HARD WORK WINS. Take a look at how the hard work of our students, staff, partners and friends has paid off in 2014/15.
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WE’VE HAD AN OUTSTANDING YEAR.
We were named the best performing college in the region, number three in the UK and we are one of only two colleges in the country this academic year to secure Ofsted’s ‘outstanding’ grading. We’ve seen a record number of our students go on to achieve fantastic things. From their first choice of university and making a start in exciting careers, to winning national accolades and stepping into apprenticeships. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has worked with us over the past year and beyond. The businesses and individuals that have employed apprentices, provided valuable work experiences, mentored our young talent and teamed up with us to develop and shape a quality curriculum aligned with the needs of industry.
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It is these strong partnerships combined with a talented team of industry experienced teachers that allows us to deliver education with employment edge; a unique combination of high quality skills and the real word skills employers look for. I hope you enjoy this countdown of our achievements in the 2014/15 academic year and share in our outstanding success.
Judith Doyle
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Thank you. To my trusted colleagues, business partners and students who have shared our vision and helped to make this a fantastic year.
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Principal and Chief Executive
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COUNTDO OF SUCCESS. 04
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You’re hired. Result. 91% of students in work, an apprenticeship or a higher level of education.
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Back to work. 11,900 unemployed people back to work.
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Classroom to community. How we support our local region.
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One team, hundreds of differences. Celebrating our diversity.
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Stronger together. Joining forces to deliver employment edge.
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Less talk, more action. Delivering results for our local economy.
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12 Sports. 1 Academy. No contest. We work hard and play harder.
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Fix up look sharp. Spirit of enterprise.
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Apprenticeships work. Ensuring the future strength of our economy.
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And in at number one… We’re proud to be No.1 college and Officially Outstanding.
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10 YOU’RE HIRED. RESULT. 06
Our students have gone on to enjoy rewarding careers and apprenticeships with some of the best companies in the country and secure places at the top universities.
Michael Ord Apprentice Engineer Go North East
Jed Choudhury Graphic Designer Double Concentrate
Carly Toal Assistant Account Executive The Works
Luciana Parker-Jones Paint & Body Technician Paint Wizard
Callum Hutchinson Royal Veterinary College
Sheridan Mordew Marketing Executive Metro Radio
Stephanie Bannon Key Stage 3 Director of Sport Unity City Academy, Middlesbrough
Mathew Henderson Live Events & Promotions Apprentice Visit England Tourism Superstar Beamish Museum
Orin Rowe Smart Repair Apprentice The Alloy Wheel Specialist
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9 11,900 UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE ARE NOW BACK TO WORK AS A RESULT OF OUR TRAINING. 08
Being out of work can be the toughest time in anyone’s life. Rebuilding confidence, boosting self-esteem and encouraging self-belief are just some of the aspects of the unemployed training that we run in partnership with Job Centre Plus. This year, we’re proud to say we’ve helped thousands of people find a new lease of life by getting back to work.
Michael Nixon is just one of 140 candidates that have secured a job as a result of the Retail Academy that we are in association with intu Academy. It delivers training for unemployed people aiming for a career in retail. Supported by over 25 retailers in Eldon Square and the Metrocentre, including Clarks, Debenhams, Greggs and Collectables, the training presents retailers with a hassle-free recruitment service and unemployed people with a guaranteed route to interview.
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The teachers helped me re-build my self-belief and gain skills that enabled me to perform well in the job interviews.
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8 CLASSROOM TO COMMUNITY. 10
As a community college, our work extends beyond the classroom and we love supporting those around us. This year, our students have pitched in to support some fantastic causes. ●● Donated supplies for the local food bank. ●● Fun face painting at Northern Pride. ●● Transformed a school garden. ●● Dog walking at Brysons Animal Refuge. ●● Helped cancer charity FACT raise £2million to open a community centre. ●● Honoured the Holocaust Memorial Day. ●● Pledged to stand up to bullies. ●● Volunteered at Age UK.
@AGEUKGATESHEAD A MASSIVE WELL DONE & THANKS TO THE @GATESHEADCOLL STUDENTS FOR ALL THEIR HELP! THEY DOUBLED OUR USUAL TAKINGS!
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7 ONE TEAM, HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENCES. 12
We’re one team with one focus; to give every student the employment edge. But that doesn’t mean we’re all the same. We celebrate our differences and individuality because we know it’s not only what makes us unique, it is also our strength. We encourage and embrace diversity and we’re proud of the fact that our staff and students feel comfortable with us and can be themselves.
GOLD
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6 STRONGER TOGETHER. 14
Smart partnerships with the region’s leading organisations gave our learners the edge. We worked with our trusted partners to open doors for our learners to a range of brilliant opportunities and add real value to their learning experience. Here are just some of the highlights.
Career gets bill of good health.
The best dance partner
Sean Hardy, 23, is now enjoying a career in the medical records department at the Freeman hospital. During his studies, he completed work experience at the Sage Gateshead, the RVI and the Freeman Hospital, which helped him develop skills and boosted his confidence.
One student already shining as a result of this exclusive collaboration is 17-year-old Connor Scott.
