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The Heart of Yorkshire?Education?Group has been awarded the Matrix standard for its Careers Guidance and Course Information services – helping to deliver outstanding, impartial support to more than?10,000 learners across Castleford, Selby and Wakefield.

Acting on behalf of the Department of Education (DoE), the Matrix Standard is the international quality benchmark for organisations providing information, advice and guidance (IAG) services.

As part of the accreditation process, inspectors praised the relationships the Group has developed with local universities, employers and health and local authority services, enabling students to benefit from seamless referral routes and up?to?date labour?market insight.

The experience and knowledge of the Group’s Careers Team were also acknowledged, highlighting that students receive expert, personalised guidance.

This ensured measurable student outcomes, with retention and achievement rates above national benchmarks. Students are clear about their future plans, with destination data demonstrating a rise in progression to further study, apprenticeships and employment.

One student stated: “We know who the Careers Adviser is from the beginning of our journey and they have one-to-ones with us so that we can explore what we want to do. Our tutors are always asking about this and every week we talk about either coming back to college, getting a job, volunteering or getting an apprenticeship.”

Leigh Allsopp, Group Strategic Careers Leader at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “We’re proud to have once again earned this external accreditation which is a clear recognition of the exceptional service delivered by our Careers and Course Information teams. Their commitment, professionalism and drive made this possible. The rigorous assessment included in-depth conversations with students, staff and stakeholders across the Group, along with a detailed review of outcomes and impact. This result confirms that students at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group receive high-quality advice and guidance that empowers them to make informed, confident decisions about their futures.”

Wakefield and Selby Children’s University is hosting a free, fun-filled event for local children and their families during half-term – providing them with the opportunity to enhance their learning.

After successfully running for nine years, May-Hem will return to Castleford College on Wednesday 28th May 2025, from 10am to 2pm, and will include a range of exciting activities.

The event is designed for Children’s University (CU) members and their friends and families but is also open to the public for children aged 5-to-14.

The day will be packed with engaging activities delivered by local Learning Destinations, including Biffa, Castleford Heritage Trust, Castleford Library, Girlguiding Whitwood Division, Phoenix Martial Arts, Rothwell Gymnastics, RSPB St Aidan’s, SDAH Red Watch, Wakefield City Emerald’s Cheerleaders and Wakefield Museums & Castles.

In addition, children and their families will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of hands-on activities led by College tutors across subject areas such as Automotive, Care & Early Years, Carpentry & Joinery, Hair & Beauty, Public Services and Sport.

Attendees also have access to the College’s next-generation technology hub, I-Innovate, where they can try out Virtual Reality and drone equipment.

Children’s University members will receive learning hours for attending the event while non-members aged 5-14 are also welcome to attend and find out more.

Rachel Rayner, School Liaison Coordinator for Wakefield and Selby Children’s University, said: “We’re really excited to be hosting the May-Hem event at Castleford College for the ninth year, bringing together our Learning Destination providers, College tutors and families for a fun and engaging day of learning. It’s a brilliant opportunity for children to discover new interests, try hands-on activities and explore the exciting courses we offer across our Colleges. Events like this are all about inspiring young minds and showcasing the power of learning beyond the classroom.”

Georgie Brown, from Whitwood Division of Girlguiding, said: “We’re proud to be a Learning Destination provider as the scheme opens up real opportunities for young people. It helps them build confidence, discover new skills and realise their potential – proving that learning doesn’t end when the school day does. Events like May-Hem give them the chance to explore what’s on their doorstep and see just how many exciting opportunities their local area has to offer.”

Children’s University promotes extra-curricular learning for young people across the district. As part of the initiative, pupils receive a ‘Passport to Learning’ which they use to collect codes each time they participate in a learning activity such as an after-school club, with the aim of collecting as many codes and hours as possible via the college and Learning Destinations.

Once the academic year ends, the children’s achievements will be commended at an annual Children’s University Graduation Ceremony, hosted by the College and attended by parents and carers.

One of Wales’ largest further education colleges, Gower College Swansea, has appointed Kelly Fountain as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Kelly, who has served as the College’s Principal since January 2024, will transition into her new role following the retirement of current CEO Mark Jones MBE, this summer.

