NTfW Newsletter – October 2012

Posted on by karen.smith













National Training and Apprenticeship Awards and the NTfW Annual Conference – Shaping the Future Workforce

The Awards will take place on Wednesday 24th October following the 1st day of the NTfW Annual Conference which will continue the next morning. Both events are being held at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Book your place today!

For more information, booking forms and sponsorship opportunities

click on the following links for the Awards and Conference or contact karen.smith@ntfw.org

A preferential rate has been negotiated with The St George’s Hotel, The Promenade, Llandudno. Please quote ‘NTfW’ when making your reservation.

Tel No: 01492 877544. Email: reservations@stgeorgeswales.co.uk

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Money for Life – Financial Capability Programme 2012/13

Money For Life Logo
There is great excitement about this year, Money for Life Programme already. The project aimed at 16-24 year olds, was officially launched by Lloyds TSB this month and we are delighted to announce that NTfW, in partnership with ColegauCymru / CollegesWales have been appointed as the Welsh partner for the programme again this year. Competition to gain one of the 70 £500 ‘challenge’ grants and over 70 fully funded CPD courses in Wales is already arising, following the huge success of last year. We are particularly delighted to see more Work Based Learning providers enrolling on the Financial Capability CPD courses.

Financial literacy applies to learners and tutors from all sectors and backgrounds. It was a proud day for Wales, the Further Education Sector and Work Based Learning in particular when ACT team, ‘Don’t buy posh, save your dosh’ were crowned both Wales and overall UK challenge winners. To read their story and find out how your organisation can take part this year, visit the NTfW website or click here

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An update from your Bilingual Champion

It has been a busy last couple of months; as by now I should have at least been to see all Lead Providers across Wales. It has been my aim to meet as many people as possible in order to gain more of an idea as to where we currently stand as a network so that we know where to go forward. Here are a few updates on what has been (and will be) going on.

Welsh Language Standards

Following on from meeting members, I collated the information and the opinions of the providers present in order to compile a response to the Welsh Language Commissioner’s consultation document regarding the Welsh Language Standards. Both these documents were submitted in August and are available to view on the NTfW website and NTfW Moodle.

The Welsh Language Commissioner is currently reviewing all the responses and is planning to issue a notice to organisations which will have to comply with the standards prior to their implementation in late 2013.

NTfW Conference – ‘Shaping the Future Workforce’

As part of this Conference, I will be running workshops on Shaping Bilingualism in the Workplace.

This workshop will discuss current areas of good and best practice relating to Welsh medium or bilingual provision across the Work based learning sector. The workshop will also discuss perceived barriers and ways to overcome these; as well as discussing any other prominent issues.

Future plans

Over the coming months, I will be focusing on working towards the following:

  • Reviewing forms completed by providers relating to their current provision
  • Compiling lists of Good practice and sharing this across the network
  • Creating an Action Plan with SMART objectives to progress the Welsh medium/bilingual provision and learning opportunities up to July 2014 and beyond.
  • Forging stronger links with FEI Bilingual Champion

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Consultation for the proposals to register the wider education work force in Wales.

The Welsh Government launched a formal 6-week consultation exercise on 10th September 2012, on proposals to amend the requirements for registration of the education workforce in Wales. This is the final phase of the consultation that NTfW originally responded to in March 2012.

The updated consultation document sets out more details relating to the functions and operation of a registration body and seeks views on the detail of the operations, roles and functions in preparation for regulations in the forthcoming Education (Wales) Bill. The proposals in this consultation aim to develop a robust registration system which will enhance the workforce planning, training and development and bring greater coherence and recognition of the whole education workforce to the education of all learners in Wales

With this in mind, a consultation response event for NTfW members will be held on October 9th 2012 between 10am-2pm at LANTRA, Builth Wells, in order to gain feedback and a provide a collective response for WBL.

