Best Year Yet for Apprenticeships at Exeter College

This summer saw students across the country collect exam results for the first time in two years, but for Apprentices, every day is results day. The last academic year has seen high Apprenticeship pass rates for Exeter College across all programmes.

Motor Vehicle Apprentices have done particularly well, achieving a 100% pass rate. Construction has had an excellent year too, with a 90% pass rate for Level 4 Construction Management and 96% pass rate for Carpentry and Joinery, with the majority of learners achieving a Distinction at end point assessment.

“Apprenticeships are an integral part of our offer at Exeter College. We are incredibly proud of our Apprentices and what they go on to achieve.”
John Laramy CBE, Principal and Chief Executive

Bench Joinery student Laura Michell has also gained national recognition having come first in an Institute of Carpenters competition this summer. She will be collecting her award in London this November. She said;

“After the first year of my Apprenticeship, I was entered into the Institute of Carpenters competition. When I found out that I had not only won the Regional’s but also the National stage, I was completely overwhelmed and shocked. I’ve always been passionate at trying to be the best at anything I apply myself to and joinery is no exception.

“I am incredibly grateful and honoured to the Institute of a Carpenters to be receiving my award in London in November. Finally, I would like to praise and give recognition to my tutor, Gill Taylor, who from day one has encouraged me to believe in myself and given me an infinite amount of knowledge to perfect my craft. He was a huge inspiration as to why I entered the competition, and I am forever grateful.”

For the third year in a row Exeter College has enrolled over 1000 new apprentices. Not only that, but this year saw the College deliver their biggest ever contract for Apprenticeships, serving more employees than ever before and delivering to a record number of Apprentices. New partnerships with businesses such as Taylor Wimpey have seen the College expand their employer network, offering Apprentices some of the best job opportunities available nationally.

Exeter College celebrates the start of 1000 Apprentices

Director of Future Skills and Apprenticeships, Mike Blakeley, said:

“We set the bar high for our Apprentices at Exeter College and they always deliver. This year we have seen our Apprentices represent us at National Awards, conferences and in government campaigns to help raise awareness about the fantastic opportunities that come with doing an Apprenticeship.

“Working with local and national partners, we continue to adapt and evolve our Apprenticeship offer to maintain a clear line of sight to industry. This ensures Apprentices have a career to progress to and that we are delivering what our local economy needs.”

Working with local partners in response to employer demand, this year has also marked the launch of several new Apprenticeship programmes. A partnership with Exeter Aerospace has meant the launch of an Aircraft Technician Apprenticeship. There are also exciting developments underway in Hospitality and Catering. New professional Construction courses, such as Geospatial Survey Technician and Construction Support Technician, have also been introduced.

John Laramy CBE, Principal and Chief Executive, said:

“Apprenticeships are an integral part of our offer at Exeter College. We are incredibly proud of our Apprentices and what they go on to achieve. We have seen record growth in the sector this year and I believe our accolade of being the best in the South West is down to, not only our Apprentices, but the incredible employers we work with to provide our Apprentices with an outstanding education.”

This year also saw the seventh year of growth for the College’s Pre-Apprenticeship provision. A Pre-Apprenticeship is a skills development programme, through which a young person can gain work experience, industry and employability skills, and Maths and English support if required. Pre-Apprentices has seen a 93% pass rate, with 70% of learners progressing onto an Apprenticeship or full-time work upon completion.

One learner, a care leaver from Eritrea with many skills, enrolled on the Pre-Apprenticeship programme to upskill their English. After working with Pathfinder Homes, they overcame many personal and learning challenges to achieve their long-term goal of securing a full-time job in maintenance.

The Exeter College Apprenticeship team gleaned national recognition on a number of fronts last year. This includes being awarded CMI Learning provider of the Year, an AAC Award for Legal, Finance and Accountancy Provider of the Year, and the AoC Beacon Award for College Engagement with Employers. On the back of this success, the College have been invited to deliver a national best practice webinar for the Association of Colleges this month, and the Director of Apprenticeships and Future Skills, Mike Blakeley, was invited to speak at the Apprenticeships4England conference about exemplar employer partnership practice.

Find out more about Apprenticeships at the next Exeter College Open Event.

