Cornerstone Ed16_online

CORNER 

STONE 

AUTUMN 2016 

PMC OPENS 

PETER’S 

LEGACY 

PRINCIPAL MOVES ON 

AFTER 5 YEARS IN ROLE 

DEWSBURY 

LEARNING 

QUARTER 

APPRENTICESHIP 

LEVY

KCWORKS 

in partnership with 

Developing employability, 

filling the skills gap 

Kirklees College and Stafflex are 

working together to provide students 

with an opportunity to gain real work 

experience and put employers in control 

of creating an effective and motivated 

future workforce. 

For more information contact 

the KC Works Team on: 

01484 437115 

KCworks@kirkleescollege.ac.uk 

#WorksForMe 

90% of employers say apprentices 

are beneficial to their business 

Peter Sleigh, Sleigh and Story 

For more information contact 0800 804 6134 

or employers@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

CORNERSTONE 

Coverfeatures 

Welcome 

I am delighted to be Acting Principal of Kirklees College at this very 

exciting time. 

The opening of our Process Manufacturing Centre (PMC) is a real personal 

pleasure as I have been involved in the project since its inception. It is 

a great achievement for college and a fantastic resource for employers 

locally, regionally and nationally. 

The support from employers with the PMC has been amazing. We couldn’t 

have done it without them, the local authority Kirklees Council and the 

Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP). 

The PMC is already running the new trailblazer standards alongside 

existing frameworks which has put us in a position to provide employers 

with the best possible provision as we move into the new world of the 

Apprenticeship Levy. 

We want to continue to work with all employers and encourage them to 

talk to us to help solve any skill shortages and training needs. 

Changes to Apprenticeships and the new Apprenticeship Levy are a 

fantastic opportunity to put Apprenticeships back on the agenda and 

attract a vibrant new workforce who can learn from the skills and 

expertise that employers have. 

We’ve learnt from experience developing the PMC that we need to listen 

to employers and work with them to develop the skills they require. 

Whilst we can’t offer everything, we will try to work with employers 

using our networks to increasingly become a one-stop shop to source 

their training needs. 

I would like to wish our former Principal Peter McCann all the best in 

his retirement. Having worked closely with Peter for the last five years, 

he has been greatly missed, but he left the college in a far better position 

than it was in when he joined us. 

Our aim now is to build on his legacy and take the college from strength 

to strength in true partnership with our stakeholders – and we hope that 

you will play a part in this. 

June Durrant 

Acting Principal 

5-7 Dewsbury Learning Quarter - 

Two new college centres 

8-13 Principal Peter proud of college 

legacy 

14-17 Process Manufacturing Centre 

offical opening 

18 The Apprenticeship Levy 

Mainfeatures 

18-21 Apprenticeships 

22-25 Partnerships 

26-27 Student success 

28-29 College and staff success 

30-31 Alumni 

Cornerstonecover 

Cover image: Peter McCann 

Cornerstone 

team 

EDITOR Vicky Dacre 

DESIGNER Kate Taylor

CS / LAST TIME IN CORNERSTONE 

LAST TIME IN 

CORNERSTONE 

PROCESS 

MANUFACTURING 

CENTRE 

We launched a Partnership Garden 

at our Process Manufacturing 

Centre in May to celebrate progress 

made on the building and everyone 

who had supported our project. The 

centre has now opened - see more 

on pages 14-17. 

YORKSHIRE 

DAMA CHEESE 

A couple who started a business 

making halloumi cheese after coming 

to the UK from Syria are working with 

the college to help their business 

to grow and give something back 

to the local community. See page 

25 on how they transformed our 

landings 72 restaurant for a Channel 

4 television programme. 

STUDENT 

SUCCESS 

We celebrated student success 

at our annual Armytage Awards 

and College Outstanding 

Learning (COLS) Awards. 

TOP TWEETS 

Neil Spaxman @5PAX 

Demonstrating our 360 degree video 

technology at our staff development 

conference @kirkleescollege 

Endress+Hauser Ltd @Endress_UK 

Hope the students from @PMCKirklees 

enjoyed their experience day with us today. 

We wish you all the best in your future. 

Cristina George @Crissietoff 

Just been to meeting @kirkleescollege and approved 

their Transgender Policy - great they have one 

#greatcollege #equalityinaction 

Visual Communication @ExtendedDiploma 

Did you know ! BTEC students come to 

university with the skills they need to succeed. 

#FACT #ChooseBTEC @KirkleesCollege 

@teachBTEC 

Dughall McCormick @dughall 

Presenting on governance at 

the Adult Ed conference at 

@kirkleescollege this morning 

C&K Careers @CKCareers1 

Thank you to Catering students at @kirkleescollege who 

made some amazing cakes for our event last night! 

Claire Collins @ClaireCollins8 

Looking forward to visiting @kirkleescollege 

tomorrow for the launch of their practitioner 

research programme with @Philippaf 

Lee Bogg @lee_bogg 

#British #values #training today 

@kirkleescollege shaping the future 

Roy Farmer @farmerroy1 

Finished what a brill day @kirkleescollege 173 students 

taught CPR #restartaheart @YASCFR @jcarlyon @ 

YorksAmbulance @West_Yorks_FRS @TheBHF 

KC Sports Academy @KCSportsAcademy 

@AFC_Emley @kirkleescollege KC student 

Guy Guy Moboy on trial with professional 

club Carlisle. Opportunity is there if you 

play for us 

4 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk

CS / DEWSBURY CS / THINGS LEARNING ARE LOOKING QUARTERUP 

TWO NEW KIRKLEES COLLEGE CENTRES IN 

DEWSBURY - KNOWN AS DEWSBURY LEARNING 

QUARTER - ARE PLANNED FOR 2018. 

Top image: Pioneer House Above: (left) layout of Pioneer House, (right) plans for the new Dewsbury Centre 

The fantastic new facilities – right 

in the heart of the town centre – will 

provide exciting new opportunities 

for current and future students. 

The centres are being funded by the 

Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership 

(LEP) Skills Capital Fund in partnership 

with Kirklees Council. 

Planning permission has been granted 

and it is hoped building work can begin 

soon. 

A new centre will be built on land next 

to Lidl supermarket off Bradford Road, 

mainly for full time students aged 16 to 

18 including special areas for foundation 

learning, construction and motor vehicle. 

And the iconic landmark Pioneer House 

– opposite the railway station – will be 

transformed into a centre for higher 

level skills, Apprenticeships and post-19 

studies, specialising in creative and digital 

media and art, healthcare and business 

and finance. 

It will also have hair and beauty salons 

and a café, which will open to the public. 

Once the new buildings are complete, 

students will move down from Dewsbury 

Centre and Batley School of Art on Halifax 

Road. 

The Kirklees Economic Strategy (KES) has 

identified the regeneration of Dewsbury 

town centre as a major priority and it is 

hoped Dewsbury Learning Quarter will 

play a part in this. 

The working LEP Strategic Economic 

Plan (2016 - 2036) identifies the North 

Kirklees Growth Zone as a priority. The 

proposal seeks to deliver between 7,000 

and 7,500 new homes, generating 5,000 

new jobs, securing over a 25 year period 

a total Gross Value Added (GVA) of £1.9 

billion and thereby critically revitalising 

the urban centre of Dewsbury. 

The Council and college are undertaking 

an on-going study of the labour and skills 

requirement of the NGKZ to ensure that 

provision in Dewsbury is aligned with the 

projected needs of the market. 

www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk 

5 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6


CS / DEWSBURY LEARNING QUARTER 

DEWSBURY 

LEARNING 

QUARTER 

“I welcome these plans as it would be good to bring more footfall into the town 

centre. It might encourage more small businesses to open up, which is what we 

need to build on the work already being done.” 

Dewsbury Chamber of Trade President Trish Makepeace 

“This is exactly what is needed in the town centre. We need something that will 

bring footfall from people who have disposable income and would be happy to 

spend their money in Dewsbury.” 

Coun Darren O’Donovan (Labour, Dewsbury West) 

“We are excited by the prospect of being at the heart of the transformation plans 

for Dewsbury. 

“The potential investment in education facilities through the development of 

Dewsbury Learning Quarter would mean that we are able to provide fantastic 

opportunities for students, employers and apprentices in this area in a more 

accessible town centre location. 