Please see below, a link to the consultation document and outcomes and proposals reported to date http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/education/workforceregistration/?skip=1&lang=en

To book a place at this event or for further details, please contact clara.weekley@ntfw.org

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Launch of an interactive guide for WBL Providers

CQFW Ebook
On the second day of NTfW, Conference at Venue Cymru, Llandudno on Thursday 25th October 2012, an interactive resource for WBL Providers will be launched.

Outlining the key concepts of credit-based qualifications and identifying current and emerging best practice in the use of credit across the WBL sector, The Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) Handbook for Work-based Learning (WBL) Providers will, it’s hoped, be an invaluable resource to Providers to assist them in making the best use of credit. More details of the NTfW Conference can be found here.

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My Wellbeing Hub

My Wellbeing Hub Logo
My Wellbeing Hub is a brand new and exciting website aimed at improving the wellbeing of learners across Wales. Following successful application for the Welsh Governments Quality Improvement Fund, VSP (Wales) Ltd, Acorn Learning Solutions, and Babcock proceeded with the development of this excellent new resource. The aim of the hub is to help stakeholders by providing the best resources and information needed to improve and maintain a healthy wellbeing. A survey was completed by stakeholders determining the most requested topics for inclusion on the Hub. Some of the topics requested were stress, healthy eating, and financial advice, among many others! My Wellbeing Hub also has lively social networking sites where stakeholders can communicate! You may even see an occasional competition from time to time, with prizes such as iPods up for grabs.

Our intention is to repeat the stakeholder survey to establish if the topics within the hub are still relevant and to identify any other future developments for the hub.

If you have useful resources that can be included within future development of the hub or if you would like more information please visit the website www.MyWellbeingHub.co.uk

You can follow My Wellbeing Hub on twitter @MyWellbeingHub, or on Facebook.com/MyWellbeingHub.

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ESDGC – Citizenship

Perhaps you can get your staff and learners to try the UK citizenship test which can be found on the following websites www.lifeintheuk.net this website gives you access to free samples of tests. Another useful link is http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/2012/jul/05/uk-citizenship-test-british-history-open-thread where it asks UK citizenship test: Could you pass on British history? and challenges you to try an example of what the new section of the UK citizenship test on British History might look like. This can be used for both learners and staff.

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e-skills UK

E-Skills Logo
e-skills UK is delighted to announce that their recent bid to Welsh Government under SPFP to deliver IT professional apprenticeships in Wales has been successful. Please click here for details http://www.e-skills.com/apprenticeships/current-projects/apprenticeships-projects-in-wales

Also our latest research Technology Insights 2012; Wales, the latest in our labour market assessments for the IT and Telecoms sector/workforce. Please follow the link for details http://www.e-skills.com/research/research-publications/insights-reports-and-videos/technology-insights-2012

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News from the Regions

Consortium Apprentice of the Year

Nicola Hall
The evening of the 14th June 2012 saw the crowning of the CAN Consortium first ‘Apprentice of the Year’ at an Awards ceremony held at Coleg Llandrillo. Nominated were Coleg Llandrillo Apprentice Sarah Jones, ADT Apprentice Nicola Hall and North Wales Training Apprentice Julie Lavin.

The winner was Nicola Hall. Nicola started her learning journey with her ADT Assessor, Jane Hughes, back in January 2009. Having achieved no previous qualifications from school or college, Nicola commenced her learning on the Pre Apprenticeship Learning programme at Entry Level 3. This took a great deal of courage given previous learning experiences. Nicola’s successful achievement of the literacy and numeracy qualifications were not only a great personal achievement, but proved a springboard for further learning and success.

Nicola has since gone on to achieve a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in Hairdressing. Based on the skills and confidence that undertaking this Apprenticeship has provided, Nicola has recently started her own hairdressing business, renting space in the ‘Body Beautiful’ salon in Rhyl. Nicola is now well on the way to achieving her Level 3 Hairdressing Modern Apprenticeship.

Nicola commented saying “I would like to thank ADT and in particular my Assessor, Jane Hughes, for the support that I have been given throughout. I would never have thought 3 years ago that I would have achieved such skills and qualifications and actually have my own business! By completing my ESW qualifications I am now also able to help my children with their homework. I hope to employ a trainee in the near future to give them the same opportunities that I have had”.