CITB and Exeter College launch a new guide to help construction businesses access grants and funding

CITB have partnered with Exeter College to launch the ‘CITB Apprenticeship Grants Guide’, a new resource to highlight the financial support packages available to businesses that employ Apprentices in the construction sector.

CITB, the construction industry training board for England, Scotland and Wales, offers several grants and training funds for businesses who employ apprentices. These include an attendance grant of up to £2500 a year for those that employ a Level 2 or higher apprentice in an eligible Apprenticeship standard, an achievement grant of up to £3500 that can be claimed when an apprentice achieves their End Point Assessment, a Skills and Training fund and a travel fund.

Despite this, uptake of grants has not kept pace with growing apprentice numbers. Due to time constraints, many employers struggle to understand the benefits and support available to them if they take on an apprentice.

To tackle this, CITB and Exeter College have joined forces to create a one-stop shop funding guide. The ‘CITB Apprenticeship Grants Guide’ is a simple and easy-to-read resource which signposts employers directly to grant claim pages, reducing time spent away from the day job.

CITB Customer Engagement Advisor, Darren Murrish said; 

“Apprenticeships are the bedrock of the construction industry. Apprenticeships are preparing the next generation of construction workers and represent an exciting option for both apprentice and employer. This is why CITB offers grants to CITB registered businesses who take on apprentices”.

“CITB is really pleased to be working with Exeter College to make sure construction employers get the help they need with recruiting and keeping apprentices in construction”.
Darren Murrish

Darren Murrish – CITB Customer Engagement Advisor

Not only will this new resource help businesses with apprentices access financial support, it will also highlight a major benefit of taking on an apprentice and encourage more employers across the South West to invest in young and emerging talent.   

 Mike Blakeley, Director of Apprenticeships and Future Skills at Exeter College said; 

‘We are the forefront of Apprenticeships in the South West and have seen record growth in the sector in the last 12 months. The key to high quality Apprenticeships is support from our outstanding employers and those that invest in young people, creating a win-win situation for their business and their young person in terms of skills acquisition and value. This unique partnership brings together Exeter College and CITB to further enhance our customer support and unlock significant funding that will inevitably benefit both employers and apprentices.’  

Mike added,  

‘It was brilliant to break new ground with CITB and we look forward to working with them in new and exciting projects.’ 

Click here to download the ‘CITB Apprenticeship Grants Guide’

With the construction industry booming and sustainable modern methods of construction paving the way to meet net zero targets, there has never been a better time for businesses to invest in Apprenticeships. Exeter College’s expert Apprenticeship team can guide businesses through the recruitment process and connect them with a talent pool of aspiring apprentices. To learn more about Exeter College Apprenticeships and access support, email apprentices@exe-coll.ac.uk.

Exeter College Adult Learners Praise Teachers as they Collect GCSE Results

As 16-year-olds across the country collect their GCSE results today, adult learners at Exeter College also face the trepidation of opening results.

Exeter College is proud to be celebrating another year of great results from its Adult Learners taking GCSE Maths and English.

Adult learners take the decision to go back into education for a whole host of reasons, including wanting to change direction in their career.

Hubert is delighted with his results for GCSE English and Maths

Hubert Pawlowski, 33, from Exeter works in a hospital as a Health Care Assistant and wants to continue his education to allow him to do a degree in Nursing. He achieved a grade 6 in GCSE English and a grade 5 in GCSE Maths. He said:

“I am very happy with my results; I think the teachers have been great. Maths was always my weaker subject, and the fact that English is my second language as well means it wasn’t necessarily my favourite. I have enjoyed it all very much and I’m coming back here in September to do my GCSE in Biology.”

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

“Our adult learners have done incredibly well this year. We are very proud of their achievements and wish them all the best with their next steps.

“Our teachers, as ever, have delivered a fantastic learning experience and learners today have been full of praise for the support and high-quality teaching and learning they have received.”

This was the first time Martin had sat formal exams.

Martin sat GCSEs in both English and Maths. He currently works in clerical administration but would like to work in mental health in the future. This was the first time Martin had ever sat exams and he achieved an amazing grade 6 and 4. Speaking about his experience at College, he said;

“It’s been brilliant, and not just because I have passed. Both of my teachers have been inspirational on a daily basis, but they have also made it fun. I was soaking up everything they were saying. Especially with Maths, because that was the one I was really scared about but they were always very supportive, and I’ve come out with some really good marks.”

