Salar Brock: From Exeter College to the Rick Stein Restaurants

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we’re talking to some of the inspirational students, staff and alumni who have helped make us the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today.

This article was written by Amy Vann, JAx Journalism Academy student.

Before the lockdown, I had the pleasure of speaking to Salar Brock, Operations Manager at the Rick Stein Restaurants. During this interview, Salar talked to me about his Exeter College experience and discussed the details of being Operations Manager for one of the most significant influencers in all things seafood.

Born and bred in Exeter, and still living just around the corner from Exeter College, Salar studied the NVQ Intermediate course in Hospitality, noting that the College ‘always had a good reputation of excellence.’

Wanting to work in a restaurant or hotel environment from a young age, Salar said, “I always liked to engage with different people, I found it very fun. The course gave me an oversight of many different areas.

“If you go to one restaurant, you learn about what they do, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you go to college, you get a foundation of learning all skills for all restaurants. You have a better understanding of everything.”

Salar’s endless passion for food and hospitality was abundantly clear, commenting on his love for looking after people and how lucky he is to do it at the Rick Stein Restaurants.

He said, “I’ve also always loved being part of a team, striving to make things better both for your colleagues and for the customer. You get to work with great products and producers, and it is exciting!”

Working within the Rick Stein Restaurants since 2014, the biggest part of Salar’s job is building teams and connections, through working on internal and external relationships. Internally, there is a heavy focus on organising general managers and head chefs, ensuring that they pass their knowledge onto the teams, and making sure that they can take on any challenges.

Having now worked in an array of locations including Walkabout Bar, The Castle Hotel in Taunton, and a conference hotel, Salar was grateful for his college experience.

“The catering course at Exeter College gave me early exposure to everything. For young aspiring managers, it is important not to settle and only do one thing. Explore other options,” he said.

“I think having that overall knowledge from the College course was great. To have that understanding of produce and how to create the end product helped me, as it meant I could discuss all aspects of the job. It gives you that underlying knowledge and confidence.”

One of Salar’s significant achievements in his career with Rick Stein is his progression, from his early role as the manager of their flagship seafood restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall, to becoming part of the senior management team.

Rick and Jill Stein started their first family restaurant in 1975, but today their company employs over 500 people across 10 restaurants and a cookery school. A big moment for the company was getting into ‘The Times 100 best employers’, where they came 54th in ‘Best Employer in Britain’ in just their first year of entering.

“We feel very passionate and proud about being included in this. It shows every level of the business working together and as a team,” said Salar.

Reflecting on his time at Exeter College, Salar shared his advice for any students looking to branch out into hospitality, “I came to Exeter College primarily focused on being a hotel manager, and actually I don’t work in a hotel at all now. Gaining experience in every part of hospitality, from Michelin Starred restaurants to working at your local café is important.

“Gain experience and work in as many places as you can. Use the resources when you’re at college and be open to ideas; you don’t know of the opportunities that may be available.”

This article was written by Amy Vann, member of the JAx Journalism Academy. Find out more about the different academies that are offered at Exeter College.

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50.

“It’s not something everyone does with their mum!” – Family Reflects on Graduation with Exeter College

In celebration of our 50^th year as a tertiary college, we caught up with an inspirational pair of 2019 university level graduates, Mother Stephanie and Son Ethan, to hear their story.

A higher education graduation is a momentous moment in any person’s life. It’s the culmination of years of hard work, and the official awarding of degree level qualifications can transform a career.

But, for Devon-based mum Stephanie Lewis the day was especially moving, as she watched her son collect his degree, before following him on stage to be awarded her own degree-level qualification.

“I absolutely cherished going through graduation with him,” said 52-year-old Stephanie from Dunsford.

“It made me quite tearful. To be sat in the crowd with my group and watch him graduate and then walk up there and do it myself as his mum can’t happen very often, and I’m so pleased we got to celebrate together.”

Despite graduating together, Stephanie and Ethan, her son, studied very different higher education subjects at TEF Gold-rated Exeter College. Stephanie studied for a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care while Ethan completed a BA (Ord) degree in Business Management. He has since gone on to top-up his degree with the University of Exeter for a year and earn a BA (Hons) degree in Business.