“It will provide the college with a chance to redefine and build on its offer to meet 

the needs of local businesses, school leavers and the wider community.” 

Kirklees College Acting Deputy Principal Melanie Brooke 

Main image: the new Dewsbury Centre 


CS / DEWSBURY CS / THINGS LEARNING ARE LOOKING QUARTERUP 

“Our design proposals are intended to combine the modern demands of 

this educational institution with the latest designs and materials with a 

practical and logical plan developing a building that not only reflects the 

qualities of the college within this dynamic setting but provides the focus 

and catalyst for continued regeneration.” 

KPP Architects 

“This is excellent for Dewsbury. Anything supporting the invigoration and 

regeneration of Dewsbury is great. The former Safeway site has been derelict for 

so long, many years now. It’s great that it’s going to be used for the new education 

development.” 

Councillor Cathy Scott (Labour, Dewsbury East) 

“The net result will be a massive increase in footfall in the centre of the town, 

which is exactly what we want. It will be a major improvement to an iconic 

building which we are hoping to bring back to use. 

“We have made Dewsbury a priority, and our North Kirklees Growth Zone plans 

to deliver between 7,000 and 7,500 new homes, generating 5,000 new jobs. 

“Our skills strategy relies on us having the right opportunities for our young 

people in the right sectors where we know they can embark on rewarding careers. 

The partnership with the college will go some way to meeting all these priorities.” 

Councillor Peter McBride (Labour, Dalton), Cabinet Member with Responsibility 

for Economy, Skills, Transportation and Planning 


7 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6

CS / PETER MCCANN 

PRINCIPAL 

PETER 

PROUD OF 

COLLEGE 

LEGACY 



As he stepped down from his role as principal and chief executive in August, Peter McCann 

was proud of progress Kirklees College has made during his five years in charge. 

During this time the college 

has dramatically improved 

its facilities with the opening 

of new buildings including 

the Huddersfield Centre, 

Engineering Centre and the 

Process Manufacturing Centre, 

and plans and funding for two 

new centres in Dewsbury for 

2018 have been agreed with 

the Leeds City Region Local 

Enterprise Partnership. 

This period has also seen 

a remarkable growth in 

Apprenticeships, increased 

partnership working with local 

business and organisations, and 

improved Ofsted rating, pass 

rates and progression of students 

to Apprenticeships, employment 

and higher education. 

The college has also received 

national recognition including 

a National Beacon Award for 

its Aspiring Managers training 

programme in 2014 and a Beacon 

Award runner-up commendation 

in 2015 for application of 

technology in learning. 

Most recently in 2016 the college 

was awarded the national silver 

award from Apprenticeships 4 

England for the quality of the 

apprenticeship provision offered 

through the college. 

The college also received 

formal recognition in 2013 from 

the Minister at the time for the 

outstanding, rapid improvement 

in teaching and learning and 

student outcomes. 

“When I joined the college back 

in 2011 the college was faced 

with a £7.6m operating deficit, so 

my first year/18 months was very 

difficult to get the college on an 

even keel financially whilst still 

improving teaching and learning 

and student success,” said Peter. 

“We’ve had lots of further 

challenges since the original 

deficit with year on year cuts 

in adult funding up until 2015, 

which have made the financial 

journey even more difficult. 

“It was also essential that we 

listened to employer needs 

and invested in the future for 

Kirklees and the employers who 

provide employment for our 

community. The engineering and 

process manufacturing centres 

will provide essential skills for 

economy and I am proud we 

have been able to achieve that 

despite our financial difficulties. 

“The thing that kept me 

focused and determined was 

the wonderful staff and students 

at the college and the broader 

community, who supported the 

college and our students to 

succeed. 

“It’s obviously very positive that 

student success rates across 

all areas have improved out of 

recognition from where we were 

five years ago but you are only as 

good as your last set of results 

so we are currently working with 

this year’s graduates to ensure 

achievement and progression 

are as high as humanly possible 

for every student. 

“The GCSE maths and English 

results are the most difficult 

part of our work as the majority 

of young people who have not 

achieved a grade C at school 

come to the college and it is 

unrealistic to think they can 

all succeed in a year with us 

although many do. 

“People in national office tell 

me the reputation of the college 

has never been higher and that 

is obviously nice to hear. Part 

of what makes the college so 

special is that we serve such 

a diverse community and are 

committed to opportunity for all 

and add value to lives through 

the power of education and 

skills. 

“The thing that kept me focused 

and determined was the wonderful 

staff and students at the college 

and the broader community, who 

supported the college and our 

students to succeed.” 

Image above: Peter and staff at the Huddersfield Centre 


9 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6

CS / LAST PETER TIME MCCANN IN CORNERSTONE 

Peter with Karen Marshall at the Children In Need event 

“We try to provide a service for 

all parts of our community and 

help them to be the best they 

can be and it is this drive that 

makes our staff so special”, said 

Peter. 

“The rise in the number of 

Apprenticeships we support 

each year from 400 in 2012 

to 2,200 in 2016 is another 

development of which I am 

proud. I’m also proud of the work 

we have done with employers 

to achieve this, particularly 

with the development of the 

Process Manufacturing Centre 

and our strong partnership with 

Huddersfield Town Football 

Club who have been a rock in 

our community on and off the 

pitch. 

“I will miss the staff and students 

when I leave – they have been a 

privilege to work with and they 

should be proud of all their 

achievements, sometimes in 

extreme adverse circumstances. 

“If I had a message for the town 

of Huddersfield and the broader 

Kirklees community however it 

is that we need to be rightly 

proud of our heritage but more 

aspirational and creative looking 

forward. 

“My biggest bug bear is the 

amount of chewing gum on 

the pavements and the lack of 

dynamism in the town centre. It 

creates a lack luster impression 

to visitors and potential investors 

in our area.” 

Peter has lived in West Yorkshire 

for over 20 years but originates 

from Bootle on Merseyside. 

Before embarking upon a career 

in further education, he went 

away to a seminary at the age 

of 10 to train to be a priest but 

left at the age of 19 to train and 

work in accountancy before 

undertaking voluntary service 

overseas through the British Aid 

programme in the Seychelles, 

where he later returned to 

manage a hotel and host a radio 

show. 

Upon returning to the UK 

he combined part-time 

accountancy with studying as 

a mature student at Liverpool 

University where he graduated 

in psychology, following 

which he was appointed as 

an outreach careers officer in 

Toxteth in Liverpool working 

with Rastafarian youth. 

Whilst in this role he was 

approached by the local further 

education college to work with 

unemployed young people and 

adults. 

He subsequently trained as 

a teacher and found his final 

career path in further education 

to add value to lives through the 

power of further education and 

training. 

Alongside being chief executive 

and principal at Kirklees College, 

Peter has also represented 

the FE sector on the National 

Education Training Foundation 

and was chairman of the 

consortium of West Yorkshire 

Colleges and the Leeds City 

Region Skills Network. 

Peter will continue to live in the 

area which he now regards as 

home having moved here to 

take up the post and hopes to 

continue his work within the FE 

sector as well as spending more 

time with his grandchildren, 

playing tennis, travelling, 

reading and going to the 

theatre. 

Presentation of signed football shirt by Tracy Nelson from HTAFC 

Hosting the College Outstanding Learner Success awards (COLS) 

1 0 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk

CS / THINGS CS ARE / PETER LOOKING MCCANN UP 

Peter and members of the Senior Leadership Team with HRH The Duke of York 

With HRH The Duke of York outside the Huddersfield Centre 

Opening the Engineeering Centre 


1 1 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6



Peter McCann and Head of Engineering John Mills with then Work and Pensions Minister Iain Duncan Smith and students Annabel Burgess and Tom Fox 

Receiving the AOC Gold Award from Lord Willis of Knaresborough - 

President of the AoC Charitable Trust 

Breaking the ground at the new 


Graduation 2016, Dewsbury Town Hall 

With Vice Principal Sandra Burnhill, Angela Garczynski and Alison Welsh from 

Norton Webb 


CS / THINGS ARE LOOKING UP 

CS / JUNE DURRANT 

JUNE DURRANT STEPS UP 

AS ACTING PRINCIPAL 

Mark O Reilly Managing Director of Just Ask Scarlett, Senior Leadership Team members Jane Roper, 

Steven Downham-Clarke, June Durrant, Peter McCann and Sygenta’s Ian Nunn and Nigel Wright 

Deputy Principal June Durrant has stepped up to Acting Principal following the retirement of Peter McCann. 

Peter left the college in August 

after five years in the role. 

June will take the helm until a 

newly appointed Principal takes 

up their post in around spring 

2017. 

Vice Principal Melanie Brooke 

will deputise for June where 

appropriate and will take on 

additional duties for this interim 

period. 

June has a great passion for 

further education, and believes 

the college mission statement 

“creating opportunity, changing 

lives” really sums up what FE 

means to her. 

June has developed a particular 

passion for working with 

employers to provide the 

training they really need that 

has a tangible effect on their 

business. 

And she firmly believes that 

getting that right then leads to 

great sustainable employment 

opportunities for students. 

June added: “I truly believe 

further education prepares 

people for the realities of work 

and the independence of mind 

for further, higher level study. 

“I really want to use my time as 

Acting Principal to build on the 

great work Peter McCann did to 

put the college at the heart of 

the community.” 

Born and raised in Leicestershire, 

June moved to Yorkshire 32 

years ago. 

June has worked in the further 

education (FE) sector for the last 

30 years, 18 years at Bradford 

College and then 12 years 

at Kirklees College, formerly 

known as Huddersfield Technical 

College. 

June is actually an alumna from 

Huddersfield Technical College 

where she studied A level 

Biology in 1986, before gaining 

a BA Honours from Bradford 

University followed by a PGCE 

from Huddersfield University. 

In the second year of June’s 

university degree, she was 

identified as dyslexic and June 

remarks on that being a turning 

point for her, one she has never 

looked back from. 

In her spare time she enjoys 

crafting, watercolour painting 

and spending time with her 

family. 


1 3 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6

CS / PMC OFFICIAL OPENING 

NORTHERN 

POWERHOUSE 

MINISTER PRAISES 

NEW PROCESS 

MANUFACTURING 

CENTRE 



Kirklees College declared 

its Process Manufacturing 

Centre (PMC) open in 

October with over 60 

project partners, local 

MPs, apprentices and its 

main funder, Leeds City 

Region Local Enterprise 

Partnership (LEP) 

attending a celebratory 

event. 

Hailed as a ‘boost’ to the north by 

Northern Powerhouse Minister, 

Andrew Percy, it was awarded 

£3.1m capital funding through 

the Leeds City Region Enterprise 

Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal- a 

£1 billion package of government 

investment to accelerate growth 

and create jobs across Leeds City 

Region. 

This was added to with funds from 

local and national businesses and 

donations in the form of plant, 

services and equipment, making 

its value around £5m in total. 

Northern Powerhouse Minister 

Andrew Percy said: 

“This government has invested 

millions of pounds to fund 

Kirklees College’s new Process 

Manufacturing Centre to help 

boost growth and create jobs in 

the Northern Powerhouse. 

“The centre will enhance Leeds 

City Region’s reputation as a hub 

for manufacturing and will give 

students the best training possible 

to get a job in the industry. I would 

encourage anyone interested to 

take advantage of this fantastic 

opportunity.” 

Businesses interested in getting involved with the 

centre can contact the process manufacturing team 

processmanufacturing@kirkleescollege.ac.uk 

Over 60 partner organisations 

from the industry have made 

contributions and pledges to a 

value of around £700,000. The 

centre has a fully operational 

process manufacturing batch 

plant (2000 litre) with control 

room, remote tank farm and 

a semi-automatic packaging 

line. This gives students and 

apprentices a learning experience 

in a real process manufacturing 

environment. This is supplemented 

by four classrooms, an IT suite and 

learning resource centre. 


1 5 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6


The new centre has enabled the 

college to develop its curriculum 

in line with industry demands, 

both regionally and nationally. 

The college was selected by 

the National Skills Academy 

Food and Drink (NSAFD) to 

as a national provider for two 

Trailblazer Apprenticeships. 

These new Apprenticeships in 

Food and Drink Maintenance 

Engineer and Process Operations 

are two of the first of the new 

‘standards’ to be launched 

under the reforms announced 

by government to achieve more 

employer-focused programmes 

of training. 

The college is also providing 

these Apprenticeships for 

other key sectors including 

pharmaceutical and chemical 

industries. The college provides 

Apprenticeships in Laboratory 

Technicians and Supply Chain 

Management, working hand in 

hand with the college’s science 

and engineering departments, 

and covering all elements of the 

process industry’s needs. 

The centre currently has 70 

apprentices on its books, which 

is likely to raise to 300 in the next 

few years. 

The Leeds City Region Local 

Enterprise Partnership provided 

Growth Fund capital following a 

strong and successful bid from 

the college and its initial group 

of industry partners. 

Over the last three years, 

the college has worked with 

businesses who have offered a 

range of equipment, services and 

advice. One of those businesses 

was Projex Solutions. 

“We are delighted to have been 

able to support Kirklees College 

in creating a state-of-the-art 

facility by applying our team’s 

specialist process manufacturing 

knowledge to the PMC project.” 

Jamie Ashton, managing director 

at Projex Solutions Limited. 

June Durrant, Acting Principal 

of Kirklees College helped 

to initiate the centre’s 

development with local 

businesses BASF, Syngenta, 

Nufarm, Manrochem and YCF 

back in 2013. 

June said: “We’ve worked 

very closely with a number of 

businesses in this industry to 

make sure we get the facilities 

and the training offer just right. 

We don’t see this as the end of 

the project but as a continuing 

partnership where we can be 

flexible in our offer, work with 

specialist businesses to shape 

the delivery of training and 

Apprenticeships. 

Key facts about the Process Manufacturing Centre 

PROCESS PLANT FACTS 

• 5 main plant items (e.g. tanks, vessels, down-flow 

booth – main vessel 2000L batch scale) 

• 30 ancillary plant items (e.g. pumps) 

• 46 instruments (e.g. level sensors, temperature 

probes) 

• 154 valves (actuated, manual, control) 

• 2 valve islands 

• 1 main controller 

• 3 variable speed drive agitators 

• 54 lines (typically stainless steel mainly 25mm Dia) 

• 35 flexible hoses. 

BUILDING FACTS 

• 10,000 bricks forming external envelope/ 

retaining wall 

• 15,000 blocks forming internal walls (including 

2000 blocks to form lift shaft) 

• 300m 3 of concrete to form the foundations and 

floors 

• 1500m 2 of cladding (including roof) 

• 10 miles of cable 

• 300 litres of paint 

• 4 miles of service pipework. 

PMC TWEETS 

John McCarthy @JMcCarthy_obt At the opening of 

@kirkleescollege PMC Brian Lawson thanks all sponsors for their 

support in developing this facility 

Syngenta HD2 @ 

SyngentaHD2 We’re 

really proud of our 

involvement with the 

new process centre. 

What a fantastic 

achivement! 

WYCC @WYCColleges Lots of fantastic coverage for the official 

opening of @kirkleescollege Process Manufacturing Centre last week 

#investinskills 

Jason McCartney MP @JasonMcCartney Looking forward 

to seeing the National Process Manufacturing Centre tmrw 

#Huddersfield @kirkleescollege @LeedsCityRegion 

#NorthernPowerhouse 

Andy Morris @andymorris001 We have a stand at the 

@kirkleescollege Process Manufacturing Centre, @NPL and it looks 

like a tremendous facility 

Martin Green @martingkirklees Well done all @kirkleescollege 

A superb achievement! 

Best Lab Solutions @BestLabMENA Lots of people 

supporting and attending @kirkleescollege today at the 

opening of process manufacturing centre #PMCopens great 

to be here! 

Jamie Ashton @ProjexSolutions PMC 

open day @kirkleescollege brilliant project 

delivered by @ProjexSolLtd @Extract_Tech 

@Thorite @Kodak @kirkleescollege @ 

YCFofficial 

Alex Mason @alexdmason Really inspiring speech on 

#apprenticeships from @BarrySheerman at the opening of 

@kirkleescollege PMC today. Life ain’t all about a degree! 

ARMS Reliability @armsreliability We’ve sponsored the new Process 

Manufacturing Centre at @kirkleescollege in Huddersfield and look forward 

to supporting them in the future! 



“We have a lot of people 

to thank for their support 

for bringing this project to 

reality. We appreciate that 

the LEP have listened to their 

community and helped to 

fund a facility that we know 

is in demand and Kirklees 

Council have also been 

incredibly supportive of the 

project.” 

Roger Marsh OBE and chair of 

the LEP said: 

“When we first engaged with 

the college about this project, 

we could see the extraordinary 

potential this centre has to 

address some of the skills 

challenges we face in our city 

region’s manufacturing and 

engineering sectors. 

“Bringing together private 

sector investment in the form 

of their technology, knowledge 

and machinery with the fantastic 

new learning environment 

funded by the LEP and college, 

this is a ground breaking 

initiative. The Kirklees College 


positions Leeds City Region 

as a polestar for public and 

private sector collaboration in 

the North and will help confront 

our skills challenges and create 

future career opportunities for 

our city region’s young people.” 

Timeline of events 

August 2014 

Funding bid submitted to Leeds City Region Enterprise 

Partnership (LEP) by key partners Kirklees College, 

Nufarm, Syngenta, BASF, YCF and Manrochem. 

December 2014 

Funding agreed 

Supported by 

This project has received investment through the Leeds City Region Enterprise 

Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal – a £1 billion package of government investment to 

accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region. 

July 2015 

Groundworks begin 

on site 

February 2015 

Key strategic partnerships 

formed including Kodak agree 

to supply fully operational 

process plant. Projex Solutions 

support the planning process. 

April 2016 

Partnership garden 

event – Growing 

Stronger Together. June 2016 

August 2016 

First apprentices begin and 

Lubrication master class at PMC. 

October 2016 

Opening and partnership celebration 

December 2015 

Engineering Maintenance Apprenticeship (Trailblazer) 

Approved by National Skills Academy Food and Drink as national 

provider of Food and Drink Engineering Maintenance. Industry 

Approved Apprenticeship Standard. 

Process Operations Apprenticeship (Trailblazer) Approved 

by National Skills Academy Food and Drink as national 

provider of Food and Drink Process Operations. Industry 

Approved Apprenticeship Standard. 

September 2016 

Semi-automatic 

packaging line donated 


1 7 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6

CS / APPRENTICESHIPS 

WHAT IS THE 

APPRENTICESHIP LEVY? 

In April 2017 the way the Government funds Apprenticeships in England is changing. Some employers 

will be required to contribute to a new Apprenticeship Levy, and there will be changes to the funding for 

Apprenticeship training for all employers. 

PAYING THE 

APPRENTICESHIP LEVY 

The Apprenticeship Levy 

requires all employers 

operating in the UK, with a 

pay bill over £3 million each 

year, to make an investment 

in Apprenticeships. You can 

benefit from this investment by 

training apprentices. 

The levy is charged at a rate of 

0.5 per cent of your annual pay 

bill. You will have an allowance 

of £15,000 per year to offset 

against the levy you must pay. 

This means you will only pay the 

levy if your pay bill exceeds £3 

million in a given year. 

WHAT ABOUT 

APPRENTICESHIPS ALREADY 

IN PLACE? 

Apprentices who have 

been accepted on to an 

Apprenticeship programme 

before 1 May 2017 will be 

funded for the full duration of 

the Apprenticeship under the 

terms and conditions in place 

when training started. 

This applies for both 

apprenticeship ‘frameworks’ 

and new ‘Apprenticeship 

standards’ (see below). 

EMPLOYERS THAT DON’T 

PAY THE LEVY 

If you are not eligible to pay 

the levy, you will be asked 

to make a contribution to 

the cost of Apprenticeship 

training and the Government 

will pay the rest. This is paid 

directly to the Apprenticeship 

provider and you will be able 

to spread it over the life time 

of the Apprenticeship. As 

both you and the government 

make a payment it is called 

‘co-investment’. 

Every Apprenticeship will be 

allocated to a funding band. 

The upper limit of the funding 

band will cap the maximum 

price that government will 

‘co-invest’. 

APPRENTICESHIP 

STANDARDS VS 

FRAMEWORKS 

There are now two different 

types of Apprenticeship 

training. You can choose 

the training you’d like your 

apprentice to receive. This 

can either be on a new 

Apprenticeship standard, or 

on an existing Apprenticeship 

framework. 

Apprenticeship standards are 

the new type of Apprenticeship 

developed by employers. Each 

standard covers a specific job 

role and sets out the core skills, 

knowledge and behaviours an 

apprentice will need to be fully 

competent in their job role and 

meet the needs of employers 

in the sector. Standards are 

developed by employer groups 

known as ‘trailblazers’. 

An Apprenticeship framework 

ordinarily involves a series of 

work-related vocational and 

professional qualifications, with 

workplace and classroom based 

training. 

The National Apprenticeship 

Service is aiming to phase out 

frameworks between now and 

2020. 

If you need further information, please contact Kirklees College on 0800 781 3020. 

More details are available on the National Apprenticeship Service website at https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/ 

apprenticeships or email apprenticeships.levy@bis.gsi.gov.uk 

1 8 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 

www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk


Kirklees College brickwork tutor Ian Mellor and Myers Building 

Supplies branch manager Andrew Skeldon with apprentices. 

MYERS SUPPORT 

APPRENTICESHIPS AT 

KIRKLEES COLLEGE 

Construction apprentices from Kirklees 

College are building their futures with 

help from a local firm. 

Myers Building Supplies in Huddersfield 

has donated building materials for 

brickwork apprentices at Brunel Centre 

for Construction to use as part of their 

course. 

The company gave the college concrete 

blocks, walling stone, damp proof course, 

cavity insulation and cavity wall ties as 

well as a quantity of safety glasses. 

Ian Mellor, brickwork tutor at Kirklees 

College said: “We are delighted to 

receive these materials and support from 

Myers. It is great for the students to have 

closer links with local building merchants 

at this point and for the future.” 

Myers brand marketing and 

communications manager Theresa Flacks 

said: “Myers Group is an employer of 

local apprentices in various departments 

throughout the business so we were more 

than happy to get involved.” 


1 9 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6



JOURNEY OF AN 

APPRENTICE 

A former apprentice is hoping to inspire the next generation of 

apprentices through teaching at Kirklees College. 

Nigel Day, who runs 

NCD Separation 

Solutions Ltd, will be 

delivering teaching at 

the college’s Process 

Manufacturing Centre 

having helped to 

develop a course 

on the Principles of 

Separation of Insoluble 

Solids from Liquids. 

Nigel began his career as an 

apprentice engineer at 16 with 

Thomas Broadbent and Sons 

in Huddersfield. 

The company, which has had 

over 100 apprentices, is really 

keen on the development 

of their apprentices, as their 

industry of manufacturing 

industrial centrifuges requires 

highly skilled employees in the 

field of engineering. 

Nigel completed his training 

at Huddersfield Technical 

College (now Kirklees College) 

achieving an ONC and HNC, 

before doing his final year at 

the University of Huddersfield. 

Nigel was previously a part 

time tutor with Kirklees 

College but had to end his 

teaching due to overseas work 

commitments for Broadbent. 

“I have never forgotten my 

time as an apprentice and 

the enjoyment of being able 

to help other apprentices 

through my time as a lecturer 

all those years ago” said 

Nigel. 

“Thanks to the first class 

engineering Apprenticeship 

scheme and my previous 

employer Thomas Broadbent 

they have allowed me to travel 

all over the world for the last 

40 years. 

“I hope I can play some part in 

inspiring the next crop of local 

apprentices.” 

2 0 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 


CS / PETER JONES ENTERPRISE ACADEMY 

PJEA courses in enterprise and entrepreneurship are unlike any other 

college course, with students involved in the running of real-time businesses. 

ENTERPRISE STUDENTS 

GRADUATE WITH 

DRAGONS’ DEN STAR 

Kirklees College’s Peter Jones Enterprise 

Academy scooped two national awards at the 

organisation’s graduation ceremony at the 

Freemasons’ Hall, London. 

All students collected scrolls from the Dragons’ 

Den star Peter Jones CBE, whose charity the 

Peter Jones Foundation runs the academy, and 

charity patron HRH the Duke of York. 

