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One of the biggest challenges facing the NHS today is the workforce crisis. With constant pressures and chronic shortages, the number of nurses leaving the NHS has continued to rise over recent years.
But as far as recruitment of new workers to the sector is concerned, two of our L3 NHS Healthcare Cadets are hoping to make a positive contribution to the latest figures, since their random call to action had such life-changing results.
Long time friends, Madison Baker and Lauren Bullock (pictured above), were returning from a stint at this year’s London Marathon, when they were approached in Euston Station by someone clearly in distress.
To find out more, we caught up with our teenage heroes, in between their busy schedules on placement at Liverpool’s Royal Hospital and volunteering with St John’s ambulance at various high-profile events.
Tell us what happened at the station on the eventful day in question?
Maddie said: “As we waited for our train back to Liverpool we were approached for help because a man had collapsed on the platform. As we rushed to the scene it was clear he was very unwell and we assessed him immediately. We tested his level of alertness to pain and recorded his GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) – this measures a person’s consciousness and how we should treat them.”
Lauren said: “We identified that the patient was in a state of shock due to blue lips and a very pale complexion. This was very worrying but we knew how to help due to our training from both our studies at the College and through our current work placements.”
What did you do next?
Maddie said: “Once we’d wheeled the patient into the station’s first aid room, we had the added problem that all first aid boxes were locked, so we had to think on our feet and perform observations manually to further assess his condition.”
Lauren said: “We performed observations and measured respiration counts. We noticed that the patient’s pulse was very weak, which was a worrying sign in addition to extremely low blood pressure. This was followed by intense chest and arm pain which signified the beginning of a potential heart attack.”
What happened then?
Maddie said: “Luckily, the ambulance crew arrived extremely quickly, so we helped get the patient into the ambulance and liaised with the crew to relay our information and observations before they rushed him off to hospital.”
How did you feel about the help you had given?
Lauren said: “We’re very thankful that we were there to come to the patient’s assistance whilst waiting for the ambulance crew, and hope we made a big difference to the patient’s recovery.”
What effect has this had on your future career plans?
Maddie said: “This incident has confirmed my goal of wanting to become a paramedic – being able to help someone in their time of need is very rewarding.”
Lauren added: “I also would like to continue my training to become a paramedic and to continue to help make a difference in people’s lives. We’re really enjoying studying at the College as well as gaining hands-on practical skills on our real world placements.”
Tanya Dawson, course tutor on the L3 NHS Healthcare Cadets course, said: “We are very proud of Maddie and Lauren and are pleased these young cadets were able to call on the knowledge they’ve gained from both their college course and professional placement.
“Work experience is an invaluable part of the programme as it allows our young professionals in training to take the skills learnt and put them into practice, so they are work-ready for the career they’ve chosen to pursue.” ♦
To learn more about college courses in Health and Social Care, CLICK HERE
Students recreate scene from iconic soap operaWe caught up with tutors Phil Milor (Creative Media) and Paul Carmichael (Acting) recently, to learn more about a live project they’ve been working on with our talented Media Production and Acting students. The task required the groups to recreate a classic scene from the ever popular soap opera, Coronation Street, which provided our students in training with a unique insight into the working practices of their chosen industries.
Phil said: “Not only do Media students get to research and plan how industry professionals would have worked, but thanks to the state of the art facilities, they can also perform their assigned role working in our TV gallery or on the studio floor. This is where our School and courses differ from some of the more traditional Level 3 courses that are run in school sixth forms and other colleges.” Phil went on to say: “Within the Expressive Arts and Media Academy there are several opportunities during the year for this type of large-scale collaborative project. Having the UAL as our exam board allows tutors to be creative with both their assessments of students and in how we are able to link projects together across courses with a strong industry ethos, helping students to gain a better understanding of their chosen industry, as well as learn the valuable skills any employer would look for in a new employee.”
Paul said: “Usually actors have to learn on the job with such things as acting for camera and how to work in a studio. We’re very lucky to have state-of-the-art studio facilities so our learners can enjoy a professional working experience, which means they are already ahead of others coming into the acting industry!
“Collaboratively working on these projects with other L3 students in Media and Production Arts gives our learners important research activities, making academic work interesting and enjoyable, as well as developing them as actors. Using TV scripts from well-loved shows means they carry out in-depth character and acting style studies before entering into an intense rehearsal period, leading to a day of recording on set that reflects the current industry standard. I believe there’s no other further education institution in the city region that can rival both our facilities and the types of experience our students receive as actors in training, in this most vibrant and creative former City of Culture.” ♦
“I learned a lot working on the set. I’m used to working in theatre and playing to an audience and it is very different playing to live cameras throughout the day, then doing it all again at night with a live audience! You’ve got to be totally professional and be wary that there are lots of other people working too. Sometimes it can feel quite exhausting but every time, on every take, you’ve got to give it 110%!