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Colwyn Bay Motor Cycles

Colwyn Bay Motor Cycles
Geoff Pritchard at Colwyn Bay Motorcycles has recently employed Lee Page and James Lloyd Jones on Jobs Growth Wales Programme.

Both Lee and James completed Get Started with Cars – a Princes Trust/North Wales Training Engagement Gateway Programme designed to re engage economically inactive 16-25 year olds.

Lee and James are both Young Ambassadors for the Princes Trust and regularly attend events to inform other young people how the Princes Trust programme has helped them and to encourage others to take the first steps to help themselves.

Colwyn Bay Motor Cycles is supporting Lee through the Essential Skills in the Workplace programme.

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Conwy Youngsters Build a Super Car

Conwy Super Car
Nine 15 to 16 year-olds from Conwy schools have been transformed into a team of racing engineers to build a Caterham 7 kit car, which was fired up officially at the North Wales Training Motor Vehicle Training Centre at in Mochdre on Thursday.

They have graduated from a 32 week Project Super Car programme, supported by the Conwy 14-19 Network and put together by North Wales Training Limited. The project is based on Caterham Cars’ ‘Sevens for Schools’ scheme, described by Top Gear’s Richard Hammond as ‘the best school project ever’.

Bill Marks of North Wales Training, who led the build project, said: “We have seen a dramatic change in some of the students who previously had a range of problems at school, from shyness to poor attendance. As well as learning personal, teamworking and technical skills, they have gained a fantastic sense of achievement.

“The project has proved so popular with schools and students that we are over-subscribed for the next course in September, when we will start building another Caterham.”

Christine Wynne, manager of the Conwy 14-19 Network, presented three of the graduates with City & Guilds certificates for vehicle maintenance, working with others, and health and safety. The full team of graduates are from Emrys ap Iwan, Abergele; The Education Centre, Penrhos Avenue, Colwyn Bay; Ysgol Creuddyn, Penrhyn Bay and Ysgol y Gogarth, Llandudno.

She said: “This has been a tremendously worthwhile project for the students and an inspiring experience for everyone who has helped them complete it.”

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Training Providers join forces to deliver first class training in superb facilities

ISA Training is working collaboratively with ITEC to provide a working hair salon in ITEC @ the_hub in Llywnypia as part of the delivery of hair and beauty to Traineeship learners

ISA Training already delivers NVQ Level 1 Hairdressing to ITEC’s Traineeships in Cardiff and RCT. With the development of a bespoke hair salon training centre in Llwynapia ITEC hope to double the amount of learners who will benefit from the joint expertise of the two providers.

Space was available in the recently acquired hub and it was decided that a Hair Salon was needed to enable ITEC to meet increasing demand for training in the Hair and Beauty Sector with plans to also open a beauty training room to eventually deliver the much sought after combined Hairdressing and Beauty NVQ.

Tracey Williams, the_hub’s Centre Co-Ordinator said “The new venue will also help to bridge the gap between school and work for engagement learners. They will have the opportunity to build their confidence and develop salon work skills before starting their traineeship which will see them being placed with local employers.”

Local Salon owner Cherie Cannon has already benefitted from the collaboration.

“The best thing for everybody involved is the process of continuous training. A young person can come and have experience in my salon whilst gaining qualifications; it is a trial for both of us. I was so pleased with my traineeship learner that I have employed her as an apprenticeship and she is continuing her training with ISA, it is a seamless process. The new training salon at the_hub is an excellent idea as young learners will definitely benefit from training with experts.”

“We didn’t want to re-invent the wheel so we chose a partnership with ISA Training as they have a fantastic reputation in the local community” said Tania Watts ITEC’s Contracts Manager. “Vocational education and training is recognised as an important and flexible part of a learner’s journey in line with securing employment opportunities.”

