Solihull College

Animal-azing day out for St Alphege pupils

2012-02-01T15:16:00.001Z

Students at Solihull College, who are currently training for a career in the Early Years sector, put their learning to the test this month as they taught a class from St Alphege Infant School for the day.

The students, who are currently in their final year of the HND Advanced Practice in Work with Children and Families, focused their class around an Animal Antics theme, with lots of different activities for the Year 2 pupils to get involved in.

From making sock puppets and masks to playing musical animals and farmer in the den, the students arranged a variety of sessions for the 30 young people, which allowed both the students and pupils to practice a range of skills.

Student Sophie Lawrie comments: “Organising this day for the pupils has been a great experience and a fantastic opportunity to put our knowledge into practice. We have to carry out work placements in schools and nurseries as part of our course but we’ve never had complete supervision of a class, so we are grateful to St Alphege Infant School for providing us with this opportunity.”

In addition to classroom-based activities, the pupils were also treated to a tour around the College’s Land Based Centre to visit the animals and watching a show in the theatre from the Performing Arts students, before being taken back to school.

Deputy Head Teacher at St Alphege Infant School, Rosemary Hope, comments: “This was a super opportunity for our Year 2 children. They were able to be involved in a lot of craft activities, as well as seeing some very interesting animals, including a water snake and a very large snake. It was fantastic for our children to be able to work in a different environment and to be exposed to some new experiences.”

The HND Advanced Practice in Work with Children and Families is a two-year programme which focuses on areas such as child development, communication, language and literacy, inclusion, health, and management issues in early years.

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Performing arts career event 3/3/2012 with Dancescape

2012-01-27T12:22:00.001Z

Performing arts career events in association with Dance scape 3rd march 2011. Book your place 0121 678 7000

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Oxford Brookes Degree programmes at Solihull College

2012-01-24T14:58:00.001Z

OxfordBrookesatSolihullCollegeVideo.mp4 Watch on Posterous

A short film about the Oxford Brookes Degree level programmes offered at Solihull College

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Mobile phone giant meets enterprising students

2012-01-19T09:55:00.002Z

Students from the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy had a special treat last week as mobile phone giant Richard Moat dropped in to the Academy’s West Midlands Hub at Solihull College.

The students, who are currently studying the Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship

, welcomed Richard, a Trustee of the Peter Jones Foundation, the Academy’s parent organisation, to the College’s Blossomfield Campus to discover his successful entrepreneurial career.
Until recently, Richard was the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO of Everything Everywhere, the company that runs two of the biggest brands in the UK – Orange and T-Mobile. He is also the former Managing Director of T-Mobile in the UK and former CEO of Orange in Romania, Denmark and Thailand.
In addition to finding out about Richard’s successful career in the mobile phone industry, the students discussed the various activities and projects they’ve been getting involved in since they began their course in September, as well as discussing their business plans and aims for the future.
Birmingham-based Richard comments: “Living so close to the students at Solihull College it was the perfect opportunity to come in and meet them and find out first-hand what they think of the programme. I have only been involved with the Academy since August 2011 but already I am extremely impressed with the students’ level of enthusiasm and passion, and it’s great to see the range of goals and aspirations they have. I am sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the future!”
Student Kyle Raffo comments: “It has been a fantastic opportunity to meet Richard and have such a high-profile business person be interested in our work. It was really good to be able to provide him with feedback about the course and also learn about his reasons for getting involved in the Academy.”
Aspiring entrepreneurs who would like to realise and achieve their business dreams can join the Academy at Solihull College later this month to study the Level 2 Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. After successful completion of this course they can progress onto the one-year Level 3 programme from September 2012.

From creating a full business plan and pitching to investors, to setting up and running their own micro-business, the Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship will allow students to develop the skills and knowledge required to start their entrepreneurial career.
For more information about the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy at Solihull College visit www.solihull.ac.uk/pjea or call 0121 678 7000.

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Timnit is crowned Regional Student of the Year by Deloitte

2012-01-11T08:49:00.001Z

Timnit Menghesha, a former student at Solihull College, was recently crowned Regional Student of the Year after excelling on the Deloitte Employability Skills programme.

The College is the Midlands Regional Centre for the initiative, which helps college tutors to teach students the skills, attitudes and behaviours they need to secure and sustain employment.

Timnit, who also successfully completed the BTEC National Diploma in Software Development in 2011, comments: “I am thrilled to receive this award from Deloitte; completing the programme has changed my life. When I first enrolled at College I lacked confidence and didn’t want to get involved in class activities, but I soon realised the classes were interesting so I put all my efforts into taking part. I am now really proud of the skills I have developed, in particular giving presentations to different groups of people, and the confidence I have gained has helped me to do well in university and job interviews.”

Deloitte, the business advisory firm, has invested £2 million in developing the programme, with over 5,000 students taking part every year.

The programme enables students to build self-esteem and self-awareness, understand the attitudes and behaviours required in the workplace, and develop interpersonal, team working and communication skills. On completing the programme each student receives a BTEC Level 2 Award in Employability Skills.

Fatima Ramji, Head of School for Computing at Solihull College, comments: “I am extremely proud of Timnit for receiving this award and it is thoroughly deserved. She is a shining example of how the programme helps develop students’ self-esteem, communication skills and overall behaviour towards work and study.”

After being crowned Regional Student, Timnit agreed to share her experience of the programme to an audience including Baron Baker of Dorking, at the National Employability Skills award ceremony in London. She is now studying Software Engineering at Sheffield University.

Photo caption: Timnit Menghesha and tutor Pippa Kempton with their awards.

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College congratulates airport staff achievements

2012-01-06T15:16:00.001Z

Employees of Birmingham Airport were recently congratulated by the Principal of Solihull College in an event that celebrated their personal development achievements.

Held in the Birmingham Airport Skills Academy (BASA) – a training facility for employees of Birmingham Airport and its onsite companies, as well as other local organisations – the event recognised the achievements of all employees who have recently completed training courses with the College.

The personal development opportunities available through the BASA range from learning a new language, building IT, English and Maths skills, as well as a wide range of management development programmes accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). Each course is designed to help employees enhance both their personal and professional development.

Solihull College Principal Brenda Sheils, who was guest speaker at the event, comments: "We are delighted to have a continued partnership with Birmingham Airport, supporting its employees through various training programmes. It was a real pleasure to be invited to the celebration event and congratulate each learner for their outstanding achievements."

Each employee was presented with a Certificate of Achievement from Airport Chief Executive Paul Kehoe, with two employees – Paul Bowen and Kyle Jones – also commended with special awards.

Paul received the Onsite Learner of the Year Award for completing the Work Skills Award, which includes Health and Safety, Welcome Host, Manual Handling, First Aid and ICT training. Having been out of work for several months Paul commenced the Airport's Jobjunction Project to help boost his confidence and develop his IT, numeracy and literacy skills. On completion of the project Paul successfully secured employment with OCS – a service for people with reduced mobility – and is now a valued member of the team.

Paul Kehoe, Birmingham Airport CEO, comments: "This ceremony once again highlights the hard work of staff from around the Airport site in gaining new skills and qualifications. The relationship we have with Solihull College continues to go from strength-to-strength and I was delighted to be able to congratulate all those collecting an award."

Solihull College has been working in partnership with Birmingham Airport for almost 10 years, providing various training programmes to both Airport employees and its onsite companies. The BASA has been running successfully since April 2010, bringing a multitude of benefits to the many businesses that occupy the Airport.

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Solihull College cuts it with Simon Paul

2012-01-06T10:32:00.001Z

Solihull College is celebrating a new partnership with local hairdressing salon, Simon Paul Hair & Beauty, as it becomes its principal Satellite Centre.

The first of its kind for the Hair and Beauty Academy at Solihull College, the Satellite Centre has been created to allow both organisations to work together and share their experience and expertise to benefit the company’s apprenticeship students.

Entering its 21st year in business, Simon Paul is passionate about recruiting and retaining the brightest talent in the industry and provides a dedicated training academy for its employees.

The in-house training academy, which runs for two days each week, allows the apprentices to build up the relevant knowledge in hairdressing skills, as well as develop hands-on experience in a professional working environment.

Simon Lawson, Founder and Managing Director of Simon Paul Hair & Beauty, comments: “Training is at the heart of our business and I believe it’s the key to our success. Investing in each employee through our dedicated training academy and creating a professional environment for them to progress in their career is paramount to what the business is about. I am delighted to be working with Solihull College and bringing their wealth of knowledge and expertise to the company, ensuring the apprentices achieve their professional hairdressing qualifications.”

The highly-experienced team from Solihull College will visit the company’s salons in Knowle and Solihull on a regular basis to make sure each learner meets the standards required for achieving the NVQ Diploma in Hairdressing, awarded by QCF.

Yvonne Malpass, Head of Hair and Beauty at Solihull College, comments: “We are delighted that Simon Paul has become our first Satellite Centre and extremely excited to be supporting its employees through their training programme. As a well-established and highly regarded local salon it is a privilege to be working with the company and training the hair stylists of the future.”

Solihull College offers a range of hairdressing qualifications for school leavers and adults, which can be studied at both the Blossomfield and Woodlands Campuses in recently developed, state-of-the-art hairdressing salons.

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Theatrical Make-up and Photography collaboration success

2012-01-03T15:15:00.003Z

Students currently enrolled onto the popular Theatrical & Media Make-Up and HND Photography courses at our Blossomfield Campus recently collaborated to highlight their new found skills, with excellent results produced.

Theatrical & Media Make-Up Tutor Gemma Richmond and Photography Tutor, Emma Clarke, both agreed that all students involved had gained from the collaboration: “It gave students a great insight into how both creative art forms are closely linked together, and was really beneficial for all students involved.” Said Gemma.

She added, “My students have just completed their ‘Airbrush’ course unit, and photographs of their work were captured by the Photography students, so it was a great opportunity for both sets of students to add quality photographs to their portfolios, which can be used to showcase their talents.”

For further details on either of these courses, please click the below course titles.
Theatrical & Media Make-Up http://www.solihull.ac.uk/theatrical_and_media_makeup-46757.html
HND Photography http://www.solihull.ac.uk/photography_level_5_hnd_diploma_edexcel-53436.html

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Solihull young people congratulated by Blues star

2011-12-13T09:19:00.001Z

A group of young people from Solihull have been congratulated by Birmingham City star, Curtis Davies, after giving Robin Hood Cemetery a makeover.

The team of 12 from The Prince’s Trust Team programme at Solihull College spent a week and a half redecorating the waiting room, remembrance room and toilet block at the cemetery. The young people were supported in their efforts by Solihull Council’s Environment Champions.

The Prince’s Trust Team programme is a 12-week personal development course giving disadvantaged young people the skills and confidence to find a job. Last year more than three in four young people helped by The Prince’s Trust moved into work, training or education.

The group painted the buildings inside and outside, and hired an industrial carpet cleaner to clean the carpet themselves. They also raised £300 to contribute towards the cost of the project.

They marked the end of the project with a ceremony marking the handover back to cemetery staff and were joined by Birmingham defender Davies, who cut the ribbon to re-open the newly decorated buildings.

Councillor Mrs Diana Holl-Allen, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “I want to thank the young people involved in this project for their excellent work – they’ve done a fantastic job and have really improved the appearance of this area for the many visitors to the cemetery each week.”

The Prince’s Trust, through its partnership with the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association, has helped more than 18,000 young people through football since 1997.

It has worked with more than 65 Premier League and Football League clubs to deliver programmes that have helped three in four people into work, education or training.

For more information about The Prince's Trust Team Programme at Solihull College visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.

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New postgraduate management course launches at Solihull College

2011-12-12T15:18:00.001Z

For people looking to progress in their managerial career look no further than Solihull College, which launches a new postgraduate management course in the New Year.

The Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Management Online (Blended Learning) allows students to undertake their learning online, through the College’s Virtual Learning Environment, whilst also having the option to receive support from the College’s Higher Education department and other facilities.

This one-year programme, awarded by Oxford Brookes University, provides a perfect stepping stone for people wishing to gain a Masters Degree in as little as two years.

Mary Younan, Course Coordinator, comments: “We are really excited to be offering this internationally recognised course through a unique blended learning approach, as it allows students to carry out their studies from home to fit around work and family life, with the added benefit of having additional assignment support from the College. The course provides a practical introduction to the main concepts, approaches and expertise needed to be effective in management and business anywhere around the world.”

Taking part in webinars and other online activities is a key part of the course, which is ideal for managers or administrators with three years’ work experience or graduates with at least one year of work experience, aspiring to an administrative or professional managerial position.

After completing the Postgraduate Certificate students have a range of possibilities open to them for further development, including the Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Leadership at Solihull College, after which students can then progress onto a Masters degree.

For further information visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.

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Fine Art goes on show

2011-12-12T09:52:00.001Z

Students currently working towards their BA (Hons) Fine Art Degree at Solihull College are to showcase their work at a public exhibition later this month.

Situated in The Works Gallery in Birmingham, the exhibition will provide an opportunity for the final-year undergraduates to display their artistic talents to members of the public, ahead of their assessed show next summer.

Arlene Burnett, Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Fine Art Degree, comments: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the students to demonstrate their art to a diverse audience, whilst building their confidence and team work skills. The exhibition will provide a real benefit to the students in advance of their final showcase at the end of the academic year.”

The exhibition is taking place at The Works Gallery in the Jubilee Trade Centre, Pershore Street, Birmingham on Thursday 15th December between 10am and 3pm.

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World-class service at Touchwood

2011-12-09T10:49:00.003Z

Solihull College has teamed up with Touchwood shopping centre to deliver a world-class training course to ensure the centre’s guest safety hosts and retailers can offer the upmost in customer service.

Delivered by the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop Retail Academy at the College, the team at Touchwood undertook the WorldHost training to further enhance the standard and delivery of customer service at the centre. Touchwood conducted the training, which has been adopted by nearly one million people worldwide, to ensure all guests receive the best in customer care.

WorldHost focuses on three core areas, specific to the retail environment, all of which strive to better equip the guest safety hosts with both the skills and knowledge to deliver a superior level of customer service.

Yvonne Malpass, Head of Retail at the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop, comments: “We are delighted to be working with Touchwood to deliver WorldHost to its employees and we believe it is the first shopping centre in the West Midlands to undertake the training. We aim to build on Touchwood’s excellent customer service standards to help ensure that the UK’s retailing reputation reflects the great mix of businesses and products available.”

Touchwood houses some of the UK’s best restaurants, international brands, designer retailers and independent boutique style stores.

Lucy Burnett, Marketing Manager at Touchwood, comments: “Here at Touchwood we pride ourselves on offering excellent customer service and finding new ways to meet the ever-changing needs of our guests. WorldHost provides a fantastic opportunity to further develop our customer relationship skills and ensure that we can continue to deliver the first class service for which we are renowned.”

