Newsletter 12pp

ISSUE 32 Winter 2015

News from Bishop Burton College at the Beverley and Riseholme campuses

ÂŁ24m College Campus opens in Lincolnshire Also in this issue: Record numbers graduate UK Excellence Winners LAMMA scholarship

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Well colleagues, it has been another exciting start to the academic year!

I am sure that you have all seen the publicity around the opening of the new Riseholme College showground campus. It is a magnificent achievement to have got from vision; to acquiring land; to designing a campus; to obtaining planning approval; to building on a green field site; to opening for staff and students... in little more than eighteen months. I am proud of all your support and effort that has enabled these seemingly impossible tasks to be achieved.

Whilst this has been done we have all of course been dealing with other issues and challenges, and supporting our students of 2014/15 to achieve their full potential.

Destination data is excellent yet again with our students getting the new course places, the jobs, and the University opportunities they desired.

FE Recruitment continues to be an area of focus for all institutions, especially in this competitive environment, and as such, we will be introducing January enrolment dates across a wide range of subject areas.

The summer period was one of the busiest ever for our business enterprises, with events, hospitality, accommodation sales, sporting fixtures, and equine competitions all reaching new highs.

Again, well done to everyone. Now we must focus on continuing to grow this year-round.

We have moved forward into this very challenging year as a sustainable and successful organisation; a College which is the envy of many. Which brings me to the latest challenges. Some of you will be aware that over the summer the Government, through the Minister for Skills, has insisted that the whole of the Further Education Sector be subjected to a series of Area Reviews.

These Area Reviews are intent on cost cutting in our sector, and on sorting out the unsatisfactory situation of having many colleges across the country unable to set balanced budgets. I will be doing my utmost to keep all staff abreast of the situation by hosting regular staff meetings as and when needed.

We have a challenging year ahead, but our strength in our willingness to react and respond to the ever-changing environment will see us through.

Thank you once again for your hard work, your professional standards, and your flexibility. All of these traits are what make us successful.

‘Premier Agricultural College’ Will Train Next Generation of Skilled Workers

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Lincolnshire now has the “premier agricultural college” following the grand unveiling of the Riseholme College Showground Campus – the first landbased college campus to be built in the country in over 50 years.

The £13m state-of-the-art facility, based in Lincolnshire Showground, was officially opened by Gainsborough MP Sir Edward Leigh on 20 November in front of prominent members of Lincolnshire’s farming and business communities, along with the College’s students and staff.

Unveiling a ceremonial plaque to mark the occasion, Sir Edward said: “It’s a great honour to be asked to officially open this purpose-built agricultural college, especially in this, the premier agricultural county in the country.

“The premier agricultural county deserves the premier agricultural college – and that is what we have got now.

“It’s a very, very exciting project. It is not often you get such an exciting new development in Lincolnshire so I am absolutely delighted to be a part of this historic day. We will be educating students here for generations to come.”

Jeanette Dawson OBE, Chief Executive and Principal of Riseholme College, a part of Bishop Burton College, said; “I am absolutely delighted to have officially opened our fantastic new Showground Campus.

Around 400 Further Education students now study at both the new campus and the Riseholme College Campus, just a few miles away. The new campus has been built to complement, rather than replace, the existing facilities. I am also particularly proud to announce that we have three viable degree programmes in agriculture, animal management and equine studies running at the new facility.

Around 40 Higher Education students have already enrolled on these courses and we have exciting plans to expand our degree offering by September 2016.

“This is an historic day for land-based education in Lincolnshire and yet further evidence of the College’s unwavering commitment to training the county’s next generation of skilled workers”

The opening of the new College campus is just the start of the development.

Work on the £11.5million second phase of the project began in earnest in October and is due for completion by September 2016. The phase two development will include a Food and Agri-food Science Centre, a Health and Nutrition Centre and a Sports and Health Centre including an all-weather surface for multi-sport performance testing, helping us to expand and grow further education provision in the region.

ISSUE 32 Winter 2015

Area Reviews… what are they and 4

what does it mean for the College?

The government has set in motion a series of Area Reviews for colleges across the country.

These reviews are intended to result in “fewer, larger, more resilient and efficient providers”.

So far, three area reviews have commenced across the country, with some recommendations due imminently.

