News

Move over Gordon, step aside Jamie, the best young culinary talent in Berkshire is preparing to go head-to-head in the FutureChef 2011 local finals, due to take place at Newbury College on 13th December.

Young people from schools around Berkshire are taking part in the contest, which is the second stage of a nationwide culinary programme helping young people aged between 12-16 learn to cook, organised by Springboard UK. The College's excellent teaching kitchens have been selected as the setting for the Future Chef competition. Within the competition each contestant will receive mentoring, encouragement and assistance from a local well-known chef through the competition.

Annmarie Farr, Lecturer for Catering at Newbury College, says, The Future Chef competition is a great opportunity for young people to get a taste of life in the catering industry and receive specialist support from industry professionals. Many young people respect the likes of nearby restaurant owners Heston Blumenthal and Marco Pierre White, but don't consider cooking as a career option. We hope this competition may inspire some participants to pursue cooking as a profession. We're proud to host the local finals at Newbury College to showcase the facilities that our vocational catering students enjoy whilst training here with us.

Participants will devise, prepare and cook a hot main course and a hot or cold dessert for two with a budget of just £6. They must also provide full costing detail for the meal and then face an expert judging panel. Teachers, parents and guests from participating schools are expected to attend the College to cheer on contestants.

More than 7000 competitors from 600 schools from across the country participated in FutureChef 2010 to find the cream of aspiring young chefs. The competition was introduced 11 years ago by Brian Turner CBE, Chairman of FutureChef, and has seen involvement from most of the country's leading chefs.

If you're interested in finding out more information please visit the FutureChef website www.springboard.net or telephone 020 7395 9482 for more details. For more information on the catering courses available at Newbury College or to find out more about any of our 100s of full or part time courses please visit www.newbury-college.ac.uk or call 01635 845000

Newbury College held its annual Further Education Awards Evening recently where full time, further education students received recognition for their hard work and achievements from the College and local businesses.

The evening, was attended by a number of local companies who sponsored awards, including; Apple Print, Buck & Hickman, M & B Hair, E J Business Consultants, Viatcress and Donnington Valley Vineyard.

Anne Murdoch, Newbury College Principal hosted the evening and was delighted that so many local employers continued to sponsor and join the awards programme this year said, The FE awards evening is a wonderful way for our Learners to celebrate their successes with family, friends and their teachers and it is always a great occasion. Our congratulations go out to everyone that received a prize. This year as in previous years we are particularly grateful to all the employers and local businesses that sponsored the individual awards. Their generosity this year really helped to make this an occasion for all the prize winners to remember.

The awards ceremony is a major showcase for the vital role that Newbury College plays in helping to provide individuals and businesses with the high-quality education, vocational and training opportunities that will help achieve growth and prosperity. By offering a diverse, accessible, local and affordable route to study the College remains a top choice for people of all ages across Newbury and beyond.

Newbury College delivers a range of full time and part time course with 100s to chose from. The courses cover many different career paths with different levels of study for all learners. There are also full and part time courses starting in January 2012 so it is still not too late to enrol! For a copy of our new Full Time prospectus log onto www.newbury-college.ac.uk or call us on 01635 845 000.

Motor Vehicle Students were invited to two days of Formula 1 (F1) fun with famous F1 racer Jérôme DAmbrosio at Quantel.

The events began with the delivery of a F1 racing simulator and an actual Marussia Virgin Racing Formula 1 car to Quantel. The car took pride of place in Quantel's newly refurbished factory alongside the simulator, which was hooked up to a large screen TV so all could watch each other's racing efforts. Over the two days an intense competition developed with all on the F1 simulator, with staff, customers and Newbury College students making a donation to Children in Need to get behind the wheel. Timings were posted on a Top Gear style leader board and the top three racers received Marussia Virgin Racing prizes from Jérôme himself.

Ray Cross CEO of Quantel said, We've had a great year as sponsors of the Marussia Virgin Racing team and it's fantastic to round it out with an event that brings Quantel and Marussia Virgin Racing together for a good cause.

Quantel is a technology company that internationally specialises in broadcast and post production. As an official partner of Marussia Virgin Racing, Quantel arranged the two days of Formula 1 fun for staff on 17th and 18th November to raise money for Children in Need with the only visitors to their event being Newbury College's students and Quantel customers.

Students and visitors had the chance to ask any questions to Jérôme on his F1 experiences that may help fuel their ambition within the motor vehicle industry. They also got to meet Jérôme, giving them a glimpse of where a career in the motor industry could perhaps take them one day. Overall the two day fundraiser at Quantel was a huge success raising over £1700 for BBC Children in Need.

Newbury College offers 100s of full and part time course from Motor Vehicle to Beauty. There is also a wide range of January Start courses, so it's still not too late to enrol! For more information please visit our website at www.newbury-college.ac.uk or call us on 01635 845000.

Staff and learners at Newbury College raised money for Children in Need as they held a Fancy Dress Friday' event with fun and frolic fundraising activities and sales.