Enterprise Education at York College

Values‘As a way of fostering learning, York College values:• all our students and their individual achievements• the commitment and professionalism of our staff• the highest standards in all that we do• working together to meet the needs of our college

and the wider community• effective, efficient and appropriate use of resources• respect, equality and honesty.’

The safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults is fully embraced by all York College staff and underpins the College’s Values.

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Cross College enterprise activity: The Head of Entitlement leads on Enterprise for York College and ensures managers are kept up to date with information on enterprise opportunities relevant to their curriculum areas.

The College has strong connections with the Young People’s Enterprise Forum (YPEF) and many of its enterprise activities are given a focus by our association with this organisation. We also benefit from our subscription to the ‘Enterprise Village’ newsletter providing access to enterprise information, activities and resources.

The annual Enterprise Week in November is actively promoted by the College. We are supported in this activity at local and national level through our contacts with NYBEP, City of York, the Young People’s Enterprise Forum and York and North Yorkshire Business Link Yorkshire. Activities have included an Open Access talk by Duncan Lewis (Business Link Yorkshire) on ‘How to start your own business’ and the £5 Challenge, as part of York Business Week and Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The College supports a range of enterprise related enrichment activities open to all students, which include:• Managing your money• Keyboard skills• Business ethics• Start your own business

Divisional and Cross Divisional enterprise activity: The Head of Entitlement takes a key role in promoting enterprise activities in divisions. Despite only a small number of vocational courses providing an enterprise related module within the course, many divisional areas are very involved with enterprise activity. Such opportunities provide sustainable activity which improves young people’s employability and raises their aspirations.

The key examples of enterprise activity include: • Work placements or experience of work • Competitions/events• Visiting speakers

In addition to the entrepreneurial and business focus to enterprise the College staff understand the value of social enterprise within local communities and help students develop the necessary skills to make them enterprising young people who can make their way in the world whatever their chosen career pathway. Large numbers of students generously give their time to raise money to benefit others as both volunteers and fund raisers.

Enterprise Education at York CollegeYork College believes that it is vitally important to equip young people and adults for the world of work and to promote enterprise education wherever opportunities allow. Consequently enterprise education happens at a number of different levels:• Cross College activities embedded in the curriculum• Activities organised within and across divisions

Romantic BusinessFirst Diploma Business students sold Valentines Day single roses in a final attempt to raise money for the Sue Ryder Care Big Wig Challenge.

This fundraising challenge involved six teams of First Diploma and National Diploma Business students. The teams were given £50 each and told to return it, with profit, by a set deadline. The teams organised different activities including cake stalls, a cross bar challenge, a tombola and a leg shaving bonanza for the boys. In total the students raised approximately £350.00.

Pleased with placement National Diploma Business student, Joe Beresford, undertook a week’s voluntary placement in the Shepherd Group’s Marketing department and thrived on the experience and has been offered paid work during the summer holidays.

Says York College Placement Officer: “It is evident that the Shepherd Group support York College in offering placements which can lead to progression and employment for our students, which is absolutely fantastic.”

Brilliant Bricklaying Result for York College studentsA fantastic result for York College when two bricklaying students, Jack Hall and Michael Knight, were worthy winners at the Yorkshire Guild of Bricklayers competition, held at Bradford College .

Jack Hall (aged 19) studies Brickwork (Level 3) and is an apprentice at Barratt Homes and Michael Knight (aged 20) studies Brickwork (Level 2) and is an apprentice at William Birch & Son.

Business related enterprise activityBusiness related enterprise activity helps students develop essential skills required to be successful in the workplace and for those aspiring to work for themselves and run their own businesses.

Such activities help students develop the skills required to turn them into enterprising young people such as team work, problem solving, effective communication and planning.

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Learning with Jaguar/Land Rover The Young Apprenticeship students have access to online ‘Live’, ‘Real Time’ high quality engineering lessons through Jaguar/Land Rover which are interactive and engaging and link directly to the course modules they are studying. Students can see their progress at the press of a button.

