December 2021 - career development strategy insights for Welsh smes
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Antur Cymru is a £4M social enterprise which helps Welsh business start and grow. Carolyn was asked to share her thoughts on how to attract and retain top talent in a competitive recruitment market. In it she shared how people are seeking meaning, connection and a sense of belonging more than ever before and are particularly drawn to working in organisations with a clear sense of purpose. She also indicated that Gen Z in particular expects employers to invest in their careers as a matter of course. |
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January 2021 - CDI membership votes for carolyn parry as president-elect, the cdi
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Following a contested ballot by the members of the CDI, Carolyn Parry has joined the Board of the CDI as President-Elect for 2021 prior to becoming President in January 2022.
The Career Development Institute is the professional body for anyone working in careers information, education, advice and guidance sector in the UK and holds the Professional Register of careers practitioners and has approaching 5,000 members. Speaking about her election Carolyn said: "I am humbled and proud to have been elected to serve on the Board of the CDI. It is a privilege I never expected but one which I cherish." |
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FREE CAREERS SUPPORT FOR PANDEMIC HIT TEENAGERS
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A generation of young people is at risk of being lost and we wanted to do our bit to help. That's why we are offering free careers support and research-proven career tools to 16 to 24 year olds and their parents and carers via our newly set up our FaceBook group, INSPiRED Teenager Plus.
A team of twenty highly trained and experienced careers advisers already helping young people and their parents find a new "career why" by working through our research proven programme, INSPiRED, so they can get their working lives going again and create a brighter future. |
Since Covid 19 hit, millions of people's jobs and career prospects have been left in tatters with young people aged 16 to 24 being the most badly affected as UK employers across the board withdraw job offers and furlough staff.
Supported by the HM Government and The Cabinet Office as part of the Inclusive Economy Partnership, and endorsed by the Institute of Student Employers and supported by the Career Development Institute, the professional body for the sector, INSPiRED Teenager Plus is an innovative digital community learning approach is helping hundreds of parents/careers and their teenagers across the UK to work through a specially adapted version of the INSPiRED Teenager programme live together to create exciting futures and find a way through the upheaval they have experienced as a result of COVID-19.
Developed and delivered by Carolyn Parry RCDP, Founder and Lead Coach, the INSPiRED Teenager programme is a research-proven and structured approach which helps individuals create happy, successful and purposeful working lives that last by finding their "why". The content for each unit is taught via twenty minute Facebook Live sessions online each week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with each live session being recorded for those who want to watch later.
The programme includes interviews with special guests where they share magic and challenging moments about their career journeys. Guests to date have included Elizabeth L Wright, paralympian medalist, inspirational speaker and disability rights activist and Daisy Claydon, the PR mastermind behind Captain Tom's news story.
Jan Ellis, Chief Executive of the Career Development Institute says: “The Career Development Institute welcomes the ethos of INSPIRED Teenager Plus as a sector wide initiative in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, it focuses on using qualified career development practitioners to support and steer families and their teenagers through these uncertain times and beyond. We wish them every success.”
Supported by the HM Government and The Cabinet Office as part of the Inclusive Economy Partnership, and endorsed by the Institute of Student Employers and supported by the Career Development Institute, the professional body for the sector, INSPiRED Teenager Plus is an innovative digital community learning approach is helping hundreds of parents/careers and their teenagers across the UK to work through a specially adapted version of the INSPiRED Teenager programme live together to create exciting futures and find a way through the upheaval they have experienced as a result of COVID-19.
Developed and delivered by Carolyn Parry RCDP, Founder and Lead Coach, the INSPiRED Teenager programme is a research-proven and structured approach which helps individuals create happy, successful and purposeful working lives that last by finding their "why". The content for each unit is taught via twenty minute Facebook Live sessions online each week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with each live session being recorded for those who want to watch later.
The programme includes interviews with special guests where they share magic and challenging moments about their career journeys. Guests to date have included Elizabeth L Wright, paralympian medalist, inspirational speaker and disability rights activist and Daisy Claydon, the PR mastermind behind Captain Tom's news story.
Jan Ellis, Chief Executive of the Career Development Institute says: “The Career Development Institute welcomes the ethos of INSPIRED Teenager Plus as a sector wide initiative in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, it focuses on using qualified career development practitioners to support and steer families and their teenagers through these uncertain times and beyond. We wish them every success.”
