Connect October 2020

Tips on how to manage anxiety on return to working in the office can be found on page 5.

Get involved in this year’s Love Our College’s Week (19-23 October). Read more on how to share success stories on page 8.

Read our latest updates in response to COVID-19 on page 14.

Connect O C TO B E R 2 0 2 0

N E WS

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U P DAT E S

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D I A RY DAT E S

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D I S CO U N TS

After a number of years, The Bedford College Group has made plans for a new campus in Wellingborough a reality through a £10m redevelopment of the town centre site. This will enable us to welcome up to 1000 additional students from the town and surrounding area.

The new campus opened for full-time students to learn on Monday 21 September, on time and on budget, thanks to the fantastic Project Team consisting of internal and external colleagues.

BCS BEDFORD COLLEGE SERVICES

October 2020

Connect

Olivia Morton

Corporate Communications and Events Manager omorton@bedford.ac.uk

Editor’s Note It’s a new academic year and with the new start, here is the latest issue of CONNECT Magazine!

I hope that everyone managed to enjoy some of the summer sun whether it was in the garden or further afield to begin the year fully recharged. In this issue we are sharing more about the latest campus to open for the Group in Wellingborough, changes to how all of our campuses look and how to grab a bargain in time for Christmas.

If you would like to add your staff news to the next issue of CONNECT please send your article and photos to omorton@bedford.ac.uk no later than Friday 16 October.

Dates For Your Diary

The Bedford Sixth Form Open Day – Virtual Event Thursday 8 October

Half term week w/c Monday 26 October For more diary dates visit www.bit.ly/collegecalendars

Contents Pg.3

Principal’s update

Pg.4

Research

Pg.5

Wellbeing

Pg.6

60 seconds with…

Pg.7

Group News

Pg.14

COVID-19 Updates

Pg.18

Professional Development

Pg.20 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Pg.22

Pg.2

Perks

October 2020

Connect

Ian Pryce CBE

Principal & CEO of The Bedford College Group

Principal’s Update Tricky times

Aston Training

The autumn term is traditionally exhausting as we juggle activities that finish off the previous year (financial and data audits, inputting student achievement), getting new students off to a flying start (enrolment and induction) and start the process for agreeing the curriculum for next year before Open Days begin after October. COVID-19 has provided even more pressure, and the speed with which we have had to adjust our key processes and learn how to organise ourselves with so many staff working from home, means we have made some mistakes and miscalculations.

I am very pleased to welcome Northamptonshire private training company Aston Training into The Bedford College Group. The company has been owned for many years by RNN Group (Rotherham & North Notts College) but we agreed to a transfer of ownership (and additional funding) so RNN can concentrate on its local mission.

The activity of the company complements our own apprenticeship and adult education offer and we believe we can help the company grow and also help us further improve the quality of our provision and processes.

None of this has been deliberate, and colleges across the country are in the same position. Whatever the frustrations, it is important we maintain our courtesy and support for each other. The evidence suggests this is happening, although the exceptionally high level of emails and phone calls is proving a major challenge and some of our colleagues are on the receiving end of criticism from people who are angry at being unable to get their queries resolved as quickly as normal.

We will review some of the processes that have buckled under these new pressures but it is important we all work together to resolve the remaining immediate issues for our students over the next few weeks.

Did you know you can follow Ian on Twitter?

@ipryce

Scores on the doors It is very important we get a very accurate handle on our student numbers as quickly as we can. The data systems suggest we have exceeded our main 16-18 target (significantly so in some areas) but we still need to adjust for students who have not returned as expected.

Numbers on roll after six weeks determine our funding for next year so it is vital our attention now turns to making sure all students are retained. This is important for our future income but also for our students given the bleak employment environment that is predicted. In turn this means we should do all we can to take those still applying, to join us this year as soon as possible. As promised at the staff meeting, once we have an accurate picture we will make decisions about the 2020 pay award.

Virtual Achievements Ceremony 2020 Thursday 26 November 2020 More details in next months issue.

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Connect

Computing Team

Complete First Year of Recognising BSc Digital the talent within Technologies Sam Jones MSc (Oxon)

Advanced Practitioner - Research and Scholarship Lead TES FE Awards - Teacher of the Year 2019 sjones@bedford.ac.uk

I have always been surprised by how little the sector sometimes values its own talent. It seems to be an uphill battle to get large sector bodies to see the talent within the sector they seek to represent.

Not so with The Bedford College Group!

We have recently been shining a light on the fantastic practitioner research undertaken by our PGCE, Cert Ed and DET students, many of whom work within the college. Shared through the Bedford College Research Network’s blog, we have spotlighted this work both inside and outside of the Group which has resulted in work being picked up for conferences and for journal publication.

