Strength and Stamina Tested
Uniformed Services students from Lowestoft College were tested mentally and physically with a visit to the Royal Navy’s Training Centre HMS Collingwood in Portsmouth.
The students spent four days taking part in a range of activities including weapon handling and firing on a range, team building exercises, drill training, marching and fitness sessions. They also took the pre-joining fitness test which is used by all armed forces for entry. The students had to complete a mile and a half run before a swimming test which saw them tread water for two minutes, swim two lengths, climb out of the pool and jump into the pool from a six meter high board – all while wearing a boiler suit.
It wasn’t all hard work for the group as they were shown round the HMS Iron Duke and found out what it’s like to be inside a Second World War Submarine when they visited the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.
Prize-winning poster
18-year-old Sarah Burden has shown she has a flair for design by winning £100 for a poster she created for a health and safety campaign.
Sarah, together with Paige Capps, Georgia Yeaman, Lizzie Utting, Sonia Colvin, Lewis Parker, Beki Falconer, Kerry Franklin and Amberley Spillings, designed posters for BIS Salamis who wanted a new look for their Health and Safety awareness campaign for 2009. The Foundation Diploma and National Diploma in Art and Design students from Lowestoft College used a combination of illustration, photography and graphic design for the posters which were rated by members of the workforce and senior managers at BIS Salamis.
Sarah’s came out on top gaining votes for its overall look and concise message of ‘See it, stop it’. Sarah, who lives in Lowestoft and hopes to pursue a career in graphic design, said: “The design came from the concept of looking at something from another person’s point of view. I gave it a lot of thought in the beginning and then once I had the idea it seemed to come together quite quickly.”
Peter Carrier, HSEQ Manager for BIS Salamis, said: “Sarah’s design seemed to clearly convey the idea of safety intervention; that is, if you see something wrong, don’t just walk by – take action. It appealed to many people at BIS Salamis and captured the message well.”
Sarah’s poster, along with 11 others designed by the students, will now be printed and one will be displayed at BIS Salamis’ projects throughout the UK each month.
Life in the Fast Lane
Motor Vehicle students from Lowestoft College had a glimpse into life in the fast lane when they visited the annual Autosport International Racing Car Show.
The students and their tutors travelled to Birmingham’s NEC for the day where they looked around the many trade stands and displays representing the industry. Among the exhibitions was one dedicated to Formula 1 which featured a line up of last year’s grid including the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton which took centre stage. Former Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal Ron Dennis were also at the show to talk about the sport and answer any questions.
Other motorsports represented at the Show included Rally, Le Mans, Touring Cars and Karts and the students were able to get up close to some of motoring’s top names including Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lotus and Caterham. A team from the Bloodhound project was also there to talk about their ambitious plans to build a vehicle which can travel at 1000mph or Mach 1.4 for an attempt at the land speed record.
Motor vehicle lecturer Chris Baker said: “By visiting the show the students could see some of the latest technology used in the industry. Many of the students were particularly interested in the Bloodhound project and we are now looking at ways in which we can tie this in with their Key Skills sessions which develop English and Maths skills. They also visited university stands to find out about the specialist courses which could lead to a career in motorsports.” Air Ambulance Appeal Boosted
Health and Social Care students from Lowestoft College held a charity fundraising day in aid of The East Anglian Air Ambulance.
The students had a target of £300 and chose a variety of events to reach it including going to college in fancy dress, a street collection, name the teddy and guess the amount of sweets competition. The group also took part in a sponsored session in the environmental tank. The events helped the group exceed their total and raised £575.56 for the cause.
Tutor Rachel Bunn said: “The students worked extremely hard and gained a lot from the experience including teamwork, communication skills and event planning. The students are now in the process of planning their next event to be held in the New Year.”
Experience of the Travel Industry
Students from Lowestoft College’s Travel and Tourism department left the classroom to get a first-hand experience of the industry they’re hoping to work in.
