Member Article

TyneMet Business Ambassadors Share Engagement Experiences

The aim of TyneMet College’s latest business networking and information event was to thank the Business Ambassadors who are already supporting the College and to explain the huge benefit their contribution makes to the College and its students. This event was also a great opportunity for these existing ambassadors to explain the positive impact working with the College has had on their organisation.

At the event, Bill Midgley, Chair of Governors at TyneMet College, welcomed 30 Business Ambassadors to TyneMet, highlighting the many positive outcomes that working collaboratively can achieve and stated that the College is making every effort to listen to organisations with an aim to facilitate their needs, for work placement students, apprentices and tailored training at a variety of levels.

Three case studies were presented at the event; the first by Phil Dodds, a former Engineering Teacher at TyneMet College who now works as a Maintenance Technician at Nestlé UK. Phil has played a key part in re-introducing Apprenticeship programmes at Nestlé UK, Fawdon, and has also been instrumental in developing this successful working partnership for apprenticeship training with TyneMet College.

Phil talked about the apprenticeship programme that Nestlé UK have developed. The vocational training is delivered by Rolls Royce North East Training but the Apprentices come to the Engineering Department at TyneMet College to study the academic elements of their Apprenticeship programme. He also talked about a fantastic opportunity that he arranged for six Engineering students who were given the privilege of spending a day at the Nestlé UK factory in Fawdon, each shadowing a highly skilled and qualified technician. The aim of the visit was to provide the students with ‘first-hand’ experience of real-life working on a factory floor.

Louise Miller, Global Project Manager and Kerry Noon, CI & Portfolio Office Executive, from British Airways, both former TyneMet students, who have just recently joined as Business Ambassadors, gave a presentation about the variety of work placements and employment opportunities that British Airways can offer students.

They also talked about the training and development opportunities that British Airways offer to their staff so that they can develop and advance their careers internally within the company.

James Garrity, Director of Fitness 4 All, and also a former TyneMet Sports Teacher who realises the importance of students gaining job ready appropriate training and a realistic insight into the world of work gave the final presentation - relating his positive experience of taking on a placement student from TyneMet. James took on Alex Parr, a Sport student so that Alex could gain an understanding and real life experience of working in the Personal Training industry.

Alex, who was also involved in the presentation, said that this placement has been invaluable to him - confirming his decision to pursue a career in the industry. Although studying on the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport Exercise and Science, whilst working at Fitness 4 All Alex has also been able to complete a Level 2 Gym Instructor course and has now signed up to do a Level 3 Personal Training course.

Jon Vincent, Principal and Chief Executive, TyneMet College said:

“TyneMet College’s Business Ambassador Programme is a network of forward thinking business people who are committed to the continued success and growth of North Tyneside and the region overall.

“Through the positive impact of this network, we can build confidence and self-belief amongst students of the benefits and opportunities that the world of industry and commerce has to offer them.

“I am delighted that so many of the attendees at this event have expressed an interest in supporting TyneMet and Queen Alexandra Colleges, we are keen to make appropriate use of successful role models from the world of industry to help inspire and positively influence students in order to help them to develop a range of skills that employers are looking for.”

To find out more about how to become Business Ambassador for either TyneMet, Queen Alexandra Colleges or TMC register online today at www.tynemet.ac.uk/ambassador

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lisa Dawson .