North Hertfordshire College is proud to work with a fabulous team of staff across our campuses, including our amazing Supported Studies department. The team work together to deliver excellent opportunities to our learners, collaborating and sharing ideas to help our learners achieve success.
Meet Beckie, one of NHC’s Work Experience Coordinators in our Supported Studies department! Having previously worked in the Ministry of Defence packing parachutes as well as in support roles across SEND provisions in the local area, Beckie is no stranger to the strong teamwork skills needed for success.
Find out more about Beckie’s NHC journey in her Meet the Team interview below:
How has your role changed since you first joined North Hertfordshire College?
“I’ve been working at NHC for 17 years. I first started as a Learning Support Assistant and enjoyed this role, before becoming a Job Coach in 2017 and working alongside our Supported Internship students. I worked closely with the person who was the Work Experience (WEX) Coordinator at that time and learned a lot about what the role involves.
“I then became the WEX Coordinator myself in April 2021 and have been in this role since then. I get great satisfaction from helping and supporting the students, finding diverse and suitable work experience placements for each student. I have made great relationships with many companies in the local area, and work closely with them and the Job Coaches when our students start their individual placements. I am responsible for ensuring all health and safety risk assessments are completed prior to all work experience placements.
“As well as my Work Experience role, I’m also the Course Team Leader for one of the Supported Internship groups. I’m responsible for all communication with parents and employers, supporting lessons in our classrooms, and creating EHCPs [Education, Health, and Care Plans], reports, timetables, and individual student plans.”
What do you enjoy the most about working with NHC?
“I particularly enjoy the camaraderie with my colleagues; our team all get on well with everyone else and we all support each other. The job itself is satisfying and rewarding but, at the end of the day, it is the people that I work with that make my job so enjoyable.”
What makes your courses stand out to students?
“The Supported Internship courses offer real opportunities to our students, normally in their final year with us, to gain meaningful and relevant work experience in the community. The students also spend a day a week in college focusing on their Maths, English, and Personal Development Programme, so this course is a good bridge to life beyond college.”
If you could give one piece of advice for someone who is thinking of starting a career with NHC, what would it be?
“I started working here as a Learning Support Assistant and have managed to work my way up in the department. If someone wanted to work with young people with SEND, NHC is a great place to start. There is so much training and extra support available to all staff, which expands your knowledge of the sector we’re working in. NHC is very supportive to people who have ambitions to progress and will always encourage you to strive for more.”
Work with the Hart Learning Group
We think all jobs in education are some of the most important and fulfilling jobs in the world – helping people realise their potential and build a life for themselves; helping businesses to grow and improve; and helping to build strong, vibrant communities.
If you share our passion, we want to hear from you – check out our available vacancies and come and join the team!