SUMMER SUPPLEMENT ISSUE

JUNE 2015

RECORD BREAKING STUDENTS

BE YOUR OWN BOSS

BUDDING BBC REPORTERS

COOKING UP A STORY!

GIVING YOU THE INSIDE NEWS ON ALL THINGS NESCol

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SUMMER SUPPLEMENT, JUNE 2015SUMMER SUPPLEMENT, JUNE 2015

This year, one of the lucky participating schools was Northfield Academy, who made use of North East Scotland College’s excellent media facilities to produce their news reports. Schools across the UK took part in the annual News Day, simultaneously creating video, audio and text-based news reports, and publishing them on a school website, which you can find here:

www.blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ac/northfieldbbc

The pupils utilised NESCol’s TV and Radio studios, working with HN students and under the expert guidance of College staff, as well as BBC journalist Fiona Stalker. A group of pupils started the day with a visit to Pittodrie to interview the Dons’ Captain Russell Anderson. Former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond undertook an interview via live phone in to our Radio Studio. Council Leader Jenny Laing visited NESCol, where she was interviewed for radio and TV. Olympic Gold Medallist Tim Baillie was also interviewed.

Every year, the BBC gives young people across the

UK the chance to develop their journalistic skills and become School Reporters. The collaborative project

between BBC News and BBC Learning gives 11-16

year old school pupils the chance to make their own

news reports for a real audience.

NESCol student Annabel Gillan (17) has surprised herself, as well as her family and friends, with the level of success she has achieved in the short time since she decided to take up a new hobby.

Annie, as she is known, left Meldrum Academy after her fourth year and joined an NC Sport and Fitness Level 5 class at North East Scotland College. She has always been interested in fitness and, during visits to the gym at Aberdeen Sports Village, became aware that a number of the other members took part in powerlifting. Despite never previously having thought about taking it up, she decided to give it a go and discovered that she found it both challenging and enjoyable.

A few months after taking it up as a hobby, Annie decided to enter a competition. She said, “I didn’t expect to place in the competition, let alone win anything. I just wanted to see what it was like to take part.” She added, “I’m not particularly competitive in the traditional sense – I like to compete with myself to see how far I can take something.” She freely admits to not paying too much attention to the score board during the competition and was amazed to come away with several Scottish records.

After a further two competitions, the modest student was already the holder of twelve Scottish and four British records. She was then invited to represent Scotland in the European Powerlifting Championships in the Czech Republic and went on to achieve an impressive fifth place. She said, “My lecturers at College have been very supportive of my commitments outside of my studies and have helped me catch up on any work I’ve missed while travelling to competitions.”

Looking to the future, Annabel has progressed to HND Fitness, Health and Exercise at NESCol and is enjoying the course. She said, “It’s hard work but definitely worth it!” She hopes to one day work in a sport or nutrition related job. She added, “I will definitely keep powerlifting in the short term but I’m not sure if I want to do it full-time.”

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Every year, North East Scotland College, in partnership with Elevator UK, host an enterprise event called Be Your Own Boss.

The event gives students the opportunity to network with local entrepreneurs, gaining information, advice, guidance and the answers to any questions they might have about starting their own business.

This year’s event was a great success. Alongside opportunities to network in an enterprise market place within the College, students could attend a Business Model Canvas workshop and hear talks from a host of inspirational entrepreneurs.

This year’s speakers included Samyouel Stephen from the creative organisation Pepela; Lee McGrath from the Social Enterprise Academy; Yva Yorston from Business Boost Support and Marliser Joseph from Marli’s Hair & Cosmetics.

An Aberdeen student has brought the house down for a leading charity by raising hundreds of pounds with a fundraiser.

Sarah Saxton, 22, put on a rock and metal fundraising gig in aid of Mental Health Aberdeen. Ms Saxton, who studies music at North East Scotland College, raised more than £550 for MHA by organising the event at Downstairs, Holburn Street.

Almost 100 people packed into the venue to see local metal, rock and punk bands Kamehameha, Hayworth, Anchored Down and Needleman play with 100% of the profits going to charity. Ms Saxton raised the cash for Mental Health Awareness because she believes mental health charities need more recognition in comparison to some of the better known causes in the north-east.

