The sky’s no limit with James Watt College cabin crew course

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20^th December 2012

The sky’s no limit with James Watt College cabin crew course

James Watt College has announced plans to create more courses following the success of its cabin crew partnership with the leading leisure airline, Jet2.com.

28 students are preparing to graduate from the part time course, which has provided them with the knowledge they need to pursue a career as a member of airline cabin crew.

The course provides an introduction to aircraft emergency situations, dealing with passengers on board on aircraft and making passenger announcements. Students also learn the foundations of good customer service skills, health and safety, team-working, communication and aviation terminology.

Travel & Tourism lecturer at James Watt College, Beverley Hardie, said: “The taster course was designed with input from Jet2.com and other aviation experts, which ensured the subjects were up-to-date and relevant. The backing of the airline also means that all students who qualify are guaranteed an interview giving them a real chance to get a foot in the door within this rewarding industry. We’ve already been told that 7 of the learners have been offered training places, which is great news.”

With the airline sector continuing to witness growth in the region, the College is now looking for other airlines and aviation firms to consider training and recruitment partnerships.

Beverley Hardie continued: “James Watt College’s location puts it within easy reach of both Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport. That means there’s a workforce of young people in our area looking to pick up the right skills and knowledge to provide airlines with the right candidates. We would urge airlines and other aviation firms to get in touch and consider tapping in to our expertise.”

Plans are also underway to continue the Jet2.com course in 2013. Anyone interested in signing up must be 18 years old by the course completion date, must have two Standard Grade passes at level 3 or above, be physically fit and able to swim 25 metres and must be in a possession of a valid passport.

For further information on this and other courses at James Watt College go to www.jameswatt.ac.uk.

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Image 1: James Watt College cabin crew students take part in a Jet2.com assessment watched on by Jet2.com staff.

For more information, contact:

Brian O’Neill, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) brian@halogencom.com

James Watt College achieves Investors in People Gold Accreditation

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20th December 2012 

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James Watt College achieves Investors in People Gold Accreditation

James Watt College has achieved the prestigious Investors in People Gold Accreditation, the most successful framework for business improvement through people in the UK. This represents achievement of world class best practice.

It shows James Watt College as a truly cutting-edge organisation that is operating at the very highest levels of people management practice using Investors in People to drive their business forward.

James Watt College joins an exclusive group of UK employers eligible to use and display the sought after Investors in People logo and plaque, and enjoy its benefits.

Commenting on the award, Sue Pinder, OBE, Principal & Chief Executive said, “This tremendous accolade recognises our commitment to our colleagues and learners.  At James Watt College, we have worked hard to create a supportive and enabling environment where all staff can develop and grow their skills. Their personal development and engagement with our values means we consistently improve, as an employer and as one of Scotland's premier places of learning”.

Peter Russian, Chief Executive of Investors in People Scotland, said “This is a fantastic achievement for James Watt College. I would like to congratulate the organisation and its people on their commitment to continuous improvement. Investors in People offers a flexible, practical and easy to use business improvement tool designed to help organisations and their people achieve their objectives. I hope that more organisations in the area will be encouraged to sharpen their competitive edge by choosing to work with us.”

James Watt College provides further education opportunities to the communities of Inverclyde and North Ayrshire employing 560 staff within main sites in:  Finnart Campus in Greenock, Waterfront Campus in Greenock, North Ayrshire Campus in Kilwinning; plus Sport, Exercise and Outdoor Studies in Largs along with providing learning through Community Learning Centres.  

The College focuses on vocational or work related qualifications with a strong practical element where students gain hands-on experience to take into the workplace, further enhancing their job prospects.

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For more information, contact: Fiona Miller, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) Fiona@halogencom.com

Actual Reality goes the extra mile to ensure no-one’s left behind

 

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20^th December 2012

Actual Reality goes the extra mile to ensure no-one’s left behind

An East Renfrewshire primary school is thanking Actual Reality at Castle Toward for their outstanding efforts in making their school trip a week to remember.

95 pupils, from Our Lady of the Missions Primary 7 class in Giffnock, spent five days at the outdoor education centre from the 8^th- 12^th October 2012. It is the 18^th year in a row a group from this school has visited Actual Reality.

Deputy Head teacher Veronica Dowling has been in charge of taking groups to the Argyll centre. Commenting on why she makes sure they go back each year she said: “I think we share many of the same values as Actual Reality and the ethos of the centre goes hand in hand with ours at Our Lady of the Missions. 

“I have been bringing school groups here for 17 years because the week away is a fabulous bonding tool for the student and teachers. The activities offered by Actual Reality get all the youngsters mucking in together whatever the weather which is an experience many of them have never had before.

“We go every year at the beginning of Primary 7 as it’s a very important year for the children as they prepare to go to high school. A few days away working together outside the classroom really boosts their confidence and builds relationships with staff and pupils alike.

“Everyone is challenged during the week with Actual Reality. For some, staying away from home is a big problem, while for others, it’s the high ropes course and the gorge walking that present the biggest hurdles. I would definitely say the trip brings out the best in the students.”

This year the group from Our Lady of the Missions included 11 year old, wheelchair bound, student Nina Miller. Whilst she was unable to take part in some activities, Centre Leader Aidan Doherty, worked to create bespoke abseiling and archery experiences for Nina.

He said: “We wanted to make sure Nina was able to join in the fun with her classmates and by creating specialised activities to fit around her needs we could give her the opportunity to try out things some of the other groups didn’t get to.

“It’s our goal at Actual Reality to ensure every youngster gets the most out of their time with us. We don’t believe disabilities should stop anyone from trying new things and we were happy to put our creative skills to good use. Seeing Nina complete the abseiling course in her chair was a pleasure, as was working with the rest of the students.”

The effort made by Actual Reality meant that Nina was able to take control in the abseiling activity with minimal support from her team leader. The team at Actual Reality also resourced a special archery system for Nina so she was able to hold and shoot the arrows herself.

Deputy Head teacher Veronica Dowling commented: “The Actual Reality staff couldn’t have done more for Nina. They really made sure she had just as an exciting time as everybody else.

“Nina was absolutely thrilled with the set up; the look on her face said it all really. Being able to take part meant she was able to feel that same great confidence boost the rest of the group felt.”

“Overall we had another thoroughly enjoyable week with Actual Reality. In my opinion, residential trips should be part of every student’s curriculum in Scotland. The centre should be booked every week of the year, they really are that fantastic. We have already booked our place for next year and will look forward to returning to the newly refurbished Ardentinny site.”

For more information on all the courses and services available with ‘Actual Reality’ please visit www.actualrealitycentres.com/

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Images

Image 1 – Nina and friends on the abseiling course

Images 2 – Nina congratulates her classmate during the archery session.

Images 3 – Group shot of some of the P7 Class from Our Lady of the Missions.

For more information, contact: Fiona Miller, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) fiona@halogencom.com

This year’s Christmas Number 1 is the Terrace Restaurant @ West Lothian College!

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11^th December 2012

This year’s Christmas Number 1 is the Terrace Restaurant @ West Lothian College!

West Lothian College’s training restaurant ‘The Terrace’ has made it to number one in time for Christmas. The restaurant has hit the top spot in the Livingston section of reviews website Trip Advisor, beating 35 other dining spots in the town to achieve the title.

International Chef, Tony Singh, paid a special visit to the restaurant to congratulate staff and students, after hearing the news. Tony said: “I have been involved and supported the Hospitality Department at West Lothian College for many years now.  I recall being the honorary guest at the grand opening of the state of the art Terrace Restaurant, employing recently graduated qualified chefs into the busy kitchen of roof terrace restaurant Oloroso in Edinburgh and - more recently - joining Andy McDougall, College Chef Lecturer where we were the Official Judges for the National Association of Care Catering at their annual Care Cook Off Competition.

"West Lothian College's Hospitality Department staff and students provide a fabulous restaurant service to students, staff and visitors from the local and wider communities.  The high standard of technical skills learned are transferred onto the plate and into the dining arena by budding Chef and Service students, making the overall dining experience truly exceptional!"

Bob Prentice, Hospitality Centre Leader at West Lothian College, added: “Everyone behind the scenes has been doing their best to encourage people to comment on their experience at ‘The Terrace’. We pride ourselves on providing high quality food at very affordable rates and customer satisfaction is a huge part of our ethos. We’ve often been referred to as the best kept secret in West Lothian, but really we’d rather not be secret any longer! Our location is slightly off the beaten track but hopefully this excellent ranking from Trip Advisor will encourage more people to come and find us.” 

‘The Terrace Restaurant’ is an on-site training restaurant for Hospitality students providing a valuable experience of a real restaurant situation where they produce dishes of the highest standard. The students are supervised by experts in the planning, cooking and serving of dishes and the restaurant operates in a totally professional way. The restaurant is open to students and members of the public for both lunches and evening meals. 

SVQ2 Professional Cookery student, Ian Blair, who works in the Terrace Restaurant, commented: “We aim to provide a high level of customer care and food that matches. We are often compared favourably with quality restaurants in Edinburgh. The Terrace Restaurant is not known to everyone in West Lothian and being on the website will put our name firmly on the map.”

