The week got off to excellent start when Bristol University's mobile Biology Teaching Unit rolled up on campus.  Staff from the university opened up their doors to biology students, treating them to lectures and workshops in their fully equipped mobile lecture room!

On Tuesday and Wednesday students were able to attend career talks from both British Energy and NHS, this challenged the students to think about their future careers.  British Energy sent along some of their graduate engineers who were able to share their experiences in nuclear energy/engineering fields giving the students plenty of 'food for thought'.  Professor Newing of the NHS talked to students students who were interested in the health service, covering the many varied careers that the NHS can offer and the challenges that the organisation faces today.

On Thursday over 100 students took park in a company 'speed dating' forum, this was a chance for students to have fun 'networking' and maybe fast-track their way in to a new career with several locally based employers, all under one roof.  Companies attending included:

• British Energy
• Delphi
• GCHQ
• GE Aviation
• Gloucestershire Geology Trust
• Gloucestershire Constabulary
• Mira Showers
• South West Manufacturing Association
• Spirax Sarco

The climax of the week was the eagerly anticipated debate on whether ‘To fly or not to fly?’ Students listened to balanced arguments from the various pro- and anti-flying speakers and then quizzed the panel with some very searching questions! By the time we had to finish, the debate was really hotting up!. Students found the session very informative and made them think of using different (travel) alternatives.

Cirencester College Academy team recently ran a second week of exciting and informative activities for their academy students. 

Students from IT, Finance and Marketing all benefitted from a week of events ranging from guest speakers and visits to the business world to interactive sessions on career planning.

Monday - Visit from Chris Simons from the University of West of England 

The week kicked off with a visit from Chris Simons of the University of West of England, who challenged to IT Academy students to think about the implications of their next step, either university or work? Students found the talk ‘very informative and helpful’, with one student commenting ‘if I had not attended this session I might not have reached the conclusion that I have come to about my future’.

Tuesday - Visiting guests Mike Hellens and Tracey Bennett of Matters Media

Mike Hellens and Tracey Bennett of Matters Media explored University possibilities further when they presented a work in progress of their new website ‘Unionline’.  This revoluntionary new website is aid to helping students find a easier way of making their university choices. Academy students from IT and Marketing were invited to comment on the company's communication objectives, site content and suitable media channels – which they did with plenty of enthusiasm – Jacob Roberts said ‘this a fantastic site with lots of potential’.

Wednesday - Visit to AMV BBDO, London

There was a real treat for the Marketing and Media students on Wednesday with a visit to leading creative advertising and brand management agency AMV BBDO in London.   Kim Ing of AMV hosted the visit, explaining amongst other things the importance of educational messages in advertising and the day to day reality of being an account manager, planner or creative expert. She then challenged the students to evaluate some major TV campaigns and gave them an insight to the evolving world of new digital media. Needless to say, the students had plenty of questions and many commented how ‘amazing’ the day had been, Charlie Bond and Bailey Wilkie added "this has really given us something to think about!"

Thursday - Finance Academy students attend Employer Conference for the National Skills Academy in Financial Services

Finance Academy students to attended the Employer Conference for the National Skills Academy in Financial Services on Thursday in Bridgwater. An assortment of speakers gave the students invaluable advice on both coursework and future careers.

Academy student Dan Waldron gave his impressions of the day in a question and answer session:

What were your expectations of the day before you attended?
I wasn't to sure what to expect from the visit to the employer conference, but was excited and keen to network with some employers. From what I understood the event consisted of training for employers around the HR function; this was what I could make out anyway. I knew I would have the chance to speak to employers from all different industries and start to understand what employers looked for in their staff.

What did you think of the Conference when you were actually there?
The actual event was pleasantly surprising. I listened to talks given from Shadow Minister John Penrose and a chief economist on his views around how the future government will need to attack the deficit.

On reflection, do you have any comments after the event?
I was glad to hear that John Penrose and the Labour party are eager to establish higher skills in Britain's economy, and this starts with equipping young people; something that links well with the Careers Academies UK programme. The talk given from the chief economist and the representative from the FSA were perfectly suited to my current coursework project in Finance, I made considerable notes and am now using these to answer the topics I must cover. It was a very satisfying day that, was relevant and was a another great opportunity to network.

Another student Olly Ashforth-Shaw added "Before attending the day I was unsure about what exactly we were going to be doing and whether I'd know what the speakers were talking about. However I found at the conference that I did understand what the speakers were talking about and found the day very interesting and informative, it also helped to understand some of the work I had been doing in class. Overall I thought the conference was very good and had some interesting speakers and would like to attend more similar conferences."

Thursday/Friday - Career Planning 

Employability skills were the focus for all sets of Academy students on Thursday and Friday. Tracey Adams and a colleague, of Cirencester Friendly, took students through a ‘Snakes and Ladders’ course of decision making when choosing a career, selecting the right cover letter and an accompanying CV, through to a face to face interview scenario. Students found the sessions both fun and informative at the same time.  The students learned a lot about the importance of getting the fundamentals right, especially having an appropriate CV, John Evans of the IT Academy said ‘the interview section was very helpful, hopefully I can put all these tips to good use in the near future!’.

The Academies Team will be developing the interviewing theme further at future events to make the experience even more realistic!

Theo Webb, Emily Williams and Angellina Nagitta outside Channel 4 

Three lucky Marketing Academy students recently enjoyed a visit to Channel 4's London studios.

