CONNECT - October 2022

Group wins Equality

Trailblazer Award

Student Centred | Educational Excellence | Teamwork | Continuous Improvement | Caring | Inclusive

Management Team Changes read more on p5.

Volunteer at our Achievement Awards Ceremonies 2022 read more on p6.

Equality Trailblazer Award read more on p13.

Em Lowe, Deputy Chief Executive and Ashley Spiers, EDI Manager collected the Equality Trailblazer Award from Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, Bedfordshire Business Awards 2022.

Olivia Morton Corporate Communications Manager omorton@bedford.ac.uk

Editor’s Note

Your October Issue of CONNECT Magazine

In the first issue of this academic year, you can read more about the latest news from across the Group. Stories included in this issue provide more updates on management changes across the Group, wellbeing and saving tips, and rewards all staff can benefit from.

As always, if you would like to add your staff news to the next issue of CONNECT, please send your articles and photos to communications@bedford.ac.uk no later than Friday 14 October.

Dates For Your Diary

Black History Month

1 – 30 October

International School/College Libraries Month

1 – 30 October

Dyslexia Awareness Week

w/c Monday 3 October

The Bedford Sixth Form Open Day

Thursday 6 October, 5.00pm - 8.00pm

Students’ Union Election

w/c Monday 10 October

World Mental Health Day

Monday 10 October

Love our Colleges Week

w/c Monday 17 October

The Corby Sixth Form Open Day

Tuesday 18 October, (5.00pm - 8.00pm)

Tresham College Kettering Open Day

Wednesday 19 October, (5.00pm - 8.00pm)

Contents

Pg.2

Pg.3

Pg.4

Pg.5

Pg.9 Pg.10 Pg.11 Pg.13 Pg.13

Key Dates

Principal’s Update Wellbeing

Group News

Award Winning Equality Trailblazer

And Inclusion

Tresham College Wellingborough Open Day

Thursday 20 October, (5.00pm - 8.00pm)

Half Term Break

w/c Monday 24 October

Bedford College Open Day

Tuesday 8 November, (5.00pm - 8.00pm)

Tresham College Corby Open Day

Thursday 10 November, (5.00pm - 8.00pm)

National College for Motorsport Virtual Open Day

Thursday 10 November, (5.00pm - 7.00pm)

Shuttleworth Open Day

Saturday 12 November, (9.30am - 12.30pm)

Perks

The Bedford Sixth Form Open Day

Tuesday 15 November, (5.00pm - 8.00pm)

Annual Awards Celebration (Bedfordshire)

Thursday 17 November, (6.30pm – 9.00pm)

The Corby Sixth Form Open Day

Tuesday 22 November, 5.00pm - 8.00pm

Annual Awards Celebration (Northamptonshire)

Thursday 24 November, (6.30pm – 9.00pm)

For more diary dates visit www.bit.ly/collegecalendars

Ian Pryce CBE CEO The Bedford College Group

Principal’s Update

Compare the market

We have a long tradition of periodically benchmarking ourselves financially against the best colleges for quality and efficiency. Our latest exercise with the company Tribal has been carried out to help with our merger with Central Bedfordshire College, but it is worth sharing some of the key results.

Overall our Group remains financially very efficient, even compared with high quality colleges, but this efficiency is built on low professional support costs. Our teaching costs are in line with other colleges. When we last did the same exercise our Group showed the highest teacher productivity of any college.

This was not achieved through asking teachers to teach more hours than other colleges, but rather reflected very good average group sizes. The latest exercise shows our productivity has reduced significantly to the national average, largely resulting from reduced group sizes, so this will be a key focus with teaching managers this year. The data also suggests we over-teach as we generate less money than others for every hour taught.