As part of my course at college I know a lot of people in the metal and rock scene in Aberdeen and I’m friends with a lot of the bands. All the bands played

for free and they sounded incredible. The place was mobbed. We must have had around 70 to 80 people come in, which is amazing for a Tuesday night and, of course, for the owners of the venue. I wanted to raise around £100. When I found out I had raised more than £550 I was surprised and extremely happy.

As a college we encourage staff and students to work collaboratively to develop enterprise and employability skills for life, learning and work.

For all students, the college provides a perfect opportunity to develop the skills and mindset required to become more enterprising, for their own benefit, and the benefit of the college and wider community.

ENTERPRISEAT NESCOL

MAKE WORKING FOR YOURSELF

WORK FOR YOU!

Students get the chance to experience learning opportunities that are designed to raise awareness of entrepreneurship – including self-employment – as a career option.

They also have the opportunity to actively apply their enterprising mindset in the setting up of a new venture, or developing or growing an existing venture within a range of contexts – for example, in local and national businesses, social enterprises, communities and in the public sector. If you have a business idea, there are staff at the College that will support you in contacting a range of organisations to help you develop your plans.

Rachel WINS

NEScene competition!In the last edition of NEScene we gave you the

chance to enter our competition to win a Kindle Fire HD.

The lucky winner was 15-year-old Rachel McKenna from Mearns Academy. Congratulations Rachel!

Be sure to keep reading NEScene for more chances to win great prizes!

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SUMMER SUPPLEMENT, JUNE 2015SUMMER SUPPLEMENT, JUNE 2015

Have you ever considered a career at sea?North East Scotland College’s Scottish Maritime Academy (SMA) has a new course that could lead to an adventurous and exciting career as a Deck Officer in the Merchant Navy.

Deck Officers are vital members of a ship’s operational team. The Deck Officer is responsible for navigating ships safely around the world using the latest technology and computer based systems. Deck officers maintain watches on the bridge at sea and in port. They are responsible for passage planning, the safe navigation of the vessel, cargo loading and discharge, ship stability, communications and the maintenance of the hull and deck equipment.

Some of the opportunities offered to you in this role are:

• Real responsibility at an early age

• Wide range of career prospects at sea and on shore

• Clear progression routes with a salary to match

• The ability to travel the world

How can we help you become a Deck Officer?The SMA has been granted approval by the Merchant Navy Training Board to run its prestigious officer trainee cadet programme – an excellent way to get into a career as a Deck Officer. On completion of the course you will gain a Higher National Certificate, a Diploma in Nautical Science and an MCA Officer of the Watch Certificate of Competency. All trainee officer cadets are sponsored by shipping companies who will cover the cost of course tuition and will provide you with a training allowance throughout your training.

Set SailON A NEW CAREER

Entry RequirementsTo apply you must hold four National 5 passes, four Scottish Standard Grades or GCSE Grades 1-3/A-C, including English, Maths and a science based subject. You will also be required to pass a medical examination.

Want to find out more?Contact the Scottish Maritime Academy and we can advise you of the next steps to take.

• sma@nescol.ac.uk• 01779 476204• www.smaritime.co.uk

Where will you study?To become a Deck Officer in the Merchant Navy you must undergo a three year cadet training programme at the Scottish Maritime Academy in Peterhead - a centre of excellence of North East Scotland College. We are a dedicated nautical training centre and work with many shipping companies to provide the necessary officer training for you to obtain your internationally recognised nautical qualifications.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

FOR COURSES STARTING IN SEPTEMBER!

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In our Aberdeen City Campus you’ll find:

• Gate 63 Restaurant

• Large production kitchen, linked with the Gate 63 training restaurant

• 2 training kitchens, each taking up to 16 students at a time, all with access to their own chopping boards, knives, pots, pans and other essential equipment

• Domestic-setting kitchens often used for smaller classes

• Fully equipped bakery

• Quick Byte Refectory - The Quick Byte cooks work closely with the Learning Development Centre, meaning students can come in and work in the kitchen on Friday lunchtimes. Quick Byte is a fantastic place to go for a delicious, hot meal, and is open 3 days a week for lunch.