This year marks the first time the Computing staff delivered the BSc Digital Technologies, accredited by the University of Northampton and it is safe to say it has been a challenging year for both the students and the teaching team, with the college closures and remote teaching and support. However, despite these challenges the results are in and all of the students are thrilled with their grades.

With 100% of our 20 students passing the degree and 13 First Class Grades we could not be prouder of the work and effort of our students, and the amazing support of the teaching team throughout the year and the lock down period.

Moreover, the Executive team have recently agreed to start using practitioner research work (from teaching and professional staff) to inform organisational decision making across the Group. This exciting step is not only a clear recognition by the Executive of the talent within the organisation but is also a call for staff across all areas of the organisation to get involved in researching changes they’d like to see in order to influence the Group’s policies.

More information can be accessed via Professional Development, or if you don’t feel ready for anything formal and would just like to chat ideas through, please drop me an email at: sjones@bedford.ac.uk.

Feedback from students has been really positive…

“Thank you for all you have done for me over the past 5/6 years from Level 3 all the way up to me getting a degree…I really didn’t think I’d ever get a degree after failing most of my GCSEs so now I’m walking away with a 2:1 I’m over the moon.”

Jake Higgs Pg.4

October 2020

Connect

Caroline Biddle

Executive Director of Human Resources cbiddle@bedford.ac.uk

Wellbeing Managing anxiety about returning to work

After so many months of lockdown the Group, like many organisations, has begun to return to the workplace where required. We know this is an anxious time for many of our staff. I hope the following advice for people worried about their return to work (based on guidance published by The Priory) will support in easing that anxiety.

Be kind to yourself

Learn positive coping tactics

It’s ok to feel uncertain and upset. This is an incredibly challenging time for everyone. Many of us have had to adjust to a ‘new normal’, which has involved spending the majority of time in our homes, and the idea of now going back to work can provoke anxiety, as our brain is alerted to a new potential risk in front of us.

So be kind to yourself and recognise that it is okay to feel like this.

When you start to feel incredibly anxious, you may find that your breath quickens, which causes your heart to beat faster, and leads to you feeling dizzy, disorientated and even more anxious than before. Learning a few breathing techniques, where you bring your attention to your breath during these moments, can help you to relax, focus and quieten your mind.

Ask Questions When people worry, it is typically related to uncertainties or the unknown. Risk assessments and clear steps have been taken to make the College as safe as possible, so speak with your manager to get as much information as you can to put your mind at ease. Having all the appropriate information, as well as answers to any questions you have, can help to ease your worries about potential risks and dangers.

Maintain a good daily routine At this time, when things appear to be constantly changing, try to maintain a good routine and positive structure to your day.

Scheduling in moments of happiness, and embracing the good things in our lives, can be a great mental health boost as well as a welcome distraction from our anxieties.

So during the hours when you’re not in work, spend time doing activities that you really enjoy, and make sure you do them regularly.

se the free EAP provision U for support To support employees through these difficult times we would remind everyone that we offer a confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) where individuals can access information, advice and counselling.

Access to the service is free to employees and can be accessed via the details below.

If you have any questions regarding the EAP service, please contact a member of the HR Team.

Bedfordshire Service mouse-pointer www.lap-access.co.uk phone 0800 0833375 user-lock Username: bedfordcollege Password: employee Northamptonshire Service mouse-pointer www.employeeassistance.org.uk phone 0800 3281437 user-lock No username/password required

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Connect

Olivia Morton

Corporate Communications and Events Manager omorton@bedford.ac.uk

60 seconds with...

Nigel Gilbert Learning Technologies Advisor Three traits that define you...

Friendly, helpful, bald.

Favourite place to visit?

I love to visit new countries and have been fortunate enough to have been to many great places.

My favourites so far are Tibet, Japan and Thailand.

Favourite hobbies?

Collecting and reading comics – especially DC stuff from the late 60’s and early 70’s. I also love to get out with my metal detector when I can.

Pg.6

Favourite movie?

The Wicker Man.

Favourite thing about working at TBCG? My colleagues.

Favourite music?

Anything weird and obscure from Big Black to The Incredible String Band.

October 2020

Connect

Group News The wait is over…

Wellingborough is now OPEN! On Monday 21 September we opened our doors to over 300 staff and students who have now begun their studies at the newly refurbished £10million Wellingborough campus of Tresham College.

Ian Pryce, Principal said: “Despite all the challenges of the lockdown our Estates team and their contractors have kept the main works of the refurbishment on schedule.

The world has changed beyond measure since we started the building work, but, our mission remains the same and is more important than ever before.”

“We are here to offer world class training and educational opportunities to young people seeking their first jobs and also to their friends and families, who need new skills in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.”

Amid changes to local Government roles, Cllr Martin Griffiths, a SEMLEP Board member, has been behind the Wellingborough project from the start.

He said: “This is one of the most significant developments to take place in Wellingborough for many years, which will provide residents with access to further education here in Wellingborough.

Councillors and officers have been working closely with colleagues at Tresham College and SEMLEP, which has provided funding of £7.5million through the Local Growth Fund, to deliver this ambitious project and I would like to thank everyone involved.

I look forward to seeing this brand new facility being fully open in September which will complement the regeneration of our town centre, and the high-quality redevelopment will enhance this area of the town.”

“The College will play a crucial role in our town’s economic recovery from the current pandemic but providing opportunities for our residents, and encouraging visitors to our town.”

Pg.7

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Celebrate During Colleges Week 2020 (19-23 October 2020) This month is Colleges Week 2020 (19 – 23 October) and we want your ideas on how we can celebrate and show the success of The Bedford College Group.

Visit https://loveourcolleges.co.uk/ for more information.

The Marketing Team have lots planned, but welcome ideas from teaching and professional services teams to make this the best one yet. An online ideas board has been created for everyone to add their thoughts and it can be accessed here using Miro.

Colleges Week 2020: overarching theme Our Heroes - Colleges Making a Difference

Colleges are central to rebuilding the economy postBrexit and through COVID-19, strengthening communities, and supporting people through some of the toughest challenges we have faced.

Colleges Week: themes for each day

Each day we will be focused on a different area of importance for colleges.

Day 1 (Monday 19 October)

At the centre of …the economic rebuild.

We launch with a focus on the economic importance of The Bedford College Group locally, regionally, and nationally. This might include shining a spotlight on our relationships with employers and how we are making sure they get the skilled workforce they need to succeed. This will be even more important post-Brexit and to overcome the issues thrown up by the pandemic.

Day 2 (Tuesday 20 October)

At the centre of …growing and supporting individual sectors.

Day 3 (Wednesday 21 October)

At the centre of …innovation and designing the future.

The world is changing at an ever-increasing pace.

Colleges are part of that, helping businesses with labour market planning, leading the way in the green economy and with technology. This is our day to wow people with an ‘I didn’t realise colleges do that’ moment.

Day 4 (Thursday 22 October)

At the centre of …supporting people and supporting communities.

We are a people-centred sector. This is the day to show that. To share individual success stories, to shout about our adult education and our SEND offers; to highlight how we work with local community groups to help those most in need; whether foodbanks, or Black Lives Matter, or support for trans students, we are doing brilliant things to make the lives of their students better, and their communities brighter. This will be a great (and emotional) day of celebration.

Day 5 (Friday 23 October)

At the centre of …the COVID-19 response.

From creating masks, to doing drives to increase foodbank donations; to keeping learning happening whatever the circumstance, we, together with colleges across the country have gone above and beyond since the pandemic broke. We want to end the week by celebrating our COVID-19 heroes and sharing their stories.

If you have any questions please contact a member of the Marketing Team who will be happy to advise.

This is our opportunity to shout out the areas of expertise we have or show the breadth of sectors we work to support. It might be construction, health and social care, digital, tourism, wherever we have great sector-specific stories to tell, this is our day to tell them.

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October 2020

Connect

Symbol of Safety Spray The latest sanitising spray is being used at campuses across the Group to keep our buildings as safe as possible.

Barrie Baldwin, Health & Safety Manager for the Group has bought units and trained staff, to use the misting equipment in hot spots such as large atriums and canteen areas by “fogging”, and for deeper cleaning of shared equipment in areas like plumbing.

Using Hyprochlorous anti-viral disinfectant, which is safe for humans but destroys COVID-19 more effectively than bleach, the misting equipment can be applied easily and regularly.

Barrie said he and his team had researched various versions of mist cleaning systems and services, and this proved to be the most effective.

“It’s a natural product which makes it safe, but it destroys the virus whether in the air or which has settled on surfaces. It is part of overall strategy for keeping staff and students safe which includes changes to working practices and social distancing.

All of which means that when we open, our campuses will be as safe as possible for staff and students.”

Full details our COVID-19 safety strategy and actions are detailed on https://bedfordcollegegroup.co.uk/covid19/

SAVE THE DATE Thursday 26 November 2020

Virtual Achievements Ceremony For the first time ever in 2020 we are hosting our event as an online Virtual Achievements Ceremony.

To make sure we can celebrate all of our students together we are now hosting one event to celebrate students from across The Bedford College Group. This means that we will now be hosting our first ever Group Achievements Ceremony online on Thursday 26 November 2020 which includes all Colleges from across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire together.

The virtual ceremony will take place in the early evening and we will be providing more details, however we wanted to share this fantastic news as soon as we could so you can save the date and join us in the celebrations!

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Connect

Olivia Morton

Corporate Communications and Events Manager omorton@bedford.ac.uk

60 seconds with...

Sophie Peachey Learning Technologies Advisor Three traits that define you...

Smiley, patient, trustworthy.

Favourite place to visit?

I love a trip to London. But still really want to visit Australia.

