Newspaper production, kite flying, and Latin dance are the latest free workshops on offer to Merseyside apprentices in retail, hospitality and leisure. The ESF-funded workshops, arranged by Greater Merseyside Learning Provider Federation (GMLPF), are giving young people the chance to participate in creative activities linked to Liverpool's Capital of Culture programe.

The workshops, run by professionals in the creative sector, see the apprentices gain valuable skills such as teamwork and communications that they are putting into practice back in the workplace.

Employers or learning providers with apprentices who want a free workshop place can contact Jo Rymer at GMLPF on 0151 707 8775.

For more information visit Badged Apprenticeships

 

Wirral Metropolitan College enjoyed positive exposure on the letters page of The Caterer, the UK's top catering magazine, last month. Colin Rich, head of food and beverages operations at YHA, wrote into the magazine to praise the college for designing and delivering a bespoke training programme for 180 YHA staff on preparing and cooking food using fresh seasonal produce. His letter appeared on 13th March.

Colin writes:

"The team at WMC have been outstanding, modifying the course as we go to get the pitch right and turn our people on to good cooking. Our people have left the college fired up about great food, but more importantly, with the confidence to improve and develop their own skills and ultimately even better food for our customers."

 

 

A group of local apprentices have been learning and practicing stand-up comedy skills -  as part of an exciting Capital of Culture project.

The workshops, run by The Comedy Trust, encourage participants to communicate more effectively through humour and body language.  The fun sessions are designed to improve presentation skills and boost self-confidence.  After discovering the 'tricks of the trade' to holding an audience and using postures and poses as part of expression, the youngsters are ready to step up onto the stage at the Royal Court Theatre to do a five minute set.

Budding comedian, Daniel O’Neill, age 17 an apprentice in Sports Coaching at Progress Sports, was one of the participants.  He said, “The workshop was excellent. It has given me even more confidence and we’ve all enjoyed working together and meeting new people.”

The comedy workshops are funded through Badged Apprenticeships, a unique project that gets young people involved with Liverpool's Capital of Culture programme.  Other workshops include animation, digital photography and radio production

Joanne Rymer of Greater Merseyside Learning Provider Federation who has organised  all the Badged Apprenticeships workshops commented:

" The Badged Apprenticeships programme adds a new dimension to learning for our young apprentices.  They can further develop their skills whilst at the same time playing a part in Liverpool's Capital of Culture experience. "

For more information on Badged Apprenticeships visit:  www.badgedapprenticeships.co.uk

 

Merseyside Apprentices in the retail, tourism and hospitality, and leisure sectors now have the opportunity to participate in a range of creative workshops linked to Liverpool’s status as European Capital of Culture 2008.

The Capital of Culture Badged Apprenticeships programme has been designed to build on the opportunities presented by Liverpool’s Capital of Culture status, providing cultural learning opportunities to enhance Apprentices’ skills. Key partners in the project include Greater Merseyside Learning Provider Federation (GMLPF), General Physics and The Culture Company.

Examples of workshops include Demystifying Modern Art at Tate Liverpool and Making Music at the Liverpool Philharmonic.

Young people on Apprenticeships in the local retail, tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors are invited to take up these free opportunities. Companies who employ Apprentices in these sectors can benefit by sending candidates on the workshops: staff will learn new skills that will enable them to improve communication and interpersonal skills.

For a full range of workshops and information about how Apprentices can participate visit

Badged Apprenticeships

 

For the fourth year running St Helens College has won the Young Chef of the Year award at St Helens Tourism Awards held at Haydock Park Racecourse. 

18 year old Chloe Brown’s winning menu commenced with a starter of pan-fried Bury black pudding and organic poached egg served on an English toasted muffin, coated with a Hollandaise sauce. Her main course comprised of chicken supreme stuffed with a light forcemeat made with pork, leek and onion served on a potato rosti with creamed leeks, roasted parsnips and finished with a white wine cream sauce.

Delighted with the result, Chloe looks forward to a career working as a chef in first class hotels.

 

Young people who excel in a vocational skill are being invited to enter the WorldSkills UK competitions to gain recognition, be awarded and represent their country on the world stage.  Entrants can be in employment, training or education and participation is free.

The 70 WorldSkills UK competitions are designed by leading industry experts and are held across the UK, covering skills in the following sectors:

• Built Environment
• Cultural and Creative Arts
• Engineering
• IT and Business Administration
• Personal, Social and Hospitality services

Winners from each competition are selected to represent the UK at forthcoming international EuroSkills 2008 events taking place this September in The Netherlands, and the 2009 WorldSkills competition being held in Calgary, Canada.

