News
On Monday 2nd March 2009, Capel Manor College, Gunnersbury, hosted an Employer Event for horticulture and arboriculture employers and contractors in South and West London. The event was to ensure that employers were aware of the training that was available under the Apprenticeship and Train to Gain schemes. Training under the Train to Gain scheme is totally free to employers. Apprenticeships are also free to employers taking on apprentices aged 16-18.
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It was a very successful afternoon with 19 visitors, ranging from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Rothamsted Research as well as a number of local London Boroughs and their contractors.
The event started with welcoming tea and sandwiches followed by an interesting guided tour round the site, conducted by Simon Vyle who teaches the apprenticeship programme at Gunnersbury.
This was followed by a couple of short presentations emphasising how the college can support employers with training in the workplace.
Adam Curtis, the Deputy Superintendent at Richmond Park, spoke about his personal experiences of coming to Education and Apprenticeships later in life and was an excellent example of someone who had been given a second chance. Hopefully he inspired our other guests to give Apprenticeships a chance.
The event closed with a lively question and answer session.
Capel Manor College is committed to working with their employers and hosts similar events at several of their centres throughout the year.
Please check the web site for details of future events.
On Monday 9th February 2009, Capel Manor College, Enfield, hosted an Employer Event for horticulture employers in North and East London. These evenings are part of the college’s commitment to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of employers. It is also an opportunity to ensure that employers are fully aware of the training provision that can be accessed to up skill the workforce. Much of this training is free to the employer.
It was a very successful evening with 21 employers from amongst others Lee Valley Park, small local gardening companies as well as a number of local London Boroughs.
The event started with light refreshments and this gave employers the time to share their experiences and challenges with other employers in the area. This was followed by a couple of short presentations emphasising how the college can support employers with training in the workplace.
We then took the opportunity to ask employers for their views on our apprenticeship leaflets and the new employer section on the Capel Manor College web site. This will allow us to make improvements to the service that we provide to employers.
Ian Limmer who works for Peter Beales Roses spoke about how as an apprentice over 20 years ago he had found the scheme one of the best ways to gain qualifications and experience. Now as an employer, he is just as committed to the scheme and his enthusiasm and energy for the landscape industry was delightful.
The event closed with the presentation of certificates to those apprentices who had recently successfully completed their apprenticeship framework. It was lovely to see how many employers had come especially to witness their apprentice receive their certificate.
Feedback from employers stated that they had found the event very useful.
Capel Manor College hold similar events throughout the year and if you would like to come along just check the web site for details.
Get Your Hands Dirty with a green-fingered apprenticeship
If you want to get your hands dirty, an apprenticeship at Enfield’s Capel Manor College might be for you.
The horticultural college in Bullsmoor Lane, whose record was praised by skills secretary John Denham on a recent visit, says its work-based learning team will be available next week to talk to employers and potential students.
According to learning manager Linda Hope, the apprenticeship scheme at Capel Manor College has grown year on year by 20 per cent, with a 68 per cent success rate in 2006-07.
Former apprentice Dominic Grech, 23, of Enfield, is now a full-time member od the gardening staff at Capel Manor after deciding A Levels were not for him.
He said: “After three years I came out not only qualified but also experienced, meaning I was a valuable asset to any employer.”
The apprenticeship programme is accessible across most of the college’s centres and covers amenity horticulture, landscaping, sports turf, nursery, trees and timber and conservation.
For information on the scheme at Capel Manor College as well as other courses available see www.capel.ac.uk
Enfield Independent
Wednesday 25th February 2009
NATIONAL APPRENTICE WEEK IS FROM MONDAY 23RD FEBRUARY UNTIL FRIDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2009
Capel Manor College will be actively promoting apprenticeships during this week and there will be plenty of literature available about the apprenticeships offered by the college on display within the college.
Please drop in to find out more
Capel Manor College win prestigious award at the Horticulture Week Landscape and Amenity Awards Ceremony on 2nd October 2008
Following a spectacular launch, the Horticulture Week Landscape and Amenity Awards are now in their second year. This year the event was billed to have an even bigger impact on the landscape and amenity sector than in previous years, and it didn’t disappoint. On the evening of Thursday 2nd October more than 350 open space professionals celebrated best practice in the industry at the Awards ceremony at the Royal Garden Hotel in London.
The Royal Parks & Capel Manor College were nominated and successful in winning Most Outstanding Commitment to Education and Training for their Royal Parks Apprenticeship Scheme. This award is given to the entrant who has demonstrated the best attitude and commitment to training in the landscaping and/or amenity sector. Entrants had to demonstrate how they have enabled staff, trainees and apprentices to better their knowledge and career development. Radio and TV presenter Paul Ross presented this impressive accolade to Denis Clark, Senior Parks Manager at The Royal Parks; Colin Buttery, Director of Parks at the Royal Parks and Tom Cole Head of Horticulture, at Capel Manor College.
The event was sponsored by the HTA, Association of Professional Landscapers, Marshalls, Lantra, Institute of Groundsmanship, Perennial, Ransomes Jacobsen, Environmental Data Services, Glendale, Andersplus and The Land Restoration Trust.
Sept 2008: Royal Parks Apprenticeship Scheme
The Royal Parks Apprenticeship Scheme has been shortlisted in the Horticulture Weekly annual awards for the best training scheme. The training provider is Capel Manor College and the presentation dinner takes place on 2nd October 2008.
5th June 2008: North London L.S.C Apprenticeship Awards
The London Borough of Haringey was runner-up in the category of “Small, Medium Employer of the Year” for their commitment to training and the development of the apprenticeship programme within the borough. The awards ceremony was held at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
May 2008: Employer Forum at Capel Manor College
Capel Manor College holds an event twice a year for employers of apprentices and those who might be interested in taking on an apprentice. The event in May was attended by 50 employers from the horticulture and arboriculture sector. The meeting was addressed by Ian Ferguson, the Deputy Chairman of the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network and Chairman of Data Connection Ltd. In a recent interview Ian has spelt out the business gain from training staff:
“All the evidence shows that training improves staff retention and motivation and, even more importantly, it improves the effectiveness with which people do their jobs. Well trained staff are more productive and better at their jobs. That in turn makes them happier, makes them want to stay and employers benefit from improved business performance’
To find out more about apprenticeships contact us by:
Email: Linda.hope@capel.ac.uk
Tel: 08456 122 122 extension 181/119
Capel Manor College
Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex EN1 4RQ
Tel: 08456 122 122
