Horticulture students gain inspiration from Tatton Park

On Wednesday 5 December, students from NULC enjoyed a festive visit Tatton Park.

The BTEC Level 2 Floristry students and City and Guilds Level 2 Horticulture students, spent the day at Tatton Park in Knutsford, Cheshire. The visit provided the students with the opportunity to  look around the extensive gardens of the estate and visit the mansion house, which was decorated using a Dickensian theme.

 
The horticultural students experienced winter planting themes, while the floristry students gained inspiration for large event floral decorations.

To find out more about studying Horticulture at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk.

New course helps students to grow community garden

Students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) have joined forces with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for a new community project.

Newcastle Community Fire Station has invited students from the College’s new Horticulture course to create a community garden at their new station opposite the College on Knutton Road.

The green fingered students will be putting their skills to use by creating a community garden using hard landscaping such as decking and paving as well as soft landscaping including planting.

Pete Hall, Neighbourhood Co-ordinator at Newcastle Community Fire Station, said: “The new Community Fire Stations are open to the public and they are fast becoming a hub for the community. Therefore we thought it a great idea to ask students from the College to get involved and create a lasting legacy in terms of a community garden.”

Once the garden is complete, youngsters from local primary schools will be invited to maintain the garden and continue planting throughout the year.

Nick Anderson, Lecturer in Horticulture at NULC, said: “This is a going to be a fantastic opportunity at the start of the new course for students to roll up their sleeves and put their new found skills to use.”

Talking about the course Nick added: “The new Horticulture courses complement our existing construction provision and provide a route for students wishing to move into landscape construction and maintenance.  The course is available part-time and full-time, with opportunities available to both young people and adults from across the area.”

Places are still available for people to sign up for the new Horticulture course. Students signing up for the new course will also be able to make use of the new gardening facilities at its Skills and Technology Centre, which include greenhouses and space to develop hard landscaping skills.

Tutors also hope to engage with high profile local gardens and visitor attractions to offer work experience opportunities and placements for students.

To find out more about the new Horticulture courses at NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk/newcourses2012 or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

NULC Celebration Event 2012

NULC hosted it's first Celebration Event on Wednesday 27 June.  The event brought together a wide range of learners from across the College in order to celebrate their achievements over the past academic year. 

Awards were given in 11 different categories which recognised academic achievement, personal achievement, services to the College and the community as well as sporting success. 

Award winners from the Faculty of Technology and Enterprise

Award winners from the Faculty of Technology and Enterprise pictured with Head of Faculty Dominic Whittaker (centre). 

• Learner Endeavour: Alex Higgins – Level 2 Practical Engineering

• Services to College: Damien Coady – L2 Apprentice in Painting and Decorating

• Apprentice of the year: Adam Heath – AAT level 4 Diploma WBL

• Young Achiever: Keiran Weller – Level 3 year 2 Business

• Adult Achiever: Michael Jones – Level 4 AAT

• Work experience / placement; Ryan Leadbetter – Level 2 Diploma in Practical Engineering 

• Return to Learning: Jill Trueman – L1 Diploma in Bench Joinery

Each award winner received a unique trophy designed by a team of learners from our art and design courses and was made on College premises in the Engineering department. Award winners were joined by parents and guests to celebrate their achievements.     

To see the full gallery of images from the day visit our Facebook Page here.

College launches exciting new courses in Animal Care, Floristry and Horticulture

Students applying to study at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) from September 2012 can now choose from three brand new subject areas.

The College is launching new courses in Small Animal Care, Floristry and Horticulture to help meet local demand.

Alex Ellis, Director for Curriculum Innovation at NULC said: “We’re delighted to be able to launch this new range of courses to further enhance the range of education and training opportunities available to both young people and adults in North Staffordshire.”

Alex added: “We continually review our curriculum to ensure we’re providing courses that meet local needs and we felt that there was a gap in the market for this type of provision.

“We’re expecting the courses to prove popular and we’d encourage people to apply as soon as possible to secure their place on a course.”

