Level 3 Film and Visual Effects learn more about the opportunities and careers within the screen industries at a special event hosted by BAFTA and IntoFilm.
On Friday 8 March, three Level 3 Film and Visual Effects students from Westminster Kingsway College (WestKing) attended an event hosted by BAFTA and IntoFilm to celebrate International Women’s Day and National Careers Week. The event was held at BAFTA’s iconic London headquarters in the heart of the West End.
During the event, the students learnt about the industry from professionals in the field. They listened to first-hand accounts from those working in TV, film and games and gained insight into the range of opportunities available to them.
The students attended two panel discussions, one centred around the broad range of available careers, and another celebrating women in the screen industries. Each panel featured industry experts covering a variety of roles, and students had the opportunity to put their questions to panel members.
Panel members represented a broad spectrum of industry professionals and included, among others, a games designer, an actor, a VFX coordinator, a casting director and a director/writer.
Sarah Alieva, a Year 1 Level 3 Film and Visual Effects student, said “Once given the opportunity to attend a BAFTA Career Insight Session, I was beyond excited. Both panels have smoothly offered great information, thoroughly explaining what each role includes and what to expect. As we all are humans, we heard what the professionals experienced internally, their thoughts and how they overcame problems. It was comforting to know that others were struggling to find themselves also, and that we are not alone in that aspect. All my questions were answered without me attempting to ask!”
Another student, Liz Mfumu, said: “Truly insightful talks, I wholeheartedly enjoyed the women’s speeches and detailed advice about the industry.”
If you’re interested in developing skills related to screen industries, why not take a look at our extensive range of Digital Media and Creative Courses?
I’ve always been fascinated by STEM and decided to become a science teacher with the aim of generating interest among students to pursue a science or engineering-based career.
What science careers did you explore before becoming a teacher?
After completing my degree in Biochemical Engineering, I started my career in the brewing industry as an Assistant Brewer. I then went on to work for a broadband service provider where I worked as a Technical Analyst.
How would you describe your teaching style?
I’m a committed and enthusiastic educator who appreciates that science is not every student’s favourite subject. However, I strive to make individual topics interesting and stress the relevance of science to everyday life.
What are your favourite things to teach?
The list of my favourite things to teach is endless! Some of the topics that I enjoy teaching are Engineering Mechanics, Acids, Bases and Buffers and Organic Mechanisms.
Why are your subjects important?
My subject areas are Physics and Chemistry. Both of these subjects enable us to understand anything from the complex processes occurring inside an individual (Biochemistry) to the Origins of the universe (Physics).
What real-world relevance does your subject have?
The application of Physics and Chemistry in the real world is everywhere – from the food we eat to the air we breathe, the clothes we wear, the houses we live in, the cars we drive and the planes we fly – there is Physics and Chemistry behind everything.
Chiranjib is just one of our many experienced and enthusiastic educators – working hard to help our students expand their horizons and reach their academic and career goals.
During the visit, students from Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses used their expertise to deliver demonstrations on the chocolate-making process. They explained in detail the range of ingredients and fillings used and gave visitors the opportunity to create their own confections.
Today, we were delighted to welcome some visitors from Westminster City Council to a chocolate making workshop at our Westminster Kingsway College, Victoria Centre! 🍫 Our students, who are currently preparing for exams, gave some excellent demonstrations on how we make our chocolates as well as describing the different fillings and ingredients we use. 👏 We are the UK’s leading school for Hospitality and Culinary Arts with our extensive gastronomic practice and proven excellence, the college is committed to innovation and high performance in Hospitality and Culinary Arts. 🍽️ Click the link in our bio to learn more. #chef#chocolate#dessert#college#london#westminster#lifeatcccg
We are the UK’s leading school of Hospitality and Culinary Arts with our extensive gastronomic practice and proven excellence, the college is committed to innovation and high performance.
In a vibrant showcase of talent and collaborative success, last night Capital City College Group (CCCG) and key partners including Central District Alliance, Film London and the Greater London Authority (GLA) celebrated the outstanding contributions and achievements of the Creative, Digital, Hospitality and Green Hubs, part of the Mayor’s Skills Academies.
