Reaseheath florists create impact for IChemE

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Reaseheath floristry students have been commissioned to create designs for a prestigious awards dinner later this week.

The Level 2 Diploma in Floristry students are today putting the final touches to 50 table arrangements for The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) 2014 Global Awards Dinner, to be held at Cheltenham Park Racecourse, Gloucestershire, on Thursday.

The event recognises and rewards chemical engineering innovation and excellence and is a key event in the IChemE calendar, typically attracting 400 delegates from around the world.

The students were tasked to come up with a modern design incorporating the IChemE brand colours of purple and green. Their final suggestion, which delighted the client, was an arrangement made up of purple orchids, pink anthuriums, pale green chrysanthemums and white dianthus, set off on a base of dark green foliage. Grasses and beads will provide the final touches. The designs will be displayed on mirror plates with candles in their final situation.

The awards dinner is the first of three major public events which our florists will work on this month.

Next week our Level 3 students will provide the floral arrangements for the Asian Fire Service Association’s Conference in Staffordshire while students on both Levels 2 and 3 will help to design and decorate the gallery at Arley Hall near Knutsford before it opens to thousands of Christmas visitors.

Our florists are involved in a number of community events throughout the year which require them to liaise with clients and produce designs on a grand scale.

Although these events are in addition to required assignments, our students are delighted to become involved as they learn relevant commercial practice and often work in beautiful and grand settings.

Reaseheath College in Nantwich, Cheshire, is nationally recognised as one of the UK’s most successful and progressive providers of floristry education. Our students currently hold the title of RHS Tatton Park Floristry College and will compete for the national title at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2015.

The floristry department offers courses in floristry and floral design and short courses for school leavers and professionals. More details: www.reaseheath.ac.uk/floristry

Equine students with Guy Williams

Reaseheath was riding high at HOYS

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Reaseheath College equine students and staff came under the spotlight at the world’s most famous horse show, the Horse of the Year Show, by providing the arena party for the fourth consecutive year.

Elle Germany gets a cuddle from Bob Ellis

Elle Germany gets a cuddle from Bob Ellis

A team of 38 students and two staff were on duty for last week’s event helping international course designers Bob Ellis and Kelvin Bywater build courses to test the world’s leading showjumpers.

The students received unique training and experience and also took the opportunity to catch up with top ranked showjumpers including Guy Williams, an early international class winner.

Led by FE Programme Leader Sarah Houghton and course manager Kerry Nunns, the Nantwich college’s team did such a professional job that they have already been booked as the arena party for HOYS 2015.

The arena party at work

The arena party at work

Bob Ellis, who was lead course designer for the London 2012 Olympics, said: “Yet again, Reaseheath’s arena party has been exceptional and are helping us to put on a superb show.  All the students are easy to work with, listen to instructions and have a great sense of humour. They are a credit to the college and to Sarah and Kerry, who do such a great job in keeping everyone motivated because they lead from the front.”

“All riders aspire to compete and win at HOYS and it makes such a difference to us knowing that we can rely on our arena team to do a professional job.”

Reaseheath also provides the arena party for Bolesworth International and other prestigious venues. Students from all courses, from diplomas to degrees, are encouraged to take part.

For further details about Reaseheath’s equine courses see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/equine.

Reaseheath graduation opens doors to careers success

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Graduates from Reaseheath College received degrees designed to boost their careers at a ceremony in the centre of Nantwich.

Dressed in gowns and mortar boards, almost 150 graduates spilled out of St Mary’s Church to celebrate with Britain’s best known Paralympic athlete Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson OBE, who was guest speaker.

The ceremony marked the achievement of students who had completed degrees in agricultural science, equine science, food technology, garden and landscape design, engineering, countryside management, adventure sports management and rural events management, all delivered in partnership with Harper Adams University.

Animal management and science students on degree programmes validated by the University of Chester (UoM) graduated alongside other UoM students at Chester Catherdral  in November.

Describing the Nantwich ceremony as one of the highlight of the academic year, Reaseheath Principal Meredydd David emphasised that the graduates would see a massive return on their financial and emotional investment. An independent analysis had shown that £40,000 spent on course fees and living expenses would secure an additional £250,000 over the span of a career. Nearly 90% of Reaseheath graduates who completed degrees last year were in related employment within six months of completing their course on an average starting salary of £21,000.