Lidia Nowicka-Wilson, 14-16 Coordinator said: “In September 2009 Jaguar/Land Rover invited the York College Young Apprenticeship Motor Vehicle programme to join their Academy of Excellence. This prestigious Training Academy has enabled Young Apprenticeship students to develop their engineering skills in readiness for their high quality work placements within the local Jaguar/Land Rover dealerships and motor vehicle industry.”

York College Construction and Engineering Open Day The York College Construction and Engineering Open Day, sponsored by Denison Till Solicitors and Higher York, brought employers, students, parents and apprentices together from across the region. It provided a gateway for potential students to meet employers to find out about future careers in the vocational areas of construction and engineering.

Kevin Clancy, Head of Construction at York College said: “The construction and engineering departments at York College are delighted to see so many businesses represented at this event.

Said Andrew Lindsay, a governor of York College and a partner in Denison Till: “This innovatory event has demonstrated what can be achieved when local employers work together with training providers.”

Hair & Beauty Competition The annual York College Hair & Beauty competition, held at York Racecourse, involved around 250 full and part-time Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy students.

Denise Morrison, Head of Division for Hair, Beauty and Holistic Therapies said: “This event is a superb learning experience for the Hair & Beauty students at York College. Rising to the challenge of this competition, they prove to themselves, and to employers, that they can use their skills effectively whilst under pressure. It is fantastic to see their training at College and in the workplace result in both technical and creative skills which are showcased in this competition.”

Fashion Show Fashion students paraded their creations on the catwalk as a finale to their National Diploma and Foundation Degree Fashion courses at the York College Fashion Show held at York Racecourse.

Marks & Spencer sponsored the final year National Diploma students’ ‘jacket project’ and the Company of Merchants Taylors presented the ‘Best Collection’ prizes to the final year Foundation Degree students.

First year Foundation Degree students exhibited their mini spring/summer collections, working in conjunction with Noa Noa.

Marie Neal-Smith, Fashion tutor said: “Marks and Spencer and Noa Noa have had considerable input to client lead projects resulting in the work produced and reflecting industry standards.”

Production Arts students light up the trainsFinal year Production Arts students spent October half-term illuminating locomotives at the National Railway Museum in a competition against other colleges and drama schools.

They were taught about curating, illuminating museums and health & safety. Armed with a selection of lights, they were then allocated a particular locomotive in the museum to illuminate.

Chorus Line Musical Theatre students, a technical crew from Production Arts and a live orchestra incorporating AS Level Music students (including staff members) performed ‘A Chorus Line’ at the College’s Alan Ayckbourn Theatre.

Said Kate Fisher, Musical Theatre tutor: “This superb Broadway musical demanded a massive amount of performance ability from our students. They rose to the challenge and produced an outstanding final performance.”

YAP’s Serving UpPatrick Hilder (Canon Lee School) and Joanne Hedge and Luke Sanderson (Fulford School) are Young Apprentices at York College, studying Level 2 Professional Cookery.

Patrick and Luke have ambitions to be chefs. Says Joanne: “I think it is important to be able to cook. I am interested in a career in forensic science.”

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Creative Show The Creative Show features Further and Higher Education work by Art, Design and Craft students at York College. The exhibition shows the inspirational ideas and achievements of students in a range of disciplines; drawing, painting, print-making, glass, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, 3D, product design, films, digital imaging, animation, photography, fashion, design, graphics and excellent portfolios students have prepared for interviews at prestigious destinations across the UK.

York College students serve up at the final of the Nestlé Toque d’Or Competition, BBC Good Food Show On reaching the final of the Nestlé Toque d’Or competition six professional cookery students from York College ran the Nestlé Toque d’Or restaurant at the BBC Good Summer Food Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

The Nestlé Toque d’Or is the most prestigious college catering & hospitality competition, attracting over 240 college entries from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Said their tutor Martin Halliday: “This was the World Cup of hospitality and catering competitions for colleges and over the last six months it took over the students’ lives. They were a credit to the College and I cannot put into words how proud we were of them. Watching them take total control and running such a prestigious restaurant service was inspiring.”

Young Apprentices achieve 50 days in the workplace in record time York College is proud to announce that five young apprentices have excelled themselves by achieving 50 days work placement within the first year of their two year qualification. The five young apprentices, who attend different schools in the region, have completed the 50 days in their own time, either during school holidays or at weekends.