Over the past two years, through the Mayor’s Skills Academies, CCCG has trained over 7,000 Londoners via short courses to aid individuals seeking a career change in these vital industries. CCCG has collaborated with over 500 employers and placed more than 1,200 learners into Good Work jobs in key industries.
During the celebrations, attendees heard industry insights from partners Ayo Akande of the GLA, Debbie Akehurst of Central District Alliance, and Babak Jani of Film London, highlighting the collective commitment to enhancing London’s workforce.
The evening also marked the public announcement that these skills hubs will be continuing into 2025 with funding provided by the GLA.
Israa, 19, who did a free short course in digital and social media marketing, is now doing a digital marketing apprenticeship at Islington Council. Israa said: “When starting the course, I felt excited and a little nervous. I was grateful enough to have such a wonderful and engaging teacher, her style of teaching adapted to each of our needs as students. I found it quite interesting and helpful, I found my joy in learning again.”
Angela Joyce, CCCG CEO said: “These Mayor’s Academies have made a huge difference to thousands of Londoners, and we are delighted that they will be continuing in the future. The specialisms of the Academies – creative, digital, green and hospitality – align well with the expertise of our colleges and we have been delighted to offer short courses in all of these areas funded by the Greater London Authority. We are pleased to be supporting businesses in London with the skilled workers that they need”.
Work with us
We are reaching out to businesses across London to join us in this transformative journey. By pledging your support to our learners, you will become a pivotal part of their success story. Whether through offering work experience opportunities, mentoring, or guiding learners through inspiring talks, your contribution can open doors to new possibilities and help build a skilled, dynamic workforce ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
If you would like to support the next generation of your workforce, find out more about our Employers Partnerships here.
The programme, which took place from 29 January to 9 February, gave ten students the opportunity to create props for the award-winning attraction The London Bridge Experience. Set in the vaults of the iconic London bridge, the immersive experience allows visitors to explore London’s history first-hand, featuring interaction with colourful characters and detailed set design.
During their work experience placement, students completed a tour of the attraction to learn more about the client’s requirements and get creative inspiration. After returning to college they carefully crafted their design briefs with the support of an art technician. They then used various materials to complete their projects, including modrock, oil paints, repurposed textiles and paints.
The work experience placement allowed students to develop their skills and gain hands-on experience in creating and producing props for use in a public-facing environment.
A group of Level 3 Art and Design students completed work experience with a leading interior fit-out company, showcasing their collaboration and design skills.
During their placement, the students were challenged to design imagery for construction hoarding, which is the street-facing panelling that surrounds a building or site during construction.
The students worked remotely in teams, collaborating for the first time with peers from different groups. They built on their design skills, using InDesign and Photoshop to complete their projects, and developed their professional skills by taking part in daily client meetings. The placement culminated in student presentations at the Willmott Dixon Interiors office where they showcased an impressive array of finished designs.
The work experience placement was organised as part of an ongoing partnership between Willmott Dixon Interiors and Westminster Kingsway College (WestKing), enabling students to gain valuable experience of working life and exposure to related industries.
Rebecca Davies, Social Values Manager at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “These placements have been great. […] The students have been engaged, and polite and attendance has been amazing over the two weeks. They communicated well with their groups and the final day presentations from all of the groups were so inspirational. Each group demonstrated professionalism and put so much effort in.”
The creative industries are growing faster than any other sector in the UK, so if you have a creative flair and are interested in courses in Art, Design or Fashion, take a look at what we have to offer!
Students from a range of courses enter prestigious national competition to showcase their skills and compete against their peers.
A number of Capital City College Group (CCCG) students are currently registering for this year’s WorldSkills competition. The competition inspires competitors to excel in their chosen skill areas, helping them progress into their chosen profession.
