Tag: Granton Campus

Edinburgh College selected to host major national skills competitions

Edinburgh College has been confirmed as one of six venues across the UK, and the only Scottish college, to host WorldSkills UK 2022 National Competition Finals in November.

WorldSkills UK sees the country’s top students and apprentices compete in a wide range of competitions for medals and a potential place at a global WorldSkills finals event in France in 2024.

Designed by industry experts, WorldSkills UK competitions help young people grow personally and professionally by developing their technical and employability skills, as well as shining a light on the skills potential across the UK.

The finals are the culmination of a seven-month process including regional heats and intensive training.

The College is hosting eleven finals at its Granton Campus, including Forthside building, during the week commencing Monday 14 November.

Students and apprentices will descend on Scotland’s capital to participate in the following finals: Bricklaying, Carpentry, Foundation Skills: Woodworking, Furniture and Cabinet Making, Joinery, Painting and Decorating, Plastering, Plastering and Drywall Systems, Roofing and Tiling, Stonemasonry, Wall and Floor Tiling.

The week culminates with a live medal ceremony broadcast presented by Steph McGovern who will reveal who winners are from her Packed Lunch studio on Friday 25 November.

Young people across the region will be able to attend competitions and experience the spectacle of the finals at Granton Campus, and drop-in to events showcasing what the college offers as well as gain careers advice and the opportunity to talk to employers and industry experts.

People who cannot attend local events will get the chance to follow things online through a special broadcast featuring live finals action, as well as interviews and advice from previous winners, experts and career advisors.

Other venues across the UK hosting finals are as follows: Barking and Dagenham, Belfast Metropolitan, Blackpool and the Fylde, Cardiff and Vale, and Middlesbrough colleges.

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “We’re thrilled to have been selected as one of six venues to host finals of WorldSkills UK. We’re looking forward to welcoming students, apprentices, visitors and other stakeholders to our Granton Campus in November.

“Skills competitions like WorldSkills UK are enormous spectacles and provide a platform for skilled students to thrive, and for other young people and those perhaps looking to change jobs to learn more about careers which these highly-skilled disciplines provide. WorldSkills sets the bar extremely high with globally recognised standards and businesses increasingly looking to employ students reaching the heights the standards set. 

“More than that, in the context of plugging future skills gaps and the requirement for more skilled workers to be produced to meet national targets across a range of issues including house-building, sustainability, digital infrastructure, to name a few – it is vital that we continue to highlight skills training with events like these.”

WorldSkills UK Deputy CEO Ben Blackledge said: “We are really excited to be taking the show on the road with finals hosted by colleges across the UK. We hope witnessing the drama of the finals live will inspire young people to keep developing their technical and employability skills.

“With 62 finals spread over six venues there should be something for everyone, but we will also be providing loads of online content for people who are unable to get to one of the host venues that week.

“We are looking forward to producing our special broadcast with live action and top tips from industry experts and careers advisors. We are also delighted to confirm that Steph McGovern will be doing the duties on awards night and revealing the winners live from her Packed Lunch studio.

“With skills at the heart of UK government plans to level up and rebuild the economy, we are delighted to be playing our part and giving more young people the opportunity to explore the many opportunities and careers that high-quality skills offer.”

Edinburgh College launches new Renewables and Energy Efficiency Training Centre

Edinburgh College has officially opened a new Renewables and Energy Efficiency Training Centre aimed at helping people save energy in their homes, thanks to funding from SP Energy Networks.

The new facility will see students, apprentices and industry professionals learn how to use cutting edge equipment and develop skills required to build low energy homes, and to modify existing homes to become more energy efficient.

The centre, housed at the College’s Granton Campus, was opened by Edinburgh College Vice Principal Jonny Pearson, alongside speakers including Jillian Violaris of SP Energy Networks and John Renwick of Energy Skills Partnership (ESP).

Equipment featured in the new centre includes: ground source heat pumps, air source pumps, solar thermal systems, rainwater and greywater harvesting, SIPS eco panels, underfloor heating systems, and latest gas appliance condensing boiler technology supplied by Worcester Bosch.

The focus for the centre is to train students and apprentices in these technologies, while also supporting those in industry to reskill and upskill, using high-class equipment under the guidance of Edinburgh College lecturing staff.

The centre has been funded by SP Energy Networks’ Green Economy Fund and managed via the ESP.

ESP is a collaboration of Scotland’s colleges and industry partners established to increase Scotland’s capability and capacity to deliver the right skills for the energy, engineering and construction sectors.

ESP were awarded £500,000 in 2019 from the SP Energy Networks Green Economy Fund, which was established in 2018 by the electricity network operator for Central and Southern Scotland.

SP Energy Networks’ Green Economy Fund supports the delivery of the Scottish Government’s ambitious plans to meet climate change targets, boost local economic growth, improve air quality across the country and deliver a better future, quicker for local communities.

In order to manage the project, ESP established the Energy Efficiency Training Network comprising of nine colleges to launch new training centres including across Scotland.

Edinburgh College Vice Principal, Jon Buglass, said: “It’s a privilege to open our new Renewables and Energy Efficiency Training Centre at our Granton Campus.

“The centre will provide students, apprentices and those within the supply chain with access to a state-of-the-art place to learn new and existing technologies. It is incumbent on us as one of Scotland’s largest colleges to play our part in ensuring those in industry can embed these skills early in their careers, understand them and start to use them to build houses for the future – helping the nation to move towards net zero.

