EmployerLink December 2014

employersPARTNERS IN BUSINESS SUCCESS 125 YEARS

Est. 1889

125 Years of Skills Training and Community

Support

EmployerLinkCity College Plymouth working with the local business community

WINTER 2015

In this issue:

Celebrating 125 Years of TrainingPage 1

Plymouth Studio SchoolPage 4

Industry Focus - ConstructionPage 5

84622 CCP EmployerLink magazine 16pp A4.indd 1 25/11/2014 15:49

EmployerLink www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

If you require this newsletter in a larger type or different format please telephone 01752 305300.

From the EditorWelcome to the latest edition of EmployerLink; City College Plymouth’s newsletter for employers. This edition focuses on the

College’s 125th anniversary and on page one you can read a brief overview of our history and our continued focus on supporting the business and wider community. You will also be able to read our anniversary poem on page three, which we commissioned the City’s Poet Laureate, Mike Sullivan, to compose.

The College, along with the University of St Mark & St John, are sponsoring a new addition to the City’s educational landscape. The Plymouth Studio School is due to open in September 2015 and will offer those aged 14 to 19 an alternative route to develop the skills needed for the hospitality, leisure, tourism and sport sectors. Turn to page three to find out more about what the creation of the School means to you.

The College has first-class construction facilities and expert trainers in order to support the construction industry, which is predicted to grow considerably over the next few years. Therefore, we are proud to be supporting the Plymouth City Council ‘Building Plymouth’ initiative. Find out about the initiative and how we are supporting the sector on page five.

We are committed to forging sustainable partnerships with industry and a prime example of this can be found on page six. Our continuous partnership with Plymouth Community Homes has resulted in the up-skilling of Plymouth Community Homes’ staff and numerous jobs for young people within the City.

Turn to page eight to find out about our successful work experience programmes and how one student, Michael Hammond, benefitted immensely from gaining an insight into the real world of work whilst undertaking a work experience placement at Rittal-CSM Ltd.

Supporting the community also means supporting those local charities that are so vital in providing services for many of our students, as well as members of the

local community. Turn to page ten to learn about our fundraising activities with St Luke’s Hospice and Jeremiah’s Journey.

As one of the largest training providers in the South West, I am delighted to announce Plymouth’s first graduation ceremony for advanced and higher-level Apprenticeships taking place in September 2015. The Plymouth Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony Consortium, made up of local training providers and employers, is working hard to create an event that recognises the achievement of apprentices within the City - page 12 details this great event.

I hope you enjoy reading EmployerLink. We aim to keep you informed with all the latest education and training news, but if there is a topic you would like to see covered please e-mail [email protected].

Sharron RobbieDirector of Marketing, Corporate Relations & Enterprise

From the PrincipalCity College Plymouth has a 125 year history, of which we are immensely proud. Over those years we have seen huge changes in the College’s facilities

and in the pivotal role the College plays in the local community.

The College first opened its doors in 1889 as a Technical College, serving the citizens and businesses of Devonport, with only 30 students on its books. Since those humble beginnings the College has expanded enormously: today it has more than 15,000 students and serves the needs of not just Devonport but all of Plymouth and beyond, as well as a diverse range of local businesses - including firms such as Babcock International, Princess Yachts, Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Citybus.

We are determined that the College will continue to invest in its facilities to meet the ever-changing needs of industry.

These include our newly refurbished engineering centre and industry-endorsed construction facilities. We are also planning to create an exciting new STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) centre, a creative and digital technologies resource, and a marine engineering centre of excellence - due to open in 2016. By offering state-of-the-art workshops, classrooms and real work environments to the young people in the City we also promote those key growth sectors so vital to the City’s economic fabric.

We are equally committed to continuing our engagement with, and support of, local charitable organisations that carry out important work across the City - work that provides much needed support to our students and the wider community. Over the last 12 months, for example, we raised over £6,000 for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth - a charity that many of our students and staff have been touched by. Over the coming year we will be supporting Jeremiah’s Journey, another fantastic charity in the City and which I know does sterling work in support of bereaved families.

The College’s amazing journey has encompassed many, many changes - social, technological, economic and political - to ensure it remains relevant, up-to-date and a vital part of the community. Our primary focus has always been on providing the local community and industry with the training and skills needed for businesses to flourish and for young people to secure employment. Over the last 125 years we have seen our partnerships with industry grow and develop, partnerships that are absolutely critical to our future success and that will enable us to reach even more corners of the community.

Phil DaviesPrincipal & Chief Executive


1T: 01752 305026 E: [email protected] EmployerLink

Laying the foundationsThe College’s history began in 1889 with the laying of the foundation stone for the Science, Art and Technical College, a College invested in by the Imperial Institute in London in order to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. The College was built at the old cattle market site on Tavistock Road and after three years of arduous building work, the College building was completed. The

building cost £5,400 - a cost of over £500,000 in today’s market. The College contained workshops where students studied carpentry, mechanical and electrical engineering, wood-carving and cookery, as well as physics, maths and dress-making.

In 1897 the Devonport Municipal Science, Art and Technical School was created in Paradise Road by the Devonport

Borough Council in celebration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Around 80 per cent of the School’s student population came from the Dockyard, studying mechanical science courses. When in 1914 Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse amalgamated to become the City of Plymouth, the two schools merged to form the Plymouth and Devonport Technical School - a designated College.

