Swindon apprentices are the key to business success

January 18th, 2012

Apprenticeships are increasingly popular among businesses, as both a great way to upskill existing staff members and a cost effective way to bring in new staff.
Over half of companies that already recruit an apprentice believe that they offer greater value than hiring university graduates.

Apprenticeships have been shown to increase productivity, improve competitiveness and provide a committed and competent work-force. Apprenticeships ensure your workforce have the practical skills and qualifications needed now and in the future.

Nine in ten employers view apprentices as key to the future success of their business over the next two years, as they fight their way out of recession.

New College Swindon offers a variety of apprenticeships with a proven track record. In 2010/11 the achievement rates of the college stand at 91%, well above the national average.

New College offers flexible training, and wherever possible training is provided in the workplace, working in partnership with the employer.

The range of Apprenticeships offered at New College includes Accountancy (AAT), Business and Administration, Childcare and Young People’s Workforce, Customer Service, Health and Social Care, Management, Team Leading, Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools, Retail, Warehousing/Logistics, Payroll, Bookkeeping, Hospitality, Beauty Therapy, Laboratory Technician, Environmental Conservation, Business Improvement Technique, and Facilities Management.

Some of the newest apprenticeships on offer at New College are also the fastest growing and most popular apprenticeships in the country.

An increasing number of housing apprentices are being employed in the current climate, leading into roles as Housing Assistants, to Housing Support Officers and Community Support Officers. Housing apprenticeships focus on both people and property, and train apprentices in assessing housing needs and dealing with associated problems.

Environmental Conservation is also one of the fastest growing apprenticeships with a range of relevant job roles from Recycling or Conservation Officer to Ecologist or Environmental Management Officer. It covers roles that deal with the protection of rural and urban landscapes, plants, animals and countryside. The scope of environmental conservation stretches from local issues (such as community recycling) to national ones (including global warming).

An increasingly popular apprenticeship is Payroll, which is suitable for a wide number of job roles varying from Payroll Assistant or Payroll Administrator, up to Assistant Payroll Manager or Team Leader.

For more information about apprenticeships at New College, please call Kate on 01793 732892 or email apprenticeships@newcollege.ac.uk.

Open Evening – 1st Feb 2012

Our Open Evening for School Leavers is on Wednesday 1st February, 5-7pm.

Come along and find out about our courses on offer, including our wide range of A Levels!

Have a tour of the college, and find out more about our new Annexe!

Find out more at www.newcollege.ac.uk/open

New College’s New Annexe

November 8th, 2011

Our new Annexe had a celebrated opening on the 3rd November.

England Rugby legend and TV star Matt Dawson officially opened the Annexe, with support from local MP’s Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson, and New College Principal Graham Taylor.

Matt said: “It is clear that New College are pioneers in developing the opportunities given to young people. They do a sterling job and the facilities are superb.
“It is a real privilege to declare the new New College Annexe officially open.”

The new Annexe provides space for a 35% increase in students, as well as additional parking spaces.

Located within the new building is a one-stop shop for Student Services to help with information, advice and guidance, increased Additional Learning Support facilities and a new Enrichment Centre.

Business and Enterprise, Science and Maths, and a new Hair and Beauty Salon ‘Distinction’ also have their own specialist areas, along with dedicated HE and adult learning facilities.

WORLD OF WORK

October 17th, 2011

Saturday 12th November 10am – 4pm at the Swindon Steam Museum

The World of Work event is an exhibition of art inspired by the workplace. A variety of art, poetry, songs and more from union members across Swindon and Wiltshire will be on display. Swindon born artist Ken White, whose numerous commissions include Virgin Atlantic and Madame Tussauds is among the exhibitors.

The New College team will be there along with trade unions and history groups, together with workshops and activities for adults and kids alike.

FREE admission all day to the museum and exhibition.

More information can be found on the Unionlearn website.
www.unionlearn.org.uk/ulr/learn-4283-f0.cfm

NEW COLLEGE STUDENTS CELEBRATE EXAM SUCCESS

August 19th, 2011

New College is celebrating an incredible 99% pass rate in today’s results.

A record number of 852 successful A-level candidates are celebrating this year, and they are hoping these excellent results stand them in good stead for a bright future, despite greatly increased competition for university places and jobs. New College has the largest proportion of A Level learners in Swindon and Wiltshire, so these outstanding pass rate figures indicate Swindon’s students have achieved highly once again this year.

36% of entries at New College earned A*, A or B grades, with students achieving a perfect 100% pass rate in 35 subjects including Accounting, Art & Design, Classical Civilisation, Chemistry, Computing, Electronics, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, German, Government & Politics, History, Law, Philosophy and Sociology.

22 New College students achieved an impressive 3 A grades or more. This is the second year that students have been able to receive an A* grade at A2 level, and today’s results saw 46 A* grades for our students.

In the core subjects, New College had 205 students pass Maths, 152 pass English and 133 pass Business Studies.

