Rocketmakers win South West’s first Esports Festival at Exeter College

Software development company Rocketmakers have been crowned champions of the South West’s first region-wide corporate Esports festival, held at Exeter College.

The Bath-based firm pipped 15 other organisations from across the South West to the top spot in a Rocket League tournament, with the Exeter Chiefs rugby team and the Met Office among those taking part.

The festival was supported by ultrafast broadband provider Jurassic Fibre, technology strategy and IT experts Timewade, software engineering firm Rowe, tech marketing agency Astley Media and fan engagement platform Filmily.

The Tech South West Esports Festival took place at the new Digital and Data Centre at Exeter College, which houses the Exeter College Esports Academy and is part of the South West Institute of Technology. Courses are delivered there for students who wish to develop their skills in the business and management of Esports, alongside coding, software development and data analytics training.

Rocketmakers beat Exeter law firm Ashfords in a decisive final as software developers Danny Williamson, Jonny Gwilliam and Ben Long of Rocketmakers faced a tough challenge from their opponents Scott Preece, Charlie Ogden-Conabeer and Dan Cahill of Ashfords in a best-of-three final.

Ashfords won the first game of the final round, before Rocketmakers pulled it back in the second making it 1-1. The final was streamed live on a big screen as the software specialists from Bath fought to victory in the third game, giving them a 2-1 victory.

Ben Long, who skippered the Rocketmakers team, also won Star Player at the tournament.

Competitors playing at the Esports festival

Danny Williamson, Software Developer at Rocketmakers, said: “Rocketmakers are delighted to have won the first region-wide Esports festival in the South West! Esports is a really exciting and fast-growing industry, and the facilities at the Exeter College Esports Academy really demonstrate the potential the South West has to be a key region for Esports in the UK.

“As a forward-thinking software company with clients across the region and beyond, Rocketmakers are excited about the potential the esports industry brings and the opportunities it affords for the tech sector. A huge thank you to Tech South West and Exeter College for organising such a great event. Now to start training for the next one!”

Rob Bosworth, Deputy CEO of Exeter College, said: “It was a brilliant festival and a great way for tech companies to see the facilities and expertise we now offer in this arena. Esports is rapidly developing as one of the biggest participation sports on the planet. We are seeing this as a real change-agent for diversity and inclusivity with our students and the wider community. I hope next year’s event will be even bigger and attract even more entries from all aspects of the corporate sector which will help us raise the importance of nurturing digital skills in the South West.”

Esports, a term used to describe competitive video gaming, is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. The sector achieved an audience of 474m in 2021, and a global revenue of over $1bn, according to market research firm Newzoo.

The South West is well placed to take advantage of this booming industry, according to Tech South West, a cluster organisation representing and supporting the tech industry across the region.

Tech South West co-founder Dan Pritchard said: “The global rise of Esports brings opportunities for gamers, event organisers, developers and creatives to pursue great careers in tech, and the South West of England is well positioned to support and take advantage of this growth.

“With strong universities, tech hubs and college groups, we are building a strong pool of creative and tech talent. We are delighted to be working with Exeter College and our partners to showcase the opportunities the industry brings to the South West tech ecosystem, its young people, and the regional economy.”

The tournament featured teams from across the region, including event sponsors Rowe, Timewade, Jurassic Fibre and Filmily, as well as Bristol software firm Ghyston, Somerset biotech specialists Singer Instruments, Devon County Council, Plymouth healthtech firm FDB Health, Granted Consultancy, Software Solved and Sparx Learning from Exeter and Totnes-based Nice Group.

International rugby star Don Armand led a team representing the Exeter Chiefs, alongside front rows Marcus Street and James Kenny.

Mr Armand, who has 192 appearances for the two-time Premiership winning club and runs his own gaming company GAS, said: “Esports is an incredibly important sector for so many reasons.

“Whether you look at it from a business, participant or spectator point of view, or whether you are young or old, new to gaming or a seasoned gamer, Esports is going to develop in a fantastic way. The new tech, businesses, tournaments, and the market as a whole is very exciting, with so much potential.”

Tech South West is now liaising with other tech hubs and colleges to take the festival around the region, before returning to Exeter College in 2023.

Exeter College has one of the UK’s most successful competing teams, having won gold at the British Esports Championships 2020-21 LAN finals in July 2021. The college was also recently awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for embedding digital technology through curriculum innovation, and in 2021 launched its dedicated academy alongside an Esports course for over 18s.

Exeter College students supported the event by providing logistical and technical support, as well as providing commentary to the action.

Exeter College Esports students at the Esports festival — Exeter College Esports students supported the festival.

Kevin Pan, who is studying for a BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Esports at the college, said the tournament was “a really good thing because it allows different companies to make connections with each other. And for Exeter College it will help us to grow bigger in terms of Esports and allows us to meet potential sponsors.”

Fellow student Daisy Batchelor added: “We have all these skills that we have been learning on the course, but we’ve not had a chance to use them in this way yet. Today has allowed us to put these skills into action and contribute to a professional event.”

Rob Bosworth added: “It was a great showcase and wonderful to see so many tech companies get involved. For many students, Esports is an entry point into digital skills. The gaming industry is multifaceted and can involve events management, production and design, media management, not to mention strategic and critical thinking. We are delighted to be supporting the event and hope on the back of the success of this year’s launch, we will expand it even further next year.”

Exeter College Honoured to be Awarded Queen’s Anniversary Prize

Exeter College was honoured to be awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education last year. By kind permission of HM The Queen, John Laramy, Exeter College’s Principal and Chief Executive and other senior members of college staff were delighted to be officially awarded with the Prize Medal and Certificate on Thursday 17 February 2022 at St James’s Palace in London.

Exeter College earned the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a further education college for its strategic approach and work towards being a digital college and driving a skills revolution that has impacted on many areas of the college and region.

The award recognises the College’s excellence in embedding digital technology through curriculum innovation, national work to help shape the digital agenda within colleges, working with employers to help others, staff digital training and throughout many areas of the College.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales presenting Bindu Arjoon, Chair of Governors at Exeter College, with a Queen's Anniversary Prize. — His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales presenting Bindu Arjoon, Chair of Governors at Exeter College, with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize.

John Laramy CBE, Exeter College’s Principal and Chief Executive said:

“The dinner, in the historic setting of the London Guildhall, was a really magical moment, as we were able to celebrate winning the award with amazing winners and key stakeholders from across Further and Higher Education.

“I was very pleased indeed that a number of staff from right across the College were able to attend the dinner, as our approach to ‘digital’ really is a whole team effort. We were awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, at St. James’s Palace. This event was made even more special, as three of our students from various ‘digital’ programmes were able to join us.

“I would like to thank everyone at Exeter College who contributed to this award, the Royal Anniversary Trust and all those involved with the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Further and Higher Education. The recognition of a Queen’s Award is a truly fantastic moment for all of us at Exeter College.”

Exeter College has a proven track record of digital delivery and excellence, being graded Outstanding by Ofsted, achieving Gold (the top rating) for its Higher Education provision by the Teaching Excellence Framework and being selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to share digital skills with other colleges and schools by becoming an Education Technology (EdTech) Demonstrator College.

Exeter College students at St James's Palace. — Exeter College students also attended the prize giving at St James’s Palace.

Empowering students to reach their digital optimum is something the College has been pioneering through their Personal Development Programmes. Working with the international award-winning programme, known as iDEA, Exeter College has helped students and staff develop and demonstrate their digital skills through a series of short, interactive online modules (iDEA badges), created by industry experts. In just two months the number of students gaining iDEA badges jumped from 10,926 to 22,194, demonstrating the College’s and students’ commitment to enhancing digital skills.

Investments continued this year by the opening of their £10.3m Digital and Data Centre as part of the South West Institute of Technology and supported by two local anchor employers, the Met Office, and Oxygen House – strengthening links with employers and developing a specialist building that is intended to be the regional centre of digital excellence.