Visit  www.worldskillsuk.org/competitions  for a list  of competitions.

Enter online by February 28 2008. For further details call 0800 612 0742

 

The recently published Apprenticeships Review outlines new measures the Government will take to ensure apprenticeships become a mainstream option for young people, as well as plans to boost apprenticeships for older learners.The review sets out how apprenticeships will be expanded, how quality will be improved, and how better support will be offered to employers providing high-quality apprenticeship places. Building on the major improvements in quality and participation achieved in recent years, the review will establish apprenticeships as a key route to building the national skills base, working with employers to help young people and adults get the skills and qualifications that employers value. Further measures include:

• A new National Apprenticeship Service to lead the expansion and improvement
• Action to make it easier for employers to improve the range of apprenticeships
• A pilot wage subsidy programme for small businesses
• A new drive to increase apprenticeships in the public sector

Read the full story at the DIUS Media Centre

Sarah Blackwood, an NVQ Level 3 Professional cookery student at St Helens College has been offered the opportunity of applying for a job with Gordon Ramsey on completing her course, along with other competitors

Sarah was one of eight contestants in the country chosen to enter the Gordon Ramsey Scholar Award 2007. The competition saw Sarah to preparing, cooking and serving a two-course meal of hake with potato puree and tomato sauce followed by apple tarte tatin with crème Anglaise at the Good Food show at Birmingham NEC.  As well as having hundreds of spectators, competitors were judged by some of Britain’s best chefs including Gordon Ramsey and Mark Askew.

Although Sarah was not the overall winner, she was elated by the experience and promise of possible future employment with Gordon Ramsey.

 

St Helens College is currently the only further education college in the north of England to be chosen as a School FEAST (Food Excellence and Skills Training) Centre.

The new School FEAST network, part of a £2m government backed initiative, will bring together training providers across England to offer training and support to all those involved in improving school meals including cooks, kitchen assistants, lunchtime supervisors, teachers, bursars and employers.

Co-ordinated by the School Food Trust (SFT), the eleven centres will provide ‘hands on’ cooking lessons for all those involved in school meals service and have responsibility in the production of food for school children.

 

The search is on for the country's most inspirational employers and apprentices for the 2008 Apprenticeship Awards. The judges are asking employers who have helped apprentices develop their skills and fulfil their potential to nominate themselves as soon as possible. There are 4 categories for companies: micro, small, medium and large.

The deadline for nominations is 29th February 2008. Visit apprenticeships.org.uk/awards for further details.

 

Catering students at St Helens College recently took part in an exchange with French counterparts from College Mercury in Southern Burgundy.

Nine NVQ Level 3 professional cookery students from St Helens College spent a week at the Mercury culinary school, preparing, cooking and serving a wide range of dishes. During their stay, they planned and cooked a meal for French dignitaries, staff and students of College Mercury. The students also travelled around the region, learning about the production of mustard, fine wine and Champagne, and local food.

Despite a demanding timetable, all students thoroughly enjoyed their experience, gaining valuable culinary skills and new friends.

 

Improve has announced the launch of an innovative online one-stop guide to help food and drink manufacturers design vocational qualifications for their staff. The launch of the ‘Pick YOUR Mix’ interactive tool coincides with the introduction of a radical new framework for National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (N/SVQs) developed in close consultation with employers by Improve, the food and drink sector skills council.

The new Food Manufacture framework is intended to make N/SVQs more relevant to the workplace by offering a choice of more than 500 learning units covering all aspects of the industry, meaning employers can tailor the qualifications to suit job roles.

The ‘Pick YOUR Mix’ tool is being hosted on the Improve website. It carries an annual subscription charge of £75 per company or individual subscriber.

 

The best contenders in the region's tourism industry were revealed by the North West Development Agency at a high profile event celebrating the fourth annual England's North West Tourism Awards.

There were several Merseyside winners including Hillbark Hotel, Wirral (Small Hotel of the Year), Liverpool Philharmonic (Tourism Website of the Year), and London Carriageworks (Taste of England's Northwest).

More details can be found on the NWDA press pages

 

Are you interested in visiting another European country to share expertise about training?

Grants are available under the Transversal programme to contribute to the professional development of those involved in education and work-based learning. The Transversal programme supports study visits that allow professionals to take part in a week-long programme of activities in another European country, learning about new practices and approaches. Participation in a study visit also provides invaluable networking opportunities and the chance to meet potential partners from other European countries for collaboration on transnational projects.

