Author: Emma Wilde

The Bigger Boat Challenge – referencing the 1975 movie hit, Jaws – could be the toughest yet for Karl Jackson and his Coleg Cambria colleagues.

Taking place over two days from Friday October 25, the 12-strong team from the college’s Bersham Road site in Wrexham will kayak around two lakes and hike a 22-kilometre route across Gwynedd and Powys in aid of Dementia UK.

“Every year we try and come up with unique, adrenaline-fuelled activities that will test our limits while, more importantly, raising as much money as we can for incredible causes,” he said.

“This one will see us battle the elements, cover many kilometres on foot and take to the water in kayaks on two of North Wales’s biggest lakes.

“The team and I are training hard already but I’m sure as always the weather and route we are taking will throw up a few surprises!”

This is the latest in a series of adventures led by Karl; in recent years he and fellow Cambria staff have completed the Skye is the Limit Challenge, the Welsh Three Peaks and the Crazy 7 for Stepping Stones North Wales and collected more than £1,000 for Menstrual Health Project (MHP) by completing the Cairngorm 4000s, a three-day hike across 4,000ft+ mountains in Scotland’s eastern highlands.

He and lecturer Paul Standring also conquered the four-day Freezing Fingers expedition in bleak, wintry conditions over the Rhinogydd mountain range in Snowdonia.

This time, the Cambria cohort will begin at the tip of Bala Lake before paddling in teams of two for more than 6km. They will then walk to Lake Vyrnwy, including a 700m woodland ascent over difficult terrain.

After camping for the night, the pairs will return to their kayaks for another paddle, this time around the perimeter of the lake in extremely cold and windy conditions, which will take up to three hours.

“We are fortunate to always receive so much support for our charity escapades, and I’m sure this time will be no different,” said Karl.

“It’s going to be cold, wet, incredibly windy and risky at times, but we will be well prepared and ready to take on whatever comes our way.

“We are doing this for Dementia UK, an incredible organisation that does so much good for people all over the country – thank you in advance for helping us to help them.”

Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nursing charity that is there for the whole family. Its nurses – known as ‘Admiral Nurses’ – provide free, specialist advice, support and understanding to anyone affected by the condition, whenever it is needed.

Every day, Admiral Nurses help people affected by dementia have the best life possible for as long as possible. They are there when people need them most, providing health advice, offering compassionate emotional, and psychological support.

Joanna Sullivan, Head of Community Fundraising, Events and Innovation at Dementia UK, said: “We are so grateful to Karl and his colleagues at Coleg Cambria for taking on this inspiring challenge for Dementia UK.

“One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime – either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both. It can be exhausting and overwhelming, not only for the person with dementia, but also for the people caring for them, and their wider family and friends.

“Thanks to the hard work of our amazing fundraisers like Karl and his colleagues, more families than ever will be able to access the life-changing support offered by our Admiral Nurses.”

Visit Home – Dementia UK for more on the charity.

To sponsor The Bigger Boat Challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/page/karl-jackson-1726470628182

United Colleges Group (UCG) are delighted to announce that one of its students has been awarded a Medallion for Excellence at WorldSkills Lyon 2024.

Mark Kiss, from College of North West London (CNWL), part of UCG, reached the world standard mark of 700 points in his Web Technologies category to win the prestigious medallion after four days of gruelling competition from September 10-15.

The 19-year-old was selected to compete alongside 30 other Team UK members across skills disciplines including cyber security, renewable energy, digital construction, cooking, hairdressing and painting and decorating.

And Mark and his team-mates certainly didn’t disappoint! By demonstrating their world-class skills on the global stage and delivering a strong response to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s message to rebuild Britain, they were recognised as among the most skilled young people in the world by leading global industry experts.

More than 1,500 young people from 69 countries competed in 62 different skills at WorldSkills Lyon, with the event attracting around 250,000 spectators.

WorldSkills UK, a four nations partnership between education, industry and UK governments, uses the insight it gains from participating in the international WorldSkills Competition to embed world-class training standards across the UK.

Pearson, the world’s lifelong learning company is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Lyon 2024.

Stephen Davis, Group Principal and CEO, United Colleges Group, said: “United Colleges Group takes great pride in Mark’s incredible performance at WorldSkills 2024 – his achievements during the past year are fantastic and have now been recognised on a global stage.

