EmployerLink Autumn/Winter 2017

EmployerLink BE PART OF IT

Autumn/Winter 2017

FROM THE EDITOR

BUSINESS SUCCESS: EDUCATING OURSELV Pauline Hands

Welcome to the Autumn/Winter edition of EmployerLink. It is an exciting time at the College with our new £13million Regional Centre of Excellence for STEM having opened its doors to a whole range of opportunities in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for both young people and employers in the region.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to all our employer partners who have contributed their time, expertise and equipment to the development of the new Centre.

If you have not already had a tour of the Centre, I would encourage you to arrange a visit to this excellent new facility to see what it can offer you in terms of training the future workforce, upskilling your employees or as a venue for conferences, meetings and teambuilding exercises. Developed with the region’s business needs at the fore, you can read more about the Centre on page 6.

The STEM Centre will be the new hub of cyber security and digital training in the City, hosting our new suite of digital courses which we are delivering in partnership with local companies Bluescreen IT and Cosmic. These partnerships are evidence of our commitment to provide local organisations with access to cutting-edge training and development opportunities. Plymouth is establishing itself as a global digital hub and we want to support our local businesses to not only be at the forefront of technological developments, but to protect themselves in this digital age.

We are also looking to the future of the region’s hospitality industry and asking businesses to engage with the College to develop the best possible training to help tackle a global shortage of chefs and other skilled industry workers. Read more about the new steering group on page 2.

Engagement with businesses is key to the success of our College and we run regular business networking and information events. These events are the ideal opportunity for you to meet other local businesses and to find out how City College can support your business.

Finally, in the spirit of embracing the 'digital revolution', our Spring/Summer 2018 edition of EmployerLink will be available in a green, paper free digital format. To continue receiving a paper copy, please contact employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

Pauline Hands, Editor Director of Marketing, Business Engagement and Enterprise

 phands@cityplym.ac.uk

1.8m

global shortfall of cyber-security experts by 2022

1.2m

new technical and digitally skilled people required in UK by 2022

£1.9b

cyber-security investment by UK Government

£118b

contribution by digital sectors to UK economy

exports of digital £50b+ UK goods and services

22%

UK SMEs using some form of e-commerce

4.4%

potential boost to revenues due to digital capabilities

4.3%

potential reduction of costs due to digital capabilities

Sources: • UK Digital Strategy, Government Publications, www.gov.uk/government/ publications/uk-digital-strategy • www.computerweekly.com • www.wired.co.uk • www.indeed.co.uk • Security Industry Association, ISC Squared • Computer World Survey, Business Insider Magazine, August 2017

If you require this newsletter in a larger type or different format please telephone 01752 305026.

VES FOR THE DIGITAL AGE Phil Davies

Phil Davies, Principal and Chief Executive of City College, examines the benefits and hazards of operating a business in the digital age.

As Principal and Chief Executive of a professional, technical and vocational college, I am acutely aware of the changing nature of the skills and expertise that employers require in the digital age. It is clear that a strong online platform is one of the most efficient ways for businesses to increase their profile, productivity, and profit.

Businesses must continue to develop their digital presence in order to keep pace with customer expectations. A website and online ordering system are now viewed as basic requirements by consumers, and those who ignore these expectations are likely to find they are overtaken by competitors. The Government’s own research suggests that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with a strong web presence on average grow more than twice as quickly as those with minimal or no presence, export twice as much, and create twice as many jobs.

The benefits extend beyond customer facing functions. Digitisation of processes and communication channels can also improve efficiency for businesses in ‘back room’ procedures, saving money, time and resources.

The challenge of digitisation Despite these obvious benefits, there are still businesses that are hesitant to expand their digital presence and processes. The Productivity Leadership Group, a business-led initiative addressing the UK’s productivity challenge, recently identified some of the barriers that hamper businesses from adopting new digital technologies. The cost of expertise and equipment, time,

a lack of knowledge and a deficiency of skills amongst their existing workforce were all contributing factors.

Recently, yet another barrier to the expansion of digital technologies has been gaining prominence and this is the threat of cyber-attack. Data released by global job search company, Indeed, found that UK businesses could be at increased risk of cyber-attack due to a severe shortage of cyber security expertise within their organisations. The research revealed that while the number of cyber security roles advertised in the UK was the third highest in the world, employer demand exceeded three times the level of candidate interest. This shortage of skilled digital technicians is leaving our businesses vulnerable.

The cyber-crime threat In May of this year, the WannaCry ransomware spread around the world, severely affecting the UK’s National Health Service. Seemingly helpless, we watched in abject horror as operational and private data files were encrypted, thousands of medical procedures were cancelled and the weaknesses in our nation’s cyber security were exposed before the ransomware’s spread was finally stopped with a ‘kill switch’ discovered by a Devon-based computer expert.