Kirklees College student Arun Kumar was 

named national Level 3 student of the year and 

Head of Enterprise Lydia Butterworth received 

the accolade of Business Enterprise Manager of 

the year. 

Michael Hayman MBE said Kumar was rewarded 

for his “brilliant combination of talent, attitude 

and achievement” and “demonstrating the key 

entrepreneurial qualities the courses aim to 

achieve”. 

Arun said: “Thank you to everyone at PJEA and 

Kirklees College for your support and guidance. 

I am humbled and ecstatic about winning the 

award. It was also an honour to meet Peter 

Jones and HRH The Duke of York.” 

Michael Hayman MBE said Lydia was a key 

figure behind academy students and had 

been inspirational, giving 

fantastic opportunities to 

her students. 

Lydia said: “Graduation is 

the highlight of my year – 

seeing the learners walking 

across the stage to collect their qualification 

and shake Peter Jones by the hand is a source 

of such pride and happiness. 

“When Arun won I thought I was going to burst 

with excitement. He is an outstanding learner 

and lovely young man and there is no doubt in 

my mind that he will become a very successful 

entrepreneur.” 

Peter Jones CBE said: “Every year I am more 

and more impressed by the confidence, 

dedication and passion shown by our students. 

I launched the academyin 2009 to give young 

entrepreneurs theskills and opportunities to 

pursue a worthwhile and rewarding career. 

“Young people, as the next generation 

of business leaders, have a crucial role to 

play in our country’s future. It is important 

that they come together to propel the UK’s 

entrepreneurial sector firmly forward.” 

ENTERPRISE STUDENTS 

WOW WITH CREATIVE 

BUSINESS ADVERT 

Our Peter Jones Enterprise 

Academy students were 

crowned winners of a 

challenge set by the 

Academy, in conjunction 

with photography business 

stalwarts, Canon and Jessops. 

Students Devonte Brown, Tom 

Rowlands, Tom Scholefield, 

Josh Saunier and Tristan 

Whylie came together for 

‘The Advert’ challenge – a 

task that required them to 

create a brand new business 

advert, using only Canon 

photography equipment. 

Team leader Devonte Brown 

came up with business idea 

‘Bling On Bling’ when he 

spotted a gap in the male 

market for the rental of 

luxurious jewellery items. 

The team’s innovative 

approach to the task, which 

involved them using a 

variety of different tools and 

pieces of equipment, helped 

them to create an advert 

that truly stood against the 

competition. 

Devonte Brown commented: 

“It was amazing to be 

involved in such a creative 

initiative, and have the chance 

to work alongside other 

students to create the design 

behind my business idea. I 

look forward to using skills I 

developed in this challenge in 

the future.” 

Head of Enterprise Lydia 

Butterworth said: “This was 

an incredibly fun challenge. 

The students loved the 

opportunity to be really 

creative and to learn new 

skills. 

“I am so proud of the team 

and it’s made even more 

special by the fact that this 

is the second year in the row 

we have won the Canon and 

Jessops challenge”. 


2 1 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6

CS / PARTNERSHIPS 

Photo shows: HTAFC 

Senior Commercial 

Manager - Hospitality 

Tracy Nelson, player Sean 

Scannell, Kirklees College 

Commercial Manager 

Jason Taylor and HTAFC 

Head Coach David Wagner. 

COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP 

HOPES TO BE ‘LUCKY 7’ FOR 

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 

everyone is delighted to see 

this partnership continue for a 

seventh successive season. 

“Kirklees College’s expertise 

has been vital in growing and 

evolving the Huddersfield 

Town Enterprise Academy 

and we’re already looking 

forward to the next meeting in 

November.” 

Kirklees College Acting Deputy 

Principal Melanie Brooke said: 

“We are really proud of our 

long standing partnership with 

Huddersfield Town and are 

looking forward to a range of 

further developments this year. 

Kirklees College is hoping its 

seventh year of partnership 

with Huddersfield Town will be 

a ‘lucky 7’ for the club. 

The two organisations have 

been in partnership since 

the 2010/11 season, making 

2016/17 the seventh successive 

year in a row. 

Kirklees College is proud to 

be the club’s official education 

partner. 

Part of this role sees the 

college using its expertise in 

the realm of employment to 

help further improve the club’s 

premiere business networking 

group; the Huddersfield Town 

Enterprise Academy. 

HTEA is a hub for businesses 

to network, create discussion 

and facilitate the local business 

community to work together 

more closely. 

As the partnership has grown 

over the years, the two 

organisations have found more 

ways of working together to 

benefit the town and local 

community. 

HTAFC’s Commercial 

Director Sean Jarvis said: 

“Huddersfield Town prides 

itself on working with 

successful local organisations 

and there is no better example 

than Kirklees College, so 

“As a key partner we are 

hoping that our seventh year 

could be ‘lucky 7’ for the 

club with another successful 

season.” 

Businesses interested in 

joining the Huddersfield 

Town Enterprise Academy 

can join on Linked In and find 

out about future events and 

opportunities. 

Staff and students from 

animal care and public 

services helped out at 

the RSPCA’s Doggy Dash 

to launch a partnership 

between the charity and the 

college. 

The partnership came about 

after the RSPCA Halifax, 

Huddersfield and District 

supported the college’s 

Employability Week in March 

and with animal care courses 

at our Taylor Hill Centre in 

Huddersfield. 

We are looking at more 

ways of working together to 

help the charity raise funds 

and awareness of its work, 

including animal welfare, and 

give students opportunities to 

do voluntary work and develop 

their work skills. 

Plans include a project for 

students on the college’s 

Peter Jones Enterprise 

RSPCA DOGGY 

DASH EVENT 

LAUNCHED COLLEGE 

PARTNERSHIP 

Academy course and the 

possibility of work placements, 

work experience and 

Apprenticeships as well as 

supporting each other at 

upcoming events. 

At the launch, then Principal 

Peter McCann said: “As a 

college we are always keen to 

help local charities to promote 

their work, but this partnership 

also gives our students lots of 

exciting opportunities through 

volunteering, work experience 

and helping at events. 

“We place a great deal of 

importance on ensuring our 

students not only gain their 

qualifications with us but 

learn other vital skills which 

will equip them for when 

they leave college to go into 

employment.” 

Lauren Moore, Community 

Fundraiser said: ‘’We are really 

looking forward to working 

with Kirklees College staff 

and students, local support is 

incredibly important to us as 

we are a local charity. 

“People often assume the 

RSPCA is one big organisation, 

but all the branches are 

actually separately registered 

charities, responsible for 

raising their own funds within 

their own area. 

“Working with such a 

prominent establishment that 

Kirklees College is, will be a 

great benefit to the animals 

in our care and we hope the 

partnership will help educate, 

bring a new generation of 

support and create lots of 

exciting opportunities!” 

Photo shows: Lauren Moore, Branch Fundraiser, RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield and District Branch with animal care students and dogs at Kirklees College Taylor Hill Centre. 

2 2 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 



COLLEGE DONATES 

COMPUTERS FOR SCOUTS’ 

PROJECT NEPAL 

Kirklees College helped 

Huddersfield Scouts to rebuild 

a school in an area of Nepal 

devastated by earthquakes 

with the donation of computer 

equipment. 

Kirklees College IT director 

Alan Riley presented 10 HTC 

Shift tablet devices, which the 

Scout group took on their trip 

in October. 

He said: “It’s great we could 

help the Scouts with their trip 

to Nepal to help rebuild a 

village school following last 

year’s devastation. 

“I’m sure the mini laptops 

devices, which are no longer 

needed by the college after 

many years of service, will 

be put to good use by the 

children of Nepal in their new 

school. We are always pleased 

to support our local 

community and worthy causes 

whenever we can.” 

The link between the 

Scouts and the college was 

made by Adam Swallow, 

whose company Olympus 

Technologies has partnered 

with the college’s new Process 

Manufacturing Centre and 

provided specialist equipment 

for it. 

Adam said: “I have been 

working with the college on 

the Process Manufacturing 

Centre project and mentioned 

to them that a friend of mine 

at the scouts was in need of 

computer equipment for this 

appeal. 

“The college has been very 

kind in providing what they 

can for this excellent cause. It’s 

been a real success!” 

Photo shows: Nicola Bartlett and Marilyn Horton from Huddersfield Scouts with Alan Riley from Kirklees College. 


