Skills Edition Issue Five I December 2023
Welcome to Engage Welcome to the Skills edition of our Employers newsletter, Engage. Following a full Ofsted inspection in October 2023, we’re thrilled to announce that the Group has been praised by Ofsted for its ‘Strong’ contribution to meeting regional and national skills needs, with the Group receiving a ‘Good’ grade for every aspect and overall. Our Executive Team and I welcomed the inspection as an opportunity to demonstrate the ethos and values of our organisation to positively impact our students’ lives through learning, and I believe we have done just that. Colleagues across the Group have been out delivering the good news to our stakeholders, including colleagues Simon Birkenshaw and Joseph Williams from Selby High School who are pictured above.
we sent ahead of the inspection. Your feedback and positive comments are very much appreciated by colleagues across the Group, as well as your continued support and partnership.
The recent introduction of the skills rating into Ofsted’s inspection framework was a welcomed challenge for colleagues across the Group, as we feel passionately about helping to develop the skills strategy for the region and beyond. To have received a ‘Strong’ rating in this area is a testament to the collaborative relationships our staff have built with a range of stakeholders, and how we embed this into everything that we do.
Looking towards the new year, we have a number of exciting events planned for National Apprenticeship Week 2024 which are listed on page 8, including our Annual Apprenticeship Awards and an Employers’ Breakfast – we hope to see you there.
We are celebrating some of these partnerships in this edition and how we are working collaboratively to ensure our learners develop the skills and knowledge they need to successfully progress into a range of industries and into prosperous careers.
Best wishes,
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all our employer partners who spoke to the inspectors and completed the survey
We are dedicated to continuously improving and enhancing our training and development opportunities for our employer partners and Ofsted’s findings will enable us to continue to grow in this area.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading this edition and that you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sam Wright Principal and CEO of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
We’re delighted to be able to share the full details of Oftsed’s findings with you below.
We are rated Good in…
Our Learners…
• The quality of education
• Feel safe at all three colleges and comfortable in voicing concerns to tutors as part of the safeguarding process, with their well-being prioritised by the Group.
• Behaviour and attitudes • Personal development • Leadership and management • Education programmes for young people • Adult learning programmes
• Benefit from calm and inclusive classrooms and workshops at all three colleges.
• Apprenticeships
• Know that attendance is important and that if they miss lessons, they miss important learning.
Our Contribution to Skills Needs…
• Advantage from an effective careers programme that supports them to make informed choices about their next steps.
• Proactive participation in developing the skills strategy for the region, playing an active role in collaborative research into innovative responses to skills needs. • Maintaining effective relationships with employers and civic partners to address skills demands, enabling the development of an ambitious curriculum which meets regional and national skills gaps. • The establishment of Employer Forums which cater to the requirements of specific sectors.
• Enjoy a tutorial programme where they can discuss and debate issues in a mature environment with staff and their peers. • Learners with high needs receive specialist provision and vocational courses to enable them to become more independent, develop workrelated skills and follow routes into employment, as well as effective personal and medical care as outlined in their education, health and care plans.
Our Tutors… • Exercise their expertise to plan learning which enables learners and apprentices to continuously build on their knowledge and skills. • Use a range of effective assessment strategies in lessons to check learners’ and apprentices’ understanding and to identify gaps in their knowledge. • Are well qualified and have expertise in the subjects they teach, with many teachers continuing to practice in their specialist fields. • Establish high expectations of behaviour and conduct and promote these throughout learners’ programmes.
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Read the full report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/31/130549
Find out more about the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group at: www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk
Contact us: info@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk 01924 789 789
Christmas at Create Café It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Create Café, where our DFN Project SEARCH student Daniel is currently serving up some delicious festive treats. As part of his placement, Daniel has been helping to prepare food, as well as cleaning food preparation areas and tables in the café during their busiest period of the year.
That’s the Christmas community spirit We were thrilled to be able to contribute to We are Wakefield and MY Hospitals Charity’s Christmas Bauble Appeal. The Group and other businesses across the district bought branded Christmas baubles that hung on the fantastic Christmas tree in the foyer of Pinderfields Hospital to raise money to support the MRI Suite Appeal at the hospital. An amazing £1000 was raised in total which will help to develop a Radiology Diagnostic Suite that will house a state-of-the-art 3 Tesla MRI scanner. Thank you to Claire Sutherley from We are Wakefield for organising this and bringing members of the community together to support this.
