Local man, Mark Saunders, 54, has been recognised at City College Plymouth’s Student of the Term Awards.

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. There is an overall 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.

Mark Saunders won in the College’s Plymouth Advice Centre for Employment (PACE) Workclub category for his contribution to the Engage and Challenge course. PACE offer support with CV writing, employability skills and training, all designed to help people back into employment. Having been unemployed for over five years before starting the course, Mark took full advantage of the support offered by the College to search for vacancies online and make applications.

His tutor, Charlotte Williams, who nominated him for the award, said:
“Mark persevered with his job seeking even though he received many disappointing rejections. He was a positive influence on his peers and he helped and supported others where he could.”

Mark’s hard work and perseverance have paid off and he has now secured employment with Bombardier as an Electrical Assembler. Mark said:
“I’m very pleased to be starting work again. Computer access was vital in my search for employment. Having unlimited access at PACE helped me successfully secure employment and the staff were always very helpful.”

Mark received a certificate and a prize from College Principal, Phil Davies, at the ceremony held in the College’s PL1 Restaurant. The event was attended by each of the 15 Student of the Term winners and their families, as well as their nominating tutors, senior members of College staff and College Governors.

Phil Davies said:
“City College Plymouth is committed to training the City’s workforce, both for today and for the future, and supporting those who have been out of work to find employment. It is really wonderful to be able to celebrate the work the College does in supporting people back into meaningful employment.”

The College’s Workclubs run every on Wednesday and Friday mornings, between 9am and 1pm, at PACE for those who are looking to get back into work.

If you are unemployed and want help getting back into work, please contact PACE on 01752 305831 or come to their Christmas celebration on Friday 19 December, between 10am and 12pm at the Union Street office.

Christmas Elves from City College Plymouth’s creative traineeship programme brought smiles to Devonport Guildhall’s Christmas Market with a unique “Find Santa tour”.

Putting a twist on the idea of ‘Santa’s grotto’, children were asked to help the elves find Santa Claus, who was missing in action. Each of the students adopted their own Christmassy character and took the children around the building looking for clues as to where Santa could be.

On their search, the children and elves had a festive fright when they met the evil ‘Jack Frost’, who could only be defeated by the children answering some Christmas riddles. They then discovered that Santa’s reindeers were poorly and wouldn’t be able to help deliver the presents for Christmas. The elves and the children saved the day by heading to the workshop to ‘make their own reindeer’ so that Santa’s sleigh could fly. Of course there was a happy ending, with Santa found safe and well at the end of the tour and each child was rewarded with a special Christmas card handwritten by Santa himself.

Working with the Real Ideas Organisation (RIO), through the creative traineeships programme, the group of eight City College Plymouth students were responsible for the planning, preparation and delivery of all the tour activities. This included being responsible for a small budget, sourcing materials and liaising with Guildhall staff around the room set up and the logistics of the activities they had planned.

Louise Evans, Venue Manager at Devonport Guildhall said:
“The students were an absolute delight to have around the building and they played a huge part in contributing to a successful event, for which we thank them very much. They took on the challenge confidently and approached it in a professional manner, considering all aspects carefully and weighing up how their decisions would affect the Christmas fayre taking place around them. They stayed in character for the duration of the event, and based on the smiles and shrieks from all the children who joined the ‘Find Santa tour’, I am confident that they fulfilled their roles well!”

To find out more about the range of 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 Evening on Tuesday 6 January from 4.00pm to 7.00pm or College Drop-in Event on Wednesday 14 January from 4.00pm to 6.00pm at Kings Road.

On Friday 16 January, City College Plymouth will be hosting a workshop about young people’s rights under the Children and Family Act, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Equality Act 2010 and the Care Act 2014.

Catering students are serving lunch to members of the public, Local Authority, NHS, Achievement Training and Deep Blue Sound who are being given the opportunity to learn more regarding the Acts, paying particular attention to students with special educational needs and disabilities. There will also be a presentation from Mike Dooley, Senior Legal Officer for Cornwall Legal Services.

The Preparing for Adulthood programme is funded by the Department for Education as part of the delivery support for the special educational needs and disability reforms, now within the Children’s and Family Act September 2014. In this, the Government outlines its goal for young people with special educational needs and disabilities to have the best opportunities and support to succeed in education and their careers, live independently and healthily and be active members of their communities.

