March 2023 - Capital City College Group

Let’s make sure London gets the skills it needs

Posted on March 31, 2023March 31, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Pablo Lloyd, CEO (Interim) of Capital City College Group (CCCG), recently joined a panel of experts at a forum organised by the Evening Standard and WorldSkills UK to identify the skills needed to boost the capital’s economy and ensure young people attain them. Here, he shares some of the many ways CCCG is helping all Londoners into education and employment.

I’m delighted that the Evening Standard has teamed up with WorldSkills UK to promote the extraordinary range of skills and qualifications available through London’s further education colleges.

Earlier this month, I was invited to speak at a forum as part of the Evening Standard’s Step Up campaign, which will include the capital’s first expo for teenagers at London Olympia from 30 June to 1 July.

At the forum, former Education Secretary Lord Blunkett hailed London as having the “most phenomenal opportunity” to lead a skills revolution across the UK.

Capital City College Group (CCCG) is the capital’s largest further education provider. We are committed to providing young people and adults, with a broad range of training and qualifications to boost the capital’s economy.

This was echoed in our recent Ofsted report, which rated CCCG as ‘Good’ for its education provision and ‘Strong’ in meeting skills needs – the highest possible rating.

At CCCG, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to remove barriers to education and support Londoners into education and employment.

Here are just some of the ways we are making sure London gets the skills it needs.

Mayor’s Skills Academies

CCCG secured funding from the Mayor’s Skills Academies programme to create four hubs focused on Creative, Digital, Green and Hospitality careers. This has enabled us to forge even more links with employers and community organisations to offer more courses and work placement opportunities to give people the skills for the capital’s most in-demand jobs.

01 Founders

01 Founders is a tuition-free coding school at our Regent’s Park Centre. The school was the first of its kind in the UK when it was launched in June 2021. It uses gamification technology to teach students coding skills at their own pace with support from their peers. More than 150 people have enrolled on the programme and a third have already gained employment.

Visionnaires

Visionnaires provides entrepreneurs with skills, mentoring and support to set up their own business. More than 1,000 people have participated in the programme, which began within CCCG and is now run at 20 colleges across England. Many are now running profitable businesses from health foods to sustainable fashion. Visionnaires also runs entrepreneurial workshops for young people.

Outreach

At CCCG, we are continuously reaching out to the communities our colleges serve. In 2018 we began offering all our courses for up to Level 2 for free regardless of age or background as we know cost if one of the main barriers to education. We have also introduced free short maths courses to parents in schools as part of the Government’s Multiply programme to improve numeracy.

Investment

We are continuously investing in education across our estate including the redevelopment of our Soho Centre into a new creative and digital training hub in the heart of London’s entertainment district. In addition, a new commercial hair and beauty salon is set to open at our Finsbury Park Centre, which will provide real-life work experience opportunities for students.

Find out more about our courses and apprenticeships and apply here.

Parents go back to school to improve maths skills on Multiply programme

Posted on March 29, 2023March 29, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Mums and dads have been boosting their maths skills at their children’s schools with Capital City College Training (CCCT).

Parents have been undertaking free short numeracy courses at Brimsdown Primary School in Enfield, Thornhill Primary School in Islington and Uphall Primary School in Ilford.

The courses are designed to help them confidently deal with everyday maths tasks from budgeting to helping their children with their homework, while also helping them gain the skills to open the door to education and employment opportunities.

Stacy-Ann Manderson, 46, who took a course at Brimsdown Primary School, said: “I haven’t studied maths in years and sometimes when my daughter, who is in Year Five, asks me for help with her homework I don’t know the answer.

“I’ve really enjoyed the course and I feel more confident with numbers now. I would definitely sign up for more opportunities in the future and I’d love to try subjects like English and childcare.”

Another Brimsdown parent Flutur Shegaj, 31, said: “The best thing about it is that I can drop my son at the school nursery in the morning and then come to the class. We are learning at the same time.”

Matthew Clifford, Headteacher at Brimsdown Primary School, said the course had been welcomed by parents and the school was looking to offer more adult education classes in the future.

He said: “We know that childcare responsibilities and cost are barriers to adult learning. We wanted to address this by offering parents the chance to access free courses during the school day when their children are in lessons.

“Brimsdown has a strong reputation for being an inclusive school and is at the heart of its local community. We want it to be a school for the whole family and it’s incredibly inspiring for the children to see their parents engaging in education too.”

