REACT Transport Services Limited are a local Transport company who use all different types of paperwork in their day to day activities and so I thought it would be useful for the students to see first-hand how this type of business operate with the different forms.

We had a group of 21 students who were split into two groups and we rotated between the finance office/Operations Manager office, the warehouse and the Director giving a small talk.

The students were informed of different credit control procedures, customer care, cash flow and general financial information from the Finance Assistant Mandy Robertson. The Operations Manager Colin Duncan discussed with the groups the different types of vehicle tracking

and how to best utilise the resources you have available to each business. The director was on site and he gave some hints and tips to the students in how to start up a new business. Some of the students even got a chance to sit in an Artic Lorry.

REACT Transport also rent out a part of their warehouse to BAWBAGS Ltd and the owners were on site to give the students a tour of their office space and products and discussed Stock control which again is part of the curriculum and so it was extremely useful for the students to see first-hand how to manage the different aspect of a business. The owner of BAWBAGS kindly handed out a free gift to each of the students.

The students fed back that it was a great experience and really relevant to what they had been learning. It

also highlighted to them the range of businesses on their doorstep, who are potential employers on completion of their courseJenna Redpath Lecturer in Business and Creative

Business Day Out

Winter 2014/2015

The NQ Business groups A & B are currently learning about different types of business documents ranging from quotations and Purchase orders through to Invoicing.

student associationnewsletter

3Visit from Groisy College, Cran Gevrier

4 Art Students Visit Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design

6 The Coffee Pod - New Coffee machine now at the hot plate

www.west-lothian.ac.uk

They helped us build on our communication and reliability by allowing us to participate in many trust exercises. This brought the group closer together for the final high challenge, which involved trusting your fellow team mates as they build each other’s confidence while they climb up the 30ft pole. Certain people in the groups were determined at the start of the day that they weren’t climbing up the pole but throughout the day and with the help and support of fellow teammates, almost everyone attempted the pole.

The group had mixed reactions toward the hospitality provided some said that the soup was delicious and they really enjoyed it, while others said that they strongly disliked the soup but loved the fresh bread and the homemade chocolate flapjacks.

Here are some quotes from students:

“I thought when I climbed the pole, it was a bit wobbly so that’s why I didn’t want to stand up but I managed to climb the pole faster than I thought I would” – Antonia Henderson

“The day was much better than I thought it was going to be, everyone ended up working very well together” – Euan MahonSusan McSeveney, Depute Head of Construction and Motor Vehicle

The College in partnership with College Development Network created a programme of events from our own Chef Lecturer demonstrations, Fish mongering and a guest speaker who focused on how we maintain health our fish stocks and highlighted many career opportunities within the food manufacture industry. Great day was had by all included over 30 invited guests plus students drawn from many different disciplines from across the College.

The organiser was quoted as saying. Your staff and students were the epitome of hospitality and fulfilling your aim of getting students there from science, engineering, travel and tourism, marketing as well as hospitality and professional cookery gave the event a real buzz.Bob Prentice, Depute Head of Hospitality and Assisted Programmes

Wiston LodgeOn Monday the 17th of November 2014 the Preparation for Motor Vehicle and Preparation for Construction groups went to Wiston Lodge near Biggar for a team building day out. Everyone enjoyed the day thanks to the instructors and their techniques.

www.west-lothian.ac.uk

Seafood in Colleges PilotWe were fortunate to be one of 3 colleges in Scotland to be invited to host the above event. The objective of the day was to promote Seafood in our diet and promote the different career paths found within this Sector.

2

We enjoyed hosting a party of 16 students who spent the week with us visiting restaurants, hotel and of course a distillery.

It was a very busy schedule culminating in French and Scottish dinners in our Terrace restaurant

They all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and many hope to return to Scotland either to work or have much more time to sample the many attractions that our country offers.

We are hopeful that if we have done enough to be invited to their College in the near future – our French contact said of the visit, Thank you from the bottom of the heart to every one of the WLC. You put the level so high that the return exchange I hope will be equal to your generosity. It

took a great deal of hard work by many people too many to mention in this small space, you know who you all are, to you, many thanks for making the visit such a great success.Bob Prentice, Depute Head of Hospitality and Assisted Programmes

The Guy Fawkes BBQ had people queuing for the delicious take away food until it eventually sold out. Everything was homemade by the students including the bread rolls, sausages, burgers & chilli dogs.

The Pizza Planet event was a sit down buffet during one of the restaurant days. Not only did people in the college get to enjoy this feast, but the members of the public also got to enjoy it. All the homemade pizzas, breads & pastas went down a treat and great feedback from both events.

Both events were a great success and the support from everyone was much appreciated.Joanna Henry, Lecturer Hospitality and Assisted Programmes

Visit by our French Culinary Friends from Groisy College, Cran Gevrier

Guy Fawkes BBQ & Pizza Planet Event

The NC Professional Cookery students had a busy week at the start of November when they held 2 hospitality events.

Student Association Newsletter 3

The event, which was held on the 6th of November, was called ‘The Only Way Is Scotland’.

It enabled the students to promote tourism in areas around Scotland for the Homecoming. Some of the areas covered included Edinburgh, Stirling, Skye, Dunbar, Aviemore, New Lanark and Arran to name a few. Student Kayleigh Wallace said ‘Everyone really enjoyed learning so much about Scotland and being able to pass this information on to fellow students and lecturers’. Thank you to everyone who turned up at the event, it was a great success. Joanna Henry

Alisha Barnett and Jo Hanning were in the wonderful position of having offers at more than one institution; both are now studying together at DJCAD. In addition, Jo was recognised as having produced an exemplary portfolio of work at West Lothian College and was invited to place this work on display at their open day.

The visit was a fantastic opportunity to allow our current students to explore the variety of progression routes on offer at degree level. They were also able to gain valuable insights into the portfolio

expectations for degree applications as well as benefitting from the guidance of Jo and Alisha.

West Lothian College art students gained degree offers at all four

major art schools in Scotland. In addition Lauren Purves secured her place at Napier University to study photography.

David Paton is now at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen where he competed against one thousand one hundred candidates for his place.

Sylvia Keeley has taken her place at Edinburgh College of Art; with only two hundred and forty places available to the four thousand seven hundred applicants.

Rhona Macleod has progressed to HND Contemporary Art practice at Anniesland College. Heather McKay secured a much sought after place at City of Glasgow College with only four places on offer on their HND Contemporary Art Practice course.

Amy Lyall has gone on to study at Edinburgh College.

The Only Way is Scotland!Well done to the Prep for Travel & Tourism students who held an event to celebrate the ‘Homecoming’ year for Scotland.

Art Students Visit Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design

HNC Contemporary Art Practice students made a trip to Dundee to meet two former students studying at DJCAD.

‘The art team feel proud of all our students’ achievements; they are successfully competing for places at the very highest level with remarkable

results. It is testament to the standard of work that each person has produced and we wish each continued success in the future. It was wonderful to see past and present students together and exchanging their thoughts. Many thanks to Alisha and Jo for kindly taking time to meet with us: sharing their experiences and offering their valued support on the day.’ Alex Harvey Lecturer in Business and Creative Industries

www.west-lothian.ac.uk

4

The Hairdressing students raised £126.80 for Children in Need by having a ‘wear your own clothes day’ and offering hairdressing services for a donation.Nicola Anderson, Lecturer Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy

The money will go to the RSPCC and to fund a field trip for our collage course. Cost £10 contact carol for tickets 07710076638 or come to photography section Wed or Thurs.

On the 7th November, HNC Events students held a live entertainment evening in The Club, Broxburn in aid of Alzheimer Scotland and Live for Life Foundation. The latter charity raises awareness of Huntington’s disease. The evening was a huge success and provides core evidence for their Project Management unit

as well as valuable experience for the career path they hope to follow.

The students raised over £1,000.00 for the charities. The final total which has gone to Alzheimer Scotland is £536.74 and £525.00 to Live for Life Foundation.

Thank you to everyone who bought tickets, raffle tickets or made a donation. Your support is very much appreciated.Pauline Ogle- Events Lecturer

This was an interesting and valuable learning experience for everyone involved. The students were able to access industry standard equipment in a professional environment and see first-hand the works created by internationally known artists, using the workshop. Everyone was amazed at the number of separations used by Victoria Crowe to produce her highly painterly

styled prints. The students had to create three separations, compared with around fourteen!

Included in the day was a visit to the current exhibition at EPW, this gave the students a chance to see how some of the workshop members responded to the brief “No Fixed Abode” and the diverse range of printmaking techniques they had used. The students produced a good standard of work

and the workshop staff enjoyed the visit as much as the students!

The silk screen prints produced at EWP will shortly be on exhibition in the art corridor and the students hope you will find time to drop by and see them. The prints will be for sale and would make unique and original gifts.Barbara-Ann Greig, Rona Wilson, Lecturers Business and Creative

Day Visit to PrintmakersHNC Contemporary Art Practice students have visited the Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop to complete their printmaking unit.

Fundraising CeilidhThe photography students are holding a fundraising ceilidh and disco at the club in Broxburn date to be sorted probably Jan/ Feb.

Hair Raisers

Student Association Newsletter 5

The Coffee Pod

As Christmas is fast approaching the Science department did not want to leave their area undecorated and so they made their very own ChemisTree from items found in their department.

The tree was created using a stand, clamps, round bottom flasks, conical flasks and test tubes. The top of the tree was adorned with a pipette pump and the flasks were filled with non-toxic, non-hazardous substances.

Debating ClubIf anyone is interested in joining a debating club please contact Ryan (HNC Social Sciences) by emailing ghoststory@hotmail.co.uk

The Coffee Pod is located in West Lothian College’s Food Court and serves a variety of speciality coffee supplied by Coffee Conscience

Opening times:

Mon - Thurs

8am to 6pm

Friday

8am to 1pm

Hot Dogs

Pasta King

Salad Boxes

Panini’s

Toasties

Sandwiches

Filled rolls

Selection of Coffees & Teas

Sweets, juice and crisps

Italian Aroma Coffee Beans

Loyalty cards available buy 7, get 1 free

Available at the Coffee Pod

New Coffee machine now at the hot plate

Science Department Make A Chemistree

Oh Chemistree, oh Chemistree, how lovely are your beakers!

www.west-lothian.ac.uk 6

Social MediaThe Student Association is now on both Facebook and Twitter. Give us a follow and a like to keep up-to-date with everything about the Student Association at WLC!

WLC_SA on Twitter

West Lothian College Student Association on Facebook

This campaign is to highlight the perceptions of smoking in the college and show that it is not the ‘norm’ to smoke. The messages in the campaign are collected from data taken from 1,500 students surveyed at in WLC.

Did you know that 7 out of 10 students in west Lothian College do not smoke? Or that 7 out of 10 students who do not smoke feel they have made the right decision?

We will be releasing more messages and posters soon so look out for them.

Lesley from West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Services (WLDAS) provides a service for those looking for information to aid stopping smoking.

This is Wednesday 12-1pm in the college foyer of the main building. Anyone is welcome pop along and speak to her.

NUS Extra cards are available for all students. They can be purchased from NUS Extra online (www.nus.org.uk).

All you have to do is enter your details and upload a photo. These cards offer discounts from hundreds of stores and restaurants including Amazon, Scotmid, Asos, Dominos, Superdrug and loads more.

We will be promoting throughout the college, any questions please see Student Association.

student cards

SOCE (Student On-Course Evaluation)SOCE will be live from Tuesday 2 December 2014 until Friday 23 January 2015.

All Students will need to fill in the evaluation form to give as much feedback as possible in order for us to improve your courses and the college as a whole. NUS Extra Student Cards

Social Norms

Our Social Norms Campaign has been launched within the college.

Student Association Newsletter 7

We have loads of events happening in the college after the Winter break, so look out for what is going on. From all at Student

Association we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Look forward to seeing you all after the Holidays.

Into the New Year…

Going to the self-defence session with the Krav Maga trainers was really good. I learnt some really valuable skills when in

desperate situations. It is really useful for us to know these skills in case we every come across. This should be something which we should have more often in college. Instructors were very informative and friendly. Having people from outside is something that helps us to learn more in a college environment as well. Teaches us a lot about self-respect and what can happen out there.” Ryan- Social Science

Student Association Strapline Competition

Well done to Lauren McDonagh for winning our Student Association Strapline competition.

Lauren, a HNC art student came up with the slogan

which will be used for our new logo. Well done and enjoy your tablet.

We have loads of events happening in the college after the Winter break, so look out for what is going on. From all at Student

Association we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Look forward to seeing you all after the Holidays.

Anti-Bullying Event- Self Defence Demonstration

'your voice only

louder'

On Thursday the 4th Dec the Student Association held Self Defence demonstrations in the College sports hall. The lessons were delivered by Krav Maga Scotland. All students who attended had a great time and found the sessions very informative.

Into the New Year…

Thank you for all your support this year and enjoy your holidays:

Student President Justine Coulter, Vice President Declan McCrossan and Student Association Development Officer Micole Robertson.