The programme is open to those involved in education and/or vocational education or training who would like to

• spend up to a week in another European country
• learn about teaching practices across Europe
• visit colleges, training providers, and organisations involved in designing and delivering education and training
• meet students, teachers, trainers, employers and trade unions

The closing date for applications is 15th October for visits in 2008. For further information and application details visit Transversal Study Visits programme

 

England’s food and drink manufacturing industry is set to experience a significant leap in apprentice numbers after the government last month scrapped the upper age limit for apprentices..

The sector tends to attract older workers with over half of the industry's employees aged 40 or over. To date, employers have only been able to attract financial assistance for taking on apprentices between the ages of 16 and 24. After successful pilot schemes, adult apprenticeships are now being made available across all industries in England.

The news marks a significant victory for Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, which oversees the industry’s apprenticeships and has long lobbied for the age limit to be abolished.

Jack Matthews, the chief executive of Improve, said: “Our vision is to make the UK food and drink manufacturing industry the world leader by delivering world-class skills in the work place, and we feel apprenticeships are an essential ingredient in achieving that"

 

The North West is leading the way with more Train to Gain starts than anywhere else in the country.
According to national data the North West, has delivered the most starts as a region, contributing 16% to the national total. In addition, the North West is the closest region proportionately to year end targets.

 

Greater Merseyside Learning Provider Federation (GMLPF) and GP UK have won a bid  to administer a Capital of Culture badged Apprenticeship programme. It will offer young people from Merseyside who are on an Apprenticeship programme in retail, tourism and hospitality or leisure an enhanced menu of themed learning opportunities relating to the European Capital of Culture.

GMLPF hope to work closely with providers from the retail, tourism and hospitality, and leisure sectors to deliver this programme, and are asking any interested providers to get in touch as soon as possible. For further details read the full story on the GMLPF website.

 

Greater Merseyside Learning Providers Federation (GMLPF) is currently working with Aim Higher Merseyside on ‘The Vocational Highway’, an initiative linked to the Aimhigher Progression Routes Project. The initiative aims to promote the progression of work based learners, especially those undertaking Apprenticeships, into higher education.

GMLPF are setting up focus groups with interested providers who deliver level 3 qualifications to discuss how to best progress this initiative for the benefit of our learners. Interested providers can read further details on the GMLPF website.

 

The Learning and Skills Council have launched a new media campaign focussing on the theme: ‘Our future. It’s in our hands’ to inspire people and business to improve their skill levels. This will ultimately support the target set by Lord Leitch in his review of skills for the UK to become a world leader in all levels of skills by 2020. The campaign consists of TV, posters, press, radio and online.

Visit the campaign website to find out more

 

A national review of Train to Gain has shown that the LSC's free skills brokerage service has exceeded targets in its first year with over 36,000 companies signing up. The majority of these companies were hard-to-reach employers who do not traditionally invest in training their staff.

Train to Gain is a free impartial service which employers can access to help identify skills gaps within their company, and source appropriate training.

For more details, visit the Train to Gain website

 

National Minimum Wage (NMW) levels have been amended and come into effect on 1st October 2007. Hourly rates for workers aged over 21 increase from £5.35 to £5.52, for 18 to 21 year olds from £4.45 to £4.60, and for 16 to 17 year olds from £3.30 to £3.40.

For further information on the NMW increase visit National Minimum Wage

 

The Government has published new regulations which boost the minimum holiday entitlement to 24 days from 20 days. The regulations that will benefit millions of workers come into effect in October 2007. From April 2009 entitlements will rise further to 28 days.

For further information on minimum holiday entitlements visit Government News Network

The Mersey Partnership (TMP) has appointed a new chief executive. Former lawyer and investment banker Lorraine Rogers, currently Chairman of Tranmere Rovers Football Club, will take up her new responsibilities at TMP on 13th August.

Liverpool City Region highlighted its finest tourism businesses at the Mersey Partnership’s Annual Tourism Awards. Winners included the Lady Lever Art Gallery for Outstanding Customer Service and Thomas Rigby’s for Bar of the Year. For further details of winners visit Mersey Partnership Tourism Award Winners

 

Liverpool Community College trainee, Terry Hesketh (pictured below, right) has won the award for Apprentice in Hospitality and Tourism training at the Mersey Partnership Tourism Awards. This follows on from his recent success at the Academy of Excellence Awards in February when he was crowned best trainee/student chef. Terry works at London Carriageworks but has trained with Liverpool Community College since 2004. He has made huge progress since he started and has a promising career ahead thanks to his hard work and dedication, and the guidance, support and training provided by Liverpool Community College.