Degrees gained at Reaseheath College were specialist, technical qualifications which enabled students to gain both knowledge and the necessary skills and competencies to carve out a successful career.

In such a competitive jobs market it was important that higher education (HE) programmes were delivered and validated by high quality, well respected institutions. Reaseheath’s own HE programmes had recently been inspected by the Quality Assurance Agency and had received fantastic report, equivalent to an ‘Outstanding’ from Ofsted.

Reaseheath continued to invest in specialist facilities and resources which would give students the competitive edge in the jobs market. Over £40 million had been spent on facilities which were recognised as among the best in the country. A further £10 million would be invested this year into a national centre for Food Futures and Environmental Management and this would be followed by a £13 million spend on a 200 room residential building and an extension to the Higher Education Centre, both to be completed for September 2016.

Reaseheath currently had 700 students enrolled on degree courses. A significant number were mature students or were studying while working with the support of their employers. One of its most successful programmes was the Eden Project, which offers dairy technologists the chance to gain a globally recognised Foundation Degree in Dairy Technology. The qualification had been developed in close partnership with industry and was aimed at meeting demand for future managers.

Although academic progress was important, Meredydd pointed out that many graduates had helped to organise social events and charity fund raising, which last year contributed £12,000 to worthy charities.

Congratulating the graduates, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who studied politics and now has a seat in the House of Lords, said that education was vital and led to wider choices. Her key advice was to try something new and not be put off by failure. Although she had been dedicated to wheelchair racing from the age of 12 she did not win for four years and this had taught her how to train and be committed.

To find out more about our degree programmes please visit the Higher Education pages on our website.

For more photos from the day visit our Facebook page.

 

Motor vehicle students

Raceway trip proved no drag for IMI motor vehicle students

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When the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) announced that they were giving away tickets to Santa Pod Raceway for the National Hot Rod Finals, the motor vehicle technology team decided that they would organise a trip for the students to witness the world of Top Fuel Dragster racing.

A selection of students from Level 1, 2 and 3 IMI Motor Vehicle courses attended the day trip to see cars and motorbikes competing head-to-head along the quarter of a mile long strip.

Motor Vehicle Santa Pod racewayOn arrival, all the students were treated to a pit lane walk and were able to spend the rest of the day looking around the vehicles that would be competing in the high-octane action.

As the students took to their seats and pressed home the ear plugs that we wisely took with us, the cars took to the starting lines. The engines were revved and burnouts took place to warm the tyres. As the lights ticked down to green the grandstands were filled with noise, you could feel the ground shaking beneath you as the cars and bikes accelerated from 0-100mph in under two seconds. Nearly all of the top fuel cars were completing the course in less than 6 seconds, reaching straight line speeds of over 240mph.

For many of the students this was their first experience of drag racing and all of them came away with some great memories of their first visit to Santa Pod.

For further details on Reaseheath’s Motor Vehicle courses see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/motor-vehicle.

Steve Ellis

Course Manager, IMI Level 3 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair

 

The Cheshire Grassland Society celebrates half century

The Cheshire Grassland Society celebrates half century

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The Cheshire Grassland Society celebrated its 50th anniversary with a drinks reception and formal dinner at Reaseheath College, Nantwich, last week.

The society held its first meeting at Reaseheath in October 1964 and has held its winter meetings at the college since then.

Sixty past and present members attended including past chairmen George Radley, (1973/74), Neville Thornhill, (1982/83), Jim Fletcher (1984/85), Richard Ratcliffe (1986/87), Stuart Yarwood (1988/89), Ken Furness (1992/94), David Hughes (1994/95) and Colin Hamilton (2011/13) and current chairman Phil Feeney. They were joined by members of the British Grassland Society and by representatives from the agriculture industry.

The Cheshire Grassland Society provides a forum for the county’s progressive grassland farmers, helping them to grow more grass which is converted by livestock into milk and meat for the supermarket shelf. The society invites specialist speakers to its winter meetings, organises silage and grazing competitions among members and runs an annual trip to look at top class grassland farms in other parts of the country.