Motor vehicle employer, Andy Coopers from Full Sutton said about his Young Apprentice, James Johnson: “James is very interested in everything we ask him to do, he asks questions and listens. He is reliable and enthusiastic, he is here before me in the mornings! He is the type of young person we would employ.”

Winning double gold at the National SkillBuild final Painting and decorating student, Nathan Broxholm, and brickwork student, Jack Hall, won gold medals at the National SkillBuild final, held in Wales..

The SkillBuild competition, organised by ConstructionSkills (the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry), showcases the high level of skills training undertaken by colleges and employers. It provides a benchmark for excellence.

Nathan currently works for Bagnells Painting & Decorating in Doncaster.

Jack Hall was an apprentice for Barratt Homes in York and has recently become self-employed.

Fashion students style M&S customers York shoppers were given the chance to overhaul their image in time for the festive season when York College fashion students took to the shop floor to offer style tips to Marks & Spencer’s customers.

National Diploma in Fashion and Foundation Degree in Fashion Design flexed their creative muscles in the M&S Monks Cross store over an entire weekend, advising customers on the latest fashion trends and offering guidance on how to wear them.

M&S Monks Cross Store Manager, Kirstie Walsh commented: “This was a great opportunity for M&S to further support York College students by providing them with experience of fashion retailing and customer interaction.”

Daniel’s MOD Apprentice Success Daniel Thorp has won the prestigious Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation MOD Apprentice Award and has also been awarded third place in the MOD Apprentice of the Year. Daniel currently studies Level 3 Vehicle Maintenance Repair at York College and is an MOD apprentice at RAF Menwith Hill.

Daniel is overjoyed to have won the prestigious MOD Apprentice Award, saying: “I am looking forward to visiting Whitehall to be presented with my award by Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox.”

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Student of the MonthYork College enourages staff to nominate students for a ‘Student of the Month’ prize which is open to all students including HE and part-time students. Winners are not only hard working but also make a contribution outside of the classroom within their local community, either in a voluntary capacity at college or with a local charity. Winning this accolade gives students a real boost during their time at college.

YCTVYork College Television (YCTV) has been officially launched. The new television station is an innovative project that gives Extended Diploma Film and Production students the opportunity to work in a professional and challenging environment.

Film and Production student Al Ashdon is excited by the project saying: “It’s great fun and I am really enjoying the experience. We are learning to work to a tight deadline and on a variety of film making elements such as script writing, editing and presenting.”

Christmas Sale Staff and students were able to do their Christmas shopping and enjoy refreshments at the Pathway to Work and Independent Living Annual Christmas Sale.

Enterprise Week During Enterprise Week (15th – 21st November) a number of events were organised to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their entrepreneurial skills, including:

First Diploma Business students organised a fundraising morning in aid of Help for Heroes and Martin House Hospice and raised £70.00. They also raised £106 selling wrist bands on behalf of Help for Heroes.

Extended diploma in Business students organised a tuck shop event in the atrium, in aid of the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research.

A lecture by Duncan Lewis (the Enterprise Champion for Business Link Yorkshire) entitled ‘Starting your own Business’, gave students who are interested in working for themselves an opportunity to find out more.

Also, a York Young Enterprise £5 Challenge presented students with an opportunity to demonstrate their entrepreneurial skills, working as an individual or in small teams to maximise income from an initial £5 stake. Linked to this was an invitation to the launch of the venture at Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum where they were inspired by Claire Young, the runner up of The Apprentice 2008.

Antony wins York College Student of the Year 2010Professional Cookery student, Antony Johnson, won the York College Student of the Year 2010 title. Antony was nominated by his tutors for being an outstanding student who embraced all opportunities available to him whilst at College.

After winning the Student of the Month title in October 2009 Antony was nominated as the College’s national ‘VQ Learner of the Year’.

Antony says: “I was overwhelmed to hear that I had won the Student of the Year title. The whole college experience has been great, it has given me a confidence I didn’t know I had. The Professional Cookery course turned my life around.”

