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Posted: 20/01/20

Industry week brings business to life for students

Learning how to become self-employed, role play with the police and training and industry talks from the experts has been on the agenda for students at West Nottinghamshire College.

That’s because it’s been industry week for students in the sports, public services, hairdressing and beauty therapy curriculum.

As part of the week-long initiative, from 13-17 January, tutors organised specialist visits in each of the sectors from a range of organisations, giving students the chance to learn new skills and techniques. External trips were organised for students to see how employers work and progress in their work settings.

Sports students got to meet with one of England’s top premiership rugby union teams – Leicester Tigers – who joined classes on Tuesday (14 January) to deliver introductory rugby sessions. Club representatives taught learners about the strength and conditioning techniques needed to succeed in the sport.

Express Coaching Services CEO Ian Richards joined sports activity leadership students for a wheelchair basketball session. Ian spoke to students about his business experience and how to get the right qualifications and experience and discussed disabilities within sport. The session ended with the learners playing a game of wheelchair basketball in the college’s sports hall which enabled them to understand the sport from a disabled person’s perspective.

Sports students warmly welcomed another guest on Wednesday (15 January). Dave Wright, chief executive and owner of Creative Fitness Marketing and MYZONE, came to speak more about the health and fitness industry, his life and studies in Australia and his career in the sector which has focussed heavily on promoting physical activity and getting people more active.

In 2010 Dave launched MYZONE, wearable sporting technology which is designed to encourage people to be more physically active regardless of what sport they do. The device tracks the delivery of the activity, the feedback and then the data. He passed on advice and tips to students who are looking to forge a career in the fitness industries.

Guests Allan Higgins and Corporal Ben Kerry delivered a specialist session to sports students about how to access sport-related careers in the RAF, on Friday (17 January). Allan is a senior developer at MYZONE and former member of the RAF Tactical Communications Wing. He demonstrated the fitness device which Dave Wright had detailed earlier in the week.

Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training students visited Pure Gym and Old Tyme Strength in Mansfield to take part in a range of practical classes. Representatives from Pure Gym gave information and advice about becoming personal trainers in the future while they experienced a range of PT group sessions which they’d be involved if they became self-employed.

The group also enjoyed some ‘Strong Man’ weight-lift challenges and question and answer sessions about employability in the industry.

Public services learners got to grips with role play activities at Retford Police Station on Thursday (16 January). They learnt about communicating with members of the public while on the beat and got involved in a number of simulations including a road traffic offence, a theft from a shop, an incident involving possession of drugs as well as a mock knife crime incident and dealing with missing children.

Students worked closely with police trainers throughout the day and were briefed by a senior officer as they learnt how police officers deal with day-to-day incidents. The role play situations provided an excellent opportunity to understand the skills and qualities required to be employed within the police force.

Another group of public services students were ‘on watch’ at Mansfield’s Fire Station on Thursday (16 January). Sessions with fire officers at the Rosemary Street-based station helped students discover what skills and attributes are needed to become a fire fighter. They also enjoyed a tour of the station seeing the specialist equipment and engines used on a daily basis.

This visit also helped them to secure a range of knowledge needed for assignments on their diploma, such as leadership and teamwork, citizenship and diversity, understanding discipline, career planning and employment in the public services.

Second year Level 3 Extended Diploma Public Services Students enjoyed a tour of the facilities at Nottingham Trent University and observed a few of the police degree classes and had opportunity to ask questions.

Beauty therapy students welcomed a range of guests to bring their industry skills to life in class. Hot stone massage techniques were demonstrated to Level 2 Spa students by Charlotte Kenyon from Ellisons – the company which the college salons use for a range of products and equipment.

Dermalogica product representative Latara Payne brought the latest in skincare technology to the Level 2 Beauty Therapy class on Tuesday (14 January). The introduction to face mapping session showed learners how to use this latest kit which can analyse the condition of a client’s skin, assessing its age and condition before the appropriate treatments are offered.

Popular skin treatment – Dermaplaning – was demonstrated by Leanne Lewis, owner of the Lash and Brow Bar in Ripley. Level 2 learners watched the precise techniques needed using a blade, to reveal fresh, new skin on the client. Leanne also gave advice on the kind of products which are recommended on the skin after planing.

The more aesthetic beauty demonstrations came courtesy of a make-up masterclass on Friday (17 January), delivered by Lynsey Chapel, who is a self-employed make-up artist. Lynsey’s masterclass for the Level 2 Make-up Artistry students showcased some of the latest make-up tools and colourways which are used in fashion and client requests.

Level 1 beauty therapy students enjoyed learning the art of applying henna to the skin in a safe and creative way. Guest speaker Cara Amirah showed the many ways that henna can add a decorative edge to a client’s look, while also addressing the health and safety aspects of application and removal.

Level 2 hairdressing students visited Capital Hair and Beauty, Mansfield, to gain an insight into how a wholesale business works. Students took part in a treasure hunt and everyone received goody bags and signed up for their discount cards.

Sally’s Hair and Beauty Supplies came in to talk about a range of products and items that are new to the market, while a range demonstrations were showcased for hair products and tools, including the Steampod – an innovative tool used for straightening and a natural range of haircare called Diksonatura which is suitable for vegans.

Level 1 students were involved in The Great British Blow Dry competition which challenged stylists to create a blow-dried style in 45 minutes, while the team’s own in-house stylists delivered Indian head massage to Level 2 hairdressers to enhance their massage skills and allow them to offer this as an additional service.

Head of hair, beauty, sport and public services, Sarah Morley, said: “This year’s industry week has proved to be a very worthwhile initiative. Our students have really embraced the concept of learning outside of the classroom, honing the all-important employability skills and have discovered much more about the sectors they wish to work in after studies.

“They’ve been able to hear first-hand from employers about the attributes which they are looking for when recruiting, as well as pick up some of the latest skills, technologies and initiatives which organisations want new recruits to be getting on-board with.”