WorldHost helps retailers achieve consistently outstanding service in their businesses. For further information about how it could benefit your business contact The Greater Birmingham Skills Shop on 0121 678 7181 or visit www.solihull.ac.uk.

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Students make a difference for Teenage Cancer Trust

2011-12-07T13:13:00.002Z

Students from the Business School at Solihull College have made a huge difference to the lives of other young people after they raised an outstanding £5,200.36 for Teenage Cancer Trust.

The students, who are currently working towards the BTEC Extended Diploma in Business or Peter Jones Enterprise Academy (PJEA) Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, were set a challenge to raise as much money as possible for the young persons charity.
Teenage Cancer Trust aims to ensure that every young person with cancer and their family receive the best possible care and professional support throughout their cancer journey. They also empower young people through education and advocacy.
The Trust is the annual charity of credit and loyalty provider LaSer UK, a Solihull-based company that has been working in collaboration with the College’s Business School, mentoring the students each week. The mentors were each assigned a team of students to provide support through their business programme, as well as keep them focused on their fundraising activities.
Richard Smithies, Corporate Social Responsibility Champion at LaSer UK, comments: “When the students were set the challenge to raise as much money as possible for our annual charity Teenage Cancer Trust, I did not envisage the incredible response that they delivered. The students showed real determination and worked hard to meet difficult challenges, both individually and as a team. The amount of money that has been raised is absolutely fantastic and we are proud to have worked with the students, making a difference to the lives of young people with cancer.”
From running a half marathon and washing cars to hosting a charity auction and Greek-themed quiz night, the students organised a range of fundraising activities in a bid to encourage members of the local community to donate.

18-year-old PJEA student Adrian Jarrett, who ran the Birmingham Half Marathon for Teenage Cancer Trust, comments: “I do a lot of running in my spare time but entering the Half Marathon had not crossed my mind until we started our fundraising activities. The race was really tough and part-way through I was really tired so considered going slower, but then I thought about the reason why I was running and it spurred me on to race right until the end. Crossing the finish line felt amazing and I am pleased to have done something positive for such a great cause.”

To celebrate their achievements the students were recently congratulated by Teenage Cancer Trust and LaSer UK, with special awards presented to individuals who excelled in the challenge. An award was also presented to the team Change4Change, in recognition of raising the most money from their charity auction.
Craig Burchell, Regional Fundraiser for Teenage Cancer Trust, comments: “The amount of money raised by the students has completely surpassed my expectations. The charity is extremely grateful for all the hard work and support from the College and the students should be proud of the massive difference they will make to the lives of young people with cancer and their families.”

Triple celebrations for Solihull College

2011-12-07T08:52:00.004Z

Solihull College is celebrating after scooping three national marketing awards - all in the space of one week.

Top among the accolades is the Best Business Award for Best Communications (Public Sector) in recognition of the College’s New Chapter campaign, which showcased the £31million redevelopment of its Blossomfield Campus using a range of innovative marketing techniques.

The Best Business Awards are one of the UK’s highest profile awards which highlight excellence across the private and public sectors.

Commenting on Solihull College’s award, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of Judges for the Best Business Awards, said: “Solihull College’s New Chapter campaign successfully harnessed the latest technology with great success. The campaign, which featured a series of high quality videos that could be downloaded on smart phones or computers, was also highly cost effective. The extremely successful New Chapter campaign shows Solihull College is leading the way in 21st Century communications.”

The redevelopment of the College’s Blossomfield Campus was a gradual process from November 2007 to June 2011, which now incorporates state-of-the-art facilities including a new Conference Centre, Hair and Beauty Academy, Land Based Centre, Arts Centre, Management Centre and Sports Centre.

The other two accolades awarded to Solihull College were presented by The College Marketing Network, an organisation that supports marketing professionals in the further education system at local, regional and national level.

The College was Highly Commended for Marketing to Business and Employers, for its successful delivery of the Solihull Showcase event with Solihull Chamber of Commerce. Held in May, the event aimed to attract and engage local businesses whilst launching the College’s new Conference and Management Centres.

Finally, the third award was presented to the College’s Marketing Coordinator Michelle Hewitt, crowning her FE Marketing Professional of 2011. Leading a five-strong marketing team, Michelle has been instrumental in developing the College’s marketing to really make a difference. Amongst her achievements has been devising the College’s current strap-line and associated campaigns, as well as launching the College’s new fully interactive prospectus for school leavers.

On receiving the awards, Dave Cooper, Director of Marketing at Solihull College, comments: “I am absolutely delighted about gaining these awards. The recent £31million redevelopment has transformed the Blossomfield Campus and our marketing has gone through a similar transformation. The new digital prospectus and innovative QR code campaigns, together with the collaborative work with Solihull Chamber of Commerce to engage with local businesses, are key to the success of our work. To be recognised nationally by different organisations for these initiatives shows how creative the College is in achieving its business objectives.”

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Early Years students raise money for Children in Need

2011-11-25T09:52:00.004Z

From spots and stripes to tigers and cows, these were just some of the pyjamas donned by the Early Years department at Solihull College last Friday as they hosted a fundraising day for Children in Need.

The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Irene Chamberlain, was special guest at the event, which included a tombola, raffle, book stall, henna art tattoos and handmade bracelets, as well as lots of cakes, sweets and homemade treats for people to enjoy.

The fun-filled day was organised by students working towards the Diploma for Children’s Care, Learning and Development and raised in excess of £1,400 for the children’s charity.

Helen Perkins, Head of School for Early Years and Childhood Studies, comments: “It was a brilliant day and we are all really pleased to have raised so much money for such a fantastic charity. We were thrilled that the Mayor was able to join us and see the superb efforts our students have put in to help young people in need.”

In addition to Friday’s fundraising day at the College, the Early Years Students also carried out a sponsored walk from the Wheatsheaf in Sheldon to the College’s Blossomfield Campus, via Solihull town centre.

Student Graham Coates comments: “The event had a lovely, lively atmosphere and everyone who joined in really enjoyed themselves. It was great to raise money for such a worthwhile cause and it made us feel good that we were helping children less fortunate than ourselves.”

Photo caption: Student Rebecca Whitehouse with the Mayor of Solihull and Head of School for Early Years and Childhood Studies, Helen Perkins.

Had a great day co hosting with @contactpda at a Listening to Learners event at Solihull College

2011-11-25T09:47:00.001Z

Had a great day co hosting with @contactpda at a Listening to Learners event at Solihull College, a photo by deadcatdreaming on Flickr.

Solihull College opens its doors to new opportunities

2011-11-24T16:51:00.005Z

Young people are being invited to come and discover the range of learning opportunities available at Solihull College’s at its Open Day next week.Taking place on Saturday 3rd December from 10am until 2pm at the College’s Blossomfield Campus, the Open Day is open to all pupils leaving school this academic year, as well as young people aged 16-18 years who are still considering their future career options.

From A Levels and Vocational Qualifications to Apprenticeships and Foundation Programmes, the College has plenty of courses to choose from in a wide range of subject areas.

These include: Animal Care, Art and Design, Beauty and Alternative Therapy, Business, Computing and IT, Construction, Early Years and Childhood Studies, Engineering, Hairdressing and Barbering, Health and Social Care, Horticulture, Media, Performing Arts, Public Services, Science, Sports and Leisure, and Travel and Tourism.

For those who have an eye for enterprise, the Open Day provides the perfect opportunity to find out about one of the College’s newest programmes – the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy (PJEA) Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

Solihull College is the West Midlands Hub for the PJEA and this Diploma provides an opportunity for aspiring young entrepreneurs to realise and achieve their business dreams. The Level 2 Diploma will be available to study from January to July 2012, and students can then progress onto the one-year Level 3 programme from September 2012.

Tutors from each subject area will be on hand to discuss the different levels and progression routes available, as well as explain what each course involves.

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Student saves life of schoolgirl on last day of first aid training

2011-11-23T08:42:00.001Z

A Solihull College student, who was on her way into College to complete the last day of her first aid course, was suddenly forced to put her training into practice saving the life of a schoolgirl.

Niala Ahmed was travelling into College on the No73 bus in Bordesley Green on Thursday morning (3rd November), when she looked out of the window and noticed a girl standing outside, choking and turning blue.

Despite feeling apprehensive and unsure that she would be able to help, Niala then saw the girl collapse on the floor and realised she had to assist.

18-year-old Niala, from Bordesley Green, comments: “I was really nervous and worried that I would do something wrong, but when I saw the girl turning bright blue and unable to breathe I just tried to remember everything I had learned at College. I tilted her head back and removed a gobstopper from her mouth, but she was still not breathing. I then gave her CPR for about three minutes until the ambulance arrived.”

When the ambulance staff arrived they thanked Niala and commented how she had helped save the girl’s life. If she had been left any longer her heart would have gone into VF (ventricular fibrillation) making it harder to keep the girl alive.

Niala adds: “I didn’t manage to find out the girl’s name or what school she is at, as I was more worried about getting back on the bus and arriving at College on time! But I hope she is fully recovered now and feeling better.”

Niala is currently studying the BTEC National Award in Air Cabin Crew and Aviation Operations, which the three-day first aid course is a compulsory part of.

Her course tutor, Ian Boulton, comments: “I can’t tell you enough how proud I am of Niala. She is an outstanding student who acted calmly and confidently in a very difficult situation. She is a real credit to the College.”

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Students fill up for shoebox appeal

2011-11-22T16:32:00.001Z

Students from Solihull College have been getting into the Christmas spirit early, filling shoeboxes with goodies to give as presents to families in Eastern Europe.

In support of the Link Romania Family Shoebox Appeal, students from across the College have sourced donations from friends, family and local businesses to make Christmas a bit more special for those in need.

The Appeal helps families across various countries that often have to make a choice between buying food or fuel at Christmas time – buying presents is not a priority. Last year’s Appeal delivered 45,379 shoeboxes to families in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Albania and Ukraine.

Maggy Jennings who works in the College Library has coordinated the College’s involvement in the Appeal. She comments: “It has been fantastic to see all the students get involved in such a great cause, especially making the effort to contact local retailers to gain their support. We hope that our donations will go some way to help families less fortunate than ourselves to have a Christmas full of happiness and joy.”

Solihull College has supported the Appeal for the last four years and this year is sending 84 shoeboxes to help make a difference, with 65 of these boxes collected by the College’s A Level and Science students. The boxes include toys, toiletries, games and clothes, as well as a donation of £150 from local builders’ merchants EH Smith to contribute to the cost of transporting the presents abroad.

A student on the BTEC Extended Diploma in Science comments: “It’s been a really enjoyable experience and it makes us feel proud that we’ve done something worthwhile for somebody else. It makes us appreciate how fortunate we are when we see how little other people get, and it’s a pleasure being able to give the families something memorable at Christmas.”

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Golfing apprentices discover future career opportunities

2011-11-10T09:45:00.001Z

Around 200 apprentice golfers from across the country recently gathered at Solihull College to learn about the different career paths available to them after completing the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE).

The AASE is a two-year elite athlete development programme designed to support young, talented, male and female golfers in achieving their maximum potential within the sport. The specialist course is available to young people who demonstrate they have the necessary talent, commitment and skill to make a career from playing golf.

Organised by Andrew Schneider, AASE Academy Manager at Solihull College, and Richard Macro, Regional Performance Development Officer for the English Golf Union, the Progression Fair was designed to help golfing apprentices learn about employment and education opportunities in the golf industry after they complete the AASE.

These include: gaining scholarships in the USA, studying for a Foundation Degree in Professional Golf Studies or Tournament Golf, or a BA Honours Degree in Applied Golf Management Studies. The apprentices were also given an insight into careers in Greenkeeping, Golf Course Management and Golf Equipment Manufacture, by guest speakers from the Greenkeepers’ Training Committee and Golfsmith.

Andrew Schneider comments: “This is the first time we’ve run this type of event and it seems to have been a great success. It is really important for the apprentices to realise the various progression routes available to them after completing the AASE, so it was ideal to bring the different organisations together under one roof and allow the apprentices to explore their options.”

The apprentices, including those from Brockenhurst College in Hampshire and Myerscough College in Preston, were also treated to a presentation by Ladies’ European Tour Golfer and former Solihull College student, Rachel Jennings, who explained her journey to becoming a touring professional.

For more information about the AASE at Solihull College visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.

Photo caption: Dave Robinson, Training Manager for the Professional Golfers’ Association and Andrew Schneider, AASE Academy Manager at Solihull College.

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Solihull College offers alternative route to university

2011-11-09T10:28:00.001Z

For people considering going to university but don’t want the big price tag it brings, look no further than Solihull College as a place that offers affordable excellence and high quality learning on your doorstep.

The College, which offers full-time and part-time university-level programmes in a wide range of subject areas, is opening up its doors this Saturday for people to come in and find out more at an Adult and Higher Education Open Day.

Taking place at the College’s Blossomfield Campus between 10am and 2pm, the Open Event will give people an opportunity to speak directly with tutors to discuss the various courses, progression routes and levels available, as well as explore the recently developed Campus and the fantastic facilities it now boasts.

Courses include HNCs, HNDs, Foundation, BA Honours and Top-Up Degrees, and professional programmes across a variety of subjects. These include Animal Management, Business, Computing and IT, Early Years, Engineering, Graphic Design, Hairdressing, Photography, Sport and Exercise Science, and Teacher Training, amongst others.

Prospective students will also be able to find out about new courses starting in September 2012, including HNCs and HNDs in Applied Science and Health and Social Care, as well as a Master of Arts in Education.

For adults looking to pursue a career in exercise and fitness, the College has also launched new programmes in Sports Massage Therapy and Exercise and Fitness Instructing. Studying topics such as anatomy and physiology, both courses have been designed to help people further their practical experience and knowledge of sports fitness.

For further information about the Adult and Higher Education programmes available at Solihull College visit www.solihull.ac.uk

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School Leavers Take Your Place at Solihull College Open Event

2011-11-02T08:47:00.001Z

For young people leaving school this academic year and still considering their options for the future, come along to Solihull College’s Open Event and discover the range of courses available.

Taking place at the College’s Woodlands Campus, which specialises in vocational programmes, the event will provide school leavers with the opportunity to find out more about their chosen subject area and the fantastic facilities Solihull College has to offer.

Students can find out more about courses in the following areas: Beauty and Alternative Therapy, Construction, Early Years and Childhood Studies, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Installation, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Motor Vehicle Engineering, Hairdressing, Health and Social Care, Public Services, Sports and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, and Apprenticeships in Hospitality, Catering and Retail.

Tutors will be on hand to discuss the different levels and progression routes available, as well as explain what each course involves. The College’s Student Finance, Student Liaison and Careers teams will also be available to answer questions and offer advice.

The Open Event is on Wednesday 9th November from 6pm until 8pm at Woodlands Campus in Smith’s Wood.

