Latest news from FE Week

An accomplished chocolatier who won the BBC Two show Bake Off Crème de la Crème has visited Bath College to teach students a range of chocolate-making techniques.

Mark Tilling, an award-winning confectioner who came 7th in the 2009 World Chocolate Masters Finals in Paris, showed students how to melt and temper chocolate, how to create a marbled effect, stamp medallions and make different shapes during a three-hour workshop.

His visit was part of an employability week at the college, which has so far included workshops for catering students on bread making, cocktail mixing, wine tasting, cooking demonstrations and mock interviews with employers.

“I always think it’s important to teach the next generation, to come into college and show the students what we do,” said Mr Tilling. “They are the ones who will carry the industry into the future, and hopefully they will pass on their skills when they look back and realise how useful these experiences were for them.”

“We’re always looking to engage with industry and are so thankful for the experts that continue to support our students,” added Ryan Hanson, the college’s deputy head of hospitality and catering.

Horticulture students are helping to transform the landscape around a new rehabilitation centre in Leicestershire.

The team of level three learners from Brooksby Melton College helped plant 30 trees along the Get Busy Living centre’s driveway, and have already volunteered more of their time to help with future projects to develop the surrounding area, using the skills they’ve learned on their course.

The £1 million rehab centre provides support, advice, relief and treatment for people who have suffered a serious injury or disability through taking part in sport, and is the first of its kind in the UK.

Grace Smith, one of the students who helped with the tree planting, said: “I enjoyed being a part of something for a good cause. It will be fantastic to look back in a few years and be able to see the tree that I planted during this visit.”

“Visiting the centre was a fantastic experience for our level three horticulture students,” added Mike Salotti, a horticulture lecturer at the college. “They were able to gain valuable experience of planting over 30 Fastigiate Hornbeam trees.”

The Royal Shakespeare Company tasked creative media students at Stratford-upon-Avon College to film trailers for their upcoming productions as part of their coursework.

Students on the college’s level three creative media course made promos for an upcoming RSC production, pitching their artistic visions to the RSC’s marketing team in a Dragon’s Den-style presentation before getting the go-ahead to film.

Kris Vankay (pictured left), a senior video technician at the RSC, supported the students during the two-week process, advising them on how best to present their ideas.

Mr Vankay also acted as a judge at the premiere screening of the finished trailers, handing out awards to the students in categories including ‘best original idea’, ‘best lighting’, ‘best cinematography’ and ‘best overall trailer’.

“These are the next generation of creative people and we should support them in any way we can,” he said. “It’s great for us to know that there’s some serious young talent coming through locally and, likewise, I think it’s really important that the students know that there are creative companies and opportunities on their door step.”

WATCH: The student trailers

Gateshead College is helping ensure the future of a nearby museum by upskilling its workforce in an innovative local project, reports Samantha King.

Employees of Beamish, an open-air museum in County Durham, are taking part in free business skills training delivered by their local college to ensure they’re well equipped to support visitors and handle the day-to-day running of the attraction.

Courses range from search engine optimisation training (SEO) for communications staff, Excel and Microsoft Access short courses, Photoshop training for team members working on on-site displays, and even construction site safety work for when the museum undergoes expansion work.

The staff are keen to apply what they have learnt in their job roles

The training is part of the regional skills and enterprise programme Go>Grow, led by Gateshead College in partnership with 30 training providers across the north-east, who are each offering free training to employees of selected local organisations and attractions in order to upskill the region.

The Go>Grow programme was launched after the college secured £15 million of funding from the European Social Fund through the Education and Skills Funding Agency to run the project. The North-east Local Enterprise Partnership and the North-east of England Chamber of Commerce are backing the scheme.

“There’s such a wide variety of roles at Beamish and it’s growing significantly,” said Ivan Jepson, the college’s director of business development. “Being able to closely support their development and develop training for them allows us to match what they’re looking for with our students here, providing them with a source of future talent as well.

“Hopefully we will also get involved in helping them deliver some of their apprenticeship programmes as we move down the line.”

The Beamish museum, which explores life in the north-east during the 1820s, 1900s and 1940s, was recently voted ‘large visitor attraction of the year’ for the fourth year running at the North-east England Tourism Awards.

It is currently undergoing redevelopment after receiving a £10.9 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Remaking Beamish project, which will boost visitor numbers and create around 95 new jobs and up to 50 apprenticeships.

“These bespoke courses have been well received by the staff that attended and they are now keen to apply what they have learnt in their job roles,” said Michelle Lagar, Remaking Beamish project officer. “The main aim for us all is to continue to provide the best possible experiences for visitors.”

Homeless people in Middlesbrough received free haircuts courtesy of seven barbering students.

The team of trainee haircutters from Middlesbrough College visited Newport Community Hub to give free trims to those in need, as part of the council-run ‘In out of the cold’ event, which provided clean clothing, entertainment and advice to homeless people in the area.

“The barbering team were pleased to be able to help those less fortunate than themselves,” said Tracey Todd, the college’s barbering coordinator. “We also provided vouchers to people who attended the event so they can come into the college and get a haircut at our salon.”

Catering students from the college’s MC Academy also helped out, preparing pastries and breads to be donated to the John Paul Centre, a volunteer-led organisation which supports people facing homelessness.

“Every day on their way into college they see people facing homelessness on the streets, and it can be quite shocking,” added Sharon McIntyre, a teaching assistant at MC Academy. “By donating, the students do a great deed and also build their own confidence, showing they can effect positive change in the community.”