City College Plymouth – Part of the City’s Landscape since 1889

1889 - Foundation stone laid for the Science,

Art and Technical College

1897 - Foundation stone laid for Devonport Municipal Science, Art and Technical School

1914 - Merging of schools following the

amalgamation of the Three Towns to create the Plymouth

and Devonport Technical School

1962 - College renamed the Plymouth College of

Technology

1967 - Approval granted for a new College building

at Kings Road

1970 - The first Principal of the Plymouth

College of Further Education, William Foster appointed

1974 - The new College of Further Education opened

at Kings Road

1993 - The further education sector is fully

and financially independent of the local authority

1983 - The new hospitality and catering block opened

at Kings Road

2006 - College rebranded as City College Plymouth

2012 - College graded ‘Good with Outstanding

Features’ by Ofsted

1994 - The opening of the Goschen

Centre

2014 - 125 years of providing education and

training that works!

Timeline

City College Plymouth is celebrating its 125th anniversary, a feat that cements its place in the City’s history books, but also as an integral part of the local community. As part of this celebration, the College is taking a look back at its long history and the many reincarnations it has experienced in order to meet the changing needs of industry and to support the young people in the City to gain skills and ultimately employment. Read a brief overview of our history below ...


2 EmployerLink www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

The step to further educationIn 1966 the new Government policy, which created Polytechnics, separated university-level studies from further education studies and this signalled another change for the College. With the need to grow and evolve, the College gained approval for a new building at Kings Road, the College’s current site. This site had previously been the Devonport Southern Railway Station and tunnels from this still exist under the site today.

The Kings Road building was officially opened in 1974 and incorporated the College of Domestic Science and Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management and Community Studies.

A part of the communityOn the opening of the College of Further Education at Kings Road, the College’s first Principal, William Foster promised that the College would be used partly as a community centre with some facilities for the use of local residents. Now in a purpose-built facility, the College trained over 8,000 full and part-time students.

With the aim of meeting industry needs, expansion was still a priority for the College, which opened a new hospitality and catering block at Kings Road in 1983. The hospitality facilities still remain today, having been updated to offer a first-class training environment for the chefs, matire’ds and hotel managers of the future - a prime example being Michelin starred Chef, Anton Piotrowski, Patron of The Treby Arms in Sparkwell (find out more about his College journey and recent success on page 11).

In 1990, the College expanded further with the lease of the Goschen Centre and at this time the College trained approximately five per cent of Plymouth’s population.

Looking to the futureIn 2006, the decision was made to re-brand the College to represent the broad range of qualifications and training on offer and its community focus, becoming City College Plymouth. In 2012, the College was graded as a ‘Good College with Outstanding Features’ by Ofsted, the school and Colleges inspection organisation, and also became a member of the Gazelle Colleges Group. This signalled the College’s commitment to embedding enterprise and employability throughout all students and staff, which ensures students leave the College with technical attributes but also employability skills.

History has now come full circle, with the College looking to development and grow its STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) facilities - vocational training that the College’s foundation was built on. In 2016, the College’s new STEM Centre of Excellence, including creative and digital industries, and marine technologies will open in order to meet the needs of the City’s priority growth sectors and the training needs of those businesses that operate within these industries.

The College continues to aspire to, and deliver on, the aims, ambitions and vision that were set out with the laying of its foundation stone, playing a major role across the City and serving the local community.

Source:John Van der Kiste, ‘The History of City College Plymouth, 1887-2013’.



High in glassed and concrete steeples,soft with breezes borne the sound,

‘pon those decades past in learning,stand we hushed now casting round;

Laid beneath us, in the dawning,writ upon this city’s heart,

all that cent’ry, and a quarter,where we, modest, played our part.

Three spanned cent’ries, peace and conflict,through its joy, its rise, its spoil,

gaze we down now ‘pon our hist’ry,‘pon our footprints in that soil …

Reaching proud across its landscape,as this city rose and grew,

casting wide as stocks on meadows,seeds of knowledge in the dew.

Growing ever in ambition,throwing wide its arms to all,scholar, artisan and dreamer,

out to each her siren call;To the young of Plymouth’s dreaming,

arts and trades to urge their rise,that they all on wisdom’s shoulders,

might unto the heavens rise.

In this stone and steel cathedral,all to knowledge predicate,

to the young and to their children,sole this place stands dedicate;

Theirs the hope and theirs the future,in their hands our hopes and fears,

may this college stand to guide them,through their triumphs, through their tears …

City College … Through Knowledge ...

© Sullivan the Poet 2014Commissioned and written to celebrate the 125th anniversary

of City College Plymouth


What is a Studio School?Studio Schools offer a bold new approach to learning by teaching through enterprise projects and work placements with key local and regional employers. This approach ensures students’ learning is aligned to the real world of work, helping them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed and that employers are asking for.

Studio schools are small schools for up to 300 students and can feel more like a workplace than a school. Working closely with local employers, Studio Schools offer a range of academic and vocational qualifications at levels 2 and 3, as well as work placements linked directly to employment opportunities in the local area.

Students will gain a broad range of employability and life skills and will have the opportunity to progress onto university, further training, and into employment after completing their studies at the Plymouth Studio School.

Vision and ethosPlymouth Studio School’s vision is of a small school that fosters a culture of high expectations and high achievement based on a personalised approach to learning, supported by a range of influential and dynamic partnerships with key stakeholders.