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Image 1: Chef Tony Singh at the Terrace Restaurant.

For more information, contact: Fiona Miller, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) Fiona@halogencom.com

James Watt College celebrates equality and diversity

  

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17^th December 2012

James Watt College celebrates equality and diversity 

Staff and students at James Watt College have celebrated equality and diversity with a week-long series of events.

From the 3^rd to the 7^th December, a range of information sessions, awareness projects and demonstrations took place across the college’s Inverclyde and North Ayrshire campuses. Participants were encouraged to get involved in debates surrounding contemporary equality issues with many students sharing their own experiences.

James Watt College student, Steven Hughes, who uses a wheelchair, said: “I have enjoyed helping out at both campuses and I have also enjoyed the talks that I led, especially when the talks made people aware what folk in wheelchairs have to deal with every day in a college environment. I was also shocked at how many people attended my sessions. It’s really helped to build my confidence and self-esteem. The message I hope I managed to get across was ‘I might be disabled but I am able’.”

Among the vast array of events, nursery children celebrated the Hindu festival of light known as Diwali while students at the Waterfront campus presented their experiences on LGBT issues.

Music Lecturer Hugh Cox, who held sessions on world music, commented: “The general consensus from the students involved was that it was a very enjoyable and worthwhile exercise. They seemed to really enjoy the experience, with a few commenting that it felt good to help the College. Another great piece of feedback from a student was that it was strange playing music out with their normal comfort zone but they enjoyed the experience and the challenge.”

While embracing diversity was the key theme, tackling ignorance and violent attitudes towards equality was also covered with presentations from Strathclyde Police on hate crime and cyber bullying, and an information session involving the White Ribbon Campaign, calling for a zero tolerance approach to violence against women. James Watt College is one of the first educational establishments to work alongside White Ribbon Scotland with future initiatives planned.

Sue Pinder, Principal of James Watt College, added: “It was great to see so many staff, students and external groups taking part in the events at all our campuses. At James Watt College, we have students from many different backgrounds and cultures. This is something we’ve always celebrated and I hope that everyone learned a little more about each other and the importance of understanding and embracing equality and diversity.”

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For more information, contact:

Brian O’Neill, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) brian@halogencom.com

Masterchefs in the making. School students visit West Lothian College

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11^th December 2012

Masterchefs in the making. School students visit West Lothian College

Pupils from a West Lothian school are enjoying the sweet taste of success after creating their own brand of jams and chutneys, with the help of West Lothian College.

The students, from Bankton Primary School in Livingston, manage their own school garden and green house, producing a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. The produce is then sold to parents and teachers. But, the scheme has been so successful that the children called for professional help to decide what to do with their creations.

Andy McDougall, Chef Lecturer at West Lothian College, said: “The school pupils contacted the college asking if we could offer them some tips and advice on the various uses for their produce, so we happily agreed.

“Six students came along and each worked individually with a bit of help from me and their support teacher. They created a variety of jams and chutneys that were all of a really high standard and delicious. They’ll now sell them to school staff and parents to help pay for the upkeep of their garden.

“The children really seemed to enjoy the experience. The long aprons and chef’s hats went down a storm! It was also great to see their enthusiasm for cooking at such a young age. Hopefully the visit will inspire them and we could soon see Bankton jams and chutneys in a store near you!”

June Smolak, Deputy Head Teacher at Bankton Primary School, added: “The Curriculum for excellence has been a fantastic opportunity for Bankton Primary and West Lothian College to merge and work together in partnership for several years now. This recent project has been a huge success. The children returned to Bankton full of enthusiasm after their cookery experience and are now planning to write a recipe book including recipes they worked on in the college kitchen with the help of the experts.”

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Image 1: Students from Bankton Primary School proudly display their produce.

For more information, contact: Brian O’Neill, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) brian@halogencom.com

City of Glasgow College’s tasty tribute to shipbuilding

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7^th December 2012

City of Glasgow College’s tasty tribute to shipbuilding

Students at City of Glasgow College have created a tribute to the River Clyde’s shipbuilding heritage that’s almost too good to eat!

A team of trainee cooks from the college designed and ‘built’ 15 replica Type 45 destroyers in homage to the ships that were produced by BAE Systems at their Govan and Scotstoun yards. The students were invited by BAE to produce the chocolate replicas as a centrepiece of the Master of Trafalgar dinner, which took place in Glasgow’s Thistle Hotel.  Using hand-carved moulds created by sculptor Robert Pollock, the project took 20 hours and more than 100 bars of chocolate to complete.