Shannon Hilton was awarded 4 A grades today, in Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and Maths. She said: “I’m very very happy. I was predicted these grades, but I was still worried in the lead up to results day, so I am really happy.” Shannon will now spend a year on a gap year, before applying to do Medicine at University next year.

Tom Ryczanowski also received 4 A grades today, in Maths, Geography, Computing and Media Studies. He said: “I’m feeling pretty good right now! I was up all night panicking last night so I’m very happy with the results, I’ve already got my mum out of bed to tell her!” Tom is going on to Bristol University to read Computer Science.

New College is also expecting a record number of its students to gain university places following these results. Last year a record 493 New College students accepted places at university, compared to 410 in 2009, and this year hopes are high for the record to be broken.

New College Principal, Graham Taylor, added: “These fantastic A-level results are a credit to the talented and hard working learners we have at New College, and a tribute to the efforts and support of our staff.

“We are all extremely proud that so many of our students this year applied to University. This is a tricky time to be leaving further education and considering whether work, an apprenticeship or university is the best choice. Many young people are competing for fewer places in all of these options, and even more attention will be paid to the exam results gained this year, so it’s fantastic that our students have managed to secure such impressive success rates to set them in good stead whichever route they choose to go down.

“If any students in Wiltshire have not managed to secure a place at university it is worth them considering a more local option. Not only does New College offer a range of degree level courses, but this year we have announced exciting new degree courses in BSc Business Studies and LLB Law in partnership with BPP – the first time students in Swindon can study the full three years of their degree course in the town. We still have a number of clearing places available across our degree programmes.”

New College is Swindon and Wiltshire’s largest A-level centre with the widest choice of subjects, currently over 60 on offer, and has been top of the Government’s league table for all colleges in Wiltshire and Avon for the past 10 years.

New College offers clearing hope for A Level students

August 17th, 2011

Law and Business degrees available for first time

With many students fighting for university places this summer, New College Swindon is announcing that clearing places will be available on its degree courses following A Level results day on 18th August.

Last year 210,000 students did not get a place at university, and it has been widely reported that similar numbers will be expected to miss out on places in 2011.

New College Swindon is offering hope to those who will be looking for a university place, with an announcement that clearing places will still be available on a range of degree and foundation degree courses.

New College is now offering two exciting new degrees for September 2011, BSc (Hons) Business Studies and LLB (Hons) Law delivered by BPP University College, one of the UK’s private universities, for which clearing places will be available. These are available as full-time courses over two or three years, with a part-time option also available.

To help students save money, the fees for the BPP three year degree will be lower than other universities (£3,000 per year) . Those completing the fast-track two year option can receive a discount of 33% off the price for the equivalent three year option.

New College also has places on degrees in English Literature, Sociology and Psychology (Combined Award), Foundation degrees in Computer Systems Management, Professional Photography or Health Care, and HND/C in Computing.

These degrees are developed in conjunction with employers and partner universities: UWE, Bath Spa, University of West London and Gloucestershire.

Graham Taylor, New College Principal, said in advance of the results:
“We are expecting our students to achieve highly once again in Thursday’s results, and wish our students the best of luck when opening their envelopes.
“Last year we had record numbers of our students achieve a university place, and we are expecting to beat that record this year with over 500 students at university. The demand for places this year is even greater, and is more pressure on students to perform well to get into their 1st choice university.
“We run a variety of degree programs at New College, and unlike universities we are uncapped in the numbers of students we are allowed to accept, so we would encourage all students looking at their future plans to consider a local degree option with us.”

BPP degrees are listed on UCAS (BPP University College of Professional Studies), and information is available by visiting www.newcollege.ac.uk/he/BPP or via email bpp@newcollege.ac.uk.

To find out more about all of the degree programmes on offer at New College please call Dawn Hardy on 0808 178 3874.

Fast Forward Goes Lean and Green for Latest Business Forum

July 14th, 2011

Local businesses from across Swindon and Wiltshire gathered at New College on the 4th July for a business forum with a Green IT and apprenticeships theme, hosted by Fast Forward, the College’s professional training division.

This is the second in a series of forums Fast Forward have hosted, with the focus of this event on two key areas that can help local businesses continue to thrive in the recovering economic market – growing your own talent with an apprentice, and reducing your carbon footprint with Green IT solutions.

Guest speaker Mark O’Neill presented the audience with a brief overview of the first formally accredited training course for Green IT, which he is responsible for creating, the Foundation Certificate in Green IT (www.bcs.org/greenit). Practical everyday tips on how businesses and individuals can reduce their electricity consumption were handed out, as well as advice on larger Green IT solutions.

One delegate, William Hume, Environmental Pillar Lead from Royal Mail’s Swindon Mail Centre commented “it was a really useful and thought provoking evening for many of the environmental projects I am currently working on including voltage optimisation for lighting and Green IT in general”

New College is also paving the way in ‘being green’ and working in partnership with a consortium of colleges, including Exeter College and Weymouth College, on a new ‘Lean Green IT Machine’ initiative, supported by LSIS. This new initiative aims to help Further Education colleges share their knowledge in Green IT with the local business community. Not only will this result in money saved on IT and related energy costs at a time when businesses are under pressure to cut back, but it will ensure that the impact of IT on the environment is minimised.