“Our thanks go to Scottish Power Energy Networks, Energy Skills Partnership, Worcester Bosch and other partners for the support in creating this new facility.”

Jillian Violaris, Green Economy Fund Manager at SP Energy Networks, said:“Edinburgh College’s new Renewables and Energy Efficiency Training Centre will support the skills needed to help the country achieve net zero emissions.

“Rapid change will be needed across the nation in the coming years and the new training hub will support the development of the next generation of green experts that will deliver it.

“When establishing the Green Economy Fund, it was clear that delivering clean energy transition in our communities would require a future workforce with the right skills, that’s why education plays a vital role in the move to a low carbon economy.”

Jim Brown, Director at ESP, said: “The SP Energy Networks Green Economy Fund project has realised a massive impact for colleges across central and southern Scotland in developing the capability and capacity to deliver the future skills industry needed to support government’s commitment to reach Net Zero by 2045.

“This flagship education project supported nine new centres with investment in capital equipment which positions colleges at the forefront of upskilling and training for industry.

“It has been a true partnership with government, industry and colleges working together to address the skills challenges in reducing carbon emissions, supporting green growth and the just transition to Net Zero. ESP is delighted to have facilitated this project alongside Edinburgh College.”

Call for Capital’s sustainable food projects to sign up to new directory

Edinburgh’s sustainable food producers and suppliers are being called upon to apply to have their details registered in a new directory.  

The Sustainable Food Directory is designed to help people find out where they can source sustainable food locally and to support the promotion of the capital as a leading food destination in Scotland. 

Managed by Edible Edinburgh, and supported by the City of Edinburgh Council, the directory will aim to showcase the best places to find local, sustainable food in Edinburgh, for residents and visitors.

Local food growing projects, community food organisations, shops, markets, cafes and restaurants are all being asked to apply to become part of the directory – with the aim of gaining recognition as  the most sustainable food places in the city.

Applicants are being asked to complete a short form, detailing why they should be included in the directory, along with a sustainability statement outlining how they’re actively working towards sustainability in their services; supply chain, packaging and recycling.

Councillor George Gordon, Chair of Edible Edinburgh, said: As a food partnership, we want to promote the breadth of sustainable, healthy, local food choices on offer to residents and visitors to Scotland’s capital city. Food that’s grown locally has less distance to travel to get to our plate, meaning less carbon emissions from things like transportation and storage. 

“We know that Edinburgh’s amazing local food and drink producers work hard to bring high quality, sustainably produced food to people’s plates. So, we’re calling on sustainable food businesses, growers, suppliers and producers in the city to apply to be listed on our new directory, highlighting their business action and ambition, to make it easier for people to support local food producers, shops and communities in Edinburgh.”

The project to create a Sustainable Food Directory was announced as part of Edible Edinburgh’s Inspiring Food event at Edinburgh College Granton Campus on Friday.

The college event promoted some of Edinburgh’s leading food businesses, charities, growing projects and pantries.

Business can find out more about the directory and how to register by emailing Edible Edinburgh on hello@edible-edinburgh.org.

The directory is scheduled to go live to the public in early summer.

Wella in! Edinburgh College student reaches final of national hairdressing competition

An Edinburgh College hairdressing student is on the path to becoming a national champion after winning a regional heat of a major competition.  Level 3 Hairdressing student Gintare Dambrauskaite was one of four student winners at the Scotland, Ireland and North-East heat of Wella’s XPOSURE competition which was held at Granton Campus yesterday. Continue reading Wella in! Edinburgh College student reaches final of national hairdressing competition

New partnership brings Japanese students to Edinburgh for Airline Operations course

Edinburgh College recently welcomed a group of Japanese students to the Scottish capital for a study visit focused on Airline Operations.

The group of ten students, most of whom are hoping to forge careers in the airline industry, were in Edinburgh for four weeks undertaking a bespoke course that combined English Language and Airline Operations.

While the English Language classes took place at the College’s Sighthill campus and included specific sessions aimed at improving English in a tourism context, the practical Airline Operations classes, which included sessions on ground operations, cabin crew, and customer care, were delivered at Granton campus, where the group made use of the airline cabin facility to hone their skills.

The students also visited Edinburgh Airport to get a first-hand look at what it’s like to work in a large international airport.

In addition, the group took part in a social programme organised by Edinburgh College, which included visits to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the National Museum of Scotland, the Camera Obscura, the Royal Yacht Britannia and a traditional Scottish ceilidh, as well as trips further afield to St Andrews, the Kelpies, Callander, Loch Katrine and the Museum of Flight.

The group, who attend the Immaculate Heart College in Kagoshima, Southern Japan, stayed with local homestay families during their time in the capital.

International business manager Sarah Gore said: “It was great to welcome students from the Kagoshima Immaculate Heart College to Edinburgh College for this course.

“The group brought a huge amount of energy and enthusiasm to their classes and also made the most of their time in Scotland. I’d like to wish the group all the best for the future and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Immaculate Heart College in the years to come.”

Miharu Nagasaki said: “I really enjoyed staying in Scotland. I love Scottish people, food and ceilidh dancing. We went to three ceilidhs! The College was really great too and I liked the teachers very much. Our course was so amazing and when I go back to Japan I think I can use what I learnt here in my career.

“I also loved getting to know the host family I was staying with. We went to Loch Ness together and it rained a lot, but it was so beautiful and a great experience. I definitely want to come back to Scotland again!”