Employer Link Spring 2012

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UNITING CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH WITH BUSINESS | SPRING 2012

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LEARNING FOR WORK

City College Plymouth Kings Road, Devonport, Plymouth, PL1 5QG T: 01752 305026 E: employers@cityplym.ac.uk www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

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If you require this newsletter in a larger type or different format please telephone 01752 305300.

From the Editor Our focus in this edition is on Adult Learners’ Week, which runs from 12 - 18 May. This nationally run initiative looks at a number of themes in order to encourage and promote adult learning. One of this year’s themes is ‘learning for work’ - read more on page one about how this national campaign supports lifelong learning and the benefits to business in supporting a culture of continuous learning and development.

Our close working with employers has resulted in a number of notable successes.

Read on page two about how we worked with South West Water to implement a programme of literacy to support the company’s health and safety function - the case study highlights the business benefits that training can bring.

Welcome to the latest edition of EmployerLink; City College Plymouth’s newsletter for employers.

Following on from the successful refurbishment of the College’s construction centre, the College is now planning a major

refurbishment of its engineering facility.

Read about the proposals and how industry can get involved on page three.

Our calendar of employer events continues to provide businesses with seminars and workshops, which are of real interest and benefit to them. Read how you can join us at one of our events on page five.

I hope you enjoy reading your copy of EmployerLink. We aim to keep you informed with all the latest education and training news, but if there is a topic you would like to see covered please contact the editor via e-mail at srobbie@cityplym.ac.uk.

Sharron Robbie Editor

Message from the Principal Over the past few weeks I’ve come to the conclusion that I probably have one of the best jobs in Plymouth, leading a College which makes a real contribution to both raising aspirations in the City and ensuring that Plymouth has a more highly skilled and enterprising workforce. In the current economic climate, what more could one want from a job? I’m particularly looking forward to working with employers and other partners across Plymouth as the next phase of the College’s history unfolds; ensuring that we add value and that we contribute positively to the social and economic well-being of the City and the wider community is critical.

Perhaps the most critical issue for me over the coming months is ensuring that the College’s priorities are much more closely aligned with those of the City and its employers. That means listening to employers as we develop demand-led training and education which better serves the needs of our stakeholders. We are a community resource and as such we must

be responsive to our customers. The consultation process with stakeholders has already started and will continue over the next few months.

experience and skills for young people. This partnership between PJEA and the College is vital to the long-term sustainable business growth of the city.

Of course we also need to be promoting employability through a continued focus on raising skill levels, working on reducing longterm unemployment and by reducing barriers to labour mobility. The College plays a key strategic role in the economic fabric of the City, and we are working hard with students and business partners to improve the life chances of young people, the long-term unemployed or those that would like to change career or improve existing skills. Not only does the College contribute positively to the job market by providing skilled and employable people, but feedback from the business community tells us that we also provide direct benefits to businesses, such as greater productivity, increased staff retention and improved customer service.

We are also working closely with Job Centre Plus and other agencies, providing support and training to the unemployed, and we have developed a suite of workshops to enable individuals to re-engage with learning so that they can improve their employment prospects. The focus on Adult Learners’ Week in May also presents a fantastic chance for us all to promote, encourage and inspire adults to take advantage of the opportunities which education and training provides. We will be hosting a number of events to promote these opportunities - see page one for further details.

I am delighted to announce that we will be joining the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy (PJEA) network from September 2012. The PJEA is the UK's first cross-cutting National Skills Academy, providing the enterprising skills that people need, whatever the sector in which they work. By partnering with such initiatives the College will increase the

We must further develop our existing positive role within the City, and I look forward to forging new links with employers and other key organisations and to working with you in the future as we build a college which really is placed at the heart of its community.

Phil Davies Principal

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Adult Learners’ Week Other benefits to business include: • increased applications for training and internal promotion - leading to a reduction in recruitment costs and in supporting career progression from within • improved quality standards and customer satisfaction rates - impacts positively on the bottom line through increased sales and effective working practices • improved confidence levels of report writing, sending e-mails, and contributing in meetings - encourages an inclusive and team approach to getting things done

Adult Learners’ Week - what is it?