 

150 private and public organisations including the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) have pledged their commitment to support their employees’ skills development. As a result of this Skills Pledge, as a minimum employers will help their staff work towards their first full Level 2 qualification.

The LSC’s Train to Gain programme will play a key role in this, providing employers with a free and impartial brokerage system to identify their skills needs and select routes for them to access work based training. Train to Gain will also pay for any employees’ first full Level 2 and will subsidise employers who want to invest in providing their employees with higher level skills or multiple qualifications. Find out more about The Skills Pledge and Train to Gain.

 

The shortlisted entries for The Mersey Partnership's prestigious Tourism Awards 2007 is now available. There are a total of 14 categories and some of the named organisations who have made the shortlist include The National Wildflower Centre in Knowsley, Liverpool Cathedral and the British Musical Fireworks Championship in Sefton. For the full shortlist and further details about the awards categories visit Mersey Partnership Tourism Awards

 

Employers will be presented with a masterplan for 16 new vocational qualifications in food manufacturing in July. Improve, the sector skills council for food and drink manufacturing, will unveil this information at an event in Leeds on 6th July. These new qualifications will mean that learning providers will be able to expand their offer to employers, improving the overall performance of the sector. Employers who wish to attend the event entitled "Pick Your Mix" should contact Sally Jenkins at Improve on 0845 644 0448. Find out more on the Pick Your Mix event.

 

The government have recently announced that a new points system will be introduced to manage migrant workers in the new year. The new system will allow migrants to enter the United Kingdom under one of five tiers replacing the eighty or so current entry routes. To read more about this new system visit the Border and Immigration Agency website .

 

The Mersey Partnership's MOST service (Merseyside Online Support for Tourism) reports that the latest draft of the Destination Management Plan, outlining all Merseyside tourism activity for 2007/8 has now been launched. The plan identifies key projects and stakeholders and is available to download from MOST.

A press release on the Mersey Partnership website outlines Mersey Waterfront's £91million investment in key projects along the Merseyside and Cheshire coastlines. These projects include a water-based recreation centre at Crosby Marina, a redevelopment of the New Brighton seafront, redevelopment of the Mersey Ferries terminal, and innovative lighting displays on Liverpool's waterfront. Read more about the investments in the press section of the Mersey Partnership website..

People 1st, the sector skills council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries, has outlined the findings of research carried out by William Collier, Francis Green & Young-Bae Kim (Skills for Business Publication: March 2007). The six year research entitled Training and Establishment Survival shows 28% of restaurants and hotels that don't invest in training close down, compared to just 3% of those that do. The full report is available to download from the research section of the Sector Skills Development agency website.

The deadline for entry into The Mersey Partnership's 2007 Tourism Awards is the 23rd March 2007. For full details visit Tourism Awards 2007

 

After obtaining funding through the Leonardo Da Vinci programme, Alma Training is sending a group of hospitality trainees to Seville for a 13 week placement. The trainees who are all unemployed, are setting off on 14th March from Liverpool Airport. In preparation for their trip, they have undertaken Spanish lessons and secured work placements. Staff from Alma Training went on a preparatory trip to stunning Seville to meet the project partners and undertake obligatory health & safety checks for the work placements.

Alma Training are still looking for applicants from Merseyside colleges and Job Centres for the next placement in June. Whilst living and working in Seville, the trainees on the programme will have all expenses paid and be given a generous living allowance.

The aim of this exciting programme is to promote mobility and share best practice with our European partners in the hospitality industry. Enabling these young people to learn about different cultures and work ethics will strengthen their job prospects when they return to the UK. For further information please contact Sue Mayers at Alma Training and Recruitment on 0151 650 6936 or email suem@almaltd.co.uk

 

 

The Learning and Skills Council is inviting applications for this year's Apprenticeship Awards. These prestigious awards, now in their fourth year, recognise the success of both employers and apprentices who use Apprenticeships to improve individual and business performance.

Winners will enjoy national press coverage, prizes and an Oscars-style awards ceremony in June at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

If you are, or know of an Apprentice or an employer who is committed to training through Apprenticeships visit Apprenticeship Awards for more details and application forms. Hurry – all applications must be received by 23rd February 2007.