Students give back this Christmas
Create Café is a large restaurant based inside the Wakefield One Council building, which aims to help those with learning difficulties to experience the world of work. Shaun Mounsey, who is the Manager at Create Café, has been heavily involved in supporting Daniel and other students through their work placements. He works with job coaches to find suitable tasks for the students to undertake in the café, alongside offering interviewing and feedback sessions with the students. After the great experience they had working with Shaun and the team at Create Café, two DFN Project SEARCH students regularly volunteer in the café to continue working on their skills even after completing the programme. Shaun said about the partnership: “It’s a pleasure working alongside students like Daniel and seeing them grow in confidence and skills. Without courses like these, there would be more young people with additional needs brushed under the carpet. Daniel has forged friendships with colleagues at Create Café which enriches his day and theirs. The social barriers that affect people like Daniel are starting to crumble, setting him up to be able to perform in a work environment. They offer a fabulous service to those that aren’t as fortunate as some. The leaders of the College should be proud of what they do, as Wakefield is a better place with courses and staff like this in operation.”
Students from the across the Group have arranged collections for a number of local food banks this Christmas, helping to give back to those that need it the most. Level 3 Business students from Selby College made a generous donation to Selby & District Foodbank, with Nigel Currey, Chairman of Trustees, visiting the College to collect the donation and personally thank the students for their generosity. Wakefield College and businesses across the district rallied together to donate items to Wakefield Street Kitchen as part of Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation’s collection.
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Blow dries and creating ties As part of Andrew Barton’s ABLE scholarship programme, Level 2 Hairdressing students recently enjoyed a bespoke day with Andrew learning different blow-drying techniques. We have worked closely with Andrew for many years, and he is a regular member of our Hair & Beauty Employer Forum, helping to shape the College’s curriculum in this area. Students have significantly benefitted from the partnership, with Andrew’s demonstrations and workshops enabling students to develop the latest skills and techniques in the hairdressing industry. Through his video tutorials, they have developed customer care and employability skills including how to deliver a professional consultation with a client. This has clearly paid off, with customers of the College’s professional salons expressing how impressed they are with students’ etiquette. The power of this partnership can also be seen in our students’ progression, with a record number of students showing the abilities required to progress to Level 3 provision – and we look forward to seeing this continue to grow.
Learning from the very best Our relationship with Andrew Barton also formed the foundations of a new partnership with Keune, who has been a lead supplier for the hair and barbering sector for more than a hundred years. Representatives from Keune worked closely with Adele Wright, Head of Curriculum for Hair & Beauty and Rachel Anderson, Curriculum Manager for the area, to understand the needs of the department and how Keune could support it. Tina Robinson, Sales Manager Scotland and North at Keune UK, said: “I was impressed with the passion and approach of both Adele and Rachel, and we had a common goal – to help the learners to not only become industry ready, but to aim high and let them truly understand what this fabulous industry has to offer.” In addition to ensuring the students’ transition to professional settings is seamless, using Keune’s products in the classroom has also enabled students to develop new skills via their online learning platform, built their confidence in working with professional products and given them opportunities to network and enhance their learning through Keune’s London Academy and regional courses. 100% loyal to the professional hairdresser, Keune has also recently gained B Corp status, which aligns with the Group’s commitment to sustainability. Hair & Beauty staff also received CPD training from Keune’s team, with workshops, guest talks and competitions planned for students in 2024.
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Students get a taste of the warehousing industry As the demand for warehouse employees across the region and nationwide continues to grow, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and Sigma have expanded their partnership to give students experience working in the warehousing industry. As part of this, three students recently took part in a three-day visit to Sigma’s Normanton facility which included a full tour of the site and showcased the different warehouse roles Sigma offer.
Gavin Nicholson, Supply Chain Operations Manager at Sigma, said: “We were extremely happy to welcome these local students and delighted with their attitude and dedication during their placements.”
The students completed an internal General Health, Safety and Environmental Awareness course before getting handson experience doing a selection of tasks. These ranged from doing informative sessions about the 360° supply chain, to spending time with the Sigma team, experiencing specific jobs including quality control, storage, distribution and project management, not to mention interacting with Sigma’s clients.
Castleford College and DENSO launch partnership As part of its plans to develop opportunities for its automotive students, Castleford College has launched a brand-new partnership with DENSO, a global manufacturer of automotive components. Students will benefit from DENSO’s industry insight as part of a number of skills days which will be delivered over the next year and will be able to showcase what they have learned as part of a number of competitions and events.
Construction students complete Aico training 70 Level 2 and Level 3 Construction students from Selby College recently completed expert installer training with Aico, the European leader in home safety. As part of the one-day course, the students were taught best practices when it comes to effectively installing domestic fire and carbon monoxide alarm systems, with a focus on integration, installation, siting, sensor types, testing and maintenance, and standards and regulations. The students attended the Rexel Connect Live event at Elland Road, in Leeds, where they were presented with their certificates by Aico’s team of trainers.
Kevin Peacocke, UK and Eire Sales Manager at DENSO said: “We are in a position to provide Castleford College students with examples of these parts, giving them important real-world experience of handling these products and understanding the roles they play within a vehicle’s systems.”
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Learners upskill in Carbon Capture and Storage The students took day release from their employers Drax and Enfinium over a five-week period, where they were able to train on the Group’s state-of-the-art innovative CCS equipment, including a gas absorption rig which mimics real-world CCS methods. As a result of completing the programme, the learners will now be able to implement Carbon Capture projects within their businesses or adapt the technology and learning for other applications.
Another cohort of learners studying the Group’s Skills Bootcamp in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) have successfully completed the programme, enabling them to expand their knowledge and skills in the carbon-saving technology.
Now’s the time to futureproof 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.
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If you are interested in enrolling yourself or one of your employees onto one of our Green Skills programmes, please contact our Employer Engagement Team on 01924 789416 or at employerengagement@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk
engage - Skills Edition
Heat Recovery and Awareness pilot is a success The Group has carried out a successful pilot of its Heat Recovery and Transfer course with several employees from the Heat Exchange Group.
In addition to programmes in Carbon Capture and Heat Recovery, we also offer Green Skills courses in Construction and Electric & Hybrid Vehicles.
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Declan Farmer, Electrical Apprentice at Drax, said after completing the programme: “It has been very insightful learning about the structure and chemistry behind CCS. I plan to implement my skills and new qualification into my everyday work life with regards to building and maintaining a CCS plant.”
This came following a series of workshops carried out under the Strategic Development Fund where we sought their (and other employers’) views on what courses in heat recovery the Group should offer, what the current gaps in provision were and how we might pitch and model heat recovery courses for different levels of students. The feedback received from the Heat Exchange Group’s employees who attended the pilot course has enabled us to refine and improve the first level of our Heat Recovery and Awareness course.
Are you interested in learning something new or looking to upskill? Our wide range of Online Learning courses are designed to fit around your lifestyle and other commitments, meaning you can gain a new qualification online and from the comfort of your own home.
Build your Business With Us!
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The courses are nationally recognised by employers so whether you are looking to upskill, retrain or simply develop new skills and knowledge, we have the course for you!
› FREE of Charge* › Study from home › Gain new skills › Learn at your own pace › Achieve a nationally recognised qualification *Courses can be accessed by anyone over the age of 19 in England and will be free of charge to learners, excluding in some postcodes. Please contact us to check your eligibility.
We offer a wide range of training programmes including apprenticeships to support employers to recruit and train their workforce. Upskill: Part-time training to support existing employees to upskill in a flexible and accessible manner with weekend, workplace and evening provision.
Visit; www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/free-online-learning or scan the QR code to view the full list of courses available.
Recruit: We train over 450 young people in construction-related knowledge and skills in a dynamic and demanding setting to prepare them for the workplace.
Apprenticeships starting January 2024 include: Level 2 Bricklaying Level 2 Site Carpentry Level 2 Fitted Interiors Level 3 Bricklaying Level 3 Site Carpentry
Why wait another year to make a change? We have a range of courses starting in January 2024 and onwards, so take a look at what’s coming up and take that next step with us, whether you or your employees are looking to upskill, or just do something for fun, we have something for you. This includes programmes such as Essential and Advanced Digital Skills and Cyber Skills courses, English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL), Dog Grooming, DIY Skills, Teacher Training, innovative Engineering courses, Counselling and more.
Block Release Start Dates 6th January 2024 10th February 2024
All our Apprenticeships include: • A Level 1 Health and Safety Award at the end of Year 1 to support the CSCS card application. • A green technology programme taking your business to net zero for FREE! We can provide full advice and guidance to support businesses to fund their training in the most costeffective manner. For more information contact our Course Information Team on 01924 789111 or email courseinfo@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk
Or, if you wish to speak with an advisor please call 01924 789111 or email courseinfo@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk
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Dates for the Diary Sustainability at the Heart of your Business
Join us at our next Employers’ breakfast event to discuss skills and training needs, sustainability in business and network with other local employers. This event has a Sustainability theme with talks from employers and the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group on how you and your business can reduce your carbon footprint, become more sustainable and prepare for future demands. It will also offer you the chance to network with other local employers whilst enjoying a FREE breakfast!
Tuesday 6th February 2024 8am-9.30am
Attend one of our Employer Forums in the New Year! Stay ahead of the latest funding, courses and information in your industry by attending one of our upcoming Employer Forums. We’re constantly adding new dates for our Employer Forums, so check out our Eventbrite page for the most up-to-date list.
Hospitality & Catering
Friday 19th January 2024 8am-9am Wakefield College
Creative Employer Forum
Thursday 25th January 2024, 5:30pm-7:00pm Selby College
Snozone, Xscape Yorkshire, Colorado Way, Castleford WF10 4TA
SIGN UP HERE
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Visit one of our
Open Events
2024
Selby College Saturday 3rd February, June, 10am - 12pm Wednesday 19th June, 5pm - 7pm
Castleford College & Wakefield College Wednesday 7th February, 5pm - 7pm Saturday 15th June, 10am - 12pm
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Season’s Greetings and a very Happy New Year With best wishes from Students, Staff and Governors at