BETT: Q&A with Debbie French, BETT Event Director

Q) How would you describe BETT for someone who hasn’t heard of it before?

I would describe BETT as a celebration and a meeting place for everyone who is involved in learning globally. It’s somewhere where anyone involved in learning can have the opporitunity to network with their peers. They can try, test, evaluate and buy solutions that are ICT focused. So it’s more than your average trade exhibition, it’s got a real sense of community behind it.

Q) BETT is much larger than your average trade show or conference – how does it compare with other events?

We have just over 600 exhibitors. In regards to visitors, we have about 30,000, of which I think either 10 or 20 per cent is international. We even have minsters for education from around the world who will attend BETT on the Wednesday.

The event’s been running now for 29 years and it’s just grown massively. It was created 29 years ago when the government was ring fencing ICT in regards to education budgets, and then it was created as an opportunity for people to train, and they could try these solutions and actually understand how technology helps the learning process.

You can imagine at the time, 29 years ago, that there wasn’t quite so many elements of technology that we do now. So now it’s a lot more embedded. It’s a part of everyone’s life now, I’m sure you and your readers do their banking via the Internet, their shopping online, and their further education establishment uses the technology – the works. So it’s very much embedded in regards to what we do day to day and in education, because in particular this is their language now!

And in order for us to really communicate in regards to the learning process, full stop, we have to use those technologies.

Q) Can you explain the structure of the event? Does the trade show and Educaton Leaders Conference run side by side?

Our Education Leaders Conference is new to BETT, the reason why we’ve done this is because as a result of education policy, etc, leaders now are very much in a different role than they were for many years.

They’re almost like a CEO of a business, there’s many matters which they now need to debate, and as a result of the quangos, etc, which have now gone. There’s been a lot of change from the government, but there hasn’t been as much guidance as there has been before in the past at the moment.

So as a result the UK education leaders conference has been put together as an opportunity to hear panelled discussions, big debates which look at the bigger picture and discuss issues which are at the very heart of what leaders are doing ta the moment, what they’re worried about they can share with each other, etc.

That’s the conference element in regards to the education leaders.

Then LearnLive, these all take place on the show floor themselves and there are a mixture of demonstrations, discussion panels, seminars, all leaning more to do with best practice.

Q) A lot of the focus seems to be on school – is there going to be plenty for FE professionals to see too?

Absolutely, BETT is very much directed at the early years right through to further education and higher education, and that is very much where we’re growing into from this year onwards. So absolutely, there’s a lot there for further education in regards to the content, but also the solutions, there’s a lot in terms of system management, in terms of how the core communicates with each other, and also the pure technology in the show.

Q) What are some of the highlights this year? Isn’t Michael Gove making the opening address?

It’s amazing that Michael Gove is coming to the show on the Wednesday, so without a doubt I wouldn’t miss that. I would also make sure you definitely go to the conference, and also see a mixture of some of the LearnLive opportunities that are around the show – there’s a while mixture of demonstrations and interactive opportunities, as well as being able to mix with peers.

I would also go to our central feature, which is New Worlds of Learning, there we have a class of learners each day using technology, doing certain projects, and they’re actually connecting with other learning establishments around the world who are doing similar projects live on the stands.

Q) Technology is always changing – what’s new at BETT this year?

There’s lots of ‘new’. Cloud learning is very big at the moment, portable mobile learning is very big at the moment, and one of the big things that people need to realise, is that at this moment, everyone wants to find somewhere where they can do things in a more cost effective way. Of course technology enables you to do that, so there’s also that reason for attending the show, and that’s very new to what’s going at the moment.

Q) Any tips for first time visitors attending BETT?

Without a doubt, I would pre-plan. Use the BETT website to have a look and see what’s there in regards to the solutions, the exhibitions, and also all the content. Planning is without a doubt really important.

Read more about the BETT Event here.

New apprentices for Northumberland College

Northumberland College has taken on two new apprentices at their Kirkley Hall campus.

Kimberley Brown (20), from Whitley Bay, beat competition of more than 80 applicants to be offered the position of Apprentice Animal Keeper at the college’s tourist attraction, Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens.

Kimberley is involved in the day-to-day care of more than 100 animals and she is able to gain valuable knowledge and experience handling them in their enclosures which are designed to replicate their natural habitats.

Horticulture Apprentice Nick McEvoy (20), from Wallsend, works alongside the team of gardening staff at Kirkley Hall to maintain the historical grounds of the estate.

Nick’s daily duties include weeding the ornamental beds and pruning and cutting back the perennial borders of the four hectare estate.

South Birmingham College opens new centre

A new centre has been opened in the heart of Birmingham by fashion expert and Clothes Show host Caryn Franklin and UB40 saxophonist Brian Travers.

South Birmingham College’s new Fusion Centre was formally opened at a ceremony, also attended by businesses, schools, universities and college friends.

Guests were entertained by cabaret, dance and comedy performances from performing arts students and a fashion show which showcased pieces that had been designed, created and modelled by students.

The centre boasts a brand new purpose built salon for hair and barbering students with 18 workstations.