The Bedford College Group Sector Best colleges

Financial margin 12.7% 5.1% 9.7%

% of income spent on teaching 51.8% 53.2% 50.8%

% of income spent on nonteaching 35.0% 41.2% 39.3%

Teacher productivity £ per teacher FTE £97,597 £96,787 £103,976

Average teacher salary incl oncosts £39,247 £38,878 £39,240

Average group size 12.0 11.6 11.4

Average income per student taught hour £9.60 £10.00 £11.00

AoC/NCFE Blog

My latest blog for the Association of Colleges looks at how apprenticeship policy is scuppering the aim of increasing apprentice numbers. 10 Ways to Lose an Apprentice is published here https://www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaigns-parliament/newsviews/aoc-blogs/how-to-lose-an-apprentice-in-10-ways-ianpryce-cbe-2

Embedding the Flying Start behaviours

All new full-time students have now had their Flying Start inductions, setting out our behaviour expectations. It is now vital that all staff show those expectations are being met and properly enforced.

The key matters for all staff (teaching and non-teaching) are:

• Everyone should pick up constantly on anyone (staff or student) not visibly displaying their ID

• Munch & Mocha will not serve anyone without a visible ID on display

• Vaping (rather than smoking) is still taking place outside the agreed areas. Everyone should challenge any vaping and send the student to the shelters

• Teaching staff should rigorously enforce the mobile phone rules (out of sight and silent) and discipline any student who ignores the rules

• Poor attendance must not be excused under any circumstance and appropriate disciplinary action must be taken. This year we will be charging students with poor attendance for the entire external costs of their programme (main courses as well as maths and English) even if they withdraw.

There is good initial evidence that students are much more compliant this year, and improvements in course coding seem to have reduced the issues we had last year with many registers.

Who wants more secondary moderns?

Our new Prime Minister has overseen a wholesale reshuffle of the Department for Education. Our new Secretary of State is Kit Malthouse, but much has been made of his ministerial team, which includes a number of MPs who support the expansion of grammar schools (and by definition the expansion of secondary moderns).

Despite overwhelming evidence that such a system provides worse results at an overall level than does a comprehensive system, we may see moves to increase grammar school numbers. Meanwhile the Schools Bill developed under a previous Secretary of State, Nadhim Zahawi, may be seriously changed or even ditched.

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

Wellbeing

With the continuing cost of living crisis being a challenge for the majority of us in the UK, our Wellbeing Group will be focusing on employee financial wellbeing this year.

The Wellbeing Group met at the beginning of September and are now in the process of researching savings and support that we will be able to direct staff to and where all staff will be able to benefit.

Details will be published on the dedicated CONNECT Wellbeing page, with regular updates added to the intranet’s Homepage together with these monthly articles in the staff newsletter, so keep your eye out for news and articles.

The government has a website to support people with their money management and this can be found at www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en

The Wellbeing Group know it is going to be a tough year for everyone and will be dedicating the voluntary time they give to this group to try and support wherever possible.

Caroline Biddle

Caring

Management Team Changes

At the start of this academic year a series of changes to our Group Leadership Team were announced in preparation for the proposed merger that will take place in February 2023 with Central Bedfordshire College.

These changes will also support the key requirements of teaching areas across all of our campuses.

Ian Pryce CBE will be remaining as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Group alongside the two newly appointed Deputy CEOs; Em Lowe, who will deputise on educational matters and Pat Jones who will deputise on financial matters.

To support Ian with the day-to-day operation of our campuses we have created two Principal posts, one to oversee our work in Bedfordshire and another to oversee our Northamptonshire campuses.

We are delighted that Karen Campbell has been appointed as Principal for Bedfordshire. As part of her role, Karen will continue to oversee our operation at Shuttleworth College.

We are also pleased to announce that Robin Webber-Jones has been appointed as the new Principal for Northamptonshire.

Robin will work across the Tresham College campuses in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough as well as our National College for Motorsport at Silverstone.

Robin has over 17 years’ experience working within education particularly with vulnerable groups, supporting them to progress to next levels of study. He will be joining the Group in late November.

Until this time, Fiona Phillip will be the Interim Principal for Tresham College.

Supporting the new Principals will be a number of Vice Principals to ensure individual campuses meet the local needs of the community and employers, whilst ensuring best practice is shared across the Group.

Vice Principals at Bedford College: Gail Cocozza, Alex Mortby and Dave Wilkins.

