Stow College helps teenage magazine tycoon

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3^rd December 2012

Stow College helps teenage magazine tycoon

A teenage magazine entrepreneur is preparing for a major expansion, with a little help from Stow College.

Alice Muir is set to take her music magazine empire to the next level after securing a distribution deal with a leading firm.

The 18 year old, from Pollokshields in Glasgow, is the founder and Creative Director of TLG – an electronic and hip-hop music magazine targeted at women.

The business is based within the istart@Stow Incubator Hub – a pioneering partnership between Stow College, Digital Enterprise Glasgow and Glasgow City Council, which gives start-up creative companies free rent and entrepreneurial advice and support.

Alice said: “It’s taken a long time and a lot of hard work but things are really starting to pay off. I originally had the idea of launching a specialist female-focussed music magazine when I was 16 but the idea was met with a lot of scepticism. Earlier this year, The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust made me aware of istart@Stow and I’ve never looked back.

“Since launch we’ve really just approached niche retailers and local shops to get the magazine out there, but, after contacting COMAG, a firm that helps specialist publishers, we’re looking at the prospect of major distribution deals.”

TLG magazine is now set to go on trial sale at more than 120 WHSmith stores across the UK with other retailers including Waterstone’s also expressing an interest.

Alice added: “The concept of such a specialist magazine can be difficult to define and categorise and even just deciding which section of the shops it should be sold in can be a challenge. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far and I’m also really grateful to Stow College for all the support I’ve received. The College has allowed me to continue operating from the Incubator Hub during this period of expansion and the staff have really helped me along my incredible journey.”

-ENDS-

Image 1: Alice Muir (far left) pictured with her fellow TLG team members at Stow College.

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 honours Paralympian

                        

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28^th November 2012

City of Glasgow College honours Paralympian

A Paralympian who turned tragedy into sporting triumph has been honoured at City of Glasgow College’s annual graduation ceremony.

Mick Kerr, who was part of Team GB’s Wheelchair Rugby team, received the Alumnus of the Year Award in recognition of his remarkable achievement. Mick, from Uddingston, was studying Health and Fitness a decade ago when he was seriously injured in a diving accident during a summer holiday. Despite the tragic accident, he refused to give up on his passion for sport and decided to take up wheelchair rugby – famed for its aggressive, exhausting style of play. The award was handed to Mick during City of Glasgow College’s morning graduation ceremony on Monday (26^th November 2012) in the city’s Royal Concert Hall.

Mick commented: “It’s been almost 12 years since I was a student at the college but ever since then they’ve been there for me offering support and allowing me to do bits and pieces such as using the training facilities. To receive this award really is a massive honour. It’s just nice to see my achievements recognised. I’ve visited the college regularly recently to speak to students and I hope that I can inspire them to go out and achieve their goals.”

Spread over two events, more than 800 students will celebrate their graduation in courses as wide ranging as construction, computing and care.

For brother and sister, Martin and Nicola Gigli, from Clydebank, art and design clearly runs in the blood. 28 year old Martin graduated with an HND in Production Design, while his sister received an HND in Interior Design. 25 year old Nicola said: “It was actually really good going to college at the same time as my brother. We didn’t try to avoid each other. In fact, we actually gave each other a lot of support because our courses were similar. We’re now both studying for degrees at Glasgow Caledonian University. We haven’t talked yet about going into business together after University but you never know!”

Other award winners on the day included social and human rights campaigner Denis Goldberg, who was imprisoned alongside Nelson Mandela during South Africa’s apartheid years. Goldberg received the Global Scholar Award from City of Glasgow College after speaking to staff and students in an inspirational speech last year.

Paying tribute to all of the graduates and award winners, Principal of City of Glasgow College, Paul Little, commented: “I’m incredibly proud of the level of commitment shown by the learners at City of Glasgow College. Many of these students are young men and women who have just begun their career journeys, yet they display so much majority and passion for their subjects. Some will go on to continue their studies at university, while others are now preparing to break into their respective industries. Through our strong partnerships and initiatives that have created some of the best further education teaching in the UK, I’m confident each and every one of the graduates will go on to great things and I wish them all the very best of luck.”

 -ENDS-

Image 1: (R-L) City of Glasgow College Principal Paul Little presents Paralympian Mick Kerr with the Alumnus of the Year Award.