2 3 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6


Sponsors of COLs 2015 

PARTNER WITH US! 

Kirklees College provides you with an 

outstanding resource to help support 

your organisation. By working in 

partnership with us, you will have 

access to an incredible array of talent, 

state of the art facilities and a wide 

selection of business partners. You will 

also receive a vast amount of coverage 

through our traditional and digital 

channels. 

We work with businesses ranging from 

sole traders to large multi-national 

organisations who buy our training 

programmes, up skill their workforce, 

place our apprentices, support live student 

projects as well as hire or sponsor our 

facilities. 

But this is just scratching the surface - in 

order to demonstrate the vast amount of 

opportunities and services provided to 

employers – here is a flavour of how we 

can work together: 

• Apprenticeships: we offer the best 

range of work-based opportunities 

across Kirklees, Calderdale and beyond 

with around 2,000 apprentices working 

for over 1,000 employers. 

• Workforce training: both ‘off the shelf’ 

training courses (AAT, CIM, etc.) as well 

as courses bespoke to your individual 

needs with flexible delivery. 

• Work-based student placements: 

employers tell us some students are just 

not ready for the work-place, so with 

your help offering work placements, we 

are addressing this skills gap. 

• Curriculum development: employers 

have led the development of our new 

national process manufacturing training 

centre to meet a skills shortage they 

identified. 

• Guest speakers and college alumni: 

inspire self-confidence in students by 

sharing your experience with them. 

• Live briefs and real time business 

challenges: our students hold ‘business 

surgeries’ and solve real problems for 

local companies as part of their Peter 

Jones Enterprise Academy course. 

• Sponsorship of equipment, classrooms, 

individuals, awards and competitions: 

companies have supplied equipment 

for our students’ with companies 

benefitting from using our centres as 

their ‘northern show rooms’ or 

sponsor our events e.g. College 

Outstanding Learner Success (COLS) 

Awards. 

• Partnership projects: individualised 

projects with shared goals that deliver 

mutual benefits for both company 

and college (PR-based activities, one-off 

community projects, etc.) 

To discuss any of these opportunities and more – please contact 

our commercial manager – Jason Taylor on 07984 694781 or 

email jtaylor02@kirkleescollege.ac.uk 

2 4 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 



Industry Training Board 

(CITB), led by Leeds College 

of Building aims to support 

unemployed and inactive 

participants to gain skills and 

employment in the construction 

industry. 

Kirklees College is running 

the courses in painting and 

decorating at its Dewsbury 

Construction Academy. 

CONSTRUCTION SKILLS PROGRAMME 

HELPS LOCAL CHARITY 

A training course to help 

people to get back into work 

and fill gaps in the local 

construction industry has also 

helped a local charity. 

Participants on the first Step Up 

Into Construction (SUIC) course 

at Kirklees College have been 

putting their new skills to good 

use by helping to decorate a 

cellar at the Support 2 Recovery 

charity in Huddersfield, along 

with full time painting and 

decorating students from the 

college. 

Sian Smith, deputy manager at 

Support 2 Recovery, said: “It has 

been great to get students from 

Kirklees College decorating 

our cellars, within a morning 

you could see a difference, so 

a week has seen achievements 

that would have taken us 

months. 

“The tutor was great, keeping 

us up to date on everything and 

the students were hard working, 

polite and interested in our 

project.” 

Ian Hemingway, from 

Liversedge, heard about SUIC 

through the Job Centre. 

“I’ve done painting and 

decorating before but thought 

it would be a good way to 

update my skills and help me 

get back into employment,” he 

said. 

“I’ve really enjoyed it and would 

definitely recommend the 

course to other people.” 

The Step up into Construction 

project is funded by the 

European Structural Investment 

Fund and the Construction 

The four-week course also 

focuses on employability and 

health and safety skills as well as 

work experience. 

To find out more, contact Paul 

Toher on 01484 437168 or email 

ptoher@kirkleescollege.ac.uk. 

Image: Step Up Into Construction participants Ian Hemingway, Michael Murphy and Robert Lockwood painting at Support 2 Recovery charity. 

MY KITCHEN RULES 

College’s Landings72 was 

transformed into an Arabian 

restaurant for a Channel 4 TV 

programme. 

Razan Alsous from Yorkshire 

Dama Cheese has been working 

with Kirklees College to help her 

business to grow. 

Staff at our new Process 

Manufacturing Centre have also 

been assisting the company 

to see how they can make 

their cheese production more 

efficient and reduce costs. 

So when Razan was asked to 

take part in My Kitchen Rules 

UK, she wanted to use the 

college as a pop-up restaurant 

for the show. 

Razan said: “I featured as part 

of the Yorkshire region and the 

programme sees cooks invite 

people into their homes and 

cook for the chefs and other 

contestants. 

“Well my house was too small 

so we used the restaurant 

– Landings 72 – at Kirklees 

College. 

“I got to cook for chef Michael 

Caines who is a brilliant chef, 

plus food writer Prue Leith. 

“My theme was Arabian Nights 

and I used inspiration from the 

Middle East in my food. It was a 

very challenging but enjoyable 

process.” 

Her menu included her own 

halloumi with stuffed portabello 

mushrooms with a meatball main 

dish. 

www.yorkshiredamacheese.co.uk 

To hire our Landings72 restaurant for your event 

or to book a table contact 01484 437019 


2 5 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6

CS / STUDENT SUCCESS 

CONSTRUCTION 

STUDENTS 

TAKE PART IN 

SKILLBUILD 

Two construction students from Kirklees College 

completed in SkillBuild - a regional competition for the 

very best in construction. 

The event has been running for over 45 years and sees 

students compete against each other to be crowned the 

SkillBuild winner in their chosen trade. 

The competition run by CITB comprises of regional heats from 

April to June each year, and a national final in the autumn. This 

year’s regional heat was held at Leeds College of Building. 

If successful in the heats, the winners have the opportunity to 

compete in the national finals in Birmingham and then in the 

world finals, which this year is taking place in Abu Dhabi. 

Our entrants (pictured below) were Alan Morelli, from 

Cowelsey, an apprentice with Kirklees Building Services in the 

junior competition, and William Crossland, from Honley, an 

apprentice with Graham Construction in the senior category. 

Both study at Brunel Construction Centre in Huddersfield. 

Brickwork tutor Nick Taylor said: “It is a great honour to be 

asked to take part in these competitions and it is seen as a 

reward for all their hard work throughout the year. 

MEDIA STUDENTS’ TRIP 

TO BAVARIA, GERMANY 

Media students James Cigan, Greg Walker, Hanna Duell and 

Chloe Charles did work experience in Bavaria, Germany, over 

the summer. 

They worked on a project founded by the Erasmus Programme, 

which creates opportunities for students to travel, work and study 

in Europe. 

The group of students made a film about language learning 

for the Language Alliance, interviewing people with various 

occupations from Bavaria, such as a farmer, a supermarket owner, a 

hotel proprietor and a master brewer. 

“I am really proud of the lads, with the way they conducted 

themselves on the day and the quality of craftsmanship they 

displayed they are a credit to both the college and their 

employers.” 

Both competitors did extremely well and were very unlucky 

not to win their respective categories. They both received 

certificates as recognition for their efforts. 

Alan said: “I really enjoyed the day. It has been a great 

experience for me and it was good to compare my skills 

against other apprentices in the region. I hope I will be 

nominated for future competitions and hopefully go a step 

further and win next year!” 

William said: “It was a daunting thought when Nick asked if I 

would like to compete for the college, however he assured me 

that I was good enough and gave me the confidence to go 

through with it. I am glad that I listened to him as it has been 

a great experience for me and one I will never forget.” 

They also interviewed the town mayor and staff from a tourist 

office and local restaurant. 

The trip was highly successful on all levels, having an article written 

about them in a local newspaper and a short film published in the 

Main-Echo. 

This is the third year that media students have been involved in the 

Erasmus Programme. Last year students were based in Alicante, 

Spain, and in 2014 in Bordeaux, France. 


CS / STUDENT SUCCESS 

COLLEGE HOSTS FOUNDATION LEARNING 

PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS COMPETITION 

Budding photographers 

from Foundation Learning 

departments at Kirklees, 

Calderdale and Bradford 

colleges took part in an 

amateur photography skills 

competition. 

The students, who all have 

learning difficulties or 

disabilities, were invited to 

submit photographs taken on 

basic digital cameras, tablets 

and phones under the themes 

of hidden nature, hidden 

college and mystery object. 

Each college selected its own 

winners in each category and 

course level to submit to the 

final. 

The final judging and 

presentation took place at 

Kirklees College’s Huddersfield 

Centre, when the winning 

pictures were selected by 

Christine Jarvis, pro-vice 

chancellor at the University of 

Huddersfield and governor at 

Kirklees College, and Sarah 

Williamson, senior lecturer 

specialising in the arts in 

teacher education at the 

University of Huddersfield. 

Kirklees College Foundation 

Learning curriculum team 

leader Gary Jarvis said: 

“Thank you to everyone 

from all three colleges who 

supported the competition 

and especially to all the 

students who submitted 

entries. 

There was a wide range of 

work and some fantastic 

images, some of which it was 

hard to believe were taken on 

basic cameras or phones by 

amateur photographers. This 

made it a very difficult job for 

the judges!” 

THE WINNERS WERE: 

Hidden College 

E1 – Mohammed Noor (Bradford) 

E2 – Joint winners Daniel Scully (Calderdale) 

and David Clifford (Kirklees) 

E3 – Suhail Hafeez (Bradford) 

Hidden Nature 

E1 – Hussain Butt (Kirklees) 

E2 – David Clifford (Kirklees) 

E3/L1 – Ben Pattison (Bradford) 

Mystery Object 

E1 – Majid Mohammed (Calderdale) 

E2 – Aleksander Martin (Calderdale) 

E3 – Israr Yaqub (Kirklees) 

KIRKLEES COLLEGE GRADUATES CELEBRATE 

Higher education students 

graduated from Kirklees 

College in a ceremony at 

Dewsbury Town Hall. 

Students wore traditional 

gowns and caps to receive 

their certificates from college 

principal Peter McCann, chair 

of governors Geoff Alvy, guest 

speaker Kate Hardcastle and 

Andrew Walker from Training 

Qualifications UK. 

The ceremony saw 123 students 

receive awards including 

qualifications in art, design, 

computing, photography, 

education and teaching, 

fashion, animal management, 

engineering, counselling and 

child development. 

Huddersfield-born Kate 

Hardcastle gave an inspirational 

talk to students about her 

21 years in business and 

supporting charities. 

Her work has seen her travel the 

world and she is a renowned TV 

business expert, with 25 national 

and international awards to her 

name. 

Kate said: “As part of my work 

with young people and inspiring 

confidence, it was a great 

honour to give a speech and be 

involved with the presentation 

to graduates at Kirklees 

College. 

“All of the team at the college 

work so incredibly hard to 

provide first class facilities for 

students and the community.” 

Principal of the college, Peter 

McCann told graduates: “Today 

is a culmination of two or three 

years of learning, endeavour 

and personal development 

to reach this point where you 

have demonstrated the higher 

level skills you, employers and 

indeed the economy of our 

country need, if we are to be 

competitive within a global 

economy. 

“It is a day of joy, achievement 

and celebration but it is not the 

end of your journey of learning 

but rather another important 

staging post on a journey 

that can extend as far as you 

alone determine through your 

ambition, your passion, your 

courage and your commitment 

to be the best that you can 

be in whatever pathway you 

choose to follow in the future. If 

you develop a lifelong passion 

for learning you will never cease 

to grow in your career and as 

human beings.” 


2 7 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6

CS / COLLEGE AND STAFF SUCCESS 

COLLEGE LITERACY PROJECT SCOOPS NATIONAL PRIZE 

A library project at Kirklees College which 

encourages students to help each other with 

literacy has scooped a national prize. 

The First Steps Literacy Project has seen stories written by 

students published and made available for other students to 

borrow to help improve reading and writing skills. 

This has particularly been useful for ESOL (English for Speakers 

of Other Languages) students to learn English as well as for 

functional skills and Foundation Learning students. 

In February Kirklees College’s Learning Resource Service was 

assessed under the Council for Learning Resources in College’s 

Peer Accreditation Scheme and received a grade 1 (excellent). 

During the nationwide assessments, projects which highlighted 

good practice were put forward for the organisation’s Jeff 

Cooper Award – and Kirklees College was selected as the winner. 

Jeff Cooper founded CoLRiC in 1993 with several colleagues 

from throughout the UK who were all committed to improving 

the quality of library and learning resources services within the FE 

and sixth form college sector. 

Sue Woolmer, CoLRiC administrator, said: “Assessors were 

particularly impressed by the First Steps Literacy Project and the 

way in which it enhances the experience of learners from a variety 

of abilities and backgrounds.” 

Head of LRCs at Kirklees College David Scott said: “We were 

really proud to be chosen as this year’s Jeff Copper Award 

winners. This prestigious award 

goes to the whole college but Sue 

Eaton is the driving force behind 

the winning project and must take 

great credit for all her hard work 

and dedication. 

“This award is another example 

of how the students at Kirklees 

College receive first class support 

in helping them achieve the best 

grades possible”. 

Left: Margaret Philips from CoLRiC 

presenting the award to Subject Librarian 

Sue Eaton from the college’s LRC, who 

developed the project, and former Principal 

Peter McCann. 

STARBUCKS 

We’re delighted to have a Starbucks opened in our 

Landings 72 Restaurant at Huddersfield Centre. 

Pop in and enjoy your favourite coffee, tea, 

hot chocolate or Frappuccino and grab a 

cake or sandwich. It’s open to the 

public from 8.30am to 4.30pm 

Monday to Friday. 


STUDENTS ENJOY 

GOING HIGHER WITH 

KIRKLEES COLLEGE 

The 2016 National Student Survey (NSS) results saw Kirklees 

College remain one of the highest in the region for overall 

student satisfaction for higher education courses. 

The results are drawn from the NSS - a high profile annual census of 

nearly half a million students across the UK, providing the most the 

most comprehensive feedback on the student experience at each 

institution. 

Students are surveyed about the teaching on their course, 

assessment and feedback, academic support, organisation 

and management, learning resources and their own personal 

development. 

CS / COLLEGE AND STAFF SUCCESS 

Kirklees College’s overall satisfaction has risen to 92 per cent, from 

an already impressive 90 per cent last academic year, with a high 

response rate from 92 per cent of its students. 

Where the college was already strong it has maintained good 

results, but has also improved scores for academic support, 

resources and personal development. 

“We are very proud of everyone who has 

contributed to this success, and look 

forward to building on our results to ensure 

that we continue to offer the best possible 

teaching in a welcoming and supportive 

environment.” 

Craig Tupling, Kirklees College Assistant Principal for 

Quality, Student Experience and Higher Education 

COLLEGE STAFF TRAINED 

TO USE DEFIBRILLATORS 

Defibrillators have been installed at three of our centres 

and staff are being trained to use them. 

A defibrillator is a device used to stabilise an irregular heartbeat 

via an electrical charge following cardiac arrest. 

We have installed the equipment at our Huddersfield Centre, 

Engineering Centre and Dewsbury Centre and staff at each 

centre have attended specialist training on how it is used. It is 

hoped more staff can also be trained. 

Assistant health and safety manager and first aid coordinator, 

Ian Lee, said: “This equipment can be a lifesaver – cardiac arrest 

is one of the biggest killers in the UK. 

“Bus stations, restaurants and lots of other places now have 

defibrillators installed and we decided it would be a major plus 

for the welfare of our staff and students to have the equipment 

on site. 

“The training staff are doing is an essential life skill to add to 

their first aid knowledge, which will also be useful for them 

outside of college because they would be confident to use a 

defibrillator in any situation.” 

The college is using LifePak AED – the same model as 

paramedics at West Yorkshire Ambulance Service. 

This means if there was a patient at college who needed to be 

transferred by ambulance the treatment could continue using 

the same equipment. 


2 9 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6

CS / ALUMNI 

PROFILE: 

JOANNE SCAIFE 

Joanne Scaife, former 

student and teacher at 

Kirklees College is now 

a successful teacher of 

English in South Korea. 

Joanne has been a language 

teacher at Kirklees College 

where she was delighted 

with the enthusiasm and 

participation of the students, 

as well as the feedback and 

guidance given by her tutors 

who helped her develop her 

own teaching style that would 

help her career. 