The appointment comes as the College prepares to bid a fond farewell to Mark Jones, MBE, whose dedicated service as CEO has ensured the College’s success and strategic direction over the last 12 years.

Kelly brings over 20 years of experience in the further education sector across both England and Wales. Prior to joining Gower College Swansea, she held the role of Vice Principal for Academic Services at NPTC Group of Colleges and has an extensive background in strategic leadership, quality improvement and cross-college development. During her time at the College Kelly has made a significant and positive impact and has overseen the development of the new College’s strategic plan including launching the new College vision, mission and values.

In her new position, Kelly will take on overall responsibility for driving forward the College’s strategic vision, representing the College externally working closely with governors and stakeholders to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality education and training across the region and beyond. Kelly will also oversee the implementation of the College’s ambitious estates strategy, digital transformation and continue to develop a strong and inclusive organisational culture.

On behalf of the Governors, Ian Price, Chair of the College Governing Body, said:

“We would like to congratulate Kelly on her appointment as the new CEO of Gower College Swansea. I am grateful to all those involved in the appointment process and am really looking forward to working closely with Kelly over the coming year and we look forward to the continued positive impact that she will make.”

Speaking about her appointment, Kelly Fountain said:

“I am deeply honoured and privileged to be appointed as Chief Executive Officer of this exceptional College. Having begun my own educational journey here as a student in 1995, I have experienced first-hand the transformational impact that the staff at this College had on my own personal journey – and our staff continue to be outstanding today, consistently pushing boundaries and inspiring excellence.

“I look forward to building upon Mark’s exceptional legacy over the last 12 years and working alongside our Corporation Board to build upon our many successful achievements, deepening connections in our business sectors and communities, and working closely with staff, governors and partners.

“This is truly an exciting chapter for our College – with our newly established strategic plan, ambitious estates strategy, and numerous opportunities for growth. I am committed to expanding our reach and impact, collaborating with our key stakeholders and ensuring we continue to deliver an outstanding learning experience for our learners, communities, and employer partners.”

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Gower College Swansea is one of the largest FE colleges in Wales with over 4,500 full time and 8,000 part time learners – including 3,000 apprentices – from across Swansea and neighbouring counties studying each year. The College operates from seven locations and is one of the largest employers in the region with over 1,000 staff and an annual turnover of £60m.

Stoke on Trent College T Level learner Aaron Mollart is planning a career in surveying in construction once he finishes studying.

Construction has always been a part of Aaron’s life from an early age, so it was an easy decision to apply for the T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction, after finishing at Endon High School.

“This course stood out to me because it provides both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills needed to work in construction,” Aaron said.

The course appealed to Aaron due to the range of topics it covers, including; building technology, health and safety plus science and design.

“I like that we explore the commercial business aspect, as well as project management as you get to learn how buildings are made plus intricate business decisions that are made around them every day,” he said.

“The highlights of the course are the design elements, especially taking physical drawings that we have made in class, or design briefs and connecting into CAD drawings as it shows how a simple idea can evolve into a detailed digital plan used to guide construction, showing the precision and details which is required from a design, which is essential for successful construction projects. Combining this with the project management aspect really helps you to visualise how a project will pan out.”

As part of the T Level, Aaron also undertakes a placement at Seddon Construction which is helping him to gain real world experience, plus learning from construction professionals and building his own network.

“My industry placement at Seddon Construction has been a great experience so far. They have been incredibly accommodating, providing me with opportunities to learn both on and off site. I’ve been able to get involved in various aspects of the construction process, which has given me valuable insights into how the industry operates day-to-day, allowing me to apply the skills that I have learnt in class and helping me grow my knowledge and skillset,” Aaron explained.

After completing his T Level, Aaron is looking to pursue an apprenticeship as a Surveyor in construction.

“I am eager to continue building my skills and getting hands-on experience while learning from professionals,” he said.

“An apprenticeship allows me to deepen my understanding of the industry and continue to refine my practical skills developed during my T Level course and the industry placement.”

