Students enjoy Simon Weston Visit

Simon Weston OBE a veteran of the British Army visited the college Tuesday 10th March 2015 to talk to students about his journey since suffering severe burn injuries the Falklands War.

His message was to take advantage of all opportunities in life, invest in your future now and be the best you can be.  He also said the world did not owe you a living and nobody owed you anything it was up to you to take responsibility for making the most of your life. He said the only person who can put you down is yourself and do not allow others to do this to you.  He said believe in yourself because if you don’t then nobody else will.

The story of how he faced up to his injuries where he suffered 46% burns to his face and body and as he said came to terms with the loss of the Simon Weston pre-the incident in 1982 where the troop carrier the Sir Galahad was destroyed at Bluff Cove in the Falklands War - to the Simon Weston he is today was absolutely amazing.  He was genuinely a motivational and inspirational speaker and his lovely welsh lilt along with his brilliant sense of humour and his truly remarkable story meant the hour passed all too quickly.

Stafford bricklayer Gareth Smith laying foundations for future

Article first published in The Staffordshire Newsletter.

A BRICKLAYER from Staffordshire is building towards his future career thanks to an award winning apprenticeship scheme run by Barratt Homes.
Gareth Smith, 18, is studying for a Level Two NVQ Diploma in Bricklaying at Newcastle-under-Lyme College.
As part of the Barratt Trade Apprentice Programme he spends one day a week at  NULC, with the rest of his week on site, gaining hands-on experience while laying the foundations for his future career in construction.
During the course of his apprenticeship Gareth will have the chance to work on a number of sites, and he is currently based at Yarnfield Park near Stone.
He said: "I chose the Barratt apprenticeship scheme because it has a good reputation and it's going really well.
"I wasn't sure what I wanted to do at school but I knew that it wasn't for me so I decided to try bricklaying and I'm very pleased I made that decision.
"I like working with others and being on site to actually do the job because it's given me experience of doing all sorts of tasks."
Barratt Developments PLC, parent company to Barratt Homes, has a record of recruiting young people to the business and was recently named as the Macro Employer of the Year at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2014.
Adrian Farr, from Barratt West Midlands, said: "We are delighted to have such a strong and dedicated group of apprentices working across our sites.
"They provide a fantastic contribution while learning and gaining valuable experience every day.
"We are extremely proud of our apprenticeship programme and I would encourage anyone who will soon be leaving school and is wondering what to do next, to think seriously about taking up an apprenticeship."
To find out more about the Barratt apprenticeship scheme visit www.barrattfuturetalent.co.uk or check out apprentice vacancies through NULC.

Students visit Crown Paint Factory

On Monday 3^rd November, a group of P&D students made up of three work based learners and three Level 1 learners from Painting & Decorating visited Crown Paints Factory at Darwen Lancashire.

The students met Paul Marsden, a technical consultant, on arrival who met the group and outlined the agenda for the day. The group were taken into the “Learning Academy” and given a tour showing the history of Crown Paints as well as being shown old decorating products used in the past.

Students continued their tour in the Technical Department where they looked at the work of paint chemists and how paints are tested before they are released and given a demonstration on the process. They viewed how Crown paints were canned and prepped, leading the group to view the Crown warehouse where the paints are stored ready for delivery.

The final part of the day saw the students take on a quiz about what they had discovered . Spot prizes were given from baseball caps to t-shirts. The winner of the quiz overall won a pack of Purdy brushes.

The learners had this to say about their experience of visiting the Crown Factory:

“Great experience and great freebies”

“Enjoyed walking around the actual factory and found the experience really interesting”

“All of the tour was great fun”

“Enjoyed the day, would definitely go again, very interesting. Loved the hat I won too”

Mark Turner, tutor at Newcastle-under-Lyme College said: “Crown made us feel welcome, they made the day interesting for both students and staff by combining humour with technical expertise. Students were encouraged throughout the day to answer questions to aid their learning experience and the quiz at the end provided some great competitive spirit between both groups. All students were a credit to the College and we hope to return in the future with more.”

Thistley Hough Academy welcomes construction roadshow

On Wednesday 7 May 2014, Newcastle-under-Lyme College Construction staff took to the streets to promote Painting & Decorating, Joinery and Bricklaying courses. 

The Roadshow at Thistley Hough Academy in Penkhull was aimed at raising awareness for the skilled trades. The Painting and Decorating department ran interactive demonstrations in the food hall where pupils got the chance to learn basic decorative effects such as creating a heartwood grain using a wooden instrument called a ‘rocker’. 

There was a lot of interest from the pupils, with Years 8,9,10 and 11 all asking the lecturers about full-time courses and discussing what jobs there are in the industry. NULC lecturers were on hand to discuss each trade and were able to pass on their advice to the enthusiastic pupils.

