DO I NEED TO HAVE A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IDEA TO APPLY?
No, not at all. We think the best ideas come from deep insight at the frontline and this is exactly the experience we provide for our Fellows.
WILL I GET INVESTMENT IN MY SOCIAL ENTERPRISE?
Yes, if you come up with an idea during the programme and are accepted onto our incubator programme. Should you be accepted, you’ll pitch at Crowdbacker, where ventures typically raise £5,000–10,000. From 2020, you’ll also have the chance to join the Year Here accelerator, a 6-month programme of business support and investment.
DO I HAVE TO LIVE IN LONDON?
Yes, the vast majority of our Fellows live in London. Our studio is in Hackney and our placements and consulting projects are all in London. Occasionally, Fellows have commuted in from nearby but placement hosts often can’t cover this additional travel cost.
IS THE PROGRAMME ACCREDITED?
No. We believe that Year Here provides opportunity for more profound personal and professional development than traditional Master’s degrees – and that this is far more valuable than a piece of paper.
WHERE DO ALUMNI USUALLY END UP AFTER YEAR HERE?
HOW MUCH CHOICE DO I HAVE ABOUT WHAT I DO DURING THE PROGRAMME?
You’ll tell us in your application form which placement type you’re most interested in and we’ll discuss this further with you during your interview. In the run up to the consulting project, we’ll ask your preferences and take these into account when placing Fellows on project.
The allocation process varies for each component:
- For your Frontline Placement, we will place you according to three criteria: your preferences, your home address in London, and any special requirements of our placement host. We will discuss your preferences in more detail at interview stage. We can’t guarantee your top choice but we work hard to ensure a great match.
- You will be placed on a Consulting Project based on your own preferences, the demands of the project and the need for a well-balanced team.
- For the Venture Lab, you will choose your own group and the idea you want to develop.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T LIKE MY PLACEMENT?
Our placement organisations have serious work to do, often in very challenging circumstances. As a result, your colleagues may not have lots of time to invest in, and support, you as much as you’d like. We’ll expect you to use your resourcefulness, initiative and resilience to serve the users or beneficiaries of the placement the best you can. We believe that these challenging moments are the most powerful opportunities to grow and learn.
If you find yourself struggling, we hope that the support of your Year Here coach, mentor, alumni buddy and other Fellows will enable you to reengage more successfully with the placement.
In the unlikely scenario that your placement does not give you direction or support at all, or you are suffering harassment or discrimination, we will terminate the placement and endeavour to place you with a more appropriate organisation.
WHAT KIND OF TIME COMMITMENT IS THE PROGRAMME?
Year Here is a full-time commitment. The bulk of the programme is Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm and you will be expected to be present during those hours.
Placement hours may vary. For example, school and Pupil Referral Units may have an earlier schedule – but 8 hours per day should be expected throughout the programme.
There will be around 15 scheduled evening activities such as socials during bootcamps, Off the Record events, and many more optional ones.
There are 5 scheduled holiday weeks during each programme – these are detailed in the prospectus.
Our Fellows often use their evenings, weekends and holiday weeks for project work, reading, networking and paid work.
WHAT IF I ALREADY HAVE SCHEDULED HOLIDAY?
We try to avoid any disruption to your attendance during the programme and changes are exceptional. However, we won’t force you to miss a relative’s wedding or forsake a holiday that you’ve already booked. Just tell us as soon as possible and we’ll review each request on a case-by-case basis.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
AM I TOO YOUNG / OLD FOR THE PROGRAMME?
The average age of our Fellows is 29 – and they range in age from early-twenties to mid-forties. On average our Fellows have 7 years’ experience and some have many more. We ask that you have at least 2 years’ professional experience.
CAN I APPLY IF I’M NOT A BRITISH CITIZEN?
Yes. If you have permission to work and volunteer in the UK and plan to build your career here, we’d welcome an application from you. Our Fellows have included American, Bulgarian, Nigerian, Palestinian and Portuguese nationals.
Unfortunately we do not sponsor visas and cannot provide immigration advice – but we’d advise prospective applicants from overseas to research the visa advice from the UK Government if they’re interested in the programme. It is your responsibility to check your visa status and eligibility with the relevant embassy or government institution before applying.
CAN I DEFER MY OFFER?
No. If you receive an offer, it will be for the upcoming programme cohort that you applied for.
CAN I APPLY IF I DON’T HAVE A DEGREE OR HAVEN’T GOT LOTS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE?
Yes – but only if you can provide good evidence of your other strengths and achievements.
We are unapologetic about selecting only the most high-achieving applicants. The programme involves wide reading and written components and we expect applicants to be comfortable with that. The vast majority of our Fellows will be graduates with strong professional backgrounds but we recognise that academic success is only one indicator of potential.
If you didn’t go to university and/or have less than 2 years’ experience but think you have what it takes to become a Fellow, then lodge an application and convince us.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE THE FEES AND COSTS OF THE PROGRAMME?
The programme is free. You will need a laptop for your project work. Support to cover your living expenses are covered on our
costs and funding page.
DO YOU PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO CAN’T AFFORD TO UNDERTAKE THE PROGRAMME?
Yes, we have various mechanisms to keep the course affordable. Please see our costs and funding page and Financial Support Factsheet.
Those applying for a bursary should be able to demonstrate their financial situation with verifiable evidence. Applications are then considered on a case-by-case basis.We do not know exactly how many bursaries we can offer as we fundraise on an ongoing basis. We aim to give financial support to as many that need it as we can.
If you do secure a bursary, we will let you know when you are offered a place on the programme. You will then receive it in 4 equal instalments every 2 months.
CAN I WORK PART TIME DURING THE COURSE?
Most Fellows work part time or freelance during the programme but this shouldn’t interfere with commitments to the course, which are Monday to Friday, 9 to 6pm.We can offer guidance on part time paid work opportunities that fit with the demands of the programme. We also partner with tutoring agencies who are particularly keen to recruit Year Here Fellows.
Read more in our Financial Support Factsheet.
I’M NOT FROM LONDON – WHERE WILL I LIVE?
We try to help secure accommodation for people who are from outside of London, or who don’t have a place to stay for another reason, regardless of your financial circumstances. Over the years, more than a third of our Fellows have benefitted from the discounted accommodation that we’ve been able to broker for them.
Read more in our Financial Support Factsheet.
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