Theo Webb, Angellina Nagitta and Emily Williams were 3 of only 300 students, selected from across the country to participate in an Open Day at Channel 4.  This gave the students an excellent opportunity to look at the many different roles that Channel 4 have in the media industry, as well as some 'hands-on' experience in some interactive workshops on advertising and new digital media.

The students were also given valuable advice on career path opportunities in the media industry and some very practical employability tips covering the skills, experiences and attitudes that students need to progress.

Angellina and Emily both proclaimed the day to be ‘excellent and really helpful’ particularly as all three students are really focused on following a career in advertising, "the day was just ideal and very inspiring".

One of the students Theo Webb will be returning to Channel 4 later in April as part of the broadcaster’s Inspiration Week South initiative. Following a demanding application process, Theo successfully won through to the next stage, he explained, ‘I am absolutely thrilled to have been selected for this next phase, it is a fantastic opportunity to develop my career and contacts within the media industry!"

For more information please contact Stuart Collins from Cirencester College Career Academies on 01285 653961.

A group of six honoured Cirencester College Finance Academy students were personally invited to join senior executives, staff and Partners of St. James’s Place Wealth Management from all across the UK at their Annual Company Meeting at the O2 Arena London earlier this year.

One of those students, Emily Mendham, said, ‘It was an amazing day. I had no idea of what to expect beforehand and thought it would just be speeches about the company. However it was amazing to see how much St James’s Place cared for its employees by putting the event on, and providing not only the transport there but food and drink as well. It was good to see them understand how important their employees are to the success of the business. The talks were fascinating and gave a good insight in the ethics of SJP and how they are coping with the recession. It must be a good motivator for the staff as it made me feel special and I wasn't even a permanent employee!’

Rob Hawkins, Head of Client Development at St. James’s Place Wealth Management, said ‘Following very successful internships last summer we felt that by way of appreciation for their hard work and input we wanted our interns to join us at our Annual Company Meeting to experience for themselves where their input fitted in to the bigger corporate picture’.

After being collected from Cirencester at the crack of dawn – possibly a little too early for some – they were taken to London where they were welcomed into a private breakfast reception. After being directed to front row seats the students heard about the success of the company following which they were treated to an afternoon of highly entertaining speakers from the world of sport which included Alan Shearer, Alan Hanson and Mark Lawrenson from Match of the Day, hysterically hosted by Clare Balding, plus a fascinating keynote presentation by Ellen MacArthur and an glimpse into the unique and surreal world of a global yachtswoman.

The afternoon concluded with an incredibly touching and inspirational insight into the fine works that are supported by St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation both here and overseas with the students making their way out of the Arena to roaring and invigorating singing by the winners of the television programme Last Choir Standing, Only Men Aloud.

For further information please contact Niki Williams Academies Development Manager at Cirencester College on 01285 653961.

There were pink balloons, chocolate coins, orange squidgey pounds, leaflets, pens by the bucketful and a curiously attractive vibrant pink pig adorning our reception last week all in aid of Money Week!

The Money Week campaign is about raising financial awareness – providing financial education and direction for students and staff alike.

Some of the activities we held included the launch of Miss Money Penny, formally known as ‘The Pink Pig’. Miss Money Penny was beautifully designed, constructed and painted by Debbie Stirling and her ESOL students during their creative conversation classes specifically to be our Money Week mascot. Miss Money Penny started the week nameless and a competition was run to concurrently raise money for our Inspire shop while also finding her a name. The £20 prize from the naming competition was won by a member of staff who very generously re-donated her winnings back to Inspire. However, hoards of students benefited from the chocolate coins and stress pounds in the process of stimulating their creative juices while mulling over possible names for her!

An integral part of our Money Week campaign was the opportunity for staff and students to post any questions they had to ‘Ask Pink Pig’ now known as Miss Money Penny and for her to provide an answer. Due to the legal regulations around providing financial advice it was essential that the information provided was legitimate. We were therefore delighted when Andrew Frazer, an Associate Partner with our long term supporters St. James’s Place Wealth Management, stepped up to the challenge and volunteered his services. As this Q&A forum was of a more general basis should any member of staff or student be interested in obtaining personal financial advice Andrew can be contacted directly on 07808 791899 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it          

We set 3 students the challenge to ‘Dress for Less to Impress’. They each received £20 to kit themselves out as fully as possible for an interview. The winner Hannah Jeffries managed to buy a quite staggering array of clothes for her £20 including shoes! A delighted Hannah said “I am so pleased to have won! Now that I get to keep the clothes, I will be saving them for my graduation next month in London from Career Academies UK.” Well done to the two runners up Chloe Millen and Liam Horsley.

Also launched last week was our on-line student tutorial in financial awareness. This tutorial will eventually be undertaken by all students where following completion they will do an on-line assessment to help check their understanding and consolidate their knowledge and provide everyone with a baseline understanding.

Finally, we had a plethora of financial leaflets and books kindly supplied by the Nationwide, The National Skills Academy in Financial Services (NSAFS) and The Financial Services Authority (FSA) all providing financial guidance and advice and the college plans, as part of staff development, to run some financial awareness information sessions.

Note to Editors

Our key sponsors and supporters of Money Week included Nationwide, St James’s Place Wealth Management.

Photo Top left – Nicki Williams Academy Development Manager, Andrew Frazer from St James’s Place Wealth Management, Desna McAll Vice Principal with Miss Moneypenny

Bottom left – Liam Horsley receiving his £20 for the Dress to Less to Impress challenge from Nicki Williams

Centre – Dress for Less to Impress finalists Hannah Jefferies, Liam Horsley, Chloe Millen

Right – Winner of our Dress to Impress competition Hannah Jefferies.