Workbase - Spring 2011

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WORKBASE THE WORK-BASED LEARNING NEWSLETTER | SPRING 2011

When you have finished with this, please recycle it.

Welcome This latest edition of the Work-based Learning department’s newsletter is full of our recent success stories and inspiring news. This newsletter is a chance to celebrate the achievements of our students and staff, and to thank our partner employers for their support.

Everything the Work-based Learning department does is about helping young people make their way into employment, and so we hope that the stories inside go some way to showcase the variety of work-based learning opportunities on offer at City College Plymouth, and how they benefit both employers and students alike.

If you would find it easier to read this newsletter in a larger type or different format, please call 01752 305300 or e-mail info@cityplym.ac.uk.

Sarah Chapman (centre) with Helen France, Senior Area Director for the Skills Funding Agency (left), and Amy Balcombe, field presenter for Radio Plymouth (right) at the Training Provider Network Awards.

Catering Student Cooks up Apprentice Award Budding chef Sarah Chapman has been nominated for one of the top Apprenticeship awards in the country.

Seventeen year old Sarah has just completed her NVQ Level 2 Apprenticeship in Hospitality while working at one of the region’s most prestigious restaurants, The Horn of Plenty near Tavistock. She’s already picked up the Training Provider Network (Devon and Cornwall) Apprentice of the Year award and has now been put forward for the National Apprenticeship Service’s

City College Plymouth Learning Warehouse, 15-17 Union Street, Plymouth PL1 2SU T: 01752 251866 E: wbld@cityplym.ac.uk www.cityplym.ac.uk

Apprentice of the Year 2011 competition by her Reviewing Officer, Sandie Reed.

“You don’t meet many like Sarah”, says Sandie. “She’s a one-off. She rose to every challenge we threw at her. She is a great accolade to everything about the Apprenticeship programme and what you can do if you’ve got enough guts and determination.”

Continues on next page

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Catering Student Cooks up Apprentice Award Continued ...

Sarah’s dedication speaks for itself. Since the age of 13 she has worked every Saturday at the Horn of Plenty. But then, you could say, cooking is in her blood; “Both my mum and my nan used to be chefs,” she says.

“One of my earliest memories was sitting on a little stool in my nan’s kitchen with a little pinnie on making mince pies when I was about five.”

It’s obvious to anyone watching Masterchef that you need determination and ability to make it in the world of cooking but Sandie says Sarah also has a winning personality.

Working in a restaurant, Sandie says, is not for the fainthearted; “It’s tough in the kitchen and when you’re under pressure you have to be sure that everyone is pulling their weight.

Nothing is too much trouble for Sarah. She’s a supportive element in a high pressured-environment.”

Sandie has been so impressed with Sarah over the last 18 months that she has nominated her for one of the biggest apprentice awards in the country. If she makes it through the regional finals next month then she’ll have secured her place at the national finals, which are held each year at The Hilton Hotel in London.

Despite being only 17, Sarah has quietly been picking up some pretty serious cooking awards: she has already collected a gold medal for her patisserie in the Major International Culinary Challenge and a second gold for her scallop dish in the Wessex Salon Culinaire. Both events see competitors creating their dishes live in front of the judges.

Sarah will continue her catering studies at the College in September when she embarks on a Level 3 Diploma in Patisserie and Confectionery with her placement guaranteed at the Horn of Plenty. In the meantime, watch out for her hazelnut cake with stout ice-cream, we hear it’s a winning combination!

Leonardo Da Vinci European Exchange In July last year, nine of our top Wood Occupations apprentices went to the Carpentry Apprenticeship Training Centre of Excellence in southern Germany. It was the third time the College had sent a group of students to visit the centre in Biberach. The students learnt many different things from the exchange that could never be taught in a classroom. They returned impressed and inspired by the trip; those they met and what they saw.

Sebastian Roberts, a second year site carpentry apprentice, said that the experience was: “The most beneficial and rewarding learning experience of my life. Unforgettable.”

Despite lessons starting at 7.30am every day, all the exchange students felt the early start was worth it. The group worked hard and learnt many new skills, gaining experience of German carpentry practices which, in many respects, are different from UK practice. They also benefitted from architectural tours and a visit to a museum devoted to the history of the German carpenter.

This visit was an amazing learning experience for the apprentices involved, and they should be proud of how well they represented the College.

Their German hosts were so impressed with the group’s enthusiasm and dedication that they have invited the College to send another group of carpentry apprentices to the Training Centre of Excellence in July.