“It was really good working with the Media and Production students as it made everything feel like a professional set and that’s so helpful as an actor. It’s such a vast industry that you need to be versatile and work with all different types of people.
“It was really fun looking into the background of my character and the woman who played her, and it meant I could be authentic as an actor with the way I walked and my facial expressions. It was a really fun thing to do and one which taught me so much as an actor.”
Eden Roberts – L3 Acting (Year 1)
“A fast paced, well organised event and the episode looked great on screen.”
Cerys Steele – UAL Ext. Dip. in Performing and Production Arts
“An excellent learning experience, as everyone had something new to do and it was a good reflection of industry practices.”
Becka Heath – UAL Dip in Performing and Production Arts
“As a second-year L3 Media student, filming Coronation Street was another level of media industry. Really enjoyed working with the actors and the technical teams. Felt so professional and different compared to other projects, in terms of how big each team was. Being a Camera Operator in this project felt like it’s real! Loved it!”
El-Dana Ahmed – L3 UAL Creative Media
“It felt like being a part of something in the industry.”
Elvie Prestridge – L3 UAL Creative Media
College names recipients of University Centre Research Awards
Congratulations to our recent higher education graduates who not only excelled in their degree level programmes, but also received the coveted University Centre Research Award (UCRA), which acknowledges outstanding research in a project or dissertation.
The five finalists were all commended in their class and received a UCRA certificate in recognition of their achievements, alongside two worthy recipients of first and second prize.
For her dissertation titled: ‘The impact of COVID-19 and support available throughout the pandemic for children with special educational needs and disabilities’
Vicky started at Level 3 in the College and progressed into the University Centre where she achieved a Foundation Degree followed by BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies. During her time with us, Vicky has flourished into a creative and critical thinker and submitted a truly outstanding dissertation.
For his work on the ‘Events Management’ module, creating an online event in Thailand as the country went into lockdown over the Christmas 2021 period. Alan has demonstrated an outstanding attitude towards his academic studies and achieved exceptional grades. Programme Leader, Andrew Simpson, recommended Alan for the award, stating “On my feedback sheet, I had actually run out of superlatives when annotating the work! I wholeheartedly nominate Alan for what I consider to be a thoroughly worthy piece of work to receive a Research Award!”
Claire Henderson – Foundation Degree Early Years Practice: Claire completed a small-scale research project ‘The ongoing impact of the pandemic on families’ health and wellbeing’. This was a contemporary and creative topic focusing on the key aspect of health and wellbeing within early years and its relevance towards children’s holistic development.
Sam Ross – Foundation Degree Early Years Practice: Sam engaged in extensive research and reading for an assessment on the History of Childhood. She provided a comprehensive and critical view on poverty in the twenty-first century and the aftermath of Covid-19.
Claudia McNally – BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies: Claudia started at Level 3 in the College and progressed into the University Centre where she achieved a foundation degree and then BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies. Claudia submitted a well-researched dissertation entitled ‘Reducing Parental Conflict in the Early Years’ which demonstrates her commitment and motivation as a researcher and Early Years practitioner.
An interview with… former HNC Musical Theatre student, Jacob Yarlett
We were excited to catch up with former musical theatre student, Jacob Yarlett, recently who is currently performing in the critically acclaimed musical, Book of Mormon, at venues across the UK and Europe. We asked Jacob about his time as a City of Liverpool College student and what he makes of landing his ‘dream role’ with the first audition that launched his career.
How did you get into your love of theatre and decide it is the career for you?
“I first became interested in theatre after I saw Wicked in London when I was 11 in 2007 – I liked the idea of being 20 feet in the air, green and belting out songs for my life. It wasn’t until I was about 13/14 years old that I thought I could do it as a career due to the very encouraging performing arts teachers at school and the fact I just loved doing it.”
How did you come to study musical theatre at The City of Liverpool College (COLC)?
“I was in my last year at sixth form in 2014 and didn’t feel quite ready to go off to drama school just yet so I was looking around for a foundation course. I wanted a year in which I could build upon the skills I already had and develop professional technique – the HNC course at COLC ticked all of those boxes for me. I had an evening audition where I had to dance, sing and give a short presentation on a show I loved. The audition was really fun, and I felt so at ease.”
What was your course like at COLC?