The courses are run by apprenticeship and training provider CCCT, which is part of Capital City College Group (CCCG). They have also taken place at Elizabeth House in Islington, Mildmay Community Centre in Hackney and The Living Centre in Camden.

They courses are taught by teachers from across CCCG, which also includes City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London.

They are funded by the Government’s Multiply programme, which has been endorsed by the Mayor of London, to help thousands of adults across the UK improve their maths skills.

Courses are available to adults who live in London and do not have GCSE Mathematics at grades 9-4, previously A*-C, or Functional Skills in Maths at Level 2.

CCCG’s colleges offer GCSE and Functional Skills courses in English and maths. Find out more and apply here.

If your school is interested in being part of the Multiply programme, please email multiply@capitalccg.ac.uk

ESOL students grow in confidence as they make Haringey greener

Posted on March 28, 2023March 28, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Eco-friendly English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students have been making Haringey greener by planting flowers and trees in the borough.

Around 15 students at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) planted 300 potted snowdrops and lavenders at Bruce Castle Park in partnership with Putting Down Roots.

Putting Down Roots is a project run by homeless charity St Mungo’s that uses gardening to build self-esteem and social skills among people who have faced difficulties in their lives.

Many ESOL students at the CONEL have fled war and persecution in their home countries and found the gardening project has helped with their mental health and settling into the UK.

Sahil Ferozie, 16, who is from Afghanistan and is studying ESOL Entry 1 course, said: “There were a lot of bombs and fighting. I lost my father two years ago and after that I could not continue my education at school. I had to work as a taxi driver to make money because I was the oldest child in my family. It caused a lot of stress and was not good.

“The gardening I have been doing has helped with my mental health. It’s good to get fresh air and it has helped me relax. I talk to my family every day and the problems are still there, but it helps me to take my mind off what is happening a bit when I am busy doing some work here.

“I enjoyed planting the flowers and seeing a tree that was 500 years old in the park. It helped me to meet other people, practise my English and learn some new skills. I’m very proud of what we have done. It’s good to be able to do something for the environment, it’s good for our future.”

“I am enjoying my course at college and improving my English. My teacher is very good and gives me advice. We have learnt how to order some food in a restaurant, buy a train ticket, make a doctor’s appointment. This is my chance to continue my education. I like it and I’m really happy.”

Last month ESOL students were part of a team of volunteers who planted more than 400 trees at Perth Road Playing Fields as part of Haringey Council’s efforts to tackle climate change and increase biodiversity.

They were joined by project partners Marlborough Highways and The Conservation Volunteers in planting native saplings including oak, field maple, wild apple, rowan and hawthorn.

Natanya Jeffery, Work Experience and Industry Placement Officer for ESOL, said: “Our ESOL students come from all parts of the world and including many who have experienced personal trauma. Despite what they have been through they are thriving and look forward to the future living in Britain.

“Our role as a college is about giving the opportunities to develop English language and skills for life including employability opportunities and volunteering, like the gardening projects with St Mungo’s and Haringey Council, to help them meet people and integrate into society.

“Many of them live in a room in shared accommodation or with foster parents, which makes them feel quite isolated, so it was nice for them to get out and do something different. They’ve told friends they have made in other ESOL groups how much they enjoyed planting the flowers and trees and other groups now look forward to more volunteering activities in the borough that they can participate in. It’s all been very positive.”

ESOL courses are available at CONEL to 16-18s and adult students from Pre-entry to Level 1 and cover reading, writing, speaking and listening. Find out more and apply here.

Engineering students thrive on extended work placements with top employers

Posted on March 27, 2023March 27, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Engineering students at Westminster Kingsway College are boosting their skills after being given the opportunity to gain extra work experience with major employers across London.

Eighteen students from the college are working one day a week for Ardmore, Willmott Dixon, McLaren, Morgan Sindall, SCS Railways, Lendlease and two Hilton hotels.

The placements are an addition to the two-week placements they completed in January, which is a mandatory part of their Engineering Level 3 Diploma course.

Faaiz Banday, 18, who is studying for an Engineering Level 3 Diploma, is undertaking a placement at Ardmore’s Cambridge House development in Mayfair.

The historic listed building is being restored and converted into a luxury 102-room hotel with a spa, gym and nightclub and seven residential properties.

Faaiz said: “I’ve always been interested in engineering and how things are built. I used to enjoy woodwork at secondary school and always been a practical, hands on type of person.

“I’ve been looking at architect’s drawings showing different sections and elevations of the building and learning how to read them. I’ve also been shown how to use different CAD tools and visited parts of the site to see how it all applies to the way it is being constructed.

