News 2013
Spring 2013 Newsletter released
The fourth edition of our popular newsletter has been released and has been sent in hard copy to our database of contacts. For an electronic copy please Click here to download it. The newsletter features the success of our inaugural annual conference which took place at the end of April in Birmingham. Attended by 120 delegates, the event looked at the adult skills budget in the next academic year with keynote sessions from Beej Kaczmarczyk of Sector Training and Nick Chomyk from the Skills Funding Agency. The newsletter highlights key discussions on the day as well as information on how to obtain further details. Also in this issue is information on our new products including a spotlight on two key additions – Infection Control and Principles of working with individuals with Learning Difficulties. We are also pleased to launch our suite of online courses aimed at 16-18 year-old students, and information on all of these is detailed in the newsletter along with a welcome to three new members of our team. We hope you find the newsletter informative and interesting. Please click here if you require further information or to discuss opportunities to use our products and services.
National Conference
Fully booked just six weeks after launching the details and attended by 120 delegates, our inaugural annual conference was a brilliant event, thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. With a strong focus on the adult skills budget in the next academic year, keynote contributions included presentations from Beej Kaczmarczyk of Sector Training and Nick Chomyk from the Skills Funding Agency. Level 3 loans, subcontracting rules in 13/14, classroom-based provision, work-based provision and OFSTED were all covered in workshops throughout the day lead by industry-respected experts and delegates were provided with the latest advice and guidance on a variety of key industry hot topics of the moment. Following the positive response we received from the day, we have secured five dates with Beej Kaczmarczyk for a series of regional workshops. These three-hour sessions will cover key funding and curriculum priorities and will be limited to 30 attendees per session. To register go to www.fe-conference.co.uk These events are free to our existing clients. Further details on the day's conference can be found on our newsletter (page 2) and slides from the day can all be downloaded at www.fe-conference.co.uk
Learning at Work are always keen to hear feedback from our clients and provider network regarding the products and services we offer.
We are therefore delighted to announce new materials for two qualifications:
Level 3 Certificate in Management
Learning Aim Reference: 600/2145/7. Guided Learning Hours – 130 This programme is ideal for practising or potential managers, providing the foundation for their formal development in this area.
Click here for more information on the course details.
Level 2 in the Principles of the Prevention and Control of Infection
Learning Aim Reference: 600/8765/1. Guided Learning Hours – 111 This programme covers a range of topics fundamental to the prevention and control of infection.
Click here for more information on the course details.
We believe these qualifications will be extremely popular with adult learners, working in a variety of industries. If you would like any more information on either of the above courses or any of our products or services, please contact us
Learning at Work sponsors a prestigious award at the Skills for Care Conference
Vacancy for an experienced Account Manager
Learning at Work Annual Conference:
Delivering your Adult Skills Budget in 13/14
Birmingham, Tuesday 30 April.
Chaired by respected FE consultant, Beej Kaczmarczyk of Sector Training, the day will focus on how providers can deliver their Adult Skills Budget in 13/14. With presentations from the Skills Funding Agency, as well as other sector experts, you will get the latest advice and guidance on how to meet this key target. The main conference sessions will look at policy changes, the introduction of FE Loans, subcontracting, the use of efficient delivery models and audit compliance. The breakout workshops include how providers can market their courses to priority learners, the benefits of e-learning, selecting the right partnership providers and safeguarding your students. This not-for-profit event is priced at just £99 plus VAT per person. Cancellation is allowed up until seven days prior to the event; substitutions can be made up until the day of the event.Please note that this conference is now fully booked
For more information about the conference day or to add your name to the reserve list, please visit www.fe-conference.co.uk
So far in 12/13, our learning materials have been used by over 46,000 learners and 66 providers. We have a wealth of experience around the adult skills agenda and are well placed to support providers meet their curriculum and funding targets. If you have any queries please contact Lauren Whysall on lauren.whysall@learning-work.co.uk. We look forward to seeing you at the conference!Date and Time: Tuesday 30th April 2013 9.30am – 3.30pm
Location: Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport, Coventry Road, Birmingham, B26 3QW
Click here to view the event flyer.