“The Musical Theatre course at COLC was great. We had classes across the three disciplines; Acting, Singing and Dance, where we built up our technique and received countless opportunities to perform. We also studied in a research and professional practice class which was great to learn more about the theory side. We covered so much over the year, and it was absolutely crucial for my progression. The facilities were incredible – a fully teched-out theatre, big dance and rehearsals rooms and we used them all constantly. My tutors were amazing. They were so encouraging and really pushed us to achieve what we wanted to as well as always giving up their free time to help us progress even further. I learned so much from them and am extremely grateful.”
How did studying musical theatre at the college help you to progress onto university and into the industry?
“Studying at the college gave me such a strong foundation and most importantly, the confidence that I could go into my drama school auditions knowing I was prepared and had trainable skills that could take me out into the professional industry.”
How did you take the first step into working in the industry?
“So after COLC I went to study my degree in Musical Theatre at The London College of Music (LCM) and graduated in 2018 without an agent which was terrifying as I had no security and felt like I would not get any auditions. My friend told me that Book of Mormon was going on tour and was about to start auditioning and that I should just submit myself as I didn’t have an agent. So that’s what I did and luckily, they asked me to come in for an audition. After many, many rounds I finally got the job as the Standby for Elder Cunningham.”
What has it been like to perform in such a famous musical?
“We say it a lot in the show, but it has honestly been INCREDIBLE. The Book of Mormon was honestly my dream show and Elder Cunningham was my ideal role and I feel so lucky to have been able to perform like this so early on in my career. As well as getting to travel across the UK and parts of Europe, the cast and crew are amazing – you honestly couldn’t ask for better people in a job. There’s always fun to be had with them.”
What’s a typical show day like and rehearsal?
“A typical show day as a standby now is – wake up, maybe have a walk to explore around the city that we are in and then head to work in the evening where we do a mandatory company physical and vocal warm-up which is a lot of fun. Then we’ll have our notices which are usually any notes from the show the night before to improve, as well as telling us if any covers or swings are on. If I’m standing in to perform that night, I’ll then get ready for the show. Occasionally during the day we’ll have cover rehearsals where me and the other covers will rehearse the show in advance.”
Any advice/tips for current students?
“My advice would be to take the work seriously but not yourself. At the end of the day, we’re not performing heart surgery and it is so easy to let yourself get wrapped within the industry. Make sure to find the joy outside of it and have fun!”
Any plans for what you would like to do next?
“First of all, I’m focusing on looking for an agent for when the show finishes. Hopefully then I can start auditioning for the next job whatever that will be. I’m very lucky to have ticked off my dream show already so anything else is a bonus. I would love to do Mean Girls if that ever comes over from the US.”
Congratulations to City of Liverpool College engineering student, Harvey Hudson, who was named Young Apprentice of the Year recently at the prestigious CIBSE Young Engineer Awards 2022, held in London this month.
Harvey, who is studying for a Level 3 Diploma in Building Services Engineering, was commended on the night for demonstrating excellence in his studies, alongside the hard work and dedication he shows during his placements with leading energy management consultants, Vital Energi.
Harvey is one of a group of recent recruits to Vital Energi’s ‘Net Zero Apprenticeship Programme’, which was founded in partnership with The City of Liverpool College to address the skills gap in the engineering industry across the UK.
Jenny Jackson, Resource Manager at Vital Energi said: “We are delighted that one of the first students to enrol on our Net Zero Apprenticeships programme has won this award.
“Harvey isn’t just a great apprentice, he’s also a fantastic ambassador for apprenticeships. He’s spoken at events about the benefits of apprenticeships and to audiences ranging from school children to industry experts, and he has also had a real impact on promoting, not only our apprenticeship programme, but also apprenticeships in general. We’re very proud that one of the apprentices enrolled on our course has distinguished himself on a national level.”
Lynn Borthwick, Head of School, said: “Our staff in the School of Engineering, Green Technologies & Logistics are delighted that Harvey has been recognised for his hard work and dedication to studies.
“The whole [apprentices] group have been studying a range of topics and have worked very hard to achieve good results both in internally-assessed units and in these national exams. We work closely with Vital Energi to ensure our learners can apply their theoretical knowledge to the work placements they undertake, and also bring the work-based learning to class and enrich the sessions with their practical experience.”
The Apprentice of the Year Category is in its third year of the CIBSE Awards and was introduced to the programme to recognise the innovative thinking, hard work and skills of graduate engineers, whilst also showcasing those employers who are truly committed to developing and encouraging young talent.
