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Who we are

Every student can benefit from in-school careers advice provided by TimelyAdvice.

TimelyAdvice is a team of independent careers guidance Consultants who are available to provide students with impartial advice about their future career plans and aspirations. The team of career Consultants are available at all crucial transition points, including Key Stage 4, Post 16, Post 18, Exam Results Days and Enrolment Days. The advice guidance information is impartial and objective.

The experienced team at TimelyAdvice will maximise the opportunities for all students by engaging effectively with businesses, universities and support agencies to ensure students are following the Right Pathway at the Right Time for them as individuals. Their wide range of experience and expertise helps them to provide all aspects of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG).

Avril Bartley-Smith

Director

TimelyAdvice was set up in 2012 by Avril Bartley-Smith who recognised the need for such a service within Secondary schools and local Colleges. Her experience of working with young people has spanned a lifetime. Retiring as a Vice Principal, she was not ready to walk away from young people and formed her company, TimelyAdvice Ltd. The aim of the company is to provide the Right Advice at the Right Time and ensure that all young people follow a sustainable pathway at the next stage of their lives based on informed decisions.

Young people today need transferable skills which will help them achieve their full potential and sustain a successful future. The business is built on the belief that everyone has a future even if they are not aware of which pathway to follow. She does not believe in giving up and works tirelessly to ensure all students have a suitable destination through her dogged determination to help. She frequently hears from students who remember the support and help she gave them at a crucial points in their education. They are often updating her or asking for help and guidance once again.

Avril's commitment to help others achieve their full potential is the underpinning philosophy of TimelyAdvice, making it the preferred partner of schools in Northamptonshire.

Nicola Stanbridge

Careers Consultant

Nicola studied for a degree in English Literature at Leicester University and then went on to complete a specialist careers guidance qualification through Nottingham Trent University. She has also worked across a range of schools in Northamptonshire for the Careers Service (Career Path) and later for the Connexions Service, before bringing her expertise as an independent consultant to TimelyAdvice. Working face to face with young people is the aspect of her work that she really enjoys.

She has a great deal of experience in supporting students from giving guidance to those applying to University places such as Oxford and Cambridge to helping with CV writing and first job applications. The wide range of support she can offer schools means her work is interesting and varied with no two days being the same!

Her enthusiasm is infectious and inspires students to strive to achieve their aspirations. The continuity of the support she gives students, both in and out of school is invaluable and helps them reach their full potential.

Helen Featherstone

Careers Consultant

Helen has had a varied career from starting out as a trained sports teacher after studying for her degree at Durham University. She has an MBA and has spent over twenty years working in the creative and media industry in sales, marketing, management and motivational training before returning to education, bringing her first-hand experience of industry into the classroom.

Her entrepreneurial experiences and approach to learning have helped her provide creative guidance and support to all students when identifying their chosen pathways. She is well equipped to provide support as part of her degree included Guidance and Counselling. She has put this knowledge into practice helping students navigate their way through subject options, university and apprenticeship applications.

As an independent careers Consultant with TimelyAdvice, her aim is to help students explore all potential pathways. Her relaxed careers interview style allows her to get to know the students as individuals, asking relevant questions and listening closely to what they say. Her commitment is always to ensure students fulfil their potential.

Julie Thompson

Careers Consultant

Julie has a varied background working within both the educational and industrial sectors with the majority of her professional career spent in education. Her experiences include teaching and mentoring learners, developing new business connections, engaging employers to support the curriculum. Her role as an Employer Engagement Officer at EBLO and Connexions saw her creative skills being used to link businesses, education and the curriculum in a variety of ways throughout the county. It was during this time she obtained the Careers Education, Advice and Guidance qualification through Leicester University and studied the Health and Safety NEBOSH certificate.

She recently returned to education after spending the last 5 years working in Human Resources, recruiting and retaining talent whilst delivering and evaluating the training and development of staff. This has equipped her with a greater appreciation of the qualifications and skills employers require in the workplace today. From this first-hand experience she is able to guide students, manage expectations and challenge their perceptions of the world of work.

Julie has a friendly and approachable style and as a consultant working with TimelyAdvice, brings additional expertise to the Company's portfolio. She enjoys assisting and helping young people providing accurate, realistic, impartial career advice and guidance, and helping with a wide range of tasks including CV writing, job/apprenticeship applications, personal statements and interview techniques.

Helen Aouina

Careers Consultant

Helen joined the team after working in education for more than 10 years. Her varied career ranges from being a teaching assistant in primary schools to her more recent appointment as a Careers Guidance Consultant with TimelyAdvice. She completed the Information, Advice and Guidance qualification in 2011 and has been putting this valuable qualification into practice ever since.

Her experience in supporting young people has come from working in student facing roles at two large Further Education Colleges. She worked as an Aimhigher Co-ordinator and Personal Tutor for engineering students at Milton Keynes College and a Student Services Executive at Tresham College.

She believes in seeking and bringing out the best in people, supporting them to achieve their full potential. She is very well equipped to be offering independent careers education, advice and guidance to young people from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities.