Exeter College’s @thirty-four fine dining teaching and learning restaurant has achieved a prestigious AA College Rosette Award.
The awarding of the coveted accolade is in recognition of the hard work of students and staff at the restaurant.

The AA inspector who visited the restaurant highlighted a number of ‘wow’ moments during their visit. One of these was the ‘great relationship between the students and staff; respectful, supportive and engaging’.

Hospitality and catering students at Exeter College experience the real life rush of a commercial restaurant by working in the @thirty-four dining restaurant.

The AA College Rosette Scheme, developed by People 1st and AA Hotel Services, recognises college restaurants for the quality of the food they produce and the level of service they deliver.

Other wow moments highlighted by the inspector included a ‘very happy and convivial dining environment’ with ‘guests clearly enjoying the experience’, ‘impressive facilities, skills kitchen – an excellent facility’.

John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, said: “As a college our vision is to be exceptional, in vocational areas this means that we need to match the standards of the relevant industry, which this recognises.

“This award demonstrates the quality of food and service that we offer, which I have tasted and seen first-hand. For a college restaurant to meet this standard is, I believe, exceptional.

“I would like to congratulate the staff, thank the students and mention all the customers who make it such a vibrant and successful dining experience.”

Exeter College offers a wide range of hospitality and catering programmes. There is still time to apply for entry this September 2018.

If you are passionate about food and drink, and want to prepare, cook and serve great food, then come and train in Exeter College’s fantastic professional industry standard kitchens and study food and drink in the college’s lecture rooms.
See the Exeter College website: www.exe-coll.ac.uk for more and to apply.

This year our student Nicky Woods progressed to Plymouth for her third year and went on to win the Student Sustainability Research Prize. Now in its third year, the Student Sustainability Research Prize, awarded by the Sustainable Earth Institute, celebrates the exceptional research underway by students of Plymouth University, looking at creating a better future.

We spoke with Nicky about her award winning project, her time at Exeter College, and what she has planned for the future.

“In 2016, the United Kingdom voted to withdraw its membership with the European Union, bringing an unpredictable future for farmers and modern agricultural traditions. Whichever side of the fence you sit on, one thing is for certain: British farming is going to see a dramatic change. This project studies the day-to-day life of lamb and beef farmers on Dartmoor, a vast moorland situated in the heart of Devon. Famous for its more traditional methods of husbandry, 'To Pastures New' celebrates the devotion of the farmer to his livestock and landscape.”

“When making the decision on choosing where to do my degree, I decided to go to Exeter College as it appeared to have a very friendly, cooperative atmosphere, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. The smaller class sizes meant we had a lot of contact time from our lecturers who went above and beyond to make sure we were getting the best experience from our time on the course. With the city right on the doorstep, there were plenty of opportunities outside of the course that enriched my education. Even now that I have moved on from Exeter, the support is still there. I loved every moment on this course, and my experience at Exeter College is one I will never forget.”

“I worked as a self-employed photographer throughout my degree, and at present I am trying to develop this into my own business. I enjoy the variety that comes with each commission, and having the opportunity to travel around the country. In my spare time, I plan to keep working with rural and farming communities to document the changes in culture and traditions. I also have plans to improve my skills in alternative methods of photography and see where this may take me in the future.”

In her time here at Exeter School of Art Nicky was an exceptional student (in fact she was University Level Student of the Year!), creative, dedicated and hard-working, and it looks like nothing has changed! We wish Nicky all the best with her career ahead and hope to see her winning more prizes in the future!

Exeter College is opening the doors of its specialist construction and technology centres to showcase a range of job-focussed programmes.

The Construction Centre and Technology Specialist Open Event is taking place on Thursday, May 10th 2018 between 5-7pm. The open event is a chance for you to come and visit our specialist facilities and find out more about the wide range of courses and Apprenticeships on offer. There’s no need to register, simply arrive on the evening.

Specialist teaching staff will be on hand to show prospective learners the world class facilities on offer at both sites and wide range of programmes, and provide advice on the right programme.

The world class Technology Centre, Cumberland Way, provides aerospace engineering and automotive students with state of the art equipment and learning spaces. The centre provides a wide range of programmes, from engineering, aeronautical engineering, through to a range of automotive courses, including light and heavy vehicle maintenance and repair, vehicle body repair or refinishing, through to mechanical, electrical and trim, and vehicle fitting principles.

A recent expansion to the centre has created a new £3m state of the art Advanced Engineering Centre, featuring robotic technology, virtual and conventional welding, electro-pneumatic equipment, 3D printers, industrial automation and two new fully equipped machining workshops.