Ethan said, “Having my mum graduate with me definitely made the experience more unique, and now I have a story that not many others will!”

“The emphasis on support at Exeter College helps you get the most out of your studies, and that was definitely the case for me,”
Ethan Lewis, BA (Ord) Business Management Graduate.

Ethan, 22, initially joined Exeter College in 2014 to study for his A Levels in History, Chemistry, Geography and Environmental studies. He decided to continue his education journey right at home with our Higher National Certificate in Business, then the Higher National Diploma, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management. His graduation represented the culmination of five years of studying with the College, and he was delighted with how he was supported during his higher education studies.

“The biggest positive for me was the small class sizes at Exeter College compared to how they can be at other places,” said Ethan.

“The support enabled me to focus on making sure that I understood each bit of content completely before moving on to the next thing. I had a lot more one-on-one time with my tutor than I think you’d expect doing a degree at a different place.

“The emphasis on support at Exeter College helps you get the most out of your studies, and that was definitely the case for me.”

While Ethan’s degree level studies with Exeter College followed a somewhat typical route of study for many young people, his mother took the step of returning to education to help her with her voluntary role working with the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Stephanie said, “While doing my voluntary role, I realised that I wanted to get some qualifications for me personally.

“I never got my GCSE Maths the first time around, so I wanted to get that under my belt and also study for a degree. The Health and Social Care course seemed to suit me most. I studied for that and my Maths at the same time.

“Everyone at the College was so supportive, and the small class sizes definitely made a difference. I started a little daunted by being the oldest in the class, but I have to say that the support I received from lecturers was second-to-none.”

Stephanie’s time with Exeter College was a roaring success. She picked up her long-awaited GCSE Maths qualification and came out of her Foundation Degree with an impressive Merit grade.

“I had a bit of a tricky time in my personal life during my studies, but I managed to come out of it with some amazing grades and that is definitely, in part, down to the supportive environment at the College.”

Ethan earned a 2:1 in his degree with Exeter College and plans to complete his top-up year with the University of Exeter before going on to study a Master’s in Business.

Ethan said, “After I’m done studying, I think I want to start up my own business or perhaps go into quantity surveying. Thanks to my studies, I’ve theoretically started hundreds of businesses, but I haven’t taken that leap in the real world just yet. I’ll have to see what I think when I finish my studies.”

At Exeter College, we work with a range of renowned partners to deliver university level courses in a variety of subject areas. With a commitment to smaller class sizes and accessibility to lecturers, the College provides learners with a way to study for a degree differently and supercharge a career or develop transferable skills for the workplace.

Our courses range in level, with full and part time study options available. Financial aid is also a possibility for eligible students, whether in the form of a bursary or a loan.

Find the right course for your future by requesting our University Level Prospectus today.

Contact our dedicated Adult Advisers if you’re interested in studying as an adult with Exeter College. Email adultadvice@exe-coll.ac.uk to talk through your options.

May 2004: City pensioner student proves it’s never too late to learn. 

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we are looking back on some memorable events which have helped us to become the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today.

THEN…

In May 2004, we celebrated the achievements of Exeter pensioner Helen who, by completing two A Levels at Exeter College, became a shining example of what many adult learners could achieve.

Helen did so well in her studies she was nominated for the Senior Learner of the Year award by the National Institute of Adult Education.

Completing her A Level in English Literature and an AS Level Maths in just one year, she continued her studies with a Maths A2 course.

Helen said at the time: “I retired, but I decided that I didn’t want to watch daytime television, so I looked for alternatives.

“I went for Maths and English because the subjects had changed so much since I was at school in the 1960s. I have enjoyed every minute of it.

“It surprised me to be nominated for this award,” Helen added.

Helen also admitted that she had also influenced other people to follow her lead, persuading friends and acquaintances to apply for courses and further their education like herself.  

NOW…

To this day, Exeter College offers a broad spectrum of courses available to adults, from entry level to degree level, from leisure courses to professional courses. We pride ourselves on giving our adult learners a personalised approach to teaching in a supportive and engaging environment.

The Teaching Excellence Framework has awarded our university level teaching ‘Gold’, so our students know that they’ll receive exceptional teaching and gain the skills needed to take them to the next level.