Favourite hobbies?

I like writing, being out in nature and I have a lot of interest in mental health.

Pg.10

Favourite movie?

My most favourite childhood film and one I would still watch would have to be the Parent Trap (newer version) - I know that film too well!

Favourite thing about working at TBCG? The people I work with and meet.

Favourite music?

Honestly anything my ears like, I don’t have a particular genre – however I can tell you a song that I never get bored of is Shackles by Mary Mary – what a classic.

October 2020

Connect

Modern construction careers Bedford College will house a £2.9 million regional technology training centre for “off site” construction, which is the future of the industry supported with funding announced in the latest update from SEMLEP from the Getting Building Fund for infrastructure projects designed to stimulate jobs and support economic recovery across the county.

Pre-manufacturing homes, or at least part of them, and then shipping them to a building site, has been identified as the most efficient and cost-effective way of meeting the huge demand for housing. To keep up with the skills demand from the construction industry, we have been awarded the money to upgrade our existing facilities in Cauldwell Street.

This new funding will see the single storey building which sits alongside the Brundtland Building being upgraded to include a facility to construct dwellings and component parts like kitchen and bathroom “pods”.

“We will be working closely with leading employers in the construction industry regionally to get input about the skills they need to fast-forward these modern methods,” said Director of Construction Dave Wilkins, “There are huge opportunities here for training young people for great jobs in the future - be it 16-year-olds embarking on apprenticeships, those undertaking the new T-Levels, others progressing on to degree-level Higher Education courses, and those in the industry who want to modernise their skills. “There will always be a demand for more traditional construction skills and we will continue to offer those courses across all levels.”

Ian Pryce added: “The funding to refurbish our Construction centre will support our provision of highquality learning environments for students in the region.

“This refurbishment has been supported by the Getting Building Fund which is especially welcome in these times

which are seeing a renewed focus on the construction industry. The refurbished centre will support construction training, making it possible for young people to move into skilled and professional careers via apprenticeships or gain promotion through further qualifications.”

The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), which covers Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire, has been allocated £27.3million of the Getting Building Funding pot - more than £15.1 million of which has been allocated to fund six projects in Bedfordshire.

Hilary Chipping, SEMLEP Chief Executive, said:

“We are delighted to have secured more than £27m from government to support the economic recovery from COVID-19 in this area. These projects will support key priorities including skills for young people, the green recovery and innovation, which all generate jobs.

“Last July we published our Local Industrial Strategy, laying out the priorities and interventions we needed to invest in to realise innovation, further improve connectivity and achieve sustainable growth. These Getting Building Fund projects meet these priorities and the needs of the local economy as we strive to recover economically from this pandemic.”

All the projects are due to start in December 2020 and be completed by early 2022.

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Daisy Cranfield

Marketing Manager dcranfield@bedford.ac.uk

We’re (virtually) Open!

Open Days are one of the key tools used by the Group to meet annual student recruitment targets. The lockdown catalysed many Marketing teams in the sector to move to virtual only events for the next academic year – probably far sooner than they anticipated, if they had even planned to at all.

Over the summer our Marketing team was thrown into the world of virtual events with a sudden plethora of platforms available. In a short timeframe our Open Days were pulled together and although generally successful there were certainly areas to improve on and challenges to overcome.

To help improve for this upcoming year the team surveyed attendees and gathered feedback from staff.

The feedback was mainly positive with overall event satisfaction at 86%* and likelihood to recommend at 84%*.

Some of the key areas to improve on and how we plan to tackle this going forward can be seen in the table below:

Attendees couldn’t see our great facilities

We are working to produce virtual walkthroughs, starting with The Bedford Sixth Form, the new Wellingborough Campus and the Zoological Education Centre.

Students couldn’t see each other, they could only talk

We are trialling a Student Ambassador talk at the Sixth Form which will be more informal and have a ‘cafe style’ feel to enhance the experience and allow attendees to interact with one another.

Lack of one-to-one conversation with teaching staff

Going forward attendees will be able to book a follow up 1-2-1 appointment with teaching staff/student services/Enquiries etc.

Didn’t like the platform

The new platform is superior in terms of usability for both attendee and the host. We will continually monitor performance going forward.

This academic year we have partnered with a specialist company called Springpod to host the events. The platform we have chosen is modern and user friendly.

Springpod handle the registrations in terms of confirmation and reminders for attendees, they supply us with reports regularly on the number registered for talks and the numbers overall of pre-registered and attended.

One of the key benefits is that all the content produced such as talks and walk-through videos will remain online for us to direct prospects too from other channels such as social media.

Of course, now we are about to start the next round of Open Days to recruit for courses that start throughout the year such as part-time and for the 2021 Academic year. Our first Open Day of the year is for The Bedford Pg.12

Sixth Form on Thursday 8 October from 5.00pm-8.00pm.