Cheryl Pearcey, ISA Training’s Education Manager, who owned her own salon for 25 years, has been working closely with Tania and Tracey to advise them on the best fixtures and fittings to create an excellent environment for real salon training. Cheryl said “it has been so exciting to have the scope to design a salon from scratch. The centre has plenty of space and the learning environment will be truly fantastic”

Berni Tyler, ISA Training’s Director of Operations said “Working in collaboration with ITEC to deliver hair and beauty traineeships is an amazing opportunity for our great trainers to bring a new dimension in training to the Rhondda, with the vision of the two companies, learners will be able to access superb facilities and outstanding training”

The hub at Llywnypia is ITEC’s sixth centre to be opened, joining centres in Newport, Caerphilly, Bridgend, Torfaen and Cardiff. The centre is currently used for delivery of Essential Skills and sector specific theory for ITEC’s Traineeships and Steps to Employment learners. The centre also has a new Construction training area with plans for an area for Motor Mechanics and a café.

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What is HOVEP?

Heads of the Valleys Education Programme
The Heads of the Valleys Education Programme (HOVEP) is a unique partnership between the Welsh Government, local authorities and the further and higher education sectors in Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil. Its mission is to make the Heads of the Valleys a high skilled region for the 21st Century.

The partners through their collective effort are committed to bringing about significant improvements in education participation, achievement and skills for employability in the area. The role of HOVEP is to work with partners to support, challenge and add value through strengthening and deepening the impact of current activity.

This e-bulletin has been created in order to keep you up-to-date with the work that HOVEP has been doing. Visit a456.com for much more information about HOVEP and education and skills in the Heads of the Valleys.

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Plasterer wins Skillbuild UK National Final

Ross Richardson-Davies
LLandovery-based student, Ross Richardson-Davies, proved that he is the best young plasterer in the UK following his success at the national final of this year’s SkillBuild – the UK’s biggest construction skills competition.

SkillBuild, which is organised by ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for the construction industry, aims to find the UK’s best trainee across a variety of trades including: plastering, bricklaying, carpentry, joinery and painting and decorating.

Ross Richardson-Davies, 21, who completed his apprenticeship with Evans Brothers Builders Llandovery and is employed by Twyi Centre LLandeilo, won the gold medal in the plastering category at Preston College.
Students competed against each other in various trades to complete a set piece of work within three days, which challenged the trainees to produce accurate and high quality work within a strict timescale –an essential requirements for today’s construction industry. The work was assessed by a panel of technical experts at the end when the winners of each trade were announced.

On winning a gold medal at this year’s competition, Ross, said: “Winning this competition feels fantastic. I attended college on extra days to practise additional skills to give me the best chance of winning at the national final. I’m really pleased that the judges thought my work was good enough to win.”
Gerald Naylor, head of construction at Coleg Sir Gâr said: “I am extremely proud of Ross. His fantastic achievement is testimony to the excellence of our plastering staff, learners and construction courses at Ammanford campus.

Plastering lecturer Bryan Jenkins, said: “SkillBuild is a fantastic opportunity to encourage and recognise excellence. This is a great success and showcased the skills of the construction industry on offer here at Ammanford. I am really pleased with the high quality and standard of workmanship being undertaken by Ross as it is testament to his hard work, and that of his employers.”

The competition, which has been running for more than 20 years, is an opportunity to recognise the importance of apprentices and full time trainees, and their skills. It also provides a platform for companies to highlight the quality of their workforce and commitment to training – which is essential in the current climate to provide businesses with a competitive edge.

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Dates for your diary

24-25 October 2012
NTfW Annual Conference at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.
Click here for more information

24 October 2012
National Training and Apprenticeship Awards Cymru at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.
Click here for more information

14-17th November 2012
Skills Show at the NEC Birmingham

20 November 2012
Skills Wales Conference – Driving Forward the Skills Agenda
Click here for more information

29 November 2012
The Real Conversation, Rodney Parade Rugby Ground, Newport
Click here for more information

4 December 2012
Policy Forum for Wales Keynote Seminar: The way forward for 14-19 learning in Wales: qualifications reform and the role of apprenticeships. Click here for more information

5 June 2013
VQ Day 2013
Click here for more information about VQ Day

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