Leeds Conservatoire was the first confirmed working partner for Black Lives in Music (BLiM), and has now been working with BLiM for over a year.
This vital campaign organisation seeks to address the inequalities facing Black people in achieving careers as artists or professionals in the music industry, through research and advocacy. Black Lives in Music aims to bring together organisations and musicians to work towards the same goal: dismantling structural racism in the industry.
Leeds Conservatoire was first introduced to BLiM through Jazz Programme Leader Jamil Sheriff who currently sits on the BLiM leadership team.
Since then, the partnership with BLiM has helped inform and develop important work that the conservatoire is now engaged in. The organisation has consulted with Leeds Conservatoire’s Programme Leaders on how to achieve better representation in music repertoire, guest artists, and visiting staff.
In the past year Black Lives in Music has worked with multiple teams across the conservatoire on topics ranging from improving inclusivity in staff and student recruitment approaches to diversity awareness training.
Roger Wilson, Director of Operations at BLiM, expressed his thoughts on the partnership:
“It’s been great to work with Leeds Conservatoire as part of their EDI change programme. Black Lives in Music are proud to say that Leeds Conservatoire were our very first confirmed working partner. Our work together has helped to inform the important work that the conservatoire is now engaged in. The EDI Change team completed an impressive report that our work feeds into. The offer of pastoral support for students of colour through safe space sessions, reviewing student and staff recruitment procedures, review of curriculum and decolonising of spaces are all headline activities, but there has been so much more going on.
“The inclusive practice work of all conservatoires is crucial to better representation and culture change in the wider ecology of the sector. We have been pleased to have been brought into a number of conversations with likeminded arts organisations courtesy of Leeds Conservatoire.
“We must be realistic about change-making; discrimination and prejudice have been an issue for hundreds of years. Reprogramming and changing how we think and act takes time. I’m heartened by the huge amount of work undertaken by the conservatoire to lead on change and look forward to a rich and fruitful collaboration between our organisations.”
Minister for Employment, Mims Davies MP from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) visited Leeds City College’s Printworks Campus during National Apprenticeship Week to promote apprenticeships in the region.
The minister met with Cheryl Smith, Principal of Printworks Campus, Lee Pryor, Director of Apprenticeships, Charlie Grayson, Head of Business & Commercial Development and several apprentices.
The minister, who is passionate about supporting young people and adults to gain the necessary skills and secure jobs now and in the future, helped launch the college’s 100 in 100 campaign, encouraging employers to consider taking on an apprentice.
She said: “At DWP we’re all about getting people ready to take local roles, and Leeds City College is doing a fantastic job working with employers across Yorkshire, to get them the people and skills they need.
“Apprenticeships aren’t just for young people, they can support people at any age or any career stage – and make sure we have the workforce we need, now, and for the future.”
“I’m absolutely behind the effort to get 100 more employers to step forward and take on some amazing apprentices, and future-proof their business by getting talent through the door.”
Minister Mims Davies speaking to apprentices
The minister also spoke to hospitality, engineering, events management and digital marketing apprentices on how the benefits of an apprenticeship have helped them to progress on to high level apprenticeships or full-time employment.
Events and projects manager, Laura Prince, started out as a Level 3 Advanced Business Administration apprentice at the college before progressing on to a Level 4 Higher Project Management apprenticeship in 2018. Laura now oversees four apprentices and credits the college for helping her achieve her goal.
She said: “Both my apprenticeships have supported my career progression, as I learnt relevant skills such as project management whilst also immersing myself in responsibilities within the organisation I work for.
The minister and Laura Prince
“One of the biggest benefits I felt after completing my apprenticeships was that I had three years of work experience in events and projects rather than feeling like I had to start from scratch.”
Hospitality Team Member Apprentice, Taylor Butler, who has a visual and hearing impairment,has set his sights on becoming a pastry chef.
Taylor Butler
Taylor started on an Entry 3 in hospitality and catering in 2018 at college – an opportunity he says pushed him to pursue opportunities in the industry.
Taylor said: “Being at Leeds City College has been a great experience and encouraged learners like myself not to be worried because there is always someone to speak to and help you achieve your goals.
“Coming to college has made me more confident and doing what I am passionate about is a bonus.”
Charlie Grayson, Head of Commercial and Business Engagement at Leeds City College, said: “For employers, the decision to take on an apprentice is an important one. A number of vital industries across the country are experiencing acute skills shortages, this includes healthcare and engineering.
Charlie Grayson and Mims Davies
“Creating opportunities for learners wanting to study for an apprenticeship in industries that are struggling to recruit will open a new potential source of talent for these critical industries.
“It is key for us, as an education provider, to build relationships with employers and emphasise the benefits of apprenticeships. The 100 in 100 campaign is part of a plan that will ensure that apprentices are supported to complete their training and that employers are incentivised effectively to support them in their roles.”