Dave Cooper, Director of Marketing, comments: “The purpose of this Open Event is to encourage young people to come and discover the wide range of programmes and facilities we offer at our Woodlands Campus, in preparation for embarking on their chosen course next September. Our Woodlands Campus and the Construction Centre in Chelmsley Wood are very hands-on places to learn, with specialist workshops and salons dedicated to those who wish to pursue a vocational career.”

For more information about the Open Event visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.

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College is congratulated by Mary Portas

2011-11-01T14:22:00.001Z

Solihull College was recently congratulated by retail guru Mary Portas in a celebration event that recognised its achievement of the number of delegates trained on her exclusive Guide to Successful Retailing programme.

Since the programme was introduced in July 2010, Solihull College has successfully trained the third highest number of delegates, out of almost 50 Retail Skills Shops across the UK.

147 delegates have received the specialist retail training, delivered through the College’s Greater Birmingham Skills Shop, which comprises seven one-day Master Classes in a variety of areas including My Shop, My Future and Marketing for More Customers. The programme was created by Mary, in collaboration with Skillsmart Retail, and provides retailers with expert advice and guidance on how to improve their business.

Yvonne Malpass, Head of Retail at Solihull College, comments: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this award from Mary and be recognised for the successful delivery of her Guide to Successful Retailing. We have been delivering the programme since its launch to a wide range of retailers from across the region and we hope to build on this success in the future.”

Early Years, a specialist school uniform shop in Solihull that has undertaken the training, comments: “The Mary Portas courses have been inspiring and thought provoking. We did wonder whether to sign up for the full programme or just cherry pick the courses we felt were most suitable for our business needs - with hindsight we are so glad that we did the full course as points and issues raised in one session were often expanded upon in another, leading to increased insight and understanding. Whilst we do not always agree 100 per cent with Mary's views, we feel that no one could leave these courses without taking away a lot of new ideas and thoughts for developing their business."

As a member of the National Skills Academy (NSA) for Retail, Solihull College is part of the UK’s largest ever network of retail skills shops, providing access to consistent, high quality training for retail businesses, their employees and future workforce.

In addition to the Mary Portas Guide to Successful Retailing, the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop also delivers the UK’s new retail-specific customer service training – WorldHost. The internationally proven programme provides retail staff at all levels with the skills and knowledge to provide outstanding customer service.

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New customer service training launches with free sessions for local retailers

2011-10-13T10:31:00.002+01:00

Local retailers can soon discover the UK’s new retail-specific customer service training, WorldHost, at a free advisory session run by the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop.

In celebration of the nationwide launch of WorldHost on 18th October, the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop will be open for business throughout the day, giving retailers the opportunity to book in with a Business Skills Advisor to gain one-to-one business support.
WorldHost consists of three courses, which provide retail staff of all levels with the skills and knowledge to deliver outstanding customer service. This internationally proven programme has been tailored specifically to the UK’s retail sector by the National Skills Academy for Retail and is delivered exclusively through its network of skills shops, which includes the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop.
Retailers will be given a condensed version of the first course, which highlights the importance of customer service in retail and the standards all staff should be achieving. Attendees will also get information on all three WorldHost courses: Principles of Customer Service; Sales Powered by Service and Frontline Management Solutions.
Good service delivery can greatly improve a retailer’s profits by: reducing complaints, maximising sales and encouraging customer loyalty. Despite these benefits, Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council for Retail, recently found that customer service training in the UK is inconsistent and many staff lack the ability to understand and respond to customer needs. WorldHost aims to raise the standard of customer service in the UK retail sector and be recognised and valued by retailers and customers alike.
Yvonne Malpass, Head of Retail at Solihull College, comments: “We are delighted to offer this opportunity to our local retailers. Good customer service is hugely important to building a sustainable and successful business, especially in these tough times. The positive effects it can have on a business’ bottom line means it should never be an optional extra for retailers, but an essential investment.
“These sessions will give retailers the foundation of customer service skills. I would encourage all local businesses to book an appointment with a Business Skills Advisor and find out how WorldHost can help them.”
To book a one-to-one advisory session or for more information please contact Rebecca Wilks on 0121 678 7181 or rebecca.wilks@solihull.ac.uk.

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Solihull College goes interactive

2011-10-12T12:15:00.001+01:00

Solihull College is the first college in the country to take its prospectus to a new level - by going interactive.

The Interactive Magazine, called TYP, has been created in collaboration with Birmingham-based design company Blue Fish Media and Birmingham’s only local radio station BRMB.

TYP is a fully interactive, digital prospectus for school leavers, showcasing the range of courses on offer at Solihull College and the fantastic facilities it now boasts following its £31 million redevelopment.

The Interactive Magazine features videos of each of the College’s campuses, as well as short films from students and staff about college life and what each course involves.

Dave Cooper, Director of Marketing at Solihull College, comments: “We are extremely excited about our new Interactive Magazine and we hope young people across Solihull and Birmingham will be equally excited. The College is always looking for new ways to promote what further education can offer young people and we hope that by embracing new media platforms it will engage them in a creative and stimulating way.”

To support the Interactive Magazine, the College has also produced a Quick Reference Guide to its 2012/13 Full-time Prospectus, which provides students with a brief overview of the College’s campuses and open events, student life, as well as the range of levels and courses available. The 12-page brochure also features four QR Codes, giving students the opportunity to use their smart phone and scan through to different areas of the Interactive Magazine.

Dave adds: “We are pleased to be working with BRMB and Blue Fish Media to use new and innovative digital marketing, so that we are at the forefront of new technology and maximising our opportunity to communicate effectively with young people. We hope the Magazine will allow young people, and their parents, to realise that further education can be studied at all levels and in a variety of ways including Vocational, Apprenticeship and Foundation programmes.”

Adrian Serle, Group Commercial Director at Orion Media, comments: “We were delighted to partner Solihull College on creating this innovative and exciting piece of work. Whilst radio remains at the core of what we are about, we pride ourselves on working with customers, developing real insight into the demands of their consumers, and helping them take full advantage of opportunities beyond advertising on the radio. Broader creative thinking and giving consideration to the technological opportunities available are for us, at the centre of making this happen.”

To view the Interactive Magazine and discover what Solihull College has to offer, simply visit www.solihull.ac.uk/digimag.

In addition to the launch of TYP, a 4D video has also been created, which brings the Interactive Magazine to life. To watch the 4D showcase visit the College’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/TeamSolihull.

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Take Your Place 4warD at Solihull College

2011-10-11T15:21:00.001+01:00

solihull4dvr3.mp4 Watch on Posterous

Watch Solihull College come to life in a 4D video that showcases its NEW Interactive Magazine -- the Full-time Prospectus for 2012/13.

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Take Your Place 4warD at Solihull College

2011-10-11T09:54:00.000+01:00

Watch Solihull College come to life in a 4D video that showcases its NEW Interactive Magazine -- the Full-time Prospectus for 2012/13.

School Leavers Take Your Place at Solihull College Open Day

2011-10-11T09:30:00.000+01:00

For young people leaving school this academic year and still considering their options for the future, come along to Solihull College’s Open Day and discover the range of courses on offer.

From A Levels and Vocational Qualifications to Apprenticeships and Foundation Programmes, the College has plenty of courses to choose from in a wide range of subject areas.

These include: Animal Care, Art and Design, Beauty and Alternative Therapy, Business, Computing and IT, Construction, Early Years and Childhood Studies, Engineering, Hairdressing and Barbering, Health and Social Care, Horticulture, Media, Performing Arts, Public Services, Science, Sports and Leisure, and Travel and Tourism.

Tutors will be on hand to discuss the different levels and progression routes available, as well as explain what each course involves.

The Open Day is taking place on Saturday 15th October from 10am until 2pm at the College’s Blossomfield Campus in Solihull. The event will also give potential students an opportunity to experience the fantastic facilities the College now boasts following its recent £31 million redevelopment.

Local radio station BRMB will also be on campus to provide live music and entertainment, as well as announce the lucky winner of an iPad2! For the chance to win this fantastic prize, Year 11 students simply need to visit www.solihull.ac.uk/openevents and upload their funniest school photo, by midday on Friday 14th October.

The best photos will be displayed at the Open Day so students need to come along and see if their photo has been marked with a winning special star and they can then pick up their iPad2.

For more information about the Open Day visit www.solihull.ac.ukor call 0121 678 7000.

Blazing new relationship for Solihull College

2011-09-30T10:36:00.001+01:00

Solihull College is delighted to announce it has begun working with Birmingham Airport Fire Service, to deliver training to the College’s Cabin Crew students.

The new working relationship has been formed after Birmingham Airport Fire Service approached the College to offer its support to students, teaching them fire, smoke and evacuation drills.

As part of their BTEC Award in Air Cabin Crew and Aviation Operations, the students undertake theory-based lessons in the classroom to learn about aircraft emergency situations, but in addition to this they will now receive expert training at Birmingham Airport to put the theory into practice. The College’s Public Services students will also benefit from this new partnership as they will have the opportunity to carry out work experience with the airport’s fire fighters.

Paul Ankrett, Fire Services Manager at BHX Fire & Rescue, comments: “We are delighted to be in a position to offer the students at Solihull College some valuable workplace experience. The College has helped many of my staff gain credible IT and other qualifications over the last few years and so we are only too pleased to be able to strengthen this relationship. Students on both Cabin Crew and Public Services courses will gain much insight into their careers from the practical instruction on hand from our experienced fire fighters.”

Under a controlled environment in an aircraft simulator, the students will be tasked with navigating their way around a smoke-filled aircraft, locating a dummy of a person, and bringing them to safety. The students will need to demonstrate they have the strength to remain in a smoke-filled atmosphere for 10 minutes, as well as extinguish various types of aircraft fires.

With over 20 years experience in the aviation industry Ian Boulton, Travel and Tourism Lecturer at Solihull College, comments: “We are delighted to have formed this new partnership with Birmingham Airport Fire Service. The students will receive expert training from industry professionals, providing them with the knowledge and experience to enhance their future career. The training forms an essential part of the cabin crew role and it’s excellent that our students will have already gained experience in this area prior to applying for jobs with airlines.”

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Retail Academy launches at Solihull College

2011-09-30T10:31:00.001+01:00

Retailers from across the region poured into Solihull College this week to celebrate the official opening of its Retail Academy.

The celebration saw College Principal Brenda Sheils welcome guests into the new Retail Academy, which comprises a purpose-built visual merchandising training facility and state-of-the-art teaching rooms, incorporated inside the College’s recently developed Management Centre.

Brenda Sheils comments: “We were delighted to welcome retailers from across the region to the launch of our Retail Academy and discover the range of retail training programmes we offer. Delivered through the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop, our retail training is of the highest quality and we continually ensure it meets the needs of retailers and our local community. We are extremely proud to be a member of the National Skills Academy for Retail working with so many local and national companies to support their retail training needs.”

Guest speakers at the launch included Jane Daly - Head of Head Office Learning and Development at Marks and Spencer, Sara Challinor - National Quality and Membership Manager at the NSA for Retail, and Dave Hammond - Independent Learning and Development Officer at AF Blakemore & Son Ltd – one of the largest family-owned businesses in the UK.

Jane Daly, who has worked in the retail industry all of her career, comments: “It is a real pleasure to be invited here today and celebrate the launch of the Retail Academy - I am truly impressed with the fantastic facilities and learning provision the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop has to offer. Marks and Spencer is determined to raise the profile of careers in retail and by working in partnership with the National Skills Academy for Retail and Greater Birmingham Skills Shop will allow us to achieve this.”

As part of the event, retailers were treated to various taster sessions where they discovered how the Retail Academy can support their individual and business needs. These included Mary Portas and WorldHost Master Classes and a demonstration of Mock Shop visual merchandising.

Representing independent retailers, Dave Hammond comments: “We have been working with the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop for 18 months now, to support us in delivering Apprenticeship programmes to our staff working in varying roles across our independent estate. The coordination and support we have received has been fantastic and we are now in a position to roll out the Apprenticeship framework to more of our retailers. We have had the pleasure of seeing staff complete work-based projects as part of our programme that has proven return on investment and added real value to the business.”

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Solihull College engineers new apprentices for TRW

2011-09-30T10:28:00.001+01:00

Solihull College has joined forces with local automotive company, TRW Automotive, to train its engineers of the future.

Following a joint recruitment drive between the College, TRW and the National Apprenticeship Service, TRW has successfully recruited five apprentices, who began their apprenticeship in Engineering at the College’s Woodlands Campus in Smith’s Wood this week.

Based in Solihull, TRW is one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers and the leader in automotive safety. The apprenticeship programme has been specially tailored to suit the needs of TRW, to enable the company to train the apprentices in the best way to support their specific business needs.

Rebecca Austin, Resourcing Manager at TRW, comments: “The staff at Solihull College really understand the meaning of the word ‘partnership’ and have taken the time to get to know our business and how it works. As a result, we have very high quality apprentices starting an excellent programme tailored to our needs.

“TRW is a growing business and we have a need for talented engineers, so as well as hiring additional experienced people, we recognise the need to develop young people to support our future needs.”

The Apprenticeship Programme is for a period of four years: during their first year the apprentices – Louis, Alexander, Thomas, Michael and Simone - will attend college full-time working towards an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Engineering. They will learn the basic fundamentals of the engineering world, including Working Safely in an Engineering Environment and Using and Communicating Technical Information.

Throughout their second and third years, the apprentices will be working onsite at TRW and attending college one day a week. This will allow them to develop their work-based skills and put their first-year knowledge into practice. In their final years, the apprentices will complete a HNC in their chosen specialism of engineering.

Andrew Simms, Apprenticeship Coordinator for Engineering at Solihull College, comments: “We are delighted to be working with TRW and look forward to teaching their apprentices over the next four years. The Apprenticeship Programme will give the learners an opportunity to develop their theory and practical knowledge of engineering, providing them with the required employability skills of a modern engineer.”

In addition to employing five engineering apprentices, TRW has also recruited an IT apprentice with the support of Solihull College.

18-year-old Charlie Vale, who was initially going to study A Levels, has opted to go down the Apprenticeship route instead. He has embarked on a four-year programme with TRW where he will study the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma in Software Development, the Advanced Apprenticeship for IT Professionals and the HNC in Business Information Systems.

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Solihull College extends its animal family - simples!

2011-09-30T10:24:00.001+01:00

Whilst the students were off enjoying their summer break, the Land Based Centre at Solihull College was enjoying the arrival of two baby meerkats.

The two kits were born on 10th August to parents Hope and Houdini, but animal care staff at the college are yet to identify the gender of the new arrivals!

Nigel Smith, Head of the Land Based Centre, comments: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome the new meerkats to our animal family. They have settled in extremely well to their new surroundings and it’s a fantastic opportunity for the students to experience caring for them and understanding their habits from a young age. Meerkats are very protective animals and therefore the parents are making it difficult to get close to the babies and establish what gender they are. Hopefully we’ll find out soon though!”

