City College is opening its doors to parents and carers on Tuesday 18 November, at Kings Road between 6.00pm and 8.00pm, to tell them about the full range of options available to young people from the age of 16.

The event has been organised in response to parents’ concerns about future employment opportunities and the confusion around raising of the participation age, which parents are being led to believe means that their children have to stay at school until they are 17.

Parents and carers are invited to attend the event and hear from College staff about the range of options available to young people and the support they can receive on making the right choice. Presentations will take place at 6.00pm and 7.00pm, and Student Ambassadors will be available to give visitors tours of the Kings Road campus and its state-of-the-art facilities.

Sharron Robbie, Director of Marketing, Corporate Relations and Enterprise at the College, said: “There’s a real concern in the City that young people and their parents don’t always get the best advice about post-16 education opportunities. If we are serious about raising aspirations, and helping the economic and social regeneration of our City, then we have to give parents all the information they need to help their children make the right decisions about their options.

“We know that parents play a significant part in helping young people make their plans for the future, and with the variety of options available this can be both confusing and daunting. There are real concerns about future employment opportunities and with the government increasing the age at which all young people are required to stay in education or training, now, more than ever, it’s important for parents to be able to help young people make the right choices about their future direction.”

To pre-register your attendance at the event, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk/events or call 01752 305300

City College Plymouth is holding an employer luncheon on Wednesday 19 November, to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week and Plymouth Enterprise Week.

Guests attending will be treated to a fabulous three course luncheon, prepared and served by College hospitality students in the College’s training restaurant, PL1. Guests will also hear from Angela George, Director of IMS Marketing and Chair of Federation of Federation of Small Businesses (Torbay) who will speak on the ‘She-Economy’.

Angela is an important member of the business community in Torbay and South Devon and has worked for global HR Services Group, Penna, for over 15 years and started her own business, IMS Marketing, in 1999. As an Executive member of Brixham Chamber of Commerce, member of Torquay Business Forum and South Devon’s Woman of the Year at the 2012 Women Achievement Awards, Angela is well placed to speak on the ‘She-Economy’ and women in business.

Emma Taylor, Corporate Relations Officer said: “We are delighted to be hosting this employer luncheon during Global Entrepreneurship Week and Plymouth Enterprise Week. As a Gazelle College we are committed to fostering an enterprising culture thoughout all that we do and this luncheon is one way of engaging with business community and promoting enterprise.

“We are delighted to welcome Angela George to speak She-Economy, a topic which highlights the buying power of women and the impact this has on the economy.”

Please come along and be part of this enterprising event. Tickets cost £20 per person or £140 for a table of eight.

To book your place on this luncheon please call 01752 305026, or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

City College Plymouth is holding course information drop-in sessions on Wednesday 3 and Wednesday 17 December, between 4.00pm and 6.00pm at its Kings Road site in Devonport.

The event is aimed at 16 to 18 year olds who are looking for a different experience from school, who are not engaged in employment or training, or who may be looking for a further education course or an Apprenticeship programme.

The government has raised the age for staying in education and training to 17, and there is a mistaken understanding that this is about staying on at school. The course information drop-ins are an ideal opportunity for young people and their parents to find out about the range of options available, including full-time courses which start in January 2015.

It’s not too late for a 16-18 year old to join a full-time course at the College. The courses starting in January are available in a number of subject areas including bricklaying, business, construction multi-skilled, dance, English and maths, games development and IT, hair and beauty, health and social care, hospitality, live events production, media, music, painting and decorating, performing arts, plastering, plumbing, public services, travel and tourism and wood trades.

Sharron Robbie, Director of Marketing, Corporate Relations & Enterprise for the College, said: “There are real concerns about future employment opportunities and with the government increasing the age at which all young people are required to stay in education or training, now, more than ever, it’s important for parents to help young people make the right decisions about their future.

“Raising the participation age is not about raising the school leaving age, it’s about participating in education and training, and there are a number of options. For instance, there are Apprenticeships or part-time education while working or volunteering – or there is full-time education at school or a college. All the options offered by City College Plymouth focus on employability and enterprise skills, ensuring that when students leave us, they are highly employable, agile and resilient - making the most of any opportunity that comes along.”

For further information, come along to one of the drop-in events, contact the College on 01752 305300 or take a look at the College’s website - www.cityplym.ac.uk/events.

If you’re considering your post-16 options, or are thinking about trying something new, retraining or improving your career prospects, this event is for you!

At this event you'll be able to:

• find out about the full range of full and part-time courses on offer
• ask about our work-based learning programmes including Apprenticeships, Personalised Learning Programme and Prince’s Trust
• get FREE impartial careers advice and guidance to help you make the right choices
• Find out how to apply for a course.

Come along and take your next step towards your future.

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Last week, City College Plymouth students helped to bring Plymouth’s Illuminate festival to life. The event saw large crowds gather along Plymouth’s Waterfront on 20 November 2014 to mark the countdown to the 400th anniversary of historic voyage of the Mayflower in 2020.

Students from the College’s public services and leisure and tourism courses supported Destination Plymouth with the event which celebrated the Pilgrim Fathers departing from the Mayflower Steps in 1620 to undertake their historic journey to the USA.

The poignant ceremony took place at the Mayflower Steps, where a direct descendent of William Brewster, one of the pilgrims that sailed on the Mayflower, lit a single candle. This was followed by the lighting of a further 1,000 candles on Plymouth Hoe, to illustrate the quote by Governor William Bradford “As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled has shown unto many.”

City College Plymouth was delighted to be supporting the countdown to the Mayflower 400 celebrations, a key moment in the City’s history. The College has been an integral part of the local community for over 125 years.

Sharron Robbie, Director of Marketing, Corporate Relations & Enterprise at City College Plymouth said: "City College Plymouth was delighted to be part of Illuminate, which marked the countdown to the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower from Plymouth. The Illuminate event has raised awareness and excitement around this historic event, enabling community engagement from both sides of the Atlantic.

“The College celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, highlighting our place in the City's history. We are thrilled, therefore, that our students took part in Illuminate, supporting the team at Destination Plymouth whilst gaining valuable workplace experience.

“This was a very special event!"

The unique ceremony celebrates the “special relationship” between the UK and the USA.

Following the ceremony at the Mayflower Steps, there was a “Step Up for Respect” parade organised by the Plymouth and Devon Racial Equality Council which was sponsored by Plymouth Citybus. Four hundred people paraded up to the Hoe carrying giant illuminated props, including a model of the Mayflower ship.

The celebrations continued on the Hoe with performances by the Volunteer Military Band, Plymouth Dance and Plymouth Music Zone.

The whole event was filmed and then screened in Plymouth, Massachusetts the following day as part of their Mayflower 400 celebrations.

To find out more about the range courses on offer at the College or to arrange for a tour of our industry-standard facilities, call 01752 305300, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk or come to our College Information Event on Wednesday 3 December from 4.00pm to 6.00pm at Kings Road.

City College is welcoming Justin King CBE, previous CEO of Sainsbury’s plc, to a special Christmas lunch, on Friday 5 December. Attended by the City’s top employers and industry professionals the event celebrates the close of another successful year of partnership working.

Justin took over the helm at Sainsbury’s in 2004 when the company was experiencing real difficulties. During his tenure as CEO of the company Justin led the company into growth, almost doubling the number of customers per week and adding an extra £10billion of sales, boosting the company’s annual profit from £245million to £798million.

Sharron Robbie, Director of Marketing, Corporate Relations & Enterprise said: “We are delighted to be welcoming such a high profile speaker to the City. I am sure that our industry guests will benefit from hearing from Justin on how he delivered success at Sainsbury’s and how he and his team overcame obstacles to achieve such phenomenal outcomes. 

“As a Gazelle College we are committed to fostering an enterprising culture throughout all that we do. Justin’s visit supports our  enterprise vision and his wealth of retail industry knowledge and international experience will, I am sure,  prove to be an inspiration to not only our luncheon guests but to our students and staff too”.

Justin added: “Having attended a further education college myself, a key stepping stone to my future success, I am delighted to be able to support City College Plymouth, one of the country’s leading colleges, at this event.”

To find out more about the range courses on offer at the College or to arrange for a tour of our industry-standard facilities, call 01752 305300, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk or come to our Course Information Drop-in on Wednesday 3 December from 4.00pm to 6.00pm at Kings Road.

Plymouth Citybus has become the first bus company in the south of England to be awarded Investors in People (IiP) Gold, joining an elite group of employers, with only 7% of IiP accredited businesses awarded the Gold standard.

The success of being awarded the Gold standard comes after Plymouth Citybus gained IiP accreditation in 2012, then going on to be awarded the Silver status 12 months ago.

Gaining Gold is a huge step for the company reiterating its mission statement of being ‘Provider of Choice, Employer of Choice and Investment of Choice’.

Investors in People is the most successful framework for business improvement through people in the UK, representing true commitment to employees and their development.

Over the last four years, City College Plymouth has developed a great working relationship with Plymouth Citybus. The College has helped the company to recruit approximately 30 bus drivers through their sector based work academy, equipping these employees who were previously unemployed with the skills that Plymouth Citybus requires for its staff to be confident bus drivers, such as time keeping, communication skills and numeracy skills, which is essential for cash handling.

Director of Marketing, Corporate Relations & Enterprise, Sharron Robbie, said: “City College Plymouth would like to congratulate Plymouth Citybus on their very well deserved IiP Gold award. The company is committed to investing in, and supporting, its workforce and the College is proud to be working alongside Plymouth Citybus in order to support them in achieving these aims.” 

Kevin Phillips, Investors in People Specialist from Investors in People South commented: “Plymouth Citybus has successfully implemented recommendations made last year after going above the needed requirements for Investors in People Silver. The company needed to show 11 extra evidences through the assessment, which they managed to gain 25, gaining IiP Gold accreditation”.

Richard Stevens, Managing Director at Plymouth Citybus commented: “It is a great achievement for all staff here at Plymouth Citybus to be awarded IiP Gold. It shows just how much the whole company has moved towards our goals of being the employer of choice. Feedback from the assessment has given us areas to work on over the next year, making sure we keep moving in the right direction. Gaining IiP Gold just shows that we are continuing to lead the way and be the best bus company in Plymouth”.

To find out more about the range of courses on offer at the College or to arrange a tour of our industry-standard facilities, call 01752 305300, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk or visit our Course Information Drop-in on Wednesday 3 December from 4.00pm to 6.00pm at Kings Road.

If you are looking for a small and informal setting in which to chat to College staff about the range of courses and Apprenticeships on offer, our Information Event is for you! 

At this event you'll be able to:

• find out about the full range of full and part-time courses on offer
• ask about our work-based learning programmes including Apprenticeships, Personalised Learning Programme and Prince’s Trust
• get FREE impartial careers advice and guidance to help you make the right choices
• Find out how to apply for a course.

Come along and take your next step towards your future.

Location

If you are looking for a small and informal setting in which to chat to College staff about the range of courses and Apprenticeships on offer, our Information Event is for you! 

At this event you'll be able to:

• find out about the full range of full and part-time courses on offer
• ask about our work-based learning programmes including Apprenticeships, Personalised Learning Programme and Prince’s Trust
• get FREE impartial careers advice and guidance to help you make the right choices
• Find out how to apply for a course.

Come along and take your next step towards your future.

Location

If you are looking for a small and informal setting in which to chat to College staff about the range of courses and Apprenticeships on offer, our Information Event is for you! 

At this event you'll be able to:

• find out about the full range of full and part-time courses on offer
• ask about our work-based learning programmes including Apprenticeships, Personalised Learning Programme and Prince’s Trust
• get FREE impartial careers advice and guidance to help you make the right choices
• Find out how to apply for a course.

Come along and take your next step towards your future.

Location

If you are looking for a small and informal setting in which to chat to College staff about the range of courses and Apprenticeships on offer, our Information Event is for you! 

At this event you'll be able to:

• find out about the full range of full and part-time courses on offer
• ask about our work-based learning programmes including Apprenticeships, Personalised Learning Programme and Prince’s Trust
• get FREE impartial careers advice and guidance to help you make the right choices
• Find out how to apply for a course.

Come along and take your next step towards your future.

Location

If you are looking for a small and informal setting in which to chat to College staff about the range of courses and Apprenticeships on offer, our Information Event is for you! 

At this event you'll be able to:

• find out about the full range of full and part-time courses on offer
• ask about our work-based learning programmes including Apprenticeships, Personalised Learning Programme and Prince’s Trust
• get FREE impartial careers advice and guidance to help you make the right choices
• Find out how to apply for a course.

Come along and take your next step towards your future.

Location

Are you about to receive your A Level or GCSE results? Considering what to do next?

Come along to our drop-in morning for FREE, impartial advice and guidance on the huge range of courses on offer at City College Plymouth, including:

• BTECs
• national diplomas
• higher national certificates
• foundation degrees

as well as our GCSEs and A Level programmes.

If you’d like to ‘earn while you learn’ we have 100s of job vacancies on offer with local employers so come along and ask about Apprenticeship opportunities.

The drop-in is a great opportunity for you to:

• ask questions
• find out how you can gain Cs in GCSE English and Maths alongside your chosen course
• talk to staff about funding and learning support
• tour the campus and learn more about life at the College from current students
• apply for a course or Apprenticeship starting this September!

Even if you don’t get the results you wanted, or you are looking for a new direction, there might be another way ahead!

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Are you about to receive your A Level or GCSE results? Considering what to do next?

Come along to our drop-in morning for FREE, impartial advice and guidance on the huge range of courses on offer at City College Plymouth, including:

• BTECs
• national diplomas
• higher national certificates
• foundation degrees

as well as our GCSEs and A Level programmes.

If you’d like to ‘earn while you learn’ we have 100s of job vacancies on offer with local employers so come along and ask about Apprenticeship opportunities.

The drop-in is a great opportunity for you to:

• ask questions
• find out how you can gain Cs in GCSE English and Maths alongside your chosen course
• talk to staff about funding and learning support
• tour the campus and learn more about life at the College from current students
• apply for a course or Apprenticeship starting this September!

Even if you don’t get the results you wanted, or you are looking for a new direction, there might be another way ahead!

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Whether you have just recieved your GCSE or A Level results or are thinking about signing up to start one of our full or part-time professional courses this September, it’s not too late! Come down to our Kings Road site for our enrolment evening.

• Tutors will be on hand to answer questions.
• You will be able to enrol on the same evening.
• You can learn more about funding (including the 24+ Advanced Learning Loan) and learning support
• Our Student Support team will be available to offer impartial and professional advice
• Tour the campus and learn more about life at the College from current student
• Apply for a course or Apprenticeship starting this September!

Even if you don’t get the results you wanted, or you are looking for a new direction, there might be another way ahead!

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City College Plymouth will be hosting an Oscar-styled event on Monday 8 December to celebrate the successes achieved by its students during the autumn term.

The Student of the Term scheme recognises and rewards students who are making a positive contribution to their course, the College or the local community - over and above what is expected of them. There is a winner for each of the College’s curriculum areas, and these are all put forward for three further, special awards - the Principal’s Award, the Governors’ Award and the Students’ Union Award.

The celebratory event is being held in the College’s PL1 Restaurant and will be attended by the winners and their families, as well as their nominating tutors, senior members of College staff and the College Governors. Each of the winners will be presented with a certificate and a prize by College Principal, Phil Davies.

Phil Davies said: “I always look forward to these events because they are a real reminder of how proud the College, and the City, should be of our students’ achievements. One of our main purposes is to support individuals in achieving their dreams - be they young or old, regardless of their background.

“It is a real honour to be able to celebrate the outstanding qualities and achievements of our students in this way, with an evening dedicated to them, and for us all to share their successes with their family, friends, tutors and employers.’’

To find out more about the range courses on offer at the College or to arrange for a tour of our industry-standard facilities, call 01752 305300, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk or come to our Course Information Drop-in on Wednesday 17 December from 4.00pm to 6.00pm at Kings Road.

City College Plymouth’s latest Prince’s Trust Team has recently been involved in a week long community project at an independent respite centre called Independence South West.

Independence South West's mission is to provide first class day services and respite care to adults who have physical and sensory disabilities in an atmosphere where people feel valued, secure, relaxed and comfortable with their peers in a homely environment, supported by fully trained and experienced staff who can cater for the needs of the service users.

Up until recently, one such staff member took control of maintaining the garden areas at the front and back of the centre. Unfortunately, Independence South West suffered a tragic loss when that staff member sadly passed away. Since then, the garden areas had become severely overgrown to a point where other staff members did not have the time to complete all the tasks that needed doing.

Prince’s Trust Team Leader, Gemma Lake, said: “This is where my Prince’s Trust Team came to the rescue. The students took charge of the back garden area and spruced it up by cutting back a lot of the overgrown ivy and brambles, weeded large areas of ground, and planted bulbs ready for the spring bloom.

“I am so pleased with the hard work and determination the team displayed to make this project possible.”

The Prince’s Trust Team also contacted a local organisation and informed them of Independence South West’s plight in hopes of having a tonne of wood chippings donated for free.  It worked and the wood chippings were used to help control the weeds as well as making the garden look aesthetically pleasing.

Independence South West were very happy with the outcome of the garden and were very appreciative of all the help that Prince’s Trust Team gave.

To find out more about the range courses on offer at the College or to arrange for a tour of our industry-standard facilities, call 01752 305300, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk or come to our College Information Event on Wednesday 17 December from 4.00pm to 6.00pm at Kings Road.

On Friday 19 December, City College Plymouth will be holding a Christmas Celebration of Success event at their Plymouth Advice Centre for Employment (PACE) offices on Union Street in Plymouth. The College works with a range of partners across the City to help people back into work and has dedicated its city centre venue to help adults improve their work skills, training and confidence.

There will be a Christmas Workclub running from 10.00am - 12.00noon, where staff will support those still looking for work while they enjoy Christmas music, mince pies, cakes and hot drinks. There will also be various festive activities taking place for all the family to get involved with. 

College Governor Andrew Ashley will also be meeting with and presenting certificates to our learners. Andrew said: “We’re delighted to bring everyone together, especially at this time of year, to celebrate the achievements of those who we’ve been working so hard with. It shows not only how far individuals can go once they have re-built their self-confidence, but also how vital this centre is for the College’s work. We’re hoping that 2014 has proved to be the turning point in these individuals’ lives and the College and our partners are pleased to have played our part.”

For those who cannot make the Christmas Workclub, the College runs Workclubs every Wednesday and Friday between 9.00am and 1.00pm at their PACE offices on Union Street.

If you are unemployed and want help getting back into work, please contact PACE on 01752 305831 or come to our College Information Event on Wednesday 17 December from 4.00pm to 6.00pm at Kings Road.

If you are looking for a small and informal setting in which to chat to College staff about the range of courses and Apprenticeships on offer, our Information Event is for you! 

At this event you'll be able to:

• find out about the full range of full and part-time courses on offer
• ask about our work-based learning programmes including Apprenticeships, Personalised Learning Programme and Prince’s Trust
• get FREE impartial careers advice and guidance to help you make the right choices
• Find out how to apply for a course.

Come along and take your next step towards your future.

Location

If you are looking for a small and informal setting in which to chat to College staff about the range of courses and Apprenticeships on offer, our Information Event is for you! 

At this event you'll be able to:

• find out about the full range of full and part-time courses on offer
• ask about our work-based learning programmes including Apprenticeships, Personalised Learning Programme and Prince’s Trust
• get FREE impartial careers advice and guidance to help you make the right choices
• Find out how to apply for a course.

Come along and take your next step towards your future.

Location