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Help For Heroes 1st year Public Services students organised a non-uniform day in aid of Help For Heroes. They presented a cheque for £126.48 to the army recruitment team from Ripon.

Also, Society, Health & Development diploma students presented the army with a cheque for £408.25.

Help Haiti The College raised a total of £311.63 for the Haiti Appeal.

Children In NeedThis year York College students and the Students’ Union raised a grand total of £1,484.47 for BBC Children In Need (£515.22 more than last year).

Sparkling StudentsStep-Up students held jewellery sales to help raise funds for the Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children.

Neil Preston from the Newlife Foundation came into college to collect the cheque and give a short presentation about the charity. The total raised was £777.43 and will go towards equipment to help local disabled children.

Liu Runs Edinburgh Marathon International student Liu Wing Chung, from Singapore, completed the Edinburgh marathon in aid of Breast Cancer Care. He said: “This was the craziest, most fulfilling thing I have ever done. It was the first time I had run a marathon and it was so hard, but I feel such a great sense of achievement now.”

Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser NVQ Level 3 Business Administration students held a fundraising day in the atrium as part of their course in aid of Cystic Fibrosis. They chose the charity because one of their fellow students has had this illness from the age of 12 months. They raised a grand total of £250 in just three hours.

Travel & Tourism Charity Night The Charity Quiz Night held by BTEC National Diploma Travel and Tourism second year students in Ashfields on 28 April raised £348.14 for Cancer Research UK.

Sport Relief A number of fundraising activities were organised in aid of Sport Relief. Students and staff signed up for a Fun Run around the sports pitches, running or walking a mile, three miles or six miles. They rowed a mile (on rowing machines) in the atrium, golfers hit a ball into a target, students saw how many hula hoops they could keep going in a minute and the footballers in the College were encouraged to see how many kick-ups they could do. The total raised for Sport Relief was £664.22.

Enterprising studentsFundraisingGenerosity of spirit, time and effort is in abundance at York College as students raise significant amounts of money for national and local charities. For many students this involves the effective use of enterprise skills in the organisation of activities which encourage others to join in and buy goods and services or donate money which is passed on to a good cause.

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Higher York Volunteering Award York College student, Mike Wilson, was awarded the Higher York Volunteering award for his efforts volunteering with the Elvington Scout Group, as Assistant Scout Leader.

Leos Blub PlantingMembers of the York College Leos Club (the youth branch of the Minster Lions) gave up their time during half-term to plant 2,000 spring bulbs on the York College campus.

George Bennett, Leo Advisor for Minster Lions said: “I am delighted that the Leos took on the challenge of planting all the bulbs. York College match-funded the project and we were able to buy 2,000 bulbs plus the gardening equipment for the students to use.”

York Cares Awards Evening Many York College students generously gave up their time to help others by volunteering for a wide range of activities both in and outside college.

Eight students represented the College at the ceremony, collecting their ‘v50 awards’ as a result of volunteering for 50 hours this year across a range of projects.

A Level student, Sam Richardson, clocked up well over 100 hours volunteering through his role as a College Ambassador and voluntary placements working at a local veterinary practice.

VolunteeringYork College has a long history of volunteering and is proud of its students who help and support others. Many students begin their volunteering experience with work placements; these may be an essential component of their course or they may be voluntary, eg SNAPPY or working in local charity shops. Right to read students provide support in local primary schools so that young children who are learning to read can benefit from trained listeners who can guide them and encourage them to develop their reading skills. Minster Lions come to College to support their youth section ‘Leos’ who organise and run fund raising events for a number of charities.

Student Ambassadors provide an invaluable service to the College helping out at key events such as Open Evenings, interview Evening and Parents Evenings. They meet and greet our visitors and direct them as appropriate, answering questions and giving a student’s perspective of the College. They have also helped out at City-wide events, promoting the College eg the North of England Education Conference.

Ambassadors at York College can be easily recognised in their bright pink or blue Ambassador T-shirts.

Fifteenth Century Experience A Level Medieval History students enjoyed a trip to the Royal Armouries in Leeds and found out what it was like to fight in the War of the Roses. They took part in a study session on the theme of ‘Feud and Fraction’ and tried out the armour and weapons used in the War of the Roses.

