Way2Go - North East 17 by Distinctive Media Group Ltd

issue 17 | June 2008

INTRODUCTION

WELCOME to the latest edition of W2G North East! In this months issue we take a look at careers in the Army, Engineering, Chartered Surveying and if your thinking of becoming a Lawyer this could be the issue that might just change your life. We have the usual playtime section where we take a look at the latest movies, games and music releases to hit the shelves. With the sun shining and summer just around the corner it is the perfect time to knuckle down and let Way2Go help you achieve your GOOOOAAAAL!

Distinctive Publishing LTD 7th Floor Aidan House Sunderland Road Gateshead NE8 3HU T: 0191 2983571 F: 0191 2983561 John Neilson Sales Director john.neilson@distinctivepublishing.co.uk Ewan Waterhouse Business Development Manager ewan.waterhouse@distinctivepublishing.co.uk

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by Michael Rolf

MOVIE REVIEW Son of Rambow The 80s was the decade of leg warmers and Space Dust popping furiously on the tongue. Son Of Rambow is a delightful coming-of-age story harking back to those days. Garth Jennings’ adorable comedy centres on lonely Will Proudfoot, whose mother Mary is a member of the strictly religious Plymouth Brethren and forbids him from corruptive influences such as film, television and the radio. Consequently, Will retreats from his classmates into his sketchbook. At school, Will meets troublemaker Lee Carter, who has been abandoned by his parents and lives with his older brother Lawrence. The young tykes spend the afternoon together,

watching a copy of Rambo: First Blood. Inspired to imitate Stallone’s muscle-bound killing machine, Will secretly agrees to perform death-defying stunts in Lee’s homemade film, which the boys hope to enter in a national competition. Tensions flare when French exchange student Didier tries to muscle in on the lead role, driving a wedge between the new best buddies. Son Of Rambow is irresistibly charming, blessed with compelling performances from the two leads. The script strikes a perfect balance between laughter and tears building to a deeply moving finale that warms the cockles of your nostalgic heart. The boys’ filmmaking escapades are hysterical, including some potentially lethal stunt work, with a rickety seesaw contraption to catapult Will over a bale of hay.

DVD REVIEW Alvin and The Chipmunks In a tree farm, three musically inclined chipmunks, Alvin, Simon and Theodore, find their tree cut down and sent to Los Angeles. Once there, they meet the frustrated songwriter David Seville, and despite a poor house wrecking first impression, they impress him with their singing talent. Seeing the opportunity for success, both human and chipmunks make a pact for them to sing his songs. While that ambition proves a frustrating struggle with the difficult trio, the dream does come true after all. However, that success presents its own trials as their unscrupulous record executive, Ian Hawke, plans to break up this family to exploit the boys. Can Dave and the Chipmunks discover what they really value amid the superficial glamour around them? After watching this I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think I really care!!? A disappointing adaptation of the cartoon version which I once loved!!

MUSIC REVIEW MARIAH CAREY E=MC² Performer and songwriter Mariah Carey is back with her eagerly anticipated new album, E=MC². The 11th studio album of her career, E=MC² is the follow-up to The Emancipation Of Mimi, Mariah’s worldwide 10 million selling number 1 album, which generated three Grammy awards, two number 1 singles and countless more industry honors during its 18-month stay on the charts. A range of guest producers joining Mariah on E=MC² include Jermaine Dupri, DJ Toomp, Stargate, Will I Am, C. “Tricky” Stewart, Bryan Michael Cox, Nate “Danjahandz” Hills and James Poyser give this album a fresh vibe. This is a great album and a perfect soundtrack for the summer with these laid back R n’ B beats.

Favorite tracks: - Me & My Boyfriend - Touch My Body

GAME REVIEW WII Fitness The hit combination of Wii SportsTM and the Wii RemoteTM brought golf swings and tennis serves into people’s homes. Now Nintendo turns the living room into a fitness center for the whole family with Wii Fit and the Wii Balance Board. Family members will have fun getting a “core” workout, and talking about and comparing their results and progress on a new channel on the Wii Menu.

Features: n

Lean to block soccer balls, swivel hips to power hoop twirls or balance to hold the perfect yoga pose. As users stand on the Wii Balance Board, included with Wii Fitness, their body’s overall balance is tied to the game in a way they’ve never experienced before.

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Wii Fitness also uses the Wii Balance Board for daily tests. These evaluate two key measures that a household can track via progress charts: Body Mass Index (BMI): A weight evaluation based on a ratio of weight to height. Wii Fitness Age: The Wii Fitness Age is measured by factoring the user’s BMI reading, testing the user’s center of gravity and conducting quick balance tests.

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Wii Fitness includes more than 40 types of training activities designed to appeal to all members of a household. Training falls into four fitness categories: Aerobic Exercise: 10-minute exercises that are designed to get the heart pumping. Muscle Conditioning: Controlled motions using arms, legs and other body parts. Yoga Poses: Classic poses that focus on balance and stretching. Balance Games: Fun activities, such as ski jumping and heading soccer balls, that challenge the player’s overall body balance.

The competition where a passion for fashion can turn you into an Entrepreneur! To find out more go to: http://www.makeyourmarkinfashion.org/ Make Your Mark aims to unlock the UK’s enterprise potential by encouraging people to create a business from their passion, which in this case was fashion! The competition was a nationwide call for fashion designers who knew how to make their ranges sustainable and how to make these recycled or natural garments sell a with a show at London Fashion Week as a prize the entries came flooding in! After a long and difficult selection process three of the teams who entered from the Tees Valley were short-listed and one of our teams was picked from hundred’s across the country to be one of only 8 teams at the National Finals in London. The girls from team Ewe who were nationally short listed, ‘The national final in London was an amazing experience. Even though London Fashion Week just escaped us the industry specialists we met and the enterprising ideas that created were priceless and now we’ll defiantly get there next time!’ The girls managed to just miss out on the top prize by only one vote but as the youngest team there we all think they did an amazing job, especially in front of the Dragons Dens style panel! Pamela Hargreaves, Head of the Campaign said, ‘The

amazing standard of the applications these young people in our area produced shows not only their talents in fashion but that they can apply those skills with business sense. That is exactly what is needed to compete in a highly competitive industry.’ The Tees Valley applications were entered into a regional final judged by Steve Cochrane (owner of Pscyhe) who presented the winners with their awards at the Fashion Rocks Up North event (in aid of Make A Child Smile) along with Pamela Hargreaves, Head of the Make Your Mark Campaign and with the generous support of Psyche, each winning team will be given the chance to work with visual merchandisers from the store to showcase their work in the store’s windows! All the students work will be on show in the windows of Psyche, week commencing 16th of June so keep an eye out! To find out more about Make Your Mark in the North East go to: www.makeyourmark.org.uk/tees_valley

Runner-up team Trashion from Cleveland College of Art; Louise Hamilton and Sally Hewett, (pictured with Steve Cochrane) Jamie-Lee Tose and Kirby Dixon

Ewe from Cleveland College of Art are our Tees Valley winners for 2008! Stephanie Cooke Lauren Donachie Jennie Tate and Chloe Wilson pictured with Steve Cochrane, Pamela Hargreaves and Make Your Mark Ambassador and TFM DJ Wayne Allan

Eco-sisters from Bydales Technology College (all aged 14); Laura Keeling, Grace Lee, Emma Keeling, Eve Benson, Molly Beal and Laura Bashford with Steve Cochrane

Are you… innovative? creative? ready to take risks and manage them? Do you have…a “can-do” attitude and a drive to make ideas happen? If the answer is YES, then you should start a Make Your Mark Club! All over the UK a unique network of teenagers is growing everyday. Young people just like you, are developing ideas and are making them happen, from solving a problems to setting up a fairtrade shop or even a travel agency for teenagers! There are well over 200 Make Your Mark enterprise clubs in schools and colleges all over the UK and you should get involved! They exchange enterprising ideas and experiences, creating a unique forum for their profiles on a national scale. In the North East, there are 27 Make Your Mark Clubs and that number is increasing daily. Their successes help to catalyse and embed an enterprise culture among young people. Here are a couple of them and how they Make their Mark:

What is a Make Your Mark Club?

The Make Your Mark Club is the dynamic national network of student-led enterprise clubs in schools and colleges across the UK. Make Your Mark Clubs are run by students and supported by a teacher. Any one can set up a club. All you need is some young people and a comfy space to meet. There’s no set formula – it’s up to you what ideas you bring to life, and how you structure activities. The most important thing is that it gives you time to develop your creativity and entrepreneurial talent.

Why get involved?

Membership of the Make Your Mark Club is free. You get access to ideas, opportunities and resources. It’s an easy way to develop talents that will help you in your future career. It’s also a great way to connect with other teenagers around the UK, to learn from their ideas and to share your own enterprise successes! Benefits of club membership include: n Free membership of the national network n A secure members only website where you can meet other enterprising students. n Termly competitions with cash prizes to help students develop their ideas n Regular newsletter n Annual certificate for every club member n Invitation to a national Club meet-up in London – the networking event of the summer! Find out more at: www.makeyourmarkclub.org.uk or email: Julie@makeyourmark.org.uk

Marden School

marden school and staindrop

Currently, a group of Year 8 students have been working on a DVD to promote the “Look of the Future” for the NorthEast, using CAD, animation and other forms of media. Marden High School has been involved with Make Your Mark since November 2005 through the Make Your Mark Challenge. In 2006, their winning team of students came up with a fantastic idea of a talking toothbrush which was carefully researched and thoughtfully financed. They made it to the regional finals with an excellent pitch. They had a great day with other Make Your Mark teams and enjoyed the trip and the day extensively. Another enterprising idea courtesy of Marden’s Year 9 Gifted and Talented students is an MP3 player that can be used in the bath!

marden school and staindrop

Staindrop Business & Enterprise College in County Durham – Heading East Staindrop’s Make Your Mark Club is an enterprise group where the students are the real decision makers! They meet every Tuesday for a working lunch. Run by students for students, their long-term project is a permanent outlet for small businesses within school including a stationery shop and a fair trade shop. The club is consulting architects as well as other specialists to amalgamate their ideas and make them happen. Other enterprising activity is on the horizon for Staindrop with the Mandarin Chinese classes. These language students are hoping to raise money in various enterprising ways to fund a trip to China in Autumn!

So – your exams are over, you’ll never have to speak French or work out equations ever again, and you’ve got weeks and weeks until you go back to school or college in September. You’ll want to make the most of your time off, and get out and about – to meet up with your friends, get to your part-time job, go shopping, catch this summer’s blockbuster movies ….the list is endless! Public transport can get you to where you need to be – without having to rely on when your parents can drop you off or pick you back up. There are lots of ways to save money on bus and Metro fares – and the right one for you will depend on how old you are.

If you’ve just finished Year 8, 9 or 10 Your Under 16 Card will be valid until you go back to school in September – so you’ll still be able to travel at concessionary child fares before 7pm on weekdays, and at commercial child fares at all other times - when you show your Under 16 Card. If you haven’t got an Under 16 Card, now’s the perfect time to get one – they’re free of charge, and could save you loads of money this summer.

If you’ve just finished Year 11

use on Metro and bus in the zones you choose. Or if you only travel on one operator’s buses – just buy a pass valid on their services – there’s a Go North East Get Around ticket, a Stagecoach Under 19 VIP ticket or an Arriva Student Ticket. Or, if you just travel by Metro, buy a 16-18 Metro Student Card. See how2get2.co.uk for full details of these tickets

- If you’re not going back to school/college – you’ll have to pay adult fares from now on – but there are lots of season tickets to help reduce the cost – see nexus.org.uk for details

If you’ve just finished Year 12

Go North East Get Around tickets, Stagecoach Under 19 VIP Cards and 1618 Metro Student Cards are valid over the summer holidays, and you can continue to buy them when you start Year 13, along with Network Ticketing’s Teen Traveltickets and Arriva Student Tickets.

If you’ve just finished Year 13

You can continue to buy Go North East Get Around tickets, Stagecoach Under 19 VIP tickets and 16-18 Metro Student Cards until the end of the summer holidays, and then if you’re staying in Tyne & Wear to go to university, you can start saving with tickets for university students – see nexus.org.uk for full details.

Your Under 16 Card will expire at the end of July. Until then you can travel at concessionary child fares before 7pm on weekdays, and at commercial child fares at all other times - when you show your Under 16 Card. Then in August you’ll have to pay adult fares – check out nexus. org.uk for the best ticket to buy for the journeys you make. If you just use Stagecoach or Go North East buses though – you could continue to buy a Stagecoach Under 19 VIP ticket or Get Around ticket.

If you’re not going on to university, check out nexus.org.uk for details of adult season tickets. And of course if you’re going away to university – Nexus can’t help you save money on public transport outside Tyne & Wear, but your new university should be able to provide you with information.

- If you’re going back to school/college in September – you’ll be able to save money as soon as you go back to school or college. Buy a Network Ticketing Teen Travelticket, to

For more information about the right ticket for you – and for how to get to where you want to go – go to how2get2.co.uk.

Newcastle Science City wants more of you to study and love science. By studying Biology, Chemistry and Physics you can find out more about the world we live in, how it works and have the chance to get a great job after your exams. Here is why some people love science. Can you imagine being able to make your own fireworks – in a classroom! Sixteen year old Martyn Dixon, a GCSE pupil at St Cuthberts RC High School in Newcastle upon Tyne loves science and one of his best lessons so far has been when his whole class made live fireworks and found out what colours different chemicals produced. Martyn said: “We discovered magnesium made white and calcium made green, then explored other chemicals to get a great range of effects. As part of his lesson he also made hydrogen rockets. He explained “You put the rocket in a pop bottle and set it off inside. It was excellent fun as well as teaching us about science. “I love seeing a big explosion with a big light which burns bright white and thinking I wish I knew how to do that and could have a go at it. That’s what is great about chemistry especially.” At St Cuthberts School science doesn’t have to end at 3.30pm either. For Martyn and his school mates there is a great after school science club where both pupils and their parents get a chance to do things such as extract their very own DNA and find out how much vitamin C there is in drinks compared to the amount on the label. His school, St Cuthberts RC High School, is a specialist science college.

