Dates confirmed for Skills Show 2013

The Skills Show, the UK’s largest skills and careers event, returns to the NEC Birmingham from 14-16 November 2013 for its second year, and has announced the Edge Foundation as a new Premier sponsor to complement existing Premier sponsor City & Guilds.

 The Edge Foundation is an independent education charity dedicated to raising the status of technical, practical and vocational learning and helping young people to develop the skills and expertise vital to a successful career.  Working closely with The Skills Show, Edge will be looking to maximise awareness of its work through its involvement in the national event and locally delivered activities.

The Skills Show in 2012 was a resounding success, and planning is advanced for the delivery of a more impactful show later this year,”

“The Skills Show in 2012 was a resounding success, and planning is advanced for the delivery of a more impactful show later this year,” explains Ross Maloney, Chief Executive of The Skills Show.  “Our partnership with The Edge Foundation strengthens our joint efforts to raise the profile of further education, skills and careers so as to ensure that people recognise and value the contribution they make to the UK economy.”

Jan Hodges, CEO of the Edge Foundation says:  “We believe that ‘learning by doing’ should be valued equally with academic learning, and that all learners should experience a mix of both.  The Skills Show is an excellent showcase for the vast array of skills we have here in the UK and hopefully it will provide inspiration to people of all ages and backgrounds.  There are many paths to success and what we see at The Skills Show is testament to that.  We are delighted to be part of such an exciting event.”

In 2012 over 70,000 people attended The Skills Show and were inspired by skills in action, as well as receiving free impartial information and advice on careers and training opportunities.  More than 60 Have a Go activities gave visitors the chance to try a bite-sized taster of a range of skills, while over 50 Spotlight talks delivered by a range of real people doing real jobs provided an insight into the real career opportunities.  Hosting more than 60 national skills competition finals, The Skills Show also saw more than 1,000 young people make careers advisor appointments following the show.

Independent research has revealed the significant impact that The Skills Show had on those who visited the event, and their attitudes towards vocational training and skills.  “Almost two thirds of young people questioned (65%) for the FreshMinds research felt that visiting the event had improved their knowledge of vocational training,” explains Ross Maloney, “which shows that we are definitely able to challenge people’s pre-conceptions about the sector.  An incredible 94% of adults and 85% of young people who attended in 2012 would recommend The Skills Show to others which clearly demonstrates the effect that engaging our target audiences has had.  Most encouragingly, the young people polled at the NEC were 17% more likely to pursue vocational training in the future after visiting The Show – great news longer term for industry.” 

 

 

 

Exclusive: Jobs hope with agreement on Pearson in Practice

The future of around 150 FE jobs might have been saved after a deal was struck “in principle” to buy Pearson in Practice.

The firm, bought as Melorio Plc (consisting of Zenos and Construction Learning World) two years go by Pearson for £99.3m, could soon be renamed Vision Workforce Skills if the deal with West Nottinghamshire College goes through.

College principal Asha Khemka has issued a letter to Pearson in Practice staff outlining her plans for the firm, saying she had “no doubt that together we can grasp the significant opportunities that exist”.

No financial details on the deal — which could be finalised by Wednesday, February 20 — have been released.

Our intention is that Pearson in Practice be transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary company of the college under the name of Vision Workforce Skills.”

It comes just over a month after the future of 560 workers was thrown into jeopardy as Pearson announced it was launching a 90-day consultation on the firm’s closure.

Changes to apprenticeships, including a shift from programmes delivered by training providers toward those delivered by employers, were said to have led bosses to believe the firm was “no longer has a sustainable business model”.

However, addressing Pearson in Practice staff “Dear Colleague,” Mrs Khemka’s letter said: “I am delighted that Pearson and West Nottinghamshire College have reached an agreement in principle and we are now in a position to begin working with you all to share our plans for the future of the company.

“It is our belief that the business can be a strong national work-based learning provider and we are committed to ensuring its long term future as an integral part of the West Nottinghamshire College Group.

“Our intention is that Pearson in Practice be transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary company of the college under the name of Vision Workforce Skills.”

