ANNUAL REPORT 2014/15 WELCOME FROM THE CHAIRMAN NEVIL CROSTON It is hard to find the Employability is very much at the heart of what the college is about. From teaching superlatives to describe the in a classroom to activities outside of achievements of the college formal learning, everything is geared towards making students ready for yet again in 2014/15. Whilst the workplace. It is always so pleasing the operating environment when you see the efforts of teaching and support staff, and the commitment for all colleges continues to of the students, repaid in the success of be challenging, this college the students themselves. You will read “The crowning glory has gone from strength a handful of stories from the college alumni in this report. These few case for the college towards to strength and staff and studies really do go to show how our students have continued to students go on to perform at the very the end of 2014 was the pinnacle of their industries. Indeed, 2014 shine and achieve. reminded us of that fact more than any other year as we celebrated our 60th completion of a £40m Perhaps the crowning glory for the anniversary at Derby Road with the college towards the end of 2014 was investment in facilities for publication of a commemorative book the completion of a £40m investment and a very special event for the college’s in facilities for college students and the the community and college students past and present. community. These facilities are amongst students.” the best in the country and are already I hope that you enjoy reading about the making a tangible difference to students’ college’s continued success as much as Nevil Croston learning and to community aspirations. I have. We are a great college because of The Engineering Innovation Centre, in the dedicated people that work and study particular, will provide the all important here, and the governors and partners skills to an industry so desperately in that support the college along the way. need of qualified entrants. As a board, we We are a great collection of bright and are very proud of all that the college has committed people working tirelessly for achieved but, in particular, are immensely the benefit of our community and I am proud of the world-class resources our immensely proud to serve as Chairman of students can now enjoy. the Board of Governors. Other areas of the college group also performed very well. It is pleasing that bksb, the longest standing of our Nevil Croston subsidiary companies, continues to be Chairman the market leader in its field of education, sold to over 2,000 organisations worldwide. The beginning of 2015 saw their expansion into the Indian market with the opening of a new centre in Chandigarh. In September 2014, the college as sponsor opened the first studio school in Nottinghamshire. Close links with industry, coupled with a different way of learning, means that in its first year the school has made a positive difference to the lives of its students. Employers and parents alike have really embraced the studio school concept and the potential it has to make our young people employable. WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE – DAME ASHA KHEMKA DBE It is with a huge sense of Our ventures further afield also saw the opening of a Construction Training pride that I present West Centre in partnership with the Cordia Nottinghamshire College Institute. Based in rural Sanghol, it is already starting to make a difference Group’s annual report to India’s ambition to train 500 million 2014/15. people by 2022. This last year has been another landmark Our second subsidiary company Vision year on our journey. We have completely Apprentices has continued to lead the “Our exceptional financial transformed our estate, providing an way in the provision of apprentices. With iconic gateway to the local area, opened more than 12,000 apprentices studying management coupled a new centre for engineering innovation with us each year, we are at the forefront and have been given the approval to of this crucial Government agenda. with our ambition and build a university centre which will open in 2016. This will be the realisation of As one of the largest and most successful leadership place us firmly a community ambition - a University colleges in the UK, our strength lies in on the map as one of the Centre for Mansfield and Ashfield that our ability to plan properly, anticipate will inspire people to study at this level change and respond positively. This is most successful colleges and provide our communities with the why I am confident together we can skills needed for prosperity. weather any challenges that lie ahead. A single focus on providing the very best in the country.” Our exceptional financial management for our communities, our students and Dame Asha Khemka DBE coupled with our ambition and our businesses will continue to guide all leadership place us firmly on the map as aspects of our business into the future. one of the most successful colleges in the country. This strong position allows us to Thank you for being with us on our continue to invest in our local provision incredible journey so far. Without the to give people a truly world-class learning support of partners such as yourself our opportunity. achievements would not be possible. It is not just within our college that we I am immensely grateful to our Governors have seen ourselves excel this year. Our for their wisdom and firm strategic steer, subsidiary companies have remained to my team for working with passion, market-leaders within their field and it enthusiasm and commitment and to our was a particularly proud moment when students for being quite simply brilliant! bksb, our renowned software for the assessment of English, Maths and ICT, opened an office in my home country of India. There is so much potential in Dame Asha Khemka DBE India to expand our business and we are Principal and Chief Executive already starting to see the fruits of our labour. OUR JOURNEY CONTINUES It has been another busy and “I dedicate this award to the hundreds of Other contributors and guests included young people I see every single day and will former principals Don Mackenzie and Jim successful year for the college continue to nurture their amazing potential Aleander, who led the college from 1974-1994 group, featuring accolades, with the same hunger and determination as and 1994-2001 respectively, along with Dame ever.” Asha, who said: exciting new ventures and landmark celebrations. This hugely-eventful year saw the college “There is certainly something highly symbolic branching out into secondary education with about the college celebrating the 60th In January 2014, our principal was named a the opening of Vision Studio School – a new anniversary of the Derby Road campus in Dame Commander of the Order of the British type of school for 14 to 19-year-olds that is the same year that we completed our £40m Empire. She became the first Indian born bridging the gap between education and building programme ; and the book illustrates in 83 years to receive this highest civilian employment. perfectly how the college – and society – has honour. changed over the years.” Former student-turned-tutor Roy Broadley at Dame Asha accepts her Woman of the Year award from Prime Minister The pioneering school – the first of its kind our 60th anniversary celebrations. David Cameron at a glittering gala event at the Westminster Park Plaza Dame Asha added two further prestigious in Nottinghamshire – opened in September In February 2015, global engineering icon Hotel, London. accolades later in 2014 – presented by former 2014 at our former Chesterfield Road campus. Professor Lord Bhattacharyya gave his seal Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and of approval to our new £5.8m Engineering Prime Minister David Cameron respectively. It currently caters for 250 students from Years Innovation Centre. In October, Dame Asha was one of just 10 to 13 who study vocational qualifications three recipients of an inaugural Dadabhai in either engineering or health and care It came as the founder of the highly- Naoroji Award, which recognises individuals alongside core GCSEs combined with regular successful Warwick Manufacturing Group whose outstanding achievements have work placements with employer partners. officially opened the state-of-the-art building strengthened relations between India and on Oddicroft Lane, Sutton-in-Ashfield, that The college-sponsored school was officially the UK. Dame Asha won the education is training the next generation of engineers opened in November by national ambassador category for championing the role UK and technicians. for studio schools, Lord Karan Bilimoria, who colleges can play in supporting India’s skills unveiled a commemorative plaque before After touring its workshops and high-tech agenda. meeting students, staff and employers on a teaching spaces, meeting with students and Just weeks later, she was named ‘Woman of guided-tour of its facilities. employers in the sector, Lord Bhattcharyya the Year’ at the GG2 Leadership Awards for said: Meanwhile, as we embarked on the next her outstanding work and commitment to phase of the college’s exciting journey “The facilities are second-to-none and the providing a fair education for all. Dame Asha following the completion of our multi-million students are getting the cutting-edge, was presented with the acclaimed prize from pound building programme, we toasted the technical education they need to take with Mr Cameron at a glittering gala event in 60th anniversary of the Derby Road campus them to university or into the workplace.