Furthermore, Sebastian and Alex Nicklin (who participated last year) are returning to Biberach this spring to participate in the centre’s “Beating the Heating” sustainability project, working alongside students from colleges in Spain and Germany.

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Congratulations ...

PAGE 01

Students who have achieved their Apprenticeships 1 November 2010 and 31 January 2011 Student

Apprenticeship

Employer

Samantha Bastyan

Business and Administration

City College Plymouth

Carley Bate

Business and Administration

Curtis Marine

Danielle Boore

Business and Administration

Wilkinson Electrical Services Ltd

Meg-Yvonne Burnard

Professional Cookery

La Bouche Creole

William Churchward

Fabrication and Welding

Sidekick Motorcycles & Exhausts

Andrew Cole

Automotive

Hall Graves & Lee

Charlie Davey

Trowel Occupations

Jacquest Ltd

Stephanie Day

Business and Administration

City College Plymouth

Jade Deane

Hairdressing

Incognito

Scott Doig

Automotive

Rodgeman & Williams

Michael Drown

Gas

T & J Gas Engineers

Joseph Gardner

Automotive

Bordereau Ltd

Crystal Gerard

Business and Administration

Westinsure

Peter Gilbery

Automotive

Hall Graves & Lee

Reece Gilmore

Plumbing

ROK Property Solutions

Jessica Gray

Hairdressing

Cutting Company

David Henson

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

MacWhirter Western Ltd

Gareth Higginson

Automotive

Russell Ham Service Care Ltd

Katherine Hill

Hairdressing

The Hair Studio

Leon Hurt

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

MITIE Energy

Claire Jarvis

Hairdressing

Squires

Josh Jones

Professional Cookery

Blue Plate

Toby Lyle

Automotive

David May Motor Services

Jessica Medcalf

Business and Administration

TXT Nation Ltd

Daniel Medway

Plumbing

D J F Plumbing Services

Jonathan Merriman

Gas

Blue Flame (Cornwall) Ltd

Luke Norsworthy

Electro-technical

Peverell Electrics Ltd

Natasha Pearce

Hairdressing

Synergy

Jake Preston

Gas

Blue Flame (Cornwall) Ltd

Callum Rouse

Automotive

Peverell Garage

Michael Rowe

Automotive

Leg O始 Mutton Garage

Michelle Salt

Business and Administration

Roborough House Ltd

Grant Scott

Warehousing and Storage

Cardio Analytics Ltd

Richard Sherratt

Engineering Maintenance

Fine Tubes Ltd

Aimee Sims

Hairdressing

The Hair Advice Centre

Shaun Smith

Plumbing

MITIE Engineering Services Ltd

James Sutcliffe

Automotive

Unifit

Craig Thomas

Gas

Beacon Plumbing & Heating

Ben Trevaskis

Gas

Blue Flame (Cornwall) Ltd

Sophie Tulley

Hairdressing

Eden Hair and Beauty

Lee Ward

Plumbing

Steve Hosking Plumbing & Heating

Bridie Waycott

Business and Administration

City College Plymouth

Christian Wilson

Gas

Stephen Lilley Plumbing & Heating

Leigh Winsor

Hairdressing

Bowlers Hairdressing

www.cityplym.ac.uk

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PAGE 02

New Apprenticeship Standards From 6 April 2011, the government’s new Apprenticeship standards came into force. The Apprenticeships Skills and Learning Act sets out the “Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England” (SASE), which are statutory requirements.

The SASE sets out the minimum requirements to be included in a recognised framework, and from now on there will be no Apprenticeship starts against frameworks which do not comply with SASE, although it will not affect current apprentices.

Each framework must now be a minimum of 37 credits, which must include the following: • COMPETENCE (min. ten credits): There will be a competence based qualification. Most will be an NVQ with assessment methods designed to test competence.

• KNOWLEDGE (min. ten credits): Some frameworks have a technical certificate while others test the knowledge in the NVQ element.

• PERSONAL LEARNING AND THINKING SKILLS (PLTS): This is a new requirement for Apprenticeships.

The qualification aims to deliver the qualities and skills needed for success in learning and life, which have been broken down into six themes: • independent enquirers • creative thinkers • reflective learners • team workers • self-managers • effective participants.

• EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (ERR): Previously known as Employment Rights and Responsibilities. This will now be formally assessed and will cover: • employment law • procedures within the apprentice’s organisation • sources of information available regarding the apprentice’s rights and responsibilities

• the role played by the apprentice’s occupation within their organisation/ industry • representative bodies • sources of information for industry/ career • the organisation’s principles of conduct and codes of practice • issues of public concern affecting the apprentice’s organisation/industry.

• FUNCTIONAL OR KEY SKILLS: Key skills are still part of the framework for the moment. And key or functional skills must be undertaken for all frameworks in English, maths and ICT. Additionally, the new frameworks will specify, for the first time, the number of Guided Learning Hours (GLH) which must take place on and off-the-job. The minimum off-the-job GLH will now be 100 GLH or 30% of the total GLH, whichever is greater. ‘Off-the-job’ means away from the immediate worksite or job role.

The government is also planning to bring in an Apprenticeship Agreement, although the details of this are still being finalised.

This will be a contract entered into by the employer and the apprentice. The government expects that it should set out both on and off-the-job training and the Learning Agreement for the workplace, making clear what job role an apprentice will be qualified to hold upon completion, and stipulating the supervision that the apprentice will receive throughout the course of the Apprenticeship. It will also specify that all Apprenticeship content, including, for example, hours spent at College, must be delivered within contracted working hours.

If you have any further questions regarding the new SASE requirements and what they will mean for apprentices or employers then please contact Sue Reed, our Programme Area Manager, on 01752 202026 or e-mail sreed1@cityplym.ac.uk.

Jumpstart Success Story - Aiden Everatt

Aiden has been attending the Jumpstart programme since September 2010. Initially, he only went on Thursdays, so that he could take part in the Devon Adventure Training (DAT) enrichment activities. Aiden found it difficult to relate to other students at first and benefitted from having familiar training staff around him.

Since taking part in most of the DAT trips on offer, Aiden has gradually become more comfortable with other staff members and his peers and recently chose to change his day so he could sample other aspects of College life. He now attends two days per week and his confidence has grown, allowing him to take part in individual and group activities, including embedded functional literacy and numeracy.

He has enjoyed playing golf, and has come out of his shell enough to sing in front of classmates with Guitar Hero during Wii sessions!

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PAGE 03

Health and Safety Updates Young People at Work Young people, especially those new to the workplace, are likely to encounter new risks from the unfamiliar environment they find themselves in and also from the job they have now been employed to do. These risks could come about due to the young person’s lack of maturity and/or experience and also because he or she may not have the confidence to ask for help.

How Young People Are Affected by Risks: What Do You Need to Know?

The HSE website provides guidelines on risks to health and safety as they relate to young people at work and on work experience, and provides information on the range of health and safety legislation that applies to workplaces in Great Britain - www.hse.gov.uk.

Risk Assessments All risk assessments need to take account of certain features which apply to young people. Before employing a young person, your health and safety risk assessment must take these specific factors into account: • the fitting-out and layout of the workplace and the particular site where they will work • the nature of any physical, biological and chemical agents they will be exposed to, for how long and to what extent • what types of work equipment will be used and how this will be handled • how the work and processes involved are organised • the need to assess and provide health and safety training

• risks from the particular agents, processes and work.

The Health and Safety at Work Regulations require that young people are protected at work from risks to their health and safety which are a consequence of the following factors: • physical or psychological capacity • pace of work • temperature extremes, noise or vibration • radiation • compressed air and diving • hazardous substances • lack of training and experience.

There are also risks to young people associated with specific industries or processes: • agriculture • carriage of dangerous explosives and goods • shipbuilding and ship-repairing regulations • provision and use of work equipment • power presses • woodworking machines • mechanical lifting operations (including lift trucks).

There is no need for you to carry out a new risk assessment each time you employ a young person, as long as your current risk assessment takes account of the characteristics of young people and activities which present significant risks to their health and safety.

You may wish to consider developing generic risk assessments for young people. These could be useful when they are likely to be doing temporary or transient work, and when the risk assessments could be modified to deal with particular work situations and any unacceptable risks.

In all cases, you will need to review the risk assessment if the nature of the work changes or you have reason to believe that it is no longer valid.

For further information visit www.hse.gov.uk/youngpeople/risks/i ndex.htm

Accident Reporting Employers are reminded that they are required to inform the Work-based Learning department of any accidents or incidents involving apprentices immediately by contacting either the Reviewing Officer for their apprentice or the City College Plymouth Work-based Learning department on 01752 251866.

Do you need an apprentice?

Do you have one in mind or would you like us to help recruit?

Then please contact us on 01752 251866 or e-mail wbld@cityplym.ac.uk.

www.cityplym.ac.uk

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Personalised Learning Programme (PLP) What is the PLP? The PLP aims to help young people who are not yet ready or able to directly enter into an Apprenticeship, further education or employment.

What does it offer?

The programme offers nationally recognised qualifications such as the City & Guilds Award in Employability, or the Certificate in Personal Development. Students also have the ability to gain practical work experience with local employers and can access taster days in areas such as engineering and hairdressing.

What other benefits are there?

Students also have the opportunity to take part in community projects around the local area, confidence building activities such as abseiling and rock climbing, and team building sessions organisations such as Plymouth Music Zone.

By following the PLP programme we aim to create well-rounded, confident individuals providing them with all the skills required to help them succeed in long-term employment and to tackle the challenges ahead.

Functional skills such as numeracy, literacy and ICT are embedded into activities and can be delivered on a one-to-one basis when required.

Employer of the month - Haircraft

Apprentices Alexandra May, Nicole Knapman and Kayleigh Stacey at Haircraft

Haircraft, based in Bayswater Road, Plymouth, is a salon that certainly understands the importance of training.

The salon celebrates 32 years of trading this year, and owner Julie Langmaid, and her salon manager, Jo Tremain, have enjoyed a long tradition of working with apprentices.

The salon currently has two apprentices and one advanced apprentice undertaking hairdressing with City College Plymouth, and they ensure that their needs are always met through consistent updates, on and off-the-job training, new initiatives, and the

Foundation Learning Success Story - Drumming Up Support for Jordan

consideration of any welfare issues that may impact on their students’ wellbeing.

They are tirelessly supportive of their students and actively encourage them to use their own initiative to progress as far as possible in the hairdressing industry.

Julie is acutely aware of the importance of apprentices for the industry. She regards investment in young people and their training needs as crucial in ensuring the profession maintains its standards.

For this reason, she and her team have pledged to continue to encourage, nurture and support students at every opportunity.

Julie also retains an interest in her apprentices’ progress once they have qualified as some will move on to other salons or even have salons of their own.

She is justifiably proud of the work her team does to help build firm foundations for the young people who pass through their hands.

When Jordan Hicks joined the Entry to Employment (e2e) scheme in December 2009, he was extremely shy and often found it difficult to integrate with groups.

Soon after starting the programme, Jordan joined the Thursday morning enrichment activity at Plymouth Music Zone, where he excelled on the drums.

Previously, he had only practiced on ‘Guitar Hero’, but he took to a full kit like a professional.

Jordan progressed to join the e2e band sessions and played at the e2e Achiever of the Year award ceremony in July 2010.

He also became a member of the Learning Warehouse Prince’s Trust XL Club, where he was valued for his ICT skills, and he volunteered to take the chair and lead a session in June 2010.

Jordan was also selected to take part in Prince’s Trust Making Music; an incentive which invites young musicians to spend a week on the island of Jersey, practicing and improving their skills under the supervision of professional musicians. His drumming continues to improve thanks to the one-to-one tuition he is currently receiving from Plymouth Music Zone’s mentoring scheme.

Whilst on the e2e programme Jordan passed his OCR Level 2 in Numeracy and successfully completed the City & Guilds Profile of Achievement, a personal development award. His self esteem and confidence grew, and he eventually applied to Deep Blue Sound and secured a place on a music technology course.

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PAGE 05

Prince’s Trust Team 168 Success Story The students on Prince’s Trust team 168 recently completed their programme, and in their final weeks took part in a team challenge - to arrange a day’s activity for a vulnerable group within the local community and to raise all the money for this day themselves.

Team 168 decided that they wanted to organise a trip to Dartmoor Zoo for a class from Downham School, Plymouth, which teaches children with severe learning difficulties and disabilities. So, they set about raising as much money as they could.

The students contacted several local businesses to seek permission for fundraising and were granted permission to collect money in several places which included the Armada Centre and the Pannier Market in the city centre. Wearing fancy dress, they took their Prince’s Trust donation pots to the streets!

After plenty of hard work the team achieved their target and had raised enough money to take the children to the zoo.

This was not only great for the children, but was a good learning experience for the team members, some of whom had never had the opportunity to interact with children with difficulties and disabilities before.

Well done and thank you to the team for all their hard work in providing this great day out.

Team 168 would like to thank: • Glen and Charlie - Devon Adventure Training • Little Stars Nursery • Welcome Hall Community Centre • Armada Centre • Plymouth Pannier Market • Downham School • Dartmoor Zoo • Lisa Charles and Sue Gripton • and a huge thank you to the Duke of Cornwall Hotel for providing our presentation venue.

Tutor of the Month Tony Woodward is a Course Leader in the City College Plymouth Automotive department. He has inspired many of our students, and consistently receives positive and enthusiastic feedback from the apprentice students in all three year groups who think he’s great!

“I started with Lucas Service, Plymouth in 1978 as an apprentice, and was there until 2008.

“Having a motorbike at age 16 got me interested in how engines worked and I began stripping them down - and then asking dad for assistance to get it back together! It was this that made me realise that I should learn how to do it properly myself, and so started on an automotive Apprenticeship.

“During my time at Lucas I trained quite a few apprentices myself, one is now the automotive NVQ Assessor for City College Plymouth, and another is now lead aircraft technician at RAF Culdrose. I have always enjoyed passing on knowledge and seeing apprentices grow and gain experience along the way.

“Teaching has always been an interesting subject for me, so to make a profession of it was a wonderful opportunity.

In the two years I have been teaching at City College Plymouth I have gained a Course Leader position, my Assessor Award, a PTLLS teaching qualification and I am now undertaking the Diploma in Teaching. I have also gained the new functional skills qualifications in English and maths, and will be able to claim Qualified Teacher Learning and Support status on completion of my diploma. The help and support I have received from peers and colleagues has been invaluable - the automotive section is a really good team.

“Working with apprentices is really rewarding. Most of them will be with me for three years and you can build a really good relationship with them. Seeing them progress in both knowledge and maturity has a lasting effect, and the mutual respect is appreciated on both sides. I think a key quality is not forgetting that I was an apprentice once. Everybody has to learn and make mistakes; it’s how we rectify those mistakes that makes the difference. At the end of the day, I am here to teach and support them, ensure they learn - as well as have fun and not lose sight of why I became a teacher. The apprentices are a great bunch to work with and I hope they enjoy attending College.”

Tony obviously loves his job and working with young people. We think he is an exceptional motivator dedicated to getting the best out of his students.

www.cityplym.ac.uk

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IMPORTANT UPDATES NSPCC Fundraising City College Plymouth has smashed its target to raise £5,000 for the NSPCC in six months. Fanfare please ... the total raised is £6,655.79!

Well done everyone!

Equality and Diversity City College Plymouth has recently established an Equality and Diversity forum, which Work-based Learning department staff and students will be attending. This forum has representatives for each of the protected characteristics: age, disability, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and pregnancy and maternity. The group will be meeting twice-termly to promote: • equality and diversity values throughout the College

Safeguarding

Sustainability

We recognise that each student is an individual and are devoted to making sure that all aspects of their safety and welfare is supported.

• Eat well, get active and feel good is the message from the XL Club as it prepares to launch its ‘Small Steps for Life’ project. Watch this space to find out how you can make a difference to your own well-being.

Students can talk to any member of staff within this department with the confidence that they will receive support and guidance with any issues regarding their safety and welfare - both in College or in their personal lives that may be affecting their performance, attendance or general well-being.

Things which might make a student feel anxious or unsafe: • physical abuse • sexual Abuse • psychological abuse • financial worries • neglect • discrimination.

• activities to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds

These things can make any student, at any time, become vulnerable. So for this reason we invest highly in ensuring we provide: • an environment to feel safe and secure in

• a ‘voice’ for each of the protected groups within the College.

• trained and supportive staff who can offer advice and guidance

We will update you on the work this group is doing throughout the year. If any students, employers or staff have any ideas, concerns or questions they would like to be raised at the forum please contact Miriam Schofield at mschofield@cityplym.ac.uk.

• effective partnership links with local support services.

• the elimination of discrimination on any of the protected grounds

Teaching and Learning The Work-based Learning department is continuing its successful Knife Crime project, with more sessions being rolled out for foundation learning students in April 2011.

These measures assist us in keeping our focus clearly on our responsibility to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all students.

A student can, at any time, get in touch if they are feeling unsafe by contacting a member of College staff or e-mailing the Safeguarding Officer at WBLDsafeguarding@cityplym.ac.uk.

When you have finished with this, please recycle it.

• Would you rather have your lessons outside in the sunshine?

The Work-based Learning department is looking to involve our Prince’s Trust team in a College plan to develop a conservation area at the Kings Road site to use as an ‘outdoor’ classroom. Hooray!

• And if you like the outdoor life then why not get involved in the College’s allotment. With planning permission granted it won’t be long before we’re all digging for freedom and growing our own.

• The Co-operative helped to pay for a one-day Fairtrade festival in March as part of their Fairtrade fortnight activities. There were free tastings, music and competitions during the festival which aimed to encourage people to make ethical choices when shopping.

Progression • Currently, 71% of PLP students are progressing into employment, Apprenticeships or further education, which is a great statistic.

• 20% of our apprentices are choosing to take their Apprenticeship further by progressing from a level 2 to level 3 Apprenticeship.