Registration for the WorldSkills UK competition is open until 28 March, and the National Qualifiers will take place between April and June 2024. Those who make it through the National Qualifying stage go through to the National Finals in November 2024. Last year, CANDI student Dante Senior brought home a bronze medal in the Laboratory Technician challenge at the National Finals.
Participation in the WorldSkills competition offers students the opportunity to broaden their horizons and demonstrate their skills in a competitive environment. It is an enriching and exciting process, giving students the chance to use and expand their subject knowledge.
We heard from students who have entered the Laboratory Technician category.
Quluuda Ahmed said: “I am currently studying T Levels. I am excited to be part of this competition because I want to expand my horizons and build up on my skills.”
Lidiany Nogueira said: “I’m delighted to participate in this competition to gain an enriching experience of a competitive environment, enabling me to present my laboratory skills that I’ve been enhancing for the past 7 months.”
Armony Hermitt said “I am entering as it will give me the opportunity to further my experience in a laboratory setting. By exploring this pathway it will allow me to engage my knowledge under pressure.”
If you’re interested in entering this year’s WorldSkills UK competition, be sure to register before 28 March.
We’d like to wish all CCCG entrants the best of luck in the competition!
The event, which took place on 3-4 March, also featured a series of make-up and nail competitions for aspiring students and industry professionals. Faith Omorogbe, a student on the Level 2 Diploma in Hair and Media Make-up course at CONEL’s Tottenham Centre, won first place in the Wedding Hair and Beauty competition. The judges praised her intricate hair styling and hand-sewn coral beaded headdress. They were impressed with her moodboard which elaborated on her inspiration, idea development and testing process. Faith was awarded prizes worth £1000 and a trophy.
During the show, the Hair and Beauty students from CONEL and CANDI also showcased their skills carrying out nail filling and polish demonstrations for visitors at the event.
Diannia Scantlebury, a Lecturer in Hairdressing and Beauty at CONEL, said: “Professional Beauty is always an inspiring exhibition and a great opportunity for students to keep up with new technologies and trends in the beauty industry. Students have the opportunity to network; broaden their outlook and recognise a range of future possible job roles they could fulfil in the industry. Professional Beauty is always a very positive, interactive day that students and staff look forward to.”
We celebrate British Science Week with a selection of exciting science-based careers.
It’s British Science Week, a time to celebrate all things scientific and marvel at the diverse people and careers across the fields of science and engineering!
If you enjoy exploring what the world of science has to offer, then perhaps you should consider one of these fascinating careers.
1. Chemical Engineer
A sort of scientific magician, chemical engineers come up with ways to transform raw materials into something new. Using their in-depth knowledge of chemistry, chemical engineers can work in research and development, usually based in a lab, testing ways to develop products and using computer models to find the safest and most economical methods of production. This is a role that can also exist within manufacturing, where a chemical engineer designs, monitors or oversees a processing plant and deals with production issues.
2. Clinical Scientist
If you love biology, enjoy problem-solving or reasoning challenges, get excited by laboratory science and want to be at the forefront of medical discovery, then becoming a clinical scientist could be up your street. Clinical scientists develop new equipment and medical techniques to support the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of medical issues. This is a role that allows you to focus on science while also working with people. Clinical scientists share their knowledge of equipment and products with medical professionals and investigate the causes of people’s illnesses.
3. Ecologist
Are you the sort of person whose eagle eyes can spot interesting natural features and creatures when you’re out and about? Perhaps a career in ecology would suit you. Ecologists study how plants, animals and the environment affect each other. Day-to-day, an ecologist might conduct surveys, collecting and analysing data on environmental conditions, plants and animals. They’ll often use this information to advise on the impact of construction and farming on a specific area. Ecologists can also work on conservation projects and help raise awareness about ecological issues within the community.
4. Food Scientist/Technologist
Imagine Willy Wonka in a lab coat and you’ve got yourself a food scientist or food technologist. These roles centre around the development of food and drink products, with an emphasis on ensuring that they’re safe for human consumption. A food scientist is responsible for providing the correct nutritional information for food labels, testing food for quality and safety, and developing ways to keep food safe, fresh and visually appealing. A food technologist focuses more on the development of recipes, thinking about food production, looking at costs for raw ingredients and investigating quality control issues.
