Author Archive

Invaluable work experience in the heart of the civil service

Written by Tidi Kwidini on April 11, 2022. Posted in Members

Undergraduate students from University Centre Leeds have been rubbing shoulders with some of the country’s top civil servants.

Ten degree students from the Business School travelled to London in March to spend two days working in the Department for Transport (DfT).

During the trip they took part in a variety of practical exercises, designed to give an insight into the department’s work, including mock projects and interview panels.

They also got to meet two of the UK’s highest level civil servants, Permanent Secretary Bernadette Kelly and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Baroness Vere.

The opportunity came about after Carole Lovstrom and Charlotte Bedford, co-chairs of the DfT’s Social Mobility Network, gave a talk during UC Leeds’ Women in Leadership programme.

Lecturers Nicola Wilson and Greg Tidswell, who accompanied the students on the trip, hailed it as a ‘great success’.

A glimpse of a ‘whole new world’

Nicola said: “The visit provided students with invaluable opportunities to interact with people in many roles within the DfT, including the Permanent Secretary and Under Secretary.

“They were also given a range of practical opportunities to engage in to give them an idea of the type of work that is carried out, and a demonstration of what a typical civil service interview looks like.

“There was a real buzz throughout the two days and the students found the experience both rewarding and hugely enjoyable.

“They came away with a newfound knowledge of the diverse range of roles that are available within the civil service, and the flexibility and encouragement afforded to employees to move and grow within the organisation.

“We are hugely grateful to Carole, Charlotte, and everyone else at DfT who played a part in making it such a wonderful and rewarding experience.”

Greg said: “The two days we spent in London showed our students a whole new world – one that many did not know existed – within the civil service.

“The energy this trip has given to our students has been outstanding. Speaking with them, during and after the trip, has confirmed how valuable these kind of ‘out of the norm’ experiences are for exposing students to new avenues of working and development.”

The students were all drawn from Leadership, Business and Travel degree courses.

Students relish one-off opportunity

Students facing a mock interview panel at the Department for Transport, London

Leadership and Management BA (Hons) student Haleema Jabeen said: “I am in my final year and it was such a great opportunity to be chosen for this trip.

“It has given me a great insight into, and experience of, the workings of senior stakeholders in the civil service. They are dealing with complex projects in time-driven environments, and we saw how crucial management is to the delivery of all departments.”

Leadership and Management student Emily McCormick said: “I found the trip really useful in looking at the alternative futures available to me.

“I have always worked in a small business so it was interesting to see how a large organisation operated.

“I think the trip allowed us, as students, to envisage a potential career in the civil service.”

Fellow management student Ryan Shuckford added: “The experience was highly beneficial for my personal development and my awareness of the civil service and neurodiversity.

“The experience provided me with the opportunity to practise the theoretical elements of leadership that I have learnt at the University Centre, pinpoint my personal interest, and determine where my skills are most applicable.

“If anyone has the chance of a similar opportunity, I would highly recommend taking it!”

Statement from Luminate Education Group about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the need to uphold our values

Written by Tidi Kwidini on March 18, 2022. Posted in News

Luminate Education Group unequivocally condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the terrible suffering and loss of life it is causing.

We stand in solidarity with all of the Ukrainians who are enduring this war, including the millions who have been forced to flee their homeland and seek refuge in other countries.

As an education provider, we cherish the values of diversity, inclusion and tolerance that are at the heart of democratic societies which respect the dignity of the individual and freedom of thought and expression. Indeed, celebrating individuality and respecting others are part of the group’s core principles.

It is such values that authoritarianism and its consequences, of which this unprovoked invasion is a shockingly stark example, seeks to destroy.

We are also painfully aware that this crisis is far from an isolated event. Instead, it is the latest – and from our European perspective, due to its proximity and severity, most shocking – example of a wider and ongoing pattern of conflict that has created refugees around the world.

Whenever such crises arise it is vital that we respond with compassion and conviction, while continuing to uphold and defend our values.

And so it is now when we realise that many parts of our member colleges, and wider, community are being affected by the events in Ukraine and will need our support. That includes our Russian students, many of whom will be opposed to the war, and all of whom – of course – have a right to feel respected and safe.

In terms of what we are doing specifically, the group:

Is providing information and advice resources, including details on how to support refugees, via its Student Information Hub
Is putting our Ukrainian students, especially those who are being taught online, in touch with each other
Our students’ union has started a campaign, Us Against War, and is organising a number of fundraising activities to help UNICEF support victims of the invasion.
And we are spreading awareness about collections of items for transportation to Poland, to help Ukrainian refugees.