S P O T L I G H Ton Professional Cookery & Hospitality

In our Fraserburgh Campus you’ll find:

• The Wallace Restaurant• Large production kitchen (linked with the Wallace

training restaurant)• Bressuire Bistro - a smaller kitchen and seating

area where students are taught a different style of service than that of the more formal restaurant

• Reception area where speciality coffees and snacks are served on selected days during term

• 1 preparation and training kitchen, taking up to 12 students at a time

• Domestic-setting kitchen often used for smaller classes and demonstrations

Our Aberdeen City Campus and our Fraserburgh Campus offer a number

of large kitchens, giving our catering and hospitality students the chance to really get to grips with using a range of different cooking equipment, refine key preparation techniques and learn about

the correct storage of foods.

Both Gate 63 and the Wallace are fine dining restaurants staffed by our students. In these real-life learning environments, students get the chance to work front of house and in the kitchen – preparing high quality food for paying customers.

Across the catering facilities at North East Scotland College the meat, fish, dairy and vegetables used are sourced from suppliers in Aberdeen City and Shire. Game is sourced from our supplier in Aberdeen or Kilmarnock and dry goods are sourced from a national supplier based in Scotland.

Our kitchens have everything from ice cream makers to giant mixers and combi ovens. Students have access to chopping boards, knives, pots, pans and all other essential equipment, and we even have wireless digital equipment, including wall-mounted screens and cameras in our Aberdeen City Campus. Gate 63 has a live kitchen camera and screen, meaning that clients and lecturers can watch in wonder as their food is prepared!

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C o o k i n g u p a s t o r mA T S P R I N G B O A R D F U T U R E C H E FC O M P E T I T I O N

When the Springboard Future Chef competition took their local heats to NESCol earlier this year, Level 1 Professional Cookery student Ross Maxwell cooked up a storm and was awarded first place.

The competition saw aspiring chefs from schools, colleges and the hospitality industry, all aged 16 or under, use the Aberdeen City Campus kitchens to prepare a meal using high quality local produce – to be tasted and judged by lecturer, Robert Bruce, and Masterchef: the Professionals finalist and chef at Aberdeen’s Moonfish Café, Brian McLeish. Brian said of his judging experience:

I was really impressed with the standard of cooking for the age of the competitors. The group coped very well and

cooked good food. The winners had slightly more attention to detail, which gave them the edge, but overall everyone did really well.

Ross prepared a winning menu of seabass with a herb risotto and roasted cherry tomatoes on the vine, followed by a chocolate fondant with hazelnut praline and homemade vanilla ice cream.

Getting named the winner was a great moment for Ross, who placed second in last year’s competition, when he was still a pupil at Hazlehead Academy. “Winning was a great feeling,” Ross said. “I’m really happy.”

Ross also spoke about how taking part in last year’s competition had inspired him to apply to study Professional Cookery at NESCol.He said:

I knew I wanted to study professional cookery, but it was good seeing the kitchens and the restaurant that I would be learning in at College.

In second place was S3 pupil Tara Grant from Oldmachar Academy, who said:

I hope to become a chef when I leave school. I’d

like to come to North East Scotland College because it has nice kitchens and a good learning programme.

Ross and Tara both progressed to the Regional Finals of the completion in Inverness, where Ross earned third place.

SUMMER SUPPLEMENT, JUNE 2015

FOR INFORMATION AND ADVICE ON FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME COURSES

COME ALONG TO ONE OF OUR INFORMATION

DAYS OR OPEN EVENINGS WHERE OUR FRIENDLY AND

HELPFUL STAFF WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS YOU HAVE RELATING TO COURSES

STARTING IN 2015, OR 2016.

Recognised as a Scottish charity – number SCO21174

DON’T FORGET oUR

SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER 201510:00am - 1:00pm

Fraserburgh Campus

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2015

10:00am - 2:00pmAberdeen City, Altens & Craibstone Campuses

THURSDAY 4 FEBRUARY 20164:30pm - 7:30pm

Fraserburgh Campus

SATURDAY 12 MARCH 201610:00am - 2:00pm

Aberdeen City, Altens & Craibstone Campuses

www.nescol.ac.uk

/NESCollege