“Mark’s hard work and aspirations are proving to be an inspiration to students across our college and we are sure more success will follow in the years ahead.”

Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, said: “As we close this incredible WorldSkills competition, I want to congratulate everyone involved. You’ve all showcased exceptional skill, dedication, and creativity, proving that the future is in capable hands.

“Everyone competing in WorldSkills has demonstrated their potential as future leaders and innovators. We want to support everyone across the country to access opportunity, no matter who they are or where they’re from.

“A big thank you to the judges, mentors, and organisers. Your efforts make this all possible. Let’s continue to put skills at the heart of our vision for Britain.”

Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “This is a fantastic result for the team and the UK as a whole.

“High-quality skills development is crucial to growing the economy, and Team UK’s medal-winning performance in front of a global audience sends a strong message that the UK is a world-class place to invest, develop talent and create jobs.”

Dr Allison Gardner, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South was quizzed by learners from Stoke on Trent College, during a roundtable discussion on Apprenticeships.

Dr Gardner visited the Burslem campus on Friday (20 September). Her visit included a tour of the facilities, including the state-of-the-art Advanced Construction Centre which opened earlier this year, before joining a discussion with Construction and Business Apprentices and key College Apprenticeship partners Unitas and Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The visit also included a delicious afternoon tea prepared by Catering and Hospitality students.

Carson Powell Painting and Decorating apprentice Robbie Fereday was part of the event and enjoyed meeting Dr. Gardner, having recently been nominated for the L2 Construction Apprentice of the Year at the Construction Apprenticeship Awards 2024.

Lisa Capper MBE, CEO & Principal at Stoke on Trent College said:

“We were delighted to welcome Dr Allison Gardner MP to our Burslem campus to see the range of industry-leading facilities we offer for students and to hear about how apprentices from the College have advanced in their chosen career paths.”

Steven Michael, Assistant Principal Skills & Apprenticeships at Stoke on Trent College added:

“It was fantastic to speak to Dr Allison Gardner MP about all of our apprenticeship provision across the College. We are thrilled to be working with a number of key partners to deliver key apprenticeships and help support skills gaps identified by the Local Skills Improvement Plan.”

To find out more about apprenticeship opportunities available at Stoke on Trent College please visit – https://stokecoll.ac.uk/apprenticeships-2/

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 8000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

The College Marketing Network (CMN) is thrilled to announce its 2024/25 series of online workshops, commencing on 25 September 2024. This series is designed to empower marketing professionals within the education sector with cutting-edge strategies, tools, and insights to enhance their marketing efforts and adapt to the evolving landscape of digital communication.

Series Highlights:

• Expert-Led Sessions: Gain valuable insights from industry leaders and experts who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge in education marketing.
• Comprehensive Topics: Covering a wide range of topics, including social media strategy, digital advertising, content creation, SEO, data analytics, and more.
• Interactive Learning: Engage in interactive sessions that encourage participation, discussion, and real-time Q&A, ensuring a rich learning experience.
• Flexible Scheduling: Workshops are scheduled to accommodate the busy lives of professionals, with sessions available both live and on-demand for convenience.

“We are excited to offer this series as a way to support the continued professional development of marketing professionals in the education sector,” said Emma Wilde, Executive Director, College Marketing Network. “These workshops are designed to provide practical, actionable insights that participants can immediately apply in their roles, helping them stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing digital landscape.”

Schedule & Registration: The workshop series will run on Wednesday mornings from September 2024 to July 2025. Each session is crafted to address the specific challenges and opportunities faced by college marketers today.

Exclusively for CMN members, invitations to these workshops are sent by email directly to your inbox.

Not a Member? Join Today!

If you’re not yet a member of the College Marketing Network, now is the perfect time to join. Membership provides access to these exclusive workshops, along with a host of other benefits including networking opportunities, industry insights, and exclusive content tailored for marketing professionals in the education sector.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your skills and connect with a community of peers and experts. And for just one membership fee, your whole marketing team gain access to all the CMN benefits and support.