“Work placements are a great way to find out what you’re interested in and learn from people in the industry by asking questions about their experiences. It makes you feel motivated to follow in their footsteps when it comes to your own career.

“It’s been incredible to have the chance to do an extra day’s work placement each week and further build my skills and confidence. If I had stayed at school in sixth form, I would never have got a chance like this. It’s helping prepare me for a real job.”

Construction is just one of many industries that require engineering skills. Others include transport, chemical, mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, energy, telecoms, technology and utilities.

Nic Finden, Project Director at Ardmore said: “I have worked for Ardmore for more than 20 years and the industry needs succession. Over the years there has been a shortfall in skilled labour, which is why it is important to encourage young people to come into the industry.

“Ardmore has always been a forward-thinking company that takes a lot of pride in the industry, promoting skills and knowing the value of homegrown labour. As long as they are respectful and self-motivated, we will open up doors for students to choose the career path that is right for them.”

The opportunity for students to undertake extra work experience is part of a trial by WestKing ahead of the college running its first engineering T Levels in September 2024.

T Levels are new technical qualifications that are the equivalent of three A Levels designed with employers and require students to complete 45 days on an industry placement.

WestKing currently offers Engineering courses from Levels 1-3 including foundation courses in Civil Engineering and Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering with City University of London.

Find out more about Engineering courses and apprenticeships across Capital City College Group, which includes WestKing, and apply here.

Creative Media student’s anti-litter campaign wins industry Snapchat advertising competition

Posted on March 22, 2023March 23, 2023 by Paul Cassell

A Creative Media student’s proposed Snapchat campaign urging people to reduce litter has won a national competition run by the UK’s leading body for advertising professionals.

Angela Nogales, 20, will see her creative idea turned into an actual Snapchat advert after she came first in the challenge set by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA).

Creative Media Level 3 Diploma students at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) were encouraged to enter during a visit to global advertising agency M&C Saatchi Group.

They were invited to the company’s UK head office in Westminster as part of the IPA’s Advertising Unlocked programme, which sees UK agencies join forces for a nationwide careers open day.

Angela’s entry included background research on littering and solutions to the problem before going on to explain how her Snapchat campaign would encourage people to take action.

She said: “The idea for the campaign came from the research I did about this important topic and the Snapchat app. Firstly, I wanted to acknowledge the problem and what we can do to solve it., and then I looked at who the target audience was and what content would engage with them.

“I came up with an idea to create short, visual and dynamic information in a format the audience was familiar with to form an active community on Snapchat. I wanted to motivate them in a personal way by making them remember each one of us can do something small to make a big difference.”

Advertising Unlocked introduces students to career options in the industry with agencies running practical activities from workshops and interactive discussions to tours and creative challenges.

Bethan Neil, Senior Marketing Executive, Diversity and Effectiveness, at IPA, said the competition judges were “thoroughly impressed” by Angela’s campaign idea.

Referring to the judges’ comments, she added: “Your research is interesting, concise and clearly fed into your idea. You’ve constructed a clear narrative laying out the problem, the solution and how creatively you could help deliver that solution.

“You’ve answered the brief well, helping to genuinely change behaviour. Some of your ideas are more tactical which is great to see, highlighting the problems, but some of them are more creative and are a proper innovative use of Snapchat features, which is exactly what we wanted to see.”

M&C Saatchi Group was founded in 1995 and has operations spanning 23 countries including major hubs in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.

During the visit, students heard about the industry from Chief Creative Officer Ben Golik before taking part in a two-hour workshop where they worked on a real creative brief.

They were also given a tour of the building before meeting representatives from across the sector at a speed networking event including those working in strategy and production.

Natasha Amegbe, Lecturer in Creative Media and Computing, said: “The students were thrilled to have the chance to visit a globally renowned creative agency and network with people already working in the advertising sector.

“This was also a fantastic opportunity for our students to link what they have learnt in the classroom to actual careers by working on an actual brief. They received excellent feedback from staff at the agency who were very impressed with their ideas, and all left feeling very inspired.”

CONEL is continuing to work with M&C Saatchi as part of the Advertising Unlocked programme with the agency providing students with live briefs and giving feedback on their work.

Find out more and apply here for Digital Media and Creative Computing courses here.

How to do yourself justice on law work experience

Posted on March 22, 2023March 22, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Looking to gain work experience in the legal profession? Check out these top tips for success.

