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Fair Access

What is Fair Access to the professions?

The gender pay gap has narrowed, but the top professional jobs still go to men. The professions seem to have become more socially exclusive, not less:

• 3 in 4 judges and 1 in 2 senior civil servants are still privately educated
• Today's doctors and lawyers grew up in families with incomes two-thirds higher than the average family
• Those from other diversity groups are often under-represented in the professions

How can university students be helped and encouraged to aspire to a professional career? This section provides information on initiatives by the professional bodies, the professions, universities and other organisations to ensure that professional careers are open to people of talent regardless of background. The role of professional bodies is central to enabling people from under-represented groups to access successful careers. We provide information on initiatives by professional bodies to widen access for those from under-represented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds. Of particular interest is the information on alternative non-graduate routes into professions, which is provided in the Sector Summaries.

Here you will find information on access to specific careers and additional help.

Access to specific careers

Law Society's Diversity Access Scheme

The Law Society's Diversity Access Scheme offers support to promising entrants to the solicitors' profession who also face exceptional social, educational, financial or personal obstacles to qualification.

Kings College London Access to Medicine

Kings College London Access to Medicine

Also see the Sector Summaries for information on specific sector initiatives. We provide information on some of these below.

VETNET

The VETNET Lifelong Learning Network was established to increase opportunities for vocational learners to progress into veterinary and animal related higher education.

VETNET LLN aims to produce a comprehensive qualification map to clarify existing animal and veterinary related courses available across the country, develop a curriculum that will allow vocational learners to progress smoothly into veterinary and animal science related degree courses and compile a catalogue of career and professional development opportunities for those working in the animal and veterinary sectors.

The Network also includes representation from the professional bodies related to this sector, including:

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
• British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA)
• Lantra (the Sector Skills Council for the land based industries)

Contact form available.

Architecture for Everyone

Architecture for Everyone helps Britain’s best young designers to turn their talent into a career. It is a partnership between the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and architectural firm RMJM - a nationwide project which encourages young people from Britain's inner cities to consider a career in architecture and urban planning.

The Waste of Space competition encourages young designers to give their ideas about how they would improve a wasted space near their home with the potential of winning a fantastic prize which will help further their design careers. Architecture for Everyone also runs workshops for aspiring designers.

Email info@architectureforeveryone.org.uk

Become a Teacher

Become a Teacher has all the information you need to know if you wish to apply for teacher training. There is information on routes into teaching, pay, choosing which subject to teach, information about Education degrees, all you need to know about CRB checks, FAQs as well as an invaluable list of teaching resources compiled by TSR members. There is also top advice on the application and interview process for PGCEs and a discussion thread for getting teaching course interview tips plus information from current teachers about what teaching is really like, what routes they took and the things they find most enjoyable.

Visit TDA site for more information.

Additional help

Check out the Resources section for information on organisations offering additional help to prospective university students or graduates. We highlight a few here.

ADAB Trust

The ADAB Trust is a charity with the aim of increasing graduate level employment outcomes for inner city UK residents and EU students from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, particularly South Asian.

ADAB offer employment placements and employability training, both free of charge, provided students meet a list of criteria.

The Steps to Success programme ensures that employers receive quality students while students are well prepared for careers in graduate jobs.

Contact information is available.

Aimhigher Programme

The Aimhigher Programme seeks to widen participation in HE by developing the abilities and raising opportunities available to young people from underrepresented groups.

The Healthcare Strand aims to expand access to the healthcare professions through raising aspirations, strengthening vocational routes and encouraging career development.

Summer Schools aim to give pupils from Years 9-12, who may only consider a limited range of HE courses/institutions or may not consider HE at all, a taster of HE.

The Aimhigher Roadshow allows pupils to talk to recent graduates about their experiences of Higher Education.

National and regional contact details are available.

Brightside 

Brightside is an education charity using online technology to connect, inform and inspire people to achieve their potential through education. 

Brightside create, develop and manage ementoring schemes connecting individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with an online mentor who can help them develop skills, gain confidence and explore their education and employment options.

Brightside also provide free online resources –

• Bright Knowledge – the essential guide to careers, education and student life
• Student Calculator – an interactive budgeting tool helping students prepare to manage their money at university

Fastlaners

Fastlaners is a two week course for graduates in East London looking to improve their employment prospects.

It focuses on improving the graduate’s confidence, their self-awareness and their ability to work in a team. It also aims to improve interview technique, increase awareness of the job market and educate participants about the available routes into professional networks as well as how best to take advantage of them.

After completing a Fastlaners course, graduates were able approach graduate job opportunities with renewed confidence, market their experience, skills and understanding in order to secure graduate employment, and advance their careers by taking advantage of networking opportunities.

Ambition for Fastlaners is that they will enjoy healthy and happy graduate careers and demonstrate to their employers the multiple benefits of recruiting from a diverse graduate talent pool.

Contact jack.graham@youngfoundation.org or Fastlaners here for further information or with any queries.