The College Marketing Network (CMN), the leading association for marketing professionals in the Further Education (FE) sector, is proud to announce its comprehensive rebrand, marking an exciting new chapter for the organisation. The refreshed brand is not only a visual transformation but also a reflection of CMN’s renewed mission: to foster a dynamic environment where collaboration fuels innovation and growth for its members.

The rebrand was spearheaded by Emma Wilde, CMN’s Executive Director, who brings her passion for creativity back to the forefront. Despite having focused her career on senior marketing roles for over 15 years, Emma began her journey as a graphic designer and remains a qualified expert in the field. Her design expertise, paired with deep sector knowledge, has brought a contemporary feel to CMN’s new look, ensuring it aligns with the evolving needs of FE marketing professionals.

“Our rebrand is about more than just aesthetics; it’s about embodying the essence of what CMN stands for today. We are committed to building a strong community of marketing professionals who can share knowledge, grow, and innovate together,” Emma explained. “This new direction reflects our dedication to providing the tools, support, and opportunities our members need to excel, drive success, and make lasting connections within the FE sector.”

The rebrand extends across all CMN platforms, including the flagship CMN Conference, regular CMN Workshops, and the prestigious FE First Awards. Each of these events will now be infused with the fresh, modern look that embodies CMN’s forward-thinking approach, as well as the core values of collaboration, professional growth, and support.

The refreshed logo, colour palette, and overall brand identity aim to communicate CMN’s forward-thinking approach and the spirit of collaboration that underpins its mission. This rebrand is just the beginning, as CMN continues to expand its services to ensure its members are equipped to meet the unique challenges of today’s education marketing landscape.

CMN invites its members and partners to explore the new look and join in celebrating this milestone, which signifies the Network’s continued commitment to professional development, shared growth, and innovation within the FE sector.

Our Mission

To connect marketing professionals within the Further Education sector, fostering a dynamic environment where collaboration fuels innovation and growth. We are dedicated to building a community that thrives on shared knowledge, professional development, and enduring relationships. By providing our members with the tools, support, and opportunities they need, we empower them to excel and drive success in their institutions and beyond.

Times are changing and so is City of Bristol College. The college is now propelling itself into the future with a fresh perspective, all whilst retaining its focus on providing the city of Bristol and wider region with quality education and pathways into productive careers.   

An entirely new brand was unveiled last week for the college. A move towards the future, introducing a plethora of vibrant colours and themes to reflect the true vibrancy of their student cohort, alumni, staff and stakeholders.  

Following the awarding of a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating in January 2023, City of Bristol College have continued a journey towards educational excellence and are delighted to update their branding to reflect this new direction.   

Alongside the bold new branding launch, the college also showcased their new 5-year strategy with the accompanying tagline ‘Where Next?’, embracing their purpose as the catalyst for improving regional productivity through the delivery of education and skills.  

Speaking of the highly anticipated launch, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Julia Gray commented:  

“It’s an exciting time for City of Bristol College. We are extremely proud of our work so far; this is a testament to the dedication of our hard-working staff and students. Building on this, we are channelling our new positive energy into a new strategy to deliver our ambitious goals for our region. 

“Alongside the launch of our new strategy, we have completely rebranded and are excited to share our new identity. We continue to invest in the college and are happy to showcase this new branding on all campuses, including at our recently refurbished College Green Centre.”   

The 5-year strategy is in place to ensure that the college is continually improving the quality of service and delivery of skills and academic education to the city and wider community.  

City of Bristol College have also recently completely refurbished key areas of their city centre campus, the College Green Centre, thanks to a £10 million grant from the Department for Education.  The refurbishment at the College Green Centre introduces a multitude of improvements and sets the scene for what’s to come for the college giving students, staff and employers the facilities they rightly deserve to inspire educational excellence.  

The exciting developments have provided a brand new, welcoming reception, student services facility, multi-use careers and exhibition space, plus a new outdoor seating area for students to socialise in alongside the addition of a Costa Coffee on site.   

City of Bristol College proudly launched the new branding, refurbished centre and 5-year strategy at a launch event on Thursday 12 September.   

City leaders and stakeholders were welcomed to tour the new campus and hear about the new strategy from Principal and CEO Julia Gray and new Chair of Governors, Phil Smith, during the event that showcased the fresh college direction and introduced the ‘Where Next’ vision, along with those who were instrumental in the development and execution of the new approach. 

