HR Director of Morrisons to step down next month

The group HR and communications director at Morrisons has announced he will leave the supermarket retailer at the end of June.

Norman Pickavance, who has been questioned by the BIS Select Committee over the apprenticeship programme at Morrisons, will leave “to pursue opportunities” elsewhere.

Dalton Philips, the chief executive of Morrisons, said: “Norman has been pivotal in making Morrisons an award winning employer.

“He has transformed our HR function and has been a great advocate for developing people from all backgrounds across the business.

“We wish him well for his future.”

Mr Pickavance will continue his work as a non-executive director at Create, a social enterprise which helps support homeless and disadvantaged people back into work.

Gary Stott, deputy chair of Create, has confirmed Mr Pickavance will be receiving “no salary or remuneration” for the on-going position, which includes being chair of the board.

“I think that Norman has a tremendous career history and a passion to see people’s lives transformed through the experience of work,” Mr Stott said.

“I am sure he will be using the next few months to work with a number of different organisations that are close to his heart and share his passion.”

FE Week revealed in March how Elmfield Training, a private training provider which delivers apprenticeships at Morrisons, donated £200,000 to Create.

Mr Pickavance was then questioned alongside Ged Sydall, chief executive of Elmfield Training, during an evidence session held by the BIS Select Committee for their inquiry into apprenticeships.

Ministers asked Mr Pickavance if the supermarket would have continued the training attributed to each apprenticeship had they not received government funding.

“We would have done it anyway,” Mr Pickavance said.

“We do not receive any money from the government purse for the training that we provide.

“All the training that we deliver is at Morrisons’ cost, and so it should be.”

He added: “We use the government money through a third-party provider, because we are not experts in accrediting people and we are not experts in national standards.”

Mr Pickavance was questioned further during the BBC One Panorama programme “The Great Apprentice Scandal”.

I am sure he will be using the next few months to work with a number of different organisations that are close to his heart and share his passion

The show revealed that 40 per cent of the company’s workforce was on an apprenticeship last year, with more than two thirds aged 25 or above.

“Forty per cent of people are trying to get a basic qualification,” Mr Pickavance told the BBC.

“People who don’t leave school with a qualification often feel they don’t have access and don’t see the skilled jobs or managerial position as something they can aspire to.”

He later added: “Actually when you look at the results that are being delivered through this programme, with a private provider, we’re doing something that is actually exemplary in terms of the qualifications people get.”

Barking & Dagenham College volunteers

A group of green fingered volunteers from Barking & Dagenham College have been giving up their time to help regenerate Mayesbrook Park.

The team of nine, who are Legacy Champions at the college, volunteer every Thursday at the park, planting trees, cleaning and generally helping make the park an even nicer place to visit.

The team have been working at the park for four weeks and will finish the project at the end of April.

Nadim Mea, who works at the college and manages the Legacy Champions, said: “The team is doing such a great job and have already planted over 150 trees. I think they set a great example to other young people and members of the community, showing that giving up a bit of your free time for a good cause can really make a difference.”

City College Southampton turns up the heat at cookery competition to win 31 awards

Budding chefs at City College Southampton returned triumphant from a recent cookery competition having picked up 31 awards.

The students, who are all studying catering and hospitality, walked away from the Wessex Salon Culinaire competition with a total of 16 gold medals, six silver, five bronze and four certificates of merit.

The adrenaline-fueled event saw a feast of activity from over 450 young chefs competing against one another in Brockenhurst.

David Hancock, catering and hospitality lecturer at City College, said: “This event provides a fantastic platform for the students to demonstrate all their hard work and commitment whilst experiencing the thrill of performing under pressure. I’m immensely proud of their achievements.”

South Thames College’s Olympic helpers

Six excited students from South Thames College have been chosen to be ball boys and girls at this summer’s Olympic Games.

The Tennis events are being held at the Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis Club. The students, aged sixteen to eighteen, took part in the tennis trials which were run as part of London Organisation Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games’ (LOCOG’s) Young Games Maker Programme.

The search for volunteers was held in November 2011 and was hosted in South Thames College’s brand new Sports England Standard Sports Hall.

The students beat off competition from hundreds of school children across Wandsworth and Merton and will now join an intensive training programme.