It was an early start for Working in Travel Level 3 students and their tutors who left Lowestoft at 4am who made their way to Stansted airport to catch a flight to Belfast. The group were taking advantage of a cheap deal offered by Ryanair to travel to the city for just two pence.
Once in Belfast the group joined an open top bus tour to see the sights of the city including Stormont, the seat of the new Northern Ireland Government, political wall murals at Shankill and Falls Road and the docks where the Titanic was designed, built and launched.
“This was a fantastic opportunity for students to experience Irish warmth and culture and to see the wonderful regeneration of a city that was torn apart by conflict,” said tutors Jo Hiller and Emma Beese. Both Jo and Emma are now hoping the experience will inspire their students who will soon be taking an exam on Ireland and preparing and delivering a 20 minute guided tour as part of their course.
Working In Travel Level 2 and 3 students were also taking a break from the classroom when they found out just how vast the travel industry is by visiting the World Travel Market in London’s Excel Centre.
The market is attended by thousands of visitors each year hoping to network and find out about the latest developments in the travel industry. All aspects of the industry were represented including airlines, cruise lines, golf resorts, rail companies and tour operators from around the world. The students used the day to find out more about the different areas of the industry and two were even treated to a complimentary silver-service lunch at the United Arab Emirates’ stand after being mistaken for VIP guests. Interview Skills Boosted
Students on Lowestoft College’s Preparing for Employment course have been learning what it’s like to sell yourself by attending mock interviews with Birds Eye Ltd staff.
Manufacturing Manager Maurice McGuinness and HR Adviser Simon Newman volunteered to spend a day working with the students to develop their interview teqhniques. Before their interviews the students all completed research to find out more about the company and also prepared questions. Understanding how important it is to make a good first impression many visited the College’s hairdressing salon for a make-over and dressed appropriately for the day.
Course tutor Sara Webster said: “All of the students were buzzing when they had finished the mock interviews and we saw sides to many of them that we had never seen before. We are really grateful that Maurice and Simon were able to spend the time with the students as they all found it a valuable experience.”
Following the interviews, the students evaluated their experiences and received feedback about how well they did.
Simon commented: “Both Maurice and I were impressed with the standard to which the students conducted themselves. We both agreed that on the basis of the interviews some of the group could have been made job offers had they been applying to work at Birds Eye Ltd. If the students continue to work hard at their studies they are all very capable of successfully finding employment. Well done to all those who took part!”
Roles Reversed for College Lecturers
The roles were reversed for two Lowestoft College catering lecturers when they were shown the ropes at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons by a former student.
28-year-old John Spillings invited his lecturer Chris Baker to visit him at the 5 starred luxury hotel and two Michelin starred restaurant where he works as a chef in the pastry section. Adam Vass, who was a student with John and is now a catering lecturer at the College, was also invited to the prestigious restaurant.
The pair spent three days there and while Adam was in the restaurant, Chris worked alongside John in the pastry section preparing different types of bread, ice creams, petit fours and a selection of complex desserts.
Chris said: “John has always kept in touch with us and although he’s an ex-student, I now call him a friend. It was really good to work with him again. He’s done so well, working in so many good establishments - he is passionate about food and he works very hard.
“We are always looking for ways to improve our skills and keep our knowledge of the catering industry current so this was a great opportunity. The experience also reminds us what our students must feel like when they come to college, because although we have experience in our field a lot of the work we did was new to us. So knowing how it feels to be a ‘learner’ again is a good thing,” he continued.
Chris and Adam were given a tour of the hotel and cookery school and also discussed possible work experience opportunities for students. Adam said: “Working in a Michelin starred restaurant demands such a high standard of work and professionalism. Work experience at Le Manoir would be a huge challenge but it would also be an amazing experience.” John also arranged a visit to Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck and Michel Roux’s Waterside Inn, a restaurant he had previously worked in for just over two years. Both have three Michelin Stars – an accolade currently only shared in the UK by Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
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