The year continued with yet more attacks - cybercriminals hacking power grids in both Europe and America and even the Whitehouse becoming a victim through ‘phishing’ e-mails which managed to infiltrate the private accounts of high-ranking Homeland Security staff. These attacks on prominent targets put thoughts of how to protect ourselves against cybercrime right at the heart of our Government, public services and private businesses.

As new technologies increasingly infiltrate our industries, experts now say that no company is too small to be a potential target for cybercriminals.

Last year, the UK Government announced a £1.9billion investment in the country’s cyber security plan which will develop and defend our digital nation. It is vital, however, that both training providers and businesses take the initiative and address this skills shortage to ensure the future security of our industries.

Training for the future We need to address the systemic issues at the heart of this digital skills shortage.

The Government’s Cyber Security Skills Strategy recognised the need for higher and degree-level Apprenticeships to prepare young people as well as a retraining programme for those currently looking to upskill or change to a career in the cyber security profession.

The College already offers online safety training to all our students and the facilities in our new Regional Centre of Excellence for STEM will give young people the chance to learn both software and hardware skills to prepare them for careers in IT, cyber safety and digital development.

Whilst training the next generation to support our businesses in the future, we are also working in partnership with award-winning digital training companies to help businesses address their current cyber security and IT management needs. Through this kind of collaborative working, we can ensure that our business leaders have the necessary digital acumen to lead the required transformations within their companies and ensure that the region’s digital hub remains both world-leading and, above all, protected.

Phil Davies Principal and Chief Executive

01752 305026 employers@cityplym.ac.uk

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THE FUTURE OF THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR The hospitality and catering sector is suffering from severe skills gaps and shortages at all levels and specialisms from qualified chefs, to front of house staff and managers.

1in5 3m

vacancies in hospitality are skilled jobs work in UK’s hospitality industry

The looming uncertainty of Brexit will only compound this shortage as workers return to their countries and immigration rules tighten.

This means a major threat to tourism and is a real worry for a region which has established itself as a ‘foodie destination’.

With new developments in Plymouth and a big sector push towards Mayflower 400, this shortage of skilled workers is already being felt in the south west.

In a historically transient sector, employers are often unwilling to invest in training themselves for fear of not seeing a return of service for their investment as employees move to a competitor or leave the sector altogether. A high attrition rate is also a factor, with chefs often feeling overworked and undervalued.

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The only solution is to provide practical and comprehensive training opportunities for both young people and adults interested in a career in hospitality. Fully preparing students for the reality of working in busy kitchens, hotels and restaurants will mean greater pressure on the College and our local employers to work together to provide the best possible training experiences for the future workforce.

1 10

93% 47% 89%

industry represents 1/10th of the UK’s economic wealth of recruitment agencies report there are not enough trained chefs in the UK to meet demand

Help us shape the future of the region’s hospitality sector The College is developing a Hospitality Industry Steering Group in order to encourage new people into the sector and to help tackle the skills shortage in the region.

In addition to working together to provide work experience placements, master classes, guest lectures and Apprenticeship opportunities, the steering group will be focused on involving employers into the development of the College’s training programmes.

This collaborative approach has already yielded results with the College’s fully accredited bartending and barista course which was developed in direct response to the skills requirements of local employers.

of vacancies for chefs proved difficult to fill due to lack of skilled applicants of recruitment agencies report increased demand for chefs over last three years

11,000

chefs needed by 2022

29%

shortage of skilled chefs in South West

For more information on how you can get involved contact employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

@cityplymbiz www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

BREXIT: under pressure

42%

“I worked as a waitress at the five star Hotel Vittoria in a little town in northern Italy called Brescia. You learn the language so quickly when you’re out there living it every day.”

Lacee Tuckwell, 19

waiting staff, 37% house-keeping staff and 25% all chefs are from the EU

200,000

new workers currently required per annum.

Post-Brexit an additional 60,000 will be needed or risk 1million jobs shortfall by 2029

10 yrs

to reduce the need for EU workers by training British staff Source: British Hospitality Association & Recruitment and Employment Confederation

PL1 @ The Duke

MTV Crashes 2017

Providing VIP hospitality from the grill, oven and wok to over 800 VIP guests at Plymouth’s biggest music event.

Flavour Fest 2017

Serving handmade hotdogs and burgers to the hungry public. Two of our chefs also provided demos on the main stage.

of chefs working in the UK are migrants

75%

EVENTS IN THE CITY …

Transat 2016

DUKE OF CORNWALL HOTEL PL YM OUT H

In January next year, students from the College will be taking over the Duke of Cornwall hotel for a week, giving our students an idea of what it is like to work in one of Plymouth’s premier establishments.

Experience the results for yourself at our Talking Business event in January. See page 13 for more details.

Working with the Boathouse Café, students provided hospitality for VIP guests and race participants, as well as supporting the Gala dinner.

“Having students from different places in Europe really adds to the team, and gives us the opportunity to learn different cultural skills as well as educating our visitors in English cuisine and service.”

Jon Morcom, Director, Duke of Cornwall Hotel

Our catering students get real experience of the industry both at home and abroad.

Travelling Europe Whether it’s pasta making in Italy, serving hungry customers in Hungary or hosting guests at an ice hotel in Finland, Erasmus + provides exciting opportunities for students to participate in a fully funded, five month long European work experience exchange programmes. The College also reciprocates by hosting their exchange counterparts for a week of training prior to their placements within hotels and restaurants in the UK. These ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences broaden young peoples’ culinary and cultural horizons, encouraging them to consider a career in the hospitality industry.

Run by our hospitality students, under the expert tuition of catering professionals, PL1 offers fresh, local produce, daily specials and great value set menus. The restaurant has been awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for three years running.

PL

one

GOING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM …

PL1: an award winning restaurant at the heart of City College

restaurant bar brasserie

Book your Table at PL1 Open during term time, our set menus offer superb value for money. Two courses for £10, or three for £15.

Lunch Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 11.00am - 1.00pm Dinner Wednesday and Thursday: 5.30pm - 7.00pm Call 01752 305777, e-mail pl1@cityplym.ac.uk or book online at www.cityplym.ac.uk/pl1.

01752 305026 employers@cityplym.ac.uk

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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS WITH CITY COLLEGE

The Government’s March 2017 budget introduced £5million to help people get back into work who have had a career break.

The anti-social working hours for chefs’ means a lot of people leave the industry, especially when they start a family. Encouraging people back into work after a break could be a huge source of chefs.

In addition to our extensive full and part-time provision, the College offers a range of short courses which are designed to fit around an employee’s current work commitments:

General Patisserie and Confectionery 1 year, Tue 9.00am - 4.00pm Dates: start 12/09/18

Professional Bartending 9 weeks, Mon 4.00pm - 9.00pm Dates: start 19/02/18

Food Safety 1 day, Mon 9.00am - 5.00pm Dates: Monthly

Principles of Nutrition & Food Production 1 day, Tue 9.00am - 5.00pm Dates: Monthly

Award in Barista Skills 2 days, Mon and Tue 9.00am - 5.00pm Dates: 16/10/17, 12/02/18, 09/04/18

Chef Management Programme 5 weeks, Mon 9.00am - 5.00pm Dates: 30/10/17 and 04/06/18 Do you currently work in a kitchen environment - either managing a team or perhaps hoping to in the future? As a manager or head chef within the catering and hospitality industry, you will be required to understand the fundamental basics of business. You will also be required to motivate your team on a daily basis and manage their needs. When your business is up and running, you’ll also need to acquire and keep customers through effective marketing and excellent service. If all of this is of interest to you in your current role, then this training is perfect for you!

The programme covers the following subjects: • profit, loss and budget control • finance, costing and procurement • understanding your market • marketing • motivating your team • people management.

See www.cityplym.ac.uk for more information on all the hospitality and catering courses and Apprenticeships available.

Employers + Employees + City College Plymouth ...

Working in Partnership for the Success of Your Business Join local employers for a breakfast event at the College’s PL1 restaurant Network with your peers, discuss skills required and shape the training needed for productivity!

Tuesday 7 November 8.00am-8.30am Arrival and breakfast 8.30am-8.35am Welcome 8.35am-8.45am Supporting our students 8.45am-8.55am A student’s perspective on work placements 9.00am-9.15am Q&A 9.15am-9.45am Sector specific round table discussions 9.45am-10.00am Summary and close

BE PART OF IT

Please call 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk to book your place.

CYBER ATTACK PREVENTION EXPERTISE

Organisations in Plymouth will now be able to upskill their IT staff and sure-up their cyber security thanks to a range of courses delivered in partnership between City College and distinguished local company, Bluescreen IT (BIT).

The firm, based in Plymouth, count NATO and the UK Government amongst their clients and are a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner; the highest accreditation the global tech giant can bestow on an independent technical support company.

around the development of skills in the cyber security industry. The fast-evolving nature of the threats means that there is a global shortage of cyber security and IT professionals who are trained to the required levels.

Mike Dieroff, Managing Director of BIT, said: “Our company has a proven track record of successfully delivering a range of IT and cyber security courses to help businesses sure-up their defences against the everchanging threats from online malware.

Formalising our partnership with City College will enable us to support organisations in the region in training their staff to develop, manage, maintain and protect the systems and networks that are so fundamental to any modern business’ success.”

The Government estimates that the UK’s own digital skills gap is estimated to be costing the economy £63billion a year. It is hoped that the delivery of this suite of network management and cyber-security courses in the new Regional Centre of Excellence for STEM will help to close this gap and ensure the availability of affordable IT support and cyber security across the region.

Mike is also Chairman of the Digital Policy Alliance’s Cyber Skills Group, which is directly responsible for helping the UK Government shape policy and strategy

Course participants can receive 50% off their Microsoft exams and up to 50% off Microsoft Press books and e-books. For more information on the full range of courses on offer call 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

COSMIC COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE DIGITAL LEADERS bridge the gap between businesses and their digital potential and give them the tools to keep up with the latest innovations. Working with the College will allow us to reach out to local businesses directly and offer this first-class training in a high-level learning environment.”

Devon-based ethical IT company, Cosmic, have partnered with the College to offer an innovative Digital Leadership Programme.

The Cosmic Digital Leadership Programme will help businesses to access the latest strategic thinking on digital developments and discover new business models which could increase productivity.

Julie Hawker and Kate Doodson, Joint CEOs of Cosmic, said: “Our Digital Leadership Programme has been devised in direct response to the needs identified by the Government’s own research into digital business strategies. With digital, things can develop and change so quickly, so we aim to

In this digital age, investing in digital skills is a must for every business. Historically delegated to operational or technical managers, digital knowledge at the strategic level can offer major competitive advantages, improved resource management and create a more efficient business.

“This is another College partnership success story and we are delighted to be working with Cosmic to provide top-level training for this often overlooked but crucial area of business development.”

To book your space or for more information on the Digital Leadership Programme, call 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@ cityplym.ac.uk.

Pauline Hands, Director of Marketing, Business Engagement and Enterprise at City College, said: “Cosmic’s programme is not just for those already working in the digital sector. By engaging in this programme, businesses can develop ways to increase productivity in their organisation, forge new business relationships with other digital leaders and strengthen our local supply chain and economy.

01752 305026 employers@cityplym.ac.uk

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OPEN FOR BUSINESS - REGIONAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR STEM We are delighted to unveil our brand new Regional Centre of Excellence for STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

BUSINESS SUCCESS STEM-ING FROM EDUCATION Fiona Horrell, the College’s Head of Strategic Partnerships, is excited about raising the Centre’s new profile with businesses across the City and beyond …

The £13million state-of-the-art facility was funded by the Heart of the South West LEP, Plymouth City Council, and the Regional Growth Fund, and has seen more than 200 employers involved in shaping its development. The Centre is equipped with high-tech resources to support a broader and more relevant STEM curriculum to help address the skills gaps identified in the strategic plans for the region.

In addition to maths teaching spaces, there are also analytical laboratories and dedicated spaces for electronics testing.

College students will get to grips with 3D printing technology in the rapid prototyping room and the sports science laboratory will enable our expert lecturing team to train future sporting heroes using the latest equipment for sport performance enhancement and analysis.

The Centre features fully furnished science laboratories, as well as multiple computer workshops where students will learn the intricacies of hardware and software programming. The technical side of media will be explored in the new digital TV studio - complete with infinity curve wall - four editing suites, an animation studio and a live recording studio.

The Centre also houses a conference room which is externally bookable for workshops, teambuilding and events. Many of the College’s short and bespoke training courses and workshops will be delivered in the Centre enabling local organisations to take full advantage of these excellent stateof-the-art facilities.

“STEM is a local and national priority for addressing future skills shortages in related industries. Building the Regional Centre of Excellence for STEM is our and our funders’ direct response to the skills needs of local STEM-related industries.”

Phil Davies, Principal and Chief Executive

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@cityplymbiz www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

The Regional Centre of Excellence for STEM is the greatest investment in skills training in Plymouth for many years. Local economic strategies and planning over the past decade have highlighted the need to upskill, retain and maximise our workforce in the key areas of science, technology, engineering and maths in order to support economic growth and productivity in the region. Therefore, it is almost impossible to overestimate the impact that this new facility will have for local businesses.

Many of the major challenges facing our industries require STEM-related solutions, so the Centre will not only support the region’s capacity to meet economic and labour market demands for STEM, address skills gaps, upskill workforces and support young people into STEM careers, it will also meet employers’ needs for more highly-skilled, higher-level technicians and apprentices.

This vision can only succeed through collaborative working with employers in the region and I am excited to be bringing the College’s new STEM offer out to the business community. Working closely with employers and skills strategy groups, we will be hosting events and tours of the new facilities, as well as growing work experience opportunities. We are inviting our business community into the very heart of our STEM provision and asking them to ‘be part of it’; help us to grow the workforce of tomorrow and better meet the skills shortages in your industries.

For more information call 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

The STEM Centre in numbers

A national priority STEM jobs to be filled

£13m

investment in STEM for Plymouth

830,000 by 2020

£5.43m

from Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Deal

93,000

shortage of skilled STEM workers by 2020

£1.8m

from the Regional Growth Fund

182,000

engineers needed per year up to 2022

£4m

from Plymouth City Council

>200

employers involved in its development

construction workers

230,000 needed by 2022

>12,000

students each year

>1,450

apprentices trained per year

12

curriculum areas integrating STEM skills

100%

focus on industry skills needs

REGIONAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR STEM SUPPORTED BY …

1.2m

digital workers needed by 2022

72%

of businesses that rely on STEM skills new STEM jobs in the UK

500,000 over next five years £800m

GVA by manufacturing to local economy

TEC

PMG

construction

DUKE OF CORNWALL HOTEL PL YMOUTH

01752 305026 employers@cityplym.ac.uk

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EMBRACING THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION So why is it relevant to my business?

SG: We have to embrace it because it’s the way the business world is going. You’ve got a whole generation of consumers and future business leaders who have grown up with the technology and will be changing the way we do business in the future because of that.

Our Key Account Managers, Matt MacLean and Sean Gibson, give their opinions on the advantages of embracing digital.

We’ve been hearing a lot about digital technologies, but what does it actually mean?

SG: Digital technologies covers everything from your company’s website to the social media and e-mail updates you are sending to your clients, suppliers and business associates.

MM: Don’t mean to interrupt - you’ve focused on the marketing side of things there, but the ‘digital revolution’ covers much more than that. For example, technology which can detect a fault in the production line before it becomes a problem which disrupts manufacturing your product.

Digital accounting programmes, processes, automation, online order systems - these all come under the banner of digital technologies.

SG: Oh I love online ordering. Confirming my order, despatch, delivery all without any real ‘human’ involvement, but because they keep me up-to-date it still feels like a bespoke service.

MM: You still need people involved, though.

You need someone to develop that system, manage it, keep it running smoothly; someone to come up with the next creative idea to make it even easier for the customer.

SG: Next you’re going to be telling me about driverless cars and drones delivering my shopping!

MM: Exactly. This next stage is going beyond that - turn your heating on from your phone or pay your bills. Customer convenience is now driving the technology and it’s going to affect all levels of business, regardless of their size.

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MM: You can’t just limit it to the future though. By the time all those young people get to senior management positions, the technology will have changed again, so if you haven’t kept up now, you’ll be even further behind. The way we do business doesn’t change exactly, but the way we implement the strategies does and that’s where digital comes in. You don’t want to be stuck writing cheques in a world of contactless payments and online banking.

SG: Business leaders need to be open to new ways of doing business.

MM: And they have to stop viewing digital as separate. It’s part of everything that we do in our personal lives and in business. Every business should have a digital strategy in place

But isn’t it just for big multinational companies?

MM: No, it’s definitely not just for the ‘big boys’. The big players like Amazon have been doing it for years, but now even small businesses are having to adapt to meet customer expectations. The technology is out there to help, but it’s having the confidence and knowledge to use it effectively.

daily tweets, for example, but they should know how it fits into the higher level strategic planning.

MM: Yes, whether it’s the marketing or the production side of things, you’ve got to ensure you have the staff to maximise the use of it.

Otherwise it’s just a waste of investment.

SG: Social media really is the classic example of that - it always looks bad if a business sets up Twitter and Facebook but only posts once a month or something.

MM: Yeh, you can’t just dabble in it. Get the skills and expertise from within your company to do it properly.

Ok - no dabbling. Got it. How can the College help me do it properly?

MM: Well there are many ways, aren’t there Sean?

SG: Yes, thanks Matt. We’re offering a whole range of courses in partnership with firms like Bluescreen IT and Cosmic who can support businesses with network management, digital development and keeping you safe online. In particular, Cosmic’s Digital Leadership Programme can help with the strategic side of digital thinking.

MM: Don’t think that it’s just for digital specialists; it’s for anyone responsible for strategy.

Sounds good. So why isn’t everyone doing it?

SG: And for those who are already using digital technology, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments.

The courses we offer give you access to the latest business models and provide guidance throughout. So it’s not just about managing for the present, but planning for the future.

MM: I think it’s just a mystery to some people. There’s a fear of the unknown; a fear of change. They don’t understand what digital technology is or how it can help. It’s not just for techy companies already working in the digital sector.

MM: It’s also worth mentioning that we know how busy businesspeople are these days, so we’ve designed our courses to be flexible in meeting business needs and adapting to different requirements. It’s good old customer convenience in the digital age!

SG: I think it’s a generational thing too, isn’t it?

Sean Gibson, City College Plymouth

MM: You mean old guys like you not understanding how things work?!

@sean_g_gibson

SG: Yeh, maybe. We didn’t grow up with it, so I think people of my generation fixate on not understanding how to work something instead of thinking about it as a tool others are trained to use effectively. Your board-level execs aren’t likely to be the ones sending

Matt MacLean, City College Plymouth

@cityplymbiz www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

@mattcityplym

WORK EXPERIENCE: BENEFITTING YOUR BUSINESS Mike Jones

“We had two students from City College with us for work experience programmes of two weeks.

I must place on record how impressed I was with both students. They embraced all aspects of the work we undertake and I would welcome them back without hesitation. In fact, one student has continued his work experience with us on a voluntary basis for two days a week where he continues to contribute to the team.”

Anton Steinhart, Network Manager, Saltash.net

Employability and Enterprise Manager, Mike Jones, discusses the benefits of having a work experience student supporting your business.

The new academic year has started and we have been greeted by a new batch of freshfaced students, eager to start their journey to employment and an exciting new career.

Their enthusiasm carries them forward as they begin to develop those skills that you, as employers, are looking for; however, they cannot succeed alone. Of course they will need the support of the College but, just as importantly, they need a helping hand from our local businesses and potential future employers.

The Government is focused on encouraging colleges to provide work related activities to their students. It is, therefore, important that we work collaboratively with employers and develop those strong relationships to provide our future workforce with the opportunities to develop their knowledge of what will be expected of them and to experience what the world of work is really like.

The benefits of these opportunities to students are clear to see - increased confidence, development of sector-related skills, networking, etc - but is there any real benefit to the businesses who host them?

The short answer is YES. Aside from the corporate social responsibility boxes being ticked, recent

research for the Department of Education found that employers benefitted from having work experience students in a number of ways:

offered placements have had a very positive experience, some even continuing a working relationship with the students beyond the end date of their work placement.

• existing staff have developed their knowledge and skills - involve your employees in the placement, providing potential management opportunities

With over 2,000 students in need of a valuable work placement, the pressure to ensure all our students receive these great opportunities this year is immense. We are reaching out to new employers to ask if there is anything they can do to help and how having a work experience student could benefit their business.

• students on work placements have brought new skills and knowledge to the business - increase your knowledge of the latest training methods and qualifications through your students’ College links and tap into their fresh ideas and a new perspective on your business • businesses have raised their profile in the local area - being known as a business that offers work experience opportunities will raise the profile and appeal of your business and sector • students have enabled increased capacity during peak times - at no extra cost to employer, you can gain an enthusiastic team player • businesses were better able to recruit staff after hosting a work experience student - investing in young people brings commitment and loyalty, which means they are more likely to stay with the business which helps maintain productivity and reduce recruitment costs.

At City College we have been working closely with employers for many years to develop our curriculum and introduce work related activities to our students.

The vast majority of employers who have

We understand the challenges faced in offering work experience, in particular the time pressures. The College fully supports you with flexibility to meet your needs and business cycle. For example, not all placements have to be in blocks - could your business benefit from an extra pair of hands one or two days during peak times?

We also appreciate that not all businesses have the capacity to provide full on-site work placements, but still have so much to offer. Work related activity can cover a wide variety of roles and projects within your organisation. Could you share your expertise as a guest speaker; give a presentation; offer a site visit; or work with our students on an employer-led project? Whatever the size, or nature, of your business, our students can benefit from your knowledge and experience.

Could you offer our students some valuable work related activities? If so, our Business Engagement Team would love to hear from you. All offers are welcome - call 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

01752 305026 employers@cityplym.ac.uk

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CAN AN APPRENTICESHIP HELP MANAGERS TO PROGRESS THEIR CAREER? So you have established your career with your current employer and proved to be good at your job. One day you hear about the opportunity to progress and make an application. You research the new job role and prepare your competencies so that you can refer to them during the course of the interview. Of course you are the best person for the job and this is confirmed the following day when you receive the call saying that you were successful.

Excitedly you start the new job but quickly find out that the skills which got you the job are not necessarily the same skills which will be required to help you succeed in your new role. Having identified areas where you could improve you decide to embark upon the task of becoming a better manager. But where do you start?

In response to this all too common dilemma, the College has designed management development Apprenticeship programmes for both first line (level 3) and middle managers (level 5). Delivered by experts in business management, the programmes have been specifically designed for those who are new to a role and are keen to learn new skills.

Working and studying simultaneously, this Apprenticeship provides new managers with the resources to build upon their existing skills base, enabling them to progress in their careers.

Thanks to Government funding, employers only have to make a small contribution to the cost of the training. Investing a small amount in the development of your staff is a small price to pay in comparison to the impact that a lack of skills may have or the cost involved in replacing a member of your management team who may be struggling or is unhappy at work.

If you would like more information on the Government funding which is available for the management Apprenticeships, please contact the Business Engagement team on 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

MEET THE LECTURER Name: Karen Sweeting Teaches: level 5 management courses Qualifications: • Chartered Manager • Member of the Chartered Management Institute • Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Management currently studying for a Doctorate in Education at Plymouth University Karen is an experienced commercial and administrative manager with a flair for organising and meeting the highest possible standards. With experience of teaching business strategy and people management at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, Karen designs and delivers bespoke management development programmes for companies across the South West.

ENGINEERING FOR THE FUTURE A new HNC course in general engineering which was launched at IMERYS’ Par Moor Centre in Cornwall earlier this year has been put forward as an example of ‘outstanding practice in delivering higher level technical training’.

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EmployerLink

Following 12 months of planning and in a first for the College, The HNC programme will consist of scheduled classroom tutorials delivered remotely by College staff at the Par Moor Centre.

The HNC, which will be delivered over two years and is accredited by Edexcel, will develop skills in mathematics, engineering management, engineering science, health and safety and project design.

IMERYS is the world leader in mineral-based specialties for industry, transforming a large variety of minerals into high value specialty products for using sophisticated technical processes.

@cityplymbiz www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

Lecturers: Martin Smith, Bob Hunter, Iain le Couteur Bisson.

HNC students: Shaun Bartlett, Adam Dyer, Matt Netherton, David Magor and Chris Truscott

BESPOKE TRAINING FOR HEALTHY BUSINESS Health and safety: all employers have a duty of care to their employees and competent health and safety training is an essential part of this. Finding the right training, however, can be a complicated, costly and timeconsuming process for most businesses.

Receiving good health and safety training to deal with risk and injury is proven to reduce accident losses; cut absenteeism; improve profit and loss statement; help efficiency; and improve business profiles.

Unfortunately, when it comes to health and safety training, one size does not fit all. Many organisations have a specific training need which cannot be resolved by ‘off-the-shelf’ training programmes. That is why more and more businesses are turning to bespoke training options. Flexible and tailored to

your company’s specific needs, this type of training can be delivered in the workplace at a time which suits the company, ensuring effective time management and little disruption to the working day.

Rittal-CSM approached the College looking for a bespoke programme of health and safety management training as part of their on-going investment in staff progression.

A world-leading systems provider, Rittal caters to a range of industries, from automotive through to information technology. This meant they had numerous safety requirements specific to each area; therefore, our bespoke Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) package offered them the best value.

Emma Pope, HR and Employee Development Officer, said: “The training was delivered on-site at our premises in Roborough and was catered to our working day. Fifty-four employees completed the training, which meant that we ran five different sessions.

“Attendees ranged from team spokespersons right through to directors, so the training had to be broad yet focused and transferable to all the different departments within the company. In short, we had unique business needs that the College met. The course was well delivered and the tutor was incredibly knowledgeable. We were highly impressed.

“The programme has increased our awareness of health and safety, particularly amongst the Senior Management Team. It has provided us with new methodologies to assess and reduce risk within the workplace, and given us up-to-date knowledge on current health and safety thinking. We feel our employees see Rittal as an even safer place to work, and we now have the most up-to-date information to help deal with any issues that may arise.”

To find out more about how the College can help your business meet its health and safety needs, call 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

NEVER STOP TRAINING Information technology and cyber security training has become a priority in recent years as organisations need to build the skills to deal with compliance and performance issues. With information at the heart of the modern economy, information and cyber security are topics for all businesses …

City College is running the following courses in partnership with Bluescreen IT · Windows 10 · Windows Server 2012 · CCNA ICND2 · Network+ CompTIA · CompTIA Security+

BE PART OF IT

For course dates and fees visit www.cityplym.ac.uk/cybersecurity, call 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE APPRENTICESHIP LEVY The Government’s Apprenticeship levy has completely changed the way Apprenticeships are funded, giving more spending power to employers.

Who is affected by the Apprenticeship levy?

The levy will be set at 0.5% of and employer’s pay bill. It will only be paid on any bill in excess of

£3 m

Employers will have an allowance of £15,000 to offset against their levy payment.

Government target for new apprentices by 2020

30-40 hours £3.50

H I RI N G A N A P P RE N T I C E

apprentice minimum wage

<£3million pay bill

levy payers

3m

hours worked per week by apprentice

Only 2% of all UK employers are liable to pay the levy.

>£3million pay bill

Apprenticeships facts and figures

non levy payers

400+

Apprenticeship pathways

Contact City College’s Business Engagement team

Why choose City College?

Plan your Apprenticeship programme

HMRC collects levy (PAYE)

• 96% of our apprentices who completed their programme are now in permanent employment • Our overall success rates are 14% above the national average

Agree Apprenticeship training and assessment programme with the College

• Rated ‘outstanding’ - City College’s multiple award winning Apprenticeship provision

Work with the College to advertise your Apprenticeship vacancy through our free recruitment service

Set up your account Register securely at www.gov.co.uk

View available funds in your digital account and find out more about

Payments to the College taken from digital account

Any unused funds expire after 18 months and are returned to the Government

Manage your funding

• Expert Business Engagement team to guide you through the whole process Speak to the College about funding options

Employ your apprentice and commit to training programme with the College

Train your apprentice

Employer pays for proportion of cost direct to the College

Skills Funding Agency pays Government proportion of costs to the College

Speak to the College’s Business Engagement team about next steps

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EmployerLink

@cityplymbiz www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

If you choose to have a City College apprentice working in your business, you will be assigned a Reviewing Officer. This person acts as the continuous point of contact between you, your apprentice and the College. They have the responsibility of ensuring the progress and well-being of the apprentice and will be the first point of contact for you if you have any questions or concerns. Reviewing Officers are the secret to a successful Apprenticeship for both employer and apprentice.

• Apprenticeship training and assessment for a new apprentice or upskilling an existing employee • paying an approved training provider or assessment organisation

It cannot be used for ...

• wages • statutory licences to practise • travel and subsidiary costs

Talking Business @ PL1

I pay the levy. What can I spend my levy funds on?

• managerial costs • traineeships • work placement programmes • costs associated with setting up an Apprenticeship programme

I don’t pay the levy. How much Government funding is available?

90% - 100% Apprenticeship training fees are funded by the Government, depending on the size of your business and the age of the apprentice.

What about small businesses?

• <50 employees? You may be exempt from paying for Apprenticeship training.

• £1,000 incentive available if your apprentice is: - aged 16-18 - a 19-24 year old care leaver - a 19-24 year old with a Local Authority Education, Health and Care Plan.

Are Apprenticeships just for school leavers?

No. Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to start their careers but are also an effective way of providing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for existing staff. Speak to our Business Engagement team for more details on how an Apprenticeship could help upskill your employees.

Enjoy an evening of good food, wine and debate the issues affecting your business.

Run in partnership with the Herald and hosted by the BBC’s David Fitzgerald, Talking Business @ PL1 is an invaluable opportunity for networking and giving local businesses a voice on the big issues of the day.

Mayflower 400: The Return

Thursday 2 November, 5.45pm - 9.00pm Join the discussion as Plymouth prepares for the anniversary of the Mayflower sailing and hear about the opportunities this transatlantic celebration will bring to local businesses.

Special guest speakers: Charles Hackett, Chief Executive Officer - Mayflower 400 and Amanda Lumley, Chief Executive - Destination Plymouth.

Focus on the Hospitality Industry

Tuesday 21 January, 5.45pm - 9.00pm PL1 @ The Duke - for one night only!

Hospitality is one of the region’s key industries, discuss the future of hospitality and the impact of the latest business and technological developments.

Tickets cost £17.50 per person, including a two-course meal with wine. Book and pay online at onlinestore.cityplym.ac.uk 01752 305026 employers@cityplym.ac.uk

EmployerLink

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CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH …

HERE TO LISTEN We encourage feedback from employers and you can do so in a variety of ways either through an online survey or via telephone, e-mail or face-to-face.

Please contact the College on 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

Ofsted Survey The survey provides Ofsted - the official body for inspecting schools and colleges - information that helps them to make a decision when they inspect the College, much like in 2016 when we were graded ‘Good’. This survey can be accessed at any time through the year so you can record your feedback as and when you want to. Have your say with the official inspection body here: www.employerview.ofsted.gov.uk.

@PL1_cityplym

PL1cityplym

CELEBRATE THE FESTIVE SEASON! Our delicious Christmas menu is available from Tuesday 28 November to Thursday 14 December Book your table now to avoid disappointment www.cityplym.ac.uk/pl1 01752 305777

MAILING LIST EmployerLink is going digital!

Please contact us if you would prefer to continue receiving EmployerLink in the current paper format.

If you have received a copy of this newsletter from a colleague and would like to be added to our mailing list, or you would like to be removed from our mailing list, please phone 01752 305026 or e-mail your name, job title, company name and full address to employers@cityplym.ac.uk

WE WORK WITH AND SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS …