Industry week brings business to life for students at West Nottinghamshire College

As part of a week-long initiative in January, tutors organised specialist visits from a range of organisations, giving students the chance to learn new skills and techniques. External trips were organised for students to see how employers work and progress in their work settings.

Sports students got to meet with one of England’s top P remiership rugby union teams, the Leicester Tigers, who joined classes to deliver introductory rugby sessions. Club representatives taught learners about the strength and conditioning techniques needed to succeed in the sport.

Express Coaching Services CEO Ian Richards joined sports activity leadership students for a wheelchair basketball session. Ian spoke to students about his business experience and how to get the right qualifications and experience and discussed disabilities within sport. The session ended with the learners playing a game of wheelchair basketball in the college’s sports hall.

Public services learners got to grips with role play activities at Retford Police Station. They learned about communicating with members of the public while on the beat and got involved in a number of simulations including a road traffic offence, a theft from a shop, an incident involving possession of drugs as well as a mock knife crime incident and dealing with missing children.

Another group of public services students were ‘on watch’ at Mansfield Fire Station for a day.

Head of hair, beauty, sport and public services, Sarah Morley, said: “This year’s industry week has proved to be a very worthwhile initiative. Our students have really embraced the concept of learning outside of the classroom, honing the all-important employability skills and have discovered much more about the sectors they wish to work in after studies.

“They’ve been able to hear first-hand from employers about the attributes which they are looking for when recruiting, as well as pick up some of the latest skills, technologies and initiatives which organisations want new recruits to be getting on-board with.”