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www.preston.ac.uk OPEN EVENT ADULT COURSES WEDNESDAY 7TH JUNE 5 - 7pm SIMON NIXON PRINCIPAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE To say we have had a busy and successful term would be an understatement. Our fantastic achievement of being graded “Good” by Ofsted following an inspection in January, when we also received the top assessment of “Strong” for our contribution to meeting local skills needs, was well deserved following years of hard work by staff from all areas of the College. Our partner organisations also played a key role in this success, and hopefully you will all share in our collective sense of pride. Ofsted made particular reference to Preston College being a “college of sanctuary”, and was highly complimentary about our safeguarding arrangements. To quote the final report “Learners and apprentices feel safe in college”. We too often take things like this for granted, but these statements truly act as the cornerstone of an effective college. Further success came in February when we won the prestigious AoC Beacon Award for Engagement with Employers. This is a massive validation of the work that we do with our external partners, and wouldn’t have been possible without the joint working that takes place every single day. Many of our learners have also been successful with their own achievements, and you can read more about some of these elsewhere in this issue. Ava and Aiden deserve special mention for working respectively with Asda and the TV show Emmerdale. They are an inspiration. I hope you enjoy this issue and share my pride at the achievements of our learners, apprentices and employer partners. Thank you for your continued support, and long may it continue.
Preston College is delighted to offer a suite of Leadership and Management qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities. These courses have been designed for individuals looking to take their first step onto a Leadership and Management role; for experienced leaders with existing management skills to progress to the next level; or for employers looking to develop a wide range of leadership and senior management skills throughout their organisation. BESPOKE DELIVERY OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYERS Did you know, we can also offer bespoke training programmes aligned to your organisation? Our advisors will work closely with you to evaluate your training needs and make cost-effective recommendations that can be delivered either at Preston College or at your place of work. Please contact our Employer Engagement Team on 01772 225 768 or email employerenquiry@preston.ac.uk *Terms & conditions and individual circumstances apply. LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT DEVELOPING SKILLS IN THE WORKPLACE ADULT COURSES • ILM Certificate in Leadership & Team Skills – Level 2* • ILM Certificate in Leadership & Management – Level 3 • ILM Certificate in Leadership & Management – Level 5 APPRENTICESHIPS • ILM Team Leading – Level 3 • Associate Project Manager – Level 4 • Learning & Skills Mentor – Level 4 • ILM Operations Manager – Level 5 FREE COURSES*
CONTENTS 20 Employer Spotlight: Zebra Technologies Hear how Zebra Technologies support their workforce though apprenticeship and bespoke training. Barratt Homes Makes Brick Donation A leading housebuilder donates 10,000 bricks to Preston College. Preston College Awarded Good by Ofsted Ofsted concludes College is ‘Good’ in all areas. Read the full report. College of Sanctuary Ofsted: “Preston is a designated city of sanctuary, and for these learners, Preston College is a college of sanctuary.” By George, She’s Done It! Access Foundation Learning Art Design and Media learner makes major fashion breakthrough with George at ASDA. News in Brief Read all about the news that has our college learners celebrating! House of Dragon’s Fairytale End Learn how Melanie, a learner on the adult Theatrical Media Make-Up course, entered her first competition and WON! In Our Element Preston College launches its all new ‘Elements’ hair, beauty and barbering salons - open for our school leavers, apprentices and adult learners. Upskill Your Construction Sector Workforce How the CITB Skills & Training Fund can help your business maximise grant opportunities and offer free, higher level training for your staff. Apprenticeship Funding Explained Find out about the funding available to you through this easy to follow question and answer funding chart. Our Apprentices We catch up with some outstanding apprentices as they work towards their chosen careers. Preston College Wins Beacon Edge Award Preston College has been recognised for its exceptional work with employers under the ‘Central Lancashire Construction Skills Hub’ initiative. Double Win for Preston College Preston College announces a double win at the Educate North Awards 2023! T-Levels – the Next Level Qualification Support and develop the future workforce through industry placements. Meet Tom, T-Level Learner Hear how Tom is shaping his future through studying the T-Level in Design and Manufacturing at Preston College. Meet the Team: Counselling Learn more about the teaching team in our Counselling Hub. Employer Spotlight: Rowland Homes Working in partnership with Preston College to deliver apprenticeships. Creative Media Foundation Skills Learners Win Worldskills Final! Sean and Tysha wow the judges to bring home the Gold! Around the World Find out where Preston College on-programme extra curricula activities and trips have taken our learners this year. What We Offer A comprehensive list of what we offer in our apprenticeship and adult provisions. Is there a course for you? 07 09 10 11 13 16 18 20 35 22 23 24 30 32 14 19 17 25 26 29
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Stuart Level 3 Team Leader apprentice “The apprenticeship has been very helpful in me gaining the knowledge and confidence in becoming the best Team Leader I can be. I have learned a lot about myself and look forward to continuing my learning during the course. Both Zebra and Preston College have been very supportive during this time to give me the support for my apprenticeship. I would recommend this course to anybody who is looking to progress within their business.” 07 Employer Spotlight Zebra Technologies Zebra Technologies is a global business, serving customers of all sizes – including 86% of the Fortune 500 – with an award-winning portfolio of hardware, software, services and solutions that digitize and automate workflows. Zebra’s Preston facility includes manufacturing, device repair, warehousing and an office-based team. The manufacturing team produce labels, tickets, tags and wristbands which are later barcode-printed by a customer using a Zebra printer and scanned using a Zebra device. The repair team service and repair these devices and the warehouse team ensure customers receive what they need when they need it. Their office team support customers across EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) providing solutions which enable customers to manage their businesses successfully. With a recent recruitment drive at their Preston facility, Zebra Technologies approached Preston College to attract local talent through hiring a group of apprentices - to provide opportunities for growth and development and to help support them build this new and crucial pipeline of talent for their business. Amy Kearns, Senior HR Representative at Zebra Technologies says: “We wanted to build a partnership with a local college. We were also impressed with the investment in the STEM centre and enthusiastic dedicated staff. Hiring apprentices is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.” Amy continues: “Apprentices come with fresh ideas and new perspectives. They are eager to learn and grow and so it is vital that, as a global organisation, we are future proofing the business and hiring new talent and a new generation of workers that will help us grow. Not only that, apprentices are able to teach us new ways, innovative ways and relay the new technologies in a way that suits our business needs.” Zebra Technologies currently have a team of nine apprentices; two (Level 3) Engineering Technicians and seven (Level 3) Team Leaders with plans to recruit an apprentice in their Supplies Manufacturing team later this year. Mark Taylor, Head of School for STEM says, “The College are working closely with Zebra to design and deliver bespoke people focused workshops to their workforce. Workshops have included self-awareness and impact on others, ‘Principals of Communication Skills Within the Workplace’ and ‘Presenting for Success’. Together with Zebra Technologies we are committed to developing and providing learning opportunities for our existing team members”. Marks adds: “Working in partnership with an organisation such as Zebra Technologies means that we can offer apprentices the invaluable opportunity to work for a global organisation, that’s located on our doorstep. As apprentices, they will work alongside Zebra’s industry qualified staff whilst training and working towards their qualifications, learning the theory behind their industry and applying it to their job role which is wholly beneficial for the organisation.” Amy continues: “Apprenticeships give people opportunities to gain hands on experience while undertaking recognised qualifications using our apprenticeship levy. The knowledge and skills they develop are shared and implemented in the workplace which is valuable to the growth of our organisation”.
Debbie Machine Operator “My team and I recently attended a bespoke workshop delivered by Preston College. The course focused around good communication and listening in the workplace. I found the workshop interactive and thought provoking. I enjoyed working in a friendly environment with my colleagues. It’s great to see Zebra investing and developing existing teams with a local college.” Anthony Level 3 Engineering Technician apprentice “Being an apprentice at Zebra Technologies has helped improve my skills and knowledge as well as assisting me with my confidence. It has helped me build good relationships with my colleagues and given me independence whilst working. This opportunity has offered me the chance to further my education in a working environment.” Andrea Wristband Assembly “I personally enjoyed the topics which we have covered and I also enjoyed the time out from day-to-day work in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere. It was really interesting – we showed good teamwork and there were good vibes from everyone. There was good morale and everybody was really motivated. I love that Zebra are investing and developing our teams. More please!” 08 Preston College can deliver bespoke training courses to suit the needs of your business. Most recently Zebra Technologies and Preston College worked together to deliver a bespoke workshop dedicated around good communication in the workplace. For more information about how we can help you and your teams, please contact our employer engagement team on 01772 225768 or email employerenquiry@preston.ac.uk.
09 Simon Book receiving the donation of bricks from Barratt Homes Barratt Homes has made a donation of bricks to Preston College to support its bricklaying courses and apprenticeships, aiding the next generation of house builders. Close to the housebuilder’s Centurion Village development on Longmeanygate, the College has received 2,000 bricks from the development that will be used in our bricklaying classes and workshops. Preston College has bricklaying courses and apprenticeships available at levels one to three, with each level taking one year of study to complete. On the course, students will learn the importance of safe working practices, how to assemble a range of structures and will gain knowledge of materials, equipment and industry standard techniques. Simon Book, Curriculum Leader at Preston College, says: “On behalf of Preston College I would like to thank Barratt Homes for this generous donation of bricks. “Having material like this means that our learners can use them to develop industry skills and receive high quality technical education.” Rhys Nicholson, Managing Director at Barratt Homes Manchester, says: “It is extremely important that we encourage and assist the next generation of house builders and construction workers in any way we can. “We hope that by donating these bricks to Preston College, its pupils will be able to further their abilities through practical lessons, and hopefully one day we may be able to welcome some of the College alumni into our site teams.” Simon adds: “Having links to employers in the local area is fundamental to our college. The social value and community benefit of this kind donation is hugely impactful and enables Preston College to continue to train and develop our learners to ensure that they are work-ready upon completion of their courses. “The donation only emphasises the role that this will play towards the development of our brickwork learners of the future.” Barratt Homes Makes Brick Donation
From 17 - 20 January 2023, a team of twelve Ofsted inspectors visited Preston College and concluded that the College is ‘Good’ in all areas. The College also scored the top assessment of ‘Strong’ for its contribution to meeting Local Skills needs, making Preston College the first in Lancashire to achieve the highest skills judgement within Ofsted’s newly enhanced inspection framework. The Ofsted inspection team visited every one of the College’s departments, reviewing provision for young people (14-19), adults and apprentices. This involved deep dive inspections in areas including Construction, Business, Science, ESOL, Performing Arts, Automotive and Health. The quality of education provided by the College is strongly referenced in the report, as is the fact that all learners feel safe and well-supported. Simon Nixon, Preston College Principal and Chief Executive said: “I would like to personally thank every one of our amazing learners, apprentices, staff members, employer partners and governors for their contribution to this exceptional outcome. Ofsted has recognised the strength and quality of the provision that we deliver, particularly in ensuring that our learners not only achieve the qualifications that they undertake, but that they effectively progress into higher level study, apprenticeships or employment when they complete their college programme.” The report includes a range of comments highlighting the successes of the College, including: “Learners and apprentices enjoy their experiences at Preston College. They appreciate the positive and welcoming culture and understand the importance of treating each other with respect and behaving responsibly”; the College is “highly responsive to meeting the skills needs of a diverse range of stakeholders in a range of sectors”; “Leaders and managers develop ambitious curriculums to prepare young people, adults and apprentices for their next steps in education, training and work”; “Teachers and work-based tutors are well qualified and experienced”. These comments, along with many others, demonstrate the effective way in which the College prepares its learners for their next steps. John Boydell, Chair of the Board of Governors, said: “This recent result is well deserved following the ongoing hard work and dedication of everyone at the College. Governors are very proud of the positive impact that the College makes on our local community. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all learners, staff and stakeholders for their contribution to this Good outcome.” The College is judged to not only have an overall effectiveness grade of Good, but is also assessed as Good across all areas of provision: Quality of education, Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development, Leadership and management, Education programmes for young people, Adult learning programmes, Apprenticeships, and Provision for learners with high needs. Simon Nixon further commented, “College leaders, managers, staff and learners have worked tremendously hard in recent years to continue to improve in all areas of the College, often in spite of the challenges presented by the pandemic. We are pleased that our commitment to learners has been recognised by Ofsted, with this report reflecting the supportive learner-centred culture that we promote every day, as well as recognising the significant impact that we continue to make on our local community. The College values all of the feedback received by Ofsted and we will use this to ensure that we continue to provide excellence in Technical Education and Training.” OFSTED Preston College Awarded GOOD in all areas Read the full Ofsted report here: 10
Preston College is a College of Sanctuary Ofsted: “Preston is a designated city of sanctuary and for these learners, Preston College is a college of sanctuary.” One of our proudest moments within the inspection was Ofsted recognising that Preston College is a ‘college of sanctuary’. Ofsted inspectors expressed that: • learners and apprentices feel safe in college. They are confident in talking to teachers and support staff about any problems they encounter • leaders and staff at all levels have developed a culture of safeguarding. They have put in place a range of safeguarding policies to ensure that staff know how to keep learners and apprentices safe • leaders at our college have a very well established approach to supporting our learners who are not in education, employment or training • our partner links with the likes of The Princes Trust and The Red Cross provide programmes to help young people reengage in learning, move into work and to support some of the most disadvantaged groups [in the community] • Preston College provides extensive support to looked after children and care leavers • the College works extensively to provide programmes for asylum seekers to develop their English skills. Principal and Chief Executive, Simon Nixon says, “I could not be prouder of our college and the supportive culture we promote in creating a safe and secure place to study. We have a huge responsibility to our learners. For many, our college is a place of refuge and our college-wide teams ensure that we uphold our pledge to safeguard our learners so they feel safe and well protected. For Ofsted to recognise this makes us very proud.” We were delighted to learn, following our recent Ofsted inspection, that Preston College became the first college in Lancashire to receive the highest skills judgement under Ofsted’s newly enhanced inspection framework, with Ofsted stating that: “Leaders have a comprehensive understanding of local and regional skills priorities”. Scoring this top assessment of ‘Strong’ for our contribution to meeting Skills needs, Ofsted stated that the College aligned curriculum “extremely well” to the key growth pillars outlined in the local enterprise partnership plan, and that we are “highly responsive” to meeting the skills needs of a diverse range of stakeholders in a large range of sectors. Preston College works proactively with key stakeholders, such as Local Authorities and employer partners in ensuring that our curriculum is responsive to skills priorities, now and in the future. Simon Nixon, Principal and Chief Executive says: “It was pleasing to learn that Ofsted identified our key objectives in developing these effective relationships with employers, and recognising the significant impact that we continue to make in our local community. They reported that ‘Leaders [at the College] are highly committed to providing curriculums that meet the needs of learners and local businesses.’ This is a fantastic result and one the College should be very proud of.” Preston College makes ‘strong’ contribution to Local and Regional Skills Needs 11
12 SKILLS DEVELOP YOUR W www.preston.ac.uk T 01772 225522 E info@preston.ac.uk /prestoncollege Our range of Essential Skills courses in English, maths and IT are FREE* and can lead on to further study, such as GCSE English or Maths. There are a range of study options too with day and evening classes for just a few hours a week. Find out more by visiting www.preston.ac.uk/adults or scan the QR code Preston College St Vincent’s Road Preston PR2 8UR Find out your level by booking an assessment today! www.preston.ac.uk/assessment-booking LOOKING TO STUDY MATHS OR ENGLISH? MATHS, ENGLISH OR IT
13 By George, She’s Done It! Preston College’s Access Foundation Learning Art Design and Media learner, Ava, makes major fashion breakthrough with George at ASDA. In a supermarket first, 16 year-old awardwinning deaf and blind artist Ava Joliffe has helped develop a 24-piece kidswear collection which comprises of trend-led items, created to suit particular needs. Ava, who studies at Preston College from Sir Tom Finney School, has been working with supermarket fashion brand George at ASDA to help launch its adapted clothing range, designed specifically to support selfdressing for young people and children with disabilities. Vicki Radford, George’s buying manager says: “It was really important to Ava that we designed our adapted collection in line with the main kidswear range, so children with disabilities can wear the same as their friends… and it was really important to us that these pieces remain competitively priced and affordable to all our customers.” The collection, which is available online and in ASDA stores across the UK, was designed with the help of Ava, who assisted on the range’s accessibility and design. She was able to bring an insight into the adaptations needed to ensure products were practical for young disabled people, whilst ensuring the collection was in line with the mainline kidswear range. Laura Fenton, Quality Practitioner at Preston College for Visual Performing Arts and Digital says: “We are absolutely blown away by what Ava has achieved. She is just inspirational. To be only 16 years of age and working in collaboration with one the UK’s big four supermarkets to adapt their clothing range in a supermarket-first is incredible!” The collection, which has been created for age ranges 3-16 years, has been made with both functionality and affordability in mind, but most importantly to follow fashion. Clothing has been adapted to work around feeding tubes, for example, and all waistbands have been designed to be supersoft and comfortable for the wearer, while hidden hook and loop fasteners on necklines make slipping sweatshirts and tees on and off more comfortable. Laura adds: “The level of detail that Ava has developed for this collection is admirable. The clothing has been well thought out but also follows fashion! Well Done Ava – we are all super proud of you.” Preston College would like to extend our congratulations to you, Ava – we can’t wait to see what the future holds for you!