At the heart of the proposed reforms is a single assessment process and 'Education, Health and Care Plan' bringing together support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities from birth to 25, and focusing on better life outcomes beyond school or college.

Learning Support Manager, Abi Gee, from City College Plymouth, who organised the event, said: “A programme of work is now underway to explore the proposals for working with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The Preparing for Adulthood programme will also provide knowledge and support to all local authorities and their partners, including families and young people, so they can ensure young people with special educational needs and disabilities achieve paid work, independent living, good health and community inclusion as they move into adulthood.

“The workshop will provide the attendees with the opportunity to pose questions and help support the College to implement the reforms. We are looking forward to hosting this very important event.”

Julie McLean, Director of Work-based Learning and School Partnerships at City College Plymouth, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s honours list for services to education.

Phil Davies, Principal & Chief Executive of City College Plymouth, said:
"This is tremendous news! A very well-deserved recognition for someone who is deeply committed to helping young people to achieve their full potential. Julie has dedicated her career to raising the aspirations of Plymouth's youngsters and supporting them in overcoming barriers to change their lives. I have no doubt that Julie will say this is a reward for all of her team and for those students who have worked so hard to transform their life chances."

Julie has worked at City College Plymouth for 29 years and in that time has positively impacted 27,000 young people. The impact can also be seen on their families, the colleagues she works alongside and businesses alike.

Originally unemployed and in her own words a ‘very challenging teenager’, Julie was placed on a government programme to help the unemployed into work and was subsequently employed by the Work-based Learning and Schools Partnerships department as a part-time clerk. She has since carved a successful career, becoming a Director of the very department in which she started.

Julie has worked tirelessly to support young people into employment through Apprenticeships and helping those not in education, employment or training (NEETs) through the highly successful Prince’s Trust programme, which recently celebrated its 200th team and innovative teaching models such as Jumpstart, which takes 14-16 year olds away from traditional teaching methods to re-engage them in education.

Some of Julie’s most impressive work comes from her determination to help NEETs back into learning and education, as well as helping those unemployed to gain the skills they need to succeed. Her wealth of knowledge has helped thousands of young people over the years to achieve their full potential.

Julie McLean, MBE, said:
“It’s an absolute honour to be recognised for doing something that I truly love. It has been a lot of hard work over the years but for me, seeing the positive impact on our young people makes it all worth it.”

If you would like to find out more information about Apprenticeships, the Prince’s Trust programmes or Jumpstart, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk, or come to our College Drop-in Event on Wednesday 14 January from 4.00pm to 6.00pm at Kings Road or the College Open Day on Saturday 7 February.

City College Plymouth invite you to join them for their Open Day, 10.00am to 1.00pm on Saturday 7 February at their Kings Road campus.

Whether you are a young person who wants a different experience from school, are unemployed or are looking for your next step; or you are someone who is hoping to improve your career prospects, change direction or return to work, then this open day is for you.

Come along for free, impartial advice and guidance to help you make the right choices. Our staff and students will be on-hand to give advice on careers, funding, childcare and travel costs.

On the day, you will be able to:

• tour the College and see our fantastic industry-standard facilities
• talk to course tutors about the courses on offer
• talk to employers, such as Babcock International, Princess Yachts and MGB Engineering, and find out what they’re looking for in potential employees
• meet current students and learn about our vibrant student community
• meet our student support teams and find out about the support available to you.

This is a great way to get the information you need to help you make the right decision on your future.

Attending the event are key employers, including Babcock International Group plc, Princess Yachts International plc, MGB Engineering, Hymec Precision Engineering and Plymouth Citybus.

Advanced booking is not necessary, however you can reserve your place by pre-registering. Visit www.cityplym.ac.uk  or call 01752 305300.

City College Plymouth’s well-established business networking event, the Employer Endorsement Scheme Breakfast, will welcome special guest speaker Joanne Anning, CEO of Jeremiah’s Journey, to address the recent controversy surrounding the charity sector.

The breakfast event welcomes business professionals and members of the College’s Employer Endorsement Scheme, the formal partnership scheme between industry and the College, to gain topical updates on education and business and network with other business professionals. The Employer Endorsement Scheme, created in 2009, establishes links between the College and businesses and has grown to over 50 members, including Babcock International, Princess Yachts, Plymouth Citybus and Plymouth Community Healthcare.