It is understood that around a third of Pearson in Practice staff could be kept on.

However, questions remain as to whether enhanced redundancy packages proposed by Pearson will be honoured by the college if job losses happen once the firm has changed hands.

A college spokesperson, who declined to comment on the redundancy package issue, said: “The college and Pearson PLC have reached agreement in principle regarding the transfer of Pearson in Practice, following Pearson’s decision to exit the business.

“Negotiations are at an advanced stage and we hope formal agreement can be reached early next week. The proposal is based on securing the long-term future of the business.”

A spokesperson for Pearson further confirmed the move, saying it involved “most” of the Pearson in Practice business. He would not specify what elements of the business were involved, but said further details on the deal, if it went ahead, would be issued soon.

If the deal falls through, Pearson could be writing off £120m in closing Pearson in Practice, but the firm would still have a presence in the UK adult training market through TQ Holdings and Gas Logic and Pearson Work Based Learning.

Newcastle College struck a similar deal to take on a struggling national training firm in March 2008 when it acquired Carter and Carter.

Chilly challenge for outdoor activity student

An intrepid outdoor activity student will be on top of the world if he can complete the North Pole Marathon and raise £20,000 for the cardiac unit which saved his little brother’s life.

Tom Jenner, 19 and from Flitch Green in Essex, who studies at the University of Derby Buxton, is aiming to run 26 miles across the Arctic in the hope of raising thousands of pounds for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

He said: “In 2010 my little brother Ollie, who is now 11, was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a rare and potentially fatal heart condition. They decided Ollie needed open heart surgery which thankfully was a complete success.

“If he hadn’t been given this rare diagnosis he would have died, so running the North Pole Marathon is my way of giving something back to the staff of Great Ormond Street Hospital for what they have done for my family.”

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome occurs in only around four out of 100,000 people, and is caused by an extra pathway that the electrical impulses in the heart follow.

This in turn can lead to an irregular heart rate and, when triggered by certain conditions, such as running, cold, stress or shock, can cause a rapid increase in the number of beats per minute.

For Ollie, this made life fairly difficult, especially as medical examinations found that he had not one but two extra pathways in his heart, making the operation to correct it even more dangerous.

Tom now wants to show his gratitude by taking on one of the most physically demanding marathons in the world, which only 255 runners have ever completed.

As part of his foundation degree in outdoor activities, Tom has undertaken winter skills training, and has been making the most of the recent cold weather to put in some extra preparation, despite the fact that even the coldest day this winter in the UK will feel warm compared to the chilly minus 32 degrees which temperatures can sink to during the race.

However, Tom is confident that his gruelling regime will make sure he is ready for the race, both physically and mentally.

“The only thing I can’t prepare for is polar bears,” said Tom. “But I’m really looking forward to the experience and plan to run at least a marathon a week over the next year to train.”

He hopes to run the marathon in April 2014, and needs to raise at least £12,000 to enter. Tom is seeking sponsorship to enable him to embark on the arctic marathon through his webpage www.northpolemarathon.moonfruit.com

Paving the way for a career in building craft

Building craft occupations students are laying the foundations for their learning by giving a church and a scout hut in Swindon make-overs.

The level one students from Swindon College are set to renovate The Wick sea scout hut, and St Andrews Church, Blunsdon, and have visited the venues to do risk assessments and method statements, tooling requirements and draw up a programme of works.

Lecturer Gerald Kane said: “The project will take around 10 to 12 sessions to complete. It’s a great opportunity for the students to work in the community and gain valuable experience.”

He added: “Both organisations really appreciate our support.”

The Wick sea scout hut will be redecorated inside and have its sign spruced up, while students working at St Andrews Church will recondition the front gates and have the spikes capped, maintain the porch gates and the internal door as well as the moveable partition which allows the space to be divided up.

Exploring communication through dance

A troupe of Derbyshire dancers will be leaping into action with a ten-day dance tour of their community exploring themes of communication and change.

More than 40 dancers from Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) will visit schools and community groups to celebrate dance in education and showcasing imaginative choreography inspired by sign language, shorthand writing and social media.

Dancer Christalla Kourouyianni, 20, said: “The dance tour will help us develop our management skills and will give us the opportunity to give back to and educate the community. The audience will have the unique chance to learn about communication and change through dance.”

The annual tour has been organised by foundation degree dance students and the dancers have gained valuable tips from working alongside former BSDC student Luke Birch who has gone on to have a successful career with a range of high profile dance companies.

South Cheshire learners teaching lessons of the past

Two Cheshire students will be passing on a message of tolerance to fellow learners after becoming ambassadors for a holocaust remembrance project.

Charlotte McCourt and Ryan Stephan, both 17, have been chosen to take part in the Lessons From Auschwitz project and have visited the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland and attended seminars to learn more about the history of the holocaust.

They shared their experiences with other students at South Cheshire College by giving presentations and organising debates, starting with a talk to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27.

Both students are doing A-Levels and hope to study history at university.

Charlotte said: “Hopefully, I can explore some of the key messages which the project has highlighted with students at college.

“This is an interesting and exciting opportunity for us both and is something extra to our A-Level courses.”

Ryan added: “The project has helped us to understand far more about the holocaust and now we are looking forward to taking part in specialist projects in college which focus on some of the key messages that stem from it.”

Glitz and glamour at college winter event

Creative industries students in London brought some sparkle to winter at Brent Cross shopping centre with a showcase of live music, photography and fashion.

The winter showcase was themed ‘glitz and glamour’ and combined the talents of creative learners from Barnet and Southgate College, with fashion and hairdressing students modelling their own designs as well as make-up by beauty students, who were also offering make-overs to shoppers.

Music students accompanied the fashion show with live performances, while photography students had a chance to exhibit their work in public.

Kamila Agayea, 18, an NVQ level one hair and beauty student who modelled in the show, said: “I was a little nervous before I stepped onto the catwalk but the cheers from the crowd were amazing. It’s such great experience to be part of a live show, with live music in front of an actual audience.”

She added: “We’ve been preparing for the show for several weeks to ensure it all looks amazing and goes smoothly – it’s definitely been the best thing about my course so far.”

Spicing things up at Walsall College

Young West Midland chefs added a touch of spice to their cooking when they received a master class in Indian cookery from professional chefs.

The catering students at Walsall Collage were shown how to prepare a range of mouth-watering Indian dishes by experts from award-winning local restaurant Five Rivers á La Carte.

Catering student Siana Walker, 18 and from Wolverhampton, said: “I really enjoyed the lesson and I now know how to blend spices
to make a curry paste, and use this as a base
to create a variety of authentic Indian dishes such as prawn curry.”

The budding chefs’ new skills will be judged by Five Rivers to see which student can recreate the best Indian dish.

Walsall College catering assessor Steve Biggs said: “We are very grateful to the chefs at Five Rivers for taking the time to share their skills and expertise in Indian cuisine with our students.

“It is a cuisine we don’t cover in great detail on the course, so the workshop was a great opportunity for students to learn new techniques from industry professionals.”

We can do it, say Fashion Enter apprentices

Budding designers in London are saying “We can do it!” in a bid to encourage young people to take up apprenticeships.

Apprentices at Fashion Factory, Fashion Enter, are part of a campaign to mark the opening of applications for Creative Skillset’s new higher level apprenticeship in fashion and textiles.

Kristen Lucas, 19, a current Fashion Enter apprentice said: “I am learning so much and it is opening my eyes to all the different careers available in the fashion industry, and I get to earn as I learn.

“Other young people should think about apprenticeships, not just in fashion, as the best option for work and getting skills.”

Fashion Enter is increasing its intake of apprentices following the success of its Made in Britain clothing label, which has allowed it to relocate to larger factory premises in Haringey, North London.

Jenny Holloway, managing director of Fashion Enter, said: “The higher level apprenticeship in fashion and textiles provides new and exciting opportunities for both the individual and the fashion industry.

“Apprenticeships are 100 per cent right for the current economic environment – employers need people that can do, and on the job training is invaluable to success.”