Sussex celebrates student awards

FE Sussex hosted The Spring Awards for 2009. This annual event celebrates the vocational training achievements of individuals, colleges, employers and employees. The ceremony in Brighton brought together major players from the training and development world throughout Sussex to celebrate the best and brightest achievements in training, development and lifelong learning.

FE Sussex is an innovative partnership of Sussex colleges and their key paners, whose aim is to further improve the experience of learners in the Sussex further education colleges through direct, effective action and ensuring maximum impact.

The Spring Awards took place on Thursday 26 March 2009 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole.

It comprised a seated dinner, entertainment from Sussex students and, of course the inspirational, and often moving, stories of the winners and finalists of the awards themselves. The keynote speaker at the awards was Cyrus Todiwala, MBE, proprietor and Executive Chef of the Café Spice Namasté restaurant group, renowned for its innovative and fresh approach to Indian cuisine. Winners were presented with gift vouchers as well as an attractive trophy. Runners up received gift vouchers.

Plumpton College award winners included Ian Dobson, Simon Lambert and Burgess Hill Town Council.

• Ian Dobson was the runner-up for the NCFE learner of the year award. He is currently enrolled at Plumpton College on a level 3 creative craft course. The course has taught him the value of research, the creation of new ideas and developing his artistic abilities. He now aims to proceed with a second career in metals. Cath Laffan, his tutor at Plumpton College, says "Ian has developed design and fabrication skills which will allow him to follow a bright new career." Ian enrolled at the college following an extensive career in financial services. NCFE is a national awarding body. Awarding bodies design and award qualifications which recognise the skills, knowledge and understanding achieved by a learner at a particular level and in a particular subject.

• Simon Lambert received the FE Sussex Apprentice of the Year award, sponsored by FE Sussex and Sussex Council of Training Providers (SCTP). He is no stranger to awards, being the runner-up for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year and joint NVQ level 3 student of the year, at Plumpton College awards. Simon is currently employed as Assistant Head Greenkeeper at Seaford Head Golf Club, East Sussex where his Manager recognises his commitment to high standards, staff training and service delivery, studying even at the expense of his beloved karate! He aims to continue to undertake professional qualifications and his assessor training to move into a managerial role. Mark Syrett, Work based Manager, Plumpton College said, "Simon has proved an exceptional student and as Plumpton College is developing a level 4 programme, we very much want Simon benefitting from that provision.

We are pleased to be working with Seaford Head Town Council for his training".

• Burgess Hill Town Council received the award for Train to Gain Employer of the Year.

In response to the Town Council's Training Plan, all staff received training during the past year. This allows the Town Council to deliver an efficient service to the 29,000 residents and partner organisations.

The Mobile Maintenance Team (MMT) studied with Plumpton College for NVQ qualifications as part of their Burial Ground and machinery course. David Carden, Town Clerk said," We are proud to win this award and to have our good practice recognized by an external organisation.

Our most important resource is our staff and Council has an ongoing commitment to learning and development, to enable people to keep their skills up to date and meet the needs of the community we serve in Burgess Hill.

Training is very important to our culture; it allows staff to feel valued and offers transferable skills. Train to Gain has helped us to enhance and develop this philosophy, as has signing up to the Skills Pledge". Nigel Ellis, Lecturer at Plumpton College endorses this philosophy. He said," This has been a smooth, quick and well supported programme. We are pleased that the relationship has developed into one for the longer term."

Plumpton College offers Land Based courses, from entry to degree level. The courses range from full or part time, from school programmes through to Degree level. Courses are available in Agriculture, Agricultural and Construction Machinery, Animal Management and Veterinary Nursing, Countryside and Environment, .Equine Studies. Floristry and Horticultural Machinery,,Forestry and Arboriculture, Garden Design., Horticulture,.

Landscape Construction, Metalsmithing and Silversmithing, Rural Business Management, Sports Turf Management, Sport (Outdoor Education), Wine Business and Wine Production. Taster sessions are available for school students. Plumpton College's annual Open Day is on Saturday 9th May 2009.

The College will be having a open day Saturday 9 May 2009: Open Day, 10am-5pm.

Contact: Shan Dexter, T: 01273 892034 email: shan.dexter@plumpton.ac.uk