If you’re interested in completing an adult course, like Helen, find out more at our Adult Online Open Event on Tuesday the 16th of June, 3pm – 7pm. 

We can help you to find the right course for your future. At our open event, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from lecturers, ask live questions to teachers and learn about the support and guidance offered at Exeter College. 

You can register your interest in our Adult Open Event today. 

Read about the other ways Exeter College has supported the community during these unprecedented times. 

Check out everything we’ve done to celebrate 50 years since being named as the UK’s first ever tertiary college.  

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50.

April 1991: City top of the class in further education

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we are looking back on some key events which have helped us to become the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today. 

In April 1991 it was reported that, for the first time, the majority of young people in Britain had decided to stay on in education after finishing school at 16. The south west was above the national average, with Exeter College leading the way for further education institutions.

Educationalist Professor Ted Wragg said at the time, “Here in Exeter we are very fortunate – Exeter College offers every kind of course for school leavers. It can cater for everything from vocational courses to A Levels.”

This is something we continue to pride ourselves on in 2020. We offer a range of different course types for different learners, from Apprenticeships, A Levels and vocational courses to the International Baccalaureate and new T Level qualifications.

Professor Ted Wragg said in 1991, “We underestimate the influence of parents. More parents are now recognising the value of further education and training and are supporting their children, and we hope they will continue to.”

Indeed, further education has grown and developed since 1991, and our education offer has grown and adapted with the needs of industry and the local community.

As well as being a government-appointed early adopter of new T Level qualifications, we are also hosting a new South West Institute of Technology Digital and Data Centre that’s part of a wider bid to revolutionise digital, engineering and manufacturing technology education across the region. The Centre will play host to industry-standard digital technology and will provide learners the skills to move directly into the workplace or further study. Construction is underway and is scheduled to be completed in early 2021.

Find out more about the Digital and Data Centre at Exeter College.

Check out everything we’ve been doing to celebrate 50 years since being named as the UK’s first ever tertiary college.

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50  

March 2000: Exeter College ranked as ‘best in the west’

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we’re talking to some of the inspirational students, staff and alumni who have helped make us the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today.

Then:

In March 2000, we welcomed Further Education Funding Council bosses into our College, who completed a breakdown inspection over a week-long period.

Ranked against seven other local education centres, Exeter College came out on top. We obtained the best score for two performance levels and came second for a third.

The inspectors commented on the outstanding student support and the impressive increase in our overall A Level pass rate, with a 13% increase since 1998.

Tim Smith, Principal at the time, said, “At a time when education is coming under such intense scrutiny, it is good to achieve a grade profile that is probably the best in the west in the current academic year.”

Now:

Two decades later and we continue to uphold these incredible results, currently standing as Devon’s only Ofsted Outstanding further education College.

We have also been named as the best in the South West for employer satisfaction in Apprenticeships and we’re on the Sunday Times Top 100 Not for Profit Employer list. On top of this, we’ve been selected as one of the first colleges in the country (the only one in Devon) to offer the T Level qualification, rolling out this September.

Additionally, we’ve maintained our amazing results, setting new records for the latest academic year. Our A Level students achieved an overall pass rate of 99.7%, well above the national average. Our International Baccalaureate results were the best in the College’s history, with 100% of students passing and nearly a third of students achieving more than 40 points out of a possible 45.

We couldn’t be prouder of all our students, staff and partners who have helped to shape and uphold the success of our college.

Interested in joining Exeter College? Apply now online.

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share then contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50

Young Chefs Best in the West

Exeter College’s current hospitality and catering students are following a legacy of success for the department. As we reflect on three then-Exeter College students making the headlines on this month 42 years ago, our current fledgling students are also cooking up a storm in the region’s culinary competitions.

Then…

From the left Julia Shackleford from Exmouth, Andrew Corrick from Sidmouth, and Charles Moore, Dawlish (1972).

In February 1972, three Exeter College students won the first prize with their dishes at the ‘Cater 78’ competition for the second year running. The annual contest, held in Paignton, was the most significant provincial catering exhibition in Britain at the time.

The second year culinary arts students created lavish dishes as part of the contest. One team member, Andrew Corrick from Sidmouth, spent a total of 19 hours preparing and cooking his fish dish which landed him the first prize. Exmouth’s Julia Shackleford and Charles Moore from Dawlish were the other winners on the night.