Emma Taylor, Marketing & Corporate Relations Officer at the College, said: “The business breakfast provides a relaxed and informal event for business professionals and members of our Employer Endorsement Scheme alike. Delegates are given an interesting topic of conversation and an opportunity to network.

“I am delighted to welcome Joanne and Jeremiah’s Journey to speak at this event and dispel the provocative claims surrounding charities which have been featured in the national media.”

Joanne will discuss with guests the recent controversy surrounding national charities and address issues such as: when you donate, does your money really go to those who need it? How much pence from the pound goes to the services the charity provides? And are charities a business first? Joanne will discuss these concerns and use the College’s chosen charity, Jeremiah’s Journey, to explain the way in which a charity operates, including where your donation money goes and the outcomes they achieve.

Joanne said: “As a local children’s charity, we are completely reliant on the generosity and support of our City. We want to ensure we will always be here to help grieving children and their families. As long as we keep this at the very heart of our organisation, we can continue to be a trusted charity.”

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 or carers. Their service is offered to families living in Plymouth and the immediate surrounding area. City College Plymouth chose Jeremiah’s Journey as their nominated charity for this year, with both students and staff working hard to raise money for this good cause.

The business breakfast event takes place on Friday 6 February, 8.00am - 9.30am in the College’s PL1 Restaurant, Kings Road and costs just £15 per person for non-members (including a hot breakfast). To book your place please call 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk or visit www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers.

City College Plymouth are inviting all 14 to 16 year olds to ‘have a go’ with some fun and free taster sessions this half term. 

From Monday 16 February to Friday 20 February, a week of free taster sessions for Years 10 and 11 will run across both the College’s Kings Road and Goschen campuses. The half day sessions will give young people the chance to find out more about the courses on offer and ‘do it for real’.

Participants can gain hands-on experience in a range of subjects, from bricklaying to hairdressing. They can lay down their own music track with music technology, create their own computer game with games development, or put their physical abilities to the test with sport and leisure. The tasters are great for young people to experience College life in a subject area that they would not normally get to try in the classroom.

Sessions are being held in a wide range of subject areas, including automotive and motorsport, beauty, bricklaying, catering, childcare, games development, media, music, marine skills, plumbing, painting and decorating, and travel and tourism. Young people can sign up to more than one session, but early booking is advised as places are limited.

Sam Selby, Marketing Assistant (Events) who organises the week at the College, said: “These tasters are a great opportunity for young people to gain hands-on experience of some of our full-time courses and use our industry-standard facilities. Each session will give young people a feel for what it’s like to be a student at City College Plymouth and help them make the right choice for their future.”

Make sure you don’t miss out and book your place now. Visit www.cityplym.ac.uk/tasterweek or call the reception team on 01752 305300. Booking deadline is Monday 9 February.

City College Plymouth will launch a new Gazelle STEM Centre, a dedicated science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) centre, for young people and businesses in the City.

The launch event, taking place on Tuesday 3 February, will welcome special guest, Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, who will officially open the centre.

Cllr Tudor Evans said: “These are great facilities which I hope will inspire our young people to throw themselves into subjects that could open so many doors for them. I am delighted to be a part of this special day and hope those who enjoy what the College has to offer will choose to stay here and help Plymouth thrive and flourish.”

Packed with the very latest technology, the Centre will be designed to capture the imagination of young people and promote interest in the vast range of career pathways and options available to scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians; to change student perceptions of the subjects and highlight the career value and entrepreneurial potential they offer.

Phil Davies, Principal & Chief Executive at the College, said: “The UK has an acknowledged shortage of skills in STEM subjects and there has been much emphasis placed on educational establishments and industry alike to encourage young people into STEM-related careers. The Centre, as a purpose-built learning environment, will act as a flagship facility for the City.

“The STEM Centre will be a significant addition to our entrepreneurial credentials as a Gazelle College. We believe that skills and qualifications will be effective only in combination with the broader attributes of enterprise awareness, creativity, confidence and resilience. The Centre will complement our other industry-standard facilities in encouraging young people to see the practical applications of a career in STEM.”

There will be a number of different activities taking place at the Centre, which will be available to College students, local employers and also to local primary and secondary schools. In addition, the space may be used for team building events based around STEM activities.

If you are interested in visiting the STEM Centre or booking an activity, please call 01752 305050 or e-mail STEM@cityplym.ac.uk, or come to our College Open Day on Saturday 7 February. Register your attendance now.

City College Plymouth has reached an impressive employability milestone by placing 500 people into Apprenticeships since September 2014.

The College promises to support young people into employment, to help start their career and to train them so that they will succeed professionally: they have delivered on that promise.

City College Plymouth’s high success rate in placing Apprenticeships is due to maintaining close links with City employers of all sizes, so that the College are best placed to support Plymouth’s business community. Through the College, 500 people are now employed as engineering apprentices at MGB Engineering, catering and business administration apprentices at Plymouth Community Healthcare, front of house apprentices at The Treby Arms and hairdressing apprentices at A Salon Called Fish.

The College’s Apprenticeship programme is providing young people with a valuable start to their career, giving them the opportunity to obtain the relevant technical skills and qualifications at College whilst gaining that all important work experience that will allow them to progress up the career ladder.

Michael Edwards was the 500th person to gain an Apprenticeship through City College Plymouth and now works as a business administration apprentice at Plymouth City Council. 

Michael said: “After leaving school at 17, I looked at Apprenticeships as a way of getting into employment and developing more skills. I contacted City College Plymouth and they suggested that I look at Plymouth City Council Apprenticeships. They directed me to a recruitment workshop facilitated by the Plymouth City Council Apprenticeship team.

“City College were so helpful in supporting me with my application. I could not believe it when I was selected to attend an interview and I got the job! I am really enjoying the variety and responsibilities that my role brings supporting the customer service advisors.

“I would recommend an Apprenticeship as it’s a great way to make the big leap from education into employment. It is scary leaving school, but there are lots of people both at work and from the College supporting me which makes settling in a lot easier.”

City College Plymouth’s Apprenticeship department was recognised by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’ in 2012 and their Apprenticeship success rates are currently 14 per cent above the national average, meaning if a young person undertakes an Apprenticeship with the College they are more likely to succeed in finding a job in their chosen sector.

Of the 500 new starts, ten per cent were supported by the Plymouth Apprenticeship Company. Launched two years ago as a joint venture by the College and Plymouth City Council, the Plymouth Apprenticeship Company helps businesses to recruit apprentices, or match young people to appropriate host employers, and pays the apprentices' wages, taxes and national insurance contributions; thus supporting smaller businesses who cannot always afford the costs of taking on new staff.

Julie McLean MBE, Director of Work-based Learning & School Partnerships at the College, said: “Apprenticeships are a viable alternative to mainstream education and the fact we have placed 500 people into Apprenticeships in the City and wider region demonstrates the extensive range of opportunities available to young people.

“We know that the service and opportunities we offer mean something; they mean real, valuable and beneficial jobs for young people.”

If you are looking for an Apprenticeship or do not want to stay on in school after completing your GCSEs, come to our College Open Day on Saturday 7 February - register your attendance at www.cityplym.ac.uk or call 01752 305300.

Skills development students from City College Plymouth will be running a community café every Thursday at Stoke Damerel Church on Paradise Road.

Serving tea, coffee and cakes baked and prepared by the students, the café follows on from a successful lunch club which students have previously run at the College.

The experience of running the café will give those students with special needs and learning difficulties the experience of a realistic work environment. The students will work in shifts, splitting their time between the College, preparing the food, and serving people in the café. Carrying out multiple roles will help them to develop key employability and work skills as well as boosting their confidence.

Claire Smart, Tutor at City College Plymouth, said: “We think it’s important for our students to get out in the community and be visible. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to show what they can do and get hands-on work experience which will help them when they look for work in the future.”

Rhona Prichard, Churchwarden at Stoke Damerel Church, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the College students into the church to run the community café. We are keen to open up our space as a community hub for all and I know the students have been working very hard. I can’t wait to taste their cakes!”

The community café will open on Thursday 5 February, from10.30amto2.00pm, with a special offer of a free homemade cake with every drink purchased. The café will continue to run every Thursday until 16 April, when the students, College and church staff will review the success of the scheme to decide whether it should continue.

To find out more about the support available from the College for those with learning difficulties or to arrange for a tour of our industry-standard facilities, call 01752 305300, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk or come along to the College Open Day on Saturday 7 February, 10am to 1pm.

