At Hartpury we believe employability and life skills are just as important as academic qualifications. That's why, as part of your college experience here, you'll complete the unique Hartpury Certificate, helping you develop key life skills, confidence and the independence to support future endeavours.
Your main qualification will equip you with the practical skills and knowledge of your subject area, but it’s often your work experience that makes you stand out from the crowd. You’ll be given the tools to develop your career with external businesses and on-campus enterprises. You’ll also create and work towards a career plan, demonstrating your progress via an online portfolio.
The Hartpury Certificate is an enrichment programme designed to support our students to grow.
Everyone studying a Hartpury College course completes the certificate. The initiative supports our A-level and BTEC diploma students to develop academic and employment expertise, alongside key life skills, and stand out from the crowd when applying for university or starting their career.
Clarify your career goals and how to achieve them.
As part of the Hartpury Certificate, students are encouraged to work with our Innovation, Careers and Enterprise (ICE) team to help explore their career options, work out their goals and make a plan to achieve them.
ICE will be able to help you with enrichment activities, as well as careers advice and guidance, professional, work and skills-based courses.
Innovation, Careers and Enterprise Centre
Gain external experience with one of 3,000 employers.
Work experience is an important part of our students’ learning experience. It’s a fantastic opportunity to experience your subject area in the real world. You’ll gain practical experience as you try different jobs and explore your career options.
In addition to external work experience, you'll have access to nine commercial businesses and big industry events on campus – from research conferences, to equine and sports events – for plenty of extra CV-boosting volunteering opportunities.
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Enhance your skills through our on-site businesses.
Depending on your course, you'll learn how to manage our commercial farm, animal collection or livery yard, carry out equine or canine training in our international arenas, or develop coaching skills in our state-of-the-art sports facilities.
International industry events on campus range across equine and sports to UKA dog agility, providing plenty of opportunities for students.
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Develop expertise that employers are looking for.
We’re skilled at helping students to successfully make the transition from school to college life, balance studies with sport and other commitments and, of course, have fun whilst doing it!
96% of our students progress on to employment, university or further study (Hartpury College, 2022).
Why Hartpury?
Improve your numeracy and literacy skills.
Alongside core qualifications, you'll progress GCSE-level qualifications in Maths and English to develop ready for your next steps.
Student satisfaction with teaching is 98% (Hartpury College, 2022) and we remain one of the highest achieving land-based colleges in England.
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Become independent, resilient and confident.
The Hartpury Certificate supports our A-level and BTEC diploma students to develop academic and employment expertise, alongside key life skills.
Our students work in teams as part of their studies to develop core skills in a supported environment.
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Sign up for extra enrichment activities to boost your CV and stand out from the crowd, from Duke of Edinburgh and Student Ambassador schemes, to enterprise and setting up a business.
A-level activities could include completing a pre-veterinary qualification to support progression into a veterinary medicine or science degree, special interest clubs like debating and astronomy, as well as recreational and competitive sports.
BTEC students will also have time to take part in enrichment activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh award, Enterprise, workshops for CV building and mindfulness, or volunteering programmes within the community or with events held at Hartpury.