Vice Principal at Shuttleworth College: Dr Catherine Lloyd. Vice Principals at Tresham College: Dr Jo Baxter, Nick Haywood and Dr Mohammad Milani.

Vice Principal for Group-wide maths, English and Progression Pathways will be Nina Sharp.

The Bedford Sixth Form and The Corby Sixth Form will come under Helen Smith as Group Head of Sixth Forms.

The College Group will continue to be led overall by the Executive, which has been slightly expanded to reflect these changes.

The Executive now comprises the Chief Executive and two Deputy Chief Executive’s (Em and Pat); the two

Principals (Karen and Robin); our new Executive Director of Apprenticeships & Business Development (Debbie Houghton); Executive Director of Marketing & Student Recruitment (Sarah Baxter); Executive Director of Human Resources (Caroline Biddle); Executive Director of Digital Transformation (Sheraz Amin), and Director of Governance (Rachel Nicol). Debbie’s role reflects the decision to run apprenticeships as a group-wide activity.

When the expected merger takes place in February, Central Bedfordshire College will maintain a similar Principal and Vice Principal structure, with the Principal joining the Executive.

Robin Webber-Jones Principal for Northamptonshire

Alex Mortby Vice Principal at Bedford College

Dr Jo Baxter Vice Principal at Tresham College

Nina Sharp Vice Principal for Groupwide maths, English and Progression Pathways

Karen Campbell Principal for Bedfordshire

Dave Wilkins Vice Principal at Bedford College

Nick Haywood Vice Principal at Tresham College

Fiona Phillip Interim Principal for Tresham

Gail Cocozza Vice Principal at Bedford College

Dr Catherine Lloyd Vice Principal at Shuttleworth College

Dr Mohammad Milani Vice Principal at Tresham College

Helen Smith Group Head of Sixth Forms

Achievement Awards

Ceremonies 2022

Our annual celebration of student achievement is nearly upon us, giving staff, students and their families the opportunity to celebrate their success in the last academic year.

This year we will be returning to hosting these events in person and so we would like to ask for staff volunteers to help make the events run as smoothly as possible for the students and their guests.

Northamptonshire Achievement Awards Ceremony: Thursday 17 November 2022 at Kettering Conference Centre, Kettering.

Bedfordshire Achievement Awards Ceremony: Thursday 24 November 2022 at King’s House, Bedford.

Both events will start from 6.30pm with the ceremony itself starting at 7.30pm prompt. The ceremony will finish at approximately 9.00pm.

If you are able to help with either of our events, if you have nominated a student this year or would like to attend the event as a guest please email pmann@bedford.ac.uk by 4.00pm on Friday 7 October to reserve your seat.

Educational Excellence

Munch and Mocha More Adventures of Charlie

Munch and Mocha have recently undertaken some changes for the year ahead as we work towards being more sustainable and environmentally friendly. From September, at all main campuses you will receive a discount on any hot drink if you bring in your own reusable cup. This offer aims to reduce the amount of waste each site produces.

We will also be offering new Meal Deals giving a broader choice of lunch than ever before, definitely something to take advantage of. Please do remember that in order to be served in Munch and Mocha all staff and students will need to have their ID badge on display. The team have been told to refuse service to anyone without an ID badge, so a little pre-warning for the upcoming weeks, bring your badge!

If your area is arranging any meetings or events requiring hospitality, please ensure that requests for this year will need to be completed using the new Hospitality 2022 Form which has been uploaded onto CONNECT intranet. Once this form is completed please email it over to klewton@bedfordcollegeservices.co.uk!

Following on from an earlier CONNECT story about Charlie Whewall’s participation in the Clipper Round the World Race in July 2024, Charlie has also taken part, amongst a group of 10 others, in the Three Peaks Challenge.

The funds raised during the Three Peaks Challenge will go towards supports the NHS Organ Donation Team, the same charity benefitting from Charlie’s sailing challenges.

National Organ Donation Week took place last week (26 September – 2 October) - so don’t forget to sign up to the “Leave them Certain” campaign. This is to ensure people tell their loved ones they want to donate their organs in the event of their death.