12/13 Winter Newsletter released
The third edition of our popular newsletter has been released and has been sent in hard copy to our database of contacts. For an electronic copy please Click here to download it. The newsletter showcases some of the products and services we provide that can help college’s hit their SFA/EFA funding targets. Given the recent SFA publication of funding volumes delivered by FE providers in 11/12, we think it is timely to highlight opportunities to offer innovative, flexible provision that can be delivered within your 12/13 funding allocations. In 11/12 we worked with 55 FE Providers, helping over 50,000 learners to gain nationally recognised qualifications. This academic year we have extended our range of learning materials by releasing five new NCFE approved products – Mental Health Awareness, Understanding Working in Mental Health, Management, Learning to Learn and Principles of Dementia Care. In the first five months of 12/13 our learning materials have already been used by over 35,000 learners. We have also helped 8,000 16–18 learners complete an accredited Safeguarding qualification, which was developed in partnership with Weston College. This course will help raise awareness of this key area with both students and staff. The short 26GLH programme is designed to complement other existing study programmes, with the support materials tailored to your college’s branding, policies and procedures. Our online portal, e-Assessor, is also available free of charge to all providers that purchase our learning materials. Feedback from providers using e-Assessor has highlighted major benefits in terms of course delivery time and reduced costs. We hope you find the newsletter informative and interesting. Please click here if you would like to require further information or to discuss opportunities to use our products and services.
Strategic Partnership with Sector Training
Learning at Work is delighted to partner with Sector Training as our lead organisation for funding and curriculum consultancy. Sector Training specialises in working with post-16 education providers to develop managers, teaching and support staff and the services they offer. We will be using Sector Training to help our clients stay one step ahead by hosting funding and planning seminars/ workshops, proving detailed funding guides for the courses in which we have learning materials, and offering specialist training for curriculum or senior managers. This will be available free of charge to our client base. Senior Consultant at Sector Training, Beej Kaczmarczyk, provides some of his views on funding for distance learning provision in our winter newsletter and will also be hosting our national conference on 30th April. For full details of events Sector Training offer please contact 01823 337775 or visit their website: www.sectortraining.com. For information on bespoke services please contact Jim Rawe on 07921 552452.
35,000 learners already in 12/13
Following our success in 11/12 where 50,000 learners used our materials to obtain a nationally recognised qualification, between Aug and Dec 2012 we helped FE Providers deliver to over 35,000 learners. With a network of 65 FE Providers it confirms our status as the fastest growing supplier of distance learning materials in the market.
Learning at Work confirmed as exhibitors at the National Association for Managers of Student Services (NAMSS) National Conference
We will be exhibiting and presenting at the NAMSS national conference on the 11th and 12th March. Come and visit us on stand 5 to meet the team, see our range of Safeguarding and Staff CPD products and enter our free prize draw!
Learning at Work sponsors a prestigious award at the Skills for Care Conference
Learning at Work are pleased to be announced as the Skills for Care’s Accolade Category Sponsor for ‘Best employer of over 250 staff’. We will also be exhibiting at the Conference on the 14th March 2013 so come and visit our stand!
Learning at Work will be attending the forthcoming ‘Work Readiness’ events held by the awarding organisation, NCFE. Guest speakers include Nick Linford from FE Week and LSECT so it should be a very useful event for everyone within Further Education to attend. They will take place at 3 venues across the country - York (30th Jan), Birmingham (12th Feb) and London (1st March). To book your place, please click on: www.ncfe.org.uk/events/work-readiness-events
New Apprentice starts at Learning at Work
Rachael Eastwood applied for the position of Administration Apprentice as she decided she wanted to gain a qualification but preferred to do that within a working environment. Rachael impressed the interview panel with her maturity and undoubted enthusiasm for the role. She has fitted in exceptionally well within the team and has already learnt a huge amount about working in an office and the many tasks associated with her position. She is given strong line management support and we structured her pay around a set wage plus bonuses for achieving components of her course on time and certain work-based objectives. Rachael is delighted she has been given this opportunity and is already planning on doing her Level 3 after her Level 2.