“I really enjoyed teaching the 

students at Kirklees College, 

their enthusiasm for language 

learning gave me a real taste 

for what was to come and I 

was thrilled when a grammar 

point would click and the 

class would be able to use the 

language and make it their 

own” said Joanne. 

“I also really appreciated 

the guidance and feedback 

that was given by my tutors, 

their instruction and advice 

helped me to recognise my 

own teaching style and start 

my new career on the correct 

footing.” 

She has decided to get a 

CELTA qualification from 

Kirklees College for her 

next step in her teaching 

career, which met the exact 

requirements of the EPIK 

program. 

The qualification helped her in 

becoming a better teacher and 

thinking of more creative ways 

of teaching English, giving her 

the ability of designing her 

own material and syllabus for 

conversation classes. 

“The CELTA helped 

me in so many ways, 

from understanding the 

fundamentals of language 

learning and teaching to 

creating lesson plans and 

analysing language,” she said. 

“The breadth of knowledge 

we covered has really 

become apparent since I’ve 

started teaching full time, I’m 

confident in creating lessons 

from scratch and designing my 

own material, even creating my 

own syllabus for conversation 

classes. 

“As a new teacher, I believe 

this is only possible through 

the scope of knowledge 

I gained from my CELTA 

course.” 

With her experience and 

qualifications, Joanne is now 

working for EPIK in Pohang-Si, 

South Korea, teaching middle 

school English at three 

different schools. 

KIRKLEES 

COLLEGE 

ALUMNA 

RECEIVES 

MBE IN 

QUEEN’S 

BIRTHDAY 

HONOURS 

Enterprise champion and 

Kirklees College alumna 

Dawn Whiteley was awarded 

an MBE in the Queen’s 

birthday honours list for 

services to business and 

enterprise. 

Dawn is chief executive of the 

National Enterprise Network, 

a membership body that 

represents the enterprise 

support sector across England. 

She has been working in this 

role for 25 years to provide 

independent and impartial 

advice, training and mentoring 

to new and emerging 

businesses. 

She attended Newsome High 

School and Holmfirth High 

School before completing 

a BTEC National Certificate 

in Business and Finance at 

Huddersfield Technical College 

in 1996. 

Dawn joined National Enterprise 

Network in April 2011, after 

working as Head of Enterprise 

at Business Link Yorkshire and 

with 16 years’ experience at 

the West Yorkshire Enterprise 

Agency. 

“I was completely and utterly 

delighted to be recognised 

for the part I have played over 

the last 25 years – and am truly 

humbled too,” said Dawn. 

“Working in the sector felt right 

to me from the very beginning. I 

immediately saw the importance 

of the work and I’ve loved every 

day of it. My work has never 

been just a job, but the roll out 

of a real passion and belief in 

the sector. 

“The role the enterprise support 

sector plays is essential in 

the support of start-up and 

established small businesses. To 

be highlighted for the work I’ve 

done is fantastic - but the light it 

shines on the value of the sector 

is even better!” 

Dawn’s role focuses on 

developing trust and 

respect with the range of 

enterprise support members 

and dedicating significant 

amounts of time in building 

and enhancing partnership 

relationships in both the public 

and private sector. 

She consistently creates 

excellent working relationships 

across the sector, in part due 

to the fact that she doesn’t just 

believe in the good work the 

sector undertakes but she’s 

seen for herself the difference it 

can make. 

Dawn has also had a number of 

voluntary roles. 

She became a school governor 

for a small local infant school in 

2002, then chair of the finance 

committee and later chair of the 

governing body. 

Other voluntary activities have 

included being company 

secretary for Chrysalis Youth 

Trust in the early 2000s and very 

active involvement in the Action 

Halifax Regeneration Trust from 

2004 to 2010 serving on various 

committees and eventually 

becoming vice chair. 

She is also currently a member 

of the assessment panel for the 

Queen’s Award for Enterprise 

Promotion. 

3 0 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 


CS / ALUMNI 

PROFILE: ELLIE MACDONALD 

MANAGING DIRECTOR – MACCOMMS, HUDDERSFIELD 

Ellie MacDonald runs 

her own successful 

marketing and 

PR company after 

completing a CIM 

marketing qualification 

at Kirklees College. 

Ellie studied for 

a Marketing CIM 

Professional Certificate 

in 2010 while working 

as a marketing assistant 

at Yorkshire Energy 

Services. 

The qualification 

enabled Ellie to progress 

within the company to 

marketing executive and 

then moved to the Mid 

Yorkshire Chamber of 

Commerce as marketing 

manager. 

After two years in that 

role Ellie moved to Faith 

PR as account manager 

for nine months before 

setting up her own 

business MacComms in 

April 2015. 

Ellie said: “My 

qualification at Kirklees 

College was my first taste 

into the academic side 

of marketing, and having 

studied the course I 

realised that marketing 

is the key to developing 

a successful business, 

which I have been able 

to do for myself just five 

years after my initial 

qualification! 

“I would recommend 

the course because 

marketing is key to a 

number of disciplines 

including fast growth 

areas such as digital, 

PR and understanding 

business management in 

general. 

“MacComms has 

continued to grow from 

strength-to-strength and 

I am keen to give back 

to the community which 

supported me. 

“I spoke at Kirklees 

College’s employability 

week on working in 

marketing and PR and 

am hoping to provide 

students from the college 

with work experience 

opportunities in my 

business to support the 

growing demand.” 

JOIN OUR 

BENEFITS FOR 

ALUMNI MEMBERS 

ALUMNI 

Did you study at Kirklees College, 

Dewsbury College, Huddersfield 

Technical College, Batley School of 

Art and Design, Dewsbury and Batley 

Technical and Art College (DABTAC) 

or one of the Kirklees College Adult 

Education Centres? 

We hope you enjoyed your time at Kirklees College 

and would like to invite you to join our group to stay 

informed about your former college and to share your 

experiences with fellow alumni, our current students and 

those thinking about taking a course with us. 

You can now register as a KC Alumni here 

http://alumni.kirkleescollege.ac.uk/ 

Please feel free to share the web link with your 

contacts or forward on their details to us 

alumni@kirkleescollege.ac.uk 

NETWORK 

• Network with other Alumni and 

college staff. 

• Search and connect with old 

friends and make new business 

acquaintances. 

SPECIAL EVENTS 

• Regular events and reunions 

• Access to college facilities and 

services. 

• Access a range of college facilities: 

restaurant, conferencing, health 

and beauty salons, gym, sports 

facilities and many more at 

preferential negotiated rates for 

Alumni members 

• 20% discount on room hire for 

the Conference Centre and also 

classroom hire 

• FREE membership of the Hair and 

Beauty Salon loyalty scheme 

• Discounts on our part-time leisure 

courses. 

STAY CONNECTED 

• Stay informed about what’s going 

on at Kirklees College. 

• Keeping up you up-to-date with 

Kirklees College and its former 

students. 

WORK WITH US 

Work with the college in many ways: 

• Steer the college’s curriculum to 

help our students become ready 

for the world of work by inputting 

into our future planning of 

courses. 

• Guest speaker – be invited to 

talk to our students and share your 

experiences 

• Mentoring – mentor our present 

students 

• Live brief – commission our a live 

brief for our students 

• Work experience – provide 

work experience and shadowing 

opportunities. 

• Partnerships and sponsorships 

– discuss various opportunities 

to involve your business across the 

college. 

INSPIRE 

• Raise your profile and help inspire 

future generations. 

RECRUIT 

• Recruit an apprentice. 


3 1 . A U T U M N 2 0 1 6

SECURE YOUR FUTURE! 

Professional qualifications, career changing courses, preparation for uni. 

It’s never too late to kick start your career, or give your CV a boost. At Kirklees College, we’re 

increasing the number of courses we offer to help adults get qualified, achieve their career goals and 

secure their future. 

Download or request our latest part time adult courses for work guide for an overview of what 

we offer. From the CIM Professional Certificate in Marketing to a Diploma in Therapeutic 

Counselling, we have part time qualifications in a range of subjects. 

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE 

Search our website for full time courses, degree courses, Apprenticeships and information about employer 

training packages. 


01484 437070 

info@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

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