Plymouth Studio School students will become confident young people who are innovative, enterprising, entrepreneurial and wealth-creating. They will be healthy and resilient team players who exhibit leadership skills and thrive on rising to meet real-world and personal challenges in their studies as well as the workplace.

LocationThe Plymouth Studio School will be based on the University of St Mark & St John campus in Derriford. Students will benefit from a purpose-built facility, designed and equipped with the latest technology and first-class facilities for learning and developing.

Why open a Studio School in Plymouth?The timing of the opening of the Studio School fits neatly with Plymouth’s socio-economic aspirations. The visitor economy in Plymouth contributes significantly to the City’s wealth, supporting over 8,000 of its jobs ( seven per cent in total), and is a strategic priority sector for growth. In 2020, Plymouth will host the Mayflower 400 celebrations, a pivotal opportunity for Plymouth and a key driver in terms of the visitor economy internationally. According to Plymouth’s Visitors Plan (November 2011), the City’s vision is to create and sustain 4,000 new jobs in the lifestyle and visitor economy sectors by 2026.

The Plymouth Studio School will:◆ meet specific and general skills gaps

identified by local employers in the areas of sport, leisure and tourism, and hospitality and event management

◆ improve students’ employment prospects and opportunities for progression to university

◆ offer parents and young people a wider choice of school options at age 14

◆ really excite students through a new and unique form of curriculum delivery based on extensive use of work experience and employer-led projects

◆ develop confident young people who are innovative, enterprising and resilient.

How can you get involved?From the outset, the Plymouth Studio School’s curriculum has been developed on the basis of strong advice and guidance from employers. You can get involved with the Plymouth Studio School by:◆ providing work experience and paid

work placement opportunities◆ providing real life projects for students

to base their studies around◆ advising on the most relevant industry

standard qualifications for students.

For more information about the Plymouth Studio School, how young people should apply, and how businesses can get involved, please visit www.plymouthstudioschool.co.uk, call 01752 305300 or e-mail [email protected].

Plymouth Studio School

Creating Athletes, Creators, Entrepreneurs, Pioneers and LeadersThe Plymouth Studio School is a brand new school opening in September 2015, which will specialise in sport, leisure and tourism, and hospitality and event management. Open to Year 10 and Year 12 students of all abilities, the School is designed to better prepare young people for the working world.

Sponsored by City College Plymouth and the University of St Mark and St John, the Plymouth Studio School will provide a new and innovative approach to learning for 14 to 19 year olds, offering a curriculum that is specifically linked to future employment opportunities in the South West.

Working with more than 20 employers in the sport, leisure and tourism, and hospitality and event management sectors the School will offer a range of academic and vocational qualifications, alongside work placements and employer-led project briefs.

In September 2015 the Plymouth Studio School will open its doors to 60 Year 10 (ages 14-15) and 40 Year 12 (ages 16-17) students.

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The construction industry is a vital sector for the UK as a whole, and is one of the largest sectors of the UK economy, contributing almost £90 billion. The sector, comprising of

280,000 businesses nationally, includes 2.93million jobs accounting for roughly ten per cent of the UK’s workforce.

The impact in Plymouth follows this pattern, with the construction industry worth £246million a year for the City and supporting 3,325 jobs annually. However, the construction industry

was disproportionally affected by the economic downturn that started in 2008 and the sector, which comprises in the majority SMEs, struggled to cope. However, the sector remains one of the largest in Europe in terms of number of businesses, employment and gross value added. Locally, the sector is benefiting from developments at Sherford and Hinkley Point.

Optimism has been steadily growing as the housing market rallied; in 2014, the Markit/Cips construction PMI, thought to be an early indicator of construction activity, reported that the building industry enjoyed their strongest market in 17 years with performance being extremely strong in the construction sector as a whole. As growth continues, albeit at a slower rate than is desired, the Department for Business Innovation and

Skills (BIS) recognises that the sector has an abundance of domestic and international opportunities. BIS recognise that one of the key drivers for long term growth for the construction sector is an investment in people and skills. This means more Apprenticeships, a larger focus on training young people with the technical capabilities needed by industry and more investment from businesses in progression opportunities for employees.

Sources:http://www.prospects.ac.uk/property_construction_sector_overview.htm.

Department for Business Innovation and Skills, ‘UK Construction, an economic analysis of the sector’, July 2013.

The Guardian, ‘ Construction sector optimism fades as housing market cools’, 2 October 2014.

Building Plymouth is a Plymouth City Council led partnership, which aims to link people with career opportunities in the construction sector. With an ageing workforce - 80 per cent of the workforce are predicted to retire in the next 20 years - and a predicted growth in the construction sector, the City needs to plan for future growth and this means developing skills and creating jobs. The Council’s Plymouth Employment Report predicts that 10,000 new jobs in construction will be created over the next ten years and it is vital the City is ready for this.

It is often thought the construction industry is simply for those who do not do well academically in school, is a trade that is largely unskilled and that career opportunities are restricted to traditional, manual jobs. However, the construction sector offers a wide variety of job roles, clear progression routes and a skilled trade, which people can take with them anywhere in the world. Building Plymouth aims to improve the image of the construction sector and link potential employees with employers. On average, architects earn £830 per week, plumbers £554 per week, electricians £625 per week, carpenters £498 per week and plasterers £430 per week - this demonstrates the wide offer available to people who work within the construction industry and their earning potential.

