Explore & Discover

Role Description

You could work in different areas, including:

Community pharmacy

• dispensing medicines in a high street or supermarket pharmacy
• giving healthcare advice about prescription and over-the-counter medicines
• advising on drug dosages and risks 
• running screening programmes for diabetes, cholesterol or blood pressure 
• visiting care homes to advise on the use and storage of medications
• ordering and controlling stock
• running a business, including supervising and training staff

Hospital pharmacy:

• working with doctors and nurses and other healthcare staff
• producing medicines when ready-made ones aren’t available, for example, cancer treatments
• buying, quality testing and distributing medicines throughout the hospital
• visiting wards and patients to talk about medicines and dosages
• dispensing medicines for patients being discharged from hospital
• supervising trainees and junior pharmacists

Local NHS service:

• giving advice to GPs and nurses on how to choose and prescribe medicines
• running GP practice clinics
• Education or industry:
• doing research into new medicines
• running clinical trials

In all of the above roles, you'll observe high standards of security and confidentiality.

Role Description

1. Entry requirements

There are no entry set requirements, but a good general secondary education would be useful. 

Experience of working in a kitchen, in hospitality or a catering service may also be helpful.

You could complete a college qualification in catering, but this isn't essential.

You could get into this job through an apprenticeship.

2. Skills required

You'll need:

the ability to carry out tasks quickly and competently

the ability to pick up detailed instructions quickly and follow them closely

good spoken communication skills

3. What you'll do

Your day-to-day duties could include:

supporting chefs in a specific work section

washing, peeling and preparing food items

using a variety of kitchen equipment such as mixers, special knives and cutters.

unloading deliveries

organising the storeroom

washing kitchen appliances, work surfaces, floors and walls

4. Salary

Starter: £11,500 to £12,500

Experienced: up to £16,500

These figures are a guide.

5. Working hours, patterns and environment

You'll usually work shifts, evenings, weekends and public holidays. If you're based at a factory or catering business, your hours are likely to be more regular than in a restaurant. Part-time, casual or seasonal work may be available.

Your working environment will often be hot, busy and noisy. You may find this work unsuitable if you suffer from certain skin conditions.

You'll usually be provided with a uniform.

6. Career path and progression

With experience and further training, you could become a trainee or junior chef. You could also progress into management or move into bar work or food service.

Role Description

1. Entry requirements

There are no set requirements, but it may help if you have some GCSEs or equivalent including English and maths.

Experience of dealing with the public and giving presentations could be useful, and additional languages may also help.

You may need a Blue Badge in Tourist Guiding to work in places like Westminster Abbey and York Minster.

2. Skills required

You'll need:

• excellent communication skills
• the ability to present information in an interesting way
• a good memory for facts, figures and events
• organisational skills for planning tours

3. What you'll do

You'll work in one place or accompany groups on driving or walking tours.

You'll escort groups around sites, giving information about history, purpose, architecture or other points of interest.

Role Description

Skills required

You'll need:

• practical skills
• problem-solving skills
• the ability to follow technical manuals and engineering diagrams

What you'll do

You can work as a fitter in factories, industrial plants, transport depots and for building services companies. You'll install and maintain mechanical, electrical and hydraulic systems and equipment.

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

• installing pipework, valves, pumps and motors
• carrying out planned maintenance checks
• finding and fixing faults
• replacing worn parts and re-setting instrument controls
• cleaning machinery
• responding to emergency breakdowns, for example on a factory production line

Role Description

1. Entry requirements

There are no set requirements, but it’s common to have a qualification in a relevant subject like:

logistics

international transport

supply chain management

transport management

geography

You could also start in a more junior role like transport clerk and work your way up.

Skills for Logistics and the The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT UK) have more information about careers in supply chain management.

2. Skills required

You'll need:

planning and organisational skills

the ability to motivate and lead a team

spoken and written communication skills

problem-solving and maths skills

good geographical knowledge

If your employer operates overseas it may be useful to speak a foreign language.

3. What you'll do

Supply chains are made up of different operations, from forecasting trends and buying through to transport and distribution. 

Depending on which part of the supply chain you're in, your day-to-day tasks may include:

working with procurement managers and buyers to select products that are in demand and will sell

negotiating and managing contracts with suppliers

planning the best way to get goods from suppliers to distribution centres and retailers

tracking shipments and stock levels using computer software

working with retailers to make sure they receive their goods on time and in the right condition

looking at ways to improve supply chain networks

monitoring overall performance to make sure targets are met

preparing forecasts and inventories

recruiting, training and managing a team of supply chain staff

You might also be involved in brand and marketing planning.

4. Salary

Starter: £20,000 to £25,000

Experienced: £25,000 and £45,000

Highly Experienced: Up to £60,000

These figures are a guide.

5. Working hours, patterns and environment

You’ll usually work 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. You may work evenings and weekends on a rota basis, or be available on-call to deal with emergencies. Some companies run 24-hour operations involving shift work.

You’ll usually be office-based but would travel to meet clients. This could include travel overseas.

6. Career path and progression

With experience, you could progress to senior planning jobs and consultancy work.

Role Description

1. Entry requirements

You’ll need to take the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) graduate fast-track diploma to become a chartered member.