Law work experience is an essential part of the journey to becoming a qualified lawyer in the UK.

Whether you are a law student or a recent graduate, gaining relevant experience can significantly enhance your legal knowledge and skills, boost your employability and provide valuable insights into the legal profession.

If you are considering a career in law or looking to gain relevant legal work experience, here are some tips to help you find placements and make the most out of these opportunities.

Identify your interests

The legal profession is vast and diverse, and there are various practice areas you can explore. Before embarking on your search for legal work experience, consider your interests and the areas of law that appeal to you the most. Are you interested in corporate law, commercial law, criminal law, family law, or human rights law? Understanding your interests and career aspirations will help you narrow down your search and focus on gaining relevant experience.

Research law firms and chambers

Once you have identified your interests, start researching law firms and chambers that specialise in the areas of law you are interested in. Look at their websites, read about their cases and clients and find out about their recruitment policies and application deadlines. Attend law fairs and career events to learn more about law firms and chambers and meet lawyers and recruiters.

Types of legal work experience

The most common types of legal work experience in the UK are vacation schemes, mini-pupillages and paralegal or legal assistant roles. Vacation schemes are structured programmes that usually take place in the summer and provide insight into law firms. Mini-pupillages are placements for aspiring barristers that involve shadowing a barrister. Paralegal or legal assistant roles are also a valuable way to gain practical legal experience.

Applying for law work experience

When applying for legal work experience, make sure to tailor your application to the specific firm or chambers and highlight your relevant skills and experience. You should also demonstrate your enthusiasm for the law and your commitment to developing your legal career.

Network and build relationships

Networking is a crucial aspect of building a successful legal career, and work experience provides an excellent opportunity to meet lawyers and legal professionals. Network with lawyers and ask questions about their work, career paths and experiences. Building relationships with lawyers can also help you secure future work opportunities, a training contract or pupillage.

Reflect and learn from your experiences

It is essential to reflect on your work placement and learn from your experiences. Ask for feedback from your supervisors and colleagues. Take note of what you have learnt and how you can improve. Reflecting on your work experience can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and develop your legal skills and knowledge.

Capital City College Group (CCCG) offers various qualifications in subjects related to the legal profession including Law, Criminology, Forensic Science and Public Services. Find out more and apply here.

Top 10 revision tips for exam success

Posted on March 10, 2023March 21, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Take these simple steps to help you achieve the best possible grades this summer

Exam revision is an essential part of school and college life. It helps us consolidate our learning, retain important information, and prepare ourselves for exams. However, revision can be a daunting task, and it can be difficult to know where to start.

Here’s our top 10 revision tips to help you make the most out of your study time.

Start early: Don’t wait until the last minute to start your revision. Start as early as possible, so you have enough time to cover all the material and go over the difficult concepts multiple times.

Break it down: Break down your revision into smaller chunks, so it becomes more manageable. This approach can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and make the revision process less intimidating.

Create a study plan: Create a study plan that outlines what you need to cover, when you will cover it, and how long you will spend on each topic. This can help you stay organised and focused.

Practise active recall: Instead of passively reading your notes or textbook, practise active recall. This means testing yourself on what you’ve learned and recalling it from memory. This approach has been shown to be more effective than simply reading or highlighting.

Use memory aids: Use memory aids such as flashcards, mnemonics and acronyms to help you remember important information. These tools can be particularly helpful for memorising lists, formulas and other details.

Study in short bursts: Studies have shown that studying in short bursts of 20-30 minutes, followed by a short break, can be more effective than studying for long periods. This approach can help you stay focused and retain more information.

Mix it up: Instead of studying one subject for an extended period, mix up your revision by switching between different subjects. This approach can help you avoid boredom and keep your mind engaged.

Use past papers: Practising past papers can help you get familiar with the types of questions that may appear on exams and help you identify areas where you need to focus your revision.

Take breaks: Taking regular breaks during your revision can help you recharge your brain and improve your concentration. Take a short walk, do some stretching exercises or simply take some deep breaths.

Stay positive: Finally, stay positive and believe in yourself. Revision can be challenging, but with the right mindset, approach and support, you can achieve your academic goals.

In conclusion, revision is an essential part of the academic process, and it is crucial to approach it in a structured, organised, and effective way. By following these 10 revision tips, you can make the most out of your study time and achieve academic success.

For Online Learning Resources to support your studies click here.

NAO robot boosts engineering tech skills after £5,000 donation

Posted on March 10, 2023March 27, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Engineering students have a new robotic classmate thanks to a £5,000 donation to City and Islington College (CANDI).