Fashion and Textiles students from Wakefield College have launched an exhibition at Wakefield Museum with British heritage shirt company, Double TWO.

The exhibition, which will be open until May 2025, celebrates the rich history of the Double TWO shirt company, founded in 1940, which became globally renowned for the shirts’ replacement collars and cuffs.

Wakefield Council Museums contacted the Art & Design department at Wakefield College, proposing an opportunity to work with the students on the new exhibition at the museum to celebrate the history of the Double TWO shirt company. 

They were keen to involve the Wakefield College students as he believed they would have a view on current fashion.  And by involving young people in projects, it would introduce them to their heritage and museums and get their take on fashion. 

Cllr Hannah Appleyard, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport said: “We are so lucky to have such talented fashion students who have been inspired by our city and the museum archive . They have a fresh perspective on textiles and have created stunning shirts. We’re really pleased that visitors will be able to come see and enjoy their work in our building. We hope to work with the students again on upcoming projects.” 

The shirt designs produced by the students honour the history of Wakefield and are each inspired by the students’ unique experiences living in the city.  Their work is exhibited by Wakefield Museum in a case in the atrium of Wakefield One and on the wall of Create café, which is open Monday – Friday 8:45am – 3pm.

Sally Poskitt, Lecturer in Art & Design, said: “I believe it’s important to challenge the students and encourage their creativity with projects like these as the textile and fashion industry is fast moving and requires high standards. This project has given the students a chance to exhibit their work in a gallery which is a rare opportunity for College students. They should all feel a sense of pride seeing their work in a public space and I hope that this will encourage them to strive for success in the future.”

An opening celebration event was held in June which gave the College tutors, students and their friends and family a private viewing of the exhibition whilst enjoying some light refreshments.

The Textiles Department has worked with external clients before and has more plans next year to work with the museum again with the project still to be discussed.

 

The students will also be working on a separate project with Community Foundation Wakefield District on the theme of ‘Rhubarb’ – a collection of garments which are expected to be part of a fashion show in February 2025.

If you would like to learn more about the Art & Design department at Wakefield College, please visit: Wakefield College – Art, Design & Photography  

A Response Officer for Staffordshire Police has thanked his ‘passionate’ former lecturers at Stoke on Trent College for helping him secure a career in public services.

Antoni Sadula studied Level 3 Public Services at the college between 2017 and 2019, and has since joined the local police force in Leek, covering part of the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Antoni, has now become the latest person to join the Made at Stoke on Trent College alumni network, which brings together and celebrates the achievements of former students, with the aim of inspiring current learners.

He was always keen to go into public services, with visits from the military and Staffordshire Police during his studies, reaffirming his passion to move into public sector work.

Antoni had ambitions to join the RAF as a pilot but decided to join Staffordshire Police following the completion of his course in 2019. He was also part of Challenge South Africa, the college’s flagship enrichment programme, in his final year studying; which was an unforgettable experience for him.

Antoni Sadula, Response Officer at Staffordshire Police said:

“I think the extracurricular provided by the college is what made it stand out. I was part of Challenge South Africa in 2019, and that was one of the highlights from my college years. The teachers were really passionate about teaching public services.

Having recently completed a 3-year apprenticeship degree with Staffordshire Police as part of his role, Antoni has ambitions to move into different areas of the force.

“At the moment I am a Response Officer, and I’m hoping to move into the tactical side with dogs, firearms and traffic or potentially Empass, which is the police helicopters and observe on that, so when there is a pursuit, I will be giving instructions to the ground.”

Lisa Capper MBE, CEO & Principal at Stoke on Trent College said:

“It’s really exciting to have Antoni join our Made at Stoke on Trent College alumni network. His story will resonate with our Public Services learners and show them what they can achieve here at Stoke on Trent College.”

Dave Hopley, Assistant Principal Student Experience said:

“It’s fantastic to hear inspiring stories from people such as Antoni, who have taken forward skills they have learned at Stoke on Trent College and gone on to thrive in their chosen career path.”

Former students who wish to become part of the Made at Stoke on Trent College alumni network can sign up now here – https://stokecoll.ac.uk/alumni/

Notes to Editor

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 8000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

Gower College Swansea is delighted to announce two new appointments within its Engineering department.