Andy Wells, Head of the Faculty of Engineering, Aerospace and Automotive, said: “As a Faculty we are excited to open our doors for people to experience the outstanding teaching from industry recognised staff and the resources we have to offer.

“This is a great opportunity to see first-hand our new extension and the UK leading equipment within which enable our students to have the best opportunities to progress to employment or higher education in the field of their choice.”

The Construction Centre, Falcon Road, has excellent facilities, including two learning centre suites that run CAD, and our facilities offer practical training space for all of the construction and building services courses that the college offers from Levels 1 to 5. Learners are taught by industry specialists in well equipped and professional surroundings.

Programmes and Apprenticeships on offer range from brickwork, carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, plumbing, bench joinery, electrical installation, construction and the built environment, through to a HNC in Construction.

Rob Woodger, Head of the Faculty Construction & the Built Environment, said: “This is a great time and opportunity to get in to construction trades with all the development work in Exeter and the South West that is taking place. We look forward to welcoming you to come and see our workshops and speak to our industry trained staff.”

For a programme about the Open Event please click here.

Three friends who work together at Exeter College have completed the Virgin London Marathon for the first time to raise money for charity.

Among them are Sharon Gilborson, from Cranbrook, who ran to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, a charity very close to her heart. Sharon has been running for 13 years and ran her first half marathon in 2005.

Joanna Webb, from Exton, had wanted to run a marathon since she was little and having done three half marathons previously, she was thrilled to finally get a place in this year’s London Marathon. Joanna’s niece Maisey is deaf, so she chose to raise money for The National Deaf Childrens Society.

Catherine Platt, from Exeter, first began running at school to help with exam stress, however she became really focused on running in her early twenties when she was diagnosed with a mental health problem, as running really helped her with this.

She said:

I am passionate about raising awareness and understanding of mental health illnesses and reducing the stigma around it, which is why I ran on behalf of the mental health charity MIND.

All three runners are members of the Exeter College running club and although they have all enjoyed running for a while this was the first time any of them had taken on the 26.2 mile challenge on Sunday 23rd April.

The training process wasn't an easy one. Catherine suffered an injury during training which set her back a few weeks and Joanna couldn’t train for months due to a hamstring injury, but this didn't put them off and with the support of each other and the running club all three of them completed the event.

Each of them were delighted to have completed their first ever marathon and despite saying ‘never again’ on the day they have all entered the ballot again for next year.

The Ray Kenny competition is run every year in memory of a chef who trained at the Dorchester Hotel. After his death in 2007, his family wanted to remember Ray’s passion for inspiring young chefs. The competition is open to 2nd year full time catering students within Further Education Colleges in the South West, the aim of the competition is to widen the horizons of budding chefs in the Westcountry.

Competitors are asked to produce a three course plated meal with a Westcountry theme for two covers, within two and a half hours.

This year's winner was our very own Jessika Martin, from Dawlish, who is studying Level 2 Professional Cookery with the Michael Caines Academy. She was delighted to win and is still a little shell shocked! Next year she plans to study Level 3 at the college. The prize includes £2000 and a two week work placement at Lucknam Park.

The winning menu from Jess was:

• Goats cheese and chive tortellini with horseradish sauce, a pine nut and parmesan crisp with spinach and toasted pine nuts (pictured)
• Pan fried john dory with salsa Verde, asparagus, purple sprouting broccoli and crushed jersey royals.
• Roasted white chocolate panna cotta with a white chocolate crumb, meringue with freeze dried raspberries and a sugar twill

Matthew Pickett, Programme Leader said:

Like many of our chefs here in the Michael Caines Academy Jessika doesn't realise how talented she is. Jess practiced so hard for the Ray Kenny Competition and sought advice and critique at every stage of her dish development. It's this drive and determination, combined with a natural talent for tasty food, that has seen Jess execute a brilliant set of competition dishes on the day. I know she will embrace her opportunity with the Michelin Star Lucknam Park and come back even better in term 3. I hope that this win will see Jess believe in herself more and give her the confidence to push on with the fabulous South West Chef of the Year competition later in the year.”

This year's judges were Stuart MacKerrell and Elly Wentworth, Sous Chef at Lucknam Park.

Last year’s winner, Ellie Thuell went on to win the student category in the South West Chef of the Year.

If you are interested in studying Hospitality, please take a look at the courses we offer here.

In a UK first, the country’s largest and best-known house builder has created an apprenticeship in marketing, in association with Exeter College.

Barratt Developments has long appointed apprentices in bricklaying, carpentry and plumbing but this initiative takes apprenticeships in a completely new direction.

Barratt Developments, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, has its regional headquarters in Exeter’s Matford Business Park where the marketing apprentice will be based.