You may find it useful to pre-register here for this event to see how the new platform works, the communications that prospects will receive and the format of event itself.

Thank you all for your support over the summer. Do continue to provide us with feedback on how we can improve these events for the future. *Source: 2019 –2020 Open Day data

You should by now have seen an email confirming the new structure of the marketing team. You can find out who your key contact is by visiting our pages on the staff intranet.

October 2020

Connect

Olivia Morton

Corporate Communications and Events Manager omorton@bedford.ac.uk

60 seconds with...

Nadine Neita

Learning Technologies Advisor Three traits that define you...

Chilled, Caring, Curious.

Favourite place to visit?

Camden Town, London and New York.

Favourite hobbies?

Cooking and learning and making Homemade natural remedies Ayurvedic. .

Favourite movie?

All time feel good film Kindergarten Cop – can’t count how many times I have watched it.

Favourite thing about working at TBCG? My Team.

Favourite music?

Anything from Roots reggae, Old school Hiphop to Neosoul à Fav artists to name a few Dennis Brown, Maxwell, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill.

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COVID-19 Safety Updates

Catering facilities track and trace requirements

Flu Jab To support this the Group will contribute up to £15 towards any staff member who is unable to get a flu jab via the NHS. More details on this will be supplied by HR via the intranet pages.

As of September all catering facilities are required by government legislation to have QR codes affecting Munch & Mocha and Aramark. QR codes and a how-to-guide will be visible at the entrances and exits of our facilities, to enable the track and trace system for COVID-19.

Download the NHS Test and Trace App The NHS COVID-19 Test and Trace app available to download on smartphones (for the video on how to download the app click here). This will not replace any of our internal processes of informing Line Managers or Tutors if an individual is displaying symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19. For more information on the app and to download this onto a smartphone click here.

This document details The Bedford College Groups current position in response to the current alert levels set by the government.

OUR RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT CORONAVIRUS ALERT LEVELS Currently at Level 4 as at 21 September 2020 Alert Level 5

National or local lockdown in place

Alert Level 4 Social distancing continues

Alert Level 3

Gradual relaxation of restrictions

LEARNING ON CAMPUS

5

ll campuses closed except for students that are A vulnerable, on an EHC plan or whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response and are not safe at home. Students to continue their learning via online (Microsoft Teams).

4

ll campuses open for students following the A local PHE (Public Health England) guidance with social distancing measures in place. Total number of students limited at any one time for face-to-face learning. Teaching provided through a blend of online and classroom based learning.

3

ll campuses open for students following A the local PHE guidance and social distancing measures in place Total number of students limited at any one time for face-to-face learning.

Teaching provided through a blend of online and classroom based learning.

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Alert Level 2

Minimum social distancing in place

Alert Level 1

Coronavirus threat is no longer present in UK

2

ll campuses open for students following A the local PHE guidance and social distancing measures. Gradual increase in number of students learning on campus in line with the latest government guidance.

1

ll campuses open and full return to on campus A learning in all aspects of course for students.

Some aspects of courses will be offered online as a result of positive feedback since it was introduced in March 2020.

October 2020

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PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN PLACE

5

ll campuses closed with authorised access for A Estates and Health & Safety staff and students identified above only. All learning to take place online (Microsoft Teams).

4

requirement to wear face coverings across A College sites (inside and outside areas). All campuses implementing social distancing measures with signage and additional hygiene points on entrance/ exit. Use of sanitising fogging system across large areas on all sites and more regular cleaning of high touch point areas. Access to toilets will be restricted to allow for social distancing.

3

2

1

ll campuses implementing social distancing A measures with signage and additional hygiene points on entrance/ exit. Use of sanitising fogging system across large areas on all sites and more regular cleaning of high touch point areas. A requirement to wear face coverings across College sites (inside areas). Access to toilets will be restricted to allow for social distancing. ll campuses implementing social distancing A measures with signage and additional hygiene points on entrance/ exit and in classrooms. Use of sanitising fogging system across large areas on all sites and cleaning of high touch point areas. A requirement to wear face coverings across College sites (inside areas). Access to toilets will be restricted to allow for social distancing. ll campuses will be open to all students with A no restrictions. Use of sanitising fogging system across large areas on all sites where required and cleaning of all campuses at the start of each weekday. All facilities and social spaces will be open.

FACILITIES AND SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS

5 4

ll student support will be provided online and A via phone using a variety of tools including Moodle and Microsoft Teams. No access to sites for students. upport continues to be offered online with S appointments available for face-to-face support if required. Catering facilities open operating a cashless payment system and track and trace monitoring. LRC/ Libraries open with booking systems in place. Common rooms operating limited opening times that must be booked and following social distancing guidance. Multi-faith rooms open and users requested to follow the safety guidance provided.

3

upport offered online and face-to-face.