Aaron has recommended the T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction for anyone who is eager to pursue a career in the construction industry.

“I would definitely recommend this course because you learn practically when you are on industry placement plus the academic skills in the classroom. It’s a perfect blend of two different ways of learning, and you can choose to move onto further education, an apprenticeship or full-time employment,” Aaron concluded.

Nicola Hodkinson, owner and director at Seddon, said:

“Hands-on industry experience is essential for young people like Aaron. Construction placements offer a real opportunity to develop practical skills and give the next generation of workers a genuine insight into what a career in the sector could look like. We would encourage more employers to offer work experience to T-Level students, as it is a rewarding investment for both sides. Aaron has shown real talent in his role, and we have been thoroughly impressed by his progress and enthusiasm.”

Hassan Rizvi, Principal & CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“Aaron is a shining example of how the style of learning with a T-Level can help a learner to thrive.

“The feedback the College has received from Seddon has been excellent. The combination of classroom-based learning with a placement, ensures Aaron and other T-Level learners are skills ready, future ready.”

To find out more about T-Level courses at Stoke on Trent College please visit – https://stokecoll.ac.uk/t-levels/.

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Notes to Editors

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 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  

To celebrate the Centenary of Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke on Trent College will be hosting a special 100 Years of Skills In The Park Open Event on Saturday 10 May 2025 at the Cauldon campus.

Visitors will be able to speak to course teams and take part and witness live demonstrations from different courses from our four specialist skills hubs; Construction and Green technologies, Engineering and STEM, Digital and Creative, and Health and Social Care.

Keeping with the Centenary theme, our Brickwork team will be building a brick wall that spells out the number 100.

We will be showcasing how skills and technology has evolved over time, with a VR drone flying activity from our Construction team.

Our Carpentry and Joinery team will be demonstrating their woodwork skills with a self-assemble kit.

See Engineering in a whole different light, with our special Lego engineering demonstration, or you can come and see our Hair & Beauty team who will be demonstrating various hairstyles that students would work on whilst studying.

If you’re looking for more Creativity, you can have a go at some clay modelling, a scanning activity with iPads, or see a stop motion demonstration using miniatures with our Media team.

You will be able to see our student-run, award-winning Hammersley restaurant as well as demonstrations of Indian and bakery dishes from our Hospitality and Catering team.

Visit our recently opened Health and Social Care ward, and witness demonstrations using our interactive patient dummies, such as performing pulse and blood tests. Our Childcare team will be also be hosting a nappy changing activity, plus other creative childcare tasks.

Our Science team will be hosting a DNA challenge using gummy bears and strawberry laces to make strands of DNA. Visitors will be able to take part and also take away their gummy bears and strawberry laces to eat later.

If you want a snack while you learn, you can take part in our Jaffa cake experiment with our Business team, and decide which is the branded or non-branded version.

There will be a BBQ hosted by our Hospitality & Catering team, plus live music, with a DJ from Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, with our Enrichment team running Parachute games and Swing Ball in Cauldon Park, based behind the college’s Cauldon campus.

College partners from Stoke City FC, Staffordshire Police, Port Vale FC and Brighter Futures will also have awareness stands at the open event.

Hassan Rizvi, Principal & CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“We’re really excited to be supporting the Centenary celebrations for Stoke-on-Trent, with our 100 Years of Skills in the Park Open Event. Stoke on Trent College is one of the institutional pillars of the community, and this promises to be an unforgettable event for the whole family.

“This is your opportunity to sample what’s it like to study at Stoke on Trent College. You will be able to see first-hand some of the courses we offer at our both our campuses for young people, adults and apprentices.

“Course teams will also be on hand in case you have any questions or would like to apply for a course in September.”

Find out more about open events at Stoke on Trent College here – https://stokecoll.ac.uk/open-events/

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Notes to Editors

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 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 celebrating after 11 students from its Level 4 Professional Diploma in Performance course were accepted at specialist drama schools across the UK.

“This is a fantastic result for our Level 4 students,” says Curriculum Leader Wyn Richards. “To have so many firm offers and recalls within one cohort is fantastic news and we are all so proud.

