A talented Ukrainian teenager is celebrating academic success after fleeing war-torn Dnipro and having to leave behind his family following the Russian invasion.

Gherman Lovchynskyi (pictured below) moved to Exeter without his parents and younger brother in 2022.

Two years on he is preparing to become a university student in Exeter, the city he arrived in after leaving Dnipro.

The 19-year-old, who dreams of setting up his own fashion company, enrolled at Exeter College when he arrived in May 2022. After taking a BTEC Level 2 Business course he was inspired by conversations with other students to take an access to university diploma in business. This September he will enrol in a marketing degree at the University of Exeter.

Gherman’s father Dmtryi, an accountant, and mother Julia, are living in Dnipro with his younger brother Lev, 9.

Gherman said: “Despite the events of the past two years I’m ok. You have to keep going. I have plans for the future. I want to work in marketing in the fashion industry, hopefully setting up my own business where I would create a community of talented people to design for my own boutique.

“The pathway course was very useful in preparing me for university life, particularly the study skills needed.”

Gherman and other students took part in the Mature Access Pathway, run by the University of Exeter and Exeter College to provide access to specialist information and advice for those returning to education.

The pathway allows students to experience what university life is like and polish their study skills through workshops, talks, and on-campus activities. There is also access to academic staff, mentors, and current undergraduate students who have given information, advice, and guidance they need to make an informed decision about their future.

The course was set up after University of Exeter analysis showed mature students can lack confidence in applying to higher education and often prefer to study for a degree locally. The review showed the need for mature students to meet those in the same situation and to get targeted information about finances and life as an undergraduate.

It includes social events and advice about money and living matters. It also includes help on how to choose the right course. It forms part of the timetable of all Access to Higher Education students at Exeter College.

Billy Gelo (pictured above), from Torquay, who took part in the pathway, dropped out of sixth form and spent several years struggling with drug addiction. He tried to return to education four times and worked in hospitality and retail. Now 21 he worked as a bar supervisor while completing his Access to Business course. He has a place to study accountancy and business at the University of Bristol this year.

Billy said: “This year has been hard. The course has been the most work I’ve done in my life. The plan is to become an accountant and eventually open my own pub. I’m going to work part time while at university and have a year abroad in Italy and I’m hoping to spend time working in Europe.

“The pathway gave me really comprehensive advice which was really worth knowing.”

Written by Kerra Maddern.

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

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.

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.

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.

My Apprentice Journey – Emily Stutt

Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship

My journey as an Apprentice began on 9th August 2018 when, after just three days in my new Business Support Administrator role with Devon Partnership NHS Trust, my induction was completed. Prior to this Apprenticeship, I had no business admin experience, however, I had actually had a fairly successful career as an Assistant Manager in retail and hospitality. I had never completed an Apprenticeship before, and most Apprentices I had encountered were a good five years younger than me. All of these factors left me understandably apprehensive and nervous – but also excited to start something completely new.

I started my Apprentice journey with a different provider – not Exeter College. However, in May 2019, half way through my programme, my provider announced they wouldn’t be keeping us on to complete the Apprenticeship and I would be automatically transferred to another provider. My employer stepped in and stopped the automatic transfer and enrolled me with Exeter College. This all happened really suddenly and left me feeling very confused. Before all of this happened, I was on track to enter gateway in September 2019, and due to the number of Apprentices being transferred, and the summer holidays coming up, this was now looking to be very unlikely.

I felt really frustrated – it was the lowest point of my Apprenticeship journey. I will admit, at this point, I was close to giving up, but then decided that I had put too much time and effort into it to give up now. So instead, I kept my head down, kept building my off-the-job hours, kept revising and completing as much work as possible. In September 2019, I was then re-enrolled formally onto the Apprenticeship by Exeter College.

It appeared after meeting with my assessor, that my hard work had paid off, as I was informed that I wasn’t far off gateway and we could still aim for my original completion date. My assessor also gave me the option to complete the Business Administration Level 3 Diploma alongside the Apprenticeship qualification, which hadn’t previously been offered to me. I was assured that a lot of the work I had already completed would contribute to this, so, seeing this as good revision, I decided to complete the Diploma as well.

“From the very beginning, it felt as though I was amongst friends, which became a fact very quickly,”
– Emily Stutt, Level 3 Business Administration Apprentice

By the end of November 2019, I had finally managed to trigger gateway. This in itself was a massive weight off of my shoulders as I finally felt as though I was moving forward. During this time I passed my Diploma exams and enjoyed a peaceful Christmas before kicking things into high gear!

We booked my End Point Assessment for February and March 2020 – starting off with a knowledge test, a portfolio interview, followed by a project presentation. I had prepped and prepared as much as I could, revising my evidence and practising my presentation. And, despite a few hiccups, I felt it went well, it was at the very least finished, and I could now let go of the breath I had been holding for the last few hours. If I were to offer any advice to Apprentices taking these exams, it would be to trust your gut instinct and don’t overthink the question, but definitely go through your answers a couple of times (if you have time) just to make sure!