Exeter College being presented with a Queen's Anniversary Prize at St James's Palace. — Exeter College being presented with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize at St James’s Palace.

Working with the Local Enterprise Partnership allowed Exeter College to pilot the new Government ‘Digital Bootcamps’ initiative for adults. These short courses were hugely popular with 300 students applying for only 107 places. Due to popular demand the college is continuing these Bootcamps for adult students who wish to improve their digital skills.

The digital industry is one of growth, opportunity, and ambition. Exeter College is proud to be forward thinking and pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved within education – winning such a prestigious award not only cements the College’s position as one of the leading colleges in the UK, but also shows that the College is ready to play its part in shaping the future.

College Closure: Online Learning on Friday 18 February 2022

The below information has been sent to Learners and Next of Kin email addresses.

Exeter College will be closed tomorrow, Friday 18th February, to all staff and students due to adverse weather conditions. The closure includes all college sites including the nursery. Please do not travel to College during this time. For more information about the weather warning issued for tomorrow, please visit the Met Office website.

Online Learning – Friday 18th February

Your tutor may have already told you that your lessons will be flipped online for tomorrow. Your teacher/s will be in touch via email to share arrangements for your online learning. Please continue to check your emails.

For those using Teams, you can do this via the Teams icon on the Student hub. For step-by-step instructions, please see our quick guide here.

What we expect of you in a live online session

Many of you will now have had a lot of experience of online learning and will be aware of the expectations and protocols for those participating in remote sessions. Please make sure you use your online lessons to the full by following the guidance set out below.

For those without a laptop/device to log on to online lessons

If you do not have access to a laptop/device or internet connection, please contact your teacher/tutor if you can. If you are unable to contact your teacher, please use the time for independent study.

Return to College

We wish you a safe and restful half term break and we look forward to welcoming you back to college on Monday 28th February.

Exceptional Student Talent Celebrated at Exeter College Awards

The Exeter College Student Awards moved to a virtual celebration this year to recognise exceptional student achievements. In total, 21 categories were awarded, celebrating students from across the College’s wide range of subjects and specialties.

Students’ hard work, dedication and passion is part of what makes Exeter College truly outstanding and this event, although virtual, is a way of recognising students’ commitment and ambition for what they do.

“I love my Apprenticeship, and to be awarded for something I love is incredible.”
Rebekah Charles, winner of the Apprentice of the Year Award

Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive John Laramy CBE said, “The Exeter College Student Awards are always a highlight of the College year, and despite making the decision to move it online this year, this has remained true.

“Every year the talent, skill and commitment of our students is truly impressive, but the last year has really shown that even in a pandemic, our students excel. Tonight I would like to congratulate the award winners, but also recognise that every student over the last year has shown, through their attitude and study, why we are and remain an outstanding College.

“This year I felt the messages from our award winners was a fantastic addition to the event, I was so pleased that almost every student talked about the amazing staff at the College, something I am privileged to see every day. Finally, I would like to thank the sponsors for their fantastic support and wish all of our students a bright future, whether they are continuing at college, moving on to University or heading off into employment, we are exceptionally proud of you all.”

Rebekah Charles has been named as Apprentice of the Year. She is currently on a Level 3 Apprenticeship and hopes to apply for a high-grade position in her current place of work once it is completed. She said: “The support I’ve received from the Apprenticeship Team at Exeter College has been amazing, they pushed me to do my best and never let me give up. I wouldn’t be doing what I do if they hadn’t encouraged me.”

Speaking about the Student Awards, she added; “I feel grateful and thrilled, I love my Apprenticeship, and to be awarded for something I love is incredible.”

Callum Covill, winner of an award for Vocational and Technical Excellence, started his time at Exeter College on a Level 2 course and has since progressed to Level 3 and is now working as a Technical Support Facilitator in the College’s Construction faculty.

Callum Covill, winner of a Vocational and Technical Excellence Award

He said; “I feel incredibly honoured to have won this award, it is a true pleasure to have been a part of Exeter College for the past year and I look forward to the rest of my time here.