Australian Trip Fires Up Interest in Science Sam Ruddick, 17 is studying for AS levels at St Cuthberts RC High School, Newcastle upon Tyne, and his interest in science was firmly set alight on a week-long trip to an Australian University in Melbourne. He said: “I am now studying Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology because the Australian trip made me realise that science can literally open the door to anything in life. “Whether you are driving a car or heating your home, the world can’t function without it. “I’m really interested in energy sources and looking for new places to find fuel and alternative sources of energy to traditional coal, oil and gas which can cause harm to the planet and will run out eventually. In Australia Sam was taught with 70 Australian students and four from the UK. They had extraordinary field trips to places such as the Opal nuclear reactor in Sydney to see at first hand how nuclear energy works and also learnt about parasites and biological diseases.

There are also plenty of exciting jobs for you after you had studied science. Here is one in the health service.

Scientist Turns Detective Biomedical Scientist Amie Davies, who works for Newcastle NHS Foundation Trust, sees her job as similar to a TV detective. She grows bugs from all different types of tissues from wounds, swabs, bones, green phlegm and even urine to painstakingly work through the findings and identify the best treatment to cure the patient’s problem. After finishing her A levels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths Amie studied Biomedical Sciences as a sandwich degree at Northumbria University in Newcastle. Her course included a year in the laboratories at University Hospital of North Durham and after she graduated she worked full time at the hospital.

To encourage more people to study science Amie is a Science and Engineering Ambassador, a programme managed by STEMNET which complements Newcastle Science City’s work as it also aims to bring scientists’ real life experience in front of young people to inspire them to take up posts in this interesting field. There is also a chance to see some exciting, action-packed activities to inspire young people at the North East Youth Engineering Shows at Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton le Spring from 24 – 26 June. More information on Newcastle Science City is available at www.newcastlesciencecity.com and STEMNET at www.stemnet.org.uk

Eight years on from that time she is now based at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle and said: “I really enjoy my work and getting to the bottom of things. For example I am involved in diagnosing whether someone has HIV and while sometimes my results mean bad news for the patient, it is important to remember we also bring positive results, where people are found to be free of a particular disease - that is a great part of the job.” Amie said: “The pay is pretty good for Biomedical Scientist trainees and the work is varied. You can also work in genetics and haematology, biochemistry, and immunology as well as microbiology which is my main field.”

At Connexions we are proud of the way that the young people we work with get involved and support Connexions and the wider community. They participate in so many ways: from giving their views on issues affecting them and their peers to helping to develop the service we provide. Each of our 4 local area offices has a young people’s consultation group who can help us to evaluate aspects our service. They also get involved in the planning and promotion of open days and local events, this has included tasks such as designing posters, deciding on activities and helping out on the day. If you are interested in finding out more about Connexions or getting involved locally, contact your local centre.

Our Young People’s Involvement Coordinator: Janet Stadius works with groups and individuals to encourage them to participate in both local and national projects. Recently Connexions worked in partnership with Education in the Community to produce a DVD which was launched at a Teenage Pregnancy Board event at Beamish Hall. It explores young people’s experiences of Sex and Relationship Education [SRE]. They told us about their views on what should be in a SRE programme, their experiences of sexual health and contraceptive services and the people and places from which they wanted to get information and advice. Over 30 young people participated in the filming and talked candidly about their experiences and 5 ½ hours of footage was recorded to be used for the final version. We take the views of young people seriously and try to respond to them in a positive way, for example when we received requests for music to be played in the waiting areas of the Connexions Centres we purchased some CD players and performance licences so we could do just that! We like it when young people to help us promote the services that we provide so Janet has worked with a group of young people from the Durham area to produce a voice jingle to be played on our telephone ‘on-hold’ system. The group worked on the scripts, took part in the recording, and are currently awaiting the final edit before the voice-track goes live later this month. We frequently use our website www.help4teens.co.uk to gather the views of young people on a number of issues for Connexions and other organisations. These have included a collaborative survey with Connexions, Save the Children and the Office of Roberta Blackman-Woods: MP for the City

of Durham, to canvas the opinion of young people on finding a venue for young people within the city where they could hold alcohol-free events. We have also hosted surveys on behalf of other agencies; for example the current Youth Leadership survey where the Government has pledged £6 million to support ‘young leaders’ in their communities. Changemakers have been asked to gather ideas, opinions and suggestions about the initiative and we are helping in this process by hosting the survey on our website. The website team are always interested to find out what sort of things you want to see on the site. You can send a message anytime which we will deal with directly or pass onto the Personal Adviser for your school. If you want to have your voice heard or send us a message, log onto the site and find out what is going on in your area…..

Over the summer holiday our motivational activities team will be running a summer programme aimed at Year 11 leavers. This offers the chance to get involved in activities like climbing and canoeing which to build their confidence and team work skills. See the advertisement for more details……

The energy industry is not usually associated with the fast-paced and glamorous career paths offered by the likes of the new media or creative sectors. However, there are loads of exciting opportunities involved in the oil and gas, nuclear and renewable energy sectors, and the Jobs4Energy Recruitment Fair intends to show them off. The Jobs4Energy Recruitment Fair, to be held on 12 June at St James’ Park, Newcastle, will act as a one-stop shop for employment and training opportunities in the North East’s energy sectors. It will highlight careers in the oil and gas sector, both onshore and offshore, as well as showcasing jobs coming out of the revived nuclear sector and emerging renewable energy technologies. The jobs offered by these sectors are increasingly varied, comprising a massive range of skills and disciplines. Sure, the energy sectors have plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty as a technician or mechanical engineer, but there are also lots of hi-tech roles to get your teeth into. Computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, quality control assessors, product designers, researchers, project managers and salespeople are all needed to ensure this industry, and the companies in it, identify and make the most of the global opportunities available to them. The North East leads the international energy market in many areas, particularly subsea technologies, and some of its largest companies will be on hand to highlight their career opportunities at the event. Big players AMEC/Primat Recruitment, CTC Marine Projects, Wellstream, DUCO Limited, SMD, Seawell and Falck Nutec will exhibit alongside recruitment specialists Jobs@Pertemps and NRG. Sector Skills Council OPITO - The Oil and Gas Academy will also be at the fair to provide more information about building a successful career in the oil and gas industry. The Jobs4Energy Recruitment Fair aims to match vocational opportunities with career support to ensure students and graduates can make an informed decision about embarking on an energy career. Connexions Tyne & Wear is attending to help young people learn more about routes into energy employment, while specialists such as The TTE Technical Training Group will outline the training routes into the industry. Hosting the event in the North East is a significant coup for the region and something that recognises its eagerness to support the energy sectors. Not only does the North East have some

world-leading companies, it is also home to a vast number of keen potential employees. Stephen Hope, Operations Director of AMEC/Primat Recruitment, believes this is one of the North East’s key assets: “There is a positive appetite among energy sector employers for talented and motivated people from the region to become important members of the workforce.” With the recruitment buzz coming from the region’s employers and the enthusiasm evident in its pool of potential employees, the Jobs4Energy Recruitment Fair looks to be the perfect place to energise your career options. Go to www.jobs4energy.co.uk for more information about the event and to register your visitor place.

