ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ is committed to contributing to the development of civic and public life through involving students, staff and external audiences in volunteering programmes. We offer a range of ways for students to get involved in volunteering, from one-off events to regular and long-term commitments. We have opportunities with community organisations as well as volunteering roles on site with the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and the Students’ Union.

Explore the Beds Career Builder articles below to discover how volunteering can be invaluable for your career development:

Professional Benefits

First and foremost, offering your time to an organisation is a fantastic way to gain valuable real world experience in a professional environment. You can receive free training, develop your skills and confidence and earn a valuable credit for your CV. It provides a great opportunity to network with industry professionals, enhance your employability and gain references for future job applications.

Educational Benefits

Volunteering can also help to enhance your studies at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½! Many of our volunteers find inspiration where they volunteer that helps to inform their dissertation or coursework. You can also receive a certificate from the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ that recognises your voluntary achievements and contribution.

Personal Benefits

Not only can volunteering improve your professional and technical abilities, it also gives you the chance to grow as a person. You can get a real chance to build your confidence and self-esteem, and even make new friends and contacts! On top of all that, volunteering is a great opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives and contribute to the community - and that feels pretty great!

You can find the latest volunteering opportunities via Handshake. Simply head to the jobs section and use the filters to find Job Types by volunteer.

If you would like support in finding the right voluntary role to suit your interests and career aspirations, please contact careers@beds.ac.uk

Register as an Organisation

If you are a charity or not for profit organisation and you are interested in working with us, please get in touch via recruit@beds.ac.uk or visit our Employer pages to find out how you can get involved.

The Bedfordshire Career Development Award recognises all the activities you are completing throughout your studies that will help you in the world of work. Whether you are planning on going straight into employment, starting your own business, or are considering further study, the award has activities and courses that will help you understand what you have to offer and help sell yourself to a future employer or business.

Each section has been designed to help you develop employability skills and attributes; from understanding your strengths and values, to figuring out your career options, getting the job you want and making a success of it.

Ultimately the award will help you to understand what skills and attributes employers value and ensure you can promote yourself well when the time comes, including having a strong CV, LinkedIn account and Handshake profile.

How does the Beds CDA work?

The award is completed via our Beds Career Builder platform and consists of a series of activities that will help you identify, build upon and articulate the skills that help to maximise your employability.

For each activity you complete, you will gain points. The number of points you gain for each activity will depend on the type of activity you engage with.

• 2 points will be awarded for any activity that supports you with gathering data for your career.
• 3 points will be awarded for any activity where you are engaging in a work related activity, and reflecting on your work experience.
• 4 points will be awarded for all activities where you are asked to articulate your experience, skills, and strengths.

You can achieve a higher level award by completing more activities:

Bronze - 15 points
Silver - 35 points
Gold - 60 points

Do I have to complete the activities in a specific order?

No. The award allows you to choose the activities that will best support you.

What do I get for completing the Beds CDA?

You will receive a certificate to acknowledge your achievements.

Certificates will be issues once a year. You will receive an email from CareerDevelopmentAward@beds.ac.uk when certificates are available.

When should I start looking?

You need to start looking early in your second year as opportunities will be advertised throughout the year including early summer. Competition for professional practice years can be high, so planning how you will search for the ones you are most interested in is essential. If you are not sure how to begin your search, there is a timeline that will give you an idea on how to start your search. Word of warning the later you leave it, the harder it is likely to find a professional practice year in your preferred sector.

How can I find a professional practice year?

You will need to start researching your options well in advance and plan how you will find your professional practice year. Don’t fall into the trap of just searching for the term ‘professional practice year’ when looking for work.

A professional practice year can also be advertised as any of the following:

• Placement or placement year
• Sandwich year
• Industrial placement
• Year in industry

Have a look at the Prospects digital magazine:

Large employers may advertise opportunities on their official websites as well as online portals such as and .

Try looking on general Directory Sites such as and approaching the employer direct. But make sure you have a well written letter of inquiry and a CV which will capture the employer's attention.

Can you not give me a professional practice year?

Although we are not able to give you a professional practice year, our Employment Opportunities and Support Team are available to support you every step of the way.

How will I survive financially?

We believe that companies offering undergraduate professional practice year opportunities and internships should always pay their interns a fair salary. Placement year salaries average between £12,000- £17,000 per year. The professional practice year opportunities advertised through the Careers and Employability Service are all paid at the national minimum wage or higher. AGCAS Position Statement on internships [PDF]

How can I get help?

The Employment Opportunities & Support Team is part of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½â€™s Careers and Employability Service. There are dedicated work placement co-ordinators who can show you a variety of ways to find a PPY and we may already have opportunities that you can apply to. If you are not interested in any of our placement year opportunities or have a specific field or role you would like to work in, we can give you guidance regarding approaching companies and sending speculative applications.

The Employment Opportunities & Support Team is dedicated to helping students with their professional practice year journey, which includes helping students before, during and after they have completed their professional practice year.

Please email cesplacements@beds.ac.uk to contact the Employment Opportunities & Support Team for information on professional practice years.

Internships can give you the option to try a career before settling on it, providing invaluable work experience, gaining transferable skills and vital industry connections.

What is an internship?

• An internship is a period of work experience lasting for a fixed period of time anywhere between a week and 12 months.
• Internships are typically undertaken by students and graduates looking to gain relevant skills
• Can be used by employers as periods of work experience to assess a student or graduate's capability with a view to recruiting them for permanent positions

What's the difference between internships and work placements?

While internships are usually undertaken over the summer months or after graduation to gain experience in a particular field, work placements, also known as a year-in-industry or placement year, are taken as part of a degree. Students on a placement year are completing a module and receive academic credit for the year.

Useful links for finding an internship

• You can search and apply for internships via
• list UK and overseas internships
• Look at dedicated internship providers and charities for example, 10000 Interns Foundation offers internships to black and black heritage students. See our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion pages for more information.

You can also book an appointment with one of our Careers Consultants to discuss your requirements.

What you do in addition to your studies can make all the difference when applying for jobs after you graduate.

Employers are looking for graduates who can demonstrate that they have the skills to make a real difference in the workplace, and so getting involved in university life and all it has to offer showcases your drive and determination to develop new skills, in addition to your academic achievements.

Take a look at some of the activities you can get involved in here at Beds, including:

• Beds SU Course Reps and Student Ambassadors
• Fundraising
• Clubs & Socieities
• Get Active
• Radio Lab

Ìý

Ìý