“In the future, I hope to further my skills and knowledge so that I can gain a teaching qualification and pass on my knowledge to aid the training of future generations of electricians.”

“I feel incredibly honoured to have won this award, it is a true pleasure to have been a part of Exeter College.”
Callum Covill, 2022 Award Winner

The College would like to thank our generous sponsors, who help ensure we can celebrate our student successes.

Professor Tim Quine, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Exeter and Governor at Exeter College, said: “The University of Exeter is delighted to have been able to sponsor the Exeter College Student Awards, as it recognises and celebrates the incredible achievements of students at Exeter College, especially considering all the challenges we have been through the past year.

“It speaks closely to our partnership with Exeter College and also our commitment to support students from all backgrounds to succeed through the power of education.

“As a Governor and a friend of the College I am privileged to see excellent work here and the unwavering commitment to high quality learning and teaching among all colleges and students.”

Watch the Student Awards 2022.

Congratulations to all our 2022 Award Winners:

Award Category	Award Winner	Award Sponsor
Award for Academic Excellence	Eliza Munday	Peninsula Project Consulting
Award for Academic Excellence	Ben Langabeer	Foot Anstey
Award for Academic Excellence	Ellie King	Bishop Fleming
Award for Academic Excellence	Kian Gentry	Exeter Science Park
Award for Vocational & Technical Excellence	Callum Covill	Willmott Dixon
Award for Vocational & Technical Excellence	Hattie James-Lee	SW Comms
Award for Vocational & Technical Excellence	Caprice Gabriel	Exeter Works
Award for Vocational & Technical Excellence	Matt Wood	Stagecoach South West
Apprentice of the Year	Rebekah Charles	Taylor Lewis
Advanced Apprentice of the Year	Rory Clay	GWR
Higher Apprentice of the Year	Rachael Smaldon	Howmet Aerospace
Performing Arts Academy Student of the Year	Morley Atkins	Hampton by Hilton Exeter Airport
Michael Caines Academy Student of the Year	Megan Penrose	Lympstone Manor
Reach Academy Student of the Year	Tom Wilkinson	Kislingbury Property Consultants
Sports Academy Student of the Year	Rhys Fuller	Exeter City Community Trust
School of Art Student of the Year	Sophie Bruce	Pollards Print
Esports Academy Student of the Year	Daisy Batchelor	Jurassic Fibre
Adult Learner of the Year	Sian Cox	University of Exeter
Exeter College Sustainability Award	Gwen Hendry	Exeter Live Better
Skills for Life Student of the Year	Charlotte Thompson	NatWest
The #ExeCollProud Award	Krisztina Tadhunter	Devon County Council

New hands-on healthcare qualification rolled out in Exeter

A ground-breaking new qualification which specialises in adult nursing, mental health nursing or midwifery has been rolled out by the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Exeter College to support younger people to take on vital NHS roles.

The T Level – a new qualification launched by the government last year – is equivalent to three A Levels and combines industry placements with classroom learning, allowing students to have hands-on practical experience and knowledge ready for the beginning of their careers.

“In working with Exeter College we are delighted to offer engaging work placements to students and allow them to roll their sleeves up and experience the atmosphere, culture and camaraderie of our fantastic workforce within the NHS.”
Suzanne Tracey, Chief Executive at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust

Within the two-year course, students will complete a minimum of 315 hours work placement. Placements take place across the hospital including medical wards, surgical wards, maternity and theatres, working with the whole team on duty and allows students to follow the patient journey and see quality patient care in action.

“I’ve really enjoyed my placement week, and it’s made me want to be a nurse even more than I already did, which I didn’t think was possible!”
Ebony – T Level Student at Exeter College

To support the hospital during COVID-19, students over the age of 18 have been offered the opportunity to join the staff bank which, while benefiting the hospital, has also enabled students to gain additional experience. Last year, 22 students were employed and a further 30 are in the process of applying.

Suzanne Tracey, Chief Executive at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We are very excited for this new, innovative qualification and to help shape the careers of young people in Devon. It’s no secret that the NHS has a national shortage of midwifes, nurses and many other allied health professional roles, so in working with Exeter College we are delighted to offer engaging work placements to students and allow them to roll their sleeves up and experience the atmosphere, culture and camaraderie of our fantastic workforce within the NHS.”

Sam Hillman, Assistant Principal for Curriculum at Exeter College, said: “We are proud to be working collaboratively with the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust to deliver the new and innovative Health T Level. Through exceptional education and inspirational, engaging, hands-on industry placements, we are together, growing talent and realising the ambitions and dreams of our young people and helping them to shape their futures.”

Heidi Amor, Head of Faculty for Healthcare, Childcare and Public Services at Exeter College, said: “This year saw the launch of our T Level Health with 32 learners pursuing careers in either Adult Nursing, Midwifery or Mental Health Nursing. The programme is designed to develop the skills, knowledge, behaviours and competencies required for working in the healthcare sector.

“The support and partnership of the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust in providing industry placements and advising the college on the resources and space for simulation, has been instrumental in developing a programme that prepares our learners for their future workforce and supports the NHS People Plan.”
Heidi Amor, Head of Faculty for Healthcare, Childcare and Public Services at Exeter College

“It is a privilege to be able to support our young people to follow their dreams and pursue their career and as a college, we are very proud to be working with our NHS Trust to develop those talented, professional and enthusiastic learners and the workforce of the future.”

Ebony White, aged 16 year said: “This week has been really great, it’s been amazing to see a hospital from the professional’s point of view – I have seen so much!

Ebony White, Studying T Level in Health at Exeter College

“I’ve seen cannulas and catheters taken out, found out how they do blood transfusions and where the bloods are kept, I’ve learned all about how catheters and drains etc. work, as well as how to dispose of waste in a safe way. I’ve got COVID swabs ready for all the patients on the days they needed testing and helped hand out menus to the patients on the ward for their meals the next day. The most exciting thing I did was take patients observations for the last three days (supervised by who I was shadowing), which was great!

“I’ve really enjoyed my placement week, and it’s made me want to be a nurse even more than I already did, which I didn’t think was possible!”

If you are interested in finding out more about the T levels qualification and are leaving school soon, please see more here or, if you are still at school and thinking about a career in health, you could also consider the NHS Cadets Programme – this is for 14-16 year olds and was launched by the NHS in collaboration with St John Ambulance.

If you’re a student and need to get real hands on experience and require a placement please contact the RD&E Talent and Learning Team who will be able to support you in your application process to work with us: rde-tr.talentandlearning@nhs.net.

Open Event Postponed

Due to current government guidelines and to keep staff and visitors safe, we have made the decision to postpone our January Open Event…but we’d love to still show you our outstanding facilities and meet our fantastic staff. So, we’ve set a new date to do just that!

The new date is Wednesday 2nd March 2022 from 4.30-7.30pm.

If you had registered for our January Open Event, there is no need to re-register. We will simply move your registration to the new date. If you haven’t registered yet, you can do this here.

I can’t come to the new Open Event date, will there be another opportunity to view the sites?

As well as our Open Event on 2^nd March 2022, we are holding an additional Open Event on Thursday 28 April from 4.00-7.00pm, with all sites open. Registrations for this event will open soon.

Which sites will be open on Wednesday 2nd March 2022?

All our college sites are open at this Open Event. These include:

Hele Road campus
Centre for Creative Industries and Victoria Yard
Sports Hall
Victoria House
Centre for Music and Performance
Maths and Science Centre
Construction Centre (based on Sowton Industrial Estate, EX2 7LB)
Technology Centre – for all Engineering, Aerospace and Auto courses (based at Monkerton, EX1 3PZ)

I haven’t decided which course/s to apply for, is there someone I can talk to for advice?

Our College Advice Team are trained in information, advice and guidance and work in schools across the South West giving face to face advice and guidance about all courses and opportunities for school leavers at Exeter College. You can contact them by phone on 01392 400600 or email us at cat@exe-coll.ac.uk.

I would like to speak to a teacher about a specific course, is this possible?

Our specialist teaching staff have covered lots of frequently asked questions in the resources available on our Virtual Experience homepage. Once you apply for your chosen course/s you will also have the opportunity to discuss your options in detail during your college interview with a subject lecturer. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for and need advice now contact our College Advice Team on cat@exe-coll.ac.uk who will pass on your queries if they can’t answer directly.

I would like to find out more about what Learning Support is available to me at Exeter College, how do I do this?

To make sure we fully understand the support you may need at Exeter College, you will have a course interview with the teaching team and a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) interview with one of the Learning Support Team. The Support Team will talk through your needs with you so that we have a complete picture of your needs before you start college. This is to help you make the best start to college life as possible. Once you start your course, your Tutor may decide that you need some extra support to help you achieve your full potential. This support can range from out of class support with study skills to using technology to help with your studies. If you would like to find out more about how we can help support you, call us on 01392 400439 or email learningsupport@exe-coll.ac.uk.

What travel options are available to me?

To make travel easier we offer a Travel Pass scheme, which you may be eligible for. We are currently finalising details with our network of travel providers for travel from September 2022. There’s more information about our Travel Pass scheme on this page.

Do Exeter College offer any financial support?

Some students are eligible for financial support for the costs that they might encounter as part of their studies. Find out your eligibility and what might be on offer for you on our Bursary page.

How can I stay up to date with information about Open Events?

The best way to do this to register for the event, you can do this here. We will then email you with the most up to date information. You can also follow us on social media for any updates, just search @ExeterCollege.

Exeter College Achieves Measurable Reductions to its Carbon Footprint

Exeter College has recently made great strides in fulfilling one of its environmental goals, by replacing two college petrol vehicles with two fully electric Maxus EDeliver vans.

The College is committed to leading by example on environmental sustainability and this is one step on its plan to be carbon neutral by 2030.

John Laramy CBE, Principal and Chief Executive said:

“We believe that actions speak louder than words and as a college we want to play our part in making Exeter, Devon, the region and even the country a leader in the essential endeavour of becoming net zero. We have also committed to the Exeter City Futures ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

“Our everyday operations must tie into this ambition and replacing old petrol vehicles with a fleet of fully electric vehicles is a part of this plan.

“As a college, we actively promote and enable sustainable choices amongst our staff and students, which is part of a whole college approach to being socially responsible.”

Exeter College is committed to Exeter City Council’s plan to make Exeter carbon neutral by 2030, adopting a coordinated approach and action at local, regional and national levels to address the challenge of carbon emissions and energy use in cities.

The college is looking to replace all vans and pools cars to electric over the next 5 years and estimates that fuelling the new vans will cost 70% less, compared to traditional fuel. In addition to this, our electricity supplier uses 100% Clean Technology Renewable Energy, and we use a zero to landfill waste solution.

Exeter College is also proud to be working in partnership with Co Bikes and Co Cars to enable staff and students a sustainable way to travel across the city.

First region-wide corporate Esports festival comes to the South West

The first corporate esports festival for the whole of the South West is taking place in Exeter next year, organised by Tech South West in partnership with Exeter College.

Esports is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, with a global revenue of over $1bn and an audience of 474m in 2021, according to Newzoo. Esports first appeared as an official medal sport at the Asian Indoor Games in Macau in 2007, with the International Olympic Committee suggesting in 2017 that they may be included in future Olympic tournaments.

Exeter College will host the first region-wide corporate esports tournament in the South West in February 2022, donating part of the proceeds to the Ted Wragg Trust, which is committed to helping transform the lives of young people through learning. Working with Tech South West, the college is hosting an Esports Festival with sixteen teams from major organisations and businesses across the region competing to be the first champions of a South West-wide esports tournament.

The Exeter Chiefs rugby team are already signed up to take part.

“We are excited to be able to participate. Esports is an incredibly important sector for so many reasons. Whether you look at it from a business, participant or spectator point of view, or whether you are young or old, new to gaming or a seasoned gamer, esports is going to develop in a fantastic way. The new tech, businesses, tournaments, and the market as a whole is very exciting, with so much potential.” Don Armand, Rugby Player at Exeter Chiefs.