College principal Sue Rimmer OBE said; “South Thames College embeds the Olympic and Paralympic values into everyday life within the College and we have a wealth of talented and exceptional students that are out in the local community doing positive things.

“South Thames is proud to be a part of the Olympic legacy.”

Canterbury College’s new virtual vet clinic

Canterbury College’s impressive new Veterinary Nursing laboratory has been nominated for a top design award.

The state-of-the-art lab is in the running to win an S-Lab award for laboratory design.

The awarding body was impressed by its top-range facilities that include a mock surgical theatre, X-Ray machinery and an incubator.

The design allows Veterinary Nursing and Animal Management students to experience conditions of working in a practicing veterinary lab.

Alan Carver, the college’s capital projects manager, said: “We’re proud to be shortlisted for the award because it recognises the hard work that went into making this a first-class teaching facility. We worked closely with our Veterinary Nursing and Animal Care staff who all have industry experience, throughout the design process.

Success for Cambridge Regional College’s 100 apprentices in 100 days campaign

Employers have backed an apprenticeship campaign by Cambridge Regional College to encourage businesses to provide more jobs for young people.

The 100 apprentices in 100 days campaign was launched by city MP Julian Huppert with a promise to take on the first apprentice.

And employers have already stepped forward to offer new apprenticeship opportunities for young people, across a range of industries.

Laraine Moody, CRC Assistant Principal for Employment and Skills, said the campaign – due to run until the end of June – had already encouraged more than 40 employers to step forward with openings for young people.

“The response has been hugely encouraging and we hope it will continue at this level until the end of the campaign,” she said.

Dr Huppert, who is looking for an apprentice to work in his constituency office, said: “The apprenticeship scheme is an excellent way for young people to learn valuable skills in a working environment.

Walsall College student brushes off the competition

Walsall College student Lucy Porter has been named winner of the Midlands heat in Dulux Decorator Centre’s Apprentice of the Year competition.

The budding painter and decorator fought off stiff competition from 14 other apprentices in the heat, which was held at Bournville College on March 28.

Lucy (20) successfully completed a practical work piece, which included elements of wallpapering, stencilling, waterborne glosses and special effects all within a set time.

Lucy, who is currently completing her apprenticeship at Walsall College, said: “I am over the moon to have finished first.

“The competition was a real challenge for us all, but one that I enjoyed immensely. I’m sure the final will be just as demanding, I can’t wait!”

The finals are taking place at Accrington and Rossendale College in June.

Hospice dedicates valuable brick to Newham College fundraisers

Teenagers’ fundraising efforts for a children’s hospice were celebrated in a newly-created garden of meditation.

Richard House Children’s Hospice staff dedicated a special brick in their garden’s a ‘path of life’ for the £550 raised by 14 teenagers brought together by Newham College.

The hospice transformed a derelict part of its grounds into a garden to give family members and friends space to treasure precious moments with children with life-threatening health conditions.

Hospice life president Anthea Hare said: “The path of life creates a positive experience for family members and friends of the children who stay here and represents so many individuals and organisations that have helped us to expand our work.

“The children enjoy being here and we give them support to do things that they wouldn’t be able to do in their own homes.”

College staff member, Liana Mathurin-Brown, last summer organised activities for the teenagers for the ‘Summer of Lifetime’ programme. The programme was supported by the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, vinspired, Newham Council, and the government. Greenfingers Charity designed and built the path with financial assistance from Grange Farm Centre that totalled around £20,000.

Student at Weston College is video star

Weston College’s youngest professionally qualified student film editor has used his creative skills in a cutting edge music video for a rising local singing star.

Corry Raymond (18), who qualified in ‘Final Cut Pro’ three years ago, has worked alongside singer Ryan Inglis – a former Weston College student – on a video for his latest single, Feel Any Feeling. The BTEC media production course student, of Shrubbery Terrace, said: “It’s taken two months to put together using state-of-the-art studios at College and I’ve had brilliant help from almost all departments at University Campus.

Ryan (30), of Weston, recorded songs for his album at the world famous Abbey Road studios in London, where the Beatles recorded many of their albums.

College music course co-ordinator, Wendy Chadwick, added: “Corry’s doing this as part of his course work and his editing skills are amazingly sophisticated. We are also fortunate to have fantastic technology here.”