Food Studies Lecturer at City of Glasgow College, Kenny Hett, commented: “This was something a bit different and unusual. Those who took part were mainly students studying for their HND Professional Cookery and HNC Professional Patisserie. We also had students on other courses who volunteered. Everyone involved rose to the challenge and I’m delighted with their efforts.”

The Type 45 destroyers are the most advanced warships ever built and so far six – Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon Defender and Duncan – have been built in Glasgow. The last vessel, HMS Duncan, sailed from the Scotstoun yard on August 31^st to begin sea trials.

Willie McCurroch, Head of Food, Hospitality and Tourism, said: “This is something new and challenging for the students and they put a lot of hard work into creating the ships. Each ship weighs over a kilo and took about an hour to make. But the students got a lot out of the project and really enjoyed themselves.”

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Image 1: Food Studies Lecturer Kenny Hett (centre) with (L-R) students Sean Caryle, Jennifer Hinnes, Christine Walker, Mikaela Wright and Jordan Payne.

Image 2: Chocolate replicas of HMS Duncan - the last Type 45 to be built in Glasgow.

For more information please contact: Brian O’Neill, Halogen Communications, t: 0131 202 0120 e: brian@halogencom.com

German students are talk of the twin town

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6^th December 2012

German students are talk of the twin town

Students from Glasgow’s twin town in Germany have been welcomed on a special visit to City of Glasgow College.

The group of 10 Food, Hospitality and Tourism students and their lecturer travelled from Berufliche School in Nuremberg.

After enjoying a tour of the college, the learners joined forces with City of Glasgow College HNC Professional Cookery students to cook a special Scottish menu. The dishes were then served up to Glasgow’s Deputy Lord Provost Gerry Leonard.

Gordon McIntyre, Head of Hospitality at City of Glasgow College, said: “It was a great experience for all of the students to meet each other and exchange ideas and experiences. Both colleges have strong links thanks to the twin town status but we’re keen to take this even further to give learners a deeper understanding of different cultures and approaches to food, hospitality and tourism. From talking to the students, I could see that they gained a great deal and I’m also delighted that the learners from Nuremburg will be taking some of Scotland’s fines recipes back to Germany!”

Image 1: L-R – Gordon McIntyre, Head of Hospitality at City of Glasgow College, Lecturer Chef Tommy Brunton and the German visitors.

  

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For more information please contact: Brian O’Neill, Halogen Communications, t: 0131 202 0120 e: brian@halogencom.com

West Lothian College plays host to youth employment event

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5^th December 2012

West Lothian College plays host to youth employment event

Hundreds of people have attended a jobs fair at West Lothian College designed to tackle youth unemployment.

The event, which was organised by Almond Valley MSP and Minister for Youth Employment, Angela Constance, featured a wide variety of businesses and agencies looking to recruit or assist with the process of finding a job.

Angela Constance MSP said: “In my role as Minister for Youth Employment, I’m more than aware of the challenges facing young people today. I’m delighted with the response we’ve received from West Lothian businesses and agencies.

“The message I’m constantly hearing from young people is that they’re simply looking to learn, pick up relevant qualifications then get a foot on the career ladder. It’s important that employers offer that assistance because it’s not just the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do. Young people make such a great contribution to the country and are our future. We need to all make sure that we’re supporting them in achieving their goals.”

The event, which took place on Friday 30^th November, featured a raft of businesses that are currently looking to recruit, including ASDA, Scottish Water and Scotrail. Information and advice was also available from groups, including Skills Development Scotland, West Lothian Credit Union and the Prince’s Trust.

West Lothian College staff provided information on the vast range of courses available to young people. Principal, Mhairi Laughlin, commented: “The college has an enviable reputation for helping young people find entry into the workplace and now, more than ever, we’re focussing on this important area. From our Ways to Work programme, which provides guaranteed work placements for students, to our hands-on HNC and HND courses, we’re equipping young learners with the vital skills they need.

“The college has a very positive relationship with Angela Constance and we were thrilled to play host to this event. We’re hoping to organise further information days in the future and look forward to developing even stronger enterprise links to get West Lothian’s young people working.”

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Image 1: Angela Constance MSP looks on as one student gets advice from an employer.

For more information, contact: Brian O’Neill, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) brian@halogencom.com   

City of Glasgow College helps young people find work in procurement

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5^th December 2012

City of Glasgow College helps young people find work in procurement

City of Glasgow College has signed a partnership designed to help young people find employment in the growing procurement profession.

The agreement, known as The Scottish Procurement Learning and Development Partnership or Pathways into the Procurement Profession, involves the Scottish Government and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) and offers a variety of pathways for 16 and 17 year olds looking to break into the industry.