The Cheshire Grassland Society secretary Lesley Innes, a member of the planning committee for the event, said: “The evening marked a significant milestone for the society and it was a great success. The drinks reception had a vibrant atmosphere and this was followed by an excellent formal dinner. Guests were delighted to have the opportunity to catch up and reminisce, particularly as some had not seen each other for years. Everyone enjoyed themselves and I am sure the evening will be talked about for a very long time.”

The event was partly sponsored by Harvey Hughes Ltd, HJ Lea Oakes, Trouw Nutrition, Germinal Seeds, Nickerson Seeds and Growhow Ltd.

 

QAA

Reaseheath College earns top marks for its Higher Education

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Reaseheath College’s higher education students receive an excellent experience, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has confirmed.

The QAA, which is the HE equivalent of Ofsted, has judged that the quality of degrees offered by Reaseheath and the way they are delivered is worthy of commendation and in a number of areas exceeds UK expectations. The findings, published last month, can be found at www.reaseheath.ac.uk/qaa

QAA reviewers who visited the specialist college in Nantwich judged that its academic standards and the quality of information about its learning opportunities met UK expectations. They particularly commended the quality and enhancement of student learning opportunities, finding that in those two areas the college exceeded expectations.

The review team was impressed with the college’s extensive links to employers and the extent to which they were involved in the design, quality assurance and delivery of higher education courses.

The reviewers also found that the college effectively manages its resources, using a co-ordinated and systematic approach to support its students’ academic, personal and professional development so that they reach their full potential.

They noted that all Higher Education programmes include work-based learning, work placements, internships or other opportunities for students to gain relevant work experience.

The review team found seven examples of good practice and no recommendations for improvement.

Assistant Principal and Dean of HE Rachel Ellis-Jones said: “I am delighted that the excellent quality and delivery of higher education at Reaseheath has been identified and recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency.

“The continued investment which Reaseheath makes into its specialist facilities and expert staff was also noted. This investment is a major part of Reaseheath’s ethos, which is to encourage and support our degree students as they progress into careers within their chosen industries.”

The successful review means that Reaseheath can now display the QAA Quality Mark, indicating to UK and international students that the college meets national requirements for standards and quality.

Reaseheath offers specialist degrees in animal science, adventure sports, agricultural science, equine science, environmental management, agricultural engineering, food science and landscape design.

 

Sports science at Reaseheath supports Crewe Alex fitness programme

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Cutting edge sport science equipment at Reaseheath College is helping Crewe Alexandra FC’s first team squad to train throughout the season.

All first team players have visited the Nantwich college to use a new sports science laboratory which forms part of a significant investment into the campus gym.

Sports science lab Stuart Fisher, Lauren Goff, James Earl, James Baillie first team player

First team full-back James Baillie is tested in Reaseheath’s sports science lab while student James Earl records data and sports lecturers Lauren Goff and Stuart Fisher oversee data collection

The squad went through maximal fitness testing on a top-of-the-range medical treadmill. The data will be used by Andy Franks, Head of Sports Science and Conditioning at Crewe Alex, to check the base level of fitness of each player and to set personalised training programmes. The players will return for retesting later in the season to check their progress.

The data collection was carried out by Reaseheath Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport Performance students, many of whom will progress to careers in coaching or sport fitness.

Course Manager Richard Brooke explained: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to practice and develop their skills by working with local, talented, professional athletes. Our students learn sports science and coaching techniques as part of their course and this has been a chance for them to see how critical these skills are in the industry they plan to join. We have also been delighted to support Crewe Alex.”

Andy Franks said: “This has been a great opportunity which has been much appreciated by first team players and our sports science staff. By using sophisticated testing equipment we have been able to set accurate training zones for our pre-season training programmes, individualised for each player.”

Reaseheath College and Crewe Alex FC have a well established partnership. Reaseheath delivers the academic training to Crewe Alex Academy apprentices, with scholars achieving the best grades in the country. In return, many of Reaseheath’s sports performance students complete work experience with Crewe Alex, gaining an insight into the possibilities of career progression within the football industry.

Reaseheath’s new gym is used to train students on sports performance and public services courses and is open to the college’s staff and students.