The Head of Food and Fashion at the time said he was proud of the students’ success.

“The judges told us afterwards that the standard of our work was higher than that seen recently at the National Culinary Competition at Olympia.”

And now…

Forty-two years later and our hospitality and catering students are still flying high. This month a group of students competed in the Major Series competition, bringing home medals for their achievements.

The annual Major Series competition, in association with The Craft Guild of Chefs, aims to provide students with the opportunity to showcase their skills while competing against their peers from other colleges.

With categories ranging from the ‘Hot Chicken Challenge’ to the ‘Decorated Gateau Class’, students can demonstrate and build on a range of skills.

Our students once again impressed the judges, with three students coming home with gold, seven with silver and four with bronze medals.

Mark Stoyle, Programme Leader for Hospitality , Hair and Beauty, accompanied the students to this year’s Major Series event.

“As always, the students have made our faculty and the college amazingly proud. They have come back with a good haul of medals – excellent results throughout,” said Mark.

Rosie Nevill, Level 3 Professional Cookery student, will be going to London for the national final next year. Rosie has also been asked to return as one of the judges in 2021.

Exeter College students who competed in the Major Series Competition 2020.

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50

The Sound of Success: Alumni on his Fledgling Career as a Sound Engineer

Since finishing his course at Exeter College, no day has been the same for alumni Jed Holmes. Working on impressive projects as a sound engineer, 19-year-old Jed has worked all over England and even in the USA.

Jed completed his Music Technology BTEC Extended Diploma in 2019 and has been working at the Exeter branch of Stage Engage ever since.

Jed explained, “Doing the Music Technology course was great. I had engaging lecturers and it gave me a good starting point for my career.”

Since working with Stage Engage, Jed has participated in some incredibly exciting activities both in England and Boston, Massachusetts. His highlights so far have included doing the sound for The Royal Television Society Awards in Birmingham and producing the sound for several BBC premieres including Man Like Mobeen and This Country.

Jed’s advice to anyone else who may want to work in his industry is to get as much work experience as possible.

He continued, “While in college I worked with Seventh Wave Audio on a pantomime in Bournemouth. Here I was taught to mix, and at one point, I ended up delivering the sound for nearly 1,600 people. I also fitted everyone’s microphones which was a valuable experience.”

On top of this, Jed would help with the sound for several college events as well as regularly helping with live lunch services.

“I was also allowed time to develop my own business, Simply Stage – the staff at Exeter College were really flexible and supportive when it came to things like this. You can never get enough real-world experience.”

Cain Spiller: Don’t Dream It, Be It

Completing his studies at Exeter College in 2019, Cain Spiller is one of our more recent alumni. Yet, he is already firmly on his way to achieving his dream of working in law enforcement.

The former student from Honiton achieved a fantastic D*D*D* in his Level 3 BTEC in Public Services. Since, he has been accepted to be a Student Constable and is currently training with the police.

Reflecting on his time at college, Cain was thankful for the teachers and opportunities which helped to influence his ability to get where he is now.

“All my lecturers had previously taken part in the public services, which meant that they were able to answer any questions with confidence and give us the best possible guidance,” he explained.

“The tutors took a genuine interest in all of the students’ career ideas and did everything they could to make it happen. For me, it was – and always had been – joining the police service. If there was a recruitment campaign or a police training event, they made sure I knew about it. Some of the activities that we were involved in gave me added experience to include in my CV, and skills which I can use towards my career.”

Reminiscing on some of the opportunities he was offered at Exeter College, Cain highlighted the Public Services practical day.

“We were given a chance to take part as a Gold Commander, Silver Commander and Police Officer for a major incident.”

“This gave me the chance to perform a stop and search on a person with input from Police Officers. As much as this was amazing to take part in, it also completed a great number of criteria needed for multiple assignments,” explained Cain.

It was activities such as this which provided Cain with a clear route into achieving his dream of policing.

Since being accepted into the police family as a Student Constable, Cain has completed an extensive 19-week E-Learning training course, where he recently passed his final exam.

The start of 2020 marks the beginning of Cain’s practical training where he puts all he has learnt into operation with practical scenarios, safety training and much more.