Fashion students are able to hone skills in professional cutting, production and design rooms and performing arts students can take to the stage in a dedicated performing area with industry standard lighting, sound and staging.

Principal Mike Hopkins said: “Tonight has been an excellent opportunity to show-off what a great learning space the Fusion Centre is.

“We have industry standard facilities and equipment here and this really helps the students get ahead, during and after, their course.”

Solihull College students change lives

Students at Solihull College have made a difference to the lives of other young people after raising £5,200.36 for Teenage Cancer Trust.

The students are working towards the BTEC Extended Diploma in Business or Peter Jones Enterprise Academy (PJEA) Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

The Trust is the annual charity of LaSer UK, a Solihull-based company that works in collaboration with the college’s Business School.

Richard Smithies, corporate social responsibility champion at LaSer UK, said: “The amount of money is absolutely fantastic and we are proud to have worked with the students, making a difference to the lives of young people with cancer.”

From running a half marathon and washing cars to hosting a charity auction and Greek-themed quiz night, the students organised a range of fundraising activities to encourage the community to donate.

Million pound campus for Carlisle College

A new multi-million pound campus at Carlisle College is now open.

The £9 million, 2,998m² facility heralds the completion of a six year modernisation programme at Victoria Place Campus.

The innovative, high-tech and sustainable learning environment will give students the opportunity to learn over 300 different skills.

It features external landscaping, which leads to a new main entrance and reception area, an impressive open plan atrium space that houses the new training kitchen and Oyster restaurant, the new Essence salon and additional classrooms and facilities for a wide range of courses.

Principal Moira Tattersall said: “At the moment it feels like a thousand Christmas’s have come at once

“Despite all the artist impressions and architect drawings, nothing compares with actually being in the building and marvelling at how fantastic everything is.”

New College Nottingham students building foundations for future construction careers

Students on the construction pre-apprenticeship programme at New College Nottingham (ncn) have been putting their maintenance skills to good use.

They have taken to St Peter & St Paul’s Church, in Hucknall, where they have been relaying paving slabs, plastering and painting as part of their course. ncn’s pre-apprenticeship programme helps 16 to 19-year-olds find employment in the construction industry.

The course equips young people with work-ready skills while the college uses its contacts with employers to help find a suitable apprenticeship.

Connor Simons (17) progressed from an entry level Diploma in Basic Construction at ncn Basford Hall

He said: “I wanted to build on the skills I’d already learnt and progress to a higher level. That’s when I came across the new pre-apprenticeship programme.

“I’ve loved every minute of the course. I look forward to coming into college each day because I know I’ll be learning something new and be that bit closer to finding a job.”

City of Bristol College apprenticeship awards

Hundreds of apprentices and employers gathered for City of Bristol College’s Apprenticeship Awards evening.

Now in its fourth year, it recognises the achievements of the college’s students, who completed their framework by the end of July and their employers.

Students and their employers received a range of awards on the evening, including Apprentice of the Year and Employer of the Year.

Guest speakers included Claire Young, finalist in series 4 of BBC1’s The Apprentice, Keith Elliott, the college’s principal and former apprentice Rob Stokes, who is now the deputy Editor of the Bristol Evening Post.

Claire Arbery, head of apprenticeships at the college, said: “We are delighted the Apprenticeship Awards are going from strength to strength.

“We recognise the importance of apprenticeships to the economy of Bristol, and this is why we hold an event each year to celebrate achievements of every apprentice we train, and their employers.

Weston College launches new DIY course to teach women how to do it themselves

Weston College has launched a House Makeover Diploma focused on women following a successful taster day.

A dozen women got to grips with the intricacies of pasting, wallpapering and how to fill in damaged areas so repairs become virtually invisible at the college’s Construction and Engineering Centre of Excellence (CECE).

The new Level 1 course will allow women to gain a qualification and while the course is aimed at women who are interested in DIY, men can also enrol.

IT teacher, Sam Mabberley (45), of Earlham Grove, said: “This is a great course for working mums.

“I’m married to a painter and decorator but can’t get him to do DIY at home so I want to learn rather than pay someone else.

“I’ve enjoyed the taster day and would like to do the longer course.”

Barmaid and waitress, Sarah Greaves (23), of Wick St Lawrence, said: “I’d be interested in the longer course.

“I’ve already studied interior design but would like practical skills to support this.”

Maintenance operations lecturer, Shaun Canniford, added: “We have launched this course to show women trade secrets which are easy to master with practice and will save them a lot of money.”

John Hayes visits Leeds City College

Leeds City College welcomed a parliamentary visitor as the skills minister called into its flagship campus.

John Hayes MP, minister of state for further education, skills and lifelong learning, paid a special visit to the college’s new Keighley Campus on Tuesday and took a tour of some of the on-site facilities, meeting staff and students.

The minister was also asked to unveil a special plaque to officially open the campus.

He said: “I am delighted to be visiting the new Keighley Campus.

“There is a real sense of achievement here – the significance of a new building in helping to improve the town and the people who work in it, teaching and learning.”

Principal Peter Roberts said: “It was a great privilege to have John Hayes come to visit our flagship campus, which is a place of great achievement in terms of educational opportunities and community impact.”