S Catering facilities open operating a cashless payment system and track and trace monitoring.

LRC/ Libraries open with booking systems in place. Common rooms operating limited opening times and following social distancing guidance.

Multi-faith rooms open and users requested to follow the safety guidance provided.

2

upport offered online and face-to-face.

S Catering facilities open operating a cashless payment system and track and trace monitoring.

LRC/ Libraries open with booking systems in place. Common rooms operating following social distancing guidance. Multi-faith rooms open and users requested to follow the safety guidance provided.

1

ll facilities and support available on campus for A students with minimal restrictions following the latest government guidelines.

STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A SHIELDING LETTER OR CLASSED AS AT RISK

5

o students to access any campuses unless N identified above.

4

tudents are able to attend College but advised S to discuss their circumstances with Personal Achievement Tutor/ Tutors to ensure safety measures are in place.

3

tudents are able to attend College but advised S to discuss their circumstances with Personal Achievement Tutor/ Tutors to ensure safety measures are in place.

2

tudents are able to attend College but advised S to discuss their circumstances with Personal Achievement Tutor/ Tutors to ensure safety measures are in place.

1

tudents are able to attend College but advised S to discuss their circumstances with Personal Achievement Tutor/ Tutors to ensure safety measures are in place.

EXAMS AND ASSESSMENTS

5

he Bedford College Group will follow the latest T Ofqual and Examining Body guidance and communicate to students via email.

4

he Bedford College Group will follow the latest T Ofqual and Examining Body guidance and communicate to students via email.

3

he Bedford College Group will follow the latest T Ofqual and Examining Body guidance and communicate to students via email.

2

he Bedford College Group will follow the latest T Ofqual and Examining Body guidance and communicate to students via email.

1

he Bedford College Group will follow the latest T Ofqual and Examining Body guidance and communicate to students via email.

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WORK PLACEMENTS

5

No onsite work placements for students.

4

ork placements may resume online or in W person as per the Group’s assessment that the employers risk assessments are COVID-19 safe and in line with DfE industry standard guidance.

3

here employers are not able to provide W actual work placement as per the Group’s assessment that the employers risk assessments are COVID-19 safe and in line with DfE Industry standard guidance, virtual work placements may be provided.

2

ork placements may resume in person W depending on sector and the employers as per the employers risk assessments.

1

5

I nterviewing, recruitment and assessments will be hosted online with your employer and Training Coordinator.

4

2

1

4

Pg.16

2

ll campuses open for students following the A local PHE (Public Health England) guidance with social distancing measures in place. Total number of students limited at any one time for face-to-face learning. Teaching provided through a blend of online and classroom based learning. via university partners or HE Moodle to be completed.

1

ull return to College for the majority of F students. Some part time sessions will continue to be delivered online following positive feedback since March 2020.

RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION AT SHUTTLEWORTH COLLEGE

5

All residential accommodation closed.

pprentices in the workplace to follow A employer’s health and safety guidelines.

Interviewing, recruitment and some assessments will be hosted online. Adapted assessments for small numbers of apprentices to be completed where there is no alternative. All to follow employer’s health & safety guidelines.

4

ll residential accommodation open following A the local PHE (Public Health England) guidance with social distancing measures in place.

3

ll residential accommodation open following A the local PHE (Public Health England) guidance with social distancing measures in place.

mixture of face-to-face and online interviews, A learning and practical assessments and exams will take place to adhere with latest social distancing measures and Ofqual guidance if they cannot be carried out in the workplace. All to follow employer’s health and safety guidelines.

2

ll residential accommodation open following A the local PHE (Public Health England) guidance with social distancing measures in place.

1

ll residential accommodation open following A the local PHE (Public Health England) guidance with social distancing measures in place.

mixture of face-to-face and online interviews, A learning and assessments will take place to adhere with latest social distancing measures and Ofqual guidance. All to follow employer’s health and safety guidelines. eturn to face-to-face learning, interviews and R assessments will take place to adhere with latest social distancing measures and Ofqual guidance.

HIGHER EDUCATION

5

ll campuses open for students following the A local PHE (Public Health England) guidance with social distancing measures in place. Total number of students limited at any one time for face-to-face learning. Teaching provided through a blend of online and classroom based learning. via university partners or HE Moodle to be completed.

Work placements may resume in full.

APPRENTICES

3

3

ll campuses closed. Online learning via A university partners or HE Moodle to be completed. ll campuses open for students following the A local PHE (Public Health England) guidance with social distancing measures in place. Teaching provided through classroom based learning.

TRIPS AND EVENTS

5

o trips or College face-to-face events will take N place following the government guidance. Online events will be hosted where possible.

4

imited trips to take place for courses where this L is part of the programme e.g. Princes Trust but additional risk assessments are taking place.

3

rips or College face-to-face events will take T place following the government guidance. Online events will be hosted where possible.