New College apprentice Daniel Knapp from Aligra Personnel was also on hand to provide delegates with a first hand account of life as an apprentice, and the benefits of the scheme to both the employer and the employee.

Graham Taylor, Principal of New College Swindon said: “We are delighted with the success of the Lean Green Business Forum, we hope all the delegates came away with practical advice and inspiration on how they can continue to improve their businesses with Green IT and apprentice initiatives.”

Fast Forward is the Business Services Division of New College Swindon. The Lean Green IT Forum was supported by the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and LSIS (the Learning and Skills Improvement Service).

For more information please contact Catherine Bozec at Fast Forward on 01793 732893 / Catherine.bozec@newcollege.ac.uk

Fast Forward presents: A Lean Green Business Forum

Fast Forward is hosting a ‘Lean Green Business Forum’ on the 4th July, 5.30-7.30pm at New College Swindon.

This is the second in a series of forums Fast Forward have hosted, and this event is supported by the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Aligra Personnel and LSIS (the Learning and Skills Improvement Service).

The event will focus on two key areas to help local business continue to thrive in the recovering economic market – growing your own talent and reducing your carbon footprint.

BEING LEAN: The business forum will look into the efficiency and productivity benefits, and recruitment savings, when companies employ an apprentice. Key speakers will be Andy Rowlatt and Daniel Knapp of Aligra Personnel, who will be able to discuss first hand knowledge of expanding your workforce with apprentices, both from the employer and apprentice viewpoint.

BEING GREEN: Industry expert Mark O’Neill will be sharing best practice and top tips on practical ways to reduce costs and the carbon footprint of your business. Mark, in conjunction with the BCS, has been responsible for creating the first formally accredited training course for Green IT – the Foundation Certificate in Green IT (www.bcs.org/greenit).

New College is also paving the way in ‘being green’ and working in partnership with a consortium of colleges, including Exeter College and Weymouth College, on a new ‘Lean Green IT Machine’ initiative, supported by LSIS. This new initiative aims to help Further Education colleges share their knowledge and expertise in Green IT with the local business community. Not only will this result in money saved on IT and related energy costs at a time when businesses are under pressure to cut back, but it will ensure that the impact of IT on the environment is minimised.

On the night, delegates will be able to pose direct questions to Mark, Andy and Daniel. There will be the opportunity for delegates to network during refreshments, and information will be provided on key training and development solutions from Fast Forward. There will also be the opportunity on the night for delegates to enter a competition to win £100 Green Rewards Voucher www.greenrewards.co.uk.

Sinclair Brown, Business Services Manager at Fast Forward said: “We hope this event provides many local businesses with the ideas and information to grow their business, and continue to save money wherever possible. We’re delighted that experts in their fields Mark, Andy and Daniel will be on hand during the evening, and we hope this evening has something to offer everyone who attends, and will provide valuable networking alongside practical advice and information.”

For more details on the event, or to book a place, please visit fastforward.newcollege.ac.uk/businessforum or speak to Catherine on 01793 732893 / Catherine.bozec@newcollege.ac.uk

Fast Forward launches Unit Store

May 25th, 2011

Fast Forward, the Business Services Division of New College Swindon, has announced the launch of their innovative new Unit Store Programme.

Designed with businesses in mind, the new Unit Store Programme helps staff develop their skills in a flexible way to suit their specific needs

This new ‘pay-as-you-go’ approach to training and development enables employees to select units to study on a stand-alone basis, or select a group of units which contribute towards a recognised qualification or award. Units can be selected from recognised QCF qualifications on an individual basis, allowing the choice of those which are most relevant to you and your business.

The unit store also allows employees to complete a unit, and then ‘store it’ and continue to study the additional units at a later date to suit the workload and budget requirements of the business.

A wide selection of units are available through the Unit Store Programme, from Team Leading courses such as motivating a team, conflict management and managing meetings, through to a range of customer service modules

Sinclair Brown, Business Services Manager at Fast Forward, said of the new programme: “This is a great opportunity for businesses to develop the skills of their employees, and be in control of their training budget by only purchasing the units most relevant to the business and employee needs.”

The Unit Store opens in May 2011 and will be available throughout the summer. For more information about Unit Store visit http://fastforward.newcollege.ac.uk/unitstore or call 0808 178 3675

Workshop prices range between £30-£50. Fast Forward may have access to Government funding to support accredited units as part of Unit Store. This funding will only be available until the end of July 2011.

Robert Buckland MP visited New College, to view the ‘Aspie Baseroom’

May 10th, 2011

The baseroom provides a social space and supported study area for students with Austistic Spectrum Conditions at New College. The support that New College is now able to offer students on the Autistic Spectrum has grown considerable since the January 2009 Ofsted Inspection which identified this area as one of the College’s Outstanding features.