Gill Lawson, 27, is a Human Resources Officer for Hartlepool Borough Council My role is varied and involves carrying out Disciplinary, Grievance and Capability investigations in conjunction with the Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s procedures. I also help in the recruitment of potential employees to the Council. Being from the town has given me the drive and enthusiasm to work towards a better Hartlepool, and seeing the difference my work can make to achieving this. I have continued to receive support and guidance from those around me in an experienced environment which has allowed me to progress from a Modern Apprentice to successfully being appointed to a Human Resource Officer three years ago.

Together, councils are the biggest employers in the North East, with more than 100,000 people working for them. The work of councils touches almost every aspect of our lives, from cleaning the streets to helping to improve the environment and the regional economy. ww.careersincouncils.co.uk will give you information on some of the huge range of career, training and job opportunities within the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s councils. It also provides real life examples of young people who are now working in councils, possibly yours. They include young people working as apprentice civil engineers and horticulturists, social workers, tree surgeons, countryside rangers, librarians and personnel assistants. There are also examples of young people working in human resources, housing, and as part of a highly prestigious national graduate development scheme.

Three examples of young people working for councils in the North East of England are shown on these pages. For jobs directly from school, after university or apprenticeships, councils really do offer an exciting choice for young people. Local councils will give you the chance to do a job you enjoy, and make a positive difference to the lives of the people and communities of the North East. Best of luck Councillor Mick Henry Chair of the Association of North East Councils

Hartlepool Borough Council is an employer that offers a wide range of benefits to their employees such as flexible working and an excellent pension scheme, and I would recommend working for councils to anyone of any age looking to further their career.

Mark Hopper, 22, is a Housing Administration Assistant for City of Durham Council

Helen Carlton, 26, is a Countryside Ranger for Gateshead Council My job is to make sites accessible and safe for visitors and carry out conservation work for wildlife. I work at Thornley Woodland Centre, near Rowlands Gill, and I see Red Kites, Roe Deer, badgers and dozens of squirrels every day. I read environmental biology at Newcastle University. Most of my university friends have ended up going into jobs in industry but I wanted to have a job where I was out and about. It is great to have an active job that involves being in the great outdoors. I get a buzz when I point out wildlife to visitors to Thornley and enhance their enjoyment of the day. There are a few more boring aspects of the job, for example we have to do some litter picking and write reports. We tend to do a lot of weekend work because that is when most visitors come, but I get time off during the week to compensate. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve wanted to be a countryside ranger since I was four or five when I used to attended the junior nature club at Thornley. It is great to be following my dream career.

I carry out tasks for the housing department. My role is to keep the allocation database up to date with new applications that come in, update records as and when needed, create rent cards and send them to tenants and deal with various enquiries from tenants and members of the public. I like the variety of tasks I carry out, ranging from housing queries to election matters. I get to see how other sections operate as we support various other arms of the Council. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m picking up a good understanding of the authority at a young age that will hold me in good stead for the future. I would definitely recommend a career in local government.

For more information on the careers and opportunities within councils in the North East of England, and for links to many of their current job vacancies, please visit: www.careersincouncils.co.uk

Few law schools can count among their students a working harbourmaster and a brain surgeon; or an England cricketer and a retired coalminer. The Open University law degree was launched ten years ago and has proved to be a great success – particularly as it offers the opportunity to study for a law degree whilst working in the legal profession. Gary Slapper, Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Law, says the course has done more to broaden access to legal education than anything else in the past 50 years. The 1,500 OU law graduates to date will still be at an early stage of their legal careers, but Slapper insists that the sky’s the limit. “We are focusing on educating the law lords of the future,” he says. Gary, who writes a regular column on legal issues for the Times and is legal adviser for the BBC programme Judge John Deed, thinks that it is a really good idea to tie in your work with your studies. “Law students who go into work full of ideas and talking about law impress their employers and help their chances of promotion, as demonstrated by many of our students”. “And remember that as well as junior positions in law firms, there are legal departments in all sorts of companies – from football teams to the music and entertainment industries”. The OU’s law degree is run in partnership with the College of Law and all graduates are guaranteed a place for vocational training. Jane Chapman, Director of Academic Programmes at the College of Law, says that the degree’s open access was a key attraction for the college.

CASE STUDIES Jane Heybroek

Years working at a call centre have come in very handy at the Bar, says Jane Heybroek, a barrister, particularly when dealing with “extremely difficult” criminal clients. “I learnt how to defuse a situation if someone is getting a bit upset,” she says. Heybroek knew she wanted to be a barrister when she was 12. “But I was such an appalling teenager. I just wanted to go out and earn money and never finished my A levels.” The OU law degree was, she says, like the answer to a prayer. In 2001 she was among the first wave of OU law graduates and, after studying full-time for her Bar exams at the College of Law, became its first barrister. Now at Bell Yard Chambers, she specialises in criminal, family and immigration work. “For the first time in my life, I look forward to going into work every single day.”

Marc Cornock

There cannot be many law lecturers who come to academia via a stint at catering college and then nursing. Unsurprisingly, given his background as a registered general nurse, he specialises in medical law. His interest in law was sparked by a situation on a ward: an elderly man would not consent to his unconscious wife having a treatment. “So the procedure didn’t happen — and she didn’t improve as quickly as she might,” Cornock says. On investigation, he discovered that the doctors could have gone ahead lawfully on the ground of best interest, but no one had known that at the time. Cornock says his ward experience is a real asset in developing legal training for health workers. “Academic lawyers will say: ‘Nurses and doctors need to know this . . .’ and I’ll say: ‘Actually, they don’t. What they do need to know is X . . .’.” Find out more about the OU’s law degree and its many other modules and qualifications by calling 0845 366 6054 or visit www.openuniversity.co.uk/you

