Work has started on Derby College’s new £3.5 million Construction Academy in Pride Park which is due to open to students this September.

The college is working with developers Cedar House to construct a 3,000 sq metre building on land currently owned by the Homes and Communities Agency and originally earmarked by former East Midlands Developments Agency for the Railway Technical Centre.

It will house 650 full time and part time students as well as apprentices in bricklaying, joinery and carpentry, painting and decorating and plastering.

Head of faculty Dawn Kemp said: “We are very excited that work has started on the new Construction Academy which has already attracted a great deal of interest in potential learners looking to come to College in September to learn a trade.

Doncaster College’s Academy of Commercial Enterprise hosted its own version of The Dragons’ Den and MasterChef as part of Aspirations Week.

For the third year running, students from all programme areas of the Academy have been involved in a variety of activities designed to raise their aspirations and motivate them to consider the next step in their career or in their education. At the popular Dragons’ Den judges listened to innovative ideas pitched by five groups of students from each of the Academy’s teaching sections.

After much deliberation it was decided that the Floristry students pitch would ultimately take the splendid glass trophy.

To round off the week a MasterChef competition was held in the college’s spacious kitchens and judged in the Waterfront restaurant before an audience of students.

Principal Gill Parkes said: “It has been hugely successful in opening students’ eyes to a broad variety of opportunities in their vocational areas and has been very motivating for both staff and students as so much fun was had along the way.”

Stratford-upon-Avon College’s new Construction Academy was given a thorough workout when it hosted the regional heat of the Guild of Bricklayers Competition.

The £750,000 Academy, opened in February by MP Nadhim Zahawi, was the venue as young bricklayers from schools and colleges from across the West Midlands took part across three age categories with the winners of the Junior and Senior competitions going on to the national finals.

Stratford College’s own Kieran Nicholls won the schools competition while the Junior competition was won by Bryn Wilson-Harris of Bourneville College.

The Senior contest saw some intense competition with South Birmingham College student Jordan Brewster coming out with the top prize. James Garrett from Warwickshire College walked away with the coveted Derek Spencer Award for his outstanding effort during the event.

Students from Priestley College took part in a courtroom drama at Warrington Magistrates.

Ten students pitted their wits against representatives from Barrow Hall College in the Mock Trial Competition and took home the team trophy. Stephanie Lynch took home the individual award for her performance as a key prosecution witness.

Law tutor Karen Clement-Smith said: “To win the trophy was a big achievement and for a Priestley student to be awarded the best individual performance was the icing on the cake.”

The students practised their skills at college before being given positions in the courtroom for a case based on domestic violence. As the drama unfolded, the young people were able to put into practice their advocacy skills and their ability to face up to tough cross examination.

District Judge Knight praised Ashley Loftus who took on the role of the defendant, playing him as a distraught and misunderstood father.

Tuesday, April 24, saw a red letter day for Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) with the launch of their new Technology Centre.

The college welcomed motor racing entrepreneur Lord Drayson, who arrived in his Aston Martin Vanquish, to carry out the opening, along with the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Councillor David Leeks and other visitors from businesses for the event. The new centre houses all of the college’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) provision under one roof for the first time.

Lord Drayson said: “It is important that we raise the profile of STEM in schools. These subjects are key in many careers; something we have remembered following the country’s recent economic problems.”

Principal Anthony Bravo said: “This building is a statement of where we are headed as a college. It’s really satisfying to see our vision come to fruition.”

The Duke of York heard about the pioneering work on student enterprise and entrepreneurship being led by Gazelle when His Royal Highness visited City College Norwich’s Startup Lounge last month.

Following a meeting with local dignitaries, businesspeople and students in the Debut Restaurant, over a light lunch prepared by hospitality students, The Duke of York met students from the

School of Foundation Studies and Skills for Life, and from the School of Health and Community Studies, in the college’s student market.

The Duke of York was then given a tour of The Startup Lounge, the unique new facility for developing students’ entrepreneurship skills.

During the visit, His Royal Highness met students behind web design start-up Spiderweb, fashion label Cocoon and successful music and media production company Interim Records.

Dick Palmer, principal of City College Norwich, said: “It was a great honour for us to welcome His Royal Highness to City College Norwich.

“The Duke of York is a strong supporter of youth enterprise and so we were particularly pleased to have the opportunity to share with him the innovative work by Gazelle to promote entrepreneurship in further education.”

Students were given a surprise when Alan Titchmarsh MBE paid a visit to the Titchmarsh Centre for animal studies and vet nursing at Writtle College.

The Centre, officially opened by Alan in September, was named after the popular celebrity, who has supported the college for more than ten years.

Alan watched as students milked sheep, came face-to-face with Wylie the goat, petted some ferrets, all before moving on to the Dog Grooming parlour where he personally groomed a Labradoodle.

His tour also took in the indoor animal units – reptile, fish, Avery, companion – as well as the classrooms.

He said: “This Centre is superb; it teaches all of the essential practical skills for animal husbandry and vet nursing. It is exciting to see that all of the courses are so stuffed full of folk – it’s wonderful to see what people have the opportunity to learn here at Writtle.

“The thing about Writtle is that it’s one of the best kept secrets in Essex, it’s a shining beacon – I’m thrilled my name is up there and I hope it stays there for a long time.”