Learners Celebrate Nowruz Amazing Alumni One of our latest success stories comes from the Actor Training Academy and class of 2018 - Aiden Kane. Aiden featured in Emmerdale as a young Cain Dingle in a Boxing Day Special. Preston College is so proud of Aiden and all that he has achieved so far – he has a very bright future ahead of him! Well done Aiden! 14 Nowruz is celebrated primarily by Kurdish, Persian and Afghan people to celebrate the start of spring and is the largest cultural celebration in the year. Our ESOL community at Preston College has many Kurdish, Persian and Afghan learners who live here alone and without their families. To make our learners feel at home during this special celebration, the ESOL team acknowledged this special day with a Nowruz picnic. Both learners and staff enjoyed a lunchtime sharing traditional food, traditional dancing and took many photographs to send back to their loved ones to show they were celebrating this special day, despite being many miles from home. News In Brief A huge thank you to our Level 3 Sport girls’ team who helped with the running of the recent Regional Premier League Cup competition. Ten regional tournaments were staged at community facilities across the country, with PNECET hosting the North West version at UCLan Sports Arena on Monday 6th March. From running the Skills zone, to pitch management and engaging with the participants; through to handing out medals to the cup winners and runners-up, the girls gained valuable experience in the running of an event as well as developing their employability skills. Sports Stars
Preston College was delighted to host this year’s North West Regional Heat of the Guild of Bricklayers competition on Thursday 23rd March 2023. The day consisted of 16 learners competing in senior and junior heats as they each followed a design plan to showcase their excellent creative skills, techniques and bricklaying knowledge. Mark Taylor, Head of School for Construction and the Built Environment says: “We offer an extraordinary place to study and we are one of the largest training providers in the local region. We were very proud to be this year’s host for the regional heats. “We excel in providing our construction learners with first-class teaching from industry experts, using industry standard equipment, alongside generating the opportunity for them to learn and develop a range of skills and techniques, thus providing our learners with a strong platform to progress to a fantastic and rewarding career.” Guild of Bricklayers North West Regional Heat Beth Blows Away Competition A huge well done to our Level 2 Hairdressing learner Beth, who won the AHT Hair Competition in Blackpool for her blow drying techniques. Beth also achieved third place in the Bridal Hair-Up competition. Mandy Greenall, Hairdressing Lecturer at Preston College and WorldSkills UK Ambassador says: “We are extremely proud of Beth for achieving first and third place in these two competitions. The level of skill at the AHT competitions is always very high, so to come away with two awards is amazing. We are all very proud of what Beth has achieved, particularly having only started the course in September.” She adds: “All of our learners did extremely well. Competitions can be quite nervewracking and very different to performing in the classroom. What they have all achieved today has been phenomenal and we’re really proud to have such great representation for the College.” Beth will now go through to the National Finals held in May. 15 Hairdresser makes Final Cut Congratulations to our Level 3 Hairdressing learner, Amelia for getting through to the Concept Hair Learner of the Year final! Concept Hair says: “Congratulations to everyone who has made it through to this year’s Concept Hair Learner of the Year final! The standard of work has been absolutely incredible, and with over two thousand entries, the judges have had a difficult time in selecting the finalists. All that have made the final should be extremely proud.” Bev Hibbert, Quality Practitioner at Preston College for Service Industries says: “We are so proud of Amelia for getting through to the Concept Learner of the year final. It was tough competition this year and she has done amazingly well to get to the finals!” Fiona Birchett-Sharpe, Head of School for Service Industries says: “The dedication and hard work given by our industy experienced tutors gives learners the confidence to excel and shine in the competition arena. “We are always so proud of any learners who get selected in competitions. The level of skills and talent they showcase daily at the College is incredible, so to be able to demonstrate this within competitions, and then to be recognised at such a level, is fantastic. A huge well done to Amelia!” News In Brief
16 Graham Cann Photography Learners from our Adult Theatrical Media Make-Up course attended the United MakeUp Artists Expo at the Hilton in Liverpool. Organisations across the globe including Los Angeles, Europe, and from all over the UK visited the exhibition to share their knowledge and help kickstart or enhance careers in the Make-Up, Hair & Special Effects Industries. Jane Tudor, Head of School for Visual Performing Arts and Digital says: “Our Level 4 Make-Up learner, Melanie Thomas, entered her first competition at the UMAE exhibition. She entered the Warpaint character competition under the theme ‘House of Dragon’ whick is judged by industry professionals - and she WON!” Jane continues: “It was fantastic to see Preston College make its mark by exhibiting, promoting our courses and entering the competition as a key specialist provider of these much needed industry skills. “Judges were impressed by Melanie’s creativity, skill and the prosthetic pieces she sculpted and casted, but also by her technical skills on the day by thinking on her feet. “Melanie is new to make-up and her determination, hard work and creativity does us proud.” Preston College showcased learners across both Level 2 and 3 who entered the competition which had over 90 competitors across five categories. House of Dragon’s Fairytale End
17 April saw the launch of our all new Elements – our Hair, Beauty and Barbering salons! After a full renovation, our Elements salons have officially opened to encompass additional and industry standard learning spaces for our Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, and Theatrical Media Hair and Make-Up learners, as well a designated area for our Barbering students. Preston College is the largest training provider for Adult Skills and Apprenticeships in Hair and Beauty in the Lancashire area – attracting more than 25% more adult learners compared to other local providers. Fiona Birchett-Sharpe, Head of School for Service Industries says; “I think that we can all agree that the launch was a great success. It’s certainly the first time we’ve had alumni, current learners, employers and suppliers all at one event!” She adds: “The room was filled with conversation, anecdotes and memories of student life here, but also how we are continuing to invest and improve our provision for the new generations. Our In Our Element current learners spoke to many employers during the evening, with many securing placements for future work experience.” Eddie and Alison Renda from Mood/Monster products said: “Thank you for inviting us both to the launch of Elements last night. It was a pleasure to meet you and be introduced to all the team and to meet and talk to students and returning students. It was lovely to see students return to the College as employers and the continuing relationships between you and them and the mutual respect is quite unique and a credit to you and your team.” Nicola and Vanessa from Flame Urban Spa said: “We have worked with Preston College for many years and to be invited to events such as this is brilliant, especially as we are able to meet budding hair and beauty learners and to see behind the scenes is fantastic. It really has been wonderful to see that there is a still a huge appetite for this industry.” Neil Capstick, CEO of Neal and Wolfe added: “It was excellent to support the event and I was personally blown away by the quality of the college, it’s such a fantastic place to learn” Special thanks go to Neal and Wolfe, NSI, Ellisons, Dennis Williams, Silhouette, Eve Taylor and Eddie at JGR UK for supplying a full range of goodies for our gift bags and raffle prizes. And to our very own Tourism and Events learners who helped support the event on the night. For more information about the range of courses we offer to school leavers, adults and apprentices in our Hair, Beauty and Barbering department, please contact the team on 01772 225522 or email info@preston.ac.uk.
18 Do you have employees who are ready to upskill? We can help you! CITB Skills & Training Fund For eligible micro and small businesses in the construction sector, Preston College is able to support you in applying for CITB funding, allowing you to maximise grant opportunities that can result in free, higher level training for your staff. Opening doors to up to £25,000 in funding, productivity and business operations will not be affected, as employees benefit from onsite assessments, meaning Preston College tutors visit your place of work/site to collate evidence of the candidate’s skills and knowledge. Offering career progression for individuals as well as supporting business objectives, employees can study for qualifications up to level 7, with successful completion of higher level NVQs providing opportunities to apply for the prestigious gold or black CSCS cards. Funding covers the cost of short duration training and qualifications in core construction skills, including Health and Safety and Leadership and Management and the amount of grant available is determined by the size of your organisation: • 100 - 149 employed staff – up to £15,000 • 150 - 199 employed staff – up to £20,000 • 200 - 250 employed staff – up to £25,000 Courses on offer, eligible for CITB funding, include: • Occupational Work Supervision – Level 3 NVQ Diploma • Construction Site Supervisor – Level 4 NVQ Diploma • Construction Contracting Operations Manager – Level 6 NVQ Diploma • Construction Contracting Operations Manager – Level 7 NVQ Diploma Our team of experienced professionals will work with you, to take the hassle out of the application process, guiding you from the FREE initial consultation to submission stage. To find out more, contact Mark Taylor on MTaylor2@preston.ac.uk or call 01772 225628. Upskill Your Construction Sector Workforce
Apprenticeship Funding Explained ARE YOU A LEVY PAYER? (PAY BILL OF MORE THAN £3M A YEAR) YOU WILL PAY 100% OF THE TRAINING OUT OF YOUR LEVY TAX IF THE TRAINING PROGRAMME COSTS MORE THAN YOU HAVE REMAINING IN YOUR LEVY ACCOUNT - YOU WILL PAY 5% TOWARDS THE COST *THE GOVERNMENT FUNDS THE REMAINING 95% ARE YOU A SMALL EMPLOYER? (WITH 49 OR LESS MEMBERS OF STAFF) IS YOUR APPRENTICE 16-18? (OR 19+ WITH AN EDUCATIONAL HEALTH CARE PLAN) YOU WILL RECEIVE £1,000 INCENTIVE £500 AFTER 90 DAYS £500 AFTER 12 MONTHS YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE THE £1,000 INCENTIVE IS YOUR APPRENTICE 16-18? (OR 19+ WITH AN EDUCATIONAL HEALTH CARE PLAN) THE GOVERNMENT WILL FUND 95% OF THE TRAINING COSTS - YOU WILL PAY THE REMAINING 5% THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY 100% OF THE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING DID YOU KNOW? AS A LEVY PAYER YOU ARE ABLE TO TRANSFER 25% OF YOUR LEVY FUND TO OTHER EMPLOYERS TO HELP THEM FUND APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING IF YOU DO NOT SPEND YOUR LEVY AFTER TWO YEARS OF IT ENTERING YOUR ACCOUNT, IT WILL EXPIRE – USE IT, DON’T LOSE IT EMPLOYERS CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM A 10% TOP UP TO MONTHLY FUNDS ENTERING THEIR ACCOUNT YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE £1,000 IS YOUR APPRENTICE 16-18? (OR 19+ WITH AN EDUCATIONAL HEALTH CARE PLAN) As an employer you can upskill your workforce through an apprenticeship. If you are a levy payer you can use the levy to pay for the training. If you are a construction business, additional grants are available through CITB. An employer is required to pay an apprentice a salary. The National Minimum apprenticeship wage, regardless of age, is £5.28 per hour for the first year of their apprenticeship. Thereafter, it will rise to the National Minimum salary for their age. YES NO YOU WILL RECEIVE £1,000 INCENTIVE £500 AFTER 90 DAYS £500 AFTER 12 MONTHS YES YES YES YES NO NO NO NO 19
Our Apprentices Over 400 new apprentices join Preston College every year to start their career in their industry of choice, through a mix of on-the-job and off-the-job training. The incredible commitment, dedication, professionalism and enthusiasm that they each demonstrate daily in their work places is inspirational. They work hard to study towards their qualifications whilst simultaneously working in a full time role in a job that is quote possibly very new to them. Across a full range of industries and subjects, Preston College is proud to deliver apprenticeship programmes to these budding individuals who are, and will be, the future generation of professionals for our organisations. Here are just a few of those apprentices who are making their way into the work of work. Milly Level 3 Dental Nurse at Lytham Dental Clinic “I’m thoroughly enjoying my dental nursing apprenticeship at Lytham Dental Clinic. Everyone made me feel welcome instantly. They all take their time and patience when teaching and explaining things to me, making sure I completely understand everything.” Didar Level 3 Light Good Vehicle Technician at Bowker BMW “I’m studying a practical course and the support I enjoy at Preston College really helps. But it makes a big difference when you combine it with the first-hand experience at Bowker Ribble Valley.” 20 For further information about the range of apprenticeships we offer or to speak to one of our advisors about hiring an apprentice, please email employerenquiry@preston.ac.uk or call 01772 225768.
Harrison Level 3 Engineering Technician at Zebra Technologies “I enjoy working in a friendly and collaborative environment where I feel supported by my colleagues. My role has built my confidence and enabled me to develop engineering skills and knowledge whilst working towards a professional qualification.” Libby Level 3 Fabricator and Welder at Leyland Trucks Ltd “Doing an apprenticeship in fabrication and welding is the best decision I have made yet! I enjoy that every day is different, presenting new challenges and the development of new skills.” Lauren Level 3 Wellbeing and Holistic Therapist at Louisa John “I completed my Level 2 Beauty Therapy apprenticeship with Preston College and I am currently undertaking my Level 3 Wellbeing and Holistic Therapy. I have really enjoyed the apprenticeship programme and I have found the college environment supportive throughout.” Momina Level 3 Customer Service Practitioner at Preston College “My goal is to make a positive influence to society by liaising with adult learners with different backgrounds and abilities. The course provides me with practical and academic knowledge to interact and facilitate learners using online systems, the telephone and in person.” 21
22 Preston College has been recognised for its exceptional work with employers under the ‘Central Lancashire Construction Skills Hub’ initiative. The only Lancashire-based College to be announced as a finalist in this year’s AoC Beacon Awards, Preston College is now the proud winner of a 2023 Beacon Award for College Engagement with Employers. Simon Nixon, Principal and Chief Executive says: “We are absolutely thrilled that Preston College has been announced as a winner in this year’s prestigious AoC Beacon Awards. To be recognised for the work, dedication and commitment that our college team continues to demonstrate for the good of our community, our learners, and our partner employers, is extremely rewarding.” Simon adds: “The College has seen major growth in the Construction provision in recent years, and this award reflects excellent stakeholder collaboration, as well as the strong contribution that the College makes in meeting local skills need.” The Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK colleges each year. The award supported by City and Guilds seeks to recognise examples of practical teaching and learning that equips people with the skills that today’s global and digital economy demands, through a broad and balanced curriculum, high quality training, engaging real world learning and rich relationships between education and employers. Mark White, Interim Chair of AoC’s Charitable Trust said: “The AoC Beacon Awards showcase exactly why colleges are so important to every community and why people value them. This award recognises examples of excellent practical teaching and learning. The work of the winning college shows how important colleges are in providing students with the necessary skills for the real world.” Mark Taylor, Head of School for Construction concludes: “We are very proud of this award. A huge thank you to all of our learners, employer partners and staff members who have worked tremendously hard within the ‘Central Lancashire Construction Skills Hub’ initiative. I am now more excited than ever to see what the future holds for this provision and the impact it will have on our local economy.” Preston College Wins Beacon Edge Award Mark Taylor (second left) and Linzi Monks receiving the AoC Award
23 Double Win for Preston College! We are delighted to announce that Preston College has won not one, but two awards in this year’s Educate North Awards for ‘Music and Performing Arts’ and ‘Business Collaboration & Partnerships – HE/FE Sector’. The prestigious awards ceremony took place at the Midland Hotel in Manchester and was hosted by Jim Hancock, a well-known broadcaster and writer and Dani Sinha, a British broadcast journalist and presenter. Simon Nixon, Principal and Chief Executive at Preston College says: “I am delighted that Preston College has won in both of these categories. Both awards show the diversity of what we do as a college, with music and performing arts being a particular area of great success. In addition, the strong employer partnerships we have developed really help us to ensure that our curriculum is impactful in meeting Local Skills needs.” He adds: “These awards are testament to all of the fantastic work that is taking place in our college as well as the ongoing contribution we make to our local community.” Professor Phil Harris, Chair of the Judges says: “The standard of entries gets higher each year and the popular awards event ensures that we recognise the incredible work which so many people are doing despite the complexities of education in the UK currently”. Each year, the Educate North Awards celebrate excellence, world class achievement and improvement across the University, Higher Education, Further Education and Sixth Form sectors in the North of England. The awards are designed to recognise and share best practice and excellence in the education sector. This announcement follows a fantastic spell of achievement and success at the College. Aligning recent successes with the two winning award categories above, Preston College received an extraordinary four awards at the National Operatic and Dramatic Association Regional Awards for music and performing arts, whilst the College also won this year’s Association of College’s Beacon Awards for ‘Engagement with Employers’. Educate North said: “From all of us involved and from the judges, we are sending you a massive congratulations, you should be very proud of your success!” Preston College previously won the Educate North ‘Further Education College of the Year’ in 2020/21.
AT PRESTON COLLEGE Employers, local business people and entrepreneurs - we need you to help develop young people to become the future workforce and essence of your industry! If you want to give back to the community and provide opportunities for young people to develop their skills for the workplace, we have a number of ways you can get involved: INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS Industry placements are work experience opportunities for a young person to develop first-hand experience of the world of work. There are a range of options to suit businesses with a regular day a week or a number of full-time weeks. DELIVERING A MASTERCLASS Employers can visit the College and impart their industry knowledge and know-how through a masterclass, work shop or presentation. ATTENDING A CAREERS EVENT We hold an annual Careers Fair at Preston College and are always looking for employers to attend and provide learners with an opportunity to find out more about the careers that are open to them after college. REAL-LIFE PROJECTS Our learners are developing skills in the classroom and are enthusiastic about putting what they learn into practice. If you have a project that would benefit from some fresh ideas and energy then you could present this challenge to our learners and potentially unlock some creative solutions. INDUSTRY VISITS If time and resources are short, then why not consider inviting learners to visit your premises so they can see a business in action and develop their understanding of their industry. APPRENTICESHIPS Looking to recruit new staff? You can recruit learners direct from the classroom onto an Apprenticeship and access a fresh pool of talent that are recommended by their tutors. Engaging with T-Levels can deliver a number of short and long-term benefits for your business, including: • Access to a pool of talent that can build the future of your organisation • A chance to see potential future recruits showcasing their skills and abilities • The ability to stimulate career interest in sectors with skills shortages that may not be immediately obvious to young people • Immediate resource to support day-to-day operations or projects • The opportunity to develop your existing staff by offering management and mentoring experience. 24
Tom is enrolled on a two year T-Level course in engineering: Design and Manufacturing at Preston College. He works one day a week at Air Filtration Solutions (AFS) while attending college for the remaining four days. He will complete a minimum of 315 hours with AFS. Tom and his line manager were invited to the T-Level workshop ‘Shaping the Future Engineering and Manufacturing Workforce’ in Manchester to give an insight into his journey and experience of T-Levels. Interviewed by our very own industry placement officer, Kirstie, here’s what Tom said: GET INVOLVED! If you would like any further information about T-Levels and how they can benefit your organisation, please contact our Industry Placement Coordinator Ikram Saiyed on 01772 225553 or email isaiyed@preston.ac.uk. 25 Meet Tom T-Level Learner At what age did you know you wanted to be an engineer? It was my grandad who inspired me from a young age as he was an engineer and I wanted to be just like him! How did you come across T-Levels and why did you choose it? I had seen some adverts about T-Levels but didn’t know much about them. When Preston College came to interview me for a college place while I was at school, the advisor told me all about the T-Level course and so I decided that I wanted to apply. What did your parent’s think? They encouraged me to enrol on the T-Level after discussing it with them as thought it was a good chance to gain industry experience. What was your first day on placement like? Everyone was really nice. My manager introduced me to everyone in the team and I felt welcomed. We did an induction so that I knew the basics and I was excited to go back! What does an average day look like to you? I work mostly with the design team, using CAD to design face masks. I recently designed a model that I then produced using the 3D printer. The face mask that I designed has just gone to manufacture. Has it helped your depth of subject knowledge? Definitely. There are that we have studied in college that I’ve then seen in action in the workplace and the same the other way around. Have you grown in confidence? Absolutely! I wouldn’t have stood up to speak at a conference at the start of my course, but look at me now – here I am! How has work helped you to prepare for your exams/assessment? I recently completed an employer-set project exam and one of the tasks related to something I had recently done at work so it really helped me. What do you bring to the workplace? I’m young and have fresh ideas and knowledge. I am also studying a lot to do with sustainability as part of my course so I am bringing current knowledge about a hot topic to the workplace. How has T-Level benefitted you? In lots of ways. I have grown in confidence and I am doing tasks at work that some apprentices would be doing at a much higher level. I’m even getting paid for my work placement now because my employer values my contribution. Where do you see yourself in 5/8 years? I’m not sure yet. I am really enjoying the design element of engineering so something related to that. I might be here with AFS or move on to BAE or working in nuclear engineering if the opportunity was there.
26 Meet the Team Counselling Counsellors play a crucial role in improving the health and wellbeing of our society; often working with a variety of people across a range of challenging and complex issues. Throughout all of the counselling courses and teaching methods at Preston College, from Level 2 through to BSc (Hons), our practitioners have the self-reflection and resilience to support people as they work through these issues. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our fantastic counselling teaching team. Whether you are considering joining one of our counselling courses, a current or potential placement provider or affiliated partner that’s interested in finding out more how our trainee counsellors can add value to your organisation, here’s the team! “The counselling teaching team at Preston College bring their energy to our Counselling Hub. It’s exciting to see the innovative approaches that they each bring to the department. From learners practising their skills in our ‘empathy lab’ or benefitting from our much-loved residential weekend, there’s always something new to keep the learning experience fresh.” Lyndsey Roe, Head of Quality and Higher Education Suky Suky is a Work Placement Co-ordinator working within HE Counselling at Preston College, facilitating placement opportunities for Preston College students on higher-level counselling courses, as well as liaising with placement providers, learners, supervisors and therapists. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Suky works hard to support our learners find placement opportunities right for them, developing mutually beneficial relationships with our current placement providers as well as establishing new links with potential providers looking to benefit from the skills our learners can offer. Steve Steve embarked on his counselling career late in life, having started his career in education as a drama teacher, street theatre performer and community artist, before retraining as a Further Education tutor. “My teaching style has a root in relating to people, fostering change and stimulating creativity. I love teaching because I meet people of all ages and backgrounds wanting to discover the world of counselling.”
27 Ian Teaching and studying at Preston College has been part of Ian’s life since starting his counselling studies here in 2011. As a counselling lecturer, Ian recognises the teaching team must remain in practice and keep updated with their own development and he is currently studying for a Masters degree in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. “The teaching approach within the counselling department at Preston College is a rich blend of theoretical study, hands on skills practice and underpinned with personal development. As a lecturer, I have a congruent approach to my teaching practice, learners get a sense of me, both as a teacher, a counsellor and as a student.” Kevin With over 25 years’ experience in education, Kevin saw an increasing focus placed on wellbeing, which ignited a keen interest in mental health issues, and the start of a new career in counselling. With over 2 years voluntary counselling, followed by a further 4 years in private practice, Kevin then embarked on a career as a HE lecturer here at Preston College. Kevin has trained in person centred and integrative counselling through to Masters level, and is currently studying a Professional Doctorate, researching mindfulness in psychotherapy which he is due to complete in 2024. Charli As a BACP Accredited Counsellor, EMDR practitioner and Clinical Supervisor and with over 10 years’ experience of working within the education sector, Charli has developed extensive skills in mentoring, collaborative working and promoting healthy change with her clients. Charli started her counselling journey at Preston College studying Level 2, then Level 3 , followed by the Level 4 Practitioner Diploma, and now she’s part of the teaching team. Charli has also completed a Psychology with Psychotherapy and Counselling degree at UCLan, and is due to start a Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology in September 2023. “My journey becoming a counsellor has been a wonderful, life changing experience. When I look at my students, I see the counsellors and psychotherapists of tomorrow and I am passionate about supporting their growth and development as they go onto help the wider community.” Colin Counselling Alumni After more than three decades working in IT, Colin decided to retrain as a Counsellor aged 55 years old after seeing a flyer from Preston College about its Level 2 Counselling Skills course. Following an application and telephone interview, based on previous experience, Colin was accepted straight onto to the Counselling Skills Level 3 course, before progressing onto the 2-year Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. Juggling work commitments and studies was a challenge, however Colin studied in the evenings and worked longer days to build flexi leave. In the final year of study, Colin secured a placement at a hospice in Burnley, where he worked on Saturday mornings to gain the required 100 hours practice. Colin completed his Diploma in December 2019 and began his private practice journey, launching his own website www.seeingnow.com, and advertising on the BACP. He quickly gained clients, whom he would see face to face, but when the pandemic hit, Colin took the decision to move to online therapy. Three years on and Colin’s practice has gone from strength to strength, practising solely online and building up a strong client base, including clients from around the world in the US, Canada, Africa, Europe and the UK. Colin is also a published author of his book, No Path to Enlightenment. “Since qualifying from Preston College I haven’t looked back – this work is so rewarding. I still work in IT but only two days a week, the rest of the week is divided between my private client work and working as a Student Mental Health Mentor supporting University students online. I guess I am a testament to the phrase it’s never too late to change.” Website: seeingnow.com Book: No Path to Enlightenment
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