February 2020 - Page 2 of 2 - Capital City College Group
Accessibility & Translation

Star apprentice David shows he’s top of the class!

This week is National Apprenticeships Week #NAW2020 (an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships across England) and, as one of London’s leading apprenticeship providers, delivering over 1,250 apprenticeships in 2019, we’re celebrating one of our shining stars, Customer Service Level 2 apprentice David Brown.

Like all apprentices, David has a job – he works in North Middlesex Hospital as a Health Records Assistant. David started his apprenticeship in September 2017 and told us: “It was my manager who found the apprenticeship course on the North Middlesex Hospital Intranet.”

During an apprenticeship, the apprentice usually spends one day each week in the classroom where they study for a qualification, and they do their paid job with their employer the other four days of the week. For David, his one day of learning was at fellow member of the Capital City College Group, the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL)’s Tottenham Centre, studying for a Customer Service Level 2 Diploma.

David, having worked at the hospital for a number of years, started the apprenticeship to develop new skills that will stay with him forever. When asked what he enjoyed the most about his apprenticeship, David said, “I would say improving on my written and verbal communication skills. This has given me more confidence when talking to patients or colleagues.”

First to gain a Distinction

David is the first of our learners to achieve a Distinction on the Customer Service Level 2 Apprenticeship. He said: “When I heard I was the first to get a Distinction I felt very proud of myself. It was hard work but it all feels worth it now.”

When asked about the tutors he had throughout his apprenticeship, David said, “For me, my maths and English tutor really helped and encourage me to pass my maths and English exams. My assessor was also very supportive of me, especially concerning my coursework. They really pushed me and helped me to achieve this Distinction.”

We are the training arm of the Capital City College Group that delivers Apprenticeships. We bring together the expertise of three of London’s largest and most respected colleges – City and Islington CollegeWestminster Kingsway College and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL). Together they provide a workforce equipped for today’s opportunities through apprenticeships, continual professional development (CPD) courses and bespoke training.

Beth wins Bronze in Global Chef Competition

In an amazing performance on Sunday 2 February, 18-year-old Beth Collings, a 3rd year Professional Chef Diploma student at Westminster Kingsway College, beat off strong competition from 59 other young chefs from around the world, to win the Bronze award at the prestigious Young Chef Olympiad in India.

Now in its sixth year, the 2020 Young Chef Olympiad was a truly global affair which pitted young chefs from 60 countries against each other in a series of timed cook-offs. Beth battled brilliantly through two rounds to reach the final in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata.

Beth commutes to her course at Westminster Kingsway College all the way from Brighton every day and had been planning and practising for the Olympiad since November.

Beth has been mentored throughout by college Chef Lecturer Chris Basten, who accompanied her to India for the competition. Very well done to both Beth and Chris for their achievement!

Over the coming days, we plan to update this page with more information about Beth’s success, as well as her reflections on the competition and her time in India.

Queen's Award for Enterprise