Harvey spoke about his time on the programme, saying: I’ve found my course at The City of Liverpool College to be excellent – the teachers and apprenticeship team are very supportive and are always there to help you to progress further.
“My apprenticeship is really unique because I’ve been able to work within different departments in a company – from design, and commercial, to site placements. This has really helped me to further develop my skills at college because I’ve been given hands on work experience that complements the college course I’m studying. I’m really grateful for the opportunities I’ve been offered.”
Career Coach mentors inspire students to chase their dreams
The City of Liverpool College is set to launch an exciting new initiative that will partner COLC University Centre undergraduates with current 16-18 year old students, with the aim of inspiring and developing their ambitions around higher level study or employment.
The six new recruits for the Career Coach positions will undertake a week of intensive training, ready to take on their roles after the February 28 2022 launch. Armed with experience and knowledge in a range of subjects, the group will provide students with on-the-ground support around careers and employability activities in either one-to-one or small group settings. These include job vacancy searches, CV writing sessions, support with applications for jobs and apprenticeships, and UCAS personal statements.
Alex Sherlock, Deputy Careers Leader at the College said: “I read about the benefits to students of peer-to-peer careers and employability support and discussed the potential of recruiting current HE students with our Head of HE, Katherine Davey. We felt this would not only provide our HE students with valuable work experience, but also present other students with a positive role model to encourage progression towards their ultimate goals.
“We were very pleased with the standard of applicants who spanned the range of HE courses in the college curriculum. The successful candidates all had a great mix of skills, knowledge and life experiences and will each bring something very positive to their Career Coach role.”
This pilot project is the first of its kind in the region and received financial backing from Shaping Futures, the organisation working to boost HE participation rates in the most disadvantaged areas of England.
Katherine Davey, Head of Higher Education at the College said: “We’re excited to launch this innovative scheme in partnership with Shaping Futures to ensure learners across the College, and elsewhere in the city, have access to positive and enthusiastic role models from college-based Higher Education. Our Career Coaches are great advocates for studying at degree-level in a Further Education College and how our personalised and highly supportive learning environment provides individuals with the skills, confidence and expertise needed for their next steps in work or further study.”
In the future, the college intends to review the impact of the Career Coaches project against current potential and hopes to develop the scheme as an ongoing programme.
This week, 7th-13th February, marks National Apprenticeships Week 2022, which aims to highlight the positive impact that apprenticeships can make to businesses, individuals, and the wider economy.
This year’s theme is ‘Build the Future’, focusing on how individuals can develop the skillset needed for a rewarding career, and highlighting how businesses can nurture and create a talented workforce to suit future-ready skills.
“Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for people of all ages to earn whilst they learn. The College works with over 1000 employers to give our learners the highest quality Apprenticeships.”
Lindsey Meadows, Head of Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are highly beneficial for any organisation looking to develop a diverse workplace and adapting training to meet their business needs and have proven an effective way to nurture a culture of learning within the workforce through recognising potential and developing skills. More and more businesses are recognising the positive impact that apprenticeships are adding to their workforce, with 86% of employers saying that apprenticeships helped them to develop skills relevant to the organisation.
An apprenticeship is a real job, combined with skills and training to equip you for a career in your chosen profession. They are available for anyone aged 16 and over and are available at a range of levels, from Level 2 all the way up to degree-level apprenticeships.
Here at The City of Liverpool College, we are proud to be Liverpool’s leading provider of Apprenticeships, helping hundreds of people start their careers across a range of industries, working with employers such as the NHS, Wilmott Dixon, Laing O’Rourke and Vital Energy. Our apprentices earn whilst they learn, attend College and training on the job to practice and develop their industry-level skillset.
Photo: The City of Liverpool College’s Lindsey Meadows and Lynton Perry alongside Marshall Fleet Solutions’ Mick Ward and David Darrington with the special delivery
As well as the vast range of apprenticeship job opportunities our employer partners provide, they often also go above and beyond to invest in our apprentices. One recent example was the recent donation of a T500 Over-cab Transport Refrigeration Unit from one of our employers, Marshall Fleet Solutions. Having this incredible piece of equipment at the college will give our students and apprentices access to high quality and industry current training that will further enhance their skills and improve the overall quality of their learning. We look forward to working with Marshall well into the future in the continued development of the Transport Refrigeration industry.
Managing Director of Marshall Fleet Solutions, Mark Howell, said: “I’m not aware of any other business in our sector going to these lengths to train our young and upcoming talent!”
