Upcoming Events

  • Year 10 Post-16 intentions day: 9th Mar 2027

Supporting your child with Apprenticeships

The Pathway CTM team have put together the following sessions to help support your child’s queries, such as:

  • ‘Should I do an apprenticeship?’
  • ‘Is it as good as uni?’
  • ‘What happens if I pick wrong?’

Apprenticeships have changed a lot — the routes, the employers, the pay and the prospects. These sessions will help explain more. In under 60 minutes, you’ll be walked through what an apprenticeship actually looks like today, hear directly from employers who are hiring right now, and leave you able to answer the questions your child hasn’t even asked yet. There’s live Q&A too, so whatever’s specific to your situation gets answered on the spot.

Thursday 8th October 2026, 6–7.30pm

A Parent’s Guide to Apprenticeships

Thursday 4th February 2027, 6–7.30pm

A Parent’s Guide to Apprenticeships

Wednesday 28th April 2027, 6–7.30pm

A Parent’s Guide to Apprenticeships

BrightStart Apprenticeships with Deloitte

Wednesday 7th October, 5–6.30pm (online)

This is an opportunity for Year 12 and 13 students to find out about Deloitte – a Big Four firm and the largest professional services business in the world – to explore their BrightStart apprenticeships and work experience schemes. Their people will explain what the programme involves, which business areas you can join, and what it’s genuinely like to start your career there at 18. If you’re weighing up an apprenticeship against university, this is the evening that gives you the information to decide.

  • Find out what a BrightStart apprenticeship actually is: the structure, the qualifications you work towards and what your first year looks like.
  • Explore the four business areas of Audit & Assurance, Tax, Consulting and Technology.
  • Meet experienced professionals who do the job now, including some who joined the same way you would. Ask them anything.
  • Find out about Deloitte’s culture, honestly. What it’s like to be the youngest person in the room, and the support and inclusion that make that work.
  • Ask your questions, live.

To register for the event, click here.

Early careers, workplace skills with A&O Shearman

Thursday 8th October, 6–6.45pm

This free virtual session, supported by A&O Shearman, gives students a direct look at what goes on behind the scenes of recruitment, straight from the people who do it. In 45 minutes, you’ll get a clear picture of the skills and behaviours that help young people stand out, plus a look at the different routes into a career, from apprenticeships to graduate schemes.

  • Insight into what employers look for when recruiting apprentices, graduates and early career talent
  • The key skills and workplace behaviours that help young people succeed
  • A clear breakdown of different early career pathways, including apprenticeships, graduate schemes and entry-level roles
  • Real experiences from employees who started their own careers recently and have since progressed
  • Practical advice on moving from education into the workplace and building confidence early on
  • The chance to ask your own questions live

To register to attend, click here.

A&O Shearman was formed in May 2024 when Allen & Overy merged with Shearman & Sterling, creating one of the largest transatlantic law firms in the world. The firm now operates from more than 40 offices worldwide. A&O Shearman also runs a fully funded 6-year Solicitor Apprenticeship, giving students the chance to qualify as a lawyer while earning a salary, with no university debt.

Insight into Law careers with Clifford Chance

Friday 9th October 2026, 5–6.30pm (virtual)

This event is open specifically for Year 12 and 13 students considering a law career. We will also be sharing some in-person events taking place at their offices during this virtual session so students can sign up for on the evening.

Clifford Chance is one of the world’s leading law firms, renowned for its dynamic and inclusive culture, delivering exceptional law services to businesses of all sizes across the UK and internationally. With a global network operating in 23 countries and 34 offices worldwide, Clifford Chance offers unmatched opportunities for students to gain valuable experience in Law.

  • Insights into life at Clifford Chance. What the work involves and what the culture is genuinely like.
  • How to join their student programmes. Including ACCESS, their 2-year development programme for Year 12 students.
  • Their industry-leading training contracts. The route to qualifying as a solicitor at a firm of this scale.
  • The pathways available to you. What a career at Clifford Chance could look like, and the steps that get you there.

To register, click here.

Insight to Solicitor Apprenticeships

Tuesday 20th October, 5–6.30pm (online)

This free insight evening is with Linklaters, one of the world’s leading global law firms, for students in Years 12 and 13 who are interested in law and considering an apprenticeship after school.