5. Forensic Scientist
Working in a role that blends forensic science expertise with legal knowledge, this is a career that suits those who can work under pressure, spot the smallest details and apply logic and reasoning to a range of tasks. A forensic scientist might be asked to analyse samples from crime scenes, give advice on explosives and firearms, extract data from electronic devices or analyse handwriting and signatures. Their expertise is vital for the preparation of evidence which is used in courts and legal cases.
6. Geologist
The ‘rock’ stars of the science world, geologists study the structure of the Earth. They look at how our incredible planet was formed and analyse rocks to find out more about its naturally occurring energy resources and minerals. Geologists need a deep understanding of maths and geography as well as a knowledge of engineering science, technology, physics and chemistry. They need strong analytical skills and a creative mind in order to develop innovative ideas into usable processes. Geologists travel to various sites to assess the ground and study the rocks in each setting, taking samples and recording essential information to find valuable resources. Geologists also play an important part in protecting people from natural disasters such as earthquakes, and may also be involved in studying seismic and volcanic activity.
7. Nanotechnologist
If you’re fascinated by the super-small, working as a nanotechnologist could be for you. Nanotechnologists work with materials on a tiny scale, using their science and technology skills and their knowledge of physics to design and build new devices and materials on the nanoscale. The nanoscale relates to things from 0.1 to 100 nanometers (nm) in size – for context, a human hair is about 80,000- 100,000 nm wide. Working within a range of fields like medicine, engineering science and manufacturing, nanotechnologists build things on the nanoscale before testing and analysing them. Nanotechnologists are often academics working towards a PhD, so they are often involved in writing articles, bidding for funding and creating reports.
8. Robotics Engineer
Combining skills spanning engineering, technology, computer operating systems and maths, the role of the robotics engineer is to design and build machines to do things for us. Working within exciting, constantly evolving industries like aerospace and medicine, robotics engineers design automated systems, build and test prototypes, analyse data and create reports on risks and issues. It’s a field that has embraced artificial intelligence, using it to enhance existing technology and take us into the future.
9. Textiles Technician
If you’ve ever looked at an item of clothing and instantly come up with three ways to improve it, a role in textiles could be a good fit for you. Also known as garment technologists, textile technicians are responsible for choosing which designs and fabrics work best to produce items of clothing at a specific cost. They do this by keeping a close eye on every stage of garment production, from fabric testing to sample fitting. They use their knowledge of production methods and quality analysis skills to give advice on the best materials and designs for a product, as well as analysing product queries, returns and faults.
10. Zoologist
There’s more to being a zoologist than feeding the animals at your local zoo – it’s a varied and fascinating role that could take you all over the world. Combining knowledge of biology and animal care, zoologists can work in fields such as agriculture, conservation or for the government, often specialising in one area such as birds or reptiles. Zoologists work both in labs and in the field, working to gather and analyse information and produce detailed reports or publish articles on their findings.
To find out more about any of these careers, you can consult the National Careers Service online.
Creative Media student Caner Dursun showcased his photography skills at a college event, with his image of Mark Warburton’s visit to CONEL featuring in local press coverage.
Caner, who is an EHCP student with autism, plans to incorporate the photo and coverage into his portfolio for future endeavours, particularly as he sets his sights on university applications.
Caner said: “I am a full-time student and have been at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North-East London for 7 years. I had good support from my teachers and student peers, and even though there was pressure I never gave up on doing the best I could do”.
Toan Pham, who is one of Caner’s teachers, said: “Caner didn’t think he would be able to complete a Level 3 course itself, but now he’s about to finish it off and apply to university, doing this photoshoot enabled him to gain industry experience and learning experience that he needs, he’s come along way with the media department.”
We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all learners, empowering them to develop their skills and make an impact in their chosen fields. Take a look at our range of Digital Media and Creative Computing courses and apply now!
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