The apprentice will work with the marketing team in delivering highly engaging digitally-focused marketing plans to support the sales targets for the division. The role will also include helping create engaging website content and combine this with high quality imagery/video as well as managing the research for future development websites.

Paul Moran, managing director for the Barratt division in Exeter, said:

As one of the country's top developers we are absolutely committed to developing raw talent and I believe that we have a duty to provide these kinds of apprenticeship opportunities. We are extremely proud of our apprenticeship scheme and the talented team members that have passed through it and stayed with the company over the years.”

Barratt Exeter’s marketing manager Alex Jones who has herself seen her own career blossom at Barratt, said:

This is a really exciting opportunity for the right candidate. As a high performing business we’re looking for people who are looking to develop a career in a challenging and rapidly developing industry.”

Devon County Council employ a remarkable number of apprentices, providing new entry level staff the best start to their career and offering existing staff the chance to develop their skills. With opportunities for a career and progression in over twelve apprenticeships, Devon County Council has one of the most impressive apprenticeship programmes in the region and truly is an outstanding employer.

We spoke to Anne Downing, Senior Workforce Development Advisor, to learn more.

How many apprentices do you employ, what do they do and what courses are they on?

Since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy we have employed 86 apprentices, 41 are new employees and 45 are existing employees. Before the levy was introduced we had employed well over 100 new apprentices to DCC, so we have a great track record and getting stronger all the time! At the moment we use the following programmes:-

• Business and Administration (Level 2, 3 & 4)
• Customer Service (Level 2)
• Town Planning Technician (Level 3)
• Transport Planning Technician (Level 3)
• Construction and the Built Environment (Level 3)
• Construction Management: Foundation Degree in Civil Engineering (Level 5 & 6)
• Assistant Accountant AAT (Leve 3)
• HR (Level 3 &5)
• Team Leader / Supervisor
• Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (Level 3)
• Supporting the Delivery of Physical Education and School Sport
• Children and Young People’s Workforce – Early Years Educator (Level 3)

These are constantly growing as new standards are introduced. We are currently working on introducing leadership and management, data analyst and degree level programmes in civil engineering and town planning.

Why do you employ apprentices in your company?

We first started employing apprentices around eleven years ago in an effort to offer quality employment opportunities to the young people of Devon and promote DCC as an employer of choice. We had long realised we could offer amazing opportunities for staff to develop and grow but quickly found the apprentices were making such an impact on the organisation there was a real desire to expand the scheme into other areas. A few years later the civil engineering scheme was launched to complement our existing accredited graduate scheme in that area. This proved a huge success and has paved the way for other technical apprenticeships to be introduced.

How do apprentices add value to your business?

At DCC we view our apprentices as our future professionals. Not only do they receive exceptional support to enable them to grow in their chosen field but also have lots of opportunities to learn about DCC and the diverse range of services we provide to the citizens of Devon. They develop support networks with their peers and also get real responsibility at an early stage in their careers. In return for this investment we get highly motivated and engaged employees who understand the organisation, how it works and want to make a real difference to their communities. Many of our apprentices have now become those professionals we aspired to develop and are moulding and shaping the DCC of the future. I think that’s a real win-win!

What do they bring to your team?

Endless enthusiasm, a passion for learning, new ways of thinking and a can-do attitude!

Devon County Council are recruiting now for apprentices to join in September! Find out more about the wide range of opportunities available here including civil engineering and office support.

Students from Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy at Exeter College are representing England at a prestigious international tournament in Japan.

The Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational tournament is being hosted by the Japan Rugby Football Union at the Global Arena on the island of Kyushu.

Exeter College’s team is the only UK college, or school, team to take part in this prestigious event, described as the pinnacle of the sport for schoolboy rugby.

Participation is by invitation only with the overseas schools selected by their respective unions to represent their country.

The RFU’s objective is to select a competitive and quality team to fly the flag for the country against some of the best teams in the world.

John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, said: “As a college, our vision is to exceptional, so for our rugby team to be asked by England Rugby to represent England, in an international tournament, is I believe, the ‘exceptional’ in action.

“We aim for excellence in all aspects of college life and this tournament in Japan is yet another example of staff, students, parents and sponsors all working together to make something happen.

“I would like to congratulate the students on this achievement, thank the staff involved for their commitment and add a special thanks to the parents and sponsors for their support – without which this trip would not have taken place.”

Brian Lodge, SW Comms’ Managing Director, said: “The South West has a proud history of providing teams for this tournament. Jack Nowell, Sam Hill and Dave Ewers, of Exeter Chiefs, have all taken part in the past. It is testament to the quality of the Exeter College team that it has been selected to represent England in 2018.”