Our NHS partnership, Project Choice, has helped more that 60% of students with learning difficulties and disabilities to secure work. The national average for these learners is just 7%.
We teamed-up with one of the best dance organisations in the UK, Dance City, to give our young dancers unrivalled opportunities as they embark on their career.
During his time with us, Connor, from Blyth, won the BBC’s national search for the best raw talent in the country, becoming the nation’s BBC Young Dancer 2015 winner. On winning, Connor said: “Just to share the stage with such talented dancers is one thing but to win the competition is amazing. Being part of this award has been an amazing experience and opportunity.” Connor is now studying at one of the best vocational dance schools in the country, Rambert.
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5 WE DON’T JUST TALK THE TALK. WE DELIVER. 16
Professional and technical training that delivered measurable results kept our business partners strong and competitive.
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As a large organisation in a competitive industry our intellectual property is very important to us and having a training partner that you can trust and share this with is vital.
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Kevin Fitzpatrick Vice President, UK Manufacturing Operations at Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK
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We’ve worked with Gateshead College for 17 years and they have been instrumental in shaping our workforce development. The college are involved right from the scoping stage of all projects, their patient and measured approach has proven so effective in delivering exceptional, flexible training that really makes a difference to the company and provides measurable results.
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Gill Southern Director at Wessington Cryogenics
We’re committed to developing our workforce and Gateshead College has become an invaluable partner in our recruitment and training programme. The college has been innovative and highly flexible in its approach and completely focused on aligning training with our needs.
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Chris Lamb Head of Vantec’s Logistics Centre of Excellence, Sunderland
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4 12 SPORTS 1 ACADEMY NO CONTEST. 18
In the last year, our Academy for Sport students have lifted national trophies, signed professional contracts, played for their country and shown that when it comes to sport, hard work always wins.
●● Our Women’s Football Academy took the title of English Schools U18 National Champions and were Premier League Tournament Winners. ●● Athletics Academy shot putter Adam Graham joined the British squad. ●● Pole vaulter Charlie Meyers secured a Gold medal at the English Schools Championships ●● Rugby League Academy was crowned ‘College Team of the Year’ by Schools Rugby. ●● Female footballers Chloe Jackson and Abbie Joice were selected for England U19s and Abbie also signed for Sunderland Women’s FC. ●● Rugby League star Sam Luckley joined the England Academy. ●● Golfer Adam Nicholson won the Association of Colleges Golf Championships. ●● Our 39th mens’ football player signed for a professional football club. ●● Men’s Football Development Centre topped up their trophy cabinet securing the title of national champions for the 12th year running ●● Netball and Rugby Union academies were both crowned Regional AoC champions.
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3 FIX UP. LOOK SHARP. 20
This year we’ve sharpened our business skills and spread our entrepreneurial wings.
In December 2014 we opened a new store in intu Metrocentre, handPICKED. A unique project for a college, handPICKED was designed as a home to nurture retail talent through apprenticeships, provide a trading outlet for budding entrepreneurs and offer valuable work experience. In just 12 months, handPICKED, has achieved £250,000 of takings, around 180 people have benefitted from the scheme as either employees, traders or trainees. Four student startups have been supported and 61 local craft makers. All profits are reinvested into the Gateshead College Foundation which provides grants to students to help them take the next step in their learning, for example to attend job or university interviews, to pay for conference admission or national competition entries.
Northern Stars Our Northern Stars enterprise society is the place to be for those students that are serious about starting their own business. It is full of exciting opportunities to learn more about what it takes to start a business, including lots of chances to network with successful entrepreneurs and attend seminars and talks.
Student Start Up Nineteen year-old Luke Farrell launched his own digital design company and is already looking to expand thanks to its instant success. Luke, who was given office space in the Northern Design Centre, already has several clients on his books and is now looking to employ a student from Gateshead College. His company, Puzzled, specialises in app and website design. He said: “Gateshead College was the best decision I ever made and I would never have launched my business without the help, guidance and financial support they gave me. “I have always wanted to have my own business; I am so excited to be launching Puzzled at such a young age. There is so much I want to develop and achieve across my career and it has already got off to a great start.”
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2 APPRENTICESHIPS WORK. This year, we delivered more than 2000 apprenticeships to 450 companies across the North East and beyond.
HEADLINE.
Talented apprentices have boosted the teams of businesses small and large, closing skills gaps and helping to ensure the future strength and success of our region’s economy.
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Funky Chunky Furniture’s success relies solely on the high quality craftsmanship of our products - it’s a challenge to find people that have both the hands-on know-how as well as the commercial awareness, initiative and self-motivation that’s so important to the success of a small business.
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Kieran Johnson Managing Director at Funky Chunky Furniture
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NO. 1 COLLEGE IN THE NORTH EAST. OFSTED OUTSTANDING. WHOOP WHOOP!
We were named the best performing college in the region, the third best in the country and graded Outstanding by Ofsted. Because we put everything we’ve got into making sure our students succeed and that they leave us with the employment edge.
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High levels of motivation, care and support from all staff.
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That means work-ready students with the unique combination of high quality education and real world skills that will put them at the top of any employers’ list.
Source: Ofsted 2015
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