“Competition to gain entry into these specialist drama schools is intense and these students worked incredibly hard throughout the whole process, juggling preparation for interviews and auditions with their ongoing studies, and also getting ready for their final major productions at the College. We can’t wait to see what the future holds in store for this talented group!”

The students are:

Alex Barnett: accepted at East 15 Acting School, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance. Alex also made the reserve list at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts; and was recalled at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

Cai Brown: accepted at Drama Studio London; made the reserve list at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts; and was recalled at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Arts Educational School London, East 15 Acting School, and Italia Conti

Rebecca Cole: accepted at Drama Studio London, East 15 Acting School, and Bristol School of Acting; was recalled at GSA Conservatoire

Joshua De-Gruchy: accepted at East 15 Acting School, and Bristol School of Acting; was recalled at Italia Conti

Cai Francis: accepted at MPAA

Evan Gilmore: accepted at Drama Studio London, and the University of Falmouth; was recalled at East 15 Acting School

Harry Harkness: was recalled at East 15 Acting School

Ioan Jenkins: accepted at East 15 Acting School and Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance; was recalled at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

Emily Jones: accepted at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Trinity LABAN, Performers College, MPAA, and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire; made the reserve list at Italia Conti; had recalls at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, GSA Conservatoire, and Bristol School of Acting

Dan Paterson: accepted at Leeds Conservatoire; recalled at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

Jordan White: accepted at Drama Studio London

The Level 4 Professional Diploma in Performance is accredited by UAL: University of the Arts, London and students on the course can choose to take an acting or musical theatre pathway. The course is designed for students aged 18+ who aspire to study acting at a specialist drama schools or university.

Students from IT, health and social care and Science have collaborated with leading health and social care app specialists Bitjam; to design an app to help deal with anxiety in young people.

The project which lasted four weeks, saw students work in groups to develop an app that could be used by young people, with a brief to include an emotion tracker.

Two groups presented to Carl Plant and Andrew White from Bitjam Limited, showcasing their understanding and interpretations of the design brief and a preview of the app using Figma app building software.

Irwin McNaught who is studying T Level Software Coding, enjoyed collaborating with students from different courses, saying,

“I enjoyed working with students from different courses. Our group had a mix of students from Software Coding and Health and Social Care.

“This was the first time I’d used the Figma software, so this was a good learning experience for me.”

Carl Plant, CEO at Bitjam Limited, worked as a Mental Health Nurse for many years, and has used his extensive experience when setting up Bitjam. The company specialises in software development and apps, primarily within the health and social care sector.

Speaking about the healthcare app and working with students, he said:

“We’ve found the co-production model of working with people with lived experience ultimately benefits when developing new software to improve people’s lives.

“It was fascinating to hear the pitches from the students and the different ways they would engage with the target audience and the features they would include.

“As a company this type of project was the best way we could give students a rich work experience which will help their future prospects. We have seen first-hand the digital shift within the healthcare sector, so having a mix of students collaborating allowed for a lot of creativity.”

Hassan Rizvi, Principal & CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“We are delighted to collaborate with Bitjam Limited, for this innovative project which allows our learners to really get their teeth into a live design brief. We’re always looking for ways to give our learners meaningful and varied encounters and experiences with employers and the workplace.

“The feedback provided to all of our learners will only enhance their career prospects when looking for careers in Health and Social Care, Science and IT.”

If your company would be interested in working with Stoke on Trent College, please email business@stokecoll.ac.uk in the first instance or call on 01782 603603.

 

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Picture caption – Stoke on Trent College students Hannah Thornett, Ben Screen, Irwin McNaught with BitJam’s Carl Plant and Andrew White

Notes to Editors

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 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  

Over 40 key external stakeholders joined Stoke on Trent College for a special Employer Gala Dinner, as part of our celebrations for Staffordshire Day.

Future Skills Pledge partners and other key external stakeholders, from both the business community and education came together at the College’s Hammersley restaurant for a three-course meal, prepared and served by Hospitality and Catering students.