Leeds City College and Leeds Sixth Form College joins forces with Leeds Rhinos Netball to boost young people’s wellbeing

Written by Tidi Kwidini on April 5, 2022. Posted in Partnerships

Leeds Rhinos Netball has partnered with Leeds City College and Leeds Sixth Form College, both part of Luminate Education Group, to offer more young people opportunities to play netball and boost wellbeing.

Players from the team will be ambassadors for the college, where they will attend events to promote its new Netball Academy as well as offering advice and motivation for young people who are looking to pursue their sporting ambitions. The partnership will also see the Leeds Sixth Form College logo featured around the court and on the team’s dresses for their second Vitality Netball Superleague season.

Opportunities for pupils to volunteer at Superleague games will be offered, including the club’s upcoming match at the city’s first direct Arena. The club’s official charity, Leeds Rhinos Foundation, will also lead a health and wellbeing development day for Leeds City College staff. Pupils will have the opportunity to gain experience working on some of their many health and education projects.

Leeds Rhinos Foundation and Leeds City College also run the Leeds Rhinos Foundation Development Academy, which provides all students with the opportunity to study full-time while representing Leeds Rhinos at a post-16 level, both in rugby and netball.

Dan Busfield, Franchise Director for Leeds Rhinos Netball, said: “It is fantastic to once again have the support of Leeds City College and Leeds Sixth Form College, so we can work together to enhance the sporting opportunities on offer for young people in our city. I think now more than ever, after long periods when we were unable to play team sports and attend sporting events, we appreciate the importance and positive impact sport can have on people’s lives. This partnership will help promote those benefits and hopefully lead to an increase in participation.

“The Leeds City College Rugby Academy has also been a huge success and we hope to develop the Netball Academy further so more people can continue their studies alongside playing. We are excited about how this partnership will help open up more opportunities for students from all backgrounds to engage with our sport, either through playing or through the many volunteering opportunities available with the club and our charity.”

Ryan Grant, Deputy Principal Leeds Sixth Form College, said: “It’s a privilege to be working with Leeds Rhinos Netball for the second time. By working alongside Leeds Sports Connect, which provides a link between professional sports clubs, local colleges and young people, through the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, we can ensure our students receive top-quality training and elite coaching, without sacrificing an outstanding education.

“This partnership has a key focus on enhancing wellbeing through encouraging students to participate in enriching volunteering and social action project opportunities, where they can become active members in society and act as positive role models. We’re passionate about developing underrepresented sports, and are committed to inspiring the next generation to discover their sporting potential.”
Students at the college can pursue netball while studying full-time as part of the Leeds Rhinos Development Academy.

Keighley College students offer a helping hand to support Ukraine refugees

Written by Tidi Kwidini on March 17, 2022. Posted in Members

Students studying English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Public Services and Joinery, have provided their support for Ukraine refugees at a local community hub, The Good Shepherd Centre.

The centre has been working hard to collect items which are urgently needed for refugees, who are seeking asylum in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova and Romania.

The learners have been helping to sort out the donations, including toiletries, first aid items, activity packs and sleeping equipment. These items will be transported to churches and other charities on the Polish border.

The important work being done at The Good Shepherd Centre appeared on ITV Calendar News, where the learners spoke about the necessity of supporting those less fortunate than us.

Find out how you can help the centre here or by contacting them on 07756409246 or tgsc.keighley@gmail.com.

Flagship conference pledges to ‘build back better’ as employers and providers gather to discuss the future of apprenticeships

Written by Tidi Kwidini on March 24, 2022. Posted in Apprenticeships

The Luminate Education Group Apprenticeship team attended a two-day conference in Birmingham where they joined a host of organisations from across the UK for the flagship national apprenticeship conference for employers and providers.

Now in its eighth year, the Annual Apprenticeship Conference (AAC), provided business-critical updates, advice and keynotes for those involved in the delivery of apprenticeships.

Hosted by FE Week and AELP, in association with NOCN, the conference was held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre (ICC) and welcomed a number of prominent keynote speakers including Minister for Skills, Alex Burghart, Ofsted Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman and, Shadow Skills & Apprenticeships Minister, Toby Perkins MP.

This year’s conference took place at a critical time for the UK as individuals and businesses emerge from the pandemic. The principal theme of AAC 2022 was ‘Building Back Better’, with a series of plenary sessions and workshops that covered insight into areas such as apprenticeship funding, achievement rates and changes to current SME systems.

Awards dinner and high commendation

The team also attended a gala dinner and awards ceremony where they were nominated and received high commendation for their outstanding contribution to the development of apprenticeships.