2

rips will be arranged following government T guidance and allowing for social distancing.

Online College events will be hosted where possible although small pre-booked events may take place face-to-face.

1

ll trips can take place. All College events will A be held in the most appropriate way for visitors, face-to-face or online but no restrictions are in place.

October 2020

Job Opportunities Associate Invigilators

Location: Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire Salary: Hourly Rate: £8.72 per hour Application closing date: 04/10/2020

Associate Lecturer in Hairdressing

Location: Bedford Salary: £20.50 - £21.50 per hour, dependent on qualifications Application closing date: 06/10/2020

Volunteer Counsellor

Location: Kettering Application closing date: 06/10/2020

Volunteer Counsellor

Location: Bedford Application closing date: 06/10/2020

Connect

Lecturer in Computing

Location: Bedford Salary: Circa £30,000 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience Application closing date: 07/10/2020

Lecturer in Performing Arts (Maternity Cover) Location: Bedford Salary: £25,000 - £28,000 per annum, pro rata dependent on qualifications and experience Application closing date: 07/10/2020

» View and apply for our full-time and part-time vacancies over the summer via The Bedford College Group vacancy portal which can be found on CONNECT staff intranet.

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Connect

Training Opportunities

There are many methods of Professional Development in the workplace including, training courses and joining forums, groups and networks, etc. If you’d like more information please email nmorris@bedford.ac.uk.

New pages include:

We need you!

We are building a team of people that would be willing to support peers across the Group to undertake some research. You would take on a mentor/Knowledgeable other role and would receive some training to support you in this. We are looking for people who have experience of research themselves and who would be willing to support someone else through the process. If you are interested please email Natalie Morris on nmorris@bedford.ac.uk

• Catalogue of development opportunities – this is not an exhaustive list but is designed to help you find things that you might be interested in. This also includes a new Wellbeing offer.

Risk It! It has launched! The new Professional Development strategy is here. You may have seen some information about it during our Group Festival of Learning week, but just in case, follow this link to see an introductory video.

The main differences are: • You will take part in Development Discussions with your Knowledgeable Other (either your AP or line manager) • Development is more individualised and based on your own reflections, as well as college priorities • The records are shared electronically – the form is available here • The Training Application form is electronic – and can be found here Support We realise there are lots of changes this year. To help with the transition to the new strategy we have redeveloped the Connect intranet area for Professional Development.

We encourage you to visit.

• Professional Development Main Page – overview of Risk It and links to all other pages, as well as Key Documents and Policies.

• Core Skills – designed to support Line Managers and new staff through induction. This area has all the Core Skills (mandatory) training hyperlinked to keep it as simple as possible.

• Coaching and Mentoring – introduction to the APs and their areas of specialism, as well as how to contact them.

• Staff Lounge – The space we used to host the videos from Festival of Learning (where they will stay), but also the area where we will collect your short videos about what you are doing to develop your role. Please get in touch with us with things you are doing. We would love to hear from you. Grab a cuppa and enjoy learning from your peers.

As always, we want to hear from you!

Let us know what you thought of the Festival of Learning HERE Get in touch to talk about your development or to let us know what you think of Risk It! by emailing professionaldevelopment@bedford.ac.uk To share your good ideas email nmorris@bedford.ac.uk to discuss how we could do this in a way you would feel comfortable.

Register for this years biggest FE celebration TES FE Awards 2020 online ceremony on Friday 16 October 2020 at 8pm https://tesfeawards.co.uk/2020/en/page/register

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October 2020

Welcome to The Group homas Addison T Customer Contact Adviser

eam Godfrey L Technician in Construction

Marguerita Alexandrou, Student Development Administrator

Anthony Griffin Lecturer in Plumbing, Heating & Gas

arlene Beahan M Personal Achievement Tutor

Dylan Gwinn Trainee Lecturer in Public Services

igel Blackburn N Estates & Facilities Coordinator

Natasha Hawes Customer Contact Advisor

Zoe Bolger Student Bursary Co-ordinator

Ayesha Iqbal Course Manager in Engineering

Samantha Clawson Lecturer in Computing

Reason Katuruza Lecturer in Health & Social Care

Royden Cole Lecturer in Computing

Ngoc Le Payables Manager, Finance

Tiffany Cotton Customer Contact Advisor

Carolyn Letherby Senior Customer Contact Advisor

Deepshikha Deepshikha Teacher of Science

Artwell Mataruse Lecturer in Engineering

eil Dellar N Centre Manager for Construction & Building Services

Ryan Pearson Work Placement Co-ordinator Arts

Frank Dzokoto Director of Engineering

Katy Strand Work Placement Co-ordinator Care, Childcare & Counselling

Robert Edwards Practical Instructor in Animal Sciences

Peter Sunderland Estates & Facilities Assistant

Paul Gibbs Lecturer in ESOL

Heather Warner Personal Achievement Tutor

Connect

Philip Gibson Lecturer in Carpentry and Joinery

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Connect

Equality, diversity and inclusion October 2020 What does inclusion mean to me?

Generally, inclusion means having a voice and being listened to, feeling valued and safe to be open about who you are, and not feeling the need to adapt aspects of your identity to be able to fit in. Inclusion is also personal and can mean different things to different people. We kick off this series of personal stories with a contribution from two colleagues: E m Lowe, Vice Principal: “For me, inclusion means to be accepted for who I am and what I stand for. It also means being open about my life when appropriate: I’m an out lesbian and have been fortunate to have colleagues who are accepting when I talk about my partner and use her name or pronoun without fear that this will be a barrier in my work. It’s great that I’ve received lots of support from colleagues when we decided to adopt children and during the subsequent difficulties we experience daily. I also strive to be a role model for inclusion of all identities, which is especially important for young people to see.

It’s important for me to engage with learning from other people’s perspectives and experiences as this helps me to understand colleagues and students better and how they might feel about a particular issue. Our differences enhance all our lives if we are open to them.”

adley Kenyon, Personal H Achievement Tutor ‘For me, inclusion means being able to come into my workplace, and feeling and understanding that I belong and feel safe in an environment that embraces inclusion and diversity. This doesn’t have to be direct either, there are many indirect ways that show you’re in an inclusive environment; visual cues like our rainbow lanyards, posters and witnessing a positive workplace culture for all. Inclusion means I don’t have to feel like I need to disguise my partner’s gender by using neutral terms, and I don’t feel the need to “come out” to new people. Inclusion means that showing diversity is more than a box ticking exercise, that there are clear systems in place to ensure equal opportunities and mutual respect for all students and staff across the board, regardless of background and identity. Inclusion is being able to discuss issues surrounding inclusivity without fear of reprimand or disgust.’

If you’d like to share your perspective on inclusive practice, please contact Anastassia Parsons anparsons@bedford.ac.uk

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October 2020

Connect

Anastassia Parsons

Diversity and Inclusion Advisor anparsons@bedford.ac.uk

Diversity Calendar October 2020 Dyslexia Awareness Week: Monday 5 - 11 October Dyslexia can affect far more people than we realise and not everybody who is affected is likely to disclose it, or may be aware that they are affected. What adjustments can you make for someone who is dyslexic?

- provide information in accessible formats and access to assistive technology - allow for people to opt out from minute-taking duty in the workplace - see the ‘Dyslexia and working from home’ guide (British Dyslexia Association)

Black History Month

World Mental Health day: Saturday 10 October

BHM gives a chance to have a focused discussion about the contributions of Black people to Britain, Black culture and what it is to be Black and British. During BHM we need to recognise not only celebrities but also the contributions of inventors, innovators, academics, scientists, artists, business people, engineers, politicians and many more. Visit blackhistorymonth.org.uk for great Black Britons, pre-colonial history, slavery, the Windrush, civil rights movement, music and entertainers.

The pandemic is having an enormous impact on our well-being including on our mental health due to social isolation, financial difficulties, housing insecurity, working in front-line services and reduced access to mental health support. What can you do for a student or a colleague? - If you notice that they’re acting differently, ask how they feel and be there for them (see Ask Twice time-to-chage.org.uk)

Religious Festivals

in October

Sept/Oct HARVEST FESTIVAL Christian (Western, Anglican and Free Churches) 17 - 25 Oct

NAVARATI Hindu

19 Oct ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF THE BAHA’U’LLAH Baha'i 29 Oct THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S BIRTHDAY Sunni Muslim 31 Oct

SAMHAIN Wiccan Pagan / Druid

3 Nov THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S BIRTHDAY Shi'a Muslim The Inter Faith Network has a more detailed list of festivals and short descriptions.

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Connect

Lynsey Travers

HR Manager (Bedfordshire) ltravers@bedford.ac.uk

Perks

Staff discounts and rewards Rewards for staff at Bedford College Group – Saving you money everyday

The Bedford College Group Perks scheme offers a range of discounts from everyday grocery shopping to entertainment and days out.

In the last 12 months……

You can purchase discounted reloadable cards from high street shops and even earn cashback with certain retailers!

592 orders placed

Staff are currently spending with retailers such as Cineworld, Tesco, Currys PC World, Argos, Sainsbury’s, IKEA and John Lewis.

£59k spent

You can access Bedford College Group Perks via the Quick Links on Connect or download the ‘SmartSpending’ app through Google Play or Apple App Store!

£5.1k saved

Top offers this month...

Save 7% at Argos

Save 20% at Red Letter Days

Save 10% at Wickes

Earn 8% cashback at Charlotte Tilbury

Save up to 15% at Samsung Pg.22

Please check the website or app for the latest offers

October 2020