The meerkats live in a purpose-built environment, which comprises a tree trunk with two tunnels and heat lamp underneath. They feed on a mixture of vegetables, fruits and insects and the kits have already started copying their parents and scavenging for food.

The Land Based Centre at Solihull College was completed in May 2011 as part of the £31 million redevelopment programme and encompasses a three-storey building, complete with specialist rooms to accommodate a diverse animal family including aviary birds, parrots, skunks and rabbits. In addition, a large range of exotics including lizards, snakes, tortoises, fish and turtles are also enjoying life in specially designed reptile habitats. To the outside, external barns and paddocks have also been built to house goats, pigs, sheep and donkeys.

The College’s extensive gardens have also been designed to provide the horticulture students with an opportunity to grow and identify plants, maintain grounds, and carry out conservation projects. A new all-weather barn has also been built to accommodate the students’ practical work and projects, allowing them to study come rain or shine.

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Thinking of getting higher? Think Solihull College

2011-09-01T10:36:00.002+01:00

For people thinking about venturing into a new field or moving forward in their current career, Solihull College is the ideal local place to help achieve this.
The College offers a wide range of part-time Higher Education (HE) courses including HNCs, Foundation Degrees, Top-Up Degrees and professional programmes, designed to fit around work and family life.
From a HNC in Animal Management to a Foundation Degree in Business Management and Communications, the part-time HE qualifications at Solihull College allow learners to continue working in their chosen industry whilst developing the skills and knowledge needed to take their career to the top.
To find out more about the different courses available, the College is holding a Part-Time Higher Education Advice Evening at its Blossomfield Campus on Tuesday 6th September between 5pm-8pm. Prospective students are invited to come along and discuss the various courses, progression routes and levels available to them.
Dedicated enrolment sessions are also taking place at the College’s Blossomfield and Woodlands campuses over the next week for people to gain one-to-one advice and enrol onto their chosen course.
At Blossomfield the sessions are on: Saturday 3rd September 10am-12noon, Tuesday 6th September 5-8pm, Wednesday 7th September 5-8pm and Thursday 8th September 5-8pm. At Woodlands the sessions are on: Monday 5th September 5-8pm and Wednesday 7th September 5-8pm.
For further details about the part-time Higher Education courses available at Solihull College visit http://www.solihull.ac.uk.

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Solihull College becomes the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy

2011-08-09T10:55:00.002+01:00

Solihull College has become the West Midlands Hub for the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy (PJEA) and will be delivering a new enterprise qualification to aspiring young entrepreneurs.

The Enterprise Academy is the brainchild of Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones, who had a vision to create a centre of excellence for developing enterprise skills. Peter’s vision was to shift the boardroom into the classroom, equipping the future generation of entrepreneurs with the skills and confidence to aim higher.

Solihull College is the only college in the West Midlands and surrounding region to be working with the Enterprise Academy, and as Regional Hub it will be responsible for encouraging other local learning providers to deliver the qualification in the future. The College will host regular master classes and business networking events to other colleges and proactively promote the Enterprise Academy to relevant stakeholders.

From September, the PJEA at Solihull College will give young people aged 16-19 the opportunity to study the Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and inspire them to reach their potential. As part of this unique course, students will participate in master classes and gain expert advice from leading entrepreneurs; discover the entrepreneurial journeys of various business people; carry out work placements in different organisations; and receive guidance from industry professionals on areas such as sales, marketing and finance.

Kate Angel, Business Enterprise Manager for the PJEA, comments: “This is a really exciting time for the College. We will be giving young people the chance to study a new enterprise qualification, designed to help them realise and achieve their business dreams. As part of the course, students will work on real-life business challenges and interact with employers to prepare them for their entrepreneurial careers.”

The Diploma is delivered at two levels dependent on experience. The Level Two programme involves developing a viable business idea, creating a full business plan, and pitching to investors. The Level Three programme supports students in setting up and running a micro-business for a period of at least four months, during which time they will learn about business planning and finance, communicating with customers, and planning for future expansion, amongst other modules.

The Diploma will be delivered by the College’s team of experienced business tutors, alongside coaching and mentoring from top companies. Students will have dedicated access to the College’s new Management Centre, which includes modern and spacious teaching areas that are fully equipped with first-class resources.

For aspiring entrepreneurs wishing to find out more about the Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, come along to the College’s Blossomfield Campus on Wednesday 17th August at 4pm to attend a PJEA Awareness Session.

Alternatively visit www.solihull.ac.uk/pjea or call 0121 678 7000 to find out more.

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Students help to Bridge the Gap

2011-07-15T10:02:00.003+01:00

Students from Solihull College are on their way to securing jobs at the London 2012 Olympic Games thanks to Bridging the Gap.

As part of their course the students, who are studying for a National Diploma in Public Services, have been working as stewards at various events across the region and are now guaranteed an interview to become stewards at the Games next year.

Bridging the Gap (BtG) is inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and aims to help deliver successful Games in 2012, as well as providing students with a platform to building future careers in the security industry, the uniformed services and armed forces.

Solihull College is one of few Colleges within the West Midlands working with Bridging the Gap and providing students with the opportunity to learn about stewarding as part of their course.

Andy Kane, Head of School for Public Services at Solihull College, comments: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the students and we are delighted to be working with Bridging the Gap to support the Games. Completing this additional qualification as part of their National Diploma will allow the students to develop their stewarding skills, gain valuable work experience and help them improve their career prospects.”

The students have been stewarding at local events including the Knowle Fun Run and Birmingham Half Marathon, as well as helping out at other borough occasions with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

Andy adds: “Throughout next year the students will also complete the SIA Door Supervisors qualification – the license to become qualified door supervisors and licensed security personnel. This will enable the students to develop their skills further and increase their future job opportunities.”

For young people interested in a career in the public services they can find out more about the courses run at Solihull College by visiting http://www.solihull.ac.uk or calling 0121 678 7000

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Maximise your opportunities in digital marketing by studying at Solihull College

2011-07-14T09:43:00.002+01:00

Solihull College is pleased to announce it will be delivering a new qualification in digital marketing, which is ideal for those who want to maximise their opportunities in the world of online marketing.

The Diploma in Digital Marketing, which is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), allows learners to find out more about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Pay-Per-Click (PPC), online advertising, email marketing, viral marketing, online PR and social media.

Solihull College is the only college within the West Midlands offering this exciting and current course, which will give learners a valuable knowledge and understanding of an increasingly popular area of business.

In addition to this, the College will also be running the CAM Diploma in Marketing Communications, which is perfect for people who want to become an effective communicator in their business. The qualification provides an in-depth understanding of the range of communication methods used to meet business objectives, including advertising, public relations, direct marketing and sales promotion.

To find out more about these exciting new courses Solihull College is holding a special Open Event on Tuesday 12th July between 5pm and 8pm. The College’s tutors will be on hand to offer one-to-one advice and further information about these new qualifications, as well as the complete range of Management and Professional courses run at Solihull College.

Solihull College offers education and training courses for residents and businesses in Solihull, Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Warwickshire, and across the East and West Midlands.

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School conservation area is made over by Solihull College Prince's Trust Team

2011-07-13T16:33:00.002+01:00

A local school has been given a makeover thanks to young people currently on the Prince’s Trust Team programme, run by Solihull College.
As part of their 12-week personal development programme, the Team have undertaken a project in their local community, renovating a conservation area at Widney Junior School.
The Team programme enables young people to build on their skills and motivation to help them into jobs. More than three in four young people helped by The Prince’s Trust go into work, education or training.
Situated in the school grounds, the conservation area has become extremely overgrown with stinging nettles and brambles making it dangerous for the children to take part in their Forest School, which is part of their curriculum.
Over the past two weeks the Team have been taking down the overgrown vegetation, clearing ponds and creating new areas for the children to enjoy. These include a decking area so the children can go pond dipping and use it as an outdoor classroom, building a tree house, creating a tyre and bark play area, making a musical glockenspiel alley through the trees, and installing seating areas from recycled materials including old tyres and bark chippings.
Leon Chamberlain, Deputy Head Teacher at Widney Junior School, comments: “The transformation in only two weeks was phenomenal and the spirit of working together and making a positive difference led the Team to success. The gasps of amazement from the children as their new conservation area was unveiled gave us all a great deal of satisfaction, as many of the children knew that we would not have been able to use the area in September as it was too overgrown and dangerous. The Prince’s Trust Team has created an amazing legacy piece at Widney, which children, teachers and visitors to our school will enjoy learning in for many, many years.”
To help them carry out the community project the Team received donations of materials from various local businesses including Davies Timber, EH Smith Builders Merchants and Woolmans Garden Centre, as well as completing their own fundraising projects including a four-hour sponsored silence and cake sale, to raise money for equipment and accessories.
One of the students, currently on the Team programme, comments: “The way we look at this Team is the way we looked at our community project - we have, together, made something from nothing.”
This month The Prince’s Trust celebrates its 35th birthday. Since its launch by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1976 the youth charity has helped more than 650,000 disadvantaged young people reach their potential.
As part of the Trust’s 35th birthday celebrations on Facebook this summer, the charity is giving away lots of fantastic prizes. To be in with a chance of winning prizes from a Blackberry PlayBook Tablet to an HP Mini Laptop, simply go to www.facebook.com/princestrust, click on ‘Like’, then follow the clues on The Trust’s Facebook Wall.

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Secretary of State opens redeveloped Blossomfield Campus

2011-07-13T11:54:00.003+01:00

Solihull College was delighted to welcome the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable, to officially open its Blossomfield Campus this week.

Having undergone a £31 million redevelopment over the past three years, the Blossomfield Road campus now provides a state-of-the-art education environment in modern landscaped surroundings.

Addressing around 40 guests, including Paul Thandi, Chief Executive of The NEC Group, the Rt Hon Dr Vincent Cable MP commented: “Thank you for inviting me to Solihull College today; it is a real honour to be here and experience the magnificent new facilities that will now benefit both students and the economy.”

During his visit, the Secretary of State toured the College’s new facilities including a purpose-built Land Based Centre, which incorporates the College’s diverse animal, bird and reptile family, The Hair and Beauty Academy, The Arts Centre and The Management and Conference Centre. Throughout the tour the Rt Hon Dr Cable was greeted by a range of students currently working towards Animal Management, Cabin Crew and Hairdressing qualifications, who were able to show off their fantastic new learning environments to him.

Brenda Sheils, Principal of Solihull College, comments: “It was a great privilege to welcome the Rt Hon Dr Cable to our Blossomfield Campus and officially open our fantastic new facilities. The redevelopment project has enabled our teaching rooms, workshops and resource centres to be remodelled and upgraded, allowing our learners to benefit from a truly excellent educational experience that we are extremely proud of.”

The Blossomfield Campus redevelopment has increased the College’s provision for specialist vocational training in Art, Media, Graphic Design, Animal Care, Horticulture, Textiles, Sport, Photography, Performing Art, Hair and Beauty, Business, as well as Management and Professional courses.

Pictures by and copyright to Jon Mullis / Solihull Observer 2011.

Students pitch business ideas to industry experts

2011-07-13T11:34:00.002+01:00

Students from Solihull College have been pitching their business ideas to industry experts as part of their course where they learn how to set up a small business.

Around 20 students went in front of the panel on Thursday 9th June, which included the manager of a local engineering company and a Small Business Advisor from Solihull Council.

Andy Jones, General Manager of Mattei Compressors Ltd, an engineering company based in Warwickshire, comments: “It was a pleasure to be invited into the College and offer my knowledge and support to the students. I remember what it was like at their age trying to start off in the business world, so I am pleased to offer some guidance and pass on my expertise to our future business people.”

The students, who are currently on a BTEC First Diploma in Business, received feedback from the panel about positive aspects of their business plans and also areas of improvement, which will benefit them in their future studies.

Student Michael Bristow, whose business plan was to connect manufacturers with sole traders, comments: “It was a nerve-wracking experience but definitely worthwhile. The feedback I received from the business experts was really positive and beneficial, and the whole experience has boosted my confidence in delivering presentations.”

After completing their course this summer some of the students are hoping to progress onto the Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, which is a new course being delivered at Solihull College with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy. This new and exciting programme will allow learners to develop the skills and knowledge required to start their own entrepreneurial career.

Student Michael Bristow, whose business plan was to connect manufacturers with sole traders, comments: “It was a nerve-wracking experience but definitely worthwhile. The feedback I received from the business experts was really positive and beneficial, and the whole experience has boosted my confidence in delivering presentations.”
After completing their course this summer some of the students are hoping to progress onto the Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, which is a new course being delivered at

Photo caption: Marcus Cole (Small Business Advisor), Andy Jones (Mattei Compressors), Phil Bancroft (Head of School for Business at Solihull College) grill student Michael Bristow.

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Jennings gets professional career off to a tee

2011-07-13T10:31:00.002+01:00

16th June 2011

Jennings gets professional career off to a tee

Rachel Jennings, a graduate of Solihull College’s AASE Golf Programme, has tee-d off her professional golfing career in fantastic style after finishing third at the Slovak Open in May.

The 22-year-old, who graduated from the College in 2010 was leading the field by one shot after a 5-under-par first round, but narrowly missed out on the first place finish and a maiden professional title.

Despite missing out on the top spot, Rachel was pleased with her performance and comments: “The competition has taught me that I can compete; I was in the final group and I held my own.”

Rachel gained her Ladies’ European Tour Card after completing the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) for Golf at Solihull College and is in no doubt about how important the AASE programme has been to her achievements.

Rachel adds: “Being on the AASE was fantastic for me as it allowed me to concentrate on training and competing as an international, while also gaining qualifications that will benefit me in the future.”

The AASE programme is a specialist course for athletes, usually aged between 16 and 19 years, who have a realistic potential to play their sport as their main career. The AASE combines a specialist training programme with an academic qualification that is written specifically to complement the training demands of aspiring elite athletes.

The AASE Golf Programme at Solihull College is run in conjunction with England Golf and attracts some of the country’s most promising golfers.

To find out more you can book a place at a Golf Information Evening by calling 0121 678 7000 or visit www.solihull.ac.uk/golf

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Enterprising students impress local businesses

2011-06-09T09:00:00.002+01:00

Students from Solihull College recently showed off their enterprise skills to a range of local business people in an Enterprise and Employer Engagement Day held at the College’s new Management Centre.

The Business Studies students, who are currently in their first year of a BTEC programme, organised the event for the course’s second year students to help develop their team work and problem solving skills.

Working alongside seven local companies, the students were tasked with creating an idea for a product, which they then had to pitch to the business people ‘Dragons’ Den’ style.

Craig Sharp, Managing Director of Abussi Ltd, a specialist IT support company, comments: “The event was extremely well organised by the students and the efforts displayed by everyone was outstanding. It’s made me realise that our local young people are extremely talented and enthusiastic and definitely worth employing.”