Adult Learners’ Week (ALW) is the UK’s largest annual festival of learning; inspiring thousands of people each year to discover how learning can change their lives. Through thousands of events and award ceremonies, ALW celebrates all kinds of learners and promotes the benefits of every type of learning. This year ALW takes place during 12 - 18 May, and last year around 100,000 adults engaged in over 4,000 learning events across the country.

ALW 2012 has a number of key themes, including learning for work, which aims to provide employers with an opportunity to run and celebrate learning events in order to encourage as many people as possible to engage in learning.

Why get involved the business benefits During these tough economic times, it is more important than ever that businesses and individuals maintain and develop their skills levels and motivation to learn.

Each year, thousands of organisations take part in ALW, staging fun and business-orientated learning activities, promoting learning, and providing a catalyst for change.

One of the biggest costs to a business is its staffing costs - adult learning can be used as a powerful tool to develop and motivate staff, providing workers with a real sense of worth, which ultimately supports greater levels of staff retention, morale and productivity.

www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

• enhanced clarity of reports, accident report forms and other workplace paperwork • fewer errors involving numeracy impacts positively on the bottom line, can support improved stock control, budgetary management and production processes • increased participation in development or suggestion schemes - enables greater team working and a sharing of ideas leading to a more creative organisational culture.

A workforce that is committed and motivated is going to ultimately add value across the organisation, benefitting efficiency and productivity. ALW therefore provides businesses with a fantastic opportunity to encourage and promote adult learning in order to benefit both the individual and the organisation.

How City College Plymouth can support your business We are able to offer both a range of offthe-shelf training and courses, along with the ability to bespoke training to meet your specific business needs. We understand that it can be difficult to release staff for training, which is why we can, in the majority of cases, offer you the option of onsite training in order to reduce any disruption to your day-to-day operations.

We have a wide breadth of training, which supports adult learning and continued professional development. From the new team leader through to CMI management

programmes, and from first aid and manual handling to barista and cocktail qualifications, we can assist with the training and development of your team in order to support improved performance.

Some of the ways in which we have supported businesses in the past to achieve positive results through adult learning have been: • supporting new team leaders who have been promoted internally with the skills to manage their teams, including report writing, communication, goal setting and appraisal writing • supporting migrant workers with their English and maths skills in order to improve communication and numeracy levels and to facilitate integration into the organisation • personalised health and safety courses to allow staff to gain a better understanding and knowledge of risk management - leading to a reduction in the number of accidents and near misses.

Learning at Work Day provides a real focus on adult learning and takes place on Thursday 17 May. The College and its staff will be paying visits to a number of employers across the City in order to promote the adult learning opportunities that are available. If you would like to get involved during ALW and would like one of our team to visit your organisation to promote learning opportunities at the College please call our Employer Response team on 01752 305026.

College Open Evening Thursday 17 May We are holding an open evening at our Kings Road site between 4.00pm and 7.00pm, where visitors can speak to staff about what’s on offer and the support available to help access learning. You can register to attend this event by visiting our website - www.cityplym.ac.uk/events.

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South West Water Case Study

FREE English and Maths If you would like to find out how YOUR business could benefit from improved literacy and numeracy skills just like South West Water then please call our Employer Response team on 01752 305026.

City College Plymouth has helped Waste Water Operatives at South West Water improve their literacy skills whilst gaining a greater understanding of health and safety in the workplace. The training has been designed in consultation with staff at South West Water and the Trade Union, Unite.

South West Water is part of Pennon Group plc. They provide reliable, efficient and high quality drinking water and waste water services throughout Devon and Cornwall and in small areas of Dorset and Somerset.

The College was able to utilise available funding in order to design a bespoke programme of workshops aimed at health and safety, and lecturers spent time at South West Water sites to understand the processes being used.

Being familiar with the work being undertaken enabled the workshop to be personalised and ultimately meant that the subject matter being taught was more relevant to the South West Water employees who attended.

The College has now delivered this programme of training to five groups of South West Water staff. The workshops have been so successful that South West Water staff from across Devon and Cornwall have travelled to Plymouth to attend the training programme.

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At the end of the five day workshop all of the Waste Water Operatives completed the nationally recognised skills for life literacy examination.

Ian Watson, Union Learning Representative at South West Water commented: “The benefits of skills for life are immeasurable, as it removes fears and long held beliefs about a person’s own ability. I have seen firsthand how people who have lacked confidence have become more confident when all they needed was extra support.

“On completion of this course I have seen individual’s self-confidence boosted which has motivated them to enrol onto other courses, mixing on equal terms with people who they previously felt inferior to.

“This is of great benefit to the business, especially at this time when the business is working through the biggest change to working practices I can remember.

“It is important that all employees develop their skills, and for many skills for life is the first step on that path.”

Supporting Apprenticeship Week 6 - 10 February 2012

Lee McQueen February saw the College welcome BBC television apprentice winner, Lee McQueen. Lee spent the day delivering a range of master classes to students on how to write the perfect CV and how to prepare for an interview.

Lee rounded off his visit by speaking at the College’s annual Apprenticeship Week dinner. Business leaders and industry professionals enjoyed a five-course dinner and heard about Lee’s journey from salesman to becoming Lord Sugar’s apprentice.

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Engineering Facility Upgrade The newly refurbished engineering facilities will be very modern, bright and clean with glass and aluminum opening up workshops to create open-plan workspaces. These light and airy workspaces will house aligned disciplines in clusters to create trade-excellence areas. There will also be a modern social area with seating and coffee-shop type facilities.

We are delighted to be able to announce that the College has been awarded a £1.5 million Enhanced Renewal Grant and £100,000 Renewal Grant by the Skills Funding Agency.

The grants have been awarded, after a competitive bidding process, to enable the College to further modernise its facilities.

The next phase of the College’s property strategy focuses on a £4.5 million refurbishment project for its engineering facilities. A state-of-the-art and inspiring learning environment will be created for September 2013, which meets the exacting BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) standards for sustainable building design.

College Principal, Phil Davies, said: “This is really good news for the College and for young people, apprentices, adults and businesses of Plymouth. City College Plymouth has a long history of providing engineering education and training, which can be traced back to the start of the College - when it was the local technical college.

liaising with industry insiders to ensure that we are able to meet the training needs of the sector, and support emerging growth areas, which in turn support the economic regeneration and sustainability of the City.

If you would like to know more about our plans or would like to get involved in some way, perhaps through sponsorship or joining our working group, please contact the Editor on 01752 305896 or e-mail srobbie@cityplym.ac.uk.

“Our engineering refurbishment project is vital in ensuring that we can continue to successfully support a priority sector for Plymouth. It will also complement the creation of the University Technical College, in which we are a lead partner, further contributing to much needed economic regeneration for our local community and economy.”

The College has a strong ethos of working in partnership with key stakeholders and will be consulting and

Return to Work - How We are Helping We are able to offer a Personalised Route to Work Programme for those who:

• employability skills training in CV writing, presentation skills and job seeking skills

• are not sure of the best way to get a job

• maths and English refresher courses

• don’t know why their application gets rejected

• one-to-one advice and guidance.

• are not sure if their qualifications are upto-date.

Our programme of support, which will be tailored to meet individual needs, includes:

If you know of anyone who would benefit from some extra help and support in returning to work, please ask them to call us today on 01752 305300 or e-mail info@cityplym.ac.uk.

• identifying training needs and/or job seeking needs and providing short booster courses As part of our focus on supporting individuals who are currently unemployed, we are now offering a range of FREE courses and workshops to help people back into work.

www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

• vocational taster days in hairdressing, catering, construction, engineering and many more!

• personal development workshops, for example confidence building and team work

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Apprenticeships - Funding Still Available Would you like to take on an apprentice? Did you know that funding exists to support you in doing so?

Would having an apprentice help to bring new skills into your business?

Perhaps it would free up time and allow you to concentrate on new projects and ventures? Maybe allow you to retain skills or undertake succession planning for staff who are due to retire?

The wage incentive is aimed at supporting those aged 16 to 24 into employment via an Apprenticeship programme, and provides wage grants to assist employers in taking on their first apprentice.

Small to medium sized employers (those employing less than 250) can access funding of £1,500 when they hire a new apprentice - a great incentive to grow your workforce with an individual who is enthusiastic, motivated and keen to learn!

Employers who have never taken on an apprentice are being encouraged by the National Apprenticeship Service to take on those aged 16 to 24. The £1,500 funding will be paid to employers in addition to the training costs of the Apprenticeship framework, which are fully funded for young people aged 16 to 18 and part-funded for those aged 19+.

Higher Education 9% of income over this amount. If earnings are less than this amount, there will be no repayments.

Our HE provision in 2012/13 will continue to include HNCs and foundation degrees available on a part-time basis. HNCs are usually studied over two years with the opportunity to ‘top-up’ to complete a foundation degree after a further year’s study. Foundation degrees are usually taught over either two or three years.

Significant changes to the higher education landscape will come into effect from September this year. A key change is that students enrolling onto our part-time higher education (HE) programmes will be now, for the first time, eligible for tuition fee loans from the Student Loan Company.

The maximum loan available will be £6,750 per year and the course must be at least 25% of the length of the full-time version; this covers all our part-time HE programmes. Part-time students will become liable to repay their loan from the April after the fourth anniversary of the start date of their course, even if they continue to study. But no repayments will be made unless they are earning more than £21,000. Repayments will be due at

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All of our HE provision has been designed in consultation with employers to ensure that students acquire the knowledge and skills that are relevant to your organisation. All of our foundation degrees also provide opportunities for ‘top-up’ to final stage honours degrees.

There are also opportunities for studying single modules or three module Certificates of Professional Development, which can be designed to meet your specific training needs. This range of HE programmes offers a variety of opportunities for businesses to develop the skills of their workforce at this level and to contribute to improvements in efficiency.

If you require any further information on our programmes please do not hesitate to contact us on 01752 305026 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

To find out more please contact our Work-based Learning team on 01752 251866 or e-mail wbld@cityplym.ac.uk.

Employer Survey - Our Response You said ...

• we needed to improve communication on sponsored student progress • improve marketing and communications on the College offer

We did ...

• developed an electronic reporting module, currently being piloted, with the first reports mailed out in February • developed a range of new marketing materials for employers • increased the level of e-marketing significantly to ensure regular updates • hosted sector specific groups at the College to provide a holistic view of our services • increased the number of employer seminars, focusing on topics requested by employers • raised our profile with key employer groups across the city and hosted a series of employer focus groups in order to drive further improvements

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Employer Seminars

Employer Dinners A Great Way to Network Would you like to enjoy a fabulous four-course dinner? Want to hear from an interesting and informative after-dinner speaker? Do you want to mix with industry leaders and business owners to improve your business network?

Our employer dinners offer all this and MORE!

As part of our continued focus on supporting local businesses we have developed a seminar programme, which focuses on a range of business needs. Seminars cover a breadth of topics, including social media, managing debt and effective stock control, and HR. Seminars are run in an informal setting to enable free and frank discussion.

Our panel of experts are on-hand at each event to help you get the most out of attending, facilitating peer-to-peer discussion and networking. These events provide a great opportunity for delegates to explore new ideas, learn new skills and swap insider tips and knowledge.

To find out more about future employer events please join our Small Business Support Group - Plymouth on LinkedIn, visit www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers or call Sharron Robbie on 01752 305896.

Dates for Your Diaries Higher Education Employer Buffet Tuesday 15 May, 6.00pm - 9.00pm CitĂŠ Restaurant, Kings Road, Devonport Come along to this event and meet our higher education team who will be on-hand to offer advice on a range of courses leading to higher level skills in the workplace.

Places are free at this event and can be reserved by calling Sharron Robbie on 01752 305896 or by e-mail srobbie@cityplym.ac.uk.

TEC Opps - Employers Search Out New Talent The College was visited by 800+ visitors at its recent Technology, Engineering and Construction Opportunities Open Day, which was sponsored by Plymouth Construction Training Group. Local and regional employers, including Princess Yachts, Pipex, Babcock, Interserve Construction Services, Kawasaki and TXT Nation spoke to visitors about potential careers within the sector and promoted their Apprenticeship vacancies.

If you would like to find out how your business could get involved with any of our employer events, or for more information on the sponsorship opportunities that exist please contact the editor on 01752 305896 or e-mail srobbie@cityplym.ac.uk.

Project Search, a collaborative partnership between City College Plymouth, Pluss, Derriford Hospital and Serco, has gained a Star Award for Valuing Diversity at the recent NHS Trust Star Awards.

The Award scheme is organised

by Derriford Hospital to celebrate outstanding effort and good practice. Project Search was nominated by past graduates, staff from Job Centre Plus and Project Search UK in recognition of the work they have done to integrate young people with learning disabilities into the working environment.

In addition to completing a Level 1 Diploma in Progression, the students undertake three internships within different departments in the hospital to gain vital work-based skills.

They have shown through commitment and dedication that employing a diverse workforce is not only good social practice but makes good business sense by reflecting diversity in their customer base.

www.cityplym.ac.uk/employers

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The Employer Gateway Would your business benefit from a more skilled and well trained workforce? Would you like to find out more about City College Plymouth and how it can help YOUR business?

Our recent employer survey highlighted that 85% of employers rated our service as very good or good, and 96% of respondents said that the training we offer provides good value for money.

The College’s Employer Response team provides a single point of contact for employers. Their professional service includes:

If you would like to see how your business could benefit from working with City College Plymouth please contact us on 01752 305896 or e-mail employers@cityplym.ac.uk.

• help with accessing funding • training needs analysis • design of bespoke training to meet your company’s specific needs.

Drake Circus College Pop-up Shop The focus on supporting enterprise and those seeking to start their own businesses was given a huge boost when British Land, owners of the Drake Circus Shopping Mall, generously provided an empty unit for the College to use for a four-week period.

The unit required a small makeover, which was undertaken by four students from the Faculty of Construction. Over a week of activity, prior to the shop opening, the students painted and refurbished the unit this gave them an excellent opportunity to work on a real-life project.

Nail students carrying out manicures at the nail bar

A range of enterprising activities were undertaken, with students from the College’s Faculty of Health really embracing the opportunity by offering a range of beauty treatments, including manicures, pedicures and hair styling.

Level 3 students looking to set-up in business on completion of their studies were able to work out of the shop, providing them with great practical work experience, and the opportunity to actively market their services and build future client lists.

Painting and decorating students with college lecturer, Sid Dart, outside the shop

SKILLS FOR LIFE If you or your staff are feeling a bit rusty or need help updating your skills in English and maths then City College Plymouth can help you.

• All courses are FREE. • No entry qualifications are needed.

• Students are given a personal programme of work, tailored to their needs.

• Students are encouraged to take nationally recognised qualifications.

• The courses run subject to numbers and can be delivered within your workplace if there is enough interest.

To find out more call 01752 305300

Would you like to help support and encourage enterprise? Could you offer business expertise to a young entrepreneur through coaching or mentoring? Perhaps you could support students gain valuable work experience?

As part of our focus on encouraging enterprise the College will be part of the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy network from September. Offering business-focused and enterprise-based learning, the new academy aims to foster and support entrepreneurial flair and vision.

We are looking for employers across a range of industries to join us in supporting enterprise students in a variety of activities and work-based projects. If you would like to get involved with this exciting new course please contact theworkspace on 01752 856825 or e-mail theworkspace@cityplym.ac.uk.

Mailing List 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 telephone 01752 305896 or e-mail your name, job title, company name and full address to srobbie@cityplym.ac.uk.

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