Business Bulletin Issue Three I June 2023
Welcome to Engage There’s lots to shout about in this edition of Engage, as we host our first sustainability week across our three Colleges. Sustainability is high on our agenda at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and that is why we are evolving our curriculum in line with the development of green skills for green jobs. We are launching a brand-new range of green skills construction courses and a programme in Heat Recovery and Transfer in September, adding to our existing sustainable curriculum offer which covers courses in Electric and Hybrid Vehicles and Carbon Capture and Storage. We want to ensure that our employer partners have the training and knowledge to seize this new wave of skills and these courses are designed to do exactly that.
thank you to The Mid Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust, Drax, Tip Group Trailers, Street Scene and West Bretton Primary School, who took part and accommodated the filming at their sites. We’re looking forward to sharing the final pieces soon – so stay tuned to our social media channels!
Our employer partners have also been supporting us in delivering our T Level offering and it’s been fantastic to see our students gaining invaluable experience in the workplace. We’ve also opened the doors of our brand-new T Level IT lab at our Selby College, which has already been given the seal of approval by our students and pupils from Barlby High School, who took part in a network taster session in the lab.
I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter and finding out how we can support your business in meeting its skills needs, today and for the future.
To showcase the benefits of our collaborative work with local and national businesses, we recently carried out a filming project with a number of our employer partners. A special
Sam Wright Principal and CEO of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
We’ve also launched a brand-new all-encompassing Employers' Guide, which outlines the different ways in which we can support your business and its growth. We would love for you to check it out at www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/employers, or if you would like a printed copy to be sent to you, please contact marketing@wakefield.ac.uk.
Creating a greener future for your business By David White, Head of Regional Partnerships and Projects Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
From 2030 onwards, every new car sold in the UK will be electric or hybrid. Electric cars are undoubtedly the future of motoring and there are already more than one million plug in electric cars registered for UK roads, and this number is growing every day. Homeowners and developers are increasingly looking for ways to become more energy efficient and move from fossil fuels to green technologies. Businesses are also looking at ways to reduce carbon emissions and their energy costs by recovering wasted heat from their industrial processes and redirecting it to heat other premises. In every area of our lives, green technologies are evermore becoming present – and this momentum has no signs of slowing down, as the UK gears up to reach its Net Zero target by 2050. In light of this, there has truly never been a greater time to start investing in green skills as a professional or within your business.
Whether you are looking to future proof your fleet, reheat your premises or learn new sustainable processes, we have a range of green skills courses designed to provide you or your business with the training and knowledge to seize the green revolution. In response to the rising demand for green skills in the construction industry, we will be offering a range of new Level 3 qualifications in Installation and Maintenance of Heat Pump Systems, Fundamentals of Building Information, Implementation of Building Information Modelling and Rainwater Harvesting and Greywater Recycling Systems, starting this September. These are just some areas where higher-technical
"Going green goes beyond saving the planet, utilising green technology has multiple benefits for businesses, including increased productivity and profits, reduced waste and an enhanced reputation..."
skills will be required to implement green technology within construction, and these qualifications are designed to give learners the skills to operate new and sustainable systems and processes. In the coming months, we will also be launching programmes in Heat Recovery Awareness, Heat Pump Technology and Installation and Solar Thermal Technology and Installation. This further builds on our Carbon Capture and Storage programme and offers students the opportunity to learn on state-ofthe-art training rigs which simulate heat recovery processes and applications. The equipment demonstrates real-world usage of this technology, meaning learners can gain hands-on experience which they can apply out in the field. Following a successful pilot with Drax, over 20 of its employees are now able to apply their newfound knowledge in Carbon Capture and Storage to its vital negative emission technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), at its power station. Our green skills offer also spans to Electric and Hybrid vehicle courses, which range from Level 1 to Level 4 and cover a variety of areas related to maintenance and repair of systems and components found in Electric and Hybrid vehicles. Going green goes beyond saving the planet, utilising green technology has multiple benefits for businesses, including increased productivity and profits, reduced waste and an enhanced reputation – and we can help you seize this opportunity with our range of green skills courses. Find out more about our green skills courses, here: heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/ green-skills-for-green-jobs
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Taking it to the NexT Level We’re shining a light on our flagship T Levels partner WDH, who will be taking on eight of our Business Management and Administration students for an industry placement. To prepare for the placements which will start in the next academic year, WDH invited T Level students into their facility in Castleford for an insight day where they received a pitch from all the service areas so that they could see which one was right for them. After a successful interview process, the students were selected for their chosen industry placement. WDH has been working closely with our teaching staff to ensure that what we will deliver in the classroom is aligned with industry skills and competences at WDH. Together, they have created a bespoke placement agreement and
training objectives that will enable our learners the best opportunity to develop their skill set in relation to the careers they aspire to. Safe n Sound Day Nursery in Featherstone has also taken Education and Childcare T Level student Hollie on for an industry placement. Hollie said about her placement: “What I really enjoy about doing a T Level is that you can apply the knowledge that you learn in the classroom in your industry placement. I’m learning observational skills and how to work collaboratively, which will help me in a range of settings in the Education and Childcare sector.”
"What I really enjoy about doing a T Level is that you can apply the knowledge that you learn in the classroom in your industry placement."
Brand-new IT Lab Opens its Doors
A big thank you to our T Level industry placement partners. Employers like you are playing a key role in creating opportunities for young people in the local community at the start of their careers, helping them to develop their technical and employability skills and build confidence.
What are T Levels are high-quality technical alternatives to A Levels and combine classroom theory, practical learning and a 45-day placement with an employer. This provides learners with the chance to build skills and knowledge highly sought after by employers like yourself, whilst gaining a qualification.
How T Level industry placements can help you: Attract motivated young people to your business, bringing in imaginative and new ideas Improve the recruitment pipeline for your business Address local and national skills gaps by helping young people develop the skills your industry needs Develop existing staff’s mentoring and management skills Build a more diverse and creative workforce Play an important role in the local community Build partnerships with local training and education providers Save recruitment costs by providing the opportunity to see what the young person can offer, on a no obligation employment basis
Following an investment of over £150,000, Selby College has recently opened the doors to its brand-new IT lab, which boasts a range of hardware and networking equipment to simulate a business network environment, so that learners can experience the fields of hardware, networking and security. Over £65,000 of the investment was granted via the Department for Education’s T Level funding, as the College gears up to start its brandnew Digital Support Services T Level in September 2023.
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Funding Update Following the Spring Budget announcement, we’re helping you make sense of the latest funding packages available.
Lifetime Skills Guarantee Under the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, those 19 and over or who are unemployed, earn below the National Living Wage annually (£18,525), or do not already have a Level 3 qualification, may be eligible for a FREE Level 3 qualification – helping to boost your employees’ morale, prospects and loyalty. These courses are flexible, offering full-time, part-time or online, and vary in length, meaning they can fit around existing work commitments. For those not eligible for this funding, Advanced Learner Loans are available to help cover the costs of learning, which are only paid back when learners are earning over a certain amount.
Specialist Funding We are a Specialist Skills Provider for ESF funded projects, Specialist Skills Support Programme (SSSP) and Business Scale Up Development Programme (BSUP). These projects enable us to provide 40% funding to SMEs in the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding regions for a number of qualifications, technical and bespoke training courses as well as for HR consultancy and coaching support.
changes and to be ready to meet demand. We can help you get your workforce ready with a range of training options for both new and current employees, ensuring that your business has the skills it needs. Our Education and Early Years T Level and Vocational students must carry out industry and work placements as part of their course and could help free up your qualified workforce from smaller jobs in your business. Or, you can upskill your existing staff with a Higher Education programme at our University Centre with a part-time adult course. Our Level 3 part-time adult courses are also currently eligible for Free Courses For Jobs Government Funding which some of your staff may be able to benefit from. Check out our range of programmes below or contact courseinfo@wakefield.ac.uk for more information. Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeships Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship
For more information on these courses and the funding available, please visit: www.wakefield.ac.uk/study-with-us/ employers/sssp-and-bsup
Part-time Level 2 Early Years Practitioner
Rise in demand for Childcare workers following new package
Part-time Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner
In the Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced a new extension to its free childcare offer, more than doubling the current support in place. With a staggered approach from April 2024, childcare providers need to start to prepare for the
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Part-time Level 3 CACHE Diploma for the Early Years workforce
FdEd Early Childhood Studies FdA Young Children’s Learning and Development BA (Hons) Top up Early Childhood Education & Care
Enhance your workforce with an apprentice Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to develop skills and improve your workforce, suiting new apprentices to a company or existing staff members who are looking to upskill. Our programmes at Castleford College and Selby College can be tailored to suit your business' needs and a knowledgeable tutor will support your apprentice throughout their apprenticeship with all elements of work and assessments.
Online Courses The new method of employee training We also offer online courses, which mean your employees can gain a recognised qualification online and completely free of charge! We can provide you or your employees with a range of programmes, in:
Find out more by attending one of our employer drop in mornings on the following dates:
Castleford College:
From 21st June Every Wednesday 8am-1pm
• Business Support • Children and Young People • Health and Wellbeing • Health and Social Care To find out more about our range of online courses, please visit: www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/courses-for-adults
Selby College:
From 10th July Alternative Mondays 8am-1pm
Looking to upskill your workforce to meet future demands? Upskilling and retraining your workforce could be the answer to addressing your future challenges and demands as a business. Whether you are interested in preparing your workforce to work with new technologies, expanding their skillset or even refreshing their existing skills, the chances are we will have something to interest you. We have a fantastic range of Higher Education programmes and part-time courses for Adults which can be delivered at our three Colleges or online.
Check out our variety of Higher Education courses, at: www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/HE
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What’s new at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group DFN Project SEARCH students on BBC’s The One Show
First Selby Creative Community Arts & Crafts Fair a success Despite the weather, the first ever Selby Creative Community Arts & Crafts Fair was a great success! The event brought together creatives from across the district who displayed a range of work – from glass making, to handmade gifts and personalised merchandise. Art & Design students from Selby College also hosted creative workshops and demonstrations. The College’s Art & Design department are looking forward to hosting future Creative Fairs in partnership with North Yorkshire Council in the future.
Students on the DFN Project SEARCH programme – a partnership between the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and the Mid Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust - recently appeared on BBC’s The One Show, highlighting the impact of supported internships for young adults with learning difficulties. Katie and Harvey Price visited DFN Project SEARCH students Codie Belford and William Jones in their workplace at Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield, to find out how they’ve benefitted from the programme. Viewers got to see what Codie’s internship involved as a Ward Domestic and William’s role as a Facilities Porter, at the Trust.
Students benefit from global industry links Our Travel & Tourism department is enhancing students’ learning with its industry partnerships – enabling them to learn from some of the leading organisations in the sector. Zack Hamilton, an Emerging Talent and Careers Officer at Jet 2, delivered a talk to students at the College about Aviation Apprenticeships and careers in the industry. The students also recently visited Disneyland Paris and took part in a networking conference with senior leaders at Disney and other international attractions.
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Students wow audience Construction students put their best foot forward at Eat Your Heart Out Festival Selby’s Hospitality and Catering students cooked up a storm at Selby District Council’s Eat Your Heart Out event – demonstrating how to cook low-budget, tasty meals. Level 2 Professional Cookery students, alongside Subject Lead for Hospitality & Catering, Adrian Dawes, took to the stage to demonstrate how to make its Broccoli and Cheddar soup recipe. This was just one of the meals which was on a budget recipe card that the students prepared for the event, helping attendees to try new recipes whilst keeping ingredient costs low.
Our Construction students had a highly successful day in Leeds at the Guild-of-Bricklayers’ Yorkshire Region 2023 competition. Congratulations to everyone on their fantastic work, including Castleford students Josh and Bradley, who placed 2nd and 3rd in the competition! Thank you to Sigma, who recently visited Castleford College to talk to our Construction students, as well as We Are Project EV and YESSS Electrical, who delivered a session on Electric Vehicle car changing to our Construction students at Selby College.
Student called up for England Rugby League Higher Education Sport student Tyler Dupree has been selected by England to play in the International Rugby League 2023. Tyler, who is currently studying Applied Sports Performance at Wakefield, will make his debut for England later this year after being chosen by England Rugby League’s Head Coach Shaun Wane. Well done to Tyler and the Sport department – this is a fantastic achievement! Two of our students Oliver Pratt and Ethan Wood also appeared in Wakefield Trinity’s Yorkshire squad for the opening game of the Academy Origin series at Castleford.
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Events and Employer Forums OPEN EVENTS 2023/24 Castleford College Open Events Wednesday 18 October, 5pm – 7pm Saturday 18 November, 10am - 12pm Wednesday 7 February, 5pm - 7pm Saturday 15 June, 10am - 12pm Castleford College
EMPLOYER FORUMS AND AWARDS Early Years Employer Forum Wednesday 21 June, 4.30pm-6pm Wakefield College
Construction Employer Forum Wakefield College Open Events Wednesday 18 October, 5pm – 7pm Saturday 18 November, 10am - 12pm Wednesday 7 February, 5pm - 7pm Saturday 15 June, 10am - 12pm Wakefield College
Selby College Open Events Saturday 21 October, 10am - 12pm Wednesday 22 November, 5pm – 7pm Saturday 3 February, 10am - 12pm Wednesday 19 June, 5pm - 7pm Selby College
Friday 23 June, 8am Selby College
Construction Forum and Awards Wednesday 28 June, 11am-2pm Castleford College
Sports & Fitness Employer Forum Tuesday 4 July, 3pm-4:30pm Wakefield College
END OF YEAR SHOWS Creative Arts Exhibition Thursday 15 June to Thursday 22 June, 10am-4pm (excluding weekend) Renaissance Building, Selby College
Art & Design Summer Arts Festival Monday 19 June to Friday 23 June, 10am-4pm Mechanics Theatre, Wakefield
Art & Design Degree Show Launch Event: Friday 23 June, 6pm-8pm Saturday 24 June – Tuesday 27 June, 10am-4pm Selby Town Hall
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