NICKY MORGAN MP, EDUCATION SECRETARY

The reviews are being led by a steering group comprising a range of stakeholders within the area. Likely members in our area review will include the chairs of governors of each institution, the FE and sixth-form college commissioners, local authorities, local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and regional schools commissioners.

The steering group will look at the post16 provision on offer in each area, and make recommendations about structural changes to the sector, considering local economic objectives, national government policy, access, funding and support to return the unemployed to work.

While it is unclear when and how our area review will take place, we have decided as an organisation to explore the feasibility of working with other colleges in the region. As a specialist College, we

are in an enviable position to our local competitors, but that doesn’t guarantee our exclusion from a review.

To that effect, the College has agreed with East Riding College that it is the right time to hold a series of meetings to look at the feasibility of joint working as a means of creating a new College federation. East Riding College has a strong and developing reputation, excellent estate and facilities, and complimentary curriculum.

Our joint commitment to the local and regional communities that we serve is a clear indicator to our boards that a feasibility study relating to more formal collaboration is timely.

I will ensure that I update you as and when we have further news on our area review or the progress of the feasibility study.

Childhood dreams are realised - as record numbers of mature learners graduate from Bishop Burton More than 600 people filled Beverley Minster in November to watch the conferment of degrees on nearly 70 part-time Bishop Burton students. Each graduand was presented with a scroll by the representatives from the College’s partner universities and the day marked the culmination of years of dedication, hard work, and I’m sure, the odd teary moment.

The College Principal and Chief Executive, Jeanette Dawson OBE said; “I would like to offer congratulations to all here – graduating today is a fine achievement and one you, and those family members that have supported you, have all worked extremely hard for. We wish you well for

the future and will look fondly on as your journey continues.”

She added; “ Our college graduates continue to go onto promising careers within their chosen field, with 96 per cent finding employment or going onto further study within six months of completing their studies – the highest success rate in the region – so I will look fondly on as they continue on their path.”

Closing the ceremony, the Principal summarised; “It is clear to see from the number of supporters at the ceremony that many of this year’s graduates could not have got this far without friends and family, work colleagues and employers, tutors and

mentors, playing their part. On behalf of all those graduating from the College today, I thank you for the support and encouragement you have given them.”

The Principal went on to offer thanks to staff and colleagues from partner institutions that helped students achieve some exceptional results, including 12 first class honours degrees.

In total more than 300 degree students and almost 1,500 further education students have graduated from Bishop Burton College this year, taking us to more than 40,000 in our 60 years. An achievement we should all be proud of.

Multiple winner makes her mark at October’s Horse Trials

Harriette Howard with her horse Starholme Amberleigh

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This year’s Bishop Burton 2 Horse Trials saw one competitor steal the show, securing a sensational treble victory.

Harriette Howard, a 22-year old rider from Lincolnshire topped the BE100 Open with her horse Starholme Amberleigh and took two BE90 sections riding Starholme Walter Mitty and Class in a Glass.

“I’m shocked” admitted the rider, who is well-used to gracing the winners’ enclosure, but never more than once on the same day. What was so special was that her three rides ranged in experience – from the green five-year old Class in A Glass, competing at only her third event this year, to the experienced 11-year-old Starholme Amberleigh, for whom this was a third win on the trot.

“They’ve all got Welsh section D in them and have quick pony brains,” explained Harriet, who does part-time yard work at Rase Veterinary Centre in Market Rasen to fund her eventing.

Another victory over the two-day competition was secured by NHS worker Natalie Anderson, who claimed the top spot in the open novice section aboard her own 14-year-old gelding, Double Black Diamond. This was the first win for the pair, who teamed up in 2011.

“He’s quite a cheeky, spooky sort to handle and he’ll shy away at the smallest things, but once you’re on board he’s as good as gold,” said Natalie, who clocked up 0.4 of a penalty for going too fast across country – quite a feat when nobody else made the time. “He gave me a brilliant ride; we got into our stride and he flew everything.”

This year also saw the introduction of a new course-designer Joe Weller. Weller had made a few changes to the three tracks, including adding some fences from his own course at Norton Disney. “We’re very pleased to have Joe on board and we’re looking forward to working with him in the future,” said Kim Knightley, Equine Director at Bishop Burton.

“He’s quite a cheeky, spooky sort to handle and he’ll shy away at the smallest things, but once you’re on board he’s as good as gold,”

ISSUE 32 Winter 2015

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LAMMA to fund next-generation engineers at Riseholme College

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An innovative agreement between Riseholme College and Briefing Media, owners of the LAMMA event (the UK’s largest Agricultural Machinery & Services Exhibition) is set to benefit young people training in the field of land-based technology for three years.

The College is pleased to announce that LAMMA has confirmed it will continue to work with the College to encourage young people into the agricultural engineering sector through the College’s Level 2 Diploma in Land-based Engineering.

As part of the three-year agreement, scholarships will be available to young people starting the course, equipping them with their own toolkit and a financial bursary to support their studies. The financial support provided by LAMMA will be worth £30,000 over the next three years.

Since 2008, the organisation has supported Riseholme students by donating almost £100,000 to its scholarship programme.

“Agricultural engineering is a rapidly changing sector so it’s great to see that Riseholme College continues to innovate and invest in its facilities”

On the Scholarship, Jeanette Dawson OBE, Chief Executive and Principal said: “I am particularly pleased that LAMMA has agreed to continue to support this initiative, and by working together we can provide a programme which is tailored to the needs of employers and which will encourage new entrants – vital to the industry’s future.”

Land-based Technology is a broad, dynamic sector offering a huge range of opportunities for individuals with the appropriate skills, and the Level 2 Diploma offers students the skills needed to forge a solid foundation for a rewarding career.

Commenting on the initiative, Briefing Media CEO, Neil Thackray, said: “One of the principal aims of LAMMA has been to support and represent the Lincolnshire agricultural sector. To do this,

we need to invest in the future of that sector and that’s why we are proud to support this programme.

“Agricultural engineering is a rapidly changing sector so it’s great to see that Riseholme College continues to innovate and invest in its facilities, its people and its resources. The outstanding teaching resources at the College’s new Showground Campus are testament to that, and provide an ideal setting for the engineers of the future to learn their craft.”

The scholarships that are now on offer will provide the students with access to a wealth of experience and will help to equip them with the tools needed to work in industry from the day they complete their studies. These young people have a bright future in an industry which is crying out for talented new entrants

ISSUE 32 Winter 2015

Student Successes

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Netball champ

The College’s netball Academy, which is linked to the Super League team the Yorkshire Jets, continues to go from strength to strength, with one student being selected to represent England, and six of the squad selected to take part in the Yorkshire Jets Athlete Development programme.

Following the launch of the College’s new netball academy, headed up by Jo Richardson and supported by coaches from the Yorkshire Jets, the squad have gone from strength to strength, securing a top three position in last year’s College League.

Richardson, who formed the netball academy last September, had high aspirations for where she wanted the College to be in 12 months.

Adam Milner

At the time, she said; “My focus will be on giving the team extensive coaching at a high level, introducing fitness & agility and strength & conditioning coaching, and most importantly, adopting a strategic game play approach to our play. The team will be supported by mentor coach, Anna Carter, who currently resides on the England Coaching Panel – a huge coup for the College. Our new partnership with the Yorkshire Jets unlocks a great opportunity for us to raise our game. They are the only Yorkshire team in the Super league, so having access to their team and support network will be invaluable for the College. “ What Richardson and the team have done has paid off. Since the start of term, the team have scored a combined 230 goals while conceding just 18. The success has caught the eye of the Yorkshire Jets, with six of the college’s players now taking part in the Athlete Development Programme at the Super League team, two of whom were

Jo Richardson pictured centre

also selected to play in the Yorkshire Jets National Performance League.

And if this wasn’t enough, in November six team mates were invited to take part in the final stage of the Great Britain College trials, hosted at Nottingham University.

The students put in an exceptional performance, representing the College and doing themselves proud. As a result of their work, Leia Cole was selected to join the GB national netball squad – a huge achievement and the first College netballer to secure such a prestigious On the news, Leia Cole admitted she was in shock: “I can’t believe I’ve been chosen to represent Great Britain. I only started playing netball for fun, so to get to this level at my age is fantastic. I’m going to give it my all as I know I’m representing what we have here at Bishop Burton as much as I am my country.”

Student wins Farm Planner of the Year Adam Milner, a BSc Agriculture graduate from Bishop Burton College, has won the coveted title of Farm Planner of the Year awarded by the Institute of Agricultural Management, at this year’s Livestock event at the Birmingham NEC. As part of the competition, Adam had to put together a business plan for the Queen’s own farms at Windsor Castle, outlining how he would best utilise the farm land. His plan, which recommended maximising arable land on the royal farm through spring cropping, and diversifying the dairy unit through the production of value added products, was judged against other submissions from Colleges and Universities across the UK. He will now put his recommendations into practice in partnership with the royal farm team.

On Adam’s win, Jeanette Dawson OBE, commented; “I am delighted for Adam and the recognition he has received after winning this award. Adam has excelled while at the College, always giving his studies his full attention, so it’s not surprising that he has won this accolade.

His submission was thoroughly researched, well-considered and actionable – a truly worthy winner.”

As well as graduating with first class honours, Adam also won the College’s top prize at Graduation – the coveted Diamond Jubilee Prize. He has also previously been a recipient of the degree student of the year award from the Worshipful Company of Farmers.

Hurdling everything in her path Student Chelsea Walker, the UK’s number one Under-20s 400 metre hurdles champion with ambitions to take part in the Rio games, has been recognised nationally for a second sport – rugby.

9 Chelsea Walker

Not willing to settle with her success on the track, Chelsea began playing rugby when she joined Bishop Burton College a year ago. Originally called up to represent England Under-18s at the European Championships in Belgium, alongside fellow College AASE Academy player Rachel Woosey, she has now been selected to take part in the Development Squad programme, a route in to the England women’s senior squad, over the coming months.

It’s been a meteoric rise for Chelsea, who has only been playing rugby for a year since she began her course here at Bishop Burton College. Since joining the Rugby Academy last year, Chelsea starred on the wing as our women’s team lifted the AoC Sport Rugby Finals in London, winning four games out of four and scoring an impressive 181 points while conceding only 19.

But while she’s enjoying rugby, Chelsea’s first love will always be hurdling. With her sights firmly set on hurdling at the 2016 IAAF World Junior Championships in

Kazan, Russia, in July 2016, Chelsea has recently started working with new trainer in Middlesborough, who helped the likes of fellow hurdler Richard Kielty to gold medals at World and European Indoor Championships.

James Earl, Director for Sport said “I’m delighted that Chelsea has been recognised nationally for two sports. With the success of Super League in both netball and

football, as well as the women’s rugby World Cup success last year, women’s sport is finally getting the recognition that it deserves, on a national level. The UK has a mass of female sporting talent and the college is fully committed to playing our part in that success.”

Top tweets…

ISSUE 32 Winter 2015

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UK Excellence Winners second time is quite unbelievable and is testament to the incredible working culture here at Bishop Burton College.

It is all about the people we have at the College.

The College received its award by businesswoman and star of hit TV show, The Apprentice, author and columnist, Baroness Karren Brady CBE, in front of hundreds of prominent business figures and invited guests at a glittering ceremony at the Intercontinental Park Lane, in London. The baroness commented on how our college values underpin all aspects of our business and how our ‘one team, one bishop’ ethos was truly felt college-wide.

In October, the College was named one of the most outstanding businesses in the country when we were announced as the 2015 British Quality Foundation (BQF) UK Excellence Award Winner – the second time we had won, and the first college to ever receive the accolade twice.

In claiming the top spot the College beat strong competition from some of the

biggest names in UK business including Siemens UK, Ricoh UK Ltd and Virgin Trains, and reaffirmed the College’s position as the leading institution of its kind in the country.

For the College to win this prestigious award for the second time is a truly remarkable achievement. To win the award once is fantastic, but to do so a

I am also pleased to report that the College secured the highest score during our assessment period ever recorded by a UK business.

Thank you to all staff that took part in the review process, and to everyone at the college, thank you for your continued commitment to our college values and for delivering excellence every day.

The future’s bright for Bishop Burton students This year’s destination of leavers from higher education (DLHE) has found that Bishop Burton’s graduates are more likely to be in employment or further study six months after graduating than the national average.

89 per cent of former students agreed that the College provided the stable foundations needed for the world of work, and more than two thirds agreed that they would be well-prepared for a life of self-employment after leaving College.

The results, which were compiled by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), show that of those that graduated in 2014, more than 96 per cent are already in either in employment or have gone into further study.

The study also revealed how far Bishop Burton alumni have travelled, with former students finding employment in all four corners of the UK and internationally.

The high employability rate of students was also mirrored in how equipped they felt when leaving the College. More than

As a College, we pride ourselves on the quality of our teaching and outcomes for students, so it’s thrilling to find that our students have promising careers ahead of them when they leave the College.

We strive to prepare our students for the world of work through our vocational style of teaching, so it’s great to see that our students feel well equipped when they start their careers.

These results come hot on the tails of an announcement by the Skills Funding Agency which announced Bishop Burton as the number one land-based college in the country for student retention and achievement. A fantastic achievement and one we have all worked hard for over the years. These results, coupled with our Centre of Vocational Excellence status in Equine and Agriculture put us in an enviable position.

Six great snippets from across the College Emmaus House Congratulations to our construction students who have rebuilt the College’s award-winning Harrogate Flower Show garden at Hull’s newest homeless shelter, Emmaus House.

The garden will provide residents a welcome environment away from the stresses of getting their lives back on track.

Young Sports Person of the Year Congratulations to Bradley Spriggs, our SPOTY, who was named young sportsperson of the year at this year’s Hull Daily Mail Sports Awards.

Jeanette Dawson OBE said; I was very proud to watch Bradley go up and receive his award from another former College student – professional Hull FC player Jordan Abdull.

College qualifies for Cereals Challenge 2016 For the first time ever, the College has secured a double whammy at next year’s Cereals Challenge. Both Riseholme College (Silver medallists in 2015) and Bishop Burton have qualified for the prestigious event. The student teams will receive their plots in the New Year, and will be tasked with growing a profitable and high-yielding crop of peas. Good luck to both teams. Here’s hoping we secure the top two podium finishes!

Diamond Anniversary encased for future generations We celebrated the end of our fantastic Diamond Jubilee year by burying a time capsule filled with mementos from our 60th year. The capsule will remain buried on the College grounds until it is unearthed in 2075. Here’s hoping the next sixty years are as successful as the last 60.

Farm Apprentice of the year We are very proud to announce that we have been chosen as the location for next year’s highly coveted Farmer’s Weekly Farm Apprentice. of the Year competition. Young aspiring apprentices from around the country will take part in a series of Apprentice-style challenges to win an exciting apprenticeship with a top company. Stay tuned for more information about the competition in the New Year.

Prince’s Countryside Fund farm management programme The first intensive residential of our new Farm Management programme, funded by the Prince’s Countryside Fund, Yorkshire Agricultural Society and the Chadacre Agricultural Trust has been completed at the Showground Campus. The 14 students, who were selected after a gruelling application and interview process, were given unprecedented access to some of the top agricultural experts in the country.

The next residential will take place in February.

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Exciting new provision for Jan and Sept

Dates for your diary 20-21 Jan: LAMMA

6-9 February: British Dressage Northern Winter Regionals

2016 is set to be an exciting year for the College with a range of new courses being offered across FE and HE. What’s more, we will also be expanding our offering for a new January intake. A dedicated January starts prospectus has been created. If you would like a copy, please contact the marketing team. A January enrolment day will be hosted on 9 January.

New provision for September 2015

Our college values, striving for excellence and offering first-class vocational education, underpin the College’s strategy for growth. In order to do that, we need to innovate and enrich our current curriculum to ensure its relevant and engaging, and respond to market needs by introducing new provision. If we are to retain our market-leading position within the education sector, we need to ensure we do both.

• Seven further education courses at Bishop Burton from entry level through to Level 3

• New Access to Higher Education courses in childcare and land-based • Four new degree programmes at Bishop Burton and Riseholme including precision crop technology and food, nutrition and welfare

11 Feb: AGRII Machinery Show 6 March: Lambing Sunday 18 March: End of term / Easter Holiday

• Ten new courses at Riseholme, adding four new subject areas to the College’s offering in Lincolnshire • Eleven pathways available for those wishing to start in January 2016

18-20 March: Lincolnshire Horse Trials

SAVE THE DATE

Lambing

Sunday

6th March

Ewe’d

be foolish

to miss it

If you would like to submit a story to Cultivate, please contact: David Drury - Press, Media and Communications Manager: david.drury@bishopburton.ac.uk T: 01964 504121 M: 07557 188224

Please recycle me.