Money Week is pure gold for students at Bedford College

Pic caption:
Sue Newman (E2E Support Worker) and Emma Hearn (Student Finance Manager) pictured with students at a workshop session

Bedford College held a series of events during Money Week (8-12 March) helping highlight the importance of money management to students.

Workshop sessions included advice to cover budgeting, forms of borrowing including credit cards, moving out of home, working and adjusting to university life with practical tips on life skills as well as money management.

Blind tastings of food ranges from the most expensive to value ranges gave students the chance to find out about choice and value. With prices seven times the cost between brands, students could taste for themselves the real value of food, with the cheapest often proving the favourite.

Students took part in action packed games that added an element of pure gold to Money Week, with the use of gold (chocolate) coins. Personality quizzes highlighted money personalities such as money banks, money plotters, money bothered and money flops.

Money tips from students included:

“Spend in cash, rather than plastic, helping keep track of money.”

“Never go food shopping on an empty stomach”

“Don’t go shopping all the time – find something else to do!”

“If you use a credit card, remember it’s not free money.”

Student Finance Manager, Emma Hearn, explained that Money Week was being held at Bedford College for the first time in partnership with the Independent education charity, the National Skills Academy Financial Services (NSAFS), to promote financial literacy and money management skills during Money Week at 75 further education colleges across England and added:

“We are delighted to be working with the NSAFS as a way of getting important money management messages across to our students in Money Week. We advise students on a daily basis on all aspects of finance so they are able to budget for college, university or work life. Money Week gives us the chance to involve our students in activities and bring money management to life so that they have the skills to budget now and into the future.”

Money Week forms part of ‘Money for LiFE’, the further education project of the Financial Services Authority’s (FSA) National Strategy for Financial Capability. NSAFS manages and delivers the programme across England, aiming to enhance the financial capability of over 30,000 learners across 75 FE colleges during this academic year.

Sylvia Perrins, CEO, NSAFS added: “Money Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness of and help develop the financial capability of young people in the UK. Our education establishments, like Bedford College, play a fundamental role in shaping the future and the work being done to support the development of a more ‘money-minded’ nation is commendable.

“The ongoing challenges in our current economic climate serve as a poignant reminder that the financial decisions we make, personally and nationally, are of utmost importance. Personal finance is a key skill which we believe should be taught from a young age to assist, maintain and strengthen the development of our financial services industry.”

The National Skills Academy for Financial Services offers national centres of excellence in education, skills training and development, working in partnership with employers to develop a workforce with the knowledge and skills they need to help service their customers’ financial needs.

Since launch in May 2007, NSAFS network has grown from four to over 20 providers that are now located in seven regions. For more information, visit: www.nsafs.co.uk

Editors' notes

1. Issued by Manners PR for Bedford College.

2. For more info contact Sue Gough at Manners PR on 07921 514 940.

3. For more about Bedford College see www.bedford.ac.uk

4. Photographs available from Manners PR.

Bedford College Trainee Engineer aims high with Spitfire at Shuttleworth Collection

Andy Preslent (Engineer) and Gareth Rutt (Trainee Engineer)

Not many trainee engineers can claim to be renovating a Spitfire that has seen action in World War II and starred in the film Battle of Britain, but Gareth Rutt from Biggleswade certainly can.

The Shuttleworth Trust (Education) has set up a trainee scheme, in partnership with Bedford College and Marshall Aerospace, with Gareth the first trainee engineer in 30 years.

He is learning specialist skills in renovating historic aircraft from engineer Andy Preslent, who was the original first trainee engineer at Shuttleworth and is now in his 40th year working on renovating and maintaining over 50 world famous historic aircraft.

Andy explained:

“The trainee scheme combines aeronautical engineering at Bedford College and Marshall Aerospace with specialist knowledge that can only be learnt here. Working on vintage aircraft, trainees will learn a wide range of techniques including woodwork and fabric in restoration of our vintage aircraft.”

Gareth Rutt has always had a fascination for aircraft and joined the Shuttleworth Trust as a work experience student, from Stratton Upper School, when he was 14. That gave him the bug for restoring vintage aircraft and he went on to study aeronautical engineering at Bedford College. After completing year 1 of a 2 year diploma course he read in the Shuttleworth magazine about a new trainee scheme and decided it was for him.

As trainee engineer he has studied at Bedford College and Marshall Aerospace, gaining a National Certificate with double distinction. He is now studying towards NVQ3 and plans to go on to achieve the prestigious qualification as