Raising the Participation Age (RPA)

Raising the Participation Age (RPA) is a legal requirement which means you must continue in education or training until you are 18. It does not mean you must stay in school; you can choose one of the following options: 

• Full-time education at a sixth form college.
• Further Education college or training provider. 
• Work-based learning e.g. an employed apprenticeship. 

To find out more about RPA please visit: GOV.UK

What can you do to find full or part-time work?

• Think about the work you want or are willing to do.
• How will you get to and from work – is transport available?
• Look at websites of companies that you would like to work for to see if they have any vacancies.  You could even send speculative email messages or ring companies that you would like to work for asking if they have any opportunities available.
• Register and/or subscribe to hear about new vacancies on job recruitment websites
• Have a CV ready to give to employers, in most cases CVs may need to be uploaded with an application form rather than handed out in person.
• You may also need a Covering Letter, describing the type of work you are looking for.
• Use social media (e.g. Facebook and LinkedIn) and follow companies to find out about opportunities. 
• Use your personal network - family, friends, neighbours, teachers etc.
• Colleges and youth support agencies (e.g. Connexions) may have vacancy notice boards or networks of employers who notify them of upcoming opportunities or jobs fairs.

Do some research - find out as much as you can about:

• What the company does.
• What the employer wants.
• What the job involves.

Searching for a job isn’t easy and you will need to be:

• Positive.
• Realistic.
• Organised.
• Persistent.

Remember when emailing or phoning:

• Do not use text speech
• Always use a professional email address
• Always thank people for their time

Use the  Career Quizzes to work out your interests, abilities, experiences and achievements, or login and use the Skills Passport in your learner account. If you are unsure about what jobs exist that would match your skills use  Labour Market Information (LMI)  to research what is out there.