For further details on Reaseheath’s sports courses see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/sport

 

A great day at the Nantwich Show

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Alumni Officer Katie Burt with former student Ian

 

What a great Nantwich Show it proved to be this year! It was great to meet up with so many industry partners and current and ex students at our local show. Our stand which was awarded second in the Trade Stand Competition, was really busy with visitors.

Pictured to the left is Alumni Officer Katie Burt with Ian Bates, a student in the 1970s who now runs his own feed supplements business, Stock-Pride Nutrition Ltd.

Food technologists Andrea Winkler, Jane Gilman and Penny Masters with award winning cheeses

 

We were delighted to be awarded two awards in the Nantwich International Cheese Show. Our Cheshire cheese took silver in a highly contested class for Novice Cheesemakers and our Derby cheese was awarded bronze in the specialist cheesemaker section. Both cheeses were made by our Year 2 Eden students and weighed 20kg.

This was a great accolade for our students, as this show is truly the best of the best, with 4,400 cheeses entered from 23 countries! Staff from our Food Centre stewarded for the judges.

Here’s Food Technologists Andrea Winkler, Jane Gilman and Penny Masters with our award winning cheeses.

Aaron Dixon, Jordan Slawinski and Cedric Mandaya with celebrity chef James Martin

 

Three of our Bakery and Patisserie students had a great experience assisting celebrity chefs James Martin, Will Holland, Jonathan Harrison and Sean Wilson during their cooking demonstrations. Cedric Mandaya and Jordan Slawinski have just finished their Level 3 course and are off to find jobs while Aaron Dixon is moving onto Level 3 from Level 2 in September.

Here they are with James Martin.

Liberty Turner, Kirsty Taylor and Becky Harper with heifers

We also had success showing youngstock from the Reaseheath Holstein dairy herd – our students came away with five rosettes!

Kirsty Taylor won a heifer class with Reaseheath Fever Marissa and Liberty Turner with Reaseheath Fever Livorno came second.

Becky Harper won the handler class (21 -26 yrs) while Kirsty took second and Liberty was third in the handler class (17 – 20 yrs)

We also showed three lambs in the butchers lamb class.

 

 

 

Reaseheath students are top of the tree at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

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A Taste of Wythenshawe - show garden wideReaseheath College garden designers and florists completed a phenomenally successful RHS Flower Show Tatton Park by winning two top awards and helping Cheshire’s leading visitor attractions to achieve another.

A team of ten Foundation Degree Garden and Landscape Design students achieved one of just three gold medals in the prestigious show garden section with their innovative edible garden ‘A Taste of Wythenshawe’.          

Sponsored by Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG), the garden incorporated innovative and creative approaches to growing edible plants including hydroponics and sculptural features. It celebrated Real Food Wythenshawe, a five year £1 million Big Lottery-funded community food campaign led by WCHG which promotes ways that people can grow their own fruit and vegetables and cook healthy, economical meals.

Dougal Philip, Chair of the judges, said: “This was a magnificent garden which was strong, exciting and innovative and with wonderful detail. The fact that it was designed and built by a team could have posed problems but everyone has worked together. Reaseheath’s students should be really proud of what they have achieved.”

The garden will now be rebuilt in Wythenshawe Park, where it will be shared by the local community. The re-instatement will be carried out by members of the Turnaround team, a programme developed by WCHG to offer training and potential employment opportunities to those with criminal records. All team members have been trained by Reaseheath and have successfully gained their NPTC Level 2 horticulture award.

Florists Anna Eite, Zoe Sillito and Wendy Anderson celebrate winning RHS Tatton Park Floristry College of the Year

Florists Anna Eite, Zoe Sillito and Wendy Anderson celebrate winning RHS Tatton Park Floristry College of the Year

Reaseheath florists were also celebrating after winning the prestigious new RHS Tatton Park Floristry College of the Year Competition. Level 3 Diploma in Floristry students Anna Eite, Zoe Sillito and Wendy Anderson took the title against competition from four other colleges and will compete at the national finals at the Chelsea Flower Show 2015. They also won a silver gilt medal for their creative, carnival themed stand.