Natasha Kingston, 31, from Exmouth has just collected her results for GCSE Maths and English, achieving a grade 4 in both. She now plans to take GCSE Biology before doing an Access course which will allow her to study Midwifery at university. Talking about her experience, she said:

“I was really quite nervous when I signed up, but it’s been great. I’ve made some lifelong friends. It was out of my comfort zone, but I enjoyed it.

“It’s been really supportive; the fact that the College help pay for childcare and travel and things like that has helped because I was a bit worried, but I would definitely do it again. I’m glad I did it.”

Find out more about GCSE English and GCSE Maths at Exeter College or contact our Adult Advice Team on AdultAdvice@exe-coll.ac.uk or 01392 400170.

Exeter College celebrates bootcamp graduates at Digital Summit event

Exeter College welcomed back recent graduates this week to celebrate them completing a 12-week bootcamp course. Students from Digital Marketing, Data Analysis, Apple App Development and Software Development courses were invited in and given the opportunity to network with relevant regional and national businesses including EDF, Booking.com and Optix Solutions.

Bootcamp courses are practical-focused courses which run over 12 weeks and are fully funded by the Government. The courses are part time, consisting of a day a week learning with the College’s specialist lecturers.

Kate Beale, Head of Digital and Data at Exeter College, said;

“The Digital Summit is a chance to celebrate the fact that we’ve taken a group of learners from all walks of life and put them into a 12-week intensive course, and for them to have that achievement at the end is fantastic. The event is also a way of raising awareness and showing the impact that bootcamps are now having on the learners and the industry.

“The biggest thing for us is to show that there is a massive amount of untapped talent that is here today that don’t necessarily have a university degree. It’s trying to break down that barrier to show businesses that they can take a chance on someone who is practicing the skills they need but doesn’t have the traditional piece of paper. It’s starting to happen and it’s starting to make an impact in the community.”

Exeter College is delighted to be offering further bootcamp courses in the autumn, following recent success in the digital sector. Students will be able to choose from:

Digital Marketing
Business Data Analyst
Digital Communication and Content Creation
Software Development – Apple SWIFT Programming
Software Development – Agile Computing
Electric Vehicle Manufacture and Maintenance
Green Construction

Clair Bruce recently completed the Digital Marketing bootcamp. After leaving her management role at Marks and Spencer to start her own Dog Grooming company she decided she wanted to learn more about marketing to help her new business. She said:

“I wanted the skills to understand how you reach your target market. The course has been of great benefit to me, I’ve met people from all different areas of business, and it’s been really good for me. I would highly recommend it.”

Chris Pegg, Digital and Data lecturer at Exeter College, spoke about teaching on the bootcamp programmes. He said:

“When adult learners come back into education, there is often some sort of barrier. The bootcamps are targeted at helping people reintegrate back into employment or potentially getting over that hurdle of going back into education. A bootcamp is short enough that they can just try it. Then they come in and they meet fellow students like themselves, people with diverse life experiences and it is that sharing of experiences which is just lovely. They have had their own progression; they’re now doing a similar course and building a relationship in terms of learning but bringing different things to the table. That dynamic is just a concoction for really good learning. My favourite thing is just the people and what they bring and how we then use that to shape lessons.”

Rob Stevens, Managing Director at Optix Solutions worked with the College to provide industry feedback on the bootcamp course content, structure and delivery to ensure it was fit for purpose. He said:

“We hope that by helping others we encourage more business to get involved and help shape the future talent market. From the people I have met who have undertaken the bootcamps they have told me that it has been a key step in helping them acquire the confidence and skills to apply for higher paid roles. In terms of addressing social mobility the courses are attracting underrepresented groups and helping them improve lives.”

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

International Baccalaureate Students Achieve World-Class Results

Exeter College students studying on the International Baccalaureate have achieved an incredible set of results with five students achieving 42 or more, with 45 being the maximum you can score. 39 points is the equivalent of three A Levels with the grades of A* A* A*.

This year 31 candidates took the International Baccalaureate (IB), achieving once again a 100% pass rate, with 26% of candidates achieving 40+ points. This is especially impressive when you consider the lack of experience these students have had in sitting exams and yet despite this, they have achieved an impressive set of results.