Other employers involved in the event, which was organised with The Working Knowledge Group and funded through the Aimhigher government initiative, included STADCO, Mattei Compressors Ltd, Ideas to Reality, Solas Consultants, Utopia Resourcing and Alchemy Advance.

Student Simran Kaur, who was a member of the winning team, comments: “The whole day was a really good experience and great fun. The experts were really inspirational and gave us lots of useful advice about the working environment.”

Solihull College is now working with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy to deliver a new enterprise qualification to budding entrepreneurs. The College is the only learning provider in the West Midlands to be working with the Enterprise Academy and is offering young people aged 16-18 the opportunity to study the BTEC Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at two levels.

For further information about the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy at Solihull College and the courses starting in September, visit www.solihull.ac.uk.

Photo caption: A group of students discuss their ideas with Craig Sharp.

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Solihull College celebrates 1,000 apprentices

2011-06-06T16:34:00.003+01:00

In celebration of currently having 1,000 apprentices in learning, Solihull College invited David Way, Chief Operating Officer of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), to meet the 1,000th apprentice, Nabeel Hussain.
Having recently started his Customer Service Apprenticeship at LaSer UK, one of the largest employers in Solihull, Nabeel was congratulated by David on Friday 20th May at the College’s recently developed Blossomfield Campus.
18-year-old Nabeel comments: “I have always wanted to work in Customer Service and LaSer UK is providing me with a great opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge in this area. Doing the Apprenticeship is allowing me to get the best of both worlds as I am getting direct experience whilst gaining industry recognised qualifications.”
With its Head Office based in Solihull, LaSer UK employs over 500 local people and is the power behind some of the UK’s leading card, loyalty and retail finance programmes, managing 4 million customers on behalf of over 200 organisations.
Lynda Brennan, Head of HR at LaSer UK, comments: “We approached Solihull College to discuss what type of development would best suit our organisation and having found out about the Customer Service Apprenticeship programme this seemed like the perfect solution. We have been able to tailor Nabeel’s Apprenticeship to suit his and the company’s needs and we would definitely consider recruiting more apprentices in the future.”
As part of his Apprenticeship Nabeel is learning a variety of skills associated with delivering excellent customer service, including communicating effectively with customers, dealing with customer queries, requests and problems, liaising with customers on the telephone, and developing customer relationships, amongst others.
Congratulating Nabeel on being the 1,000th apprentice, David comments: “It is a fantastic achievement for Solihull College to currently have 1,000 apprentices in learning and to be part of the celebration is a real pleasure. It sends a really positive message to employers and the local community that the College is proud of the learning it provides and is 100 per cent behind supporting the futures of our young people.”
Thanking LaSer UK for their valued and continued relationship with the College, Principal Brenda Sheils comments: “We are extremely pleased to be working with LaSer UK and supporting the business through Nabeel’s Apprenticeship programme. We are very proud of currently having 1,000 apprentices in learning and we were delighted to welcome David and LaSer UK to the College to celebrate this fantastic achievement with us.”
Solihull College offers Apprenticeship programmes in a wide range of areas including retail, construction, IT, and horticulture, amongst others. For details about how an apprentice could benefit your business, please call Solihull College Employer Services Team on 0121 678 7181 or email sales@solihull.ac.uk.

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Apprenticeship makes dream come true for Thomas

2011-05-18T09:35:00.004+01:00

From having low self confidence and little independence, Thomas Doherty is now living his dream of working in the health care industry, thanks to the Apprenticeship programme delivered by Solihull College.

19-year-old Thomas, who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, initially enrolled at Solihull College on a BTEC Introductory Diploma in Health and Social Care, which gave him an insight into the health care industry. After completing this course Thomas was eager to further his education and progress his career so the Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care was the ideal next step.

A willingness and determination to learn meant Thomas completed his Apprenticeship after just six months, during which time he worked three days a week at The Avenue, a residential care home for people with learning disabilities.

Thomas comments: “The Apprenticeship has made a huge difference to my life and completing the programme is a huge achievement for me. I now have an established career path that I wish to pursue and what was a dream is now achievable for me.”

Following his Apprenticeship Thomas successfully secured employment at the Heart of England NHS (Foundation) Trust, working as a Health Care Assistant at Heartlands Hospital.

He adds: “Completing my Apprenticeship has had a profound effect on me and the management of my Asperger’s Syndrome. I am employed and qualified in a job that I enjoy. Because of my disability there were always doubts about my level of independence but I am now a more patient, confident individual with a passion for helping others. In the future I would like to work as a Speech and Language Therapist, as having a stammer myself and after working with patients who have speech impediments, stammering and swallowing difficulties, I think it would be a very fulfilling role.”

Thomas’ role at the hospital involves providing health care to patients and addressing their individual needs. From washing and dressing patients to serving meals and making beds, his role as a health care assistant is varied and fulfilling.

Maurice Fordy, who has guided and supported Thomas through his college education, comments: “When
Thomas initially enrolled at Solihull College he was a shy individual with certain behavioural traits, which meant he was struggling to enter the job market. Having seen Thomas progress through the BTEC and Apprenticeship programmes and now secure a job as a Health Care Assistant makes me feel extremely proud and I am sure he will go on to bigger and brighter success.”

Solihull College is proud to hold the Training Quality Standard (TQS) for Health and Care in recognition of its commitment to delivering quality training and development solutions for employers. The College is also a National Skills Academy for Social Care, which highlights the College’s commitment to excellent adult social care.

Solihull College offers education and training courses for residents and businesses in Solihull, Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Warwickshire, and across the East and West Midlands.

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Two students fly high and land IT Apprenticeship

2011-05-06T14:53:00.003+01:00

After competing against more than 100 applicants, two successful candidates have joined one of Solihull’s largest organisations, Birmingham Airport, to undertake an IT Apprenticeship.
Delivered by Solihull College, a Microsoft and Cisco Academy, the Apprenticeship for IT Professionals provides IT enthusiasts with an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge required to become competent in a range of job roles, including IT Support Technician or Network Technician.

Curtis Connell and James Wheeler have joined Birmingham Airport’s team of IT experts, working underneath the supervision of Head of Information Services Wayne Smith. He comments: “We’re delighted to be taking part in the Apprenticeship scheme and helping Curtis and James to gain real experience and knowledge within a busy working environment.”

The Apprenticeship programme is delivered over a period of up to 18 months, during which time Curtis and James will attend College one day a week. One of the benefits of the programme is that it can be individually tailored by the College to suit the specific needs of the Airport’s apprentice roles.
Commenting on his new post at Birmingham Airport, Curtis Connell, aged 18 from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, said: “I’m so pleased to get this opportunity, particularly at such a diverse and busy place of work like the Airport. The next year or so will give me some firsthand experience into IT and hopefully allow me to develop my career in this field in the future.”

In addition to completing the Apprenticeship framework, the apprentices will also gain a number of industry-recognised qualifications from Microsoft, Cisco and CompTIA.

James Wheeler, aged 18 from Stoke Golding, Warwickshire, also said: “I’m already enjoying this placement and have learnt so much about IT and the Airport environment already. The Apprenticeship scheme allows me to get practical experience whilst gaining qualifications so it really is a great scheme and I would encourage other people to go for it.”

Birmingham Airport handles more than nine million passengers every year flying to destinations within the UK, Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, North America and the Caribbean. The Airport is home to around 150 companies on-site employing more than 7,000 people.

Solihull College already has an established partnership with Birmingham Airport as it jointly runs the Birmingham Airport Skills Academy (BASA) – an on-site facility that gives Airport employees and organisations the opportunity to undertake a wide range of qualifications and personal development programmes.

On-site companies at Birmingham Airport can also take advantage of a further Apprenticeship programme delivered by Solihull College - the Aviation Operations on the Ground Apprenticeship. For further information please call Business Skills Advisor Rebecca Wilks on 0121 678 7181.

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Peter Jones Enterprise Academy comes to Solihull College

2011-05-06T12:09:00.003+01:00

Solihull College is delighted to announce it will be working with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy to deliver a new enterprise qualification to budding entrepreneurs.
The Enterprise Academy is the brainchild of Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones, who had a vision to create a centre of excellence for developing enterprise skills. Peter’s vision was to shift the boardroom into the classroom, equipping the future generation of entrepreneurs with the skills and confidence to aim higher.
Peter Jones CBE, founder of the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, comments: “2011 marks a very important year for the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and key to this is the exciting announcement about the opening of a new Peter Jones approved college in Solihull. I am delighted to welcome Solihull College on board and would like to thank them for their support. I believe that now is a critical time to engage and inspire our future entrepreneurs. To ensure this, we must nurture and support entrepreneurial talent in our young people and the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and our approved colleges are at the heart of this endeavour.”
Solihull College is the only learning provider in the West Midlands to be working with the Enterprise Academy and is offering young people aged 16-18 years the opportunity to study the BTEC Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at two levels.
The Level Two programme involves developing a viable business idea, creating a full business plan, and pitching to investors. The Level Three programme supports students in setting up and running a micro-business for a period of at least four months, during which time they will learn about business planning and finance, communicating with customers, and planning for future expansion, amongst other modules.
Solihull College Principal, Brenda Sheils, is thrilled to be offering such a unique programme to students and comments: “We are extremely pleased to have been given this fantastic opportunity to work with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and deliver this new and exciting course to students. The qualification will allow learners to work on real-life business challenges and interact with both national and local entrepreneurs to help prepare them for their future careers.”
The programmes will be delivered by Solihull College’s team of experienced business tutors, alongside coaching and mentoring from top companies. Students will have dedicated access to the College’s brand new Management Centre, which includes a range of modern and spacious teaching areas that are fully equipped with first-class resources.
For young people wishing to enrol on the BTEC Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in September, please visit www.solihull.ac.uk for more information about the course and details on how to apply.

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Signatures' beauty is a real family affair

2011-05-03T12:31:00.003+01:00

Having been in the hair and beauty industry for over 20 years, Carmel Hennessey is now passing on her knowledge to daughter Sarah as she carries out her Apprenticeship at family-run salon – Signatures Hair and Beauty.

Based in Sheldon, Signatures Hair and Beauty is a relaxed and friendly salon that offers a full range of hair, beauty and holistic treatments.

23-year-old Sarah, who is carrying out her Apprenticeship with Solihull College, has always had a keen interest in the beauty industry having grown up watching her mum at work, and she is now fulfilling her dream of treating clients herself.

Sarah comments: “Beauty has always been a passion of mine. I am thoroughly enjoying my Apprenticeship and learning from my mum makes it even more special. Working in the salon on a daily basis is allowing me to quickly develop my skills and experience, something I perhaps wouldn’t be able to achieve if I wasn’t doing the Apprenticeship programme.”

From manicures and pedicures, to facials and waxing, the Beauty Therapy Apprenticeship allows Sarah to practice all areas of the beauty trade, while learning the theory aspects of the qualification at Solihull College one day a week.

Carmel says: “As a salon owner there is nothing better than training staff the way you want them to work, and the Apprenticeship programme is the perfect way to achieve this. Investing quality time into supporting Sarah through her Apprenticeship enables her to become a highly trained beauty therapist, delivering a first-class service that I am happy for my customers to receive.”

Sarah is also a qualified body piercer, a talent she hopes to pursue further in the future, she adds: “After completing my Apprenticeship this summer, I plan to progress onto the Advanced Apprenticeship in Beauty Therapy, whilst also completing a qualification that will enable me to teach body piercing.”

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IT students gain inspiration from BT

2011-04-28T15:56:00.004+01:00

Students from Solihull College have been gaining inspiration from BT under a new initiative which aims to create new opportunities for young people.

A project recently introduced in BT, Work Inspiration aims to change the way young people think about work, supporting the aims of the Government’s ‘Backing Young Britain’ campaign. Work Inspiration gives young people the chance to spend time with BT before they join the career ladder.
Over 15 IT students from Solihull College who are currently in their final year of a BTEC National Diploma in Software Development worked alongside employees from BT for a week to gain an insight into how the company operates. They also received useful tips and advice about how to stand out from others when applying for jobs.

From exploring telephone exchanges and learning how the different functions of BT work, to practising interview techniques and CV writing, the students were able to engage with experienced business people and find out first-hand what employers look for.

Ian Ashby, who delivered the CV writing and interview technique session to the students, comments: “The seminar with the students was fantastic; they were fully engaged as they have been all week, but to actually see the change in some of their mindsets has been very rewarding. The quality being created in their CVs surpasses that of college students and I have been hugely impressed by the contributions made.”
BT is one of the world’s leading communications services companies, providing fixed-line services, broadband, mobile and TV products and services, as well as networked IT services.

Fatima Ramji, Head of School for Computing and IT at Solihull College, comments: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for our students and they are extremely privileged to have received expert guidance from BT to support their future careers.”

Photo caption: Students Samantha Hill and Ryan Critchley gain useful advice on interview techniques from BT’s Ian Ashby and Jerry Roper.

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Baby gecko joy at Solihull College

2011-04-19T10:47:00.003+01:00

Staff and students at Solihull College were celebrating last week as they welcomed two baby leopard geckos into their extended animal family.

Born to mother Haribo and father Inkie, the two babies hatched on Tuesday morning (5th April), which is the first time leopard geckos have been bred at the College.

Claire Powell, Animal Care Coordinator, comments: “We are thrilled that we have two new baby leopard geckos – they are absolutely gorgeous and have settled in extremely well to our fantastic new reptile vivariums. It is great that our students will be able to experience caring for them as babies as well as adults.”

Haribo and Inkie moved into the College’s brand new Land Based Centre just three months ago, so it seems they have been enjoying life in their new surroundings!

Claire adds: “The leopard geckos were previously living in our old facilities but since new, purpose-built reptile units have been built in our Land Based Centre the reptiles have been extremely happy, which we believe has had a positive effect to them breeding.”

Solihull College’s new Land Based Centre encompasses animal care and horticulture facilities, which includes a three-storey building complete with specialist rooms to accommodate a diverse animal family including aviary birds, parrots, chickens, meerkats and rabbits. In addition, a large range of exotics including lizards, snakes, tortoises, fish and turtles are also enjoying life in specially designed reptile habitats. An external barn and three paddocks have also been built to house larger animals including goats, sheep and pigs.