Rhys Thomas is the new Learning Area Manager for the department, which includes mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, motor vehicle, motor sport, and welding.

He is joined by Maria Francis-Emanuel as the new Assistant Learning Area Manager. Both took up their new positions in August and have some very exciting plans for the coming academic year.

Rhys began his career as a welder/fabricator, completing a four-year apprenticeship after school and then working in the industry for a decade. One part of his role was the training of apprentices, which kickstarted a passion for teaching.

After gaining his first teaching appointment as a welding instructor at NPTC Group, he went on to complete more qualifications including a PCET, an Assessors award, HNC, and a Degree Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design. He has also completed training in 3D printing, robotics, and programmable logic controllers (PLC’s).

His experience as both a student and an employee within education and industry will set Rhys in great stead for the path ahead at Gower College Swansea.

“I definitely feel that I am a product of further education and that has encouraged me to adopt a strong philosophy of lifelong learning,” says Rhys.

“In my new appointment as Engineering LAM, my priority will be to ensure we continue to be learner-focused and that we prepare our learners to meet the demands of an ever-evolving sector by aligning our curriculum with local industry demands.

“This will involve giving them a clear pathway into employment and emphasising the importance of continuous improvement and development such as our expanding higher education offerings of HNCs, HNDs and Degree Apprenticeships.”

Maria has over 20 years’ experience in further education, during which time she has developed excellent links within the automotive sector. Her career began with a motor vehicle apprenticeship at Gower College Swansea, where she then started her teaching career.

During that time, she has worked closely with work-based learning and assessors to ensure that learners meet the rigorous standards required by industry and gain valuable real-world experience.

“I have a strong commitment to aligning curriculum delivery with industry needs, supporting learners’ transition from education to employment,” says Maria. “In my new role as ALAM, I will focus on building and maintaining strong relationships with industry professionals, automotive companies, and engineering firms. Looking further ahead, my goal is to continue expanding relationships within the engineering industry and developing more cutting-edge vocational programmes that meet not only the current demands of the sector but those of the future workforce too.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Rhys to Gower College Swansea,” says Principal Kelly Fountain. “And Maria has been an integral part of our motor vehicle department for many years, so their combined experience and knowledge of the sector, coupled with their learner-focused approach, will be a real asset to the College.

“There will be some really exciting opportunities for the College in the coming years within the local engineering sector, thinking specifically of the Swansea Bay City Deal and the Celtic Freeport, and I’m looking forward to seeing the continued success of the department under Rhys and Maria’s leadership.”

A group of Sound Engineering learners from Coleg Cambria Deeside spent two weeks in Barcelona as part of an education and research programme.

In partnership with international careers organisation NexGen, based in the Catalan capital, the trip gave them access to experts in the sector and guidance on how to “take the next steps after college”.

Lisa Jansen from NexGen said: “We explored their skills, including what they are good at and what they enjoy doing, then they developed ideas on what the market needs before going into detail and putting together and presenting business models.

“We try to tailor every programme to the needs of the college and learning group, and we organised visits including to a local festival and to a sound engineering school, which included talks and an introduction to the industry, as well as interesting discussions on future challenges such as AI (Artificial Intelligence).”

The students also had an opportunity to go sightseeing and visit landmarks including Barcelona Zoo, the beach and to see the city from the air on a cable car ride.

Student Tash Bradshaw enjoyed the experience and said: “We came on this trip to learn more about music and gain new skills to further our careers, but it has been so much more than that and brought some of us out of our shells.

“We have also explored different cultures, and it’s had an impact on us overall as people.”

Fellow learner Cory Robinson added: “We learn a lot of technical skills in college so to look at setting ourselves up in business and how to break into the industry was very useful and will give us the knowledge to do that in the future.”

Cambria’s Curriculum Director of Technical Studies Julie Guzzo joined them in Spain and said the close links forged with NexGen and partner organisations overseas will continue to add value to the students’ educations.

She added: “As a college we are looking to provide more and more of these opportunities, to show the learners what is out there for them and that as a college our reach and place in further education in the UK and internationally is growing all the time.”

For the latest news and information on Coleg Cambria, visit the website: www.cambria.ac.uk.

Visit the website www.nexgencareers.co for more news and information from NexGen.