The college aims to ensure that its apprenticeship provision continues to support the region’s businesses to secure the right apprentices, creating accessible opportunities for those looking to change their career or progress within their chosen industry.
Keighley College has joined forces with local rugby league team, Keighley Cougars, to give young people an introduction to life as a professional rugby league player.
The partnership will see the college supporting Keighley Cougars’ innovative new Elite Talent Pathway; a performance programme aimed at young males aged 11 to 16. They will get the chance to train in an environment with professional support, learning and improving skills which they can take back to their local community clubs. The programme will aim to operate three development squads being U/12’s, U/14’s and U/16’s. Each team will get the opportunity to play matches against other teams from professional clubs.
Focused on supporting the development of young players and creating a performance pathway, the programme enables members of the community to gain access to professional rugby league coaching encompassing skills assessments, progress reports and education based on nutrition and lifestyle choices.
Claire Fitzgerald, Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Growth at Keighley College, said: “We pride ourselves on being a community-led college, so partnering with a historically renowned club which inspires many local young people is a phenomenal opportunity. We’ll be working collaboratively on community projects, while proudly sponsoring the playing and training kits.
“Keighley is a town bursting with talented young individuals, and we’re determined to help fuel their ambitions to become skilled rugby players. In the coming years, we hope to work closely with Keighley Cougars in setting up a development academy, whereby young people aged 16 to 19 years old can develop their rugby skills.”
Andrew Henderson, Head of Rugby at Keighley Cougars, added: “Keighley College shares our vision for providing better opportunities for young people in Keighley, which is why we’re thrilled to have them on board as our major sponsor. We hope to not only support players in their journey to becoming professional players, but also provide them with the best educational opportunities alongside this which can be offered at the college.
“We’re determined to inspire the wider community through this initiative, as our players will take a wealth of knowledge and performance skills back to their local teams. Next year, our goal is to extend our programme to girls in the area.”
The programme will be launching officially in Spring 2022.
Students at Harrogate College are set to turn March ‘green’ as they lead a month of environmentally -focused local events.
The college has set up all kinds of activities, ranging from wildflower planting and an art exhibition to a climate café and educational webinars, for its first ever Green Month.
Keen to push ahead with its commitment to environmental action (as outlined in its Sustainability Pledge), the college is also urging the local community to get involved.
The green activities will kick off with a presentation on sustainable technology, plus a litter pick, on Tuesday 8 March.
Harrogate College’s Partnerships and Development Manager, Holly Hansen-Maughan, said: “We were delighted to host the launch event for Harrogate’s first Climate Action Festival last year.
“The festival proved to be a real catalyst for environmental action both for ourselves and the wider community, and our Green Month is the latest example of that.
“We have worked hard to put together a schedule that includes something for everyone and a number of events that are open to residents as well as our students and staff.
“We hope to see lot of people taking part, both to make a difference and to find out more about how we can all work together to secure a more sustainable future.”
As part of its collaborative and employer-focused approach, the college has teamed up with several local businesses and organisations for Green Month.
They include Techbuyer and Ortial, who will be holding a discussion on Sustainable Technology and How It Affects You.
Social impact company Too Good To Go, meanwhile, will explain how they connect businesses with people in need so they can put their surplus food to good use, instead of going to waste.
The Harrogate District’s schools, colleges and sixth forms will also be involved as pupils and students are being invited to design a poster, or piece of art, that will inspire positive environmental action.
On 8 March, people all over the world come together to celebrate International Women’s Day. This day highlights the struggles of gender equality and brings people together to help combat this.
It’s a chance to take action, and raise awareness of the economic, political and social achievements of women across the world.
What is the theme this year?
Bias and discrimination have been holding women back for centuries. This year’s official theme is #BreakTheBias, which looks at how we can collectively break the bias and misconceptions in the interest of creating a gender-equal and inclusive world.
You can get involved with the #BreakTheBias campaign by sending in photos of yourself with crossed arms as seen in the below image, or taking a selfie with one of the pledge cards, which you can download here to show your support.
Events
Luminate Education Group is celebrating International Women’s Day by introducing ‘Leaders of Luminate’; a series of talks and interviews with female or non-binary leaders across Luminate Education Group. This will start on International Women’s Day and continue weekly for six weeks. To attend, sign up here.
The group is also launching a Women’s Staff Forum, which is open to anyone who identifies as female or non-binary.
Throughout International Women’s Day, staff across Luminate Education Group are also invited to come along to Leeds Conservatoire’s Café Conversations. These will be hour-long sessions and the conversations will explore a range of topics from navigating a work-life balance, imposter syndrome and authenticity.
Inspirational women
As part of the celebration, we asked women leaders across the group about who they admire.