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Supporting apprentices is a high priority at St Bernard's

2011-04-11T16:31:00.004+01:00

Providing support to apprentices is a top priority for the management team at St Bernard’s Residential Care Home and with the assistance of Solihull College, current apprentice Jade is reaping the benefits as she begins her career in the healthcare industry.
Situated in Olton, Solihull, St Bernard’s Residential Care Home is a small, family run business that prides itself on providing person-centred care, with all activities focused on enhancing the lives of residents on a daily basis.
Care Manager Ann Coombs, who has always worked in a healthcare environment, knows how valuable it is to support her team, provide them with the opportunity to develop their skills and in particular, ensure they enjoy coming to work.
Ann comments: “Over the years I have witnessed some poor working conditions that I would never want a young person entering the healthcare industry to experience. Therefore during the eight years I have been at St Bernard’s I have always supported my staff through the Apprenticeship programme delivered by Solihull College and I can’t recommend it highly enough. The apprentices achieve industry recognised qualifications whilst gaining invaluable hands-on experience working at the Home, which helps them build a successful career in the healthcare industry and ultimately allows them to enjoy what they do.”
Health and Social Care Apprentice Jade Foxall has been working at St Bernard’s Residential Care Home for the last two months and is thoroughly enjoying the opportunity she has been given. From speaking and listening to residents, to assisting with their individual care needs, working at St Bernard’s is a very varied role.
Jade comments: “St Bernard’s is a great place to work and I’m really enjoying my Apprenticeship. The team are incredibly friendly and have made me feel very welcome. Every day is different which is great – from helping out at the residents’ art class to finding out about their life history; working at the Home is making me more determined to pursue my career in the healthcare industry.”
19-year-old Jade works at the Home two days a week and attends College for the remainder, where she learns everything from communication and completion of records, to the support, protection and well-being of others. She is regularly visited at the Home by the College’s team of assessors who observe her work and monitor her progress. This allows them to build up a positive working relationship with Jade and provide support to her for the duration of the Apprenticeship programme.
St Bernard’s Residential Care Home provides care for 38 residents employing a team of over 50 staff. It has recently started offering a day care service for elderly people wishing to fulfil their days with different activities, which is another aspect of the role Jade will get involved in. Over the next few months the Home will be taking on another two Health and Social Care apprentices with the support of Solihull College.
If you are interested in doing an Apprenticeship please contact Solihull College’s Employer Services Team on 0121 678 7181 or email sales@solihull.ac.uk.
Photo caption: Jade assists residents at the St Bernard’s weekly art class.

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Celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton cuts it at Solihull College's new Hair and Beauty Academy

2011-04-07T15:36:00.002+01:00

To celebrate the launch of its new Hair and Beauty Academy, Solihull College were delighted to welcome celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton to Blossomfield Campus this week.

Andrew, who is best known as the resident hairdresser on hit makeover show ‘10 Years Younger’, has over 25 years’ experience in the hairdressing industry and is stylist to some of the UK’s biggest stars. He was invited to officially open the College’s fantastic new facilities, which have recently undergone their own makeover during the campus’ £31 million redevelopment project.

Andrew comments: “It was an honour to be invited to Solihull College and share in this momentous occasion with the staff and students. Having worked with the team for a number of years now, I have always been impressed with the level of professionalism and passion they have. I heard about the vision the Hair and Beauty Academy was to bring, and to see it all complete is absolutely fantastic. The salons and facilities are incredible and Solihull College is now a benchmark for other colleges across the country.”

The Hair and Beauty Academy incorporates first-class salons equipped to the highest standard, which are now able to deliver a wide range of hairdressing, beauty, holistic, and sports therapy courses, as well as offer a wide range of rejuvenating treatments to customers.

Solihull College Principal Brenda Sheils comments: “We were thrilled that Andrew was able to join us on such a special day and officially open our new Hair and Beauty Academy. The redevelopment has transformed our Blossomfield Campus into an exciting, modern place to learn, and both students and clients are now able to benefit from our state-of the-art salons and get the most out of what the College has to offer.”

The official opening took place on Tuesday 5th April and was enjoyed by over 50 invited guests, who also experienced demonstrations from leading industry professionals including GHD, Moroccan Oil, and Lash Perfect.

Photo caption: Andrew Barton gets made over by three NVQ Level 1 Hairdressing students.

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Solihull College barbering student is a cut above

2011-04-05T11:51:00.002+01:00

Solihull College barbering student is a cut above

A barbering student from Solihull College created a cut above the rest as he recently achieved first place in a national barbering competition for his creative men’s hair design.
Leigh Brown, who is currently studying the Level 2 Diploma in Barbering at the College, had 1.5 hours to create a men’s design using clippers and no combs. His creative flair impressed the judges when he designed a full head of pattern work and finished off the look with purple hair colour and glitter spray.
A delighted Leigh comments: “I am thoroughly enjoying the barbering course at Solihull College as it’s allowing me to learn all aspects of different barbering techniques, and winning this competition has made everything worthwhile. I would like to progress onto the Level 3 Diploma in Barbering at the College and enter more competitions so that I can develop my skills further and become a successful barber.”
The direct entry competition was open to all colleges across the country and took place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Leigh competed against several students from a college in East Durham to achieve first place.

Yvonne Malpass, Head of School for Hair and Beauty, comments: “We are extremely proud of Leigh’s achievement and thrilled he stood out above tough competition to impress the judges. We wish him every success as he continues his studies with us and starts his barbering career.”Solihull College’s recent £31 million redevelopment project incorporates a brand new Hair and Beauty Academy with first-class salons to deliver a wide range of hairdressing, beauty, holistic, and sports therapy courses.

Solihull College offers hairdressing and barbering courses for school leavers across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

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Solihull College students shine at awards

2011-04-04T15:44:00.002+01:00

Students from Solihull College outshone over one hundred entrants to scoop Silver and Bronze Stars at this year’s Student Starpack Awards.

Kat Bassitt and Braden May who are studying for a HND in Graphic Design impressed judges with their innovative packaging designs to finish in the top 20, out of 132 students who entered the national competition.

Solihull College Principal Brenda Sheils recently met up with the two students to congratulate them. She comments: “Kat and Braden have done tremendously well to win Silver and Bronze Stars and we are all very proud of them. This experience has proved extremely valuable in meeting an industry brief and I am sure it will be a huge advantage to them as they start their graphic design careers.”

Kat, Braden and their final year colleagues were tasked with meeting a brief to develop a supermarket retail-ready packaging product from start to finish, which included designing artwork, creating mock-up packages, and presenting final designs to a panel of judges.

Kat, who won a Silver Star and Sponsor Award for her innovative creation of a Morgan’s Spiced Rum dispenser, comments: “I am really pleased to have impressed the judges and won two awards for my packaging. It was a challenging brief but I have thoroughly enjoyed working on it and to receive recognition from the judging panel makes it all worthwhile.”

The students are now hoping to build on their success at a further competition held by DS Smith Packaging, the sponsors of the brief. They will be competing against two other colleges for the chance of winning a £1,000 bursary prize to put towards helping with their studies.

Braden, who developed a unique packaging product for Rolo chocolates, comments: “It is a fantastic feeling to know that my work stood out from the competition to impress the judges.”

Photo caption: Solihull College Principal Brenda Sheils (centre) congratulates Braden and Kat for their winning designs.

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Students go Scooby Doo for veterinary nursing

2011-03-24T11:21:00.004Z

2011 marks the Golden Jubilee year for the veterinary nursing qualification and in celebration of this milestone, Solihull College’s trainee veterinary nurses recently dressed up as animals for the day to raise money for charity.
From Scooby Doo to Pink Panther, the students - who are currently working towards their Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing – toured the campus and explained the history of their qualification to staff and fellow students and encouraged them to donate money for the Greyhound Trust and Cinnamon Trust.
Catherine White, a qualified veterinary nurse who has taught at the College for 11 years, comments: “We were really keen to raise awareness of the Veterinary Nursing Diploma and our fantastic new facilities at the College. The students were keen to do something different so dressing up as animals and raising money for animal charities seemed ideal.
“The diploma, which was launched in September, is now structured to accommodate the needs of more people keen to become veterinary nurses. And with our new purpose-built veterinary nursing suite the College is a great place for students to learn.”
The Diploma in Veterinary Nursing is delivered on a full-time and part-time basis which gives learners greater flexibility to study the qualification. Previously the course was only open to people already working in a veterinary practice who then studied for the former NVQ part-time. Learners can now study the diploma on a full-time basis and gain relevant work experience at a practice in their spare time.
The College has a diverse mix of learners studying for the qualification, including one mature student and another who lives in Shropshire!
Joanne Parry, a full-time veterinary nursing student comments: “I have always wanted to study veterinary nursing and now that I’m doing it I love it. I really enjoy coming to College and am so glad that I joined. I can’t wait to be a qualified veterinary nurse and put all that I have learned into practice.”
The students raised over £90 for the Cinnamon Trust - a charity set up to respect and preserve the treasured relationship between owners and their pets, and the Greyhound Trust – a charity committed to finding homes for retired greyhounds.

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Find out more at Solihull College Open Day

2011-03-22T09:31:00.002Z

Next week Solihull College will be hosting an Open Day for its Management & Professional, IT and Higher Education (HE) courses.

The event is taking place at the College’s Blossomfield Campus on Saturday 26th March between 12pm and 2pm, to give those interested in studying for a professional, university-level or IT qualification, the opportunity to find out what’s on offer at the College.

Solihull College has a variety of professional qualifications available, which are accredited by chartered awarding bodies including the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), and Microsoft Academy, amongst others. Whether you’re interested in enhancing your professional career prospects, or developing your IT skills, we can help to find a course that’s right for you.

Karen Harvey, Management and Professional Head of School, comments: “If you’re looking to enhance your career with a professional qualification or want to gain skills in a new area, we encourage you to come along and find out how Solihull College can help. We offer full-time and part-time professional courses which will give you the opportunity to develop the relevant skills and knowledge for building a successful career.”

The Open Day will also allow learners to find out about the wide range of HE courses the College provides, including Access Programmes, NVQs, HNCs and HNDs, as well as Foundation and full BA Honours degrees. Advisors will be on hand to answer questions about the different programmes on offer, as well as provide important information on admissions, student finance and accommodation.

To find out more visit the College’s website at www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.

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From one apprentice to another - Charlotte gets a great cut

2011-03-08T09:42:00.002Z

Learning the tricks of the hairdressing trade couldn’t be more perfect for Solihull College apprentice Charlotte, as she carries out her Apprenticeship at exclusive hair and beauty salon KCUK - run by two former Solihull College apprentices!

Situated in the heart of Solihull town centre, KCUK is a luxury hair and beauty day spa run by sisters Carla and Krystle. They set up their business in November 2008 having both completed Level 2 and Level 3 Hairdressing Apprenticeships at Solihull College.

17-year-old Charlotte, who is currently working towards her Level 2 Apprenticeship in Hairdressing, works at KCUK five days a week. Her role involves washing and blow-drying hair for clients, shadowing the hair stylists, and dealing with customers on the reception desk.

Charlotte comments: “I’m really enjoying my Apprenticeship at KCUK. I have always wanted to be a hairdresser and working in the salon means I can learn a lot more and get advice directly from experienced stylists. My confidence in dealing with members of the public has grown enormously and that’s something you can’t achieve from sitting in a classroom. I would definitely recommend the Apprenticeship to others wanting to become a hairdresser.”

As part of her Apprenticeship programme, Charlotte attends College every Monday for her classroom-based learning. The course encompasses a variety of modules including customer service, consultation, styling and dressing hair, colouring, and promoting products to clients.
Carla, Senior Stylist and Co-owner of KCUK, comments: “Having been an apprentice myself I know how beneficial working in the hairdressing environment is to help a person develop - you can’t simulate what happens in the workplace into college. It has been great to see Charlotte blossom into a confident worker and become a great asset to our team.”

If you are interested in doing an Apprenticeship please contact Solihull College’s Employer Services Team on 0121 678 7181 or email sales@solihull.ac.uk.

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Solihull College put their heart into NVQs

2011-03-07T10:22:00.002Z

After delivering a succession of NVQ programmes to the Phlebotomy team at the Heart of England Trust, Solihull College has received thanks for their continued support.

What initially began in 2005 as an introduction to the Phlebotomy module has now grown into a bespoke NVQ Level 3 in Health and Clinical Care Skills, with the modules specifically designed to suit the skills required by the phlebotomists.

The NVQ is delivered alongside the phlebotomists’ in-house training at Heartlands and Solihull hospitals and it has not only strengthened their competence, but has given the team the opportunity to implement more effective ways of working.

Val Wall, Phlebotomy Manager at Heartlands and Solihull hospitals, comments: “There is no doubt that this valuable educational support has been integral to the confidence and overall development of the phlebotomist role. This has had a direct impact on job satisfaction, recruitment and retention of staff, and ultimately the patient experience.

“I can’t thank Solihull College enough for their continued interest and support in delivering the NVQ programme to my team of phlebotomists.”

The phlebotomists at the Heart of England Trust are regularly observed by the College’s team of NVQ assessors at work, either in the Out Patient Clinic, on the wards, in the Paediatric Unit, or at GP practices. The assessors also visit the phlebotomy facility in the NHS Community Clinic at Boots the Chemist in Mell Square, Solihull.

Maurice Fordy, Projects Manager for Health and Social Care at Solihull College, comments: “It has been a pleasure to be a part of this ongoing project. Watching staff grow in confidence as they continuously prove their competence is rewarding for us all. We aim to ensure that all of the courses we deliver have similar positive outcomes for the staff and employers we work with.”

Solihull College is proud to hold the Training Quality Standard (TQS) in recognition of its commitment to delivering quality training and development solutions for employers. The College is also a National Skills Academy for Social Care, which highlights the College’s commitment to excellent adult social care.

Solihull College offers education and training courses for residents and businesses in Solihull, Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Warwickshire, and across the East and West Midlands.

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Solihull College students have a heart

2011-03-04T15:58:00.002Z

Solihull College travel and tourism students have been cooking up a storm by preparing dishes from around the world while raising money for Heart FMs Have a Heart Appeal.

In conjunction with the College’s Celebrating Different Cultures Day, the Level 1 students decided to incorporate their love of music and film into food and cook different cuisines to represent the countries their favourite stars hail from.

From English cup cakes and Jamaican rum cake to Indian curry and Italian pasta bake, the dishes were on offer in the College for staff and students to sample, at the cost of a small donation to the Have a Heart Appeal. And in just two hours they managed to raise over £40!

Student Yasmin Williams, who prepared a presentation featuring celebrities including Rihanna from Barbados and Kylie Minogue from Australia, comments: “It makes us proud to know that we raised £43 for those who are less fortunate.”

The Have a Heart Appeal raises money to support the work of Children’s Hospices UK, which provides care and support to local seriously ill children and their families in their own homes. The at home service helps families through the most difficult of times and is just as invaluable as the care delivered within the hospice buildings.

Student Laura Thomas, who cooked Italian pasta bake, adds: “It’s been a pleasure to know that we raised money for Children’s Hospices UK.”

Karin Kostialova, Course Tutor for Travel and Tourism, comments: “An excellent choice of food was tasted by students and staff at the College. The students made a great effort in preparation of the food at home and brought it into college in their free time to raise money for a good cause….well done!”
Solihull College offers education and training courses for residents and businesses in Solihull, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Coventry, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Across East and West Midlands

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Call NOW to book your place on a Solihull College Careers Event

2011-02-23T15:00:00.002Z

Places are filling up fast for Solihull College’s School Leavers’ Careers Events so call now to book your place.