Cain’s aspirations don’t stop here; he hopes that he’ll be able to build upon his position, becoming a full-time police constable.

For anyone thinking about following in Cain’s footsteps, he said, “Keep ahead of work where possible and keep persevering where you can’t. Remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears.”

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share then contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50

January 1989: Exeter College wins the Longmans Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

This month 31 years ago, Exeter College celebrated being given the esteemed Longmans Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, gaining recognition for the quality of education the School of Business Services had provided for its secretarial students.

The award was presented by the Minister for the Environment Virginia Bottomley to Doreen Askew, Secretarial course co-ordinator and Frances Petersen, Head of the School of Business Services. They were given a trophy and a cheque for £500 at the reform club, Pall Mall.

Principal at the time Dr John Capey was thrilled that the staff’s work had been rewarded.

Today, the staff at Exeter College are still being recognised for all of their hard work and for shaping courses to meet employer needs.

Our Business School remains to offer a variety of relevant qualifications for both adults learners and school leavers, from A Levels to Apprenticeships to University Level courses.

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share then contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50

Foot Anstey and Willmott Dixon announced as headline sponsors for Exeter College Awards

Exeter College is delighted to announce that Foot Anstey and Willmott Dixon will be the headline sponsors of the college’s landmark 50^th anniversary Exeter College Awards.

The support of two of the country’s most innovative and forward-thinking businesses provides huge backing to the awards ceremony that will celebrate inspirational Exeter College students, staff and alumni in a glittering event taking place in the stunning setting of Exeter Cathedral in January 2020.

This year’s Exeter College Awards is also celebrating 50 years since the college was announced as the UK’s first tertiary college, although the origins of the college date back to the 1800s. The Exeter College Awards will launch a year of celebrations, reflecting on 50 years of excellence and looking forward as one of the country’s leading further education institutions.

As headline sponsors of the awards, representatives from both Foot Anstey and Willmott Dixon will attend the event, present awards and join with Exeter College in celebrating the achievements of everyone at the college.

Foot Anstey has long been associated with Exeter College, having provided legal advice and expertise on a range of projects over the years. Their contribution to the current national standing of the college has been instrumental and this latest sponsorship represents an ongoing commitment of collaboration between two leading institutions.

Simon Gregory, who is in charge of Foot Anstey’s relationship with Exeter College, said: “Exeter College is an exceptional institution and a very valued client of Foot Anstey. We recognise their considerable achievements over the last 50 years and their pivotal role in Exeter and its region. We are proud to support this landmark event.”

Willmott Dixon and Exeter College are currently collaborating on the building of a new Institute of Technology Digital and Data Centre on the college’s Hele Road site. The new £10.3million building is part of a wider South West Institute of Technology plan to revolutionise digital, engineering and manufacturing technology education across the region. The new state-of-the-art building is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2021.

Rob Woolcock, Director at Willmott Dixon said: “We are delighted to be a part of Exeter College’s celebration in their 50th year. It is so important to celebrate people’s achievements and I look forward to hearing the many stories behind the awards; I am certain that it will be a fantastic night.

“We are proud to be working with such a forward-thinking college and are excited to be working on the new Digital and Data Centre, which will be a great asset to the college and the city of Exeter.”

Around 300 friends, partners, students and alumni are expected to attend the event in Exeter Cathedral, with a two-course banquet provided by Exeter-based catering company Posh Nosh.

The welcome Drinks Reception is being sponsored by Exeter Live Better, a city-wide partnership committed to showcasing everything Exeter has to offer.

Councillor Phil Bialyk, Leader of Exeter City Council, which was central to the launch of Exeter Live Better, said: “I am delighted to support this prestigious event. Exeter College is a fantastic institution which is crucial to the success of the city and has been over the last 50 years.

“The college is rightly regarded as one of the best in the UK and continues to give our children the skills they need, and the skills the city needs, to grow and prosper in the future. I would like to congratulate all the students and everyone involved in these awards – you are all winners.”

The 2020 Exeter College Awards will be taking place on Friday, 24^th January with invited guests, partners, students and staff attending. Sent any queries to events@exe-coll.ac.uk.

Find out more about Exeter College’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Find out more about Foot Anstey, Willmott Dixon and Exeter Live Better.