“It has been rewarding to see all the elements of my work come together to produce a result I am proud of.”
Florence Witham, IB student

Exeter College has a successful history of delivering the IB and this year celebrated its 30^th year.

John Laramy CBE, Principal and Chief Executive said;

“One of the inspirational elements of the International Baccalaureate is being able to celebrate when our students excel against a truly international world average. In the first set of exam-based results for three years, this year’s IB cohort have continued the College’s legacy of excellent results. All students achieved the full IB diploma, thus giving the programme a 100% achievement rate.

“The cohort achieved an average point score of 36, against a world average of 31.98. However, it was at the top end of performance where students truly excelled, with over a quarter of the students achieving 40 points or more, with one student scoring 44 points, just one off full marks!

“I would like to congratulate our International Baccalaureate students on another set of excellent results. For over a quarter of the cohort to achieve 40 points or more is a remarkable outcome, especially when this is the first externally assessed and marked exams that these students would have experienced. The IB is a unique qualification, and it has been a privilege to see these students’ grow and develop over their two years at the College.

“I would also like to thank the staff who lead, coordinate and teach on the IB programmes, as alongside these excellent results the team also managed a full IB five-year review – the Ofsted equivalent for the IB and it went brilliantly!”

A group photo of the class of 2022 — The class of 2022

Florence Witham, who scored 44 points, is progressing to Bath University to study Biology. She said; “It has been rewarding to see all the elements of my work come together to produce a result I am proud of; I think the high academic standard of the IB has made me particularly well equipped to succeed at university, where I will be studying a BSc in Biology.”

Ruby Cutler has been accepted to study Medicine at Liverpool University. She said: “I was so shocked when I opened my results because I had prepared myself for the worst! I am now going to Liverpool University to study Medicine in September.”

She added that she feels she owes a lot to the amazing teachers who supported and helped the students through COVID.

Exeter College wishes the IB students all the best for their bright future.

Find out more about the International Baccalaureate at Exeter College.

HepcoMotion Apprentice Raises Awareness of Disabilities and Apprenticeships

First year manufacturing Apprentice Sky-Elouise Hopkins is keen to raise awareness of having a disability and being an apprentice.

Sky-Elouise has Congenital Nystagmus, a disability that causes uncontrollable movements of the eyes, which can make everyday tasks quite difficult. However, Sky-Elouise has not let this stop her, and after completing a National Foundation Diploma in Engineering at Exeter College in 2021, Sky-Elouise decided to pursue a career in Engineering through an apprenticeship with linear motion expert HepcoMotion and Exeter College.

“When I first applied for HepcoMotion I was apprehensive of how my disability would affect me and whether I would be given the same opportunities as others. However, sat here six months later, I can positively say that my disability does not hold me back, and that is thanks to companies like HepcoMotion”.
Sky-Elouise Hopkins

Sky Elouise explains: “After the COVID-19 pandemic, which altered my career plans due to future uncertainties, I decided I wanted to jumpstart my career with an apprenticeship. When the opportunity came to apply for HepcoMotion’s apprenticeship scheme, I knew I had to.”

Sky-Elouise was particularly drawn to HepcoMotion as it has an award-winning apprenticeship programme where many former apprentices have progressed into full-time roles within the company.

Having started her apprenticeship in September 2021, Sky-Elouise decided early on that she wanted to raise awareness of being an apprentice with a disability in the hope that it will inspire others to overcome their fears and pursue their careers. Nystagmus Awareness Day, which takes place annually on 20^th June, provides the perfect opportunity.

“Nystagmus is a condition that few people know about, but one that has a huge effect on thousands of people. For me personally it has a significant impact on my confidence, and I often struggle to interact with people because of the way my Nystagmus makes me look. My Nystagmus also affects my co-ordination and balance so I can often find some simple things, like sports, quite difficult” says Sky-Elouise.

Although she faces everyday challenges, Sky-Elouise continues to push the boundaries of her disability and be resilient in order to be able to do things. This is highlighted through her choices of hobbies: taekwondo and cycling. Indeed, Sky- Elouise has already been graded for her first coloured belt in taekwondo and has set many goals in order to progress within these areas, such as charity mountain bike rides and competing in more competitions.