February 2020 - Career Alchemy shortlisted for Careers research award
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Career Alchemy has been shortlisted for a prestigious Career Development Institute UK wide award for its INSPiRED Teenager action research project aimed at testing a solution to help young people at risk of developing a Not in Education, employment or Training (NEET) profile,
Using funding from HM Government under the Inclusive Economy Partnership initiative through NESTA, with support from Unilever in Port Sunlight and independent evaluation by experts at iCeGS, Career Alchemy was able to gain the research proof it needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of its unique INSPiRED Teenager career and life coaching framework, programme and planner toolkit. Speaking about the shortlisting, Carolyn Parry, Founder and Lead Coach at Career Alchemy said: "We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for the CDI's* research award. As every careers adviser knows, the influence that parents, in particular, exert over their teenagers’ career choices is significant, yet parents are often ill-equipped to help effectively. We can now categorically confirm that the INSPiRED Teenager programme helps both parent and teen to enable young people to identify and create purpose-driven and sustainable careers that help to solve the world’s greatest challenges." *The Career Development Institute is the professional body for anyone working in careers information, education, advice and guidance sector in the UK and holds the Professional Register of careers practitioners. |
July 2019 - Career Alchemy Founder wins Prince's GROWTH BUSINESS award
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Founder Director and Lead Coach, Carolyn Parry has won the prestigious PRIME Cymru Business Growth Award, presented by HRH Prince Charles on Thursday, July 3rd 2019 at his Welsh home, three years on from receiving the business start up award from the Prince.
In the last 12 months, Career Alchemy has provided careers information online to nearly 93,000 parents/carers and their teenagers and won contracts and funding from organisations such as top management consultancy EY, Unilever, third sector organisations such as NESTA and Creative and Cultural Skills, and education clients including Aberystwyth and Northampton Universities. We have worked directly with 743 graduates and professionals to help them create fulfilling careers. Speaking about the award, Carolyn said "To be recognised once is significant and to receive an award from Prince Charles for a second time, and in his home in Wales, is truly humbling and never something I would ever have dreamed of." PRIME Cymru is the Prince of Wales Charity to help over 50s start up businesses and get into employment. |
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Developing confidence quickly in others
Web training for American Career Development Professionals
In the middle of March 2019, Carolyn Parry, our Lead Coach, delivered a well received webinar in association with US based developer of career practitioners, Peak Careers.
The well received session was aimed at helping career and early development practitioners to develop confidence within clients of any age quickly and easily. Informed by neuroscience, positive psychology and experience, delegates learnt how to help set their clients up for success by consciously managing their nerves and thinking and a number of linguistic techniques designed to build rapport quickly and easily.
In the middle of March 2019, Carolyn Parry, our Lead Coach, delivered a well received webinar in association with US based developer of career practitioners, Peak Careers.
The well received session was aimed at helping career and early development practitioners to develop confidence within clients of any age quickly and easily. Informed by neuroscience, positive psychology and experience, delegates learnt how to help set their clients up for success by consciously managing their nerves and thinking and a number of linguistic techniques designed to build rapport quickly and easily.
Inclusive Society Partnership reception
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As a result of successfully securing grant funding from the Cabinet Office's Inclusive Economy Partnership, run by NESTA the social innovation foundation, Director of Career Alchemy incorporating Careers Advice for Parents, Carolyn Parry, attended a reception in July 2018 at Number 10 Downing Street.
The IEP programme forms part of the Government's Civil Society Strategy, aimed at helping create a fairer Britain and is focussed on developing through a new partnership model, bringing businesses, civil society and Government together to work on some of society’s toughest challenges with the aim of benefitting all through a systemic change in the economy Speaking about the event, Carolyn said: "The world of work is changing fast and we want to play our part in helping parents to enable the next generation to prepare for a very different world from the one we grew up in. I never envisaged that our work would lead to standing in front of one of the world's most famous doorsteps and am very grateful to Shevaun Haviland and her team at the Cabinet Office and NESTA for the significant opportunity they have given us." |
Career Alchemy founder wins UK Career Coach of the Year 2017
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Originally shortlist in 2013 and nominated for a second time by another grateful client, Career Alchemy Lead Coach, Carolyn Parry, has won the Career Development Institute's prestigious UK Career Coach of the Year 2017 award. The CDI maintains professional standards in UK career development and runs the Professional Register.
Speaking about her award, Carolyn said: "I was absolutely delighted to be chosen to receive the UK Career Coach of the Year 2017 award during National Careers Week 2017. "The sponsorship of the award by the Army is particularly meaningful due to family connections, and to bring the award back to Wales on International Women’s Day is a very special feeling. "I am delighted that my work has been recognised nationally and would like to thank the client who nominated me and the CDI for their support.” |
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Career Alchemy Founder shortlisted for Career Coach of the Year
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Nominated by a grateful client, founder Director and Lead Coach, Carolyn Parry has reached the shortlist for the Career Development Institute's prestigious Career Coach of the Year 2017 award. The CDI maintains professional standards in career development work in the UK and runs the Professional Register.