Lee Pryor, Director of Apprenticeships, praised the team for the accomplishment and for the work being done to promote and deliver apprenticeships across the region.

“We are truly honoured to have been shortlisted among some of the top education and training providers in the country, for playing our part in the development of apprenticeships.

“We want to be the go-to provider that supports people to take their careers to the next level, and delivering the future workforce in health and social care, engineering, construction, hospitality, travel and more, is one of our key priorities.”

The levelling up and skills agenda

Meanwhile, in his opening address, Alex Burghart MP spoke about the factors that will be needed to make levelling up a success in this generation.

He said: “One of the central factors will be skills. Skills will transform lives, they will transform communities, they will attract business and investment opportunities, improve national productivity and national competitiveness, and apprenticeships will be front and centre in that mission.”

The minister, who is responsible for overseeing further education providers, T Levels, apprenticeships and adult education, said that the trajectory for progress was ‘in the right place’.

“We are making progress and getting back to where we should be. Nationally, the picture is bright and the latest figures reveal that in the first quarter of this academic year, 164,000 people started apprenticeships, which is 34% higher than the previous year and crucially six percent higher than before the pandemic.”

Alex Burghart, also added that the government intends to reevaluate the apprenticeship application process for young people to make it easier to navigate. Through this, the government hopes to see more young people choose apprenticeships as a post-school progression route.

Other keynote speakers included Jennifer Copeland, Chief Executive,Institute for Apprenticeships, who covered key issues around quality training, diverse workforces, the operation of the levy and how we can make apprenticeships work for everyone.

She said: “Our task is to ensure apprenticeships work for everyone.

“We need to take those commitment statements signed by the employer, apprentice and provider and really honour them. We also need to do more to support young apprentices to stay on their apprenticeship by demonstrating the value and training that they are getting, and mentoring them through those life events that might tip over into a decision to drop out.”

Apprenticeships are important to recovery

Ofsted’s chief inspector, Amanda Speilman, used her address to talk about how the pandemic showed how important all industries and services in the UK are and how the country’s collective skills base responded quickly to the crisis.

She also spoke about the future of Ofsted and how apprenticeships play a critical role when it comes to having a skilled workforce that will deliver for Britain now and in the future.

Amanda said: “Apprenticeships have never been more important both for pandemic recovery and for future growth and prosperity.

“We will continue to play our part. Inspecting without fear or favour; by highlighting and celebrating where we find the best provisions and by reporting honestly on providers that aren’t giving apprentices and employers the training they deserve.

The levy needs reassessing so that young people have a real opportunity

David Hughes, CEO of the Association of Colleges, spoke about the need for the delivery of skills that employers need, removing bureaucracy and making apprenticeship funding accessible. While Shadow Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships, Toby Perkins MP, reiterated that the apprenticeship levy is in need of reform and that collectively, there is a need to build a skills system that ensures that more young people across communities have access to apprenticeship opportunities.

Leeds Conservatoire appoints new Chair to the Board of Directors

Written by Tidi Kwidini on March 10, 2022. Posted in Members

Leeds Conservatoire is delighted to announce that it has appointed a new Chair to the Board of Directors – Carolyn Lord.

Carolyn, a solicitor, has spent all of her life in Leeds and Yorkshire. In a career spanning over 30 years, she has advised on some of the most significant development schemes in Leeds, as well as projects across the UK, and has been appointed to external roles to deal with areas of governance of local authorities in West Yorkshire. She is also a trustee of Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

With nine years as a governor at Leeds Trinity University and a further two years as a member of the Board at Leeds Conservatoire, Carolyn is passionate about opening up the opportunities of Higher Education (HE) to the widest diversity of students and helping to ensure the long-term success of specialist HE institutions that add to the region’s cultural richness.

In addition, Carolyn has a life-long love of music which she has passed on to her three sons. She has sung in many choirs and was a founder member of St Peter’s Singers in Leeds in her teenage years. She has also sung in or been associated with Leeds Cathedral Choir since the 1980s.

Carolyn says, “It is my privilege to take on the role of Chair of the Board of Leeds Conservatoire at this time when the importance of providing opportunities for talented young people to flourish is so necessary. I am looking forward to playing a part in strengthening the prominence of the conservatoire for Leeds on the international stage and supporting the work of its dedicated and creative staff team.”

Professor Joe Wilson, Principal at Leeds Conservatoire, adds,“Carolyn brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to Leeds Conservatoire and I’m sure that she will be an absolute asset as Chair of the Board. I am pleased to welcome her to this pivotal role.”

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