NORTH EAST SKILLS COMPETITIONS NEWS Issue 1 • Autumn 2014 Competition Activity Highlights This is the first edition of a new termly newsletter designed to keep North East colleges and learning providers up to date with skills competition activity, which has an increasingly important profile. Last year was a busy time for skills competitions in the North East, with a record number of competitions taking place and the number of organisations involved rising. There are now 12 colleges, as well as a number of learning providers, actively involved in competitions activity. As a wider range of organisations are now participating, the original name of the competitions (North East Inter-College Competitions) has been changed to the North East Skills Consortium Competitions. Other new developments include, increasing the number of competition categories to 15 and assigning a regional coordinator to each competition category. The winners of the 15 competitions that ran in 2013/14 will be recognised at a grand presentation event. This will take place in the Hazel Pearson Theatre at Middlesbrough College on Wednesday 22 October from 10.45 am -13.45 pm, and invitations were recently issued to all colleges by Trish Humphreys ([email protected]) at Middlesbrough College. Trish and Mike Hopkins, the Regional Champion for WorldSkills, have been instrumental in leading and developing skills competitions activity in the North East. Mike recently confirmed his intention to step down from this role. We would like to take the opportunity to thank Mike for all his hard work. He has done a fantastic job in driving forwards skills competition activity in the region and will be a big miss. A new Champion will be appointed shortly. Plans for 2014/15 Competitions Activity For 2014/15 we have plans to broaden out the base of competition areas further, in particular to ensure STEM subjects are more represented and that there is a closer fit with the priorities of the region’s two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). We also want to encourage greater links between inter-college activity and increase participation in WorldSkills UK accredited competitions, which are widely recognised as raising standards and learner aspirations. Three additional categories are being added to the North East competitions schedule for 2014/15. They are Games Development (co-ordinated by Middlesbrough College), CAD (co-ordinated by Hartlepool College) and CNC. Category co-ordinators are still required for CNC and Health and Social Care. If your college would like to lead on either of these categories, please contact Trish Humphreys ([email protected]) at Middlesbrough College. Each college has been sent a registration form by Trish to confirm which of this year’s 20 North East Skills Consortium competitions their students will take part in. The draws for this round of competitions will be announced at the end of the presentation event on 22 October. North East 2013/14 Competition Winners Students from across the region were a credit to their mentors as they showcased their first class skills and competed to be named the “best of the best” in a series of heats and finals for their specialist vocational areas. Congratulations to all the winners listed below. We look forward to celebrating with you at the awards event in October! Competition College Name Automotive Bishop Auckland College Sam Harvey and Joshua Roberts Beauty Therapy New College Durham Sarah Liddle Bricklaying New College Durham Callum Savage Carpentry East Durham College Callum Newton Catering Hartlepool College Charlotte Prosser Dance Gateshead College Team Electrical Hartlepool College Adam Lloyd Hairdressing Bishop Auckland College Emmy Russell Joinery Middlesbrough College Bradley Durham Music New College Durham Team Painting and Decorating Darlington College Ashley Watson Plumbing Hartlepool College Tony Lally Public Services TyneMet College Team Sports Redcar & Cleveland College Team The Skills Show Experience Comes to the North East The Skills Show Experience is coming to the North East this autumn. The aim is to expand the reach of The Skills Show by delivering experiential careers events across the UK. The North East Skills Consortium has 15 small scale events and three large events planned under the Skills Show Experience banner for the region. More than 8,000 young people are expected to attend the events where they will get the chance to: • Take part in “Have a Go” bite sized activities and mini-competitions AoC North East 2 September 2014 • Receive up-to-date careers advice • Meet employers and talk about real jobs and opportunities Large Skills Events Coming Soon The three large skills events planned under the Skills Show Experience banner for the autumn are expected to collectively attract over 6,000 young people (aged 14 – 24) from across the region. The employers and training providers taking part are being encouraged to make the events as interactive as possible, giving attendees the opportunity to try tasters and competitions in a range of vocational areas. National Careers Service advisers will also be on hand to provide information and guidance. See event details below: • Kirkley Hall Campus, Northumberland College - 8 October 2014 Contact: [email protected] • The Durham Centre, Belmont - 23 October 2014 Contact: [email protected] • Grand Marquee, Wynyard Hall - 6 November 2014 • Contact: [email protected] Smaller Skills Events Eleven small scale skills events have already taken place and proved to be a real success. Planned visitor numbers were exceeded and feedback from partners, visitors and schools was extremely positive. The “Get the Options” small Skills Show Experience events that have taken place so far are: Date Venue Bishop Auckland College 4 July 2014 New College Durham 3 December 2013 Newcastle College 5 February 2014 Middlesbrough College 27 February 2014 Bishop Auckland College 10 March 2014 Hartlepool College 13 March 2014 Derwentside College 27 March 2014 Northumbria Learning Provider Network 16 and 17 May 2014 Darlington College 24 and 25 June 2014 New College Durham 30 June 2014 Stockton Riverside College 30 June and 1 July 2014 A further four events are planned for the 2014 autumn term at the following colleges: AoC North East 3 September 2014 Redcar & Cleveland College Middlesbrough College Hartlepool College Darlington College The Benefits of WorldSkills Competitions To encourage greater involvement in WorldSkills accredited competitions a number of meetings and masterclass events are taking place in the region over the coming months, see below: 16 October Vocational Masterclass Organisation Programme (for Middlesbrough College staff) Venue: Middlesbrough College Description: Support for Middlesbrough College tutors working with learners on competition day. Techniques to improve learner focus, motivation and performance. The following vocational areas will be covered: Electrical, Pipe Fitting and Fabrication and Welding. Contact: [email protected] at Middlesbrough College 23 October Vocational Masterclass Organisation Programme (for Newcastle College staff) Venue: Newcastle College Description: Support for Newcastle College tutors working with learners on competition day. Techniques to improve learner focus, motivation and performance. Plumbing and related construction trades will be the focus of this event. Contact: [email protected] at Newcastle College 3 November Multi-organisational Vocational Masterclass (staff from all colleges welcome) Venue: New College Durham Description: A rare opportunity to learn how professional WorldSkills coaches train competitors to reach world class standards. There will be the chance to observe the coaches in action, take part in discussions and ask questions at this interactive, not to be missed event. Three vocational areas will feature: Health and Social Care, Motor Vehicle and Beauty Therapy. Contact: [email protected] at New College Durham. (Please note: demand is expected to be high for this event and places are limited, so early booking is recommended.) 10 November Vocational Masterclass Organisation Programme (for Hartlepool College staff) Venue: Hartlepool College Description: Support for Hartlepool College tutors working with learners on competition day. Techniques to improve learner focus, motivation and performance. The event will focus on construction and related trades. Contact: [email protected] at Hartlepool College The Skills Show – 13-15 November 2014 More than 40,000 people have already registered for this year's event, a huge increase on figures for this time last year. AoC North East 4 September 2014 Marketing to schools is continuing and a specific campaign targeting those not in employment, education or training (NEETs), as well as family groups who might consider visiting on Saturday, is underway. Fliers are available to promote the event - if you are able to distribute some of these to your networks, or display them in your reception areas, please contact Find a Future ([email protected]). Travel bursaries are available to those groups of 40 people or more arriving after 1.30pm on Thursday and Friday. Go to www.theskillsshow.com/travel-reimbursement-skills-show/ for more information and to apply. Visitor registration is also now open. Go to www.theskillsshow.com/book-the-skills-show/ to book. WorldSkills UK - The Road to Lille and São Paolo Following the announcement of Squad UK in July, the 98 apprentices and learners