We offer over 50 apprenticeship courses across a variety of industries. Apprentices learn in our industry standard workshops and purpose-built facilities, such as our Digital Academy, Bosch certified Gas workshops and Building Services workshops. Our apprentices are supported by our expert College tutors and experienced Skills Coaches throughout their programme, offering their knowledge and expertise to grow talent.
For the apprentices themselves, being involved in hands-on training is an exciting prospect, with apprenticeships available at multiple levels to suit individual experience in a variety of careers. In addition to developing skillsets, apprenticeships are also a fantastic way of building confidence in your career prospects.
e.g., Georgia Whalley-Smith, Safeguarding Administration Support, who is currently working at The City of Liverpool College said:
“I joined the Safeguarding Team as their Admin Support Apprentice two weeks before the Christmas break, so I’m sure you can imagine just how busy everybody was! Despite this, I was welcomed so warmly by the whole team and have been given so many opportunities to learn. My role has grown with me, which has helped me to feel settled in the role and developed my self-confidence. I’m so grateful for the constant support of my team and I can’t wait to see how my role continues to develop in the coming months!”
Photo: Social Value Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction, Gill Roberts, pictured with photography competition prize-winning students
Gill Roberts – Social Value Manager, Morgan Sindall Construction:
“My name is Gill Roberts, I’m the Social Value Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction in the North West. We have been working with The City of Liverpool College for a number of years now, but this year we have finalised that partnership in an Educational Partnership.
With our Paddington Village project in the centre of Liverpool, we feel that our partnership with The City of Liverpool College has really improved. The students have been able to come over into our Knowledge Quad, which is our onsite training facility and utilise that space to be right in the centre of a construction site.”
To improve the way that we interact with students, we like to think outside of the box, so one such project has been the photography competition. We wanted people to look up and appreciate the City of Liverpool and the wonderful buildings and architecture that there are in the city.”
Winner: Daniel Cassidy – BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment:
Daniel Cassidy, a student on the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment said: “I’ve been trying to get as much work experience as I can, and the college has really supported that and given me a lot of opportunities.
“Morgan Sindall did an online work experience for a week at the college where there were experts from the industry; Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers and Engineers that gave talks on their roles in the industry and gave us some information on how we can be engaged.
“I completed the week of Virtual Work Experience, and I was approached about a work experience placement at one of Morgan Sindall’s sites at Paddington Village. I really enjoyed it – there was so much information and insight into the industry. I got to spend time with all the different disciplines on the site; the quantity surveyors, project managers, site engineers and the site managers. It was great to experience what they did day-to-day in the industry, how they manage the site, and how they impacted the project and to learn as much as I could from them.”
For more info on NAW, click here:
https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/influencers/what-is-naw-2022
To find out more and apply for an apprenticeship, please visit The City of Liverpool College’s page:
https://www.liv-coll.ac.uk/apprenticeships/
Congratulations to Level 3 Photography student, Daisy Deevey, who took first prize in a City of Liverpool College 2021 Poetry Competition. Daisy’s winning entry entitled ‘My World’, is a thought-provoking and moving observation of how someone with autism might experience the world.
The competition, which was judged by established poets Helen Kay and Greg Kearns, gave students an opportunity to express their neurodiversity experiences through the medium of poetry.
The event was part of National Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which shines a spotlight on the strengths, talents and accomplishments of members from this community. It also sets out to promote acceptance of people who view the world from a different angle, and who make a great contribution to their workplace, communities and the world at large.
Daisy’s winning entry can be found below.
Image: Why fit in when you were born to stand out
Safer Internet Day: 9 Feb 2021
Students and staff at The City of Liverpool College are being reminded about the importance of staying safe online, as we celebrate the significant role the Internet and other digital technologies play in our lives.
Safer Internet Day is a global event that takes place this year on Tuesday 9 February. Under the overarching slogan: Together for a better Internet, the theme of the day focuses on: An internet we trust – exploring reliability in the online world.
As part of the commitment it makes to safeguarding its community, The College embeds e-safety into the curriculum, including through regular learner tutorials that address e-safety issues and the role we all play in providing a better and safer society online.
To mark the day’s events, Safer Internet Day network has produced a range of educational resources that reinforce the importance of keeping a positive digital footprint for the future. It also highlights to young people how the number of hours spent on mobile devices can have a big impact, not only on their lives and current social interactions but also their studies.
The College is one of more than 170 organisations around the world who get involved in the global conversation, including how to use technology in a respectful and responsible way.
The College has developed a few e-safety resources of its own for both staff and students, to help us think about our own online presence in an increasingly digital world:
Safer Internet Day (for students)
Safer Practices in Digital Working (for staff)
View Breck Foundation video HERE