As part of the deal, Modern Apprenticeships will launch next October in collaboration with Skills Development Scotland and will provide vocational qualifications in Procurement Levels 2, 3 and 4. City of Glasgow College will also roll out Scotland’s first ever Procurement HNC/D programme in 2013.

The procurement sector covers a vast range of businesses and sectors.. The industry is a vital lifeline for many of the country’s small and medium sized businesses with billions of pounds available in contracts ranging from standard cleaning contracts to multi-million pound construction projects.

Principal of City of Glasgow College, Paul Little, said: “This project is aligned to our strategy for the school of Business and Enterprise. It’s an initiative that will start by encouraging 16 and 17 year olds into a procurement career, which is a key professional industry crying out for a knowledgeable workforce.”

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For more information please contact: Brian O’Neill, Halogen Communications, t: 0131 202 0120 e: brian@halogencom.com

City of Glasgow College officially appoints Depute Principal

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4^th December 2012

City of Glasgow College officially appoints Depute Principal

City of Glasgow College has officially appointed Alex Craig as Depute Principal.

The former Vice Principal for Learning and Teaching will assume immediate responsibility for the new role, which is second only to Principal.

Alex has been in Further Education for almost two decades and has held a variety of roles across the UK including working as a performing arts lecturer.

Speaking following his appointment, the 52 year old, from Glasgow, said: “I’m delighted to take on such a significant role at City of Glasgow College. I’ve been here since the successful merger two years ago and watched as the college has grown. As we enter 2013 I look forward to helping to deliver world class further and higher education in the heart of this world class city and continuing to drive for excellence. The sector is facing some difficult challenges ahead but I’m confident that the right team is in place at City of Glasgow College that will create a college that not only Glasgow but all of Scotland can be proud of.”

City of Glasgow College was created in 2010 following the merger of three leading colleges in the city. With more than 32,000 students from 135 different nationalities, it’s one of Europe’s largest further education establishments.

Paul Little, Principal of City of Glasgow College, commented: “The appointment of Alex as Depute Principal is yet another milestone in the successful journey of City of Glasgow College. We’ve achieved a great deal in a short time and are looking forward with excitement and energy. With such a broad student base, we are truly becoming a world leader in education and I’m confident that Alex will play a key role in taking the college towards even greater achievement.”

   

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Image 1: Alex Craig

For more information please contact: Brian O’Neill, Halogen Communications, t: 0131 202 0120 e: brian@halogencom.com

City of Glasgow College student is a roaring success in China

                                                                                   

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3^rd December 2012

City of Glasgow College student is a roaring success in China

A City of Glasgow College student is hoping to get Scotland hooked on a traditional Chinese sport after taking part in an international competition.

Nicky Chan, from Ayr, has just returned home from Hong Kong, where his team competed in the International Lion Dance Championship.  The ancient sport involves performers dressed in elaborate lion costumes mimicking the movements of the animal. Group displays take place regularly around the country, especially around the Chinese New Year. However, until now, there have no professional competitive teams.

23 year old Nicky, from Ayr, said: “A lot of people may have seen Lion Dancing being performed but very few people in Europe realise that it’s actually a sport in Asia and is taken as seriously as football is here in Scotland. As a child, I’d seen it performed on TV and in films and was always really intrigued by it. I decided to join a group after I was told a teacher from Hong Kong was planning to set one up and it’s been a bit of an adventure ever since!

“We knew that the International Lion Dance Championship was a huge event with some of the world’s best teams but we decided to just go for it and applied to enter. When we arrived in Hong Kong, we really attracted a lot of attention from the media and fans. They were quite excited that a European team was taking part.”

The team competed against national champions from various countries including China, Taiwan, Thailand and Japan, finishing 10^th out of 15. Fuelled by the reaction they received in Asia, the group is now looking to spread the word and encourage other people to set up professional teams.

Nicky added: “In Asia, Lion Dancing is actually part of most school curriculums. I realise we might be some way away from that, but I’m hoping that other people might look at our success and take up the sport. Ultimately, we would like to see a national Lion Dance championship and make Scotland an international leader in Lion Dancing.”

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Image 1: Nicky Chan (left) and a team mate pose with their trophies.                                                                                               Image 2: Nicky Chan in action during one of his team’s performances.                                                                                           Image 3: Nicky Chan and his team mates fly the flag for Great Britain in Hong Kong.                                                                  Image 4: Competing teams from around the world pose for the cameras

For more information, contact: Brian O’Neill, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) brian@halogencom.com