Sky-Elouise highlights that employers have a crucial role in breaking down the barriers for apprentices with disabilities: “When I first applied for HepcoMotion I was apprehensive of how my disability would affect me and whether I would be given the same opportunities as others. However, sat here six months later, I can positively say that my disability does not hold me back, and that is thanks to companies like HepcoMotion. Any challenges I have had, such as finding suitable safety glasses, or doing a specifically challenging task, they have supported me every step of the way to find a resolution and get me through it.”

Training providers also play an important part in supporting apprentices. Exeter College has a dedicated apprenticeship learning support team with experience in supporting learners with a wide variety of needs, with or without a specific diagnosis. Apprentices with Exeter College can access 1 to 1 or group support for any non-practical parts of their apprenticeship, whether that be completing assignments, making the most of in-class learning, or Functional Skills maths or English. The college also offers training to apprentices to make the best use of available learning technologies, including dictate and immersive readers.

Sky-Elouise shared, “Exeter College has supported me whilst I am training by adjusting my apprenticeship pathway around my strengths, to a technical support position. This new pathway works very well with my current placement within the Research and Development department at HepcoMotion. I have been aiming for this placement since I first started at HepcoMotion, and daily I am progressing my knowledge and skills of SolidWorks, through modelling and animation.”

Celebrating Nystagmus Awareness Day is vital for raising awareness and ensures that adults and children with Nystagmus can access the support they need in work and education. If you would like to find out more about Nystagmus Awareness Day, visit www.nystagmusnetwork.org.

If you would like to learn more about undertaking an Apprenticeship with Exeter College or HepcoMotion, please contact apprentices@exe-coll.ac.uk or applications@hepcomotion.com

Exeter College Launches Unique Engineering Academy in Partnership with HepcoMotion

Exeter College and HepcoMotion have launched a T Level Engineering Academy, the first of its kind in the UK. The Academy will be open to all T Level Engineering students from September 2022, giving learners a clear line of sight to industry and providing them with vital experience.

T Levels are a technical qualification that were first rolled out in September 2020, Exeter College was one of the first providers in the country to be offering the Government’s new T Level qualifications. From September 2022, Exeter College will be offering over ten T Levels covering subjects such as Digital Production, Design and Development and Health.

There will initially be fourteen places available with interviews being conducted at HepcoMotion in Tiverton. Students will benefit from a minimum of 40 days of industry placement, a mentor programme, site visits and specially selected sessions delivered at the College by HepcoMotion.

HepcoMotion, part of the Hepco Group of companies is a world-leading manufacturer of linear motion systems and automation components. Exeter College is delighted to be strengthening its partnership with Hepco through the delivery of this Academy. Working together on a number of projects since 2016, Hepco and Exeter College originally joined forces to offer Engineering Pre-Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships and Higher Education opportunities.

Head of Faculty for Engineering at Exeter College, Andy Wells said;

“We are incredibly excited to be able to offer our students this unique opportunity. The time spent with Hepco will be invaluable and will place our students a head above the rest when venturing into the world of work.

“It is hoped that this Academy will create a pipeline for talent spotting and recruitment – feeding learners directly into jobs in industry. We believe it will enhance the already great reputation that HepcoMotion holds in the local community and nationally and we cannot wait to get started.”

Head of Learning Development and Apprenticeships at HepcoMotion, Maurice Porter said;

“Hepco is pleased to build on its successful training programmes and apprenticeships by introducing The Hepco Academy in partnership with Exeter College. This exciting development will strengthen our partnership with the College and further develop our training for Hepco employees.”

Learn more about the T Level Engineering Academy.

Find out more about T Levels at Exeter College by downloading a School Leavers’ Course Guide or by visiting us at our next Open Event. Alternatively, please contact the College Advice Team on 01392 400600 or email cat@exe-coll.ac.uk.

Exeter College Reveals Strategic Plan and New Set of College Values

Exeter College has announced its strategic plan and unveiled its new set of values that will be fit for the future.

In the plans, the College has set out the vision ‘to be an exceptional college,’ and a mission statement that says the College aims to ‘shape futures by delivering world-class education and training for our city and region.’

Staff, students, and key stakeholders gathered together at Exeter College’s South West Institute of Technology Digital and Data Centre on Tuesday 7 June 2022 to celebrate the launch of the strategic plan and values.