NULC is the only college in North Staffordshire to provide Small Animal Care as a full-time course at Level 1 and Level 2. During the course, students will have the chance to visit a variety of organisations that specialise in caring for small animals, as well as undertaking work placements in animal care environments, such as vets’ practices and rescue centres.

Floristry has been introduced as a full-time course at Level 2 and Level 3 to meet the demand from people wishing to enter the floristry business. It will have a commercial-focus, and run alongside the College’s successful Transform Hair, Beauty and Holistic Therapy Salon and Spa. Part-time courses in Floristry will also be on offer from September 2012.

Picture of NULC Greenhouse

Other new courses include Horticulture (Landscaping and Gardening) at Level 1, which is available both full-time and part-time.

Alex added: “Horticulture complements our existing construction provision and provides a route for students wishing to move into landscape construction and maintenance.”

The College’s Horticulture students will be able to make use of the new gardening facilities at its Skills and Technology Centre, which include greenhouses and space to develop hard-landscaping skills. Tutors also hope to engage with high profile local gardens and visitor attractions to offer work experience opportunities and placements for students.

NULC is currently home to 3,500 full-time students and 1,600 adult learners. The College offers a wide range of courses including A/AS Levels, vocational courses and Apprenticeships as well as a range of courses for adults delivered within workplaces, at community venues and at the College.

It also offers an expanding range of degree-level courses including Foundation degrees and HNC/Ds from its bespoke University Centre, in partnership with Staffordshire University.

To find out more about the new courses available at NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk/newcourses2012 or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Skills Squad medal success at regional competitions

Three students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) are celebrating after winning medals at regional skills competitions.

The medal winners are Jennifer Hulme, aged 19 from Basford, who won Gold in Health and Social Care, Damien Coadey, aged 25 from Kidsgrove, who won Gold in Painting and Decorating and Luke Jones, aged 19 from Halmerend, who won Silver in Brickwork.

The students are all part of the NULC Skills Squad, which was launched in September 2011 to inspire vocational students to achieve national recognition amongst their peers. The Skills Squad is made up of students from Construction, Hair and Beauty and Health and Social Care who have excelled in their course and demonstrated great potential. Skills Squad students receive additional support from the College to enable them to compete at regional, national and international level.

Alex Ellis , Director of Curriculum Innovation at NULC, said: “We’re immensely proud of our students’ success in the skills competitions, especially as this is the first time we as a college have entered. It is testament to the hard work of staff and the commitment of our students, who often put in hours of extra training and practice, and I congratulate them on their achievements.”

Damien, who is studying an NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting, competed against 10 other tradesmen in the South Birmingham Skillbuild on 26 April. Judges awarded him with the Gold medal and commended his attention to detail and strong technical skills. Damien will now go on to represent NULC at the Regional Finals of the Skillbuild 2012 competition and if successful will secure a place in the UK team for the World Skills Competition, due to be held in Germany in 2014.

Luke is a Brickwork Apprentice at NULC and competed in the junior category of the Nottingham Skillbuild, where he had to showcase his construction skills by building a competition model in a designated time. Luke was one of only two competitors to finish on time and was awarded with a Silver medal. Luke will now be training for the Senior Skillbuild competitions which will take place in 2013.

In 2011 the College gained high levels of achievement on vocational courses, where pass rates place the College amongst the top performing colleges in the country. 106 students achieved a triple distinction on advanced vocational courses, equivalent to three As at A Level and attracting the same number of UCAS points.

To find out more about the range of vocational courses available at NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Duke of York visit inspires students to ‘be more than they can be’

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) was delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of York to its campus.

 

 

The Duke of York visited NULC to help promote the work of colleges in providing high quality apprenticeships, work-based learning and business skills development.

After meeting local dignitaries in the College reception area, His Royal Highness was given a tour of the College by NULC Principal and Chief Executive Karen Dobson, accompanied by the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Sir James Hawley.