Ann-Marie Spry, Group Vice Principal – Curriculum and Adults, said: “My biggest inspiration was my mum, Elieen, who was an amazing forward-thinking woman. She was strong, resilient and exposed me to culture, diversity and social responsibility from an early age. As I get older, I recognise her sacrifices and determination to ensure my brother and I had a well-rounded formal and informal education.
“When I was younger, I wanted to be the modern day Marie Curie; a woman in a male-dominated world in science and medicine. In my earlier career as a teacher in science and health, I had an amazing mentor called Barbara Tindale, who was one of the best teachers I’ve ever known. She had the ability to bring out the best in everyone around her, and was a true diplomat ahead of her time. My career would not have been the same without her patience, time and inspiration.
“I’m also inspired by everyday people who are strong, brave, compassionate and always willing to share their gifts to develop others. I see inspiration in the younger generation too, such as Malala Yousafzai who’s been vocal about education for girls and women, and Greta Thunberg’s unwavering commitment to our environment.”
Gemma Simmons-Blench, Deputy CEO – Curriculum and Quality, added: “My 19 year old step daughter, Molly, is my inspiration. I’ve known her since she was seven and for part of her early life she was extremely unwell, meaning she missed at least 50% of primary school. This meant she had to play catch up all through secondary school. Despite a series of operations and coping with an undiagnosed condition for a long time, Molly achieved amazing GCSE and A level results.
“Molly has now gone on to Northumbria University where she is studying a psychology degree. Even though Covid-19 caused further disruptions to her education, she has made an amazing start, making new friends and fully engaging with uni life. Molly has handled every situation with integrity, showing true strength in character. Myself and our family are so proud of her and in awe of her confident and positive spirit.
“With a placement during her second year secured, we can’t wait to see what Molly takes on next. She is an inspiration to me and our family.”
How do you think we can break the bias in education?
Gemma: “As females in education, we all need to be very aware of what the issues are with gender biases, so we can always proactively acknowledge and challenge them. As a group of FE colleges, we strive to be inclusive in every aspect of our organisation and as a result have created a working environment that is truly balanced. As a result of this, we have a duty to instil this view amongst our students, staff as well as other sectors.
“One of the ways we can help break the bias is to have more liaison between education and employers. The FE sector is more advanced in terms of gender balance, but we must use this position to help encourage this thinking more broadly. Wherever possible we should use our networks, connections and influence across key sectors to showcase how gender equality can and should operate in the workplace.
“As a collection of education institutions we take our position as role models for our students and the communities we serve very seriously. Another way we can continue to break down gender bias in education is by ensuring our curriculum and cohort of students remains diverse and inclusive. At Luminate Education Group we’re proud to embed balanced values around gender into our culture and education.”
Leeds City College is working in partnership with Leeds City Council to explore the possibility of developing a new adult learning campus in Morley.
The plans form part of Morley’s £24.3 million government Town Deal to invest in the local area. The campus will enable people in Morley to access an aspirational, high specification centre in the heart of the town that inspires adults to become lifelong learners.
In order to shape the courses offered at the campus, the college is seeking feedback from residents and businesses in Morley to have their say on the proposals.
A focus on new technologies and key skills
The campus is set to include an ‘emerging technology centre’ to develop skills in coding, virtual reality, drone technology, robotics, 3D printing and artificial intelligence, developing a wide range of valuable industry specific skills.
With a focus on meeting both individual and employer needs, the campus will additionally offer English and maths courses for adults without Level 2 qualifications, vocational skills training in key employment sectors and progression advice for higher level learning.
Ann Marie Spry, Vice Principal of Adults at Leeds City College, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the council to address the skills needs of Morley. It’s important that we truly reflect the requirements of the community which is why we want to hear from as many people as possible in the local area.
“With the current challenges brought about by Covid-19, this inclusive campus will support people of all ages, whatever their learning needs, to improve their skills to take advantage of the new economic climate. Our goal is to build a strong foundation for local people to access sustainable employment or move onto higher level skills.”
Help shape a new hub for innovation
Executive member for Infrastructure and Climate at Leeds City Council, Councillor Helen Hayden, said: “The ambition to make Morley a hub of innovation needs to be matched with a high-quality, local education offering that will allow people to gain valuable experience and qualifications that will surpass the needs and expectations of future employers.
“I am therefore pleased that, as a part of the Morley Town Deal, we can partner with Leeds City College and look to create an inspirational education establishment in the heart of the community.
“I encourage everyone in Morley to get involved in creating this valuable asset by completing the short online survey and telling us what course you would like to see offered.”
Morley Town Deal Board Chairman, Gerald Jennings, added: “Giving people local access to high-quality, inspirational courses is a key pillar in building a successful future for Morley.
“As a town board, we want to ensure that both the facilities and courses offered are what the people of Morley want and need, so it is key that as many people as possible get involved in the survey.”