Image 2: Dennis Goldberg addresses the crowd after accepting the Global Scholar Award.

Image 3: Principal Paul Little congratulates one graduate.

Image 4: A group of graduates celebrate their success.

Image 5: Wide-shot of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall during the graduation ceremony.

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

Enterprising students rise to the business challenge at Stow College

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28^th November 2012

Enterprising students rise to the business challenge at Stow College

Stow College students have taken part in a one day challenge designed to test their entrepreneurial skills.

More than 100 students from a wide variety of courses signed up for the event, which took place in The Lighthouse in Glasgow’s Mitchell Lane.

Split into teams of 5 and each supported by an industry mentor, the groups were tasked with devising a business idea, which they then had to pitch to a panel of judges, Dragons’ Den-style.

The 20 teams each had only 60 seconds to explain everything from their unique selling point to financial statistics. The four strongest teams were then given more time to deliver detailed pitches

The winning team – dubbed ‘Simu’ – impressed the judges with the business concept of an ID app designed to store your paper identification on your smart phone.

Dr. Robert McGrory, Principal of Stow College, said: “Stow College is placing a real emphasis on equipping learners with the entrepreneurial skills they need to get out there and become industry leaders. I’m always impressed by the scale of the talent within the college and that was clearly evident from the successful 1 day business challenge.”

-ENDS-

Image 1: The winning team. L-R – Louis Maguire (HNC Applied Science), Ross McCann (HND Music Business), Kifayat Yussuf (NC Business) with Barry Gillespie, Peter Jones Enterprise Academy.

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

West Lothian College beauty students dig deep for Pudsey

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

26^th November 2012

West Lothian College beauty students dig deep for Pudsey

Generous staff and students at West Lothian College have dug deep and raised hundreds of pounds for Children In Need.

The college’s HNC & NC Beauty students opened the Platinum Salon doors to the public for a special day of fundraising in aid of the BBC children’s charity.

Treatments, which were performed in return for a donation, ranged from waxing to mini-facials, files & polishes and back massages, with more than £270 being raised.

Diane Nisbet, Beauty Lecturer at West Lothian College, said: “There were more than 40 students who took part and they did a really amazing job. We do a lot of fundraising projects but this year it was actually the learners themselves who came to me and suggested the beauty treatment day. They used social media and word of mouth to really pull the crowds in and, on the day, they dressed in their pyjamas to add a bit of fun to the whole thing. We’re planning similar events in the future including a fundraising effort for breast cancer charities. It’s a great way for students to practice what they’ve learned and also give something back to the community.”

Image 1: A student receives a nail treatment after making a donation.

Image 2: HNC & NC Beauty students from West Lothian College.

-ENDS-

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

West Lothian College tackles bullying head-on

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

26^th November 2012

West Lothian College tackles bullying head-on

Staff and students at West Lothian College have tackled the subject of bullying head on with a series of special events.

As part of National Anti-Bullying Week (19^th – 23^rd November) the college invited students to share their own past experiences during special walk-in sessions involving the Student Representative Council.

Latest figures suggest online bullying in Britain has risen by 150% in just four years with 1 in 3 people now experiencing some form of bullying in their life.

Micole Robertson, Learner Engagement Officer at West Lothian College, said: “At West Lothian College, we’re promoting to our students a zero tolerance approach with bullying. We have a strong support structure with staff who are fully trained to help any student who experiences any form of bullying within the college. The message we want to promote is don’t suffer in silence as there is support out there.”

Throughout the week daily talks were held to discuss online bullying, the importance of password protection and current stories and issues in the media around the subject of bullying. A poster competition has also been launched for students to design their own anti-bullying messages.

Closing the week, student Beth Hutchison presented some of her own powerful photographic work depicting a domestic abuse scene. Beth, who is a student in the college’s Creative Centre, won student of the year in 2011 and is currently showcasing her work in the Creative Minds Exhibition at the Howden Park Centre. Kim Kidd and Christine Tierney from the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Team (DASTA) also spoke to students about the range of support available to victims of abuse.

Mhairi Laughlin, Principal of West Lothian College, commented: “When speaking to students at West Lothian College, it’s clear they’re passionate about the subject of bullying and felt they could really make a difference by openly discussing, debating and sharing their own experiences. The figures speak for themselves. With 1 in 3 people experiencing some form of bullying it’s a subject that must be tackled head-on. I’m incredibly proud of the students for showing such leadership and embracing the concept of community, which we’re so keen to promote here at the college.”

-ENDS-

Image 1: Student Beth Hutchison talks to fellow learners about her powerful images of abuse, joined by Kim Kidd and Christine Tierney from DASTA.

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

James Watt College Construction students return to local Ayrshire quarry

CASE STUDY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

26^th November 2012

James Watt College Construction students return to local Ayrshire quarry

A group of thirteen James Watt College students have been taken to the ‘coal face’, literally, in a class trip to Hillhouse Quarry in Troon.

It’s the fourth year that HNC Construction students have been taken to the local plant. The visit aims to allow learners to see, first-hand, how a working quarry operates, including extracting, transporting, crushing, quality control procedures and dispatching techniques.

The trip, which took place on Thursday 25^th October, also provided students the opportunity to speak with people working in the industry about employment opportunities, the importance of health and safety regulations as well as the supply aspects of the business.

Construction lecturer Mark Tierney set up the partnership with Hillhouse Quarry, which specialises in Aggregates, Coated Stone products, Surfacing, Concrete, Concrete Blocks and Precast Concrete, with quarry manager Gary Jones. On the day, Mr Jones escorted the learners around the quarry explaining the different processes and challenges the industry faces.

Mark said: “The main reason I take the HNC Construction students to the quarry every year is that it fits in really well with their Materials and Specification unit.

“There’s no better way for the students to see how theory is put into practice than taking them to a real working environment. The trip allows them to see how it all happens and they even get to test concrete themselves to see the standards needed for the industry.

“The visit is really another teaching tool and is especially important for those students who maybe didn’t have that much practical experience before starting the HNC. I’ve been taking students to the quarry for about four years now and have witnessed how giving students the chance to spend a day there really improves their results.”

For more information on any of the courses available at James Watt College please call 01294 559000 or visit www.jameswatt.ac.uk.

-END-

Image 1 – James Watt College HNC Students at Hillhouse Quarry Troon

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

City of Glasgow College students take home medals at UK skills competition

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

26^th November 2012

                 

City of Glasgow College students take home medals at UK skills competition

Two City of Glasgow College students have won medals at Worldskills UK 2012, a competition recognising talent and expertise in apprenticeships, skills and further education.

Six students from the College were invited to the finals held at the NEC in Birmingham on the 15^th-17^th November. 

In total around 500 people from across the UK turned out to compete in over 50 skills categories.

First year HND Software Development student, Aimee Huggins, won a Gold medal for her brilliant performance in the Microsoft Applications Specialist competition being crowned ‘Best in her Skill’. 

The 18 year old said: “During the competition, we were given four scenarios over the two days; one each for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. I originally wanted to do the competition because I thought it would be fun and help my course. 

“I wasn't really expecting gold, as I found few of the tasks a bit hard. Then my name was called and at first it was pronounced incorrectly but then it dawned on me, I had won! I am really proud to have been able to do this well in the competition and would like to thank all my lecturers at City of Glasgow College for all their help and support.”

Fellow City of Glasgow College HND Computer Networking and Internet Technology student, Asad Munir, won the Bronze medal. Asad came in a fantastic third in the very difficult and highly competitive CISCO Network Technician category.

The 23 year old said: “I wasn’t expecting this medal in my wildest dreams, I never would have thought I would place 3^rd in a UK wide competition.

“Networking is the backbone of my College course. It is because of Worldskills and the confidence provided by my course leader and the College’s computing staff that I achieved this.”

Commenting on the students’ performances, Head of School for Computing, Marion McNab said: “The staff within the school are absolutely thrilled for both Aimee & Asad, we are all so proud of their outstanding achievement”.

Accompanying the student to Birmingham was Curriculum Manager, Margaret Darroch who commented “The four other students all performed incredibly well, under intense pressure, and finished highly placed. They all were a credit to the College whilst testing themselves against the best in the UK. 

“I was enthused by the high level of skill and dedication displayed by all our competitors. Their efforts over the three amazing days were truly inspiring.

“Our Worldskills Mentors, Chris Deegan and Jennifer Robertson, worked with me to meet the lofty expectations required to succeed for high-level competitions. They deserve credit for their efforts.”

  

-ENDS-

For more information please contact: Fiona Miller, Halogen Communications, t: 0131 202 0120 e: fiona@halogencom.com