I found that a lot of the Apprenticeship, particularly my time with the original provider, was aimed more towards the private sector rather than the public, and I had a hard time trying to apply what we had learned to my job role. This resulted in a lot of independent study (which was great for off-the-job learning), to ensure that I had an understanding of the topic and could complete the tasks set for me.

A great part of the Apprenticeship was the off-the-job learning, which is self-study that you record and document for assessment. It allowed me to see and experience areas of Devon Partnership NHS Trust that I otherwise would never have seen and to network within the organisation, helping other teams understand what my role and department were about. I had immense support from my team, particularly my line manager, to ensure that I not only fulfilled the off-the-job requirement but that the time spent on this was interesting, valuable and would help me in my role as well as my Apprenticeship. To all other Apprentices out there, please utilise the off-the-job training as best you can! It’s a really good opportunity to experience some amazing things.

Another amazing part of the Apprenticeship were my cohorts. From the very beginning, it felt as though I was amongst friends, which became a fact very quickly. Everyone was extremely supportive of each other. We had created a WhatsApp group so that between our sessions with our provider, we could still support each other. When I changed providers, I was ultimately split up from my original cohort but we still keep in touch.

Overall, my Apprenticeship journey was pretty much a rollercoaster. Very up and down with a few loop-de-loos for good measure! And if I’m wholeheartedly honest, I wouldn’t have changed a single second of it. It’s allowed me to grow as a person, it’s proven to me that I have the ability to self-study (something I really struggled with when I was in full time education), it allowed me to have such amazing and interesting experiences through off-the-job training. But most of all, this Apprenticeship has shown me how resilient and determined I am. There were so many points I could have given up, and I kept on going because I didn’t want my hard work to go to waste.

So, for all other Apprentices out there, I promise you it’s worth it.

And for anyone who may be wondering…

I got a pass in both my Diploma exams and a distinction in my EPA Knowledge Test, Portfolio Interview and EPA Project Presentation. Overall my grade for the Apprenticeship Standard was Distinction!

Exeter Chamber of Commerce has appointed Mike Blakeley, Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement at Exeter College, to its board. The appointment comes as Exeter is recognised as the City of Apprenticeships, with the fastest growing number of Apprenticeships, topping 57 other cities across England.

“I hope to build links between our network of employers and the Chamber,”
Mike Blakeley, Exeter College Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement

In his role at Exeter College, Mike Blakeley oversees the delivery of 2,000 Apprenticeships at any one time, from Penzance to Paddington. His team works with 950 businesses, with Apprentices gaining skills and training across 90 different subjects. In addition, Mike works with some of the players of Exeter Chiefs to develop their second career skills. He has been instrumental in the launch of GOAT Lager, a partnership between England International Luke Cowan Dickie and former chief, Harry Strong.

Matt Roach, Chair of Exeter Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: “We are pleased to welcome Mike to the Chamber board. Mike will bring a vast range of skills and experience to the board, helping us to continue to work with all sectors of business and particularly to ensure the pivotal link between business and education is at the centre of our work.”

Mike Blakeley said: “I am delighted to join the Exeter Chamber board. I hope to build links between our network of employers and the Chamber, and to focus on how the Chamber can help to develop the next generation of business leaders in the city.”

Free Adult Course on Business Start-Ups to Launch at Exeter College

Hopeful entrepreneurs are being given the chance to level up their skills thanks to Exeter College’s free qualification on creating a business start-up.

Any adult with interest in developing their business skills or starting their own venture can attend free of charge, whether they are just curious about the subject area or already have some skills they want to develop.

This part-time course will provide learners with a NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Creating a Business Start-Up. It’s designed for those who want understand how businesses are created, and why some thrive while others don’t get off the ground.

Learners will develop knowledge around a broad base of business skills. These include the progression of a business idea, pricing strategies and marketing methods.

A remarkable 600,000 businesses are launched in the UK every year, but around half of those don’t make it past the first three years. This course aims to equip learners with the knowledge of how and why some businesses succeed while others don’t. Practical, transferable skills develop along with theoretical knowledge, which underpins any business venture.

As a part-time course, learners can continue to work alongside their studies, or even start developing their own business idea in their own time.

This free course will launch in February 2020, and any adult learner is eligible to sign up and gain the GCSE-equivalent qualification.

To find out more and register your interest, contact our Adult Advice Team on 01392 400170 or email: adultadvice@exe-coll.ac.uk.

Course enrolment is subject to availability.

Exeter College Shortlisted for National Award for Employer Engagement

Exeter College has made it to the finals of the Association of Colleges Beacon City & Guilds Award for Engagement with Employers.

The Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK colleges each year. This award, supported by City and Guild, recognises exemplary practice in demonstrating an outstanding ability to work with and provide a direct service to employers. In particular, colleges that are effective in meeting employers’ skills needs and Apprenticeship requirements.