A Level student Kyle Kana, talking about his experience of college life

“We want people to understand the way we do things around here, that we want to be ambitious; for our students, and for our community. We want to collaborate so that together we are stronger, and we want to make sure that people feel a buzz and an energy when they come into Exeter College. We hope that there is a real connection between the vision that we are trying to achieve and the values that we imbue as a college.”
Principal and Chief Executive, John Laramy CBE

As part of the celebrations the College has produced a film, including their partners from the city, detailing how the values are embedded throughout everything they do.

Bindu Arjoon, Exeter College Chair of Governors

Exeter College Chair of Governors and Deputy CEO at Exeter City Council, Bindu Arjoon, attended the event and introduced the film, she said:

“Our strategic plan outlines where the College will focus over the next few years in order to achieve our vision of being an exceptional college. Exceptional for our students of today and tomorrow and also exceptional in our role supporting and serving the city and wider area.

“These values are our guiding principles and capture how we show up; who we are and how we behave amongst ourselves and when we work with others.”

The College has worked with several partners across the city to create a values film that truly reflects the work it does with the community and to share the message of the new values.

The College would like to thank the following people and organisations for their support in this endeavour.

Bindu Arjoon – Exeter City Council
Jean Brett – The Deaf Academy
Penny Endersby – Met Office
John Hart – Devon County Council
Karime Hassan MBE – Exeter City Council
Moira Marder – Ted Wragg Trust
Caroline Nicholson – Devon Recovery Learning Community / Devon Partnership Trust NHS
Lisa Roberts – University of Exeter
Tony Rowe OBE – Exeter Chiefs
Julian Tagg – Exeter City Football Club

Principal and Chief Executive, John Laramy CBE, said:

“Students, schools, employers, partners, stakeholders, and staff will all, we hope, see their priorities brought to life in our strategic plan for the next five years.

“We became an outstanding college in 2012 and repeated that feat in 2014, so we felt it was important to have a vision that helped us as a college to move forward. To be an exceptional college feels like the next natural step. As a college we were very keen to develop a set of values that really do feel like Exeter College. Some of our staff here have come up with “Our values are what makes us, us!” which I think is very apt!

“We want people to understand the way we do things around here, that we want to be ambitious; for our students, and for our community. We want to collaborate so that together we are stronger, and we want to make sure that people feel a buzz and an energy when they come into Exeter College. We hope that there is a real connection between the vision that we are trying to achieve and the values that we imbue as a college.”

Take a look at our Strategic Plan.

Exceptional Outdoor Adventure and Education Set to Continue at Haven Banks

Exeter College and Devon County Council are set to continue their successful partnership, having just renewed the fifteen-year lease on Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre at Exeter’s historic quayside.

The centre is well known as the South West’s premiere Outdoor Education and Training facility and is a hive of activity throughout the year. As well as offering numerous holiday activities for young people and schools, the centre provides courses and professional training for adults and is also home to Exeter College’s full time Outdoor Education programmes.

Exeter College Principal and CEO, John Laramy CBE, said;

“I am delighted that we have been able to renew and extend our excellent partnership with Devon County Council to operate and run Haven Banks, this will make a real difference to the community and our students. This new extension to the lease will enable the College to invest with confidence in new cutting-edge resources to ensure it remains the standout Centre within the South West for all things related to outdoor adventure and education.

“I personally feel that the way Devon County Council work with Exeter College is a national exemplar of how an upper tier Local Authority can work with a local college to make a difference to skills, life chances and health.”

Devon County Council Chief Executive, Phil Norrey, said;

“I am pleased that we have been able to continue the partnership with Exeter College for running the Haven Banks Education Centre. Our natural environment is one of our county’s greatest assets, and we want everyone to find ways to enjoy it. By delivering high quality outdoor education for all ages, Haven Banks is helping more people become confident exploring what is on our doorsteps.

“We are committed to making Devon a child-friendly place where children and young people can thrive. That includes providing every child with opportunities to explore the outdoors safely, and to discover the benefits of outdoor adventures on both their physical and mental health.”

In recent years, Haven Banks has also enjoyed immense success in running the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award and Ten Tors training for local schools. This year they have seen 70 students achieve a DofE bronze, silver or gold award and have helped more than 60 young people train for the gruelling Ten Tors challenge.

The Ten Tors event, organised by the Army and assisted by the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Teams, is a challenge of teamwork, endurance, navigation, and camp craft and sees teenagers survive for two days completely unaided.

