Department Newsletter
Spring 2025 / wakefield.ac.uk
Dear [student name], Dear student,
Greetings from Wakefield College’s Business & Management and Travel & Tourism Department!
We’re delighted that you’ll be joining Wakefield College this September. As you prepare to take this next step in your education, we want to share some of the exciting opportunities that await you.
At Wakefield College, we believe in learning by doing, and our students have been making a real impact in their industries. Our T Level Business students recently gained invaluable hands-on experience working with Wakefield District Housing (WDH), helping to improve local communities while developing key skills in communication and problem-solving. Meanwhile, our Travel & Tourism students stepped into the world of aviation, experiencing life as cabin crew in a state-of-the-art flight simulator—an experience that was both exciting and educational!
Our courses go beyond the classroom to give you the skills, confidence and experiences needed for your future career. Whether you’re looking forward to work placements, practical learning, or engaging with industry professionals, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to grow and succeed here.
For now, we know many of you will be focusing on your exams, and we wish you the very best of luck! Work hard, stay focused, and remember that all your efforts will pay off. We can’t wait to welcome you in September and see all that you achieve.
Ben Porter Head of Business and Travel & Tourism
BUSINESS &
TRAVEL &
T Level Business Students Making a Difference in the Community
Our T Level Business students have been gaining invaluable hands-on experience while making a real impact in the community, thanks to their placement with WDH.
As part of WDH Estate Day of Action, students teamed up with the Estates and Environmental teams, local partners and residents to improve the Bryan Close area in Castleford. Activities included a litter pick, bulky waste collection, and an interactive door-to-door survey to gather feedback on what improvements residents would like to see in their neighbourhood.
achievement recognised by the judges of the Educate North Awards 2025, where we were named finalists in the Employer Engagement Award category.
A fantastic example of meaningful collaboration, personal development and community impact in action.
The initiative was a huge success, with one resident moved to tears by the strong sense of community spirit and the collective effort to bring about positive change.
This experience gave our students a unique opportunity to apply their skills in a real-world setting—developing their communication, leadership and problem-solving abilities.
The strength of our T Level partnership with WDH has played a key role in our students’ academic and personal growth—an
“The Estate Day of Action was a fantastic opportunity to connect with our customers in the community and hear what it’s like for them living on our estates. It’s so important for us as a landlord to listen, understand, and act on customer feedback.”
Sarah Roxby Executive Director of Housing at WDH
Hear from our Students
Business & Management
Lucy
“I picked the T Level in Business because I wanted to gain practical experience and business is a good topic which can open up lots of avenues. No day is the same at my industry placement at WDH and I’ve enjoyed being able to get involved in a range of community work such as speaking to homeowners about what they like about their neighbourhood and litter picking. It’s always a positive environment and I look forward to my days on my industry placement.”
Travel & Tourism
Samuel
“Ever since I was young, I’ve always had a passion for travel and aviation, so choosing the Air Cabin Crew course felt very natural to me.
“Being able to train in a simulated aircraft environment gives us a very true to life experience that better prepares us for a future career in this exciting industry.”
Travel & Tourism Students
Take to the Skies with Fly Me!
Our Travel & Tourism students had the incredible opportunity to step into the world of aviation, putting their cabin crew skills to the test in a state-of-the-art flight simulator at Fly Me.
From perfecting their in-flight announcements to handling real-world scenarios, students experienced what it’s like to work as part of a professional cabin crew team. The highlight of the day? Landing a plane in the simulator—an exhilarating challenge that gave them a real taste of the aviation industry!
The experience provided an exciting, hands-on way to develop key skills in customer service, communication and teamwork—essential for careers in the travel and tourism sector.
Our students had an absolute blast, and who knows—perhaps we’ve got some future pilots and cabin crew in the making!
Fun Facts!
A Million-Dollar Mistake:
The Post-it Note was invented by accident! In 1968, Spencer Silver at 3M was trying to create a strong adhesive but ended up with a weak, reusable one. Years later, it became one of 3M’s bestselling products!
Amazon’s Original Name:
Before settling on Amazon, Jeff Bezos considered calling his online bookstore “Cadabra”, as in abracadabra. He changed it after a lawyer misheard it as “cadaver”!
The Monopoly Myth:
During the Great Depression, Monopoly became one of the bestselling board games in history. It was even used in World War II to smuggle escape tools to prisoners of war!
Longest Flight in the World:
The world’s longest commercial flight is from Singapore to New York, covering 9,537 miles and taking around 18 hours and 40 minutes—long enough to watch 9 full-length movies!
A Hotel in Space?
A company called Orbital Assembly is planning to open the world’s first space hotel by 2027. Guests will experience artificial gravity, luxurious suites, and an out-of-this-world view of Earth!
Animal Care students’ once-in-a-lifetime Fiji trip with Think Pacific
Animal once-in-a-lifetime trip with Pacific
20 students from the Animal Care and Travel & Tourism departments at Wakefield College embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Fiji, hosted by Think Pacific.
20 from Care and & departments at Wakefield College embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Fiji, hosted by Pacific.
The trip’s itinerary was specially tailored to the College’s Animal Care and Travel & Tourism provision – with activities encompassing ecotourism, animal and wildlife care, sustainability and conservation.
The was specially tailored to the College’s Care and & Tourism provision – with activities encompassing ecotourism, and wildlife care, and
During the eighteen days, students and staff from the College explored the magnificent landscapes of the island such as the Rainforest Park, the Sand Dunes National Park, tropical gardens, coral reefs and bush trails.
During the eighteen and staff from landscapes of the island the Rainforest Park, Dunes National tropical coral reefs and bush trails.
They observed Fijian animals in their habitats, ranging from birds to reptiles and marine wildlife, as well as learning about the welfare and veterinary care they received from charities on the Island such as Animals Fiji.
They animals habitats, ranging from reptiles and marine wildlife, as as learning about the welfare and charities Island such as Animals Fiji.
Several presentations and group including the Coral Centre, them about the historical development of tourism Fiji and conservation efforts practiced on the Island.
Several organisations delivered specialist presentations and projects for the group including the Coral Coast Conservation Centre, teaching them about the historical development of tourism in Fiji and the range of conservation efforts practiced on the Island.
The students expressed their enthusiasm towards experiencing a new culture; some students even conducted their own research into their destination in advance of the trip.
The students towards students even own research into their
The trip was fully funded for the students through the Turing Scheme – one of the UK Government’s initiatives to provide funding for international learning opportunities and global mobility projects for colleges and universities.
The trip was through Turing Scheme – one of UK Government’s international learning opportunities and global mobility projects for colleges and universities.
“After developing a relationship with Think Pacific, the College decided to select one of their educational trips to enrich the students’ learning, which has all been made possible through the funding from the Turing Scheme. The trip showcased to the students the opportunities of ecotourism, animal care and sustainability in Fiji. They learned how tourism impacts the Island, its people and its wildlife.”
“After developing a relationship select one of trips to enrich the students’ has all been made possible through the Turing Scheme. The trip showcased to students the opportunities of animal care and in Fiji. how tourism Island, its and its wildlife.”
Henry Manwaring Deputy Head of Curriculum and lead organiser of the trip
Henry Manwaring Head of Curriculum and of the trip
OPEN EVENTS
FIND
OUT MORE ABOUT...
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT...
A LEVELS* FOUNDATION LEARNING
* Wakefield College only
WEDNESDAY 15th OCTOBER 5pm-7pm WEDNESDAY 11th FEBRUARY 5pm-7pm SATURDAY 15th NOVEMBER 10am-12pm SATURDAY 13th JUNE 10am-12pm EVENTS 2025 EVENTS 2026
A LEVELS* | T LEVELS | VOCATIONAL COURSES | APPRENTICESHIPS FOUNDATION LEARNING | UNIVERSITY CENTRE | ADULT LEARNING EVENTS 2024 EVENTS 2025
WEDNESDAY 16th OCTOBER 5pm-7pm WEDNESDAY 12th FEBRUARY 5pm-7pm
SATURDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 10am-12pm SATURDAY 14th JUNE 10am-12pm
* Wakefield College only All events will take place at Wakefield College and Castleford College
Events taking place at both Wakefield College and Castleford College