Sam Morton, Academy Coach, said: “We are delighted and honoured to have been selected to participate in this world class competition. The support of the sponsors is invaluable in making this all come together. Putting our college-based players on the world stage is a once in a lifetime experience for them. We are working hard to ensure we do the college and country proud.”

The Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament is running from April 29 to May 6.

The College would also like to thank sponsors SW Comms', LWS Interior Solutions, Mortimers Jewellers, DFP Wealth Management and Unleashed Web for their support.

Last weekend 72 students attended the AoC National Championships in Nottingham. The championships are one of the largest annual sporting events in England, involving over 1,800 college students and 200 staff. This is a wonderful opportunity and great experience for our students to compete at the highest level in college sport and to meet other sports people from all over the country. British colleges from England, Scotland and Wales compete over three days in over 20 sports, each sport accumulating points for their region, which in turn contributes towards the ultimate prize of being the best overall region and being awarded the Wilkinson Sword.

Ross Morshead, Faculty Head of Sport said:

Having gone away with them, it once again reminded me how beneficial experiences like this are for young people and I am just so pleased to be part of a college that acknowledges and supports this type of wider development. I have already had several messages of thanks from both parents and students as well as a video of congratulations from a current England Hockey player!”

The championships were held at Nottingham University from the 20th -22nd of April. Exeter College had 72 students form part of the South West team who they represented in Netball, Womens Hockey, Womens Rugby, Basketball, Tennis, Table Tennis, Badminton and Cross Country.

Amongst a range of great performances, the highlights for the college were:

• Womens hockey – winning the gold medal and being confirmed as the best college team in the country;
• Netball – claiming the silver medal losing just one game (and the team's first loss this year);
• Womens Rugby – finishing joint first and receiving the silver medal on points scored behind a combined Welsh college team (last year we finished 7th).

On this occasion unfortunately, the South West did not reclaim the Wilkinson Sword. This went back to the South East, but as a college we had an incredibly successful weekend. The students were a credit to their teams and our college. Congratulations to everyone involved.

If you are interested in studying sport at Exeter College please take a look through our courses here. Information on our Sports Academy is available here.

Exeter College has been awarded its largest ever single contract under the new Apprenticeship Levy to deliver leadership training for managers at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E).

This forms a ground-breaking programme developed by two of Exeter’s largest organisations designed to support non-clinical staff to develop the leadership and management skills to meet the strategic aims of the NHS and its support for patients.

The programme combines nationally recognised Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Leadership and Management Diplomas with workplace learning and is funded by the Apprenticeship Levy.

Rob Bosworth, Vice Principal (Schools, Partnerships and Curriculum) Exeter College, said: “Exeter College is developing a specialised and bespoke city based partnership with the RD&E. There has never been a more important time to ensure Exeter as a community-focused college is listening to and meeting the need of its local employers.

“With the opportunities facing the Trust we are delighted to be able to develop training that meets the needs of this essential local employer and we are proud to be working closely on other future initiatives.”

Under the partnership with the RD&E, Exeter College will be delivering the Level 3 CMI Diploma in Principles of Management and Leadership, as well as the Level 5 CMI Diploma in Management and Leadership.

The partnership programme developed by the Learning and Development Team at the RD&E and the College enables the Apprentices not only to achieve skills to national standards through Apprenticeship training, but also study for professional qualifications which they can take with them throughout their career. The joint initiative comes as a year after the introduction of the new Apprenticeship Levy.

Exeter College is an award winning provider of Apprenticeships and is ranked in the national Top 10 for Apprenticeship achievement rates amongst Further Education (FE) colleges, according to national figures. Apprenticeship achievement rates at the college have been measured at 83.1 per cent for 2016/17, significantly higher than the national average of 67 per cent for FE colleges. Meanwhile, the college has also recorded strong growth in Apprenticeships against national trends.

The first group of RD&E staff to join the programme recently took part in a three-day induction at the Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre at Exeter Quay. This unique experience combined practical team building challenges and academic study. It gave the opportunity for participating staff across the Trust to form the professional and supportive bonds which will add value and enhance their learning experience.

Tracey Cottam, Executive Director of Transformation & Organisational Development, RD&E, said: “Developing our staff is really important to us, and we see it as a key priority. We have a great team of people who deliver fantastic compassionate care every day to the public in Devon, and beyond.

“We are really excited about our partnership with Exeter College, and see it as a key relationship to enable us to build the talent we need for now, and in the future”

If you would like to find out more about Levy Funded Leadership and Management Apprenticeship training please contact the Exeter College Apprenticeships team on 01392 400800 or jennyvince@exe-coll.ac.uk.