International students from China prepare to celebrate the ‘Year of the Goat’ at City College Plymouth.

Students will come together to celebrate the Chinese New Year at a special event at the College’s PL1 Restaurant on Tuesday 10 February.

The New Year Spring Festival is the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar.

College International Assistant (China), Julie Li, said: "In China, people usually take a few weeks holiday to prepare for the celebration and see in the New Year with family. We didn’t want our Chinese students, who are a long way from home, to miss out, so we decided to host this event. It’s also a great way for other College students, who are interested about China or Asia, to understand and celebrate Chinese culture."

This year, Chinese students will work with the College’s catering students to develop a delicious Chinese banquet meal which will be served at 6.00pm in the College’s PL1 Restaurant. Students will then be joined by their host families and College alumni from 7.30pm for an evening of entertainment in the Main Hall, featuring singing, dancing, traditional games and comedy performances from College students.

Jessica Randall, Head of International Development at the College, said: “The College is delighted to host this event. Our international students have been working hard to prepare for this festive student gathering. It is important for the students to be able to celebrate this very special time of year in a traditional way and we enjoy celebrating it with them.” 

A report from the Local Government Association (LGA) suggests that better careers advice is needed to prevent young people from disengaging with education and training. It estimates that the teenage dropout rate costs the country £814m per year.

The LGA commissioned the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion to analyse the latest figures which were for the year 2012/13. The researchers combined dropout and failure figures on A Levels, Apprenticeships and further education courses to give a total of 178,000 16 to 18-year-olds not completing their courses. Of these, 92,000 students withdrew from schools, primarily from AS and A Levels; 24,200 did not complete Apprenticeships or training courses and an estimated 61,900 withdrew from Further Education courses.

These latest figures come one year after Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan MP, announced the creation of a new careers and enterprise company for schools, which would aim to transform the provision of careers education and advice for young people and inspire them to explore the opportunities offered by the world of work. The report, however, proposes that councils should be given more control over careers advice to ensure teenagers "pursue the right course for them".

Cllr David Simmonds, Chairman of the LGA's children and young people board, said: "Local councils, colleges, schools and employers know how to best help their young people and should have devolved funding and powers to work together to give young people the best chance of building careers and taking jobs that exist locally."

A recent Ofsted report suggested that, while some schools offer good impartial advice and guidance to their pupils, overall the careers advice currently on offer is inadequate. Only 12 of 60 schools inspected by Ofsted - the government agency responsible for inspecting schools, colleges and private training providers - ensured that all of their pupils received sufficient information to explore a wide breadth of career options.

Better careers advice provision would challenge the belief that raising of the age of participation in education or training to 18 is about making people stay on at school for longer. Young people have several choices: they can continue to stay in full-time education at school; attend college on a full-time, vocational course; continue their studies part-time at college while working or volunteering; or they can apply for an Apprenticeship, which allows them to earn while they learn. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that young people are made aware of all the options open to them.

Phil Davies, Principal & Chief Executive of City College Plymouth, said: “We welcome this discussion around ensuring that the City’s young people are given impartial, well informed careers advice during their transition from school into college, university or the workplace.

“City College has previously supported a national campaign that called on the government to ensure that every young person has access to careers advice on all the post-14 education, training and employment options. Our Matrix accredited team here at the College already provides this service for the City, but it is reassuring to see the initiative being endorsed nationwide.”

City College Plymouth holds the Matrix Standard - a national quality standard for any organisation that delivers information, advice and guidance on learning and work. The Standard reflects the College’s high quality, impartial careers advice service, its links to employers and industry and its continuing commitment to ensure that all of its students leave the College work-ready with strong employability skills.

Furthermore, the College is committed to fostering an enterprising spirit within its students, allowing them to gain key employability skills that enable them to be work-ready and also have a positive impact on the local community. The College’s dedication to transforming education by preparing students for their entry into the world of work or higher education is part of their commitment as a Gazelle College. Formed in January 2012, the Gazelle Colleges Group aims to transform further education for a changing world of work. Since joining in 2012, over 7,000 City College Plymouth students have taken part in enterprise activities in order to prepare them for the world of work.

To arrange for impartial careers advice from the College’s Matrix accredited team, call 01752 305300, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk, or come along to the City College Plymouth Open Day on Saturday 7 February from 10.00am to 1.00pm at Kings Road.

City College Plymouth’s Prince’s Trust team has been involved in a two week long community project at Independence South West, an independent charity-run respite centre in Plymstock.

The students spent time cleaning out the pond, finding nearly fifty frogs in the process. They also completed the weeding at the front of the building in the sensory garden, painted the kitchen diner in the respite centre and painted the fence at the back of the building.

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. The centre offers a homely environment supported by fully trained and experienced staff who can cater for the needs of those who use their services.

The students chose to do their community project at the centre because they felt it was a project that they could really put their heart and soul into and would be of great benefit to the people who rely on the centre.

Danny Hobbs, 17, from Stonehouse, said: “I’ve really enjoyed being part of this project. It’s fantastic to be able to do something that helps out a great charity in our community. It’s also been good for me personally and has really built my confidence. I hope that the people who use the centre will get a lot out of the garden and the other work we have been able to complete here.”

Ian Burnard, Services Manager at the Centre, said: “It’s wonderful to see such an enthusiastic bunch of young people getting involved and really putting everything in to completing these tasks which will make a huge difference to our service users. I was extremely impressed by their dedication and energy, and I know that the group were keen to represent a more positive stereotype of young people in our society. We greatly appreciate all that they have done and thank them for all their hard work.”

Princes Trust Team Leader, Sam Kellond said: “The students have done remarkably well on this project and achieved an enormous amount in such a short space of time. They worked really well together and bonded as a team, which made the completion of the work run smoothly. The sensory garden is looking lovely and I’m really happy that we’ve been able to help out this very deserving charity.”

If you want to get involved in supporting students on community projects, then consider joining the Prince’s Trust team. The College are looking to recruit new team members now. Call 01752 856827 or 0796772649 to apply or for more information.

City College Plymouth has won two Gold Awards at the 2015 South West Fairtrade Business Awards.

The College won a Gold Award for Best Fairtrade University or College and was the only college to be recognised in this category. General Manager for the College’s catering supplier Aramark, Mark Jones, also received a Gold Award in the Best Fairtrade Advocate category.

City College Plymouth achieved its status as a ‘Fairtrade College’ in 2008, meaning that it has made a commitment to supporting and using Fairtrade products throughout the College, including in their on-site catering outlets, in meetings and in their offices.

Laura Parry, Sustainability Officer at City College Plymouth, said: “We are delighted that the College has been recognised for the work they do promoting Fairtrade. We are continually looking to improve our provision of Fairtrade products and we actively raise awareness of Fairtrade to both staff and students within the College and to the local community.”

Representatives from the College and other organisations in the South West Fairtrade community were recognised at the ceremony at The Watershed in Bristol on Friday 6 March to conclude Fairtrade Fortnight in the region.

The 150 Business leaders who attended heard from Sophi Trancell, Managing Director of Divine Chocolate, and Laura Daniel, Licensing Manager at Aardman, on their business collaboration on the Shaun the Sheep Fairtrade Easter Egg, demonstrating how incorporating Fairtrade into a business has massive impacts on farmers in developing countries. Many were seen sporting their Shaun the Sheep headbands as they left the event.

To find out more about joining the Fairtrade community with a course or Apprenticeship at City College Plymouth, apply at their Information Event, Wednesday 11 March, between 4.00pm and 6.00pm at the Kings Road campus.

It’s all fun and games with City College Plymouth this Saturday, debunking myths around education choices and offering some hands-on activities to get young people excited about their future learning experience.

City College Plymouth is joining forces with UTC Plymouth, Achievement Training and Plymouth Studio School to help spread the word that ‘there’s more to life than school’ at their More Than Just School event. Held in a marquee in the City Centre Piazza under the big screen, between 10.00am and 5.00pm on Saturday 28 March, young people and their parents will be able to get free impartial advice and have the chance to get their hands dirty whilst trying out a few of the courses on offer at the College.

Some of the activities include tackling maths with playdough, 3D printing, getting behind the wheel on the F1 racing track simulation, taking part in the wheel change challenge, and a comedy photo booth. There will also be the opportunity to relax with some nail art, massages and mini treatments whilst listening to live music and sampling delicious breads and sweet treats, courtesy of our talented City College students.

The More Than Just School 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 their children have to stay at their school until they are 18.

Phil Davies, Principal of City College Plymouth, 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 the young people of Plymouth all the information they need to make decisions about their options. I believe that every young person should be entitled to free and impartial, good quality careers advice and guidance - not least because there are so many different avenues open to them.”

The event is free to attend and will also feature an Easter egg hunt in aid of Jeremiah’s Journey - a local charity who work with young people and families in times of bereavement. So forget school rules and join City College in the city centre, 10.00am to 5.00pm, Saturday 28 March.

A new facility to help train young people in the skills required for work in the marine sector is to have a special launch ceremony on Monday 13 April.

Based at City College Plymouth’s Piquet Barracks site in Devonport, the Centre will offer specialist marine training for apprentices and students aged 16 - 18 undertaking full-time courses in marine engineering and other nautical related programmes at the College.

The new Centre will be dedicated to supporting the future workforce for this priority growth sector for the City with expert training and hands-on workshops. Supported by Princess Yachts International plc, the Centre boasts state-of-the-art equipment including a caterpillar marine diesel engine previously donated to the College by the marine company.

The engine, which weighs over 2.5 tonnes and is worth over £15,000 and has been used by College engineering students to enhance their hands-on training, many of whom are apprentices with Princess Yachts. The students have been able to dismantle and reassemble the engine, learning about the intricate workings which help it to power a luxury yacht.

Chris Gates, Managing Director at Princess Yachts International plc, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this new marine training Centre. We’ve had a strong relationship with City College Plymouth over the years and are glad to be working with them to help support the training and employment of the City’s young people in the marine sector.”

City College Plymouth and Princess Yachts enjoy a close working partnership. The company have been a member of the College’s employer endorsement scheme for five years, playing a key role in curriculum development in marine related courses at the College. Princess Yachts’ apprentices also start their career at City College Plymouth and will now be taught in the new marine training centre.

Phil Davies, Principal and Chief Executive at City College Plymouth, said: “This new Centre signifies the growing strength of the marine industry in the City and the ever strong partnership between the College and Princess Yachts. The marine sector is a priority growth sector for Plymouth and it is crucial that the College meets the training needs of this sector, training young people, apprentices and employed people who work within the marine industry.

“With South Yard recently being declared an enterprise zone, this Centre will help meet the needs of new investors looking to employ the best trained workforce for the development of their marine businesses.”

The launch event of the new training centre will be attended by representatives from City College and Princess Yachts, alongside Princess Yachts’ apprentices. Visitors will be treated to a tour of the new centre before it is officially opened by Chris Gates at a special launch ceremony.

If you are interested in studying at the new marine training Centre at City College Plymouth, come along to the College’s course information drop-in event on Wednesday 15 April, 4.00pm to 6.00pm, at the Kings Road campus for more information or to start your application.

During the Easter holidays, young people in Plymouth and the surrounding area had the opportunity for adventure, met new friends and had experiences they won’t soon forget with the National Citizen Service.

Delivered by the Prince’s Trust team at City College Plymouth in partnership with Plymouth Argyle FC, the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme is designed to give 16 to 18 year olds living in England and Northern Ireland the opportunity to make extraordinary friendships, learn new skills and to create unforgettable memories.

Daniel Payne, Prince’s Trust Team Leader and Training Officer at City College Plymouth, said: “This was an opportunity for young people in Plymouth to get outdoors, try something a bit different and learn new skills which are not always found within the classroom. The NCS programme is a great way for students to boost their CVs and UCAS applications, as well as have fun and help out in their local community.”

Students from local sixth forms took part in outdoor teambuilding activities in Weymouth over the first weekend. Then, through the week, students had the opportunity to take part in a social action project with Age UK. Participants created four pieces of art work, to be displayed in the organisation’s windows, which face onto Southside Street, Plymouth. They also got involved in a bring and buy sale in Plymstock. At the end of the week, students ‘graduated’ with a party, celebrating the work they had done and the friends they made during the programme.

Katie Spencer, 17, from Looe who took part in the programme, said: “NCS was a fantastic experience, doing things that I wouldn’t normally do. I’ve met some great new friends and got the chance to give back to the community. I feel this has helped my confidence and belief in my abilities. I would recommend NCS to any young person who wants try out something new and give something back to surrounding areas.”

The next NCS programme runs in July and applications are now open via the NCS website www.ncsyes.co.uk.