Exeter College will host the event in their multi-million pound Esports Academy, a new development featuring VR planking machines, simulators, and cutting edge computing equipment. The college, which has won two prestigious Times Educational Supplement Further Education Awards and been ranked ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, launched its dedicated academy in 2021 alongside an esports course for over 18s who wish to develop their skills in the business and management of esports.

The college also has one of the UK’s most successful competing teams, having won gold at the British Esports Championships 2020-21 LAN finals in July 2021.

Exeter College has recently been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for embedding digital technology through curriculum innovation. The development of esports at the college was recognised in this prestigious accolade.

Rob Bosworth, Deputy CEO of Exeter College, said: “Esports is rapidly developing as one of the most participated sports on the planet. Due to the way it’s played, it can be embraced by people of all aspects of society who can compete and engage on a level playing field. We are seeing this as a real change-agent for diversity and inclusivity with our students and the wider community.

“For many this will be the entry point into digital skills, but much further than that, the gaming industry is multifaceted and can involve events management, production and design, media management, not to mention strategic and critical thinking. We are delighted to be supporting the event and hope on the back of the success of this year’s launch, we will expand this even further next year.”

The event is supported by South West technology strategy experts Timewade, Plymouth-based software engineering firm Rowe IT, South West tech marketing agency Astley Media and Totnes-based fan engagement platform Filmily.

Esports is rapidly developing as one of the most participated sports on the planet.
Rob Bosworth, Deputy CEO of Exeter College

The knockout competition will be streamed live for people to tune in remotely, and displayed on the large onsite screen.

Andy Doyle, co-founder of Filmily, said: “For the South West to host an event of this scale really puts our region in the spotlight. It’s not just a sport for the major cities in the UK or for teenagers playing in bedrooms; it’s a major professional competitive sport and the South West has a community who can really be a part of it. The Filmily team are excited to be supporting the first event of this nature in the region, and to enhance the experience for competitors and spectators using our innovative fan engagement software.”

Caroline Orr, marketing director of Astley Media, the official Marketing Partner for the Esports Festival, said: “The new Esports Academy at Exeter College provides a great platform for people to learn about the marketing and management potential of the esports sector. This exciting new tech event will help to showcase this fantastic opportunity and place the South West on the map within the rapidly growing esports world.”

Jordan Westcott, operations director of Timewade, said: “We’re delighted to be taking part in the South West’s first ever region-wide corporate esports festival. As a local IT support provider, we’re passionate about new and emerging technologies and it is fantastic to see esports, one of the fastest growing industries, being offered to students at Exeter College. The festival is set to be a fun occasion and a chance for our team to show off their esporting skills. And, for local people to learn more about the College’s new Digital and Data Centre and the opportunities available at the Esports Academy.”

Tech is already the fastest growing part of the South West economy, with esports expected to play an increasingly significant role in the sector in the coming decade.

Dan Pritchard, co-founder and director of Tech South West, said: “The esports industry is thriving, with investment in the sector increasing year on year across the globe. The South West is already at the cutting edge of tech across a variety of specialisms – from marine tech to software, cyber and renewable energy. It’s fantastic to add esports to that impressive portfolio of innovation, and support the growth of what could be one of the UK’s key esports hubs at Exeter College.

“Bolstering the tech talent pipeline in the region is a core part of our work at Tech South West, alongside improving business support for tech companies and helping tech firms to reach investment. The new Esports Academy at Exeter College is a brilliant facility and will be instrumental in supporting young people to find great careers in tech.”

Hannah Rowe, director of Rowe IT, said: “Competitive gaming has been growing since the 1980s and encourages social interaction, strategic thinking and teamwork. Plus it is fun! As a software development company, we are beyond excited to be one of the sponsors and our team is in training!”