To become a chartered member, you’ll need:

to have completed a law degree recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) within the last 7 years, or

to have completed a common professional examination (CPE), or graduate diploma in law (GDL, sometimes known as GDip) conversion course, if you’re a non-law graduate

If you don't have any law qualifications:

you could work for a law firm and study part-time for a level 3 diploma or level 6 professional higher diploma, or

start as a clerical assistant or legal secretary

You’ll then need to work for a further 3 years before qualifying.

Even if you’re not working in a legal environment, if you meet the entry requirements, you could study for the CILEx graduate fast-track diploma full-time, part-time or at home.

CILEx has more information on becoming a legal executive.

2. Skills required

You’ll need:

excellent communication skills

administrative and IT skills

accuracy and attention to detail

research skills

an organised approach

the ability to work under pressure

3. What you'll do

You’ll specialise in a branch of law, like:

conveyancing – the legal side of buying and selling property

probate – wills, trusts and inheritance tax

family law – divorce and children’s matters

civil litigation – disputes between people

criminal law – defence or prosecution of people accused of crimes

company and business law – tax, contracts and employment law

Depending on your specialism, your work might include:

advising clients and explaining legal matters

contacting professionals, like mortgage lenders, planning officers or other lawyers on behalf of clients

researching and summarising legal information

preparing legal documents

writing to clients

drawing up wills

preparing contracts

representing clients in court

preparing bills for clients

4. Salary

Starter: £15,000 to £28,000

Experienced: £35,000 to £55,000

Highly Experienced: up to £100,000

These figures are a guide.

5. Working hours, patterns and environment

In many full-time jobs you’ll work standard office hours Monday to Friday. Flexible hours and part-time work are often possible.

You’ll be based in an office, but may also spend some of your time at courts and police stations.

6. Career path and progression

With experience, you could take on more complex cases and build up a large client base. You could also progress to leading a team of legal executives and secretaries, or become a practice manager in a law firm. 

With further study, you could qualify as a solicitor.

Role Description

1. Entry requirements

You'll need to be over 18 and hold a full car driving licence.

You can apply for a job as a trainee with a freight company or complete an LGV course with a private training provider. You'll also need a Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC).

You could get into this job through an apprenticeship.

2. Skills required

You'll need:

excellent driving skills and road safety knowledge

the ability to work alone and concentrate for long periods

a polite manner with customers

the ability to complete record sheets and paperwork accurately

3. What you'll do

You'll drive commercial vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, including articulated lorries, tankers, transporters and trailer wagons. You'll work from depots, distribution centres and warehouses, carrying goods all over the UK and overseas.

Apart from driving, your duties may include:

planning delivery schedules and routes with transport managers

supervising or helping to load and unload goods

making sure loads are safely secured

following traffic reports and changing your route if necessary

completing delivery paperwork and log books

You may also deal with basic maintenance, like oil, tyre and brake checks before and after journeys.

4. Salary

Starter: £18,500 to £22,000

Experienced: £23,000 to £28,000

Highly Experienced: £27,000 to £35,000

Overtime may be available.

These figures are a guide.

5. Working hours, patterns and environment

You'll usually work up to 42 hours a week. Overtime may be available but there are strict laws about the amount of hours you can spend driving between rest breaks.

Most of your time would be spent on the road, and you would drive day and night in all weather conditions.

Overnight stays may be necessary.

6. Career path and progression

You could take further training and gain an ADR (Advisory Dangerous Goods by Road) Certificate to drive hazardous goods like toxic chemicals by tanker.

With experience, you could train to become an LGV instructor, freight transport planner or move into management.

Role Description

Agronomists have a wide range of work, but their role is best summed up as a “crop doctor.” They are concerned with the health and well-being of crops used for food production, fuel, and land reclamation. Agronomists conduct experiments to develop the best methods for increasing the quality and production of crops. Based on their experiments, agronomists work with farmers to help them grow the best possible crops, such as corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat. They have an extensive knowledge of chemistry, biology, economics, earth science, ecology, and genetics. 

An agronomist spends time in the lab going over crop data that has been collected to find out how to improve the next generation. They have to think critically and solve problems concerning the planting, harvesting, and cultivation of crops. They also develop methods for protecting the crops from weeds, pests, and harsh climates. After they have written up their research, an agronomist will make presentations and speeches about their findings and present their ideas to farmers who can use the information for their own harvests. An agronomist also spends a lot of time traveling and meeting with farmers, working with them to improve crop efficiency and looking at any problems the farmer may be experiencing. 

There are a variety of roles an agronomist can specialize in: 

Research
Research in agronomy includes crop productivity, genetic engineering, and conservation practises. Research agronomists often work in labs but also perform large amounts of field work. Almost all research agronomists have a master’s or doctorate degree in agronomy or a related field. 

Crop Production and Management
These types of agronomists most often work with field crops. They manage crop planting and harvesting, and implement more efficient farming practises. This role may also include the management of recreational areas, like golf courses and sports fields. This job usually involves a lot of time working outdoors. 

Sustainable Development
Agronomists in this field work with all kinds of agricultural projects, ranging from large high-tech farms to smaller individual farms in developing nations. Whatever the size, this kind of agronomist is concerned with helping farmers develop and implement practises that ensure operations remain economically and environmentally viable for the future. 

Soil and Water Conservation
Agronomists involved in this field are often scientists and engineers. They might implement practises to improve water quality, manage runoff, and control erosion. Depending on the job, conservation agronomists may spend time outdoors, in an office, or both.