Exeter College students completing the Ten Tors Challenge.

Ben Hedden, Centre Manager at Haven Banks said:

“We are all delighted with the announcement of the renewal of the lease between Exeter College and Devon County Council. The past nine years have seen the Centre develop, thrive, and diversify its provision for the local and wider community.

“The past two years has been challenging and impacted on us all, and none more so than the children and young people within our community. The benefits of the outdoors and outdoor and adventurous activities are well evidenced and have been key to assisting young people to rebuild confidence, resilience, self-esteem, and lifelong memories.

“We continue to actively develop our programmes and are proud to continue to offer accessible and inclusive activities for all ages and every ability level. We look forward to serving our past, present and future users of the Centre over the coming years.”

Haven Banks offers a wide range of activities for young people and adults.

Haven Banks is at the centre of the local Outdoor Adventure community and is part of a growing industry that is supporting post-Covid recovery. It has been highlighted that placing greater importance on wellbeing and staying active will help young people to recover from the pandemic. Having missed formative years in education and spending time with peers, it is hoped that Outdoor Education will help to build resilience back up and provide young people with the skills they need such as working as a team, problem solving, and embracing new challenges.

To arrange a tour of the facilities or to find out more about the opportunities available at Haven Banks, please contact the centre’s reception on 01392 400150 or by filling out the contact form.

Aviation Minister learns of region’s sustainable aviation ambitions

Aviation Minister Robert Courts has seen first-hand how the South West is fostering a sustainable aviation sector during a tour of Exeter College’s Future Skills Centre (FSC) and Exeter Airport.

The Minister heard how continued investment in aviation skills was increasing homegrown capability in the region and anticipating the aviation systems of the future, including the potential for all-electric aircraft as part of the Government’s Future Flight Challenge.

Aviation Minister Robert Courts said: “It is essential we continue exploring ways to maintain the UK’s competitive place in the aviation industry but we must do so sustainably.

“I’ve been deeply inspired by my visit to Exeter Airport and Exeter College’s Future Skills Centre, which are building the aviation industry of the future by investing in talent across the region – levelling up the UK and putting the South West on a path to success.”

The recent visit started with a tour of Exeter Airport, which last year hosted the first hybrid electric aircraft flight between Exeter and Newquay.

The Minister was shown the airport’s radar room and air traffic control (ATC) centre, where ATC assistants are trained in-house, before touring the terminal and hearing how the airport has been ramping up for the start of a busy summer season.

He also visited aircraft engineering company Exeter Aerospace and heard about plans to establish a strong Aircraft Engineering Apprenticeship and Aircraft Traineeship programme with Exeter College, starting September 2022.

The Minister was then led on a tour of the FSC and spoke to students and lecturers on the Advanced Aircraft Engineering programme.

The Future Skills Centre, formerly the Flybe Training Academy, was recently purchased by Devon County Council. Exeter College now leases the site which has undergone big investment including the purchase of an Aircraft Training Cabin. The aim of the FSC is to provide learners of all ages with the skills and qualifications that are fit for the economy of the future.

Robert Courts and the Exeter College team with Air Cabin Crew learners

Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive John Laramy CBE said: “It was an absolute pleasure to host the Aviation Minister, Robert Courts MP and the local Member of Parliament, Simon Jupp MP. We were able to showcase the key role that aviation plays across the South West, with activity happening right across the region.

“The Minister spent time with a range of our students, including Air Cabin Crew learners and Aerospace Engineers, some of which are soon to attend a funded two-week trip to the world’s largest Aviation University at Daytona Beach, Florida in June as part of the Government’s Turing Scheme.

“The Minister saw first-hand the impact of the Future Skills Centre and the potential the Centre has to impact positively on skills across Devon and the wider region.”

Stephen Wiltshire, Managing Director of Exeter Airport, said: “This was a good opportunity to outline to the Minister how important aviation is to the local economy and our region’s ambitions to take a lead in the development of sustainable aviation. It was also a chance to update him on the start of the airport’s summer season and the challenges the industry still faces as we emerge from the pandemic.”

The day concluded with an interactive roundtable discussion which included the attendees as well as representatives from relevant organisations in the South West such as Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, Exeter Science Park, and the Aviation Industry Skills Board.