Reaseheath RHS Level 2 and 3 Certificate in Horticulture students helped to build a carnival themed stand for the Cheshire Gardens of Distinction, which was awarded Best Show Feature. The group, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday, was represented by Arley Hall and Gardens,  Adlington Hall and Gardens, Cholmondeley Castle and Gardens, Fryers Roses of Knutsford, Biddulph Grange, Norton Priory, Bluebell Cottage Gardens and Nurseries and the Cheshire Gardens Trust.

Tracey Walker and Sam Youd portrait

Tracy Walker and Chairman Sam Youd on the Cheshire Gardens of Distinction stand

Reaseheath Horticulture lecturer Tracy Walker co-ordinated the stand, which was in the ‘Inspire’ zone, an area dedicated to cutting edge design and fresh ideas. Each of the eight gardens featured ‘The Rose of Distinction’, a new floribunda rose launched by Fryers Roses to celebrate the group’s birthday.

Other successes included Jonathan Price, who is studying for his BSc Landscape Design and Management at Reaseheath, taking a silver medal for his show garden De Musica Mundana and former floristry student Adrian Thomas being awarded gold in the open floral design competition. Adrian runs his own on-line business, Verdure Floral Design. Floristry lecturers Ruth Clarke and Fiona Davies, representing Reaseheath, won a silver medal in the same section.

And in a final coup, Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture student Richard Carden won his way through to the 2014 WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening finals after a high profile three day competition held at the show.

WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening finalist Richard Carden

WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening finalist Richard Carden

The Landscape Gardening Competition, organised by the Association of Professional Landscapers, is designed to highlight the skills and potential of young people. Finalists are considered for an international squad.

Richard will now compete at the Olympic-styled finals at The Skills Show at Birmingham NEC in November against top students from other colleges.

This was Richard’s first major competition, although he designed and built a garden for a competition held during Reaseheath’s Family Festival in May and helped to rebuild it as a feature on the college’s award winning stand at the Cheshire Show in June.

He said: “I can only describe it as being as close as landscape gardening can get to being a military operation. There was no let up at all as we had to complete the garden to a tight deadline. But I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to improving my skills ready for the national finals.”

The show garden design and build team with television gardening presenter Toby Buckland

The show garden design and build team with television gardening presenter Toby Buckland

 

Reaseheath landscape gardener wins place in national finals

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Richard Carden landscapeReaseheath College horticulture student Richard Carden won his way through to the 2014 WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening finals after a high profile three day competition at last week’s  RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.

The Landscape Gardening Competition, organised by the Association of Professional Landscapers, is designed to highlight the skills and potential of young people. Finalists are considered for an international squad.

Richard, 19, of Tattenhall, will compete at the Olympic-styled finals at The Skills Show at Birmingham NEC in November against top students from other colleges.

Competitors in the RHS Tatton heat were challenged to build a garden from scratch in 22 hours. The competition was held in sweltering temperatures and in front of the many thousands of visitors who attended the show.

The garden, designed by leading Cheshire designer Alexandra Froggatt, tested a wide range of landscaping skills and included paving, blockwork, a raised bed, timberwork and planting.

Lead judge Jody Lidgard said; “Congratulations to all the competitors. It was a very close competition and workmanship was high in all the gardens. I have every admiration for the lads, who just kept going despite the heat. They all should be proud of their achievements. They have represented their colleges with pride.”

 Richard, a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture student, was one of a team who designed and built the winning garden at a competition held during Reaseheath’s Family Festival in May. He then helped to rebuild the garden as a feature on the college’s award winning stand at the Cheshire Show in June.

The former Bishop Heber High School, Malpas, pupil said: “Tatton was my first major competition and I can only describe it as being as close as landscape gardening can get to being a military operation. There was no let up at all as we had to complete the garden to a tight deadline.

“But I really like that aspect of the competition and I’m looking forward to building on my skills in preparation for the final.”

Students from Reaseheath College, in Nantwich, carried off several key awards at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. An innovate fruit and vegetable garden ‘A Taste of Wythenshawe’, designed and built by Foundation Degree in Garden and Landscape Design students, was awarded a gold medal while student florists took the new Tatton Park Floristry College of the Year title.

Reaseheath students studying for RHS certificates also helped to build a stand for Cheshire Gardens of Distinction, which won Best Show Feature.