The NAO humanoid robot at the college’s Centre for Applied Science was purchased with funding from the Pat Allsop Charitable Trust, a charity set up by property firm Allsop.

The robot has full body motion and the walking speed of a two-year-old child. It has cameras fitted with facial and object recognition along with speech recognition and sound localisation.

Standing just under 2ft high, it can be programmed to move and talk and will be used by Engineering Level 3 Diploma students to complete an Autonomous Mobile Robotics unit.

Engineering student Theron White, 18, said: “Having the robot in class is really exciting. We’ve had a demonstration on how it moves and interacts with other people and checks its surroundings. It’s amazing what it can do and I’m looking forward to using it in lessons. I’m really into robotics and programming, so this is right up my street.

“The course has been really good and I’ve loved the different units we’ve been studying. the robot is going to broaden our horizons and help us learn more about AI and other aspects of engineering. The teachers are very hands on. They have an easy way of explaining things and been very supportive.”

NAO robots were originally developed by Aldebaran Robotics, which was acquired by SoftBank Group in 2015 and rebranded as Softbank Robotics. The robots have been used in research, education and healthcare worldwide.

Catherine Quinn, Head of School for Science, Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM), said: “We were absolutely thrilled to receive such a kind and generous donation by the Pat Allsop Charitable Trust.

“The NAO robot is a fantastic addition to our great engineering workshops and facilities at CANDI and will support our students with the robotics element of their course, which will provide them with the skills and knowledge they need for university and their future careers.”

The Pat Allsop Charitable Trust has previously provided funding for UrbanPlan workshops at schools and colleges, which included a session on urban regeneration with CANDI students in March 2019.

Scott Tyler, Senior Partner and Trustee of the Pat Allsop Charitable Trust, said: “We were really pleased to be able to make a donation from the Pat Allsop Charitable Trust to City and Islington College.

“We are delighted and intrigued at the news that the funds have been used to purchase a working robot. We would love to see it in action and look forward to continuing our relationship with the college.”

Find out more and apply for Engineering courses here.

Students polish up their skills at Professional Beauty London 2023

Posted on March 9, 2023March 9, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Aspiring beauty therapists showcased their skills when they offered free nail treatments and airbrush tattoos to visitors at Professional Beauty London 2023.

Students from City and Islington College (CANDI) and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) provided the beauty services at the expo at ExCeL London.

Professional Beauty London is the UK’s leading beauty, spa and wellness show. Each year it attracts thousands of beauty managers, business owners and professionals and people looking to work in the industry.

Rori Dean-Dodson, 31, from Hackney, is studying for a Nail Technology Level 2 Diploma at CONEL and was among the students providing nail treatments at the event on 5-6 March.

She said: “I enjoyed today. It’s been absolutely amazing. It was a good chance to try out many of the skills I have learnt at CONEL – filing, shaping, polishing and painting. It’s been fun meeting people and hopefully getting few to come to the college.

“They were interested to hear about the courses. On the nail technician course, we have learnt about manicures and pedicures and also health and safety, and are now learning about acrylics.”

Rori has run her own mobile hairdressing business Rori’s Braids and More since 2018 having been taught how to create various Afro-Caribbean hairstyles by her mum as a child.

She said: “I want to branch out and do nails and tap into the beauty sector. The course at CONEL has been amazing, I wish I could do it for longer. The teachers have been excellent. They have a lot of industry experience and go above and beyond to ensure that we learn and understand.”

Professional Beauty London 2023 featured hundreds of stands from big name beauty and cosmetic brands from across Europe along with conferences, seminars, competitions and demonstrations.

Visitors to the expo had the chance to learn about new trends shaping the industry and compare products and treatments, as well as make connections with industry experts, suppliers and other professionals.

Vlada Strochka, 24, from Welwyn Garden City, who is looking to start a new life in the UK after fleeing the war in Ukraine, was among those looking to training in beauty.

She said: “I want to move to London soon and I’m looking for somewhere to study. I have an accreditation as a nail technician but have no experience in beauty therapy.

“I have a problem with my skin and want to help other people with similar problems. I love cosmetics, massage and nails and think the college is somewhere I might like to study.”

The hair and beauty business employs more than 250,000 people in the UK. The industry offers many different career pathways including women’s hairstyling, barbering, body and facial treatments, massage and theatrical and media make-up.