Amongst the many students attending Melvina Kearns, Year 8, was able to have a go at creating a heartwood grain using the wooden ‘rocker’. She commented "It was good to have a go at something different."

Thistley Hough Information Advice and Guidance (CEAIG) Manager Sue Greenhalgh was delighted with the response to the Roadshow "The demonstrations were stunning, insightful, engaging and pitched at the right

Site visit to Apedale Light Railway Centre

A group of students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) will be carrying out building surveys at Apedale Light Railway Centre.

Students studying the Level 3 BTEC in Construction are visiting the Chesterton tourist attraction on Tuesday 12 November where they will be carrying out building surveys of two of the buildings.  The practical visit will help the students to gather evidence for a Building Surveying unit they are currently studying as part of their Level 3 vocational course.

Steve Pinnell, Construction Tutor at NULC, said: “This is a fabulous opportunity for our Construction students to gain practical skills on a real working site.  Here at NULC we’re keen to encourage students to gain the practical employability skills that are needed to ensure they progress in to a successful career.” 

Steve added: “During the visit students will survey the site to gather evidence on their method of construction, materials and noting of any structural defects. The data collected during the visit will be used to produce formal reports that will form part of their coursework and be marked.”

The College offers a range of full-time, part-time and Apprenticeship courses in Construction at its purpose built £5 million Skills and Technology Centre on Knutton Lane. 

Young people wanting to find out more about the courses available are invited to the College’s Open Events on Wednesday 13 November and Thursday 5 December, from 5.30pm – 8.00pm. 

Steve Pinnell and construction staff will be providing taster sessions and demonstrations in Bricklaying, Joinery and Painting and Decorating where young people and their parents can get hands on experience of the courses available at NULC.

To find out more about studying Construction at NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Students create educational garden for local community

A community garden designed and constructed by students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) was officially opened today.

Landscape gardening students have created a community garden at Newcastle Fire Station on Knutton Lane.  The garden was officially opened by NULC Principal Karen Dobson on Monday 1 July at 2.00pm.

Representatives from Newcastle Fire and Rescue and year 6 pupils from St Mary's Primary Schools attended the event at Newcastle Fire Station.  Following the ribbon cutting, the primary schools pupils took part in a planting workshop with Level 1 Horticulture students where they each got to take a potted plant home with them.

Nick Anderson, Lecturer in Landscape Gardening at NULC, said: “The garden will be open to the local community and provide a relaxing environment where youngsters will also be able to benefit from the educational opportunities provided through growing their own vegetables.”

The completed garden will be used as an outside space for local primary schools where children will have the opportunity to plant, watch things grow, learn about different plants and gain an interest in the attracted wildlife.

The garden includes a wildflower area and a tomato crop for the children to develop. The area is wheel chair friendly and includes a paved area for the children to use as an outdoor classroom and community learning environment.

The enterprising students wrote to local construction suppliers with a wish list including timber for raised planting beds, trellis for climbing fruit and compost bins as well as a number of other items.  Local suppliers including Emery’s Builders Merchants, S Keeling Timber, All Turf and Euroflor have all generously donated materials enabling the students to construct the community garden.

The Level 1 qualification in Landscape Gardening launched in September 2012 at the College and has gone from strength to strength with students gaining work placements at leading local visitor attractions including Biddulph Grange Gardens and the Dorothy Clive Gardens.

Nick added: “The vocational qualification in Landscape Gardening complements the College’s existing construction provision and allows learners of all ages to gain a recognized qualification with skills in gardening, landscaping and issues effecting the environment.”

To find out more about studying Landscape Gardening visit www.nulc.ac.uk or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Students landscape town centre flower bed

Landscape Gardening students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) are transforming a large flower bed within Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre.

The flower bed, which is situated on Pepper Street next to the Roebuck Shopping Centre, will be re-designed and planted with a range of colourful summer plants by 10 students who are studying the BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Landscape Gardening.

The 10 students will be split into two teams who will present their Landscape Design ideas to members of the Roebuck Shopping Centre’s Head Office.

Shaun McDonald, Landscape Gardening lecturer said: “We are so pleased to be involved in this project. It’s great to be able to contribute in improving the town centre. We are really keen to make sure the garden design matches the design of the Roebuck Shopping Centre to ensure it is in keeping with the architecture.”

NULC is one of the largest providers of 16-18 education in Staffordshire and offers every type of post-16 course, including AS/A Levels, vocational courses and Apprenticeships.

Susan McCarthy, Roebuck Shopping Centre Manager said: “I’m thrilled we are finally getting around to do something with the flower bed at the back of the Shopping Centre. It is in a bad way and we’ve been planning this transformation for months.”

The students will begin the transformation on Wednesday 8 May by clearing the space ready to begin implementing the chosen design.

For more information about our Landscape Gardening courses, call 01782 254254, email info@nulc.ac.uk or visit www.nulc.ac.uk