You can support Charlie for his upcoming challenge by making a donation via his blog page

Caring

Caring

Skilled Hands at the Wheel Race Equality Forum Opportunity

The National College for Motorsport (NC4M) at Silverstone is a unique provision and has a great reputation within the motor racing industry.

Formula One teams seek race mechanics from the NC4M because they know they will fit right in at the track.

The success of the NC4M is down to Jim Harrod and his team who come from backgrounds across the motor racing industry. Jim started as a race mechanic with Damon Hill and then worked with Brabham, Arrows and Williams as Mechanic/Chief Mechanic.

Situated on the Silverstone extended site, the NC4M is linked to the University Technical College at Silverstone, having been set up initially by Tresham College and partners in 2013 and now via the Group CEO Ian Pryce CBE, and others, who are on the Board of the UTC.

https://www.utc-silverstone.co.uk/

Like all UTCs, the Silverstone Centre of Excellence takes students from the age of 14.

While students joining the NC4M cannot join until the age of 16, with the aim of being race mechanics, there are now further progression routes into a wider range of careers in engineering.

https://bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/colleges-and-campuses/ national-college-for-motorsport/meet-the-team/

We are looking for a new co-chair for our Race Equality staff forum. This would ideally be someone who is passionate about race equality.

Diversity staff networks/forums are run by and for the members, with support from the EDI Manager. The key intention behind the co-chair role is to embed ownership of the network/ forum within the membership and take a lead on the development of the network/ forum.

The role is to co-ordinate the activities of the forum, be the primary point of contact for new and existing members and feedback member’s concerns and recommendations to the EDI Committee. There will be a payment for this.

The deadline to apply is 17 October 2022.

To discuss further, please contact Ashley Spiers on aspiers@bedford.ac.uk

Inclusive

Educational Excellence Demonstrated in Pearson Videos

Pearson UK have recently released series of videos which feature our very own Head of Library and Learning Resources’ Gordon Bowie talking about his experiences of studying an HND in Business Management. To view them all, click the links below.

Gordon’s learning journey:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kss4NwNtvI

Upskilling employees:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU2uLEjqcyM

HN Online (now called Learning Hub): www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMKYyaSXkbc

Educational Excellence

Job Opportunities

Apprenticeships Training Coordinator

Motor Sports

Location: Silverstone, Permanent - Part Time

Salary: £26,010 - £36,188 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience

Application closing date: 06/10/2022

Associate Lecturer in Science

Location: Bedford, Sessional

Salary: Associate - (Unqualified) £20.50 per hour. (Qualified PGCE/Cert Ed or equivalent) £21.50 per hour

Application closing date: 06/10/2022

Head of Quality

Location: Bedford, Permanent - Full Time

Salary: £38,000 - £50,000 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience

Application closing date: 06/10/2022

Associate Lecturer ESOL (Bank)

Location: Bedford, Sessional

Salary: Associate - (Unqualified) £20.50 per hour. (Qualified PGCE/Cert Ed or equivalent) £21.50 per hour

Application closing date: 07/10/2022

Associate Lecturer in Sport

Location: Bedford, Sessional

Salary: Associate - (Unqualified) £20.50 per hour. (Qualified PGCE/Cert Ed or equivalent) £21.50 per hour

Application closing date: 07/10/2022

Course Manager in Uniformed Public Services

Location: Bedford, Permanent - Full Time

Salary: Circa £33,000 per annum, depending on qualification and experience

Application closing date: 07/10/2022

Financial Accountant

Location: Kettering, Permanent - Full Time Salary: £38,000 per annum

Application closing date: 07/10/2022

Personal Achievement Tutor

Location: Silverstone, Permanent - Full Time Salary: £22,000 per annum

Application closing date: 07/10/2022

Training Coordinator - Business

Location: Bedfordshire/ Northamptonshire, Fixed Term -Full Time

Salary: £26,010 - £36,188 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience

Application closing date: 07/10/2022

Teacher of A Level Geography

Location: The Bedford Sixth Form, Permanent - Full Time Salary: £28,000 - £36,000 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience

Application closing date: 11/10/2022

Maths Lecturer (GSCE and Functional Skills)

Location: Biggleswade and Bedford, Permanent - Full Time Salary: £26,000 - £32,640 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience

Application closing date: 13/10/2022

Assessor/ IQA Training Coordinator - Carpentry

Location: Bedford and Corby, Permanent - Full Time Salary: £26,010 - £36,188 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience

Application closing date: 14/10/2022

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

Welcome to the group

Haris Amin

Associate - Enrolment Support Assistant

Augustina Balogun-Adigun

Pastoral Mentor - Maternity Cover

Aziz Benjamaa Maths Catch-Up Tutor

Samantha Betts

English Catch-Up Tutor

Francesca Boulton

Associate - Customer Contact Assistant

Emma Bright

Library & Learning Resources Assistant

Sophie Bullen

Associate - Lecturer - Media

Janet Chandler Maths Catch-Up Tutor

Paul Cherrett

Estates & Facilities Assistant

Charles Clack

Trainee Lecturer - Agriculture

Helen Clarkson Maths Catch-Up Tutor

Libby Connelly

Trainee Lecturer – English

William Davison

Associate - Enrolment Assistant

Matthew Dempsey

Associate - Lecturer - Performing Arts

Shaun Field

Payables Manager

Lee Fuller

Chef Unit Manager

Louis Garrett

Associate - Enrolment Assistant

Rowena Goddard

Volunteer - Gardener

Sarah Hadley

Associate - Swimming Teacher

Nushrat Hanifah

Associate - Telephone Researcher

Archer Heindric Course Manager - Technical & Modern Construction

Michael Helkenberg

Associate - Enrolment Assistant

Anita Honey English Catch-Up Tutor

Jasmine Houston Lecturer - Animal Sciences

Aleem Hussain

Associate - Enrolment Support Assistant

Amirah Islam Associate - Telephone Researcher

Brett Jim

Head of Engineering

Swati Kamble Maths Catch-Up Tutor

Maryam Khan Lecturer - English Rekha Ladher Maths Catch-Up Tutor Lynne Leonowicz Maths Catch-Up Tutor

Lucy Little Associate – Lifeguard Giacomo Marin Associate - Enrolment Support Assistant

Wahida McNally Personal Achievement Tutor Antonella Mitchell English Catch-Up Tutor

Bradley Moss

Associate - Enrolment Support Assistant

Charity Muzawazi Maths Catch-Up Tutor Kanta Nahar HR Recruitment Coordinator

Diane Parkins Lecturer - English Deepak Parmar Tuition Fund Administrative Coordinator

Toi Phu Ly Centre Administrator

Jade Ruff

Student Registry Administrator

Helen Scott English Catch-Up Tutor Ashraf Sekonds

Trainee Lecturer - Electrical/ Electronic Engineering

Sam Silvester

Associate - Enrolment Assistant

Elizabeth Simpson

Associate - Lecturer - Teacher Education

Daniel Standard Course Manager - Brickwork

Alison Taylor

Pastoral Mentor

Lily Temple

Business Development Administrator Apprentice

Sarah Wade Centre Administrator

Abi Watson English Catch-Up Tutor

Tian Wang

Associate - Enrolment Assistant

Jordi Weingard

Associate - Enrolment Assistant

Roy Weller

Associate - Lecturer - Media

John Whonderr-Arthur Lecturer - Business & Accounting

John Wright Maths Catch-Up Tutor

Danielle Young Attendance Officer

Ashley Spiers Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager

aspiers@bedford.ac.uk

Award Winning Equality Trailblazer

The Bedford College Group has been recognised as an Equality Trailblazer by the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce for our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Winning the prestigious Diversity and Inclusion Award demonstrates that we have put EDI at the heart of our organisation and embedded it within our culture.

In December we were the first FE college to be awarded Gold from Stonewall for our LGBTQ+ inclusion work on campus and in the community, recognising that staff have ongoing access to professional development in this area, regularly sharing our LGBTQ+ strategies with other settings, and hosting a range of LGBTQ+ groups and activities for staff and students. This includes our LGBTQ+ Support Advocates, who are trained to deal with specific LGBTQ+ student issues.