Saloua El-Khadiri, Head of School for Hair and Beauty at CCCG, said: “We were thrilled to have hundreds of people come and visit our stand at Professional Beauty London 2023.

“This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the courses we offer and for our students to practise many of the technical skills they have been learning and perfecting at college on visitors to the show, who were very impressed with their finished nails and tattoos.

“Both CANDI and CONEL offer a huge range of hair and beauty courses for school-leavers and those looking for a new career or wanting to gain more experience, including many short courses that are great for those with children and other commitments.

“Our courses are taught by industry experts and both colleges have their own fully-equipped salons and equipment, meaning we can provide the best possible training for those looking to work in this exciting industry.”

Find out more about Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy courses and apply here.

Female students inspire girls to take STEM subjects on International Women’s Day

Posted on March 8, 2023March 10, 2023 by Paul Cassell

To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, three female students from across Capital City College Group (CCCG) shared their passion for studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects and how employers can attract more women and girls into these careers.

More women are enrolling on STEM courses at university, yet they make up less than a third of the workforce in these careers in the UK.

According to GOV.UK the number of women accepted onto undergraduate courses in these subjects increased by 50.1 per cent from 2011 to 2020. However, in 2020 women only made up 29.4 per cent of the STEM workforce in the UK.

CCCG offers a wide range of academic and technical courses in STEM including A Levels, T Levels, BTEC diplomas and GCSEs, with female students making up 43.5 per cent of those taking these courses over the past four years.

Here’s what female students on our STEM courses had to say:

‘If there were more female role models in IT, that would inspire more girls to think it’s not just a man’s world’

“My dad runs his own IT company, so I’ve been surrounded by tech all my life. I’ve been interested in it since I was eight when I started reading about basic coding. I used to think IT was all about programming, but now I’ve found out there is so much more to it, such as databases, animation and social media.

“The course and teaching at CANDI has been really good and I’ve been able to pick things up easily. I have a couple of female teachers on the course. It’s great to have role models like them in class for someone like me looking to get into IT.

“I think tech companies still accept more men into IT jobs, it’s like they underestimate the skills women can bring to these careers. They need to start encouraging more women to get into roles so they can see that they are capable of doing the same jobs as men, and maybe even do them better.

“You often hear about people like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerburg, but you never hear about the women in tech. If there were more female role models seen in IT, that would inspire more girls to think it’s not just a man’s world and something they could do as a career.”

Jaina Torres, IT student at CANDI

‘More female engineers giving talks in schools and colleges will mean girls see it as a valid career option’

“From a young age I was fascinated by how things work and liked physics and maths at school. When the pandemic hit, I started to get into technology and began thinking about my future career and saw there was a demand for more engineers.

“I absolutely loved the first year of my engineering course at WestKing and learnt so much. There are so many facets to engineering. I’ve learnt about coding and microcontrollers and have been able to apply knowledge I have gained on work experience to my course. I enjoy the challenge of creating innovative solutions to different problems. The teachers are really encouraging and are always available if I need any help. They want the best for all their students.

“Engineering is a good career for women. We need to show it is not just men who are capable of doing these careers but women as well, and it should no longer seen as a male-dominated career. It’s about changing peoples’ perceptions.

“You don’t tend to hear about women in engineering and more need to be done to make their voices heard. Having more female engineers giving talks in schools and colleges like they do at WestKing, will mean girls see it as a valid career option. More images of women doing these jobs would also inspire girls into engineering.”

Tianen Ho-Nyirabu, Engineering student at WestKing

‘Companies need to do more to promote internships and give more opportunities to women’

“Science was the first type of career that came to mind. I really enjoyed it at school and learning about chemistry, biology and physics. I’ve always had pets – a parrot, a dog and now a cat – and have applied to study veterinary nursing at university.

“The teachers at CONEL are really nice and present the subject well and give you videos to watch to help you understand. I like doing the practical experiments and following a method, doing some procedures, measurement and calculations and understanding why things happen and how you can change things. It’s a fascinating subject and there are so many pathways you can take.

“You see a lot of male doctors and scientists. Sometimes women are not considered for roles because they are seen as too sensitive and men are thought to be better at handling pressure. That needs to change if we are going to attract more women into science. If you have got the skills and ability there shouldn’t be anything to stop you.”

“Companies need to do more to promote internships and give more opportunities for women. They need to show more women doing these jobs and tell them more about the opportunities that are open to them. I know that would build my confidence and motivate me to do well at college if I saw someone to aspire to in the future.”

Alexandrina Pinzari, Applied Science student at CONEL