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Club and College Celebrate Unique Relationship

The partnership between Exeter City Football Club and Exeter College continues to go from strength to strength.

The organisations have worked together, along with the club’s partner charity, Exeter City Community Trust, for more than 18 years, since the Exeter College Sports Academy was launched in 2003.

And some famous names have come through that partnership to go on to great things, including Matt Grimes, who has just signed a new three-and-a-half year contract with Swansea, and Ollie Watkins, who now plays for Aston Villa and recently made his England debut.

“The effectiveness and impact of our partnerships is something that uniquely defines Exeter College and our work with Exeter City Football Club is something we are incredibly proud of.”

Rob Bosworth, Vice Principal and Deputy CEO for Exeter College

The partnership includes opportunities for both male and female students, and includes the Men’s Football Academy and the Women’s Football Academy and Futsal Academy, with the latter two being delivered by Exeter City Community Trust.

Julian Tagg, president and director of football at Exeter City Football Club and chair of Exeter City Community Trust, said: “We are extremely proud of this partnership. Exeter College really is an outstanding asset in our city which creates amazing opportunities for students. It’s really important for our club to have such a close relationship which we want to continue to grow and develop, ultimately giving a fantastic education to local young people.”

The Exeter College Sports Academy provides a quality coaching provision encompassing three training sessions per week and competitive fixtures for male and female players. Exeter City coaches attend all sessions and assist College staff with the men’s first team, Women’s, and Futsal teams who both play in the AoC Sports and English Colleges Football Association Leagues.

“It’s really important for our club to have such a close relationship which we want to continue to grow and develop, ultimately giving a fantastic education to local young people.”

Julian Tagg, president and director of football at Exeter City Football Club and chair of Exeter City Community Trust

The college’s Level 2 and 3 provision through BTECs and A Levels also extends to a Foundation Degree in Football Coaching Development. In addition, the College provides the academic delivery for the club’s apprentices, all aspiring to earn contracts for the club or take the next step in their football careers.

Julian added: “Both Exeter College and ECFC have desire to create a positive ethos and culture, while having a constructive impact in our community. Examples of how this synergy is having a positive impact on the club can be seen in many different ways.”

ECFC and College alumni staff include Exeter City Academy manager Arran Pugh, Under 23s manager Dan Green and Exeter City Women’s head coach Aaron Wakley.

Rob Bosworth, Vice Principal and Deputy CEO for Exeter College said: “The effectiveness and impact of our partnerships is something that uniquely defines Exeter College and our work with Exeter City Football Club is something we are incredibly proud of. This partnership has grown rapidly over the years which is a testament to the talent and hard work of everyone involved.  

Our Sports Academy is designed to provide training and opportunities for individuals who wish to pursue a career in sport, whilst gaining invaluable vocational and academic qualifications. The Men and Women’s Football and Futsal Academies are an integral part of this mission. We have seen numerous alumni go on to achieve great things and we look forward to many more years of success.” 

Exeter College Secure CMI Learning Provider of the Year Award

Exeter College has been awarded the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Learning Provider of the Year award. In addition to this, one of the College’s apprentices achieved an honourable mention in the CMI Apprentice of the Year category. 

“This is an incredible achievement, and we are immensely proud of our staff, learners and employer partners for the work they do and for their commitment to outstanding learning.”

Sarah Mandeno, Head of Faculty for Professional Adult Learning

The CMI Learning Provider of the Year award recognises a non-HE provider partner for exceptional positive impact on learner experience, professional development, and personal performance as a result of their partnership with CMI. 

Sarah Mandeno, Head of Faculty for Professional Adult Learning, said;  

“We are delighted to be named as CMI Learning Provider of the Year. It is an honour to be recognised for the positive impact we have on our learners and partner organisations.  

“This is an incredible achievement, and we are immensely proud of our staff, learners and employer partners for the work they do and for their commitment to outstanding learning.  

“Exeter College’s purpose is to serve our local community by providing outstanding training and learning. This includes developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours of managers and leaders. Our mission is to shape futures by delivering world-class education and training for our city and region and CMI has been absolutely instrumental in helping us realise this aspiration.” 

The recent pandemic has highlighted the scale of impact Exeter College make to the local communities in increasing the number of qualified and confident local leaders. During the peak of the pandemic, the local NHS trust was working in a red alert mode, cancelling, and postponing all non-essential training and development. However, the programmes they decided to keep running throughout the challenging times were leadership and management qualifications and apprenticeships at level 3 and 5 with the support of Exeter College and CMI. 

CMI recognised this work in the community and after shortlisting was announced commented: 

“The vision of Exeter College is to shape the future by delivering excellence, and to realise the ambitions of learners, the city and the region. They have been shortlisted for this Award due to their extensive work with employers of all shapes and sizes, helping to promote greater opportunities for local businesses and communities through engagement with employers and learners alike. This has shone through in their delivery of CMI qualifications and apprenticeships to increase the number of qualified and confident leaders, particularly in their work with a local NHS trust during the pandemic.” 

The CMI Partnership has been instrumental in shaping the relationships that Exeter College has with major employers in the region including the NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter, Devon County Council and Great Western Railway. The College works with over 80 partners to develop their first line and senior managers through management apprenticeships and CMI Diplomas.  

Find out more about CMI Diplomas at Exeter College. 

BBC Director General Opens Inspiring New Exeter College Studio

The BBC’s Director General met with local students today as he officially opened the corporation’s new studios in Exeter College, hailing it an “inspiration for future journalists and programme makers”. 

Tim Davie praised the forward-thinking partnership between BBC South West and Exeter College during his visit, and conducted a Q&A session with budding journalism students.  

BBC Director General, Tim Davie in a Q&A session with Exeter College students

The permanent base on the ground floor of the Centre for Creative Industries building in the College will be used by BBC reporters to conduct interviews for regional and national news programmes, such as BBC Radio Devon, Spotlight and Newsnight. 

In return student journalists will get the opportunity to train and develop their skills with the help of BBC programme makers. 

Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive John Laramy CBE, said: “We are delighted to welcome the BBC to our College today and officially open their new studio, housed within our Centre for Creative Industries.   

“Part of our strategy is to ensure that our students have a ‘line of sight’ to industry. We believe this collaboration is an absolute win, win; our students will gain industry insights from one of the World’s leading media and broadcasting organisations and the BBC Exeter studios will now be housed at the heart of the fantastic City of Exeter, within a vibrant college environment. 

“We hope this new association will enable us to nurture the next generation of journalists and showcase that Exeter is a truly great place to live, learn and work. We really hope that, with partners, we can establish Exeter as a recognised creative hub for the South West.” 

“Students will get to learn from some of the best in the business.” 

BBC Director General, Tim Davie

Pupils will be encouraged to pitch stories to BBC journalists, with the chance to have their ideas broadcast on radio, TV or online. And students will also benefit from guest lectures by BBC staff, which will include the very latest hints and tips for breaking into the industry. 

BBC Director General, Tim Davie, said: “We want this unique collaboration to be an inspiration for future journalists and programme makers.  

“I know this area is a terrific news patch, in fact Spotlight remains the most popular regional news bulletin in the country. And throughout the pandemic the 6.30pm regional news slot across the country regularly attracted more viewers than any programme on any channel – often passing five million nightly at the height of the Covid outbreak. 

“So, students will get to learn from some of the best in the business.  

“This pioneering initiative is another example of the BBC’s commitment to encouraging and developing new talent and shows how the BBC can make a real difference on the ground, where you live.” 

BBC Director General Opens Inspiring New Exeter College Studio
at the Centre for Creative Industries

The move is part of the BBC’s ‘Across the UK’ plans, the biggest transformation in BBC local output in more than 40 years. The goal is to transform local services to touch more lives, in more communities, more often. 

Stephanie Marshall, Head of the BBC in the West and South West, said: “Our move to Exeter College represents a new way of working for our regional news teams, bringing us closer to students who could one day be broadcasting on BBC Radio Devon, Spotlight or further afield across the BBC. 

“A fantastic example of this in practice was last week’s vitally important BBC Radio Devon climate debate, that involved students, scientists and politicians and was recorded at the College studio site.  

“Events like this, alongside apprenticeships and schemes like BBC Young Reporter, show we are doing more than ever to support people across the whole of the UK aspiring to work in the media industry.” 

Katie Wild, Head of Faculty for Media and Performing Arts at Exeter College, said: “This new association with the BBC gives our creative students direct access to BBC journalists, and they have the opportunity to pitch story ideas and attend masterclasses with BBC staff.  

“Together, we can offer incredible opportunities and media orientated training that benefits our students, staff, the BBC and our wider community. We are excited about what this means for the future of our media curriculum and the unique pathways that this could offer our students.” 

DIGITAL AND DATA CENTRE SCOOPS ITS SECOND PROPERTY AWARD

The Exeter College South West Institute of Technology, Digital and Data Centre has picked up its second property award. It was named as Education Project of the Year at the 19th Michelmores Property Awards, held at a glittering awards ceremony and gala dinner at Sandy Park Conference Centre in Exeter.

