in the county.

There are various different pathways available into this ground-breaking industry, with Apprenticeships and specific training and qualifications helping you to secure employment.

Check out the latest live vacancies and training opportunities in this exciting industry.

2 – An exciting future in Digital Technology 

Home to nearly 8,000 tech companies and over 56,000 tech specialists, Berkshire’s digital technology sector is flourishing. Berkshire not only has the highest density of tech businesses (seven times the national average!), but also the highest concentration of programmers and developers in the UK, making it a unique and attractive environment for the next generation of tech talent. There is a strong and ever-growing culture of entrepreneurialism within the area; Reading has the most digital tech start-ups outside of London.

There are numerous ways to progress in a digital technology career; Apprenticeships, qualifications and training can help you secure employment in the field. You could become an IT engineer, train as a web designer or even work for global tech giant Microsoft!

Why not check out the Apprenticeship opportunities available right now, or top up your knowledge with one of the amazing range of digital-skills courses on offer across the county?

3 – Consider a fulfilling career in care 

Social care professionals are in greater demand than ever. Large recruiters in Berkshire include a number of highly-regarded health and care providers such as Royal Berkshire Hospital, Berkshire Healthcare, NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Frimley Health and Sunrise Senior Living.

Sally Kitson from Slough Borough Council has highlighted the growth in opportunities in Adult Social Care, saying:

“For those seeking a rewarding career, there is a wealth of opportunity in the Adult Social Care sector in Berkshire.The practical skills can all be learned, and there is lots of training on offer, no matter your past work experience. We are seeking staff that can really respect and value each person needing care and support, seeing them as a unique individual; Adult Social Care is about supporting and enabling people to do more for themselves, whatever stage they are at in their lives.”

There are a variety of ways to secure a career in the health and care sector and the opportunities are endless; you could train as a social worker, a paramedic or perhaps a midwife. Explore care for a fulfilling career that pays back…

4 – Big names where you can grow a bright career in business 

Nearly 60k people are employed in Berkshire’s business and finance industry, working for household names including PepsiCo and the world’s biggest accountancy firms, EY, Deloitte and KPMG, bolstering the area’s enviable talent pool of business and finance experts. It’s not only accountancy, however. Those employed in the financial and business sector across Berkshire take on a variety of occupations from accountancy to advertising, project management to marketing.

If you have a passion for business and finance but are unsure where to begin, Berkshire Opportunities is here to help.

Berkshire Opportunities is Berkshire’s premier online portal to find out about live jobs vacancies, apprenticeships, Further Education and Post 16 courses and training opportunities, as well as local career path options. It is a free service that helps local job seekers, students and residents make informed career decisions, supporting them through the employment and skills challenges they face now, and in the future.

1 – Data collected from Emsi 26/02/2021 – job postings, minimum experience required – 0-1 years