Speaking about her nomination, Carolyn said: "With the advance of the gig economy and technology developments, combined with a world economy in flux, career coaching is all the more important in helping people to create happy and successful working lives which are meaningful and sustainable. I am delighted that the quality of my work has been recognised by this shortlisting." The winner will be announced on 8 March in Leeds. |
February 2017 - Career Alchemy delivers CPD for NASES HE & FE members
As part of her role as one of the trustees of NASES, the National Association of Student Employment Services, Career Alchemy founder, Carolyn Parry is providing a free CPD webinar for NASES members.
NASES is the professional association for university and further education college job shops across the UK. Every year it runs a National Student Employment Week across the UK to help highlight and bring additional value to its service member.
Taking place on Wednesday, 22nd February at 11 am, the webinar, a first for NASES, focusses on helping job shop participants to discover some really quick, unique, and proven techniques which you can teach to your students in a couple of minutes each so they can nail their next interview, whatever the context.
Informed by neuroscience, positive psychology and experience, the session includes quick ways for staff to help students to :
NASES is the professional association for university and further education college job shops across the UK. Every year it runs a National Student Employment Week across the UK to help highlight and bring additional value to its service member.
Taking place on Wednesday, 22nd February at 11 am, the webinar, a first for NASES, focusses on helping job shop participants to discover some really quick, unique, and proven techniques which you can teach to your students in a couple of minutes each so they can nail their next interview, whatever the context.
Informed by neuroscience, positive psychology and experience, the session includes quick ways for staff to help students to :
- set up for success beforehand
- consciously manage their nerves from a choice of four techniques to suit their preferences
- build rapport linguistically, and
- appear and feel confident
February 2017 - Career Alchemy delivers business start up Job Centre workshops
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With the world of work changing, jobs becoming more insecure and zero hours working on the up, being captain of your own destiny by running your own business can provide you with the security and freedom you seek.
So, Career Alchemy was delighted to be able to support Ammanford Job Centre Plus's Be Your Own Boss event on 17 February 2017. As well as being able to talk with experts and advisers from organisations including Business Wales, the Princes Trust and PRIME Cymru, Career Alchemy Founder, Carolyn Parry delivered two free workshops to a packed room. "What Could You Do?", helped participants who were interested in starting their own business but didn't know what in, to identify one or two possible business ideas to explore; "Moving Forward With Confidence",helped participants to understand how to develop a positive mindset and included several techniques to get into a confident state. If you would like Carolyn to run a similar event for your organisation, please click on the box below. |
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September 2016 - Career Alchemy became finalists in the Wales Start Up Awards
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We are also delighted to announce that we were also finalists in another prestigious award - the Wales StartUp Awards 2016.
Co-founded by Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, creator of the Wales Fast Growth 50, the Wales StartUp Awards has been set up to celebrate ambitious and indigenous start-up businesses that are making a real impact to the Welsh economy. The first and only awards that are exclusive to companies who have started in business within the last three years, over 250 entries across 14 categories received throughout the length and breadth of Wales. Talking about being on the shortlist, Carolyn Parry, Founder of Career Alchemy said: "I am delighted that we shortlisted in the Services category. The standard is very high and for Career Alchemy to been a finalist in our first year even is a huge achievement." |
July 2016 - Career Alchemy Founder wins Prince's Business Start Up award
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Founder Director and Lead Coach, Carolyn Parry has won the presitigious PRIME Cymru Business Start Up Award, presented by Prince Charles on Monday, July 4th 2016 at an Awards event hosted by Lucy Owen, BBC at the Branvwyn Hall, Swansea.
PRIME Cymru is the Prince of Wales Charity to help over 50s start up businesses and get into employment. For media enquiries, please contact Carolyn direct on 07899 075853. |
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April 2016 - Career Alchemy helps fire up Welsh business ambition and success
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Founder Director, Carolyn Parry, recently delivered a very well received series of talks in April and May to South Wales Chamber members on how to fire up business ambition and skills development for success.
If you would like Carolyn to fire up your business or event please enquire via the button below. |
March 2016 - Career Alchemy to sponsor NASES student Above and Beyond awards
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Career Alchemy is proud to announce that it is sponsoring this year's Above and Beyond Awards at the National Association of Student Employment Services.
Speaking about the sponsorship, Carolyn Parry, Founder Director and Lead Coach at Career Alchemy said, "Career Alchemy is all about helping people to recognise and develop their potential purposefully so they can be happy and successful in their career. We are delighted to be sponsoring the Above and Beyond awards at this year's conference to recognise the emerging stars of tomorrow." |
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