The Financial Times fDi magazine has recently ranked Newbury amongst Europe's top cities and regions of the future for 2020/21, alongside Paris, Munich and Moscow. The fDi rankings consider the infrastructure, incentives and capabilities of cities and regions for attracting future inward investment.
With many large, multi-national companies and organisations headquartered in West Berkshire and the surrounding area, the development of higher education provision is considered to be a crucial part of Newbury's vision for the future.
University Centre Newbury (UCN) is a partnership between Newbury College, local universities and employers that will provide high-quality education and training that meets business-critical needs and delivers economic growth in the region.
Inspired by a visit to the West Berkshire Museum, Foundation Diploma students studying Art & Design at Newbury College have developed a portfolio of work which has been commissioned by the Museum and transformed into an exhibition called A Time and A Place'. The exhibition will be open at the Museum until 26 April 2020.
The students were delighted to have the rare opportunity to explore and handle the museum artefacts, under the expert supervision and direction of Clare Bromley, Learning & Participation Officer at West Berkshire Museum. Clare also visited the College to give the students feedback and guidance on the development of their artwork.
Clare Bromley, said It has been wonderful to work with Newbury College staff and students on this project. The superb exhibition is a reflection of all their hard work. We hope that the exhibition will encourage new audiences to visit and in particular, the young people, their family and friends.
The students have been preparing the displays through sampling and exploring a wide range of 2D and 3D materials, technique and processes including drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpting and Sarah Gordon, Art & Design Lecturer commented, This opportunity has been invaluable for the students, giving them insight into the practicalities, constraints and creative potential of producing work for a client which is of a professional standard. The opportunity to display work in the public domain is integral to supporting their progression onto a career in the creative sector.
You can visit A Time and A Place' at the West Berkshire Museum, Wednesday ' Sunday between 10:00 ' 16:00, until 26 April 2020, visit www.westberkshireheritage.org for more information.
You've been on Instagram and found out which Disney character you are, but what about your dream career? The current trend in online head quizzes has inspired us to create our own interactive, augmented reality, face filter for Instagram that randomly selects one of the many career pathways available to study at the College.
While the filter is just for fun, it forms part of the College's recent change in direction, to focus more on careers, not courses, and aims to increase awareness of the wide range of employer-led programmes and apprenticeship opportunities we provide.
Marketing Officer and developer of the AR filter, Shaun Daubney, said: We are always looking at new and innovative ways to engage with potential students. We want them to get excited about their future careers and know that we can support them in achieving their goals.
The filter has already produced some surprising results for students and staff who have been testing it since it launched on Friday, with career predictions including accountant, beauty therapist, firefighter, personal trainer and web developer.
To get real advice on careers, apprenticeships and education opportunities, we suggest attending our Career Discover Event from 16:00 ' 20:00 on Thursday 06 February. Our experienced tutors and local employers will be available to discuss the options available and provide guidance on getting your dream career.
Try the filter for yourself by visiting tinyurl.com/careerpredictor on your smartphone and don't forget to tag @newburycollege with the result. To find out more about the Career Discovery Event and register for free online, visit www.newbury-college.ac.uk/careerevent
Former Newbury College Performing Arts student Nick Strong and his band mate Stephen Millyard are hoping for Christmas success with the launch of their new holiday hit The Big Red Guy.
The duo, who go by the band name Juliette, usually perform cover songs at local gigs but wrote The Big Red Guy a few years ago as part of a competition for former local radio station, Newbury Sound.
I had this Christmas song for a couple of years, but never really did anything with it said Nick, a former Newbury College student who now runs the popular Air Hair Co salon in Newbury town centre.
All of the money made from the sale of the single will go to Friends of PICU in Southampton, a charity that supports children and their families by providing vital equipment and services that are not always provided by the statutory authorities at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Southampton University Hospital. The charity is close to Nick's heart after they provided care for the son of a close friend and the band has previously raised about £70,000 for the cause.
Every year we said we will put it out this year', but this year we said we'll go for it with this charity in mind.
The Big Red Guy was recorded by Sam Winfield and engineered by Tom Millar at Studio 91 and it features local singer songwriter Joe Hicks on guitar. The album can be downloaded on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon Music.
To find out more about Juliette, visit their Facebook page and for more information on Performing Arts courses at Newbury College, a joint venture with Kingsclere Performing Arts College, visit www.newbury-college.ac.uk/performance