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In here you’ll find an abundance of good news stories, features and updates from students and staff across Cheshire College’s three Campuses.
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Cheshire College – South & West’s Chester Campus will get an environmentally friendly upgrade as their existing gas boilers are replaced with an air source heat pumps and an electric hot water boiler.
This has been made possible due to the College securing almost £2m in funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The move to heat pumps will mean that the Campus is far more
environmentally friendly for its staff, students and visitors, and energy efficiency is practiced onsite every day with it being reported that heat pumps are three times more efficient than gas-reliant boilers; known to produce masses of carbon dioxide.
Heat pumps work by extracting warmth from the air outside or a nearby water source before concentrating the heat and transferring it indoors, producing
around three times the energy they use. The system is regarded by the scientific community and UK government as a vital component in the UK’s green energy transition, with climate advisors recommending that by 2030 there should be 5.5 million heat pumps in British homes.
The use of heat pumps could cut the College’s carbon emissions by more than 23 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide over 10 years, pushing the
North West education provider one step closer to its goal of becoming net zero, thanks to the £1,962,922 award.
The funding forms part a wider project titled the ‘Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme’ which provides funding for projects that decarbonise heating systems and improve energy efficiency in public sector buildings. 144 public sector organisations have been awarded money for 171 energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects, with the North West receiving just over £44.5m.
Kayleigh Fagan, Chester’s Student Campus Lead, said:
“Students are so concerned about the environment and rank this issue highly because our future will be affected by lack of action to slow down climate change. As a student body, we are really pleased and proud to see the College taking substantial steps towards reducing our impact on the earth’s resources.”
Jasbir Dhesi OBE Principal and CEO at Cheshire College – South & West, commented: “Our College is committed to help improve the environment. Our pathway to achieving net zero is embedded in everything that we do, from delivering innovative courses centred around sustainability, to investing in state-of-the-art digital facilities and equipment; we are striving to be greener across all our sites and operations.
“Through this [funding], we will be able to accelerate our pathway to net zero by significantly reducing our carbon emissions. Our construction and engineering
students will also be able to work closely with contractors to see first-hand the instillation and commissioning of new technologies. This investment in reducing our carbon emissions will benefit generations to come.”
Handbridge Park Councillors Razia Daniels and Neil Sullivan added: “This is fantastic news! We are delighted that Cheshire College – South & West have been successful in securing this massive investment to help them ‘go green.’ This funding from the Government will make a significant impact and see out of day gas boilers replaced with the most up to date technology which is something vitally needed if we are to deliver our net zero ambitions both locally and across the whole country.
“The College is already making significant progress in this area and how fitting it is that a place intended to inspire the next generation – who are so committed to the environment – is able to benefit from a major cash boost. We are pleased to support all that the College is achieving in this area.”
Cheshire College prioritises sustainability across its three Campuses in Crewe, Ellesmere Port and Chester. As well as their involvement in the decarbonisation scheme, the College demonstrates this through various initiatives, such as energy consumption and waste management practises, free transport and electric charging points on-site, plus much more.
Our Higher Education and Professional courses provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to gain qualifications from Level 4 to Level 7. Cheshire College offer a wide range of university-accredited courses, such as Degrees, Top-up Degrees and higher-level certificates across a diverse range of subjects, allowing you to gain further qualifications whilst staying close to home.
◦ High quality tuition without the high University fees
◦ Timetabling to suit you
◦ Smaller class sizes
◦ Dedicated support and facilities
◦ Work skills and employability training
Students at Cheshire College –South & West’s Ellesmere Port Campus put their acting and production arts skills to the test, in an ambitious performance of Moisés Kaufman’s “The Laramie Project” on 21st and 22nd March.
An example of verbatim theatre, “The Laramie Project” draws on hundreds of real interviews following the 1998 murder of a university student called Matthew Shephard, in the town of Laramie, Wyoming.
Shephard identified as gay, and his murder was denounced as a hate crime, bringing widespread attention to the lack of hate crime laws in various US states.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Shephard’s murder. Paul Moss, Acting and Drama Lecturer at Cheshire College, said that he was mindful of the production’s continued relevance in 2023: “The performance links perfectly with LGBT+ History month and serves as a sobering reminder of the fight against prejudice which the LGBT+ community continues to face to this day.”
Level 3, 4 and 5 actors, alongside Level 3 Production Arts students, were all committed to handling the production with sensitivity and respect. In addition to live performances, the show contained radio, TV and cinematic elements which students diligently recorded and filmed over an eightweek period.
Molly Jarvis, who is studying a Level 5 BTEC HND in Performing Arts (Acting), played several characters in the production, including Alison Mears, Tiffany Edwards and Romaine Patterson. Molly said that working on “The Laramie Project” was “an honour,” going on to say: “I feel some people will forget that this play was about real people, and this really happened. The play impacted so many of us who took part in it, and I felt we really did the play justice.”
Performing Arts, Music and Technical Theatre students have access to a fully equipped theatre with control desks, lighting, and staging equipment for the duration of their studies.
Theatre students at Cheshire College were provided with exclusive expert training from the highly established NRG Programme.
Taking place at Ellesmere Port Campus in the College’s purposebuilt theatre, the training was delivered to Higher Education students who have hopes to secure full-time employment in theatre or stage production.
The NRG programme has established itself as a highly valuable initiative and is a networking community for students
and apprentices studying relevant lighting design, programming and technical courses. It is a community of like-minded young professionals and is a resource open to anyone serious about pursuing a career in the world of performance lighting and visuals.
During the training, the Cheshire College students got to learn more about the latest technology from ROBE and how it is being used in the events and theatre industry by designers. The training involved a fascinating masterclass presentation by leading Lighting Designer, Tim Routledge,
and the opportunity to work with and develop skills working with the equipment in practice.
The training was particularly special for the College as Theatre Technician alumni William Blackie, now part of ROBE UK’s Technical Sales Support team, was among the instructors providing the training on Campus.
Megan Parry, a Higher Education Lighting student, was delighted to receive the training and said: “I was very excited to learn more about the RoboSpot and how it works. I learned a lot during the training and gained some valuable knowledge about lighting!”
Jane Monk, NRG Manager at ROBE UK, commented:
“We encourage all students who are serious about a career in lighting to join NRG, we offer a diverse programme of unique events and placements – and it’s free!”
Head of Theatre Operations, Angie Berwick, added: “This was a fantastic experience for our students. The chance to explore new technology and have access to ROBE’s team of experts and a professional Lighting Designer to deliver the training was
inspirational and the opportunities this provides for students who are part of the NRG programme is astounding, the network they are part of now and the skills they have provides wider employability options for the future.”
There’s a high demand for skilled workers, creating an enormous opportunity for people
to gain employment within this industry and receive a diverse range of training and experiences. Cheshire College’s Technical Theatre courses, ranging from Level 3 up to Level 5, provide students with the practical experience they need to become fully qualified and skilled employees.
Away from the hustle and bustle of our busy College, you’ll find our hidden gems – hair salons, beauty salons and our complementary therapies spa which includes a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and floatation tank.
Our facilities are well-equipped training establishments which enable our students to develop their skills to the highest levels by providing a real service to real customers.
A former Higher Education student from Cheshire College – South & West has a starring role in the new documentary “Sidelined.” The emotionally charged film by Ben Marlow and Jack Tompkins gives insight into the individual accounts of football player’s mental health, after being released from academies or clubs due to deselection, injury or retirement.
Richard (Rich) Wilkinson is a former football player who, despite playing for his club for several years, was unexpectedly deselected. “Sidelined” deals with the aftermath of being released from clubs and coaches; and the battles with poor mental health and addiction which some players subsequently face.
After struggling with his own mental health, Rich decided to help others by training to become a counsellor. Realising that he had missed a significant portion of his education due to football training, Rich returned to Cheshire College as an adult in 2016, studying a Bachelor of Science degree in Person-Centred Counselling, facilitated by Derby University.
Reflecting on his return to education, Rich admitted: “I was always apprehensive about studying in my mid-thirties and returning to college, but the Higher Education
department and the facilities are a credit to Cheshire College. The transition was straightforward, the support from staff was outstanding, and the environment was stunning.”
Rich’s degree supervisor was Cheshire College’s Counselling Lecturer, Rowena Clayton, who also has a cameo in “Sidelined.” When the documentary was being created, Rich specifically requested that the team use Cheshire College as one of the filming locations.
“I wanted to find a place where I felt comfortable talking about my story and my achievements with someone who understood my passion and believed in me.
That was Rowena. For me, this journey began at Cheshire College, and it will always be at the core of my story.”
Speaking of her involvement in the film, Rowena commented: “I feel very honoured to have been a part of Richard’s journey; from the Person-Centred degree which he successfully completed at Cheshire College, through to the making of this documentary by Ben and Jack. I’ve found that all that glitters in the world of football is not gold and this long-awaited documentary shines a light into a dimly lit area of football where mental health is often ignored and side-lined, at great cost to the individual.” (Pictured above top right)
Rich maintains that there is a lack of mental health support for professional footballers but hopes that media like “Sidelined” will help players to acknowledge their own mental health needs. “When you see the vulnerability in the ex-players in the documentary, it helps others to understand that it’s okay to share how you feel and sit with vulnerability, and hopefully, it shows that our mental health is just as (if not more) important than our physical health.”
The full “Sidelined” documentary is available to watch at www.sidelinedfilm.org.
At the start of the week [6 March 2023], Suzie Henderson, Creative Director at Chester’s iconic Storyhouse theatre hosted students studying various courses, including art and fashion at the College’s Chester Campus.
Suzie shared her story of equality and her career in the arts, as well as her passion for the industry that she’s held from a young age. Despite this passion, Suzie found her path to success more challenging than those from more privileged backgrounds. Hard work and determination saw Suzie land her first senior role as Head of Creative Development at Contact Theatre at the young age of 25.
Suzie inspired the all-female round table audience by sharing her desire to encourage more people from all backgrounds into the arts, and the work she’s been involved with past and present to make the industry more accessible to marginalised groups, including women, LGBTQA+ and people of black and Asian descent.
The students were encouraged to join in the discussions, sharing stories about changes they would like to see to feel safer and accepted on a day-to-day basis.
Suzie (pictured right) said:
“I think it’s really important that we continue to celebrate International Women’s Day because even though we’ve made some strides with equality there’s still a lot of work to be done, particularly for women from more marginalised communities. It’s important that we focus our attention on the areas that need more work, but also by bringing everyone together to celebrate our successes.”
Cheshire College – South & West is hosting round table events for students, chaired by inspiring female leaders, to mark International Women’s Day at its Chester and Crewe Campuses.
The College’s Chester Campus boasts industry-leading facilities which include impressive art and design workshops, science laboratories and 4K video recording equipment, as well as a new Digital Hub and Business Centre.
Cheshire Colleges’ Crewe Campus will welcome law and HR expert Ije McDougall on Thursday to continue the discussions. Ije is an author and keynote speaker that has been influential in the Black Lives Matter movement.
Nimisha Mistry-Miah, Assistant Principal of Learner Services at Cheshire Colleges – South & West said: “It’s important for us as a college to showcase local female talent to the students – to inspire and encourage them to further successes regardless of backgrounds, gender or ethnicity.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity, a theme that seeks to get the world talking about why “equal opportunities are no longer enough.”
On 6th March the College welcomed Storyhouse’s Creative Director Suzie Henderson to its Chester Campus, who shared her story of equality and her career in the arts.
On Thursday 9th March it was the turn of HR & Employment Law Expert Ije McDougall (pictured left), who has previously worked with the BBC, the Black Lives Matter movement and founded the Kairos Initiative – a charity dedicated to bringing relief to communities in Northern Nigeria who have suffered at the hands of Boko Haram and similar terrorist groups.
When speaking to students at the College’s Crewe Campus, Ije shared her personal story of moving to the UK as a Black Nigerian woman and some of the obstacles which she had to overcome before she found success.
Discussions covered a broad range of topics, from the gender pay gap, to harmful cultural and religious practices which some women continue to face. A key talk also involved the difference between
equality and equity; a reference to this year’s #EmbraceEquity theme for International Women’s Day.
The round table concluded with questions from students and discussions about the student’s passions and hobbies, with Ije encouraging the group to pursue their interests and cultivate their talents.
When asked about the continued relevance of International Women’s Day, Ije commented:
“International Women’s Day is not about making accusations and apportioning blame. It is about creating a level playing field where everyone, no matter their identity, is given a space and opportunity to perform at their highest capabilities. It’s not just for the good of women. It is for the benefit of everyone.
Our predecessors made decisions based on limited information. I’m so glad to be part of this round table event which will enable youngsters to think more critically and make more evidence-based decisions.”
Cheshire College – South & West hosted the annual Women’s Day event at its Crewe Campus for the charity Motherwell Cheshire CIO on Saturday 4th March.
The flagship event for the women and girl’s charity is celebrated annually to coincide with the historic International Women’s Day on 8th March. Running since 2015, Motherwell’s Women’s Day aims to celebrate female led groups, businesses and charities, and to provide an inclusive event where women are celebrated for their contribution to the community, the economy and each other.
Kate Blakemore, founder and CEO of Motherwell said: “It’s more important than ever before to have a day which celebrates all women, both locally and internationally.
This year we are proud to be celebrating women of the world, and to connect this with the diverse
community that lives in Cheshire.
As ever, we are grateful to be hosting the event at Cheshire College – South & West, which sits at the heart of the community.”
Cheshire College has been hosting the event at its Crewe Campus since 2015, celebrating a different theme each year. The theme for 2023 is Women of the World, and the College welcomed a diverse cohort of groups including choirs, clothing and accessory specialists, food vendors and craft workshops.
Helen Nellist, Deputy Principal at Cheshire College, said:
“Motherwell’s annual Women’s Day Event is a great way of recognising the vital work of women in the local community and beyond. We are proud to host this event at Cheshire College and to continue our excellent relationship with Motherwell.”
It’s well documented that the National Health Service (NHS) and the social care sector are facing the greatest workforce crisis in their history. It’s clear that to tackle the crisis, more needs to be done to attract and retain young people into the profession.
In this month’s issue of The Carer, Assistant Principal of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement, Karen Roberts, shares how apprenticeships and more hands-on learning could help tackle the crisis.
Cheshire College has over 1,000 apprentices and works with over 500 local, national and international employers and delivers apprenticeships across a wide range of sectors including,
Health, Public Services & Care, Engineering & Manufacturing, Construction & Building Services, Information & Communications Technology, Retail & Commercial Enterprise, Education & Training and Business, Administration & Law.
Scan the QR code to read the article in full.
Cheshire College – South & West students performed spectacularly at The Professional Beauty Nail Competition 2023 in London. This year’s competition saw a recordbreaking 170 nail enthusiasts put their skills to the test, making the winners some of the most talented nail technicians to watch in the industry.
Competitors from Cheshire College, who studying toward their NVQ Level 3 Nail Services at the Ellesmere Port campus, participated in a broad range of categories from gel polish to artistic expression. Kati Clutton, a resident of Chester, also took home the award for Student Champion, thanks to her numerous wins across multiple disciplines.
Discussing her success at the event, Kati said:
“It feels amazing, I’m over the moon, I really didn’t expect it at all, so I feel really proud of myself.”
Natasha Boothman, who also won the Nail Mood Board Award at the AHT Competition earlier this month, received two awards in the Catwalk Showcase and Learn a Skill categories. Natasha said that she was “really proud” of her success and noted that support from her tutor, Andrea Rimmer, had been essential to the team’s collective success:
“Andrea makes everything so easy, so none of us ever need to stress about having things or not having things. We couldn’t ask for better support.”
Lisa Flynn took home four medals from the competition and said that she would encourage prospective Nail Services students to compete professionally too:
“Go for it and don’t hold back. Once you get on a roll you learn so much. The feedback from judges and professionals really helps you to keep getting better and better.”
The students all have professional ambitions in the nail industry and believe that their numerous awards will be valuable assets for their futures. Sandra Komorowska, who secured third place in the Manicure category commented: “I’m planning to work in a salon, but I’d like to carry on competing professionally too. We have a couple of events coming up
and they help you to have a lot more confidence.”
Nail Services tutor, Andrea Rimmer described the students as “a credit to Cheshire College”, commenting: “They all have a fantastic attitude towards learning
and their own development within the industry. We aim to give our students all the support we can, but it's their drive and determination which really helps them to excel. We couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Manicure Student
First Place
Kati Clutton
Student Champion
UV Gel Polish Student
First Place
Natasha Boothman
Salon Nail Student
First Place
Catwalk Showcase Student
First Place
Manicure Student
Second Place
Learn a Skill
Third Place
Lisa Flynn
Learn a Skill
Second Place
Catwalk Showcase Student
Second Place
Salon Nail Student
Third Place
Third Place
Cheshire College – South & West’s Hospitality and Catering students saw huge success at the Welsh International Culinary Championships, with several competitors winning gold awards in their respective categories, and one of the College lecturers winning the National Chef of Wales prize.
Held every February, the Welsh International Culinary Championships is a four-day showcase of world class chefs from across the UK and the world. Hosted
by Coleg Llandrillo at its Rhos-onSea Campus from 21-23 February 2023, the championships are designed to celebrate the nation’s culinary skills and rich variety of quality food. The popular event is packed with exciting competitions for learner, junior and senior chefs and waiting staff.
It was an extremely rewarding day for Cheshire College, with students from both Crewe and Ellesmere Port Campuses winning awards in categories such as the Restaurant Challenge, Main Course
Flambé and Fruit Cuts. Level 2
Professional Cookery student
Sharna Fraser, who won the silver award for the Major Challenge, as well as Best in Class, will be progressing to the Major Challenge Final next month.
Hospitality & Catering Lecturer
Matthew Smith, accompanied by Level 2 student Amy Philips as his commis, also won the coveted National Chef of Wales award, after competing against eight rival chefs. Smith created a bespoke menu for a three-course dinner for twelve people, using largely locally sourced Welsh ingredients.
Dhesi OBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Cheshire College, remarked:
“Students and staff should be extremely proud of what they achieved at the Welsh International Culinary Championships. As always, they excelled under challenging, competitive conditions and produced some outstanding work. All the competitors are a credit to Cheshire College – South & West, and we are thrilled for their success.”
Hospitality students at Cheshire College can refine their skills through their involvement with the award-winning Academy West restaurants, based at the Ellesmere Port and Crewe Campuses.
Matthew Smith
Supported by Amy Philips
National Chef of Wales
Simona Kristof
Restaurant Challenge
Gold
Poppy Edwards
Fruit Cuts
Gold
Kai Rogers
Fruit Cuts
Silver
Simona Kristof
Best Restaurant Class Award
Luke Smith
Restaurant Challenge
Gold – Best in Class
Sophie Birkett
Fruit Cuts
Gold
Ashleigh Firth
Fruit Cuts
Silver
Cameron Yearn
Main Course Flambé
Silver
Beth Scott
Main Course Flambé
Bronze
Sharna Fraser
Major Challenge
Silver – Best in Class
Amanda Salters
Fish & Sea Food Challenge
Silver
Lani Cohen
Main Course Flambé
Gold – Best in Class
Olivia James
Risotto Challenge
Bronze
Olivia James
Major Challenge
Bronze
Nathan Price
Cold Desserts
Bronze
It was a fantastic day for Cheshire College’s Hair and Beauty students at the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) regional competitions in Blackpool.
Students from Crewe and Ellesmere Port Campuses travelled to the popular seaside town on 28th February, competing from inside the Norbeck Castle Hotel.
Cheshire College took home five awards in total, in categories ranging from Fantasy Hair to Ladies Evening Style. Freya Cracknell, winner of the Body Art award said that receiving the recognition was a pleasant surprise:
“I was very shocked. It took me a few seconds to realise they had called my table number but when I did finally realise, I was so happy. I just kept thanking the judges and when I went back to my tutors I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing and crying all at the same time.”
The winners have unanimously voiced their gratitude to their tutors in helping them to achieve their successes. Michael Wright, winner of the Ladies Cut, Restyle and Blow Dry Award said that tutor Karen Bennison is: “Amazing. She has helped me through everything, telling me what to improve and what I did well. She is a proper star.”
Fantasy Hair winner Alex Kovac said of tutor Anne Pickering:
“I’ve been able to take part in amazing competitions thanks to Anne and I believe that me and my tutor will go far and achieve the best in May.”
Natasha Boothman, winner of the Nail Mood Board award, said that Andrea Rimmer had
offered her “immense support,” elaborating: “I faced many walls whilst creating my mood board and Andrea helped me to knock them down and work through any issues I had. I am beyond lucky to have her support whilst on this journey.”
Anne Pickering, Lecturer in Hairdressing, said: “We are so proud of everyone that entered. Learning doesn’t just occur in the classroom, and it was lovely to see the smiling
faces and students supporting each other throughout the day.”
All the winners have now qualified for the national finals, which will be held in Blackpool on 10th May.
Hair and Beauty students at Cheshire College have access to cutting-edge facilities which enable them to develop their skills to the highest levels by providing real service to real customers.
Natasha Boothman
Level 3 Nail Services
Winner of the Nail Mood Board Award
Freya Cracknell
Level 3 Beauty Therapy
Winner of the Body Art Award
Rhian Barlow
Level 3 Women’s Hairdressing
Winner of the Ladies Evening Style Award
Michael Wright
Level 3 Women’s Hairdressing
Winner of the Ladies Cut, Restyle and Blow Dry Award
Alex Kovac
Level 3 Women’s Hairdressing
Winner of the Fantasy Hair Award
Two Cheshire College students have been successful in securing a lighting crew position for lighting designer Nathan Wan at the 2023 TPi Awards.
Technical Theatre students, Liam Fox and Lewis Bradley, will demonstrate their skills whilst working alongside the production team for the entire awards ceremony.
Regarded as one of the highest profile evening events of the industry calendar, the annual TPi awards pay tribute to the incredible achievements of those working behind the scenes in the world of live touring.
As part of the selection process, Liam, a Level 3 Production Arts student and Lewis, a Level 4 HNC in Technical Theatre student had to take part in a national competition which consisted of creating five ‘renders’ from Lead Creative Designer, Nathan Wan’s, designs using software WYSIWYG, and they also had to attend an interview. Their innovative take on the brief and clear passion for the industry helped them ultimately be chosen as official crew members.
Nathan Wan is the Lead Creative Designer at ROBE UK, a leading light manufacturing company recognised worldwide for its innovation and high production values featuring at a myriad of diverse events such as Eurovision and Strictly Come Dancing.
Speaking of the upcoming opportunity, Liam Fox said: “I’m really excited and grateful that I’ve been picked for this. Part of me hoped that I’d be selected but another part wasn’t sure it would happen, so I just tried my best and I was rewarded for it in the end.
“When I joined Cheshire College I fell in love with Technical Theatre, particularly the live events side of things, so getting this position feels like a once-ina-lifetime opportunity.”
Lewis Bradley added: “It was quite a surprise to be chosen. We all knew that ROBE were coming to see us but then there was an additional interview and application process, so to be selected for this is incredible. I’m really excited to use their equipment, because there
are some items which we’ve never used before and it’s a great learning opportunity.”
Head of Theatre Operations, Angie Berwick, commented: “This is an amazing achievement for Lewis and Liam who have worked really hard to create exciting and innovative lighting renders. Their commitment and talent is inspirational to the next generation and other students on the course, demonstrating the exciting career opportunities it can lead to.”
As competition winners, Liam and Lewis have also been invited to visit the Czech Republic for three days in May 2023 and visit ROBE’s Headquarters; an opportunity only a select few in the UK have had over the years.
There’s currently an unusually high demand for skilled workers, creating an enormous opportunity for people to gain employment within this industry and receive a diverse range of training and experiences.
Cheshire College’s Technical Theatre courses, ranging from Level 3 up to Level 5, provide students with the practical experience they need to become fully qualified and skilled employees.
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CREWE CAMPUS
Dane Bank Avenue
Crewe, Cheshire
CW2 8AB
ELLESMERE PORT CAMPUS
Off Sutton Way
Ellesmere Port
CH65 7BF
CHESTER CAMPUS
Eaton Road
Handbridge, Chester
CH4 7ER