They were welcomed by Principal & CEO, Hassan Rizvi, who spoke about the importance of working together to achieve young people of Stoke-on Trent and wider Staffordshire’s goals but also deliver on skills needs identified in the Local Skills Improvement Plan coupled with an agile and robust curriculum.

Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce CEO, Rachel Laver, delivered a ‘key note’ for attendees, speaking about the importance of building the workforce of the future to support the wider local economy and how collaborative working between the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Stoke on Trent College and businesses was key to overcoming the challenges and have already produced meaningful outcomes for all stakeholders.

Continuing the theme of partnerships with a purpose, guests were given a showcase from one of the leading freight providers in the UK, DB Cargo, which explained a discreet provision provided by the College linked to curriculum design and execution.

Guests also heard from T Level Media, Broadcast and Production learner, Mitchell Wright, who spoke about his highly engaged experience on the course which combines college learning with a work placement at Centre Space Arts.

Attendees included representatives from all of the sectors that encompass our four Skills Hubs; Construction and Green Technologies, Digital and Creative, Engineering and STEM, and Health and Social Care – who have worked with the College to support full time learners and apprentices.

Hassan Rizvi, Principal & CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“Here at Stoke on Trent College we are firm believers in partnerships with a purpose. We work with a host of partners on all pathways including apprenticeships, T-Levels, 16-18 Study Programmes and Adult provision. College partners contribute in shaping our curriculum to suit the needs of the local and regional economy and ensure learners are skills ready, future ready.’

“The Employer Gala Dinner was our opportunity firstly to say thank you for their ongoing support and keep them updated about everything going on at the College and hear inspirational stories from apprentices and T-Level learners while enjoying a high-quality meal in our Hammersley restaurant.

“This is the first of series of Employer Gala Dinners with partners showcasing the College’s continued commitment to collaboration.”

Businesses and organisations who are interested in working with Stoke on Trent College, are encouraged to contact our Business Support team on 01782 603603 or by emailing business@stokecoll.ac.uk.

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Notes to Editors

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 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  

Recently, HSDC’s South Downs Campus has become the only FE College to offer apprenticeships in funeralcare nationally. HSDC is committed to using its courses to fill skill gaps in industry, both in the local community and nationally. 

Local, regional, and national businesses are all encouraged to get into contact with HSDC’s apprenticeship team if they would like to get involved with the programme. 

The driving force behind this course has been Claire Richards, a Work Based Trainer at South Downs. The course originated when Southern Co-Op, one of HSDC’s primary business partners, reached out to Claire to inquire if the College could deliver Apprenticeships in Funeralcare. 

Since then, Claire has managed to expand the Apprenticeship scheme to deliver two distinct courses: a Funeral Team Member Apprenticeship (Level 2), and a Funeral Director Apprenticeship (Level 3). Speaking about the importance of these brand new courses, Claire said:

“I am beyond proud to be able to work for a college that has enabled this qualification to be part of our offering. It really highlights HSDC’s dedication to filling skills gaps at a local, regional, and even national level. Offering the Funeralcare Apprenticeships nationally truly is an incredible thing for HSDC to achieve, and I hope to see these courses strengthened further in the future!”

Southern Co-Op Funeralcare Paulsgrove is a business that has been crucial in ensuring the smooth rollout of these courses. Danielle is a Level 2 Funeral Team Member Apprentice with HSDC, employed by Paulsgrove, and praised the value of these new courses:

“This course has helped to open my eyes to the diverse reality of Funeralcare. I have delved deeper into the availability of funeralcare providers and gotten a close glimpse into the behind-the-scenes workings of these. My favourite part of the course so far has been starting the podcast with other apprentices, as this is something else that has never been done before. The apprenticeship has given me the tools to move forward into the industry with confidence and gusto, and a recognised certification that I am working above and beyond the industry standard!”

HSDC is incredibly proud of its commitment to businesses, both in the local area and around the country, with the introduction of the Funeralcare courses highlighting this dedication to filling skills gaps in industry. 

If you’re part of a local business and want to find out more about the Apprenticeships on offer for Funeralcare at HSDC, please visit:

Funeral Team Member (Level 2)

Funeral Director (Level 3)