Find out more about the event at techsouthwest.co.uk/esports-festival

Due to incredibly high demand, team spaces for the February 2022 event are now fully booked. If you would like to join the waiting list, receive further updates or find out more about how you could sponsor the event, get in touch at hello@techsouthwest.co.uk

Key worker becomes first student to complete the brand-new Caring Careers Unlocked Programme

Exeter College Apprentice Sara Ammar has become the first student to complete the exciting new Caring Careers Unlocked programme.

The forward-thinking Caring Careers Unlocked course has been developed as part of the new Health and Social Care Accelerator programme in partnership with Devon County Council and the European Social Fund and is designed to provide a stepping-stone into the Health and Social Care sector.

Luke Moss, Programme and Relationship Manager said;

“The Health and Social Care Accelerator programme is a vital project designed to support more people into the sector, removing barriers and opening doors. This project also provides progression pathways for those who want to climb the career ladder, offering flexible learning and intuitive delivery. Now more than ever we need our key workers, and this course is a fantastic stepping stone onto employment, Apprenticeships and further education. It is great to recognise achievement and to see our first students completing and progressing onto Apprenticeships.”

Sara Ammar, the first student to complete the Caring Careers Unlocked programme.

Working as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker at Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Sara Ammar is the first Exeter College student to have completed the programme. The completely virtual, self-guided course is the first of its kind at Exeter College. Reflecting on the success of virtual learning during the covid pandemic, Caring Careers provides more accessibility for its students, reducing travel but maintaining the level of support Exeter College students come to expect.

Luke Moss, Programme and Relationship Manager, added; “We are always reviewing our offering, adding new programmes and working with our employer partners. We are very excited to introduce further virtual programmes, adding to our suite of qualifications and taking on board the needs and wants of the sector.”

Current Apprentice and Healthcare Worker, Sara said, “Caring Careers provided strategies for me to self-reflect and show areas I need to personally and professionally develop.”

Sara has now progressed onto the Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship with Devon Partnership NHS Trust, from which she intends to progress onto a degree in Nursing.

“Caring Careers provided strategies for me to self-reflect and show areas I need to personally and professionally develop”.
Sara Ammar

The success of this programme is leading to the implementation of more courses for Exeter College, such as the new Personal Assistant/ Carer programme launching on the 1^st January 2022. This new initiative will support Carers and Personal Care Assistants to develop skills in Food Safety and safe manual handling practices.

If you’re interested in the new Caring Careers Unlocked programme or the upcoming Personal Assistant Carer programme, please call 01392 400 800 or email ellahymans@exe-coll.ac.uk.

Free career-boosting digital courses launched for adults at Exeter College

Exeter College is launching a range of programmes for adult learners (18+) to retrain in digital skills – for FREE.

Starting in January, the Ofsted Outstanding College is offering four part-time digital courses that will help adults to gain skills and build a portfolio to start a fully-fledged career in the digital industry. Learners on the courses will also get an interview for a genuine vacancy in the industry when they finish.

These practical-focused courses will run over 12 weeks and are fully funded by the Government. Adults can pick from pathways in Apple App Development, Digital Marketing and Software Development. The courses start in January 2022 and are part time, consisting of a day a week learning with the College’s specialist lecturers.

Interested? Check out the course options below:

Apple App Development: Swift Fundamentals

This course is perfect for any business wanting to develop applications for the Apple platform, or who may want to up-skill their staff with future-critical knowledge. You will complete an Apple certified course in Swift fundamentals, towards App Development in Xcode and come away from the course with the knowledge to build and create programs/apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac OSX.

Digital Marketing

This course will give you the skills to make an impact in digital marketing; learning the online tools and methods that businesses use to engage their audiences online. As part of the course, you’ll develop a portfolio of practical work to help you with employment opportunities.

Software Development

The role of a software developer is to plan, build and test robust high-quality code across front end, logic, and database layers. Developers work as part of a team; they are responsible for developing software solutions from design documentation, initial briefs, and business specifications. As part of this course, you’ll learn the skills to be able to move in to your first role in software development.

Want to know more?

Find out more and apply online today.

Got any questions?

Need help with deciding on your pathway or have any more questions? Contact the Adult Learning Advisers on AdultAdvice@exe-coll.ac.uk.