Newbury College set the stage for a glittering Prom Fair on Thursday 04 April, as school leavers across West Berkshire prepare for the biggest night of their social calendar.
The event, which was supported by Newbury Weekly News and Parkway Shopping, attracted some big name exhibitors from the worlds of fashion, fitness and more to the College's unique, indoor marquee.
School proms have become a cultural phenomenon in recent years, with preparations for the big night getting under way months in advance.
For those young people who were still undecided about what to wear or how to wear it, the Prom Fair was an excellent opportunity to get clued up in the latest trends from Parkway stores Monsoon, New Look and Topman; discover timeless classics with Isabel's Retro & Vintage Clothing and receive expert advice on hair and makeup styling from Andrea King, CJ Beauty & Co, Holly Heimsoth Beauty, Pin It Grip It and Simply Hairlicious, as well as live demonstrations by Hair and Beauty students from the College's own Intuition Salons.
Students from the Newbury College Performing Arts course, a new programme that runs in partnership with Kingsclere Performing Arts College, modelled a range of affordable looks, from classic suits and dresses, to more adventurous outfits for those who dare to make a statement.
Local dressmaker and Newbury College dressmaking tutor, Kim Broughton, was also on hand to offer prom-goers advice on tailoring and customisation.
Other exhibitors included Anytime Fitness, Cascade Events, Chequers Hotel, Dark Star Discos, Double Tree by Hilton, Regency Park Hotel, Infinity Roses, Lucy Booths, NightLights, Nuffield Health, Rosie's Retro & Vintage Studio and Sweet Stories, all offering their services to help make the moment memorable.
Naomi Cripps, Marketing Manager for Newbury College, said: "This is the first time we have run an event like this and it was fantastic to receive the support of so many big brands and local businesses.
"It was an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the talents of our students, as well as our indoor marquee, which transforms the Sports Hall into a unique venue for weddings, parties and other celebrations.
"Newbury College is well-known for offering an exceptional range of opportunities for school leavers to continue their education through career-focussed courses and apprenticeships. The Prom Fair is just one more way we are supporting young people and local businesses in our community."
To find out more about the opportunities available to school leavers at Newbury College, hiring the indoor marquee or to book yourself in for a pre-prom treatment in one of the College's training salons, search Newbury College or visit the Monks Lane campus.
Newbury College held its annual Apprenticeship Awards as part of National Apprenticeship Week on Thursday 07 March. Organised to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), apprentices, employers and College staff came together to recognise the achievements, hard work and commitment of all those involved with its apprenticeship programme.
Host for the evening was Principal and Chief Executive, Iain Wolloff. The awards ceremony is an opportunity to promote the value of apprenticeships as a fantastic route into many different careers, explains Iain. The variety of employers who attended the event demonstrates that apprenticeships provide a great way for businesses to nurture talent.
The Nick Carter Award for Outstanding Contribution ' Chris Marrs, Xtrac
Apprenticeship Development Award ' Cliff Newcomb, Newbury College
Chloe Bowley, winner of Best Apprentice in a Medium Business, said: I'm honoured to receive the award. It was not expected, but I couldn't be happier that I was chosen. All the hard work I've put in is finally starting to pay off and it feels surreal that I'm weeks away from being signed off my apprenticeship completely, after a truly challenging 16 months.
I couldn't have done it without my work colleagues or my assessor, Yvonne. They have been a massive support for me and for that I'll be forever grateful. I'm looking forward to signing a brand-new shiny contract (with esa), making many more memories!
Newbury College holds monthly Apprenticeship Information Sessions, where candidates can find out more about the apprenticeship vacancies on offer. For organisations looking to take on an apprentice, the College has a long history of helping businesses run successful apprenticeship programmes. Read one of our case studies at www.newbury-college.ac.uk/apprenticeships or contact our Business Team on 01635 845229.
International Women's Day encourages the world to reflect on the importance of gender equality, to celebrate the successes of women, and to acknowledge the work that is still left to be done. Newbury College celebrated the success and achievements of its female students and staff via a special social media campaign for the global movement. Many classes and activities were also dedicated to researching the contribution that inspirational women have made to our society and exploring the careers and progression routes available in today's world of equal opportunities.
Using the hashtags #iwd19 and #newburycollege, the further education provider featured the inspirational women who both work and study at the College, including members of the senior management team, tutors, technicians and support staff.
Newbury College has a proud history of promoting equal opportunities within its staffing and its curriculum. One of the very first students to attend the college when it opened in 1948 was Sheila Smith, an engineering apprentice from Plenty (now SPX Flow Technology). Sheila left the Newbury Girl's Grammar School Sixth Form to join a traditionally male-dominated industry. After completing her apprenticeship, Sheila went on to study an HNC in Engineering and later taught Technical Drawing at Newbury College and Park House School.
Karen Taylor, Careers Lead at Newbury College, said, It has been wonderful to highlight the amazing work that women do, not only at Newbury College, but around the world. We actively encourage all of our students to follow their dreams, whatever they may be, and not to let stereotypes define their future.
Newbury College inspires women of all ages to experience more and achieve more through a wide range of vocational and technical courses from accountancy, creative arts and hairdressing to forensic science, sport and engineering. The College also offers a vast range of one-day courses for adults and businesses starting from just £30.
Newbury College played host to the district qualifying heat of the Rotary Young Chef Competition 2019 on Saturday 19 January.
In the national competition, which is open to young people aged 17 years and under, contestants must create a healthy three-course meal in under two hours for no more than £20.
The budding chefs, who have already won their local heats earlier in the year, are judged on their costing skills, planning of the menu and the quality of the meal that they produce.
The Rotary Club of Thatcham and District once again selected the College to host part of this annual event because of the ideal location and excellent facilities, including a commercial kitchen and restaurant. Ron Howard, Competition Organiser at The Rotary Club of Thatcham and District, said I am delighted with the excellent facilities provided by Newbury College and we are very grateful they have been made available to us. The skills and maturity shown by all the candidates during the competition were very impressive."
The winner of the competition was Amy Price, 15, of Licenced Victuallers School, Ascot, closely followed by runner-up Emily Woodford, 14, of St Gabriel's School, Newbury.
Amy and Emily were presented with book tokens and a voucher for a meal at the Red House, Hamstead Marshall and will go forward to the regional heat in February, where they will compete for a place at the national final.
The winner of the national final will win a prize which includes a visit to the olive harvest, sponsored by Filippo Berio, international producers of olive oil.
Newbury College inspires young chefs with full-time professional cookery courses for school leavers that include real-life experience in their commercial kitchen and restaurant. The College also offers a vast range of one-day cookery courses and masterclasses for adults starting from just £30. Find out more.