  • Opening from a Linklaters partner, with an overview of the firm’s work and its global scale.
  • Meet current solicitor apprentices on what the role is really like and how they got there.
  • Get hands-on with the kind of work Linklaters apprentices do at an interactive workshop.
  • Get application hints and tips on how to get into Linklaters: what they look for and how to make your application stand out.
  • Put your questions directly to the Linklaters team.

To sign up, click here.

To find out more about solicitor apprenticeships with Linklaters, click here.

How to search and apply for apprenticeships

Wednesday 21st October 2026, 3.30–4.15pm

Are you looking for an apprenticeship, or supporting someone who is? This friendly and informative webinar will guide you through the main apprenticeship vacancy platforms, including the Government’s Find an Apprenticeship website.

It will involve Alex Cordery, Recruitment Delivery Manager – Early Careers, at BAE Systems, who will share practical tips to help you search confidently, submit strong applications and understand what employers are looking for.

By the end of the session, you will:

  • Gain a clear understanding of where to find apprenticeship vacancies and how to apply.
  • Understand application processes and what employers are looking for, as well as explore common application pitfalls and how to avoid them.
  • Discover resources and support available throughout the application process.

The webinar will take place on Zoom. Register here to join live, ask questions during the Q&A, or receive the recording and resources afterwards.

Business and Law virtual work experience

Tuesday 27th October 2026, 9–4.15pm

This free event gives students a live, real-world look at both law and business in one day, led by people at the very top of their fields.

You’ll hear from judges, barristers, solicitors, in-house teams and business leaders. You’ll also hear from trainees and apprentices who got in recently. You’ll learn what employers really look for, and how to write an application that stands out in some of the UK’s most competitive recruitment processes.

Why attend?

  • Every route, one day. Law firms, chambers, in-house legal teams and business careers, through apprenticeships, degrees and graduate schemes.
  • Advice you can use straight away. What to put in your applications, how to prepare for interviews, and what gets candidates hired.
  • Something real for your CV. A full day of work experience with a leading UK firm to talk about in applications, personal statements and interviews.
  • Free, online and in half term. Join from wherever you are.

In addition, Linda Plant, the ‘Queen of Mean’ from BBC’s The Apprentice will deliver the keynote speech. Linda is the businesswoman who grills the final candidates on their business plans at the interview stage. In her talk, she will share what it takes to build a successful business, and how to prepare for interviews, including exactly what she looks for in a candidate.

To find out more and sign up, click here.

Discover Finance Manchester

27–29th October (Application Deadline: Friday 18th September)

Higher & Degree Apprenticeships careers fair

Wednesday 4th November, 4–7pm
Manchester Metropolitan University, Ormond Building

This event is perfect for Year 13 students looking to start a Higher or Degree Apprenticeship in September 2027. Parents and carers are also welcome to attend.

At this event you will connect with top employers with roles in a wide range of areas. You’ll have the opportunity to speak to their staff in person, hear about their current and upcoming Higher and Degree Apprenticeship vacancies, chat to their apprentices, and attend employer talks.

You’ll also get a chance to tour our School of Digital Arts (SODA) and Science (The Dalton building) facilities, ask any questions you may have at the Manchester Met Apprenticeships course stands, and talk to our Student Services Team.

For further information, click here.

Pledge Careers and Education Fairs

  • Ellesmere Port: Thursday 8th October 2026, 9–6.30pm
  • Macclesfield: Wednesday 21st October 2026, 9–6.30pm
  • Winsford: Thursday 12th November 2026, 12.30–6.30pm

The Pledge fairs, which are now an established annual event having been going for over 10 years, bring all of these local schools and colleges together for one big inspirational event. Therefore, as an exhibitor, instead of going to several schools, you can attend the Pledge coordinated town events across the region. This will maximize the number of students, teachers and other businesses you engage with, completely free.

At each event, you will get the chance to meet over a thousand young people from different schools and colleges. Many schools will be bringing whole year groups at one time and we will open the doors to the general public too.

These events are targeted at Year 9-13 students to help them understand what opportunities are available locally in terms of careers and educational pathways but also in terms of securing volunteering and work experience placements for the future.

We’re looking for exhibitors to represent the wide range of sectors and opportunities available within Cheshire and Warrington:

  • Employers – across all sectors, showcasing small and big businesses and uniformed services
  • Charities and youth groups – also great to recruit volunteers for your charity
  • Independent Training Providers
  • Colleges
  • Sixth Form colleges
  • Universities

 

Discover Tech Manchester

17–19th February 2027 (Application Deadline: Sunday 15th November 2026)