“The appetite for local businesses to turn work experience into fantastic Apprenticeship opportunities has never been stronger and more beneficial,”
Mike Blakeley, Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement at Exeter College

Exeter College has made the coveted list of four finalists; recognised for engaging with employers and facing the skills challenges of industry in a proactive way.

The college’s Apprenticeships programme has had a hugely successful year, building on a legacy of success for students in industry. Businesses across a range of different sectors are currently hosting Exeter College students, with the record levels of recruitment, totalling 1150 new Apprentices, joining the college in the last academic year.

A recent Department for Education survey also announced Exeter College as the top-rated further education college in the South West for business satisfaction, solidifying the college’s status as a leading provider of Apprenticeships to its network of 950 businesses across the region.

Students at Exeter College continue to develop their employability skills across a variety of courses in collaboration between the college and its affiliated local and national employers.

Mike Blakeley, Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement at Exeter College, was delighted about the acknowledgement of the college’s partner-focused approach with employers.

“We’re all thrilled to have been selected based on the work we do with employers,” said Mike.

“We are coming to the end of an ambitious five-year strategic plan and this is another accolade that helps us to realise our aspirations of becoming the Apprenticeship provider of choice for the business community right across the region.

“We always want to ensure our students get the most out of their experience working in industry and that employers see the value of working with colleges to face the skills challenges of the future together. The appetite for local businesses to turn work experience into fantastic Apprenticeship opportunities has never been stronger and more beneficial.

“We are constantly looking to build on and improve the experience for businesses and employers as part of our ongoing mission to be a truly exceptional education and Apprenticeship provider.”

David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “Colleges often don’t get the recognition they deserve, the AoC Beacon Awards aim to showcase exactly why colleges are so important and reward their dedication to learners and their progress in the workforce. Colleges produce the workers of the future and it’s clear from those who have made it through to the final three that their contribution to local and regional economic development must be valued.”

Applications are open now to study with Exeter College in September 2020.

If you’re an employer or a young person considering getting involved in Apprenticeships, contact our team on Apprentices@exe-coll.ac.uk or 01392 400800 to discuss your options.

Data Conference to Help Devon’s Businesses Achieve their Potential

Devon’s businesses are getting the chance to learn how to transform their organisation through data thanks to a free conference taking place in Exeter next month.

The Exeter Analytics Network, a group of industry leaders on the use of data within organisations, are hosting their first ever conference for businesses and those who want to learn how to use their data better or develop skills in data analytics.

The interactive conference takes place on Thursday 10^th October 2019 at the Environmental Futures & Big Data Impact Lab at Exeter Science Park and those interested in attending should register their interest on the Eventbrite page.

The Exeter Analytics Network is made up of organisations in the city that harness data in work and understand the ways in which it can transform processes, performance and productivity in a range of environments. The group includes experts from the University of Exeter, Exeter College, Oxygen House, The Met Office, Digital Skills Partnership and the Exeter Institute for Science and Technology.

Kicking off with an optional networking lunch at 12.00pm, the conference will then officially start at 13.00pm as experts from the Analytics Network share tips and trends around embedding data analysis in an organisation. Those attending will learn about data already available that isn’t being used to its full potential and how to upskill staff to become data-savvy professionals.

Kathryn White, Innovation Manager at the Big Data Impact Lab, will be talking at the conference on ways that businesses can get the skills they need to thrive in a data-driven world.

“Businesses are increasingly recognising the power of data in the modern world and realising that without their own data analytics capability they risk being left behind,” said Kathryn.

“The Impact Lab is one of a number of groups working to help companies in Devon unlock the potential of their data and this event will help people to understand what they can do with their data and where to access support to develop data skills in their businesses.”

The keynote speaker at the conference will be Director of Oxygen House and Founder of Exeter City Futures Glenn Woodcock and attendees will not only learn how to collect and gather meaningful data; they’ll also learn how to interpret and act on the information found.

Stephen Mariadas is one of the driving forces behind the event and is especially well-placed to provide insight on data in the workplace in his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the SW Institute of Technology, where he’s helping shape some of the fresh talent in the data sector.

Talking at the conference about the positive impact that higher-level Data Apprenticeships can make, Stephen is looking forward to introducing people to ways they can get the skills they need.

Stephen said, “The potential is there for any business or organisation to develop by learning some simple data analysis techniques.

“We will be exploring the very latest trends as well as showing how data skills can be embedded in an organisation through the training and skill development of existing staff.”

Exeter College are supporting the event and their Vice Principal of Schools, Partnerships & Curriculum Rob Bosworth said, “We’re thrilled to be helping bring together data experts for the common good of Devon’s business community.

“It’s an exciting time to engage in data analytics and this conference will provide the toolkits needed for businesses to integrate analytics into their organisation and grow the skills ecosystem.”

Registration for tickets is open now and anyone interested in the subject, from business leaders to those interested in learning some data skills, are welcome to attend.