Course Directory eBook
We are delighted to launch our newly updated 2013 Course Directory. This provides details about our range of high-quality learning and assessment materials. We also provide additional services such as learner find to help our college partners hit their funding targets. Our materials are endorsed by awarding organisations such as NCFE and Ascentis and in 11/12 over 50,000 learners used them to gain nationally accredited qualifications. Last year we worked with 55 FE colleges and over 1,800 employers. We are delighted to include testimonials in the directory from some of the learners, employers and colleges we have worked with.
Click here to view our latest brochure in PDF format or click on the screen above to see it as an e-book
New, approved NCFE learning materials
We have launched three new NCFE approved products:
NCFE Mental Health Awareness Level 2
Learning Aim Reference: 60061340. This qualification is aimed at providing learners with an appreciation and understanding of a number of different mental health issues that may be encountered in either work-based or social environments. It is relevant for learners from almost any employment sector and will develop the learners’ understanding and appreciation of a wide range of mental health conditions.
Our three workbook pack covers:
- Understanding Mental Health Awareness
- Understanding Other Mental Health Conditions
- Understanding Dementia and Mental Health
Click here to see sample pages and learn more about this qualification.
NCFE Understanding Working in Mental Health Level 2
Learning Aim Reference: 60061339. This qualification helps develop the techniques, support and understanding that are required for people working with individuals who have mental health problems. The aim of the qualification is to develop the learners’ understanding of mental health, mental health illness and regulated legislation as well as raising the learners awareness of the processes and approaches involved in the care and support of those who experience mental health issues.
Our three workbook pack covers:
- Understanding Mental Health and the Importance of Valuing Equality and Diversity
- Understanding Change and Support in Relation to Mental Health
- Duty of Care and Approaches to the Management of Care in Mental Health
Click here to see sample pages and learn more about this qualification.
NCFE Principles of Dementia Care Level 2
Learning Aim Reference: 60063555. This Dementia Care qualification is aimed at providing learners with an appreciation and understanding of the different forms of dementia that may be encountered and how to provide person-centred care to individuals suffering from this condition.
Our three workbook pack covers:
- Understanding dementia and the person-centred approach to administering medication
- Understand the factors that can influence communication and behaviour in the context of dementia
- Understand equality, diversity and inclusion and the benefits of engaging in activities in social care
Click here to see sample pages and learn more about this qualification.
See us on stand 20 at the AOC Annual Conference in November 2012
Learning at Work will be exhibiting at the upcoming AoC Annual conference.Come and meet the team at stand 20 in the main hall. We will be displaying our full range of learning materials including the three recently approved NCFE products and our latest Safeguarding pack for 16–18-year-old learners. We will be delighted to answer any questions you have on our services so look forward to seeing you!
New Office
Given our growth over the past 12 months we are moving into new premises in Leeds to accommodate additional members of the team. This exciting phase of our development will be completed by 3 September and from this date our address will be:
Learning at Work, Pure Offices, 1 Broad Gate, The Headrow, Leeds LS1 8EQ
All other contact information including email addresses and phone numbers will stay the same.
Three new members of our team
Ian Golcher, Client Relations Manager
Ian joins us after most recently working for a training provider where he was involved in numerous projects and contracts that involved working with both colleges and national employers. His background has been within business development, account management and the development of learning materials within the FE sector.
Namrata Thaker, Employer Engagement Officer
Namrata joins our Employer Engagment division after previously working for a busy city centre retail outlet. Namrata was involved in ensuring, and monitoring, exceptionally high levels of customer service to her clients which included developing training initiatives. She has a keen interest in CPD and people development so is looking forward to liaising with our employer and provider network to coordinate training opportunities to interested learners.
Samantha Dobney, Finance and Office Manager
Samantha joins the business to oversee the management of the company accounts and the office administration. Prior to joining Learning at Work Samantha has spent a number of years working in the professional services and consulting sector. Most recently she managed the finance and admin function within a multi-national consulting firm. During this time the business enjoyed significant growth and Samantha project managed the full relocation of the business to state or the art facilities in Leeds City Centre. She has a long-term interest in working with youngsters looking to develop their skills so is going to coordinate the opportunity for Business and Administration Apprentices to operate from the company head office.
Marathon Swim!
Learning at Work has made a donation to one of our key partners who successfully swam the never before swum exceptionally dangerous icy bit of water between Scotland and Ireland. Wayne Soutter from Skillwise completed this challenge in aid of Community Rescue Support, which provides a vital service in selflessly assisting with search and rescue missions for missing loved ones. Jon Cummins from Learning at Work said “Wayne and his team at Skillwise have helped with the development of e-Assessor so we are pleased to make this contribution to this worthy cause”. This sounds slightly like you are only happy to donate because they have helped you with work.”
To sponsor Wayne or to learn more about the swim please contact him on WayneSoutter@skillwise.net
Nationally recognised training for FE Staff
Learning for Work provides a range of high-quality learning materials for technical certificate and VRQ programmes. As we move towards the academic year-end providers may wish to consider offering some of these VRQ distance learning programmes to full and part-time members of staff.
NCFE certificate qualifications such as Equality & Diversity and Team Leading can be suitable to support staff development activities and we have helped a number of providers roll out this offer to their teams. These courses can be assessed online or via our paper-based materials, and can be funded from your 11/12 adult single budget if you still have capacity.
Our Staff Development flyer contains the qualifications that we think might be suitable for staff development activity with your teaching and support staff.
Please contact Jon Cummins on jon.cummins@learning-work.co.uk or 07894 851849 to learn more.
Learning for Work
We are pleased to announce an update to our publishing arm. Over the past 12 months we have updated our learning materials so they have a cleaner, fresher and more professional look. The positive feedback we have received from providers, employers and learners has been fantastic and, in a very short space of time, we have developed into a market leading publisher of work-based learning materials.
We now believe that Learning for Work is a better reflection of what these materials offer so, as a result, have updated both our name and branding for this service. It does not affect any of our existing clients as we will be retaining all of our existing company details including bank accounts, company registration information etc.
Click here to see our current range of approved materials
New Online Assessments
In partnership with the leading e-portfolio company, Skillwise, Learning at Work have launched online assessments for several popular NCFE technical certificate (VRQ) qualifications. Skillwise have an established track record of supporting centres to deliver qualifications to learners through the use of e-technology. Using components of the market leading VQ Manager portal Skillwise have created a slick, easy to use platform for candidates, assessors and moderators to use for distance learning provision. Complemented by Learning at Work’s underpinning knowledge content this provides the complete solution for any centre offering these qualifications either as part of an Apprenticeship framework or as a standalone technical certificate.
The system can help with real time learning tracking, audit compliance checks and greater delivery flexibility. The qualifications available include:
- Certificate in Understanding the Safe Handling of Medicines Level 2
- Certificate in Equality and Diversity Level 2
- Certificate in the Principles of Business and Administration Level 2 and 3
- Certificate in Customer Service Level 2
- Certificate in Team Leading Level 2
- Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care Level 2 and 3
- Certificate in End of Life Care Level 3
- Certificate in Employability Level 2
Please contact us for more information or to set up an online demonstration.
Materials available for NCFE Certificate in End of Life Care Level 3
Learning at Work has newly updated materials available for the NCFE Certificate in End of Life Care Level 3. This course has been ratified for funding by the Skills Funding Agency until 31 July 2012 and is bound to be popular for anyone with an interest in the Health and Social Care Sector. We have already generated significant interest from potential learners and can refer these onto centres as part of the service offering.
Please contact us for more information.
Learning at Work attend Skills for Care conference
Learning at Work recently attended the annual Skills for Care conference. It was fantastic to see a number of existing clients and update new contacts on the services we provide to the Care Sector – there certainly was a great deal of interest! Click here to see our range of learning materials for anyone working within a care environment. We also have links to providers able to access funding for courses such as End of Life Care, Safe Handling of Medicines and Equality & Diversity.
To learn more please click here to contact us.
Strategic Partnership with Asset Skills
Asset Skills (Sector Skills Council for for facilities management, housing, property, planning, cleaning and parking) and Learning at Work are delighted to offer a range of short training programmes targeted at raising the technical skills and knowledge of employees within the Facilities Management Sector.
The courses are nationally recognised and accredited by awarding organisations such as NCFE and City and Guilds. They can help employees with their career development and evidence they are operating to agreed national standards. The current range of courses on offer includes Cleaning Principles, Customer Service, Team Leading and Hospitality.
To learn more please contact Sam Mera on sam.mera@learning-work.co.uk
New Look Learning Materials Launched
Learning at Work have invested heavily in a extended range of materials using a brand new look and layout. Using feedback from existing clients and recognised sector experts we have used a fresher style and clearer referencing to help the learner through the course. The materials cover the following Level 2 qualifications:
- Certificate in Understanding the Safe Handling of Medicines
- Certificate in Equality and Diversity
- Certificate in Cleaning Principles
- Certificate in the Principles of Business and Administration
- Certificate in Customer Service
- Certificate in Team Leading
- Certificate in Hospitality and Catering Principles
- Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care
- Certificate in Employability (NCFE and EDI)
Release of New Safeguarding Course
Learning at Work are delighted to announce the release of a dedicated Safeguarding course for 16 – 18 learners. In association with Weston College we have developed a Safeguarding course that introduces students to the concept of Safeguarding and covers key themes such as:
- Bullying
- Harassment
- Online safety
- Availability of support networks (both inside and outside the college).
Weston College are likely to put around 3000 of their learners through the course in the first 6 weeks of the new term. The College's Principal, Dr. Paul Phillips OBE, has fed back that "this award was created to fill an identified gap in training for our learners. Significant awareness and zero tolerance of abuse are critical to our society. This qualification is of national significance in preparing students for career progression, whether it is higher education or employment. Over 2,013 learners completed this qualification during the first few weeks of induction - it is part of our continuous awareness raising campaign and adds real value in supporting the communities we serve."
Benefits of Employer Investment in Apprenticeship
In 2008 Learning at Work wanted to support local youngsters with educational opportunities through the offer of an Apprenticeship placement for a 16 – 18 year old. Given, our close association with the Further Education sector it was an obvious step for us to take.
After a formal interview process 16 year old Emma Morris was selected. She impressed the panel with her mature outlook, willingness to learn and confidence. Her course was the Business and Administration Level 2 Apprenticeship and Emma attended a nearby college for one day a week and our workplace for 4 days a week. Emma settled in incredibly well and quickly became a key part of the team. After successfully achieving her Level 2, the next year she went onto her Level 3. Once she had obtained her qualifications Emma secured an Administration role with a local company (ironically a college).
We caught up with Emma to see how she was getting on and she fed back that it had been an extremely rewarding experience and had left her much better prepared for working life compared to a more traditional academic route. Emma is well placed to quickly develop further in her career and was pleased with the route she had taken. Jon Cummins, Managing Director at Learning at Work, said that 'Emma was a fantastic member of our team and a real credit to the Apprenticeship scheme. She showed a maturity beyond her years and will be an asset to any company that is fortunate enough to utilise her skills.'
Leading e-portfolio supplier, Skillwise, has linked up with Learning at Work to explore mutually beneficial opportunities within the sector.
Learning at Work specialise in supplying a range of services to Further Education providers including support with identifying and responding to tendering opportunities, sourcing priority learners, advice and guidance with OFSTED and PFA audits and return on investment strategies. The link up will explore innovative ways in which qualifications can be delivered thus improving the quality of training and allowing greater flexibility for people to access the programmes. Further updates will be posted on the Skillwise (http://www.skillwise.net) and Learning at Work (http://www.learning-work.co.uk) websites.