Starting on Monday 14 March, the School Leavers’ Careers Events will give young people expert advice about how the College’s courses can shape their future. The events will also allow prospective students to ask industry experts about the qualifications needed to get into university or the relevant experience needed to get into employment.

The Careers Events are being held across the College’s three campuses – Blossomfield, Woodlands and Griffin Park, for subjects including Performing Arts, Travel & Tourism, Horticulture, and Art & Design, amongst others.

College Principal Brenda Sheils comments: “Our Careers Events give school leavers an insight to life at the College and a chance to find out more about the superb courses and facilities we have to offer. It is a fantastic opportunity for young people to find out first-hand from our tutors and local employers about how to pursue their chosen career and the range of career opportunities available to them after studying.”

To guarantee your place at one of the Careers Events book NOW by calling 0121 678 7000. (Lines open: Monday – Thursday 8am-7pm, Friday 8am-4.30pm). All places must be booked in advance.

To find out more about the range of events on offer please visit our website at www.solihull.ac.uk/careersevents.

Engineering students get a taste of life in the Dragon's Den

2011-02-21T16:12:00.004Z

Pitching to industry experts in their very own Dragon’s Den was just one of the activities engineering students at Solihull College experienced last week, as they took part in an employer engagement event.
90 students took part in the workshop at the College’s Woodlands Campus and were joined by industry experts from companies including Fujitsu, Apollo Aerospace Components, Real Success Ltd, and Solas Consultants – whose owner has pitched products to the real Dragon’s Den panel!

The aim of the event, which was organised with The Working Knowledge Group and funded through the Aimhigher government initiative, was to allow the students to engage with employers, to understand what businesses look for, and to help build general life skills to increase their chances of future employment.
Prior to entering the Dragon’s Den, the students were split into groups and tasked with a Zero Carbon Challenge. This involved creating their own business and inventing new products from recycled objects. The students had to brainstorm different ideas for their business and present their ideas to the experts, who then fed back their thoughts and offered guidance to each group.

Paul Harris, Founder of success coaching business Real Success, comments: “I am passionate about helping people develop life skills and seeing the students progress throughout the day has been fantastic. They have had to stand up and present to strangers, handle criticism and deal with difficult situations, which has enabled them to grow as individuals and given them real life exposure.”
On entering the Dragon’s Den each group of students had to pitch their new products to the experts and be grilled on their business plan, before the panel went away and deliberated over which group had invented the best idea.

Student Nathan, a member of the winning team, comments: “The event was really good as it gave us the opportunity to chat to employers about working in industry, without being intimidating. It was a great experience which allowed us to think on our feet and deal with situations we haven’t handled before.”

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International competition is a make-up dream for Solihull College student

2011-02-17T10:45:00.003Z

Solihull College’s 2010 Student of the Year has progressed to bigger and brighter success after gaining second place at the International Make-Up Artist Trade Show (IMATS) in London.

Gemma Richmond beat hundreds of applicants from colleges across the UK and Europe to secure a place in the final eight of the IMATS annual competition. The two-day trade show is specifically aimed at the Film, TV and Theatre industry with this year’s theme being Tribal Fashion.

The show, held at London’s Alexandra Palace, was attended by renowned industry artists including Nick Dudman and his team from the Harry Potter films.

Gemma, who completed the Theatrical and Media Make-Up course at Solihull College, comments: “I am extremely happy to have achieved second place at the internationally-recognised IMATS make-up competition and having my children there to see it, made it even more memorable.

“I decided to study the course at Solihull College because it covered all aspects of make-up that are used in the media industry, which is what I want to be involved in. The course gave me an insight into other aspects of make-up and career choices on offer.”

Since completing the course Gemma has worked on film shoots, photographic portfolios, music video shoots and promotional work. She adds: “My main goal is to establish a name for myself within the make-up industry. It’s going to require a lot of hard work and determination but having won Student of the Year at Solihull College in 2010 and now IMATS award-winner 2011, I have given myself a good start to achieving my goal.”

Andrew Whiteoak, who teaches the course at Solihull College, comments: “Gemma delivered a stunning make-up and costume piece against very stiff competition. Her success is a result of pure dedication, self drive and a thirst to learn and develop her skills further. I am so proud for Gemma having spent the last year watching her develop. It is a thoroughly deserved result.”

Yvonne Malpass, the College’s Head of School for Hair and Beauty, is also delighted with Gemma’s achievement: “We are enormously proud of Gemma and thrilled that she has done so well in such a prestigious competition. We wish her every success for her future in the make-up industry.”

The Theatrical and Media Make-Up course is a one-year part-time programme that centres mainly on theatrical make-up and special effects. The course provides the basic skills and knowledge to gain further education or entry into employment in film, TV, theatre or fashion. Solihull College is one of only a few colleges across the country to offer the course on a part-time basis in the evenings.

Solihull College goes Wibbly Wobbly for apprentices

2011-02-17T10:29:00.002Z

Solihull College has been specifically chosen as the provider for delivering Apprenticeship programmes to brand new children’s play centre, Wibbly Wobbly.Based in Perry Barr, Wibbly Wobbly is a new venture by brother and sister business partners Najma and Tariq Aziz. Named after Najma’s son who, when walking as a toddler looked all ‘wibbly wobbly’, the children’s play centre offers a range of facilities to suit a variety of needs. The College has been specially selected by Wibbly Wobbly to provide four apprentices for their new workforce, who will be working towards Apprenticeship programmes in Customer Service and Hospitality.

Najma comments: “Employing apprentices will be perfect for Wibbly Wobbly as we want staff that can grow with the business. Working whilst training will give the young people a great opportunity to gain their desired qualifications and at the same time develop their skills in the workplace. Choosing Solihull College was the best choice we could have made - they took all the recruitment pressures away from us and arranged an open day and pre-screening procedure for applicants, which has made the interview process so much easier.”

By taking on a team of apprentices Wibbly Wobbly will be able to shape their workforce to fulfil the company’s needs. The apprentices will be required to deliver reliable customer service and develop customer relationships, learn how to prepare and cook a range of dishes and understand the principles of maintaining high food hygiene standards.

Solihull College Principal, Brenda Sheils, comments: “We are really pleased to be working with Wibbly Wobbly and assisting them in developing a skilled workforce to make their new business a success. Our Apprenticeship programmes enable learners to develop vocationally relevant skills whilst achieving industry recognised qualifications.”

Wibbly Wobbly has a four-tier play frame and Wibbly Wobbly Web for older children and a smaller play area for toddlers, which offer an excellent opportunity for children to have fun and get fit at the same time. The play centre also caters for a variety of party packages.

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More of Mary's Master Classes at Solihull College

2011-01-27T15:40:00.003Z

Solihull College is offering retailers across the region a further opportunity to get expert business advice from Mary the ‘Queen of Shops’.

The College is running Mary Portas’s exclusive Guide to Successful Retailing, which has been developed by the retail guru herself in association with the National Skills Academy (NSA) for Retail.

As a member of the NSA for Retail, the College is one of only two providers in the West Midlands able to deliver the specialist programme, which is made up of seven one-day master classes covering everything from Finance and Business Planning to Service and Selling Skills.

The College will be running each class through its one-stop-shop for retail training - the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop (GBSS) - which it launched in 2009 to deliver industry specific training to those working in the sector. A free taster session will be taking place at the College on the 1st February from 6pm for people to find out more about the GBSS and Mary Portas’s master classes.

Yvonne Malpass, Head of Retail for the College, comments: “We’re delighted that we are able to support the region’s retailers by offering the invaluable expertise of Mary Portas, someone with extensive experience and knowledge of the ever expanding world of retail. Through the delivery of this programme, as well as the many other GBSS services, we aim to help breathe life back into the region’s high streets and help boost the many small businesses who occupy them.”

People can register for a place on the free taster session by contacting Rebecca Wilks on 0121 678 7181 or at gbss@solihull.ac.uk.

To find out more about the GBSS please visit http://www.birminghamskillsshop.co.uk.

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Solihull College's new Management and Professional Centre fit for a prince

2011-01-20T11:43:00.003Z

As part of the launch of its new Management and Professional Centre, Solihull College is offering exclusive discounts for places on the widely-recognised PRINCE2 course – a process-based learning for effective management of PRojects IN Controlled Environments
The week-long course allows individuals to study for two qualification levels – PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner.

With an outstanding pass rate of 100 per cent at the College, the PRINCE2 Foundation level teaches the basics and terminology of PRINCE2.

Learners will then go on to study the PRINCE2 Practitioner, which is the highest level qualification and suitable for those with the need to manage projects within a PRINCE2 environment.
To successfully complete the course, learners will be required to pass exams at both Foundation and Practitioner levels.

Solihull College will be delivering the course in association with RK Associates Ltd - an independent project management company who are the best in their field.
The course will be run from the College’s redeveloped Blossomfield Campus in the centre of Solihull. Various start dates are available with discounts currently being offered to learners.

To find out more about PRINCE2 and to guarantee a place on the course, please call Philip O’Brien, Course Administrator, on 0121 678 7181.

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Solihull College to host careers events for school leavers

2011-01-07T10:37:00.008Z

Solihull College is offering school leavers the opportunity to find out more about their chosen career by hosting a series of careers events throughout March.

The careers events are being held across the College’s three campuses – Blossomfield, Woodlands and Griffin Park, for subjects including Performing Arts, Animal Care, Aerospace Engineering and Construction, amongst others.

College Principal Brenda Sheils comments: “Our careers events give school leavers an insight to life at the College and a chance to find out more about the superb courses and facilities we have to offer. It is a fantastic opportunity for young people to find out first-hand from our tutors and local employers about how to pursue their chosen career and the range of career opportunities available to them after studying.”

To guarantee your place at one of the careers events book NOW by calling 0121 678 7000. (Lines open: Monday – Thursday 8am-7pm, Friday 8am-4.30pm). All places must be booked in advance.

To find out more about the range of events on offer please visit our website at www.solihull.ac.uk/careersevents.

Solihull College offers fast-track Accountancy

2010-12-10T16:10:00.002Z

Solihull College, one of the largest providers of accountancy training in the West Midlands, is set to launch a series of fast-track AAT qualifications. The part-time programmes, starting in January, are aimed at people already working in accountancy or those looking to enter the profession.

In September courses quickly filled at the College resulting in a number of students being unable to secure a place and therefore putting their qualifications back a year. Enquiries have continued as it becomes clear that there is a shortage of skilled accountancy people to fill the current job vacancies.

Now as part of the new Management and Professional Centre the College is offering a unique opportunity for people to study either a level 2 or level 3 Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) via a fast-track route . This means anyone who missed out in September will not loose any time and for those starting out for the first time it will speed up the time taken in acquiring these qualifications. Students can enter level 2 without accountancy experience and with the College offering AAT up to level 4 university level qualifications and a professional career are possible without the expense of going to university. An added bonus for anyone already working in an accounts role is that the College may be able to offer these qualifications as part of an apprenticeship route.

College is running an accounting open session on Tuesday 21st December from 10 am – 12 noon so that anyone interested can explore the options. At the event people will be able to talk directly to tutors. To find out more about Accountancy at Solihull College visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.

For further information contact Marketing: 0121 678 7451

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The bigger picture

2010-12-09T14:41:00.002Z

Listening to learners QAA Student written submission

Solihull College conference centre

2010-11-15T11:35:00.000Z

Sporty students get tips from the top

2010-11-05T15:41:00.000Z

Solihull College students train with players from Birmingham’s Premier rugby club.
Moseley Rugby Club’s players Callum Macburnie, a centre, and Craig Voisey, who plays prop, have been dedicating one day a week to share their training tips and tactics with students.

The training sessions have been organised by the College’s Student Liaison Team and Moseley’s Community Team to give students across the College the chance to develop in the sport and learn more about the game.

18-year-old Sport student Marc Hankinson is taking part in the weekly sessions: “I’m really glad that the rugby training has been introduced and we’re learning from industry professionals. There’s usually a strong focus on football so this is a good way to get involved in something different, rugby is a great sport,” he said.

The group of students, who are studying various courses, will soon be competing against other teams in the British College’s Rugby League.

Craig Voisey adds: “It’s great that we’ve been able to team up with the College to provide students with an outlet to learn more about rugby and develop their sporting skills. As well as improving fitness, rugby can help develop self-discipline and team skills and we’d love to see more young people getting involved in the game.”

As part of its Community Programme, Moseley Rugby also works with schools across the region to deliver coaching sessions to young people in a fun and safe environment. To find out more visit www.moseleyrugby.co.uk

To find out more about Solihull College visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.

Celebrations take off at Birmingham Airport

2010-10-29T11:11:00.002+01:00

Staff at Birmingham Airport celebrate their academic success after completing courses through Solihull College’s training academy, BASA.

Launched at the Airport in April, BASA – Birmingham Airport Skills Academy, offers employees based on-site, as well as local job-seekers, the chance to up-skill through a range of College courses and professional qualifications.

A celebration ceremony took place earlier this week to mark the success of the first 50 employees to complete a programme through the Academy and saw the Airport’s Chief Executive Paul Kehoe congratulate them individually.

Rachel Elias, Cabin Crew Performance Manager for Thomson Airways, is one employee to take part in BASA and recently completed an NCFE programme in Managing Diversity. She is also set to complete her Level Two ITQ qualification. “It’s great being able to celebrate with my colleagues and having my achievements recognised by Paul and other senior management. The courses have been great for my development and have really increased my confidence when dealing with particular issues at work. ”

The partnership between the College and Airport has been in place for over seven years through various training initiatives including the award winning Job Junction scheme. Job Junction is an employment and training partnership between the College, Airport, Job Centre Plus and Pertemps which offers and eight week tailored programme designed to equip job seekers with the skills needed to gain employment.

Solihull College’s Business Advisor Rebecca Wilks works alongside the Airport to run BASA, she comments: “By helping staff develop their existing knowledge as well as explore new skills, BASA offers a host of benefits to the 140 businesses that occupy the Airport and we’re delighted at how well it’s being received. This latest training initiative has added strength to the unique partnership between the College and Airport and we’re looking forward to seeing even more employers taking part.”

To find out more about BASA contact Rebecca Wilks at Rebecca.wilks@solihull.ac.uk or on 0121 678 7181.

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A taste of retail success

2010-10-19T09:33:00.004+01:00

Solihull College will be running a free taster session to give the region’s retailers the opportunity to find out about a new and exclusive programme developed by Mary, ‘Queen of Shops’.

The session will be taking place on Tuesday 19th October from 6pm to give those working in the industry an insight into Mary Portas’s Guide to Successful Retailing which has been developed by the retail guru herself and the National Skills Academy (NSA) for Retail.