We were also recognised for our four staff diversity forums: The Women’s Network; LGBTQ+ Staff Forum; disAbility Advisory Group and The Race Equality Forum. Each sets targets to improve inclusivity and has an Executive Sponsor (a member of the Executive team) who attends forum meetings and drives forward diversity initiatives at a senior level. These four distinct forums will now begin working together on intersectional diversity through our new Unity forum. There are now plans for even more diversity forums to explore the many differences our staff have.

In terms of race equality, it was noted that we are committed to being an anti-racist organisation, building on our work to close the achievement gap for culturally minoritised students. We have a race equality action plan and steering group led by our Chief Executive, and have now launched a new Diversity in Leadership Programme to remove the challenges that diverse members of staff face when aiming to progress into leadership roles. Alongside this, our students have been part of a national initiative called The Student Commission on Racial Justice. They produced an animated video (‘Speak Truth to Power’) alongside students from other colleges across the country and went on to lead a workshop for our staff about black history and how to challenge discrimination.

It is an exciting time for EDI at the Bedford College Group, and although there is still work to be done, we are now starting to be seen as leaders for this in the region and beyond.

Ashley Spiers – EDI Manager

Inclusive

Em Lowe, Deputy Chief Executive and Ashley Speirs, EDI Manager collected the Equality Trailblazer Award from Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, Bedfordshire Business Awards 2022.

The award is a credit to the Group and the work we've done on inclusion and promotion of diversity in the last decade.

Diversity calendar in Oct 2022

4 October - Saint Francis’ Day – Christian Blessing of the Animals – Christian

5 October - Dussehra – Hindu Yom Kippur – Judaism

7 - 8 October - Mawlid al-Nabi – Islam

9 October - Guru Ram Das Jayanti – Sikh

10 – 16 October - Sukkot – Judaism

16 – 17 October - Shemini Atzeret - Judaism

18 October - Feast of St Luke - Christian Simchat Torah Judaism

22 October - Feast of the Guardian Angels – Christian

24 October - Diwali – Hindu Bandi Chhor Divas - Sikh

26 October - Birth of the Báb – Baha’i

27 October - Birth of Baha’u’llah – Baha’i

28 October - Feast of Saints Simon and Jude – Christian

30 October - Chhath Puja – Hindu

31 October - All Hallows Eve – Christian Reformation Day – Protestant Christian Samhain – Wicca/Pagan

STAFF PERKS

There are some great offers with a variety of providers this month:

Reebok – Save up to 35%

Clarks – Save 13% in-store

Expedia – Earn up to 10% cashback

VisionExpress – Save up to 30%

Virgin Media – Earn up to £150 cashback

Wilko – Earn up to 5% cashback

You can also save money on reloadable cards with Asda, B&Q, Currys and lots more.

Remember you can set your communication preferences to receive alerts by emails and to your mobile so you never miss an offer!

Social Recognition Wall

It is great to see that staff have been recognising their colleagues and sending cards to say ‘Thank You’ and ‘Just Because’.

If you wish to make someone’s day by sending an e-card please visit the Bedford College Perks scheme at https://bedford.rewardgateway.co.uk/ SmartHub and click on Say Thank You.

Wellbeing Tip of the Month

Walking outside, or spending time in green space, can reduce negative thoughts and boost self-esteem.

You can access all this:

• Variety of online fitness classes for Strength, Cardio, HIIT and Yoga

• Articles on how to stay financially fit and strategies for stress

• Recipe of the Day – Spicy Mexican Style Bean Stew, plus access to lots of other recipes

• Budget planner to help put yourself in control of your money

Discounts for staff in education

For exclusive discounts, cashback and vouchers for Teachers and all Education staff, join FREE today at www.discountsforteachers.co.uk

Discounts for Teachers has something for everyone!

Caring

Lynsey Travers

HR Manager - Human Resources ltravers@bedford.ac.uk