Staff Update – Monday 28 April
The months are flying by and it’s hard to believe that we are already in the Summer term. It does not seem two minutes since we last showcased our good news stories through our Staff Update, and this edition offers us another valuable opportunity to reflect on the many successes we’ve achieved together over the past few months.
From outstanding student progress to impactful projects led by our teams, there is so much of which we should be proud – and even more to look forward to, including our upcoming Adult and Apprenticeship Open Events, the Student and Staff Awards, and a series of activities to commemorate Preston College’s 50th anniversary.
This term will see even more fantastic initiatives come to life and this update includes important dates for your diary – a useful reference for the months ahead. Whilst not everything will apply to everyone, it is great to share the hard work happening across the College and ensure that all staff are kept informed about what will be happening for the rest of the year.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing commitment and dedication. The achievements we celebrate – big and small – would not be possible without the individual and team efforts that shine through each day.
Headline News
Exceptional Apprentice and Employer Awards
On Monday 24 March, the sixth annual Exceptional Apprentice and Employer Awards celebrated the outstanding achievements of our dedicated apprentices and the invaluable contributions of our exceptional partners.
The Entitled Sons
Just before the Easter break, we had the pleasure of the band, The Entitled Sons coming to perform here at Preston College. The Entitled Sons are a well-known band with 18.6k monthly listeners on Spotify. Both staff and students had a great time.
MP Visit
On Friday 14 February we welcomed Maya Ellis MP, Member of Parliament for Ribble Valley, to come and explore how the College, as a founding member of the region’s Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology (L&CIoT), is driving innovation in technical education and addressing critical skills gaps in the region.
This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our achievements and highlight the opportunities we offer, and equally one that Maya Ellis was also proud to mention, as she spoke highly of this visit when she returned to parliament.
Health and Social Care Professions Day
Recently, we successfully hosted our first Health and Social Care Professions Day. The event provided over 150 students, including those studying Health and Social Care, Public Services and apprenticeships, with the opportunity to explore diverse career pathways available in the sector, engage in interactive sessions, and gain valuable insights from industry experts.
The day was designed to help students identify both traditional and lesser-known career opportunities. This day left all students feeling inspired and motivated.
Thank you to all the health professionals for enlightening us and a special thank you to Dawn for putting this event together.
Apprenticeship and Careers Expo
At the beginning of April the Engagement Team and staff from our curriculum teams attended the annual Apprenticeship and Careers Expo over two full days. These two events allow future students to learn more about apprenticeships Preston College offers, whilst allowing us to network with organisations within Lancashire to strengthen our employer offer.
Thank you to our Engagement Team for making this possible.
Green Skills Summit
Recently, Preston College held its very own Green Skills Summit Event, this was held at the beautiful location Brockholes Nature Reserve.
This event brought together industry expert and professionals to explore the crucial role of green skills in the transition to a sustainable future.
The summit was a huge success and something we will look at repeating on an annual basis.
Lancashire Skills Competition
Once again Preston College competed in the annual Lancashire Skills Competition, sponsored by NOCN. This competition allowed students to exercise their knowledge and get competitive.
The results were outstanding, with Preston College students winning more shields than any other provider this year!
Well done to all our students who competed, we are so proud of you!
Ramadan
At Preston College, we proudly celebrate all religions and beliefs. During Ramadan, some of our staff chose to fast one day each week as a way to show solidarity and gain a deeper understanding of the Muslim faith.
We also had the privilege of having Amjad Bapu, a local Iman, visiting and hosting a stall. Amjad had copies of the Quran and examples of prayer mats available to explore, there were also samples of food eaten at the end of the daylight to break the fast. This was a great opportunity to learn more and gain a deeper understanding.
British Sign Language Week
To celebrate BSL we posted a video including staff and students learning basic greetings in sign language, this video aim was to raise awareness about the importance of BSL and celebrate the deaf community.
Huge thank you to all students and staff who participated in our British Sign Language Week video!
World Skills Cyber Competition Winners
Recently, our Level 3 IT students participated and won the Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology World Skills Cyber Competition, held at Blackpool University Centre.
Four colleges attended this competition from across Lancashire, each offering teams of Level 4 and 5 students, which makes our success in this competition an even greater achievement, with
our Level 3 students bringing back the trophy.
Congratulations to our students who competed – this is a fantastic accomplishment!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES
Tell Marketing
Remember, if you have a story to share, be sure to Tell Marketing! Whether your students have participated in a project, competition, or college trip, overcome challenges, or achieved something they never thought possible – let us know! Have your School or Department received exciting news, or do you have exceptional staff or student work you’d like to showcase? We want to hear from you!
Please note that ‘Tell Marketing’ is for staff use only.
Employer Breakfast
Tuesday 20 May
Culture Day
Thursday 22 May
Adult Open Event
Wednesday 4 June
Aspiration Week
Monday 9 June – Friday 13 June
Tasters
Monday 16 June – Wednesday 2 July
Apprenticeship Open Event
Monday 30 June
Staff Development Day
Friday 4 July
Staff Awards
Monday 7 July