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iety, as we If you live in a modern day soc industry – the do in the UK, then the process technology chemical, pharmaceutical, bio nies are part pa and speciality chemical com g every day, of everybody’s life, contributin vital industry every hour, every second. This rything we do eve sector is essential to almost ognise this. and yet most people do not rec Without these industries and the products they develop we would quite literally starve; freeze or bore ourselves to death. Whether at work, college, home or play, products created by the chemical industry are there to help make your life more enjoyable, easier and safer. Whatever you buy DVDs, deodorant or a mobile phone it has been made by using chemicals. Look around you. Without chemicals and the chemical industry, virtually every man-made object could not have been made. At home we relax in our living rooms decorated in acrylic paints and vinyl wallpaper, lit by long life light bulbs and watching our televisions, which along with our DVD and CD players, are housed in a strong and durable plastic frame. The process industry protects us when we eat by providing safe food and water through antioxidants, biocides and flavourings, while fertilizers and crop protection chemicals help us to make sure that we produce enough for our needs. Our food and drinks stay fresher longer thanks to special packaging and containers. We keep ourselves and our clothes clean with shampoos, soaps, perfumes, cosmetics, washing powders, detergents and disinfectants, which are all produced using chemicals. Our bodies are kept well and protected thanks to the chemicals used in many antibiotics and other drugs. Disease can be prevented or treated easily and painlessly thanks to these drugs, which in turn have expanded the human lifespan – perhaps our most significant contribution to society. In terms products the list is quite literally endless – cars, bikes, phones, mp3 players, game consoles, plasma televisions,

laptops, inks and dyes, clothes, new medicines, makes-ups and creams ….. So by now I assume you’re beginning to understand just how important this industry is and you’ll probably be even more astounded to know that all of these products and technologies are produced in North East England. We have over 500 companies based in our region, employing an astonishing 40,000 people and selling £70 billion worth of products each year. And because of how quickly these companies are growing we need 16,000 new employees over the next ten years – that’s 8,000 vocational and 8,000 graduates. Fancy it? The average salary for a graduate is £25,000 growing to more than £80,000 over the length of your career. Fancy it now? The routes to join this industry are varied and there is a study path that will suit all types of young people. From apprenticeships, A-levels and company sponsored Foundation degrees, to acquiring a university degree and entering at graduate level, your options are endless and as for the jobs and careers, they are endless too (see list opposite). The process industry in the Northeast England is supported by NEPIC, the North East Process Industry Cluster. We are here to help the industry grow and sustain its future. We have lots of interesting information on our website about careers and training routes, which includes media-videos created by young adults. Why not take a look at our website or if you prefer, we can pop a copy in the post – just give us a call. We have all seen how quickly the products and gadgets around are changing and the amazing new things that are on offer to us that make our lives easier, more enjoyable and most importantly longer. Why not be part of these changes and technologies of the future? Why not join us and start a career in the process industries?

NEPIC (North East Process Industry Cluster) Limited Tel: +44(0)1642 442560 E-mail: enquiries@nepic.co.uk Website: www.nepic.co.uk

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The Apprentice Network was set up in 2006 at the request of Dave Walsh, Head of BT Apprentices. The Network recruited 10 Reps made up of 5 LOB Reps and 5 Diversity Reps, who worked hard to quickly establish the Network amongst Apprentices and the rest of BT. Mark Biffin was appointed as TAN Champion in 2007. The committee meet every 3 months and have bi-weekly conference calls, where they discuss progress of events, communications, new ideas and the budget. Reps communicate with apprentices regularly through events held and also online. There is a monthly newsletter send out to all apprentices and all managers which lets apprentices know what they can get involved in, and other relevant apprentice news. They are also there to support apprentices by providing an impartial ear to listen to any issues that the apprentice may have whilst also attempting to answer any questions that the apprentice is unsure about. The network also has a website, which has been recently refurbished and is kept up to date daily, with news, documents and useful links. TAN have a number of their own events and opportunities for apprentices: n

Charity Quizzes – held at Yarnfield Park, supporting local and big charities. All reps help to create the quizzes and TAN pays for the prizes. All donations go to Charity.

n Lunch with Learners – held across the UK with one

senior manager and ten apprentices in a comfortable and non-threatening environment where apprentices and managers can ask each other questions. Lunch is provided and usually last for 1hour 30 mins.

n Mentoring – TAN Created their own mentoring scheme and introduce this at Apprentice Induction Events n Competitions are held a few times a year for apprentices to win a prize, such as MP3 players. n

Green Week – to support BT’s Green Week and raise environmental issues with apprentices. Also provides a guide to apprentices/managers about what they could be doing for the environment.

What Next – a yearly event held at BT Centre with key note speakers, both in BT and out with BT. This event aims to provide apprentices with career path ideas and guides.

The network also promotes other events and opportunities that are open to apprentices including: n Adastral Park n India Trek n Challenge Africa

In the future, TAN hope to make more apprentices active with TAN events and opportunities and get them involved with helping to run events and suggest ideas. In the college where the Apprentices undertake the academic part of the scheme, we have notice boards and regular updates on events that are going on. This has been successful in raising the activities of the TAN as there are normally circa of 130 apprentices at college each week.

visit us at www.bt4me.co.uk

It has met royalty, celebrities and prime ministers, attended film premiers and even been entered into the robot ‘Hall of Fame’, but the world’s most advanced humanoid robot will face a very different challenge when it arrives in the North East next month. The latest version of ASIMO, Honda’s world famous robot, will be making its UK debut in the region with a mission to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and inventors. Honda’s humanoid robot will be in the North East for three days at the Youth Engineering Summit (YES) being held at Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton le Spring, in June. It is a major coup for the region; earlier versions of ASIMO have appeared in the UK in the past, but this particular version is the most advanced humanoid robot in the world. Resembling a small android astronaut, the new ASIMO is the culmination of more than two decades of humanoid robotics R&D, incorporates several significant technological advancements over its predecessor including a streamlined new design, even more fluid and quick movements and the ability to run at 6 km/h. It also has several other new mobility and intelligence capabilities. It will be interacting with youngsters at YES, which provides an opportunity for around 7,000 year 7 and 8 students (11-14 year olds), to sample first hand the importance of engineering in modern day life and appreciate the range of career options available in this diverse field. As well as ASIMO’s first appearance in the region, YES is also making its North East debut. The show is a fast moving 85-minute event which will see presentations, interviews, demonstrations and video about the world of engineering. William De Braekeleer, Corporate PR Manager, Honda Motor Europe Ltd. said: “I couldn’t think of a better audience to experience the first performance of the New ASIMO in the UK than students. ASIMO is a real machine

designed and developed through the passion of many of our own scientists and engineers, so we hope that what they have achieved can act as a real inspiration to the next generation of aspiring engineers. Hopefully one day they will be designing and building the machines, and robots, of our future. “ A range of public and private sector organisations, including One NorthEast, the North East Productivity Alliance (NEPA) and the

Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), are backing the show in the North East with the aim to make it an annual event in the future. One NorthEast Manufacturing and Productivity Manager, Dr Colin Herron, said: “The Youth Engineering Summit has been successfully run in the Midlands since 2000 and it is excellent to have the opportunity to bring it up to the North East. “Engineering applies to all industries, from record making to financial services, as well as within manufacturing, production and construction, and the show is a fantastic opportunity for youngsters from the North East to see the diverse range of career options available.

Entry to the show is free and there will be spaces for around 700 teachers to accompany the 7,000 students, and employers in the region are also welcome to attend. For booking information, please call 02392 631 331. Backing the first Youth Engineering Show in the North East, sponsors include: One NorthEast, Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), North East Productivity Alliance (NEPA), Sunderland City Council, Newcastle Science City, Gateshead College, South Tyneside Manufacturing Forum, Caterpillar, BAE Systems (Newcastle), Iris Engineering, Facilitators, NAC and Expanded Metal Company, NSAM, Paradise Foods, PepsiCo International United Kingdom, and Roseberry Leisure.