As a member of the NSA for Retail, Solihull College is one of only two providers in the West Midlands able to deliver the specialist programme which is made up of seven one day master classes covering everything from Finance and Business Planning to Service and Selling Skills.

The College will be running each class through its one-stop-shop for retail training the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop (GBSS) which it launched in 2009 to deliver industry specific training to those working in the sector.

Next week’s taster session will introduce shop owners and managers to master class one, My Shop, My Future. Linzi Johnston, Head of Retail at the College comments: “This exciting programme developed by Mary Portas encourages retailers to step outside the constraints of their own business and explore new ideas with other like minded business people. The workshop offers the invaluable expertise of someone with first hand knowledge and experience of the ever expanding world of retail. This is a fantastic programme which will help you bring life back to our high streets and I hope as many people as possible take advantage of this event.”

To book a place on the free taster session or for more information, contact Rebecca Wilks, Business Advisor at rebecca.wilks@solihull.ac.uk or on 0121 678 7181.

People can find out more about Mary’s Guide to Successful Retailing at the College’s retail website www.Birminghamskillsshop.co.uk or by emailing gbss@solihull.ac.uk

To find our more about Solihull College visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.

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Solihull College Graduation 2010

2010-10-18T14:25:00.001+01:00

A short film of the graduation ceremony 2010.
Congratulations everyone.

Another national accolade for Solihull College

2010-10-15T10:10:00.002+01:00

Solihull College has been accredited with National Skills Academy (NSA) status for its Social Care provision - an accolade which recognises the quality of training and support packages delivered to employers.

The College is one of only four training providers in the West Midlands and one of 15 in England to be granted NSA status for Social Care.

In order to receive accreditation, the College needed to meet the standards of the NSA Quality Assurance Framework which has been developed by employers in the Social Care sector as well as employees and service users.

This is the second time this year the College has been recognised with a national award for its Health and Social Care provision after receiving the prestigious TQS in July which was also awarded in recognition of high quality, high impact training offered to those working in the industry.

Madelyn Green, Head of School for Health and Social Care at the College said: “We’re delighted that once again, the hard work and dedication of the College and its staff has been recognised. Through the delivery of our training programmes, as well as the other support services we offer employers and employees, we aim to make a positive contribution to the quality of health services available to the public.”

To find our more about Solihull College visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.

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Grass is greener for the two Bobs

2010-10-07T16:27:00.002+01:00

Solihull College is celebrating the success of two green fingered students, 54 year Robert Hatfield and 29 year old Robert McAleenan, as they find work in the great outdoors.

After being made redundant from their jobs in engineering, the duo returned to learning to study for a career in horticulture through the College’s Six Month Unemployed Offer - a programme run in partnership with the Jobcentre Plus to deliver sector specific training and employability skills to jobseekers.

On completion of the programme last month, Robert H was snapped up by ground maintenance company Four Seasons while Robert M landed a job with British Waterways where he will be planting and pruning along the region’s canal networks.

Robert Hatfield comments: “Being made redundant actually gave me the chance to review my career and the chance to break out of the every day routine that I’d been doing for over 30 years. The idea of working outdoors at different locations really appealed to me, although at the time the only experience I’d had of horticulture was doing my own garden. The course was great though and fully equipped me with the skills and qualifications I needed to gain work.”

The course covers everything from planting and pruning to mowing machinery and pesticides and is one of many pre-employment courses the College offers.

Horticulture tutor Mark Skelding adds: “It’s very rewarding to see our students gain employment in the industry but even more so when they have come from a different career path and had to completely retrain. They were both a delight to work with and were even able to put their engineering skills to good use by repairing some of the College’s mowing machinery which was a great help.”

To find our more about Solihull College call 0121 678 7000.

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Mary's Master Classes at Solihull College

2010-09-21T16:01:00.002+01:00

Solihull College is offering retailers across the region the exclusive opportunity to get expert business advice from Mary the ‘Queen of Shops’.

The College is running Mary Portas’s exclusive Guide to Successful Retailing which has been developed by the retail guru herself in conjunction with the National Skills Academy (NSA) for Retail.

As a member of the NSA for Retail, the College is one of only two providers in the West Midlands able to deliver the specialist programme which is made up of seven one day master classes covering everything from Finance and Business Planning to Service and Selling Skills.

The College will be running each class through its one-stop-shop for retail training the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop (GBSS) which it launched in 2009 to deliver industry specific training to those working in the sector. A free taster session will be taking place at the College on the 19th October from 6pm for people to find out more about the GBSS and Mary Portas’s master classes.

Linzi Johnston Head of Retail for the College comments: “We’re delighted that we are able to support the region’s retailers by offering the invaluable expertise of Mary Portas, someone with extensive experience and knowledge of the ever expanding world of retail. Through the delivery of this programme, as well as the many other GBSS services, we aim to help breathe life back into the region’s high streets and help boost the many small businesses who occupy them.”

People can register for a place on the free taster session by contacting Rebecca Wilkes on 0121 678 7181 or at gbss@solihull.ac.uk .

To find out more about the GBSS visit www.Birminghamskillsshop.co.uk

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Student ambassador recruitment

2010-09-20T14:45:00.002+01:00

The Marketing team are currently recruiting student ambassadors.

Please encourage all appropriate students to apply.
As an ambassador they will support the Marketing team at a variety of events including College open days. Being a Student
Ambassador will develop their communication and teamwork skills, increase their employability and will look great on their CV!
This year we are holding open interviews instead of the usual recruitment process. Students are invited to come and talk to us to find out more and have a mini interview. They must be prepared to talk about something they feel passionate about.

Open interviews are being held at the following times.
BLOSSOMFIELD CAMPUS:
The Link – Thursday 30 Sept and Tues 5 Oct 11.30am-1.30pm
WOODLANDS CAMPUS:
The atrium – Wednesday 6 Oct and Thursday 7 Oct 11.30am-1.30pm

Students will be seen on a first come first served basis. The open interview will be for a maximum of 10 minutes. They will meet the Marketing team and find out more about being an Ambassador…
For more information on becoming an ambassador contact Kate in Marketing on 0121 678 7000

Higher Education Fair

2010-09-17T15:06:00.001+01:00

Higher Education Fair |When: Tuesday 28th September 10am – 1pm |Where: The Link Blossomfield Campus
25 universities offering advice and guidance to help you make the right decision for your future. Open to all students – its never to early to start thinking about university!

Solihull College : University Level Learners
www.solihull.ac.uk

Graduate from Solihull College with one of our university equivalent qualifications.

Whether you are looking to study a Foundation Degree, HND/C or full Degree Solihull College offers a range of Higher Education programmes. Recognising the need for the provision of university-level programmes at a local level we offer full and part time courses on your doorstep!

College In The Community

2010-09-17T09:42:00.003+01:00

Solihull College is extending the enrolment period for its Community Education courses.

There’s still time to apply and enrol onto the part-time Community courses which the College will be running at more that 20 Community Centres across the borough this Autumn.

Maths, English, Computing, Stained Glass, Dress making and Interior Design are just some of the courses the College in the community has to offer.

Each course offers learners the chance to expand their existing knowledge, learn new skills and in some cases gain a nationally recognised qualification.

Gill Hutchings MBE, Senior Director for Skills for Life, who runs the College’s Community Education provision comments: “We encourage anybody, who has ever thought about returning to learning to improve their everyday skills such as numeracy and literacy or even to pursue a lifelong interest such as art and cookery, to contact us and find out exactly what we have to offer. Our provision provides people in the local community with the opportunity to learn a range of new and exciting skills at a location that’s convenient to them.”

To find out more about Community Education at Solihull College or to download a Community Education brochure, visit http://www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7294.

University Level Courses Available At Solihull College

2010-09-16T11:56:00.002+01:00

Solihull College is able to offer places on all of its University Level programmes starting this Autumn.

Whether you are one of the thousands of students who has missed out on a place at your chosen University, have changed your mind about what to study or just want to return to learning to enhance your career prospects, there’s still time to enrol on a University Level place at Solihull College.

The College has availability on HND, Foundation Degree and BA Hons Degree programmes in a range of subjects including Business, Aerospace Engineering, Computing and Fine Art.

Vandhana Ghai is one student to reap the benefits of a Higher Education at the College. She enrolled in 2007 on a Business HND which she completed last year with Distinction grades. On completion, Vandhai continued her studies with the College on the BA Hons Final Year Top-up Degree in Business and Management and now finds herself in a varied role with the Royal Bank of Scotland.

“I’m really pleased I chose to study at Solihull College, it’s enabled me to gain a University Level

education without having to leave home. Once I completed my HND, I only had to study for one

more year to gain a full Degree which was great for me as I couldn’t wait to get started in the

industry. I’d definitely recommend the College for Higher Education, the tutors are experienced in

what they teach and are able to offer one to one support every step of the way.” Vandhana said.

Figures show that a record-breaking 675,465 people across the UK have applied to start degree courses in the autumn - an extra 63,518 on last year. They also reveal that 46,000 more people are still searching for a place on a University Level course than were at the same point last year.

To find out more about Higher Education at Solihull College visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000

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The Offical Opening of the Art Centre

2010-09-16T10:44:00.002+01:00

Click here to download:

art centre opening NEWest_flv.swf (7324 KB)
or click here to view on You Tube

Solihull College celebrates the opening of brand new multimillion pound Art Centre. . .

Peter Lauener, Chief Executive of the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA),
marked the official opening of the College's new Art Centre by cutting
the ribbon at a launch event last week (Thursday 24th June). The Centre
is the most significant stage to be completed so far as part of the
ongoing Blossomfield Campus £31million redevelopment.

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College Commended for First Class Customer Service

2010-09-02T11:01:00.001+01:00

Solihull College is commended by the Government for excellent customer service.

Following an assessment earlier this summer, the College has achieved the prestigious Customer Service Excellence (CSE) Standard – a Government award which recognises high quality customer service in public sector organisations across the UK. It is one of only 25 Colleges nationally to be accredited with the award.

The College has been particularly praised for the way it focuses on providing a rich range of experiences for all of its students, listens to its diverse range of customers and for the professionalism and dedication of staff.

The assessor focused on the way in which the College performs across five key areas of customer service including delivery, timeliness, information, professionalism and staff attitude.

College Principal Brenda Sheils comments: “I am delighted that once again, we’ve been recognised nationally for providing first class services for existing and potential students, as well as the wider community. We pride ourselves on listening to the individual needs of our learners and those who visit us, and will continue to deliver the highest possible levels of service.”

Earlier this year, Solihull College became the first ever college to receive a Best Business Award which highlights excellence in public and private sectors across the nation. It is also one of only two colleges in the UK to hold the prestigious Training Quality Standard (TQS) for its Health and Social Care provision.

To find out more about Solihull College visit http://www.solihull.ac.ukor call 0121 678 7000.

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There’s still time to apply

2010-08-26T15:56:00.001+01:00

There’s still time to apply, enrol and start your journey to success at Solihull College . . .

If you’re a School Leaver who hasn’t yet applied for a College course, you can pay a visit to either the Blossomfield Campus or Woodlands Campus on Wednesday 1st, Thursday 2nd or Friday 3rd September between 9am-11am for a late interview.

You’ll be interviewed by a course tutor who will tell you on the day whether you’ve been accepted and invite you to enrol onto your chosen course to start this September.

It’s essential that you bring your GCSE result certificates with you on the day and where possible, a reference from your school and personal progress file.

If you’ve already applied for place at the College, you’ll have had your interview (or will have a date for your interview) and will have also received details about your start date so you will not need to attend College on any of the above dates.

If you have any concerns or have not received these details, please call 0121 678 7000

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Gemma's Simpsonized

2010-08-25T11:16:00.001+01:00

Gemma Shyrane the PR officer for Solihull College

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Celebrations all around at Solihull College

2010-08-19T15:06:00.001+01:00

Celebrations are taking place across Solihull College as students score success.

The College is celebrating this year’s A Level results as they reveal that students have achieved A grades in 12 of its subjects including Mathematics, Physics, Accounting and Law with a number of students also scoring A Stars in the same subject areas.

21 year old Grant Firkins is one student celebrating today after achieving an A in Law, a B in Sociology and a C in Psychology. Grant returned to learning after an injury ended his career in the Royal Marines: “An injury whilst training for the Marines led to me being medically discharged so I ended up working in a bank which was a good job, but not the career for me, I wanted more of a challenging role.” Grant comments.

“That’s when I decided to go to College to study for my A Levels and I’m so glad I did, with my results I’ve been accepted at Liverpool Hope University to study Law. I’m now a step closing to pursuing my ideal career as a Lawyer.”

Students who have completed BTEC National Diplomas with the College also have cause for celebration as results show an impressive 100% of Business students and over 90% of Engineering, Textiles and Sports students have achieved Distinction grades – the highest award possible.

College Principal Brenda Sheils comments: “Our congratulations go out to the students and staff who have worked so hard throughout the year to achieve such great results. We are particularly proud that once again, our A Level students have achieved outstanding grades in key subjects such as Maths and Physics.”

Solihull College will now be helping students across the region who have received their results take the next step into Higher Education. Its dedicated Clearing team will be on hand right through to September to offer those who have not secured a place on a HE programme or who have changed their mind about what to study, advice and guidance about their options.

To find out more visit www.solihull.ac.uk or call 0121 678 7000.

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Solihull College supports students

2010-08-18T09:43:00.001+01:00

Solihull College will be helping students across the region who receive their results this week take the next step into Higher Education.

The College’s dedicated Clearing team is now on hand to offer those who have not secured a place on a Higher Education programme or who have changed their mind about what to study, advice and guidance about their options.

The team made up of Careers and Admissions staff will be at the Blossomfield Campus right through to September for people to find out about HE courses on offer at the College, how to apply through clearing as well as enrolment. They will also be able to talk to students about course requirements and places still available at other local colleges and universities.

HE courses on offer at Solihull College are becoming increasingly popular and include Foundation Degrees, HNCs, HNDs and full Degrees in a variety of subjects from Art and Animal Care to Early Years and Engineering.

Vandhana Ghai is one student who chose to study Higher Education at the College. She enrolled in 2007 on a Business HND which she completed last year with Distinction grades. On completion, Vandhai continued her studies with the College on the BA Hons Final Year Top-up Degree in Business and Management. She now finds herself in a varied role with the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Vandhai comments: “I’m really pleased I chose to study HE at Solihull College, it’s enabled me to gain a University Level education without having to leave home. Once I completed my HND, I only had to study for one more year to gain a full Degree which was great for me as I couldn’t wait to get started in the industry. I’d definitely recommend the College for HE, the tutors are experienced in what they teach and are able to offer one to one support every step of the way as class sizes tend to be smaller than those at university.”

Students will be able to drop in and see the clearing team on week days or call to make an appointment. For more information call 0121 678 7000.

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The new management centre @ Solihull college

2010-08-17T14:15:00.001+01:00

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