The visit formed part of The Duke of York's work to encourage and inspire young people to develop the right skills, and to recognise and support the many apprenticeship schemes that are developing as a part of the Government's Skills and Innovation agenda.

He told students he hoped the College could help inspire them to "be more than you think you can be". The Duke of York added: "I can assure all of you young people that you have a great deal more potential than you probably realise or understand. Over the last 10 years I've been doing a huge amount for British business and I will continue to do so, because I believe in it, and I also believe you young people are the future of it."

His Royal Highness visited the College's £6 million Skills and Technology Centre and was given a tour of the mechanical engineering workshop by Paula Rowland, Curriculum Manager for Construction and Engineering.

He talked to apprentices from companies including: Michelin, Goodwins International, ABB, JCB, Ibstock Brick, EMD (Electro-Motive Diesel), Ham Baker and TT Pumps and was given a demonstration of the College's Lincoln Electric Vrtex virtual welding machine, the only one of its kind in the area.

The Duke of York then visited the construction workshops and awarded prizes to the winning team of bricklaying, joinery and painting and decorating students, who had been competing in the inaugural 'Barratt Challenge', in partnership with Britain's largest house builder Barratt Homes.

Principal Karen Dobson said: "I'm very pleased that the Duke's visit has shone a spotlight on the work that we are not necessarily well known for, in terms of our work for employers with apprenticeships and skills training."


"I am very proud of the staff that helped pulled everything together and of course all the students who have done themselves real credit."


Find out more about the wide range of courses available for students of all ages, interests and skill levels at NULC at http://www.nulc.ac.uk/, email info@nulc.ac.uk or call 01782 254254.

NULC students invited to RAF Cosford

Following on from a two day workshop provided by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in November, Construction and Engineering students from NULC have been invited to RAF Cosford to take part in a range of activities.

On Thursday 23 February a number of students will travel to the Shropshire Air Base where they will have the opportunity to meet Sergeant Ian Pringle, from the RAF Motivational Outreach Team who has previously visited the College to provide workshops to Construction and Engineering students. 

Whilst at RAF Cosford the students will spend the morning on the Low Ropes facility followed by lunch in the Junior Ranks Mess.  During the afternoon the students will have time to tour the RAF Museum.

The RAF has been working with students to showcase the types of careers open to them once completing their studies at NULC.

Rob Sproson, lecturer in Construction at NULC said: “The students are very excited about the visit to RAF Cosford.  They’ve been provided with a kit list and are spending time preparing for the visit.”

He continued: “The RAF and in particular Sergeant Ian Pringle have been brilliant and have dedicated valuable time and resources to the students here at NULC, the students have found the sessions they have already attended very inspirational.”

Click here to find out more about Engineering and Construction courses at NULC.

To find out more about the range of careers available in the RAF click here.

NULC students investigate health and safety on site visit

Construction students from NULC were invited for a site visit by Barratt’s.  Five students studying Level 3 in Construction and the Built Environment visited the Barratt’s construction site in Silverdale on Thursday 2 February.

Pictured NULC Construction students James Brian, Jamie Davies, Jason Harbron, Luke Hodgkiss and Dinithi Wijemanne.

The purpose of the visit was to help the students to provide evidence for their Health and Safety assignments as part of their course work.  As part of the Health and Safety assignment, students have to carry out risk assessments and investigate an accident scenario to determine what to do in the event of an accident, who it should be reported to and investigate the causes of an accident on a construction site, who was at fault and what could be done to prevent it happening again.

During the visit the students got the opportunity to carry out Risk Assessments and Accident Investigation on a real operational construction site.

 Pictured NULC Construction student Dinithi Wijemanne.

Mark Turner, Construction Team Leader said: “The visit was extremely beneficial to the students.  They were able to view real life hazards on a construction site and include this in their assignments.”

He continued: “The students were really surprised at how Health & Safety plays such a big part in the general day to day running of a construction site and the amount of working drawings that are required.”

Pictured NULC Construction students James Brian, Jamie Davies, Jason Harbron, Luke Hodgkiss and Dinithi Wijemanne.

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