The evening was hosted by former Exeter Chiefs rugby player, Chris Bentley and celebrated outstanding property and construction projects in Bristol, Cornwall, Devon and Wiltshire across ten categories.   

Of this year’s Awards, Emma Honey, Head of Property at Michelmores LLP said: 

“It was fantastic to bring together members of the South West property and construction industry to celebrate the winners of the Michelmores Property Awards 2021. Despite challenging conditions, the sector has continued to thrive and shown itself to be a robust and innovative part of the region’s economy. My congratulations to our winners on their Awards which are thoroughly well deserved. My thanks to our panel of esteemed judges for their ongoing support and to our sponsors without whom, this event would not happen.” 

“The Digital and Data Centre provides an innovative teaching facility for the provision of a bold new digital curriculum.”

Steven Strang, Director of Estates and Information Technology at Exeter College

As part of Exeter College’s masterplan, the Digital and Data centre is part of the first phase of 15 years of planned development at the Hele Road campus. The college embarked on this property strategy in 2016. Construction on the project started in 2019. 

Completing in early 2021, the new Centre provides a nationally significant and prestigious digital learning centre in the heart of the city. Complete with digital learning laboratories, state-of-the-art IT suites and interactive seminar spaces, learners have access to cutting edge equipment to help gear them to move directly into industry or further study. 

The project comprises of a dedicated facility for the teaching of digital and data technologies funded by the Institute of Technology (IoT) and the refurbishment of the existing adjoining Hele Building which will be used to teach the new T Levels. 

Steven Strang, Director of Estates and Information Technology at Exeter College, who managed the project, said; 

“It’s an amazing achievement for the team and great recognition for the project. The Digital and Data Centre provides an innovative teaching facility for the provision of a bold new digital curriculum. Operated in conjunction with the college’s academic and business partners, the building offers a light and airy space that fosters collaboration and exploration of the fast-paced digital world. We are immensely proud to have created this space and I’m delighted that we won this award.” 

Hear more on what the judges had to say here: https://michelmores.wistia.com/medias/ld91i3hjat 

Exeter College Celebrates the start of 1000 Apprentices

Exeter College have marked a significant milestone having enrolled over 1000 Apprentices in the academic year 2020/21.

This is the third time that the College has broken the 1000 Apprentices barrier in the last 5 years, a remarkable achievement reflective of the commitment of Exeter’s businesses to Apprenticeships.

Mike Blakeley, Director of Apprenticeships at Exeter College said;

“In what has been a hugely challenging year for everyone, I’m delighted to see the College supporting in excess of 1000 new Apprentices once again. We scaled back our expectations during the pandemic, but our employers have once again bucked the national trend and created some truly magnificent job opportunities. We thank them whole heartedly for their support.”

The College, who deliver over 90 Apprenticeship programmes to a business network of 950 employers across the region, have been busy responding to an increasing need to train new and existing staff.

Mike added; “The last 18 months have been very busy for the team and the demand for business support has been significant. We have a dedicated team of over 100 people involved in Apprenticeships here at Exeter College and we have seen a number of new and exciting programmes come to fruition recently.”

One such programme is with Tavistock based, national telecoms company Beacons Communications. The 1000th Apprentice to be enrolled was Lucy Gales, a Telecommunications Engineering and Rigger Apprentice.

Lucy said; “I chose to do an Apprenticeship because it is something out of the ordinary. I have a love for the outdoors and heights, and I wanted a new challenge so I thought I would get involved in the telecoms network. My job involves a lot of travel around the country, playing a key part in a large team and working at height to install cutting edge telecoms hardware.”

Beacon Communications South West Regional Manager Matthew Venner said;

“Lucy has overcome a lot of stereotypes in the telecommunications industry. Traditionally it is very much a gender orientated role. Lucy has come in and overcome all those invisible barriers and not only that, but she is outperforming the challenging learning milestones that we set for all our Apprentices on the scheme. It has been fantastic to see Lucy make such a positive impact.”

He added, “We are delighted to partner with Exeter College. With their collaboration Beacon Comms are in a great position to support the current and future generations of skilled telecoms staff our industry is going to need as it continues to grow.”

Exeter College is proud to support Apprentices such as Lucy to launch their careers. Enrolments for the new academic year 2021/2022 are at an all-time high, laying the foundations for another record-breaking year.

Exeter College currently has more than 200 opportunities for people of all ages interested in an Apprenticeship. For more information, please visit our website.

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