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Vision West Nottinghamshire College

Local students learning in ‘world-class’ facilities Students at Vision West Nottinghamshire College are gaining the skills for employment, cutting-edge industry experience and the platform to progress to Higher Education.

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September marks the completion of the largest-ever building programme in the college’s history.

A £40m investment in the college’s main campus in Mansfield and in its specialist vocational centres in Ashfield means people in the area have access to truly world-class educational facilities.

In this special report, we take a closer look at what this means.

THERE’S STILL TIME TO APPLY! Apply today for September 2014 entry

0808 100 3626 www.wnc.ac.uk

/visionwestnotts

@westnotts

This page is sponsored by:

Vision West Nottinghamshire College

College delivers once-in-ageneration investment in education and skills A multi-million pound transformation in Vision West Nottinghamshire College’s buildings and facilities is just weeks away from completion.

In what is being hailed as a “once-in-a-generation” investment in education and skills, the dynamic college has pumped £40m in creating arguably the best education and training facilities in the East Midlands.

It is part of an overall vision to provide local people with a 21st century learning experience that prepares them for the world of work or higher-level study.

Principal and chief executive Dame Asha Khemka said: “Our inspirational facilities give students the platform to fulfil their potential – whether that’s getting a job or progressing to Higher Education at university or here at college.

“We are absolutely focused on providing young people with the education and skills they need to thrive in a dynamic and rapidly-changing economy.

“Our students deserve the best. Mansfield and Ashfield deserve the best. That is why we’ve invested so heavily in giving our local communities a world-class college.”

Main campus The Derby Road campus in Mansfield is the college’s main centre for teaching and learning.

Amongst its facilities is a flagship £11m centre for students on A Level courses and vocational ‘lifestyle’ programmes.

Its commercial hair and beauty salons and spa, called Revive, and fine-dining restaurant, Refined, train the hairstylists, beauticians, chefs and hospitality professionals of tomorrow.

Create – a £5m centre for creative industries and digital technologies – provides state-of-the-art facilities in media, music production, performing arts and TV production, plus web and multi-media design, along with a 150-seat theatre.

It will soon be joined by a contemporary £2.3m visual arts and design centre boasting industry-standard equipment, modern teaching space and bright and airy exhibition areas for fashion, design, art, craft and photography students.

The college’s purpose-built £2.5m sports hall incorporating sports science lab runs courses leading to jobs such as sports teacher, fitness coach and physiotherapist.

Derby Road is also the venue for courses in public services, for those wanting to work in the armed and uniformed services, and courses in travel for people with aspirations to work in the tourism industry.

Meanwhile, students on its range of childcare and health and social care courses go on to become care assistants, care home managers, nurses, teachers, childcare assistants and nursery managers, amongst others.

Its computer science provision prepares students for work in the IT industry, from IT technicians and server engineers to programmers and software developers.

Vision University Centre is a building dedicated to the college’s growing number of Higher Education students including those studying HNCs, HNDs, foundation degrees and full honours ‘top-up’ degrees.

The college recently announced ambitious plans to build a new three-storey £7.8m university centre offering even more facilities including a learning resource centre, lecture theatre, seminar room, IT suites, study rooms and classrooms, as part of a further expansion of its Higher Education provision.

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Construction centre Station Park is the college’s specialist centre for courses in construction and building services.

Located in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, it provides some of the best vocational training facilities in the country to help prepare those studying brickwork, painting and decorating, plastering, joinery, plumbing and electrical for the world of work.

The £7.2m centre’s strong links with employers and professional bodies mean many students progress into full-time employment or an apprenticeship, returning one day per week to develop their higher-level technical skills and abilities.

Innovative study zones called ‘lecturettes’ within each of the major workshop areas enable theoretical study to be combined with practical skills – enhancing the learning experience and ensuring that theory is clearly linked to practice.

Students from this area move into employment or self-employment within the construction and building industries.

Engineering Innovation Centre

September sees the opening of the college’s £5.8m Engineering Innovation Centre.

This purpose-designed centre in Kirkby-in-Ashfield will bring together students learning mechanical and electrical engineering, fabrication and welding, and motor vehicle maintenance – from beginner courses all the way through to university-level study.

Supported by local employers, the centre will house some of the best engineering and automotive facilities in the country, including carbon, nano and hybrid technologies alongside modern classrooms, IT suites and a central learning resource area.

It will produce highly-skilled workers in specialist fields, addressing the skills gaps for operators, technicians and professionals needed across a range of sectors including aerospace, polymer manufacture, rail maintenance, motorsport and race technology, electrical power generation, pharmaceutical manufacture and advanced automation.

THERE’S STILL TIME TO APPLY!

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0808 100 3626 www.wnc.ac.uk

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Apply today for September 2014 entry

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@westnotts

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Vision West Nottinghamshire College

Students are achieving their potential Giving students the platform to realise their ambitions is at the heart of everything that Vision West Nottinghamshire College does.

We caught up with former A Level, vocational and Higher Education students to hear how they have progressed since finishing their courses.

From Mansfield to Harvard – via Cambridge!

There were celebrations when Cate Kendall achieved four A* grades in maths, biology, chemistry and psychology on A Level results day 2011.

It meant she would become the college’s first-ever student to study at the historic University of Cambridge.

Reflecting on life at Cambridge, Cate said: “The first year was very intense. You attend almost 30 hours of lectures, do 50 hours of homework and study Monday to Saturday. You constantly meet experts in the field.

“If you can make it through the first year, you’ll do well. After that you get more autonomy.”

After three years studying biological sciences (natural sciences) with a maths and chemistry module, Cate is now toasting further success.

That’s because she has achieved a first-class honours degree and is busy making plans to study a masters in systems biology. After that, she aims to apply for a postgraduate qualification at the world-famous Harvard University, USA. Cate visited college for the first time since leaving to share the good news with her former tutors, which revived many happy memories.

She said: “My memories are of the staff being committed and engaging, and the tutors being flexible and supportive. I gained independence and trust in myself, as well as several close friends.”

Cate offers the following advice to other students: “It doesn’t matter what background you come from, you just have to believe in yourself and work hard.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve something – not even yourself!”

Melissa’s recipe for Third time lucky for star student success Mark Melissa Jackson joined college as a 14-year-old, studying on a hospitality course one day per week on attachment from her school.

She went on to gain an incredible SIX vocational qualifications over the next five years after joining fulltime.

“For me, coming to college was about learning in a grown-up environment and getting some great teaching from tutors who had worked in the catering and hospitality industry,” said Melissa, of Mansfield.

The 19-year-old recently graduated from the NVQ Level 3 in Advanced Professional Cookery.

Her personal highlight came in June when she was crowned the East Midlands’ vocational learner of the year at a glittering awards ceremony in London.

Melissa credits college with giving her the skills to pursue her chosen career, adding: “The tutors are fantastic and are always there to help you.”

She is now set to study at the prestigious School of Artisan Food, on the Welbeck Estate, after securing a coveted bursary. Her goal is to work in artisan bakery as a pâtissier.

But first comes a golden opportunity to work in celebrity chef Tom Kerridge’s Michelin-starred pub, The Hand and Flowers, the week before her course begins.

The television chef gave her a personal invitation after she surprisingly found herself working with him in the kitchens at Royal Ascot during the summer, leaving him highly impressed with her skills and dedication.

“I didn’t know about it until I turned up on the first day but once I got over the initial surprise, it was an absolutely fantastic experience” said Melissa.

“I can’t wait to work in his Michelin-starred pub. It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

THERE’S STILL TIME TO APPLY! Apply today for September 2014 entry

0808 100 3626 www.wnc.ac.uk

/visionwestnotts

@westnotts

Enrolling on an NVQ in Business Studies at college in 2008, Mark Dowthwaite saw it as his “last hope”, having previously left two sixth-forms before finishing his course.

Five years on, the 23-year-old had not only graduated with a first-class honours degree in business and management, he was on stage proudly receiving the Principal’s Student of the Year Award at the college’s Higher Education graduation.

It represents a remarkable journey for the Mansfield man, who lost the confidence to even enter a classroom as a result of two car accidents while studying his NVQ. After returning to college, Mark regained his confidence and successfully completed the course.

Progressing to the foundation degree in business and management, he quickly grasped this higher level of study – consistently achieving top grades in his assignments.

The decision to ‘top-up’ his qualification to a fullhonours degree through a further year’s study at college was an easy one. Yet, looking back, he once believed university-level study was beyond him.

Said Mark: “At no point did I ever expect to progress from Further Education to Higher Education, I had the perception you must be of extreme intelligence to be able to do that.

“But I’ve shown that with hard work and determination, you can achieve whatever you want to.”

This view was confirmed when Mark was presented with a special accolade from college principal and chief executive, Dame Asha Khemka.

“To graduate was an amazing experience,” said Mark, who works in advertising at the Mansfield Chad.

“To receive the Principal’s Award on top of that left me speechless!”

THERE’S STILL

TIME TO APPLY!

JOIN ONE OF THE LEADING COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY There’s no better time to study at Vision West Nottinghamshire College. Our £40m redevelopment is nearing completion, which means new buildings, new facilities and new opportunities.

Top 10% in the country for overall success rates Amazing state-of-the-art specialist facilities 100s of full and part-time courses from entry-level to university-level A Level pass rate of 99.7% Dedicated university centre for Higher Education study

We can help you succeed, whatever your ambition.

A Levels: in 20 subject areas Practical full-time vocational courses available in: Business Building and construction Children's and young people's workforce Computer science Creative arts Engineering and motor vehicle Foundation learning Hair and beauty Health and social care Public services Sport Travel and hospitality Access to HE courses: study the qualifications needed to progress to university-level study.

University-level courses: choose from 13 subject areas.

Courses for adults: flexible study to help you up-skill.

Places are still available for courses starting in September 2014.

For more information or to apply: 0808 100 3626 www.wnc.ac.uk

/visionwestnotts

@westnotts

Vision West Nottinghamshire College, Derby Road, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 5BH