A university undergraduate with an eye for a picture enjoyed his time at college so much he can’t keep away.

Tom Porter has been back to South Cheshire College twice in recent months to learn more from college lecturers and help students fine-tune their photography skills.

The 20-year-old is in his final year at Falmouth University doing a degree in press and editorial photography.

During his holidays he has linked up again with the college where he gained three distinction grades on a photography BTec national diploma that he completed in 2010.

He spent a week’s work experience shadowing photography lecturers to find out more about teaching the subject and then spent another week at the college helping students with course projects.

Tom, from Crewe, said: “I have a real passion for photography and I’m loving university life but I had a great time at college too which is why I offered to come back to help students and do some work experience.”

He added: “I definitely want to work in photography as a career and teaching photography appeals to me because the lecturers at college have all been great with me.”

A female apprentice and mum-of-one rubbed shoulders with Labour Party bigwigs at a national energy conference in the House of Commons.

Lowis Marshall, 29, from Gillingham, was at the event alongside colleagues from Chatham-based Prestige Solar & Heating.

Shadow energy and climate change secretary Caroline Flint was among those to meet Lowis, who is studying plumbing and heating at MidKent College.

“She [Ms Flint] seemed pleasantly surprised that I was an apprentice in that particular field, but she said it was a positive thing and encouraged me to carry on.” said Lowis.

“She seemed very interested in my studies at MidKent College and I told her it was difficult, but that I was enjoying it.”

Nick Whatley, director of Prestige Solar and Heating, invited Lowis to the conference so she could view their profession from a different angle.

“A few years ago solar energy was very popular and lots of people were having panels installed on their homes, but now things have slowed down and one of the aims of the conference was to explore how we can get solar back on the agenda,” said Lowis.

Two women who run four childcare nurseries are now recruiting staff from the college where they first met.

Sarah Saint and Leah Clarke are making business look like child’s play as they employ 45 employees who have been trained at Barking and Dagenham College.

The successful business women who studied childcare in the late 1990s struck up a firm friendship after a recruitment fair held at the college. They both started working for the same company, a large nursery chain, but branched out together and now have four nurseries in Barking, Chigwell, Dagenham and West Ham and are now setting up their head office.

Ann McDaniel, curriculum manager for childcare and beauty at Barking and Dagenham College, said: “They are so passionate and have lots of energy and drive. They have both been brilliant supporters of the college, helping our childcare students by providing practical placements. They employ our students once qualified and also take some on as apprentices.”

“They truly are exceptional role models and are playing a key role inspiring the next generation of childcare professionals in our local area.”

A cow called Olive has moooved into a college campus in Durham.

East Durham College’s Houghall Campus has introduced the pure breed Hereford cow to help show agricultural students different breeding techniques and systems for cattle.

Agriculture was reintroduced at the campus last year and a new herd will be introduced over the next seven years.

Curriculum leader and farm manager Keith Cook said: “The new herd will give students the chance to study how artificial insemination works and how important pure bloodlines are in the livestock industry.

“In order to deliver excellence in learning
the farm is embracing modern farming techniques and is currently undergoing a GPS mapping process to demonstrate to students how we ensure accurate use of inputs onto the arable crops.

“The students have also experienced a diversification project rearing turkeys which have gone through the farm’s newly established butchery and sold for the Christmas market.”

As the course continues to grow, said Keith, the new projects at the farm will teach students the most modern and up-to-date farming techniques.

Students in Yorkshire are helping a charity bring hope to a community.

Apprentice plumbers, painters, joiners and electricians at Middlesbrough College have teamed up with The Hope Foundation to breathe new life into the Brambles Farm Community Centre in the north east town.

The students are part of Middlesbrough College Build (MC BUILD) – a not-for-profit company which provides work experience for students – and they have worked tirelessly on the centre for several weeks.

It now boasts a new suspended ceiling in the main hall, new learning areas, new storage space, improved security, and the interior has been given a fresh coat of paint.

Hope Foundation chief executive, Sue Kearney, said: “As a charity that helps people improve their employability skills it made perfect sense to involve Middlesbrough College.

“We wanted to give the building a complete refurbishment and the students’ help has been invaluable.”

Mark Purvis, 43, a painting and decorating student, said: “It’s been rewarding to see how our efforts have transformed the community centre.”

Mark was long-term unemployed before he enrolled at Middlesbrough. He has now launched his own painting and decorating business.

Textile students have been helping to show off the softer side of a town made of steel.

Cleveland College of Art and Design students produced work for a special exhibition featuring a collaboration of artists celebrating the former mining town of Middlesbrough.

Come and ’Ave a Go If You Think You’re ’Ard enough runs until February 8 at The Heritage Gallery, Cargo Fleet, Middlesbrough.

Tutor Rebecca Rowe created a montage of embroidery with the help of students studying print making and embroidery embellishment, including her mother and sister, Dorothy and Rachel Colley, and fellow textile fans Carol Docherty and Hayley White.

Work ranged from a portrait of footballing legend Brian Clough and the Transporter Bridge to Linthorpe Road and the Dorman Museum.

“All the students seemed to enjoy the course and it was great to see their work exhibited for the first time,” said Rebecca.

Exhibition organiser Hugh Mooney said: “Middlesbrough was never pretty. We had mining until the 80s, strong iron and steel industries until the 80s, thriving ship building and ports until the 80s — all that has gone, but we still have an instinct for survival.”

A college in Hampshire is the only institution in the country to have its motor vehicle department named as a “showcase centre”.

Fareham College was bestowed the title by ABC, the awarding body for a number of motor vehicle qualifications.

ABC chose Fareham after looking at the college’s Ofsted reports and now the centre will act as ambassadors for each region in England and Wales with the aim of other colleges becoming showcase centres. The status will last two years.

Head of Motor Vehicle Studies, Paul Brimecome, said: “This is recognition for the work we have previously done with supporting other centres and will also mean that if any other centres require support we can help them in the future. It will give me a chance to showcase the success of our motor vehicle students into work and higher qualifications.”

“We are really proud of the beginning we give to our Skills Academy students and some have progressed really well in the trade.”

Bernadette Done, business development manager, at ABC Awards, said: “We were delighted that we could nominate Fareham College for this status.”

A group of students are “trailblazing” the way for future broadcasters after launching their very own radio studio.

Leeds City College creative media students are taking over the airwaves at Yorkshire Radio to launch a weekly show featuring current affairs, music and more.

Digital radio station listeners will be able to tune into Leeds City College On Air every Sunday to hear broadcasters such as level three BTec Creative Media student Callum Ronan, 19.

He said: “I absolutely love radio. I have been brought up with it and always found the personalities such as Scott Mills and Steve Wright people I aspired to be like.  My tutors Nigel Schofield and Andy Lunn have been really good people to work with, and have given me a lot of guidance in becoming a better presenter. “

Ben Fry, Yorkshire Radio’s station director, said: “I think what we are doing is trailblazing and the students have really exceeded all my expectations so far and seem to be improving as each week goes by.”

The programme is on at 7pm on DAB Digital and Sky Channel 0209.