 

Liverpool Community College is delighted to announce that one of their student chefs, Terry Hesketh (pictured right) was a winner at the Academy of Excellence Awards on 1st February, winning an award for the best trainee/student chef.

Terry started his catering career when he was 14 on a vocational programme at school and went on to study full-time at Liverpool Community College, achieving NVQ levels 1 and 2 in food preparation and cooking. Last year Terry started work at acclaimed Liverpool restaurant, London Carriage Works under the watchful eye of head chef and proprietor, Paul Askew. Terry continues to attend college one day each week and will complete his level 3 Chef’s Diploma in June this year.

 

 

Trainees in aviation at St Helens College can undertake more realistic career training thanks to a new Air Industry Resource Training Centre based at the College’s town centre campus. The new facility, ‘Ambition Air’ simulates the environments students will finally be working in. It includes two check - in counters, a mock –up security walk-through arch, a boarding area and a mock-up aircraft cabin as well as a briefing room, audio visual equipment and 4 PCs.

College Curriculum Resource Manager Debbie Sloan said:

“The College has been offering programmes leading into employment within the aviation industry for the past four years. As a direct result of our programme, over 130 students have gained employment at Manchester or Liverpool airports and with international airlines. This new facility allows us to develop our programmes further and prepare the aviation professionals of tomorrow.”

Ambition Air was officially launched by Andy Gower, Operations Director at Liverpool Airport, on Thursday 9th November. Invited guests and members of the College’s senior management team watched video presentations by aviation students in the College’s Colours Restaurant, before enjoying a flight experience on Ambition Air’s inaugural flight, which covered check–in and boarding, preparing for take off, a welcome address, in-flight refreshments, and arrival at the final destination.  

For further information please contact Eric Burke on 01744 623217 or email eburke@sthelens.ac.uk

 

Front seat:– Pat Bacon, Principal of St Helens College, Stephen Kelsey, LSC– Aviation. Second seat:- Andy Gower, Operations Director, Liverpool Airport. Third Seat:- John Findley, BA Connect. Left to right, standing:- Vicki Wareham, Lecturer, St Helens College, Kim Whitfield, Student, Fay Lacy, Student, Hayley Smith, Student, Debbie Sloan, Curriculum Resource Manager, St Helens College, Natalie Haseldon, Student, Jennifer Kerr, Student, Louise Chadwick, Student, Leanne Wilcock, Student.

 

The prestigious Southport Ambassador Awards for 2007 aims to recognise and reward those in the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors who work hard to give exceptional service to the public.  There will be a glittering awards ceremony at the Southport Theatre & Floral Hall on Wednesday 25th April 2007, where all people short listed will be invited to attend the evening, and the winners will be announced. There are several award categories, and nomination forms are now available. Find out more at www.visitsouthport.com.

You can also nominate at various Nomination Post Boxes set up at tourism businesses throughout Southport.  The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 28th February and the awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday 25th April.  

The winner of the Trainee or Apprentice of the Year category will automatically be entered into the Mersey Partnership Awards in June 2007 for the Apprentice of Year award.

A new business manager has joined Liverpool Community College. Mike Perry, who started his new role in November, specialises in hospitality and catering training. Over the next few weeks he will be introducing himself to local companies, responding to their changing needs and continuing the college's long and successful relationship with Merseyside businesses. If you would like any information about apprenticeship schemes, Train to Gain or Skillworks you can contact Mike directly on 0151 252 4605 or via email.

 

Liverpool Community College have a Train to Gain contract. Any employer requiring more information should contact Mike Perry, Business Manager on 0151 252 4605 or by e-mail mike.perry@liv-coll.ac.uk. See Train to Gain page on this website for more details on eligibility and subjects.

 

Neil Critchley, a young chef in Edge Hill College's kitchen has recently achieved his Advanced Apprenticeship in Food Preparation and Cooking an incredible seven months ahead of schedule. Neil had already achieved level 2 qualifications in this field with The Vocational College in a previous job. With the agreement of his current employer, he embarked on his Advanced Apprenticeship with The Vocational College, working extremely hard and displaying excellent skills, dedication and knowledge.  Congratulations to Neil and his assessor Lisa Mckeown on this notable achievement.

 

For further information on this news story please contact The Vocational College at alisonm@vcoll.ac.uk  

The Merseyside Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Forum website goes live today, providing a new resource for the sector's local providers, employers, partners and anyone else interested in finding out more about training in this exciting industry. It promises to be an up-to-the minute website, with the latest sector news and details of events plus a wide range of useful information.