“I am also personally really looking forward to seeing the world famous ASIMO whose presence in the UK should inspire the next generation of engineers particularly from North East England.” BAE Systems, Nissan, Walkers PepsiCo International United Kingdom and filmNova have all confirmed their attendance and will present on their area of engineering expertise. NEPA engineer and Nissan employee, Keith Copeland from Sunderland, who last year won a prestigious National Training Award, will be giving a presentation about a career in engineering and talking about his experiences. The event, organised by One NorthEast in conjunction with NetWork Events Ltd, will be held at the Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton le Spring, Tyne & Wear on Tuesday 24 – Thursday 26 June.

Jodie Green from Darlington is a Combat Medical Technician (CMT) in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). Here she gives an insight into her experiences of Army life having completed her first phase of training. After enlisting in September last year Jodie spent 20 weeks at the Army Training Regiment Bassingbourn, where she was awarded ‘Best Physical Training’ accolade. Jodie says: “The first phase of my training has been really challenging, but also really rewarding. I’m the first person in my family to join the Army, so I know how valuable it is to talk to people about what the training will involve to make sure you’re mentally and physically prepared for it.” Jodie is now undertaking her second phase of training at the Defence Medical Services Training Centre at Keogh Barracks in Aldershot. After completing 24 weeks Jodie will then be posted to her first unit, which is likely to be a medical regiment, giving emergency treatment, evacuating casualties and dealing with routine medical needs. WO2 Tony Masters, from the Darlington Army Careers Office says “Jodie really shone during her time at Bassingbourn, and is a great example of what can

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be achieved at such an early stage of an Army career. The first phase of training teaches soldiers how to handle weapons, live in the open and really puts their stamina and fitness to the test.” For further information visit www.armyjobs.mod.uk, call 08457 300 111, text ARMY to 61110 or call into your local Army Careers Office.

The first phase of my training has been really challenging, but also really rewarding. Jodie Green at the Darlington ACIO

The Maersk Trainee Scheme is not just a modern day apperntership; we are looking for the future leaders of a global company both at sea and ashore. Our 100 training officers head to the infamous SAS training ground, the Brecon Beacons, for a week long leadership programme consisting of; Bridge Building, Canoeing, Climbing, Caving, and orienteering. Promoting team work and good communication skills. This programme has set our trainees, some as young as 16, on the path to becoming a Captain, Chief Engineer, Managing Director or Vice Presidents or one of the worlds leading companies.

Ruth Scott The week in Wales consisted of students from South Tyneside and Warsash colleges joining together for teambuilding. Nobody at the beginning really knew each other and we were split into random groups of 6 people. By the end of the week the aim was to get us working well together as a team, gaining valuable skills that we could transfer to life on board. The groups did different activities each day in order to make us see how to work as a team. The activities were good fun and I think this helped everyone feel more at ease with some of the situations. Team Dynamics were excellent and of all their staff were very experienced and knowledgeable. They were also good at encouraging us to over came fears such as climbing up to quite high heights. Most of the week was enjoyable except I think there may have been some parts such as the log book keeping and essay writing that people felt were a bit pointless as we had just spent six months in college doing just that. The experience was worthwhile and taught us skills such as teamwork, communications and trust in our team-mates.

Craig Young Before beginning the sea phase of my cadetship Maersk had organised a teambuilding building event at Wern Watkin, Wales. We were told that it would be five days long, each of them involving a different activity. Nearer the date of the course we were set an agenda stating our flight details and also the activities that the week consisted of. On our arrival we were met by the members of team dynamics, the group who would be looking after us for the week. Team dynamics was made up of five people who had a great amount of life experience. Most of them were retired from the army and had decided to use there skills from their experiences to benefit others. When we reached Wern Watkin we were split into groups of five and six, these were picked at random. Each team was then designated a team leader from team dynamics to help them through the week. We then sat down as a group and got to know each other a little better and discussed what we would be doing throughout the week. We completed many Tasks including walks, caving, climbing and canoeing around the Brecon Beacons. At the end of the week we came together as a group and discussed what we had learnt. It was at this point that I realised how beneficial the week had been. The teamwork required through the week was quite demanding. It made us look after one another, for example, whilst climbing we worked together helping each other up the rock face. Another positive gained from the week was understanding how important good communication can be. It allowed us to get the task done quickly and effectively. I will not lie in saying that the course was hard work as we finished the week with a 16km walk across the mountains. However it was definitely worth while and I would recommend it to other cadets.

www.seacareers.co.uk

Last issue, Way 2 Go featured the launch of Portrait of a Nation – a national conversation amongst young people encouraging them to discuss and share where they come from, who they are, and what it means for their future. This month, we want to know all about locations that YOU feel are important, distinct and key to the identity of your city. These are your ‘HERITAGE HOTSPOTS’ and we want you to tell us all about them at www. portraitofanation.net Help us to start the conversation about what matters to you. It could be a place where you and your friends hang out, a local landmark that means something special, or somewhere that is important to you or your family past. All over the UK, in 18 cities from Inverness to Newcastle to Cardiff young people are currently working on projects geared towards staging events that will show what makes their city unique with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008. NewcastleGateshead’s contribution to Portrait of a Nation sees Tyne & Wear Museums and Tyneside Cinema team up to deliver a filmmaking project, exploring heritage and celebrating local identity and pride. Now it’s your opportunity to get involved in this yearlong programme of events and online activity. From local dialects to fashion, places we hang out to music we listen to, our lives are shaped by the cultures, places and people around us… We asked four of the young people taking part in NewcastleGateshead’s film-making project what they think is special about their city and heritage and how it is something that affects their past, present and future:

Name: Age: Occupation: Hometown:

Anna Cassidy 19 Gap year student Gateshead

What do you like about living in the North East? I like that the North East feels like home. It’s a big city with lots of shops, restaurants and things to do but with a short metro ride you can be at the beach and feel like you’re totally somewhere else. I like that people can identify you because of your accent. Top heritage hotspot? A pub called the Cricketers where I work on the River Tyne. It’s a really local pub so everyone is friendly and makes you feel like you belong.

Name: Age: Occupation: Hometown:

Georgia Manners 17 Six form student, Ponteland High Newcastle

What do you like about living in the North East? It’s just the right size. It has a homely, friendly feeling but is constantly evolving so has an amazing buzz. We have new buildings such as Dance City but beautiful original buildings like the Theatre Royal and Greys Monument are still a big part of today’s society. The best thing about Newcastle is that it’s my hometown and I wouldn’t choose to be anywhere else. Top heritage hotspot? Greys Monument is a meeting point for the younger generation and the Theatre Royal for all ages.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awards grants to people who want to learn about or conserve heritage. This could be anything from restoring an old building to saving squirrels to putting together an art and film project. If you think you’ve got a project that HLF might be able to help with please contact the team at: St Nicholas Building, St Nicholas Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1RF T: 0191 255 7570

Name: Daniel Gourley Age: 17 Occupation: Sixth Form

Student

Hometown: Newcastle What do you like about living in the North East? I like the Newcastle nightlife and music scene. There’s always something going on and the city is always buzzing. I love the independent shops that nobody knows about and all the forgotten parts. I like the diversity of people that live here, and I love the accent. You can go almost anywhere in the world and be recognised as a Geordie. Top heritage hotspot? Leazes Park, Exhibition Park, Jesmond Dene and Armstrong Park. I especially love Armstrong Park because of the shoe tree. The old tradition of throwing your old shoes on is still as popular as ever!

Name: Age: Occupation: Hometown:

NewcastleGateshead Heritage Map

Alex Dobbing 17 Sixth Form Student at Ponteland High School Newcastle

The Tyneside Cinema on Pilgrim Street

What do you like about living in the North East? I love the atmosphere, especially Northumberland Street with different buskers and performers. I love the nightlife, the gigs, going to Shakeaholic and finding secret little streets in Newcastle with my friends. Top heritage hotspot? The Carling Academy has a great atmosphere especially when my favourite band is on, I’m with my friends and everyone is enjoying the music. Greys Monument is a great place for meeting and a gorgeous Newcastle landmark.

Newcastle’s favourite cinema has recently been restored to its 1930s News Theatre glory

To tell us about your favourite ‘heritage hotspot’: 1) Log onto www.portraitofanation.net 2) Click on NewcastleGateshead on the cities menu 3) Scroll down to ‘heritage map’ 4) Simply fill in your details on the map and upload a picture!* *image is optional

What the surveying sector encompasses Becoming a Chartered Surveyor is potentially one of the most exciting careers around. When they aren’t creating the new Wembley Stadium, protecting the world’s reefs, or laying pipelines on the sea bed, they are designing and planning whole cities. Nowadays the scope of the surveying sector is huge. You can be involved in projects like museums, water-sport centres, ski slopes, wind farms, man-made islands, high-rise apartments, shopping complexes, national parks, and zoos.

An idea of the sort of people it would interest A Chartered Surveyor’s job is one of inspiring business enterprise and efficiency. If you get a buzz from making deals and possess good communication skills it could be the career for you. Being a Chartered Surveyor is very much a creative role - surveyors have physical evidence of their achievements and make a visual impact on a cityscape or environment. If you have an interest in: n n n n n n

the environment and landscapes natural resources and ecology architecture and property buildings and construction history and conservation communication

it could be worth considering surveying. Becoming a Chartered Surveyor means you won’t spend your life behind a desk - because surveying is an extremely diverse profession.

Why it is a great industry to get into The opportunities are many and varied and demand for Chartered Surveyors continues to outstrip supply. It’s much more than just wearing a hard hat and boots, although those that do could be working on multi-million pound projects – the likes of Wembley and the Olympics. So whether you are interested in designing and managing buildings (Building Surveying), delivering development projects (Project Management), managing the cost and commercial management (Quantity Surveying) or advising on and implementing building codes (Building Control) surveying is worth a close look.

The sectors too are diverse and challenging. Residential, leisure, health, education, retail and mixed use urban regeneration all form part of the Chartered Surveyor’s portfolio. About 15% of Chartered Surveyors now work internationally and this is growing fast. Memership of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is increasingly recognised as the international passport for property professionals. There is currently a shortage of skilled surveyors so it is an industry with good future employment prospects as well. RICS has seen a huge rise in the number of students members in recent years with 15,000 in the UK alone. A career in surveying can be very rewarding with job variety, job satisfaction and opportunities to travel as the key benefits.

The skills you learn Qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor means you’ll gain skills in key areas such as communication, management, ethics, dispute resolution, IT, health and safety, environmental awareness, law and research.

How you get into it: The most conventional route to becoming a Chartered Surveyor is to complete an RICS accredited degree and then become a trainee. After completing the degree you would then undertake an Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) – that’s two years structured training while in relevant employment, ending with an assessment interview. To get onto an RICS accredited property related or surveying degree course generally you will need three good passes at ‘A’ levels, or four Scottish Highers. The kind of subjects you’ll need are geography, economics, maths, languages, IT, English, physics, art, design and technology. To get started look up www.rics.org/courses or visit www.rics.org/careers You can also talk to an RICS adviser who will be able to tell you whether the qualifications you already have can be of use – ring 0870 333 1600.

The specific work of the RICS RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is the mark of property professionalism worldwide. It covers all aspects of property, construction and associated environmental issues. RICS has 140,000 members globally and represents, regulates and promotes the work of property professionals throughout 121 countries. RICS is governed by a Royal Charter approved by Parliament which requires it to act in the public interest. It is also a professional regulatory body approved by Government (HM Treasury). Our members are involved in everything from major construction projects to protecting the environment, from surveying the seabed to valuing antiques and fine art. RICS also provides impartial advice to society in general, businesses, governments and global organisations. We are a non-profit making organisation, and we provide our members with a wealth of practical assistance, information, training and logistical back up.

For more information on a career in chartered surveying please visit www.rics.org/careers

Until this year Jack White was just like any other teenager, but his life has changed dramatically since he was named as the new climate change champion for North East England Now trips to Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister and fact finding expeditions to Europe are all in a days work for Jack, a pupil at St Robert of Newminster School in Washington. It all started when Jack entered DEFRA’s climate change champion competition; a nationwide search for nine young environmental ambassadors. He composed and performed a song about tackling climate change with his band Troubleshooter, and was announced the winner after showing the judges how he would encourage other young people to change their habits to tackle climate change.

change, held at the Romanian Senate in the historic Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, before being given a guided tour of the Palace. Jack, who lives in Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, said: “I think it’s important to encourage young people from all countries to make some positive steps towards tackling the problems associated with climate change. We need to get the message across that our world is changing rapidly

and events and competitions such as this, and the one I took part in, are an ideal way to highlight this. “The short presentation I gave to the Romanian young ambassadors gave them an insight into what the climate change champions in England have achieved so far and, hopefully, provided them with some inspiring ideas as to what young people can do to actively tackle the threat to our planet from climate change.”

Jack will now spend a busy year raising awareness of how people can reduce their carbon footprint, meeting with senior Government Ministers to share his ideas, and will even get to run his own climate change event. Jack has already been helping to spread the environmental message across Europe. He travelled to the Netherlands in February on a fact finding mission and has recently returned from Romania where he was a special guest speaker at the Romanian Young Ambassadors against Climate Change awards ceremony. In Romania, he also took part in an international debate on climate Jack White, the North East’s climate change champion with Prime Minister Gordon Brown

You can follow Jack’s experiences by logging onto www.footprintfriends.com, a website dedicated to young people across the world who are interested in the environment and climate change.

What can you do about climate change? We all need to do our bit - here are some simple ways that you and your mates can reduce your carbon footprint and help make a difference: n

Jump in the shower rather than lounging in the bath and you’ll use two thirds less water and energy – not to mention saving time.

Mobile phone chargers use energy even when your phone’s not plugged in so make sure you switch them off at the socket.

Be a bright spark and make sure that the light bulbs in your home are energy saving ones. And remember to switch the lights off when you leave the room.

In the winter, draw your bedroom curtains at sunset to stay warm, save money on mum and dad’s heating bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Ditch the TV, log off your PC and turn off the Playstation for a night (go on you can do it!). Go outside and play a sport with your mates or read a magazine instead.

If you’re going out somewhere nearby then walk with a mate rather than getting your mum or dad to drive you – they’ll be happy and so will the planet.

Check that your TV, computer equipment and games are not left on standby. By turning them off you’ll be saving money as well as the environment.

When you get the latest mobile phone, don’t forget to take your old handset into a phone shop – 99% of them can be recycled, reducing their carbon impact.

TWEBLO (Tyne & Wear Education Business Link Organisation) helps educational establishments carry out their common law duty to look after the students that they are educating by satisfying themselves that the work experience placements they arrange take place in a safe environment. TWEBLO is responsible for ensuring that adequate health and safety provision is in place for every one of the 12,000 plus pre-16 statutory placements that occur annually. Due to the involvement that we have in pre-16 work experience activity we have also become involved in post-16 placements, extended and enhanced placements. It is not necessary to assess every placement each time is it used, we adhere to the following guidelines: High risk – 1 year (Engineering, agriculture) Medium risk – 2 years (hairdressing, care) Low risk - 3-4 years (administration, sales) TWEBLO has a bank of qualified health and safety professionals who conduct the visits to employers. The Assessor will ask the

Employer a range of questions on the assessment and request to see various documents to back up the answers that are given. They will then undertake an inspection of the work environment. During this process the Assessor will agree with the employer the student’s level of involvement, what they can or cannot do, who will look after them and the levels of training and supervision that they will require. We also outline the responsibilities that the employer has under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the many other supporting regulations. TWEBLO are also responsible for: - Investigating accidents with the aim of preventing re-occurrence and identifying root causes. - Following up any feedback from students during de-briefing sessions at school. Many Employers realize the important part which Work Experience plays in their

recruitment and retention strategies. Not only is it a valuable means of recruiting school leavers, it can help influence career choices made by young people, gives employers the opportunity of developing their workforce skills in coaching and managing and an added advantage is that it raises the employers profile within the local community. Under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the employer has a legal duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the pupil on work experience. Under the Health and Safety (Training for Employment) Regulations 1990 the pupil is regarded as an employee for the duration of the placement and therefore the legal responsibilities in relation to the pupil are no different to that of any other employee. The employer’s duty of care is even greater,however, due to the learner’s age, inexperience and lack of understanding. Under the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 an employer must not employ a young person unless they have assessed the risks to the health and safety of the young person taking into account other provisions as stated within the regulations. If the pupil is in year 10 or 11 the employer is also responsible for supplying the parent/guardian with information on risk assessment, the preventative and protective measures and the risks caused by others. Finally and most importantly Work Experience gives students in the north east the opportunity to prepare for the challenges they may face in tomorrow’s ever increasingly competitive marketplace. TWEBLO’s aim is to ensure all work experience placements which go through the Connexions booking system or come directly through to us take place in a safe environment. For further information please contact TWEBLO Health and Safety Managers on 0191 516 6168.

Engineering the Future Budding Sixth Form engineers and scientists from across the Northern region were out in force on April 3rd when the University of Newcastle hosted the Engineering Education Scheme’s annual Celebration and Assessment Day. The scheme, which is administered by the Engineering Development Trust, is part of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s BEST Programme that aims to encourage young people to consider careers in engineering, science and technology.

three launch days across the region, in December all of the teams took part in a Residential Workshop at the University of Newcastle where they were able to take advantage of the advanced facilities and staff support in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering. At the Celebration Day student formal presentations to assessors were followed by question and answer sessions and projects were viewed by large numbers of visitors in the Kings Road Centre.

The Celebration Day marked the culmination a six month experience for 189 Year 12 students during which they worked in teams, supported by engineering and science mentors, to develop solutions to real problems identified by supporting companies. The programme started last October with

Of the 45 teams taking part in the region, 10 were from the Tyne Wear area. Companies and organisations supporting projects with these teams included Nissan, Siemens Power Group, Jacobs Engineering, Faber Maunsell, Scott Wilson, Entec, Northumbria University, Port of Tyne and Tyne Tunnels.

The winners of the Nissan Rose Bowl, awarded to the team achieving the best all round performance on the day, were the students from Burnside Business and Enterprise College. The team worked with consulting engineers Scott Wilson on a project to improve the safety features of the listed bridge structure at the National Trust’s Cragside Estate. Professor Paul Younger in his closing comments complimented all of the teams on their commitment and the outstanding results they had achieved. Bryan Lawrence Regional Director of EES commented “We are delighted with the success of our programme in the region this year and we are extremely grateful to all of those organisations that support us in providing an experience that enables talented young people to make informed choices about future careers. The support is certainly justified, annually over 80% of our students go on to study engineering, science or technology related degrees”.

Tyne and Wear Education Business Link Organisation (TWEBLO) reinforces the ONE NorthEast skills agenda on 2 fronts. The Engineering Education Scheme (EES), part funded in Tyne and Wear by TWEBLO, held a celebration and assessment day at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne on 3 April. We are proud of the achievements of the young people involved and the organisational skills of Bryan Lawrence, EES North Regional Director. Every year Bryan continues to match schools with engineering companies across the North East and Cumbria. [Editor: See article and pictures from EES]. TWEBLO is also involved in another North East Regional pilot project called Our Place 2020. This is a project dealing with sustainable communities. Our Place 2020 is sponsored by ONE NorthEast and English Partnerships through IGNITE. It is for young people aged 1113. Not only does it get them to think about what they want their society to be like in 2020 but also to raise awareness of the career opportunities within the sector. It is not only about bricklayers and plumbers but raising awareness of the people behind the buildings and structures. The young people will be finding out about many other professional careers such as, engineers, planners, architects, quantity surveyors, interior designers as well as other ecological careers. It will examine questions such as “What happens if a sizeable proportion of agricultural land is under water? Where do we build new homes for an expanding population? What materials should we use for buildings of the future? What transport links will there be? Will we be growing rice in paddy fields instead of wheat?” And many more such questions. The possibilities are endless. We want the adults of the future

to start looking at and influencing what they will inherit in 2020. IGNITE has issued a letter to all schools to ascertain their interest in getting involved in a competition starting in September 2008. If your school is interested in the competition, there is a cash prize, and want to find out more contact - Bryan Alderson, Operations Manager, TWEBLO who is project managing this pilot in conjunction with Durham Education Business Partnership, Learn2Work Northumberland, A4e Tees Valley and Education Business Connections for Tyne and Wear. The regional final of the 30 schools taking part in the pilot will be held at Durham County Cricket Club, in Chester le Street, on 9 July 2008. All schools in the NE region are invited to send a representative by prior appointment please, because there are a limited number of places available. You can attend on the morning, afternoon or for the whole day basis, numbers permitting. Look out for the IGNITE letter emailed to all head teachers in April. For further information visit the website at www.ebcltd.org.uk or ring Bryan Alderson on 01915166166 alternatively email him at bryan.alderson@tweblo.co.uk 47