Speed Languages International students from York College took part in a Speed Languages afternoon organised by Barlby Community Primary School in Selby. The students, who follow a variety of different courses at College, originate from Norway, Angola, Saudi Arabia, China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Colombia, Moldova and Cyprus. They answered questions about their home countries and taught the pupils a few words from their own languages which included Spanish, Arabic, Romanian, Portuguese, Urdu and Mandarin.

Students Sunflower Exhibition for St Leonard’s Hospice Adult learners at York College took part in an art project based on the subject of a sunflower. Their sunflowers were exhibited at the Theatre Royal as well as being auctioned at a Sunflower Ball at York Racecourse, in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice.

Stretch and Challenge Some students go just that bit further to develop their knowledge and skills within their field of study.

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Stonemasonry CoVE project for The Prince of Wales, at HighgroveTo commemorate the end of the Stonemasonry CoVE between York, Bath and Weymouth Colleges, stonemasonry teams from each college made a three legged monument which now takes pride of place in the gardens at The Prince of Wales’ Gloucestershire home, Highgrove.

Said York College Stonemasonry tutor, Paul Hill: “York College was delighted to be asked to create this piece of stonework and to be involved in this prestigious project.”

High profile Counter Terrorist exercise for students National Diploma Uniformed Public Services students took part in a high profile counter terrorist exercise working alongside a team of police officers from North & West Yorkshire Police as well as international senior police officers who are members of their own counter terrorist units.

The event was officially opened by the Safer Neighbourhood Commander for York, Supt Lisa Winward. In addition, senior police and civilian personnel from all over the world were in attendance.

Steve Walters, Uniformed Public Services tutor said: “This exercise provided a valuable teaching opportunity for our students. They learned, in more depth, about the issues of combating terrorism on a global basis.”

Emma’s Expedition to the Antarctic York College student, Emma Lightwing obtained a place on an Antarctic Expedition with the British Schools Exploring Society, an educational charity, which is part of the Royal Geographical Society.

For five weeks Emma explored, mountaineered, kayaked and trekked in a remote and challenging environment in the islands of Svalbard, 1,000km from the North Pole.

Emma had to raise £4,000 for the trip and one of her fundraising activities was busking in York. Ultimately Emma has aspirations to be a musician in the armed forces, maybe with the Royal Marines.

Engineering a Bunny for the RSPCA Engineering advanced apprentices who are studying Performing Engineering Operations at York College have designed and built a compost bin in the form of large bunny for the RSPCA in York.

The bunny composter is part of a programme of environmental work being led by volunteer Head Gardener Julia Smith to make the RSPCA site more environmentally friendly and attractive to visit.

Said Angela Hunter, RSPCA Branch Manager: “I would like to thank the engineering apprentices at York College who have done a great job designing and making our compost bunny.”

Giant Earth dominates National Science WeekDuring National Science Week National Diploma Science students were on a mission to collect rubbish from around the campus. The rubbish was recycled by 3D Design Craft students who then created a giant earth sculpture, measuring 7ft high.

The College ran several other activities during National Science Week including lectures on ‘Sustainable Development’ by Dr Komang Ralebitso-Senior from Teeside University and a lecture on ‘The Great Climate Change Experiment’ by Professor Ineson from the University of York .

Students restore cart for the York Mystery PlaysFinal year bench joinery students are carefully restoring a nineteenth century cart from the Yorkshire Museum of Farming at Murton Park on behalf of the Company of the Merchant Taylors. The cart will be pulled around the city when the York Mystery Plays hit the city streets in July.

Says Peter Draper, Site Director at Murton Park: “We are delighted that York College students will benefit from the learning process involved in getting the cart back on the road.”

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Equality and Diversity StatementYork College is committed to equality of opportunity. The aim is to create an environment in which people treat each other with mutual respect, regardless of: age; disability; family responsibility; marital status; race; colour; ethnicity; nationality; religion or belief; gender; gender identity; transgender; sexual orientation; trade union activity; unrelated criminal convictions.