Archive for month: June, 2016

Reaseheath College is playing a leading role in the establishment of the UK’s first virtual national land based college which will draw from the best minds in education and industry and offer students clear career pathways and opportunities for advancement.

The National Land Based College (NLBC), launched last month, is a collaboration of leading colleges, universities and industry experts working together to offer nationally coordinated training programmes which are tailored to the needs of both students and employers.

Reaseheath College, in Nantwich, is one of the largest and most successful land based colleges in the country and is an inaugural member of the NLBC. Principal Meredydd David is a member of the board which has been developing the innovative partnership over the past two years.

Courses will be delivered through ‘blended learning’ offered by a national network of member colleges and will be supported through online teaching and by industry experts in the workplace.

Aimed at those approaching or at supervisory and management level, the City and Guilds qualifications will include part time higher level programmes and opportunities for continuing professional development. The courses will be offered over a wide range of subjects including agriculture, gamekeeping, equine management and horticulture and are aimed at providing an essential balance between theory and practical skills training.

A small team at the NLBC hub will actively promote land based careers to high flying students, entrepreneurs and new entrants in collaboration with key organisations. It will also provide a CPD register for graduates.

Chief Executive of the NLBC Leigh Morris said: “Working for the first time at a coordinated national level, we can build a pool of resources drawn from the very best minds in education and industry.

“Collaboratively we will promote land based careers, raise the standard of college courses and create cutting edge training for those already employed. By so doing, we will meet the skills needs of the sector today and into the future.”

Meredydd David emphasised: “By working together, this collaboration of land-based colleges has developed professional and technical qualifications that are truly responsive to the current and future skills needs of the industry.

“By offering these cohesive, nationally recognised standards of achievement we aim to attract the very best people into the land based sector and equip them for the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

“Businesses will also benefit. Multi-site businesses can be assured of consistent standard of delivery to staff throughout the country while smaller and more specialist enterprises will find it easier to access expert trainers.”

The NLBC is a registered charity chaired by Lord Donald Curry and with a board of industry leaders and principals from land based colleges and universities. Seed funding has been provided by Landex member colleges, Landex, and City and Guilds.

Reaseheath agriculture students had a great two days at the Royal Cheshire County Show, competing in cattle and pig showing classes and helping organisers to ensure that the schedule ran smoothly.

The county’s premier agricultural show, being run under ‘royal’ status for the first time, attracted competitors from across the country and showcased the best aspects of farming and rural life.

Our Level 3 Diploma in Agriculture students enjoyed first day success in the cattle section, winning a fistful of rosettes with four youngstock from the Reaseheath Holstein dairy herd and five beef shorthorn cattle from the Bridge House pedigree herd. The students trained and prepared the shorthorns for the show for Sandbach farmer George Sutton, one of many local supporters who offer our students industry experience, and also prepared out own cattle for the showring.

Reaseheath Holstein were awarded first, second, fifth and sixth placings in breed youngstock classes with students James Henderson, Matt Gilbert, Zoe Brunt and Hope Tatton and were third in a pairs class when shown by Libby Turner and Matt Gilbert.

We were also successful in the Young Handler classes, with Libby, Zoe, Hope and James being well placed.

The rosettes kept coming in during the judging of the beef section, with Libby and James Hodgkinson winning the pairs class. Students Alex Lightfoot, Eden Grey, Charlie Morris, Jacob Eley and Paige Jepson were also placed with the beef shorthorns.

The final accolade came with the announcement that we had won the dairy ‘tidy lines’ competition and were runners-up in the beef ‘tidy lines’ competition – awarded for high standards of animal care. Our students were also involved in stewarding and in the grand parade.

Two other agriculture students, Kostja Vezanovs and Aidan Simmons, took on key roles in the pig section, helping with bio-security measures and ensuring that the livestock accommodation remained top class for animals, exhibitors and spectators.

Kostja and Aidan were rewarded on Day 2 of the show with the opportunity to show Large Whites for traditional pig breeders Stephen and Mandy Booth from Lymm, another of our supporters. Both students entered the Young Handler competition, gaining a creditable third and fourth placing.

Said Kostja, who is shortly leaving for a year’s placement in the USA: “This was a really different experience which I thoroughly enjoyed.”

Commending the students for their commitment, Stephen Booth said: “Ring craft can be a daunting task but both Kostja and Aidan adapted well and tackled their learning curve with enthusiasm and humour. They were a credit to Reaseheath and would be welcome to help at any other show.”

We were also approached by the South Devon Cattle Society which was holding its national show at the Royal Cheshire Show. Several our students were allowed to help prepare the animals and take them into the showring – a real test of stockmanship and showmanship

Another Level 3 Diploma student, Will May, was kept busy demonstrating sheep shearing in Sainsbury’s Agri Centre, while our equine students provided the arena party in the working hunter rings.

Royal Cheshire Show President Vic Croxson, a former Principal of Reaseheath College, said: “Reaseheath’s students have made a vital contribution to the efficient running of the show, which is recognised as the leading summertime event in the north of England. They helped us make the event a memorable occasion for our visitors, competitors and exhibitors, and we were delighted at their professional attitude. They have also proved their showmanship skills in the rings alongside leading professionals.”

Reaseheath’s stand provided its usual range of family activities, with visitors queuing to ride the college’s mechanical horse and have a go on a driving simulator. Other activities, under the banner ‘We are Reaseheath’, included the chance to make floral buttonholes, milk a model cow and learn new construction skills.

Stand organiser Stephanie Owen said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for us to demonstrate the range of vocational courses we offer. We are very proud of the success of our students and coming to the Royal Cheshire Show gives us a great platform to show the public what we can do.”

The show also provided our Student Association with a final fundraising opportunity, enabling them to reach a record £25,000 which this year goes to the British Heart Foundation.

Future garden landscapers, including three from Reaseheath, demonstrated their skills at the north west regional heat of the WorldSkills UK competition.

Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture students Nathan Webster, Matt Fletcher and Aaron Byrne challenged students and apprentices from other training providers in tests of block paving and decking construction and were marked on the quality of their work and attention to detail. The competition, run by the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), was held at Myerscough College.

Selection of contestants for the semi finals, to be held at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in July, will be made once all the regional heats have concluded. The highest scoring competitors at Tatton will  progress to the national final, to be held at The Skills Show at the NEC Birmingham in the autumn.

Jody Lidgard, APL lead judge and trainer said: “The competitors represented their colleges well and produced work to a good standard. This is very pleasing as we are putting all our efforts into increasing the standard of skills coming into the industry.”

WorldSkills UK feeds into the Olympic-styled Worlds Skills final, held every two years to showcase the world’s top young talent in vocational industries. Former Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture student Matt Beesley was a member of the GB squad in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in  2015 and successfully brought home a silver medal – Britain’s first ever medal in landscaping.

Header image caption: The contestants are joined by APL lead judge and trainer Jody Lidgard