Skills and Training 6 | T LEVELS FEATURE
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The Official Magazine of Somerset Chamber of Commerce December 2019 / January 2020 Skills and training 6 | T LEVELS FEATURE 10 | SOMERSET BUSINESS AWARDS All the winners and photo gallery from 2019 awards 22 | SOMERSET ENERGY INNOVATION CENTRE Spotlight on the SEIC 34 | BUSINESS NEWS Latest from the Bank of England’s South West Agent 2 OUR TOWN CHAMBERS Affiliate Town Chambers & Business Associations Axbridge Chamber of Commerce Shepton Mallet & District Chamber T: 01934 733078 | E: [email protected] T: 01749 681413 | E: [email protected] | www.shepton.biz www.axbridgechamber.co.uk Somer Valley Chamber of Commerce Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce T: 07530 042627 | E: [email protected] T: 01278 228004 | E: [email protected] www.somervalleychamber.com www.bridgwaterchamber.org.uk Street Chamber of Commerce Bruton Chamber of Commerce T: 07552 170725 | E: [email protected] T: 01749 813291 | E: [email protected] www.brutonchamber.org Taunton Chamber of Commerce T: 01823 230898 | E: [email protected] Burnham-on-Sea Chamber of Trade & Commerce www.taunton-chamber.co.uk T: 01278 238959 | E: [email protected] www.burnhamonseachamber.org Watchet Chamber of Trade T: 07836 239 932 | www.wacet.co.uk Business Exmoor T: 01643 851895 | E: [email protected] Wellington Business Association www.businessexmoor.co.uk T: 07761 485657 | E: [email protected] www.wellingtonchamber.co.uk Cheddar Chamber of Commerce & Industry T: 01934 741792 | E: [email protected] Wells Chamber of Commerce T: 01749 685236 | E: [email protected] Frome Chamber of Commerce www.wellschamberofcommerce.co.uk T: 01749 342255 | E: [email protected] www.fromechamber.com Weston-super-Mare Chamber T: 07850 363249 | E: [email protected] Glastonbury Chamber of Commerce www.westonchamber.org.uk T: 01458 835678 | E: [email protected] www.glastonburychamber.co.uk Wincanton Chamber of Commerce T: 01963 34327 | E: [email protected] Ilminster Chamber of Commerce www.wincantonchamber.co.uk T: 01460 52506 | E: [email protected] www.ilminsterchamber.org.uk Wiveliscombe & 10 Parish Business Group T: 01984 684777 | E: [email protected] | www.10pbg.co.uk Levels’ Best Community Interest Company T: 01935 851280 | E: [email protected] Yeovil Chamber of Commerce www.levelsbest.co.uk T: 01935 804999 | E: [email protected] www.yeovilchamber.org MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT & PRINT MANAGEMENT SUPPLYING PHOTOCOPIERS, PRINTERS & SCANNERS Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas & a prosperous New Year SDS Limited Unit 3-4 Suprema Industrial Estate, APPROVED Edington, Somerset TA7 9LF 5 SERVICE ACCREDITATION T: 01278 723784 F: 01278 723785 E: [email protected] www.sdsltd.uk.com 3 CONTENTS First word 4 Feature – T Levels 6-7 Barclays investment 9 Somerset Business Awards 10-13 Business Partner news 14-15 Upcoming events 16-17 New members 18-19 Hinkley update 20-21 SEIC feature 22 Chamber news 24-25 6 | FEATURE: T LEVELS #WellConnected 26-27 Member news 28-33 Business news 34-35 10 | SOMERSET BUSINESS 14 | BUSINESS PARTNER AWARDS NEWS Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Chamber. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format (including, but not limited to, any online service, any database or any part of the internet), or in any other format in any media whatsoever, without the 26 | #WELLCONNECTED 28 | MEMBER NEWS prior written permission of the publisher. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in the magazine, Somerset Chamber do not accept any responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies it contains. Somerset Chamber of Commerce We are social Equity House Blackbrook Park Avenue Blackbrook Business Park @chambersomerset Taunton, Somerset TA1 2PX Editorial and advertising: @somersetchamber E: [email protected] T: 01823 444924 Printers: Character Graphics, Somerset Find us on LinkedIn Design by: Thoroughbred Design & Print, Somerset 4 Get in touch FIRST Marketing and PR Annelise Cowie WORD PR & Communications Executive T: 01823 444924 | M: 07702 537630 E: [email protected] Welcome to the December/January edition of Somerset Voice magazine. I’m pleased to tell you it’s the first edition to be posted in environmentally-friendly, fully compostable, poly wrap rather than plastic. Membership Despite the expected seasonal retail peak in the run-up to Christmas and the inevitable January sales, there are still too many businesses telling me they Ritchie Cridge face challenges. The food manufacturing sector says traditional demand is Membership Manager there, but they are struggling to find both seasonal and long-term workers, T: 01823 444924 | M: 07706 292143 which isn’t good. E: [email protected] However, there is good news from around the county from other manufacturing organisations, whether it’s planning approval for growth and Jenn Chidley-Sanders investment, or new customers providing orders. Member Engagement and Policy Manager T: 01823 444924 | M: 07872 063039 The feedback I’ve had from our 15th and most successful Somerset Business E: [email protected] Awards to date has been incredible. We’ve got a round-up and gallery on pages 10-13. Our feature this month is on skills and training, specifically the new T Level qualifications, which are intended to further bridge the gap between education Alistair Tudor and business. Our Business Partner, Weston College, explains more pages 6-7. Operations Manager T: 01823 444924 | M: 07912 054195 Barclays is planning to invest in a rural pilot scheme across Taunton Deane E: [email protected] to boost the local economy and more information can be found on page 9. Our Business Partners have also been busy and you can catch up with their news on pages 14-15, including one of our longest-standing members, Events Clarke Willmott, joining as our latest Business Partner. Hinkley Point C continues to be a hive of activity and there’s an update on Loren Gray pages 20-21 and a closer look at what’s on offer at the Somerset Energy Events Manager Innovation Centre on page 22. Donna Kehoe, the Bank of England’s South West T: 01823 444924 | M: 07821 950379 Agent, says the Bank believes there will be increased growth by the end of E: [email protected] 2022 – more on page 34. We hope you enjoy this edition of our magazine – please keep sending us your Brooke Gilbertson good news as it’s always great to share the achievements of our Members and Events Co-ordinator Business Partners. T: 01823 444924 E: [email protected] Stephen Henagulph Hinkley Supply Chain CHIEF EXECUTIVE Sam Evans Hinkley Supply Chain Project Lead T: 01823 443425 | M: 07525 809274 E: [email protected] OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS Natalie Beacham Hinkley Supply Chain Business Advisor Contact us to find out what benefits T: 01823 443425 | M: 07519 116916 Somerset Chamber Business Partners receive. E: [email protected] Alan Windsor T: 01823 444924 E: [email protected] Business Reporting & Information Officer T: 01823 443425 E: [email protected] General Enquiries Kayleigh Gibbs Senior Administrator T: 01823 444924 E: [email protected] First Get in touch First 6 FEATURE Skills and Training T Levels – the biggest shake-up in education for decades In 2018 the Government announced there was What are T Levels? going to be a revolution in technical education, T Levels have been shaped by employers and benefit from with the introduction of T Levels. The first three the unique insights of industry leaders. The qualification is equivalent to three A Levels, and brings classroom learning T Levels start in September 2020 at selected and an extended industry placement together. 80% of the schools and colleges in England. learner’s time will be in the classroom and 20% on a 45-day placement with an employer to give them the knowledge and skills companies look for. Weston College will be at the forefront of The two year course allows learners to become more this revolution by delivering the new Digital accustomed to working life and gain the knowledge and experience to get straight into employment, an T Level. Here the college explains more apprenticeship or higher education. about this education revolution. Weston College’s first T Level will be in digital and will develop learner’s skills in software development, digital business, data and digital analysis, digital environments, emerging technology and security. The Government will roll out more T Levels in the following years until all 25 are available, covering everything from agriculture to catering and engineering to science. How are they different to apprenticeships? T Levels will be based on the same high standards as apprenticeships, designed by employers and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. Apprenticeships are different in that they are typically 80% on-the-job training and 20% in the classroom learning, and are more suited to students who know what occupation they see themselves working in, want to earn a wage and are ready to enter the workforce. SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 7 FEATURE Why should