Building Plymouth aims to get the message out to young people, the unemployed and those hard to reach that construction as a career is a first choice, not a last choice. Part of this is around the message to young people and the focus rests on providing young people with independent advice and guidance.

The construction sector had the highest number of Apprenticeship starts in 2012/13 but this figure is still down compared to 2009/10. Furthermore, the number of Year 11 leavers entering construction fell dramatically between 2007 and 2013. At the other end of the spectrum the message to employers is to invest in young people through Apprenticeships.

Building Plymouth aims to change these statistics and stimulate more people into more jobs in the construction sector.

For more information on Building Plymouth please visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/buildingplymouth.

Industry Focus - Construction

Building Plymouth

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Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), a member of City College Plymouth’s highly successful Employment Endorsement Scheme, was recently awarded silver status by Investors in People. This is a tremendous fillip for PCH and its on-going work in supporting workforce development and staff progression through a structured programme of training.

PCH, which is celebrating five years in operation, as well as its partnership with City College Plymouth, is the leading housing provider in the City and also manages the previous social housing stock of Plymouth City Council. PCH have worked tirelessly to better the lives of their residents, providing them with better homes to live in, a better Plymouth in which to live and work, and a better future. They believe that everyone in the City deserves a good place to live and that thriving organisations are important to creating positive communities. In this, they provide their residents and the City with much more than bricks and mortar.

Employing staff directly rather than using contractors, PCH also makes considerable investment in developing their team at all levels, providing progression and employment opportunities for young people through Apprenticeships.

Clive Turner, Chief Executive of PCH, said: “As part of our focus on developing our workforce we are firmly committed to supporting existing staff in their training and up-skilling needs so as to enable career progression. We are also firm advocates of Apprenticeships. It is vital we invest in our future workforce and support the City’s young people into gaining employment - Apprenticeship schemes do exactly this.”

City College Plymouth, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary, recognises the value in forging sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships, and in building relationships that are crucial in reaching all areas of the local community to enable positive outcomes.

Clive Turner agrees: “Our partnership with City College Plymouth is vital in maximising the impact we have on the local community and Plymouth as a whole. The College acts as our training partner, supporting our staff in gaining skills which not only develop them professionally, but also personally, with key skills and confidence. It is part of our ethos that we are committed to providing excellent levels of service to our residents. By working with the College to create a programme of training that is relevant and bespoke to PCH job roles, we are able to deliver this service.”

Phil Davies, Principal & Chief Executive of the College, adds: “The deep bond of mutual respect and support that has grown between the College and PCH enables us to maximise the positive impact we have within the City. Both the College and PCH seek to raise aspirations, provide opportunities and break down economic and social barriers.

“Furthermore the working partnerships we enjoy with industry are second-to-none and critical to placing the College at the heart of the community. Working with industry leaders, such as PCH, affords us the opportunity to effectively link education with commerce.

“PCH’s recent Investors in People Award recognises their commitment to investing in the continuous professional development of their employees. On behalf of City College Plymouth, I would like to congratulate Clive and his team on their very well-deserved award.”

City College Plymouth and Plymouth Community Homes - a Successful Partnership



Plymouth’s Vibrant Waterfront

Waterfront Manager, Sarah O’Leary, talks about the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership

BID and the future of the City’s Waterfront …

Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, is a city of growing ambition and a fast rising UK destination. So why is Plymouth Britain’s Ocean City? It’s a place of green and blue with more than 40 per cent of its land mass laid to parkland and trees, surrounded on three sides by water and with Dartmoor National Park to the North; a location steeped in globally significant maritime history and host to the largest Naval Port in Europe; a city of marine excellence with a raft of leading education, engineering and science providers; a world first ‘Fish2fork Blue City’ with the majority of restaurants serving seafood from sustainable sources and a key destination offering a wealth of culture, events and unique experiences to residents and visitors alike.

Visit the Waterfront areas of the City and you’re sure to enjoy a great experience no matter what the weather or time of year. Whether it’s dazzling views you seek, a new dining or shopping experience you’re keen to enjoy or you want to be immersed in history, Plymouth’s Waterfront destinations offer something for everyone.

Three square miles of the City’s Waterfront are managed through a Business Improvement District (BID). Currently 185 BIDs operate across the UK, representing more than 70,000 businesses and providing a private sector led improvement campaign at the heart of towns and cities. Within BID areas businesses contribute a levy of between one per cent and three per

cent of business rates as a contribution toward new activities, adding value to existing local authority service baselines within defined geographical areas.

Plymouth has two BIDs, representing more than 1,100 businesses in seven different sectors and focused across the Waterfront and City Centre. The City Centre Company and Plymouth Waterfront Partnership are not for profit PLCs, governed by Boards of Directors who operate independently of one another but in close alliance. Delivering five year business plans shaped by the businesses they represent, attracting increased footfall and improving the look and feel of their strictly defined geographical areas.

The BIDs, supported by Plymouth City Council, work in partnership with and fund Destination Plymouth to conduct visitor research, deliver the Plymouth Visitor Plan (2011-2026) and market the City to attract more visitors.

The Plymouth Waterfront Partnership (PWP) manages Plymouth’s Waterfront BID, representing more than 620 businesses across seven different sectors, including accommodation, charitable, education, leisure, licensed premises, professional services and retail. Providing one joined-up business voice, the Waterfront BID lobbies for improvements, invests in city marketing, funds major events, has ring fenced for five years the local authority’s budgets for maintenance of the area, and pursues regeneration and transformation projects.

New events have been created including the Plymouth Pirate Weekend, Royal William Yard Super Summer Weekend and Plymouth Seafood Festival, all designed and funded through the BID. PWP contributes to the Barbican International Jazz and Blues Festival and funds Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.

Successes of Waterfront BID delivery so far include bus, train and port gateway improvements, brown signage enhancements, city maps, visitor guides, successful lobbying for new Barbican toilets and lighting of iconic structures including Smeaton’s Tower, national conference attraction, a £670k Coastal Communities Fund cash injection to create a bicycle hire hub linking the Barbican and Royal William Yard and a 2014 cruise terminal feasibility study.

Some projects have won recognition. Plymouth Pirate Weekend is a Finalist in Visit Devon’s 2014 Tourism Awards for Tourism Event of the Year and a Bronze, Silver or Gold award is to be announced in mid-November. The Plymouth Your Space project, developed by Plymouth City Council in partnership with City College Plymouth, Plymouth University and the two BIDs, which plans to open up empty units and green spaces to business start-ups and pop up galleries across the City Centre and Waterfront, recently won two national awards for its leadership and innovation from the Association of Town & City Management.

All of this is only possible through partnership working, private sector working with public sector and businesses taking a lead in shaping their trading environments.

So far PWP has delivered 45 per cent of its 42 project BID Plan in the first two years of operation, there’s still much work to be done. We need your help to achieve even more for Plymouth’s Waterfront.

To get involved contact [email protected]. For more information visit www.waterfrontbid.co.uk and www.visitplymouth.co.uk.

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For many businesses, work experience is a necessity in terms of filling staff shortages and gaining future employees. At City College Plymouth, we work with many organisations to provide work experience placements to our student body, giving them to gain vital employability skills whilst enabling businesses to tap into a future workforce.

Mechanical engineering student, Michael Hammond, and local manufacturer, Rittal-CSM, had an entirely positive experience when Michael joined the company on a recent work experience placement.

Michael said: “My experience at Rittal was really positive and has added weight to my future goal to pursue a successful career in mechanical, electrical and marine engineering.

“I had obtained the right skills from my course at City College Plymouth including basic hand skills, cutting and filing metal and welding, which really helped when going into a real working environment. The skills which I developed at the College really allowed me to fit into the workplace from day one.

“The majority of my work with Rittal was MIG (Metal Inert Gas) and TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, machine operating and maintenance work. From this I gained an understanding of how a fast-paced manufacturing organisation works - something that I did not really understand before my time at Rittal.

“I got on well with my colleagues who guided me through the necessary processes and procedures. It was completely different from working in a classroom and allowed me to gain an understanding of working in a real work environment and the processes

that should be followed to ensure a quality product at all times.

“Since finishing my work experience placement at Rittal, I have completed my studies with an overall grade of DDM (double distinction merit) and have started an engineering Apprenticeship with Princess Yachts International plc.”

And here’s what Malcolm Bond, Learning and Development Manager at Rittal-CSM, had to say …

“Michael’s attendance and punctuality was of a good standard and he always came prepared with the necessary protective clothing. He had good communication skills, settled in quickly and got on well with his colleagues. I would have no hesitation in agreeing to support another City College Plymouth student with a work experience placement, as long as they had the same attributes and were of the same standard as Michael.”

If you are interested in providing work experience opportunities for students please call 01752 305026 or e-mail [email protected].

City College Plymouth is proud to be the title sponsor for the Herald Business Awards for the second year running. The Herald Business Awards is arguably the top business event of the year, celebrating business success in the Plymouth area.

Sharron Robbie, Director of Marketing, Corporate Relations & Enterprise: “The Herald Business Awards has continued to grow in popularity and success over the last four years

and we are delighted to be continuing our support of this great awards ceremony.

“As the principal provider of technical and vocational qualifications in Plymouth, the College has excellent links with industry both locally, regionally and nationally. We work closely with our industry partners to support their business success and are instrumental in training the workforce of the future for many of the City’s employers, as well as providing them with a range of training and skills to support workforce development and up-skilling.

“As a Gazelle College, our partnerships with industry are critical in providing our students with a range of industry-linked activity to enable them to develop key enterprise and employability skills - skills that are highly valued by employers, and which support wealth and job creation.

“I look forward to another successful awards ceremony and celebrating the achievements of local businesses.”

Visit the Herald Business Awards website for more information - www.theheraldbusinessawards.co.uk.

Work Experience Case Study

College Continues Headline Sponsorship of the Herald Business Awards

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Where did 2014 go? Whilst I am looking forward to the start of another year, some see a new year as a time for change. For many, this means a new job, whilst for others it means a

promotion or career progression.

I remember 26 years ago when I was promoted to my first supervisory position (I know, I don’t look old enough). The challenges that this presented were daunting. I really struggled to ‘step-up’ within an organisation I had been working in for some time and it even made me contemplate looking for another job elsewhere. However, the real root of my problem wasn’t that I wasn’t capable of being a supervisor or a manager, but that I had been promoted with little support.

I regularly receive ‘nods of agreement’ when I share this problem to local businesses, many of whom encounter the same problem from their supervisors

and managers, but I have a solution that would have made my life easier all those years ago …

City College Plymouth offers Apprenticeships for aspiring or newly appointed team leaders and managers; when I use the phrase ‘Apprenticeship’ in the same sentence as ‘manager’ I often get raised eyebrows. For many, the word ‘Apprenticeship’ is associated with a young person just starting their career. In reality, an apprentice is a recently appointed person keen to learn new skills and this fits the role of newly appointed team leaders and supervisors perfectly - if only this had been available in my day.

In my experience, I found the transition from ‘worker’ to ‘supervisor’, especially within the same organisation, challenging and at times testing. If you find you have employees in a similar situation, consider the Apprenticeship route as a viable solution. It will not only teach the theory of leading teams and managing staff but will involve workplace assessment, ensuring what is learnt is implemented in the context of the workplace.

If the Apprenticeship route does not fully fit your remit, we also offer an ‘Introduction to Management’ training package, which provides a classroom-based learning approach. I have introduced this to other businesses who have newly appointed managers, team leaders, deputies and talent pools and in this I think they, and you, have found a great solution in supporting new managers.

So, if in the New Year you or your staff are looking towards a new role in supervising or managing, contact me to find out more about training your team leaders, supervisors and managers.

To contact Sean to find out how he can help you meet your businesses needs through training please call 01752 305024 or e-mail [email protected].

Follow Sean on LinkedIn - search Sean Gibson City College Plymouth.

Local law firm, Nash & Co Solicitors, has signed up to the College’s Employer Endorsement Scheme, formalising the working partnership between the two organisations. The Plymouth-based law firm has been operating in the City since 1926 and has a long history of building long-term relationships with its clients and stakeholders. The partnership between City College Plymouth and Nash & Co continues the history for both organisations of building sustainable relationships.

The Employer Endorsement Scheme is the College’s flagship partnership scheme and symbolises the close links between industry and education. Operating for five years, the Scheme began with four members, but has now grown to 52 members across all sectors.

Guy Walker, Senior Partner at Nash & Co Solicitors, said: “We are proud to be a part of the business landscape in Plymouth and we share a strong connection with City College Plymouth, a crucial organisation for our young people and the City as a whole.

“Our partnership through the Employer Endorsement Scheme cements our working relationship in a way that will benefit both organisations, helping the College to provide a curriculum that supports its students into employment, and helping our organisation gain and retain skilled employees.”

The scheme, which is free to join, allows employers to access a range of College benefits whilst businesses make a commitment to supporting the

College via providing work experience placements, site visits and industry talks to College students.

Emma Taylor, Marketing & Corporate Relations Officer at the College, said: “I am delighted to welcome Nash & Co as an Employer Endorser and work with them in the future. We share common values of partnership working and establishing long-term relationships with stakeholders and working together is a great fit for both of us.”

If you would like to find out more about working with the College, and the Employer Endorsement Scheme, please call the Corporate Relations team on 01752 305026 or e-mail [email protected].

KAM Column - Back in ‘My Day’

Nash & Co Solicitors Join Employer Endorsement Scheme

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City College Plymouth has now come to the end of its fundraising for the year for the College’s nominated charity, St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth.

Over the last 12 months, the College has raised a total of £6,909.32 for the local charity, with students and staff getting involved in various activities from car washes to selling American sweets. Talking about the charity, City College Plymouth Principal, Phil Davies, said: “St Luke’s is a local charity that many of our students and staff have been touched by and it’s astounding to see how much the College has raised over the last year.

“There has been a host of fundraising activity - often organised by the students themselves as part of their studies, but also run as a way of making a contribution to our local community and this year has been no exception.”

A cheque was presented to Lorna Damella, Corporate Fundraiser at St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth on a recent visit to the College.

Lorna said: “This is an amazing achievement by the students and staff at City College that will help support the vital end of life care we

provide to our patients at home, in hospital and at the hospice.

“I think what has really stood out for us over the last 12 months is how passionate and creative the students have been with some of their fundraising events. They really have taken fundraising to new levels of creativity and provided some really engaging activities. Thank you City College.”

City College Plymouth has nominated local charity, Jeremiah’s Journey, as the recipient for its fundraising and volunteering

activity during 2014/15.

Jeremiah’s Journey is a local, self-funded charity that offers support and information to children and their families who have experienced or are anticipating the death of someone special. In the last year, the charity has directly supported nearly 220 children and indirectly supported a further 96 children through giving advice and information to their parents and/or carers. Their service is offered to families living in Plymouth and the immediate surrounding area.

Talking about the charity, City College Plymouth Principal, Phil Davies, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Jeremiah’s Journey, a local charity that does fantastic work to support bereaved families within the community.

“Every year, our students and staff organise an array of fundraising activities in order to support the local community and those in need, and this year will be no exception. We are looking forward to working with the Charity over the next academic year.”

The charity offers support in a variety of ways, tailored to meet the needs of each family. One of the ways support is offered is through their short term therapeutic group programmes for children, young people and their parents/carers.

Chief Executive Officer at Jeremiah’s Journey, Joanne Anning, explains:

“We use creative activities within the sessions to enable the children to express their feelings of grief; share their memories of their lost loved one; and explore effective ways of coping to build resilience. We like to provide activities for our families to do together, which allow them to have fun and build lasting friendships. A more recent development has been to extend our service to help children who have a parent with a terminal illness. By providing them with a safe space to meet others who are facing similar uncertainty, we hope that it reassures them that they are not alone.

“The support that City College Plymouth is giving is vital in enabling us to continue to help these children at such a sad time in their lives. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for helping to make a difference in the lives of grieving children.”

Jeremiah’s Journey to Benefit from College Fundraising

College Raises Over £6,000 for St Luke’s



Former City College Plymouth student and Masterchef Winner, Anton Piotrowski, recently celebrated being awarded his first Michelin star for his gastro pub, The Treby

Arms. Based in Sparkwell, The Treby Arms is owned and run by Anton and his wife Clare and guests can enjoy ‘a delightfully rustic country pub which holds a hidden secret’, enjoying Michelin starred food in a cool and relaxed environment.

Rebecca Burr, editor of the Michelin guide, said: “The 14 new stars in our 2015 guide highlight the enormous richness and variety of the UK’s restaurant scene. They range from country pubs to hipster hangouts, from counter-restaurants to classic dining rooms.”

The judges were impressed by the ‘evolving menu’ at The Treby Arms, which is based around seasonal produce and sourced locally. Anton now joins a host of local Michelin starred chefs including Michael Caines of Gidleigh Park on Dartmoor and Paul Ainsworth of Number 6 restaurant in Padstow.

Anton studied at City College Plymouth on a Professional Chefs and Food Service course between 1998 and 2000 and states his inspiration for a career in the hospitality and catering industry came from his mother who did a lot of cooking.

He chose City College Plymouth because he knew that he could learn industry standard skills in realistic working environments whilst meeting industry professionals as part of his studies.

Once qualified, Anton worked at the prestigious Burgh Island Hotel for three years and then moved to London where he worked for the Berkeley Square Hotel and Square Club, Richard Branson’s Babylon and the Ealing Park Tavern, before returning to the South West in 2009 as Head Chef for the Seafood Restaurant at the Rose & Crown in Yealmpton.

In 2010, Anton and Clare, also a former College student, bought the Treby Arms in Sparkwell, South Devon and spent the next two years refurbishing and extending the former pub to create a gastro-pub that specialises in the very best local and seasonal produce.

In late 2011, Anton entered the BBC’s Masterchef: The Professionals, with filming starting in 2012. The series was televised in November and, in December 2012, Anton was named the first ever joint winner of Masterchef: The Professionals with Keri Moss.

Anton continues to support his former college and gives talks to current chefs-in-training and runs reciprocal experience visits to the Treby Arms.

Source:The Herald, ‘Plymouth-restaurant wins Michelin Star for first time’, 25 September 2014.

City College Plymouth’s very own training restaurant, PL1, recently celebrated gaining the top spot in the City’s restaurants. PL1 became the City’s number one rated restaurant by

TripAdvisor fighting off tough competition from established restaurants in the City.

PL1 is run by College students under the expert guidance of College lecturers who have an abundance of industry knowledge and experience. The PL1 team prepares, cooks and serves delicious food to a loyal following of customers.

Chef Richard Farleigh, who lectures at the College, talked about the moment they found out they were number one on TripAdvisor: “We were quite emotional and the students were so pleased.

“It’s great to have customers come into the restaurant and to then go home and write about their experience. However, the real impact of this is on our students who will be much more employable from having experience of training in one of the City’s most popular restaurants.

“We have worked extremely hard to change the style and approach of our cooking in recent years, working hard on our sustainability as well as using local, seasonal produce.”

PL1 offers a lunchtime service Tuesday to Friday and an evening service on Wednesday and Thursday evenings with a range of different menus and offers available. To find out more information and to book visit www.cityplym.ac.uk/pl1, call 01752 305777 or e-mail [email protected].

Treby Arms Awarded Michelin Star

PL1 Restaurant - Top of the Lot

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City College Plymouth offers a series of events in order to provide young people in the City with independent careers advice, the chance to discuss their future with industry experts, and to gain a taste of their chosen career.

Taster WeeksCollege Taster Weeks, held in the October and February half terms, offer school students aged 14 to 16 the opportunity to get a taste of their chosen career and subjects choices.

Those who are currently studying their Year 9 SATs exams, or undertaking their GCSEs can come into the College to gain hands-on experience of their potential future career. Working in the College’s first-class industry endorsed facilities, attendees can get a taste of plastering, hairdressing, performing arts, computing and games development, amongst others. Led by College lecturers who have a plethora of industry knowledge, the half day taster sessions provide an overview of College courses and allow young people to get stuck in with practical activities.

In order to demonstrate the career opportunities within Plymouth, we welcome junior employees from businesses within the City to talk to students about their career, their business and to give advice on what they would do if they were a student now, in order to give them the best possible opportunities within their chosen careers. This is a great opportunity for a junior employee to inspire young people to work in your industry, and can even add to their own CPD.

If you, or a member or your team would be willing to talk to young people about their career, your business and your industry, please e-mail [email protected].

College Open DaysCity College Plymouth holds two open days a year in order to promote College courses and Apprenticeships to young people within the Plymouth travel-to-work area. These are the perfect opportunity for businesses to recruit apprentices and with over 1,000 visitors in one day, there is nowhere better to speak to young people about working in your industry.

Sponsorship starts from just £250 and includes an exhibition area, a hot breakfast and refreshments throughout the day, and a dedicated employers’ lounge for sole use by our sponsors.

The next open day takes place on Saturday 7 February, 10.00am - 1.00pm at our Kings Road site. To reserve your space please call 01752 305026 or e-mail [email protected].

Plymouth will be one of just 19 cities across England celebrating higher and advanced Apprenticeship success with a formal graduation ceremony within the Plymouth University graduation marquee on Plymouth Hoe in September 2015.

The ceremony, which has been made possible by the successful bid to access funding from the Association of Colleges (AoC), will see the City’s training providers working together to run an inaugural graduation event, which will highlight the positive outcomes Apprenticeships bring.

City College Plymouth, who successfully tendered for the funding, is taking the lead on the event organisation, but is keen to ensure that all stakeholders from across the City are included in the Plymouth Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony Consortium. The Consortium currently includes Achievement Training, Acacia Training, Focus Training, Pluss Training, Serco, GHQ Training, Learn Direct, Plymouth University, Devon and Cornwall Training Provider Network and Babcock International Group plc. The event is truly an opportunity to celebrate higher and advanced apprentices who have achieved in either 2013/14 or 2014/15.

The event is scheduled to take place on the evening of Saturday 26 September 2015, and will include a welcome reception, graduation ceremony with VIP guest speaker, and refreshments.

It is hoped that all apprentices in scope will attend, along with family members and their employers. If you have apprentices that would be in scope for this graduation ceremony, or would like to find out more information, please contact the College on 01752 305026 or e-mail [email protected].

Supporting Young People into Careers

Plymouth Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony

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Employer Endorsement Scheme Breakfast◆ Friday 6 February

◆ 8.00am - 9.30am

◆ FREE (members), £15 (non- members)

Our business breakfast events are well established within the business community and offer an intimate but valuable networking experience for all. Held three times a year, the events allow businesses, large and small, to network with industry from across the City, including members of our Employer Endorsement Scheme. This relaxed event includes a delicious hot breakfast.

College Open Day◆ Saturday 7 February

◆ 10.00am - 1.00pm

◆ From £250

Promote your business and your Apprenticeship and job vacancies by exhibiting at this popular College event, which attracts over 1,000 visitors. Please see page 12 for more information.

College Taster Week◆ 16 - 20 February

Taster sessions are provided for 14 - 16 year olds within the City in order for them to gain an insight into particular industries, covering many areas from plumbing to hairdressing, and business to computing. If you are able to provide a junior employee to talk to young people about their career and your industry, let us know! Please see page 12 for more information.

Business Supper Club◆ Tuesday 24 February

◆ Tuesday 24 March

Controversial debate and honest opinions are the name of the game at City College Plymouth’s Business Supper Club, run in partnership with The Herald. The only event of its kind in Plymouth, it enables business professionals to debate key topics that matter to the South West.

Previous speakers have included Amanda Lumley, Chief Executive of Destination Plymouth, who led the debate on the visitor economy and Peter Jones, lead on the re-branding of Plymouth, who debated on the City’s ‘Britain’s Ocean City’ brand. Business Supper Clubs take place between 5.45pm and 8.30pm in our PL1 Restaurant, Kings Road and cost just £15 per person, including a two course meal with coffee.

Suggest a topic - tweet us @businesssupper.

National Apprenticeship Week Dinner◆ Thursday 12 March

◆ 7.00pm - 10.00pm

◆ £25 per person or £175 for a table of eight

Now in its eighth year, National Apprenticeship Week celebrates all that is great about Apprenticeships and this dinner event will welcome employers and apprentices from across the region to enjoy a delicious four-course dinner, prepared and served by College hospitality students.

All corporate events take place in our PL1 Restaurant, Kings Road, PL1 5QG. To book your place for any of these events, and for full terms and conditions please e-mail [email protected]

Dates for your diaries ...

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Your feedback is important in enabling us to improve our training and the service we provide to employers, and you can feedback to us in a number of different ways …

1. Ofsted Survey - Available NowThe survey provides Ofsted, the official body for inspecting schools and colleges, information that helps them to make a decision when they inspect the College, much like in 2012 when the College was graded as a ‘Good College with Outstanding features’. This survey can be accessed at any time through the year so you can record your feedback as and when you want to. Have your say with the official inspection body here: www.employerview.ofsted.gov.uk.

2. FE Choice Survey - From April 2015

FE Choice is an independent, official body, which compares performance and other valuable information about further education colleges. From this, employers have access to information on success rates, learner satisfaction and employer satisfaction with the training provided by City College Plymouth. Clients are invited via e-mail to take part so look out for your e-mail coming soon!

3. College Survey - Thank you!The College undertakes an annual employer survey with all current clients (those who have undergone training with the College in the previous year) to enable us to make improvements to our training and customer service. This information directly informs the College on its work with businesses and ways to improve our service and offer. Thank you to all who completed the survey this year!

We encourage feedback from employers and you can do so in a number of ways either through the survey or via telephone, e-mail or face-to-face. Please contact the Corporate Relations team on 01752 305026 or e-mail [email protected].

For more information on the training and commercial services available to your business, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers or request a copy by e-mailing [email protected].

If you have received a copy of this newsletter from a colleague and would like to be added to our mailing list, or you would like to be removed from our mailing list, please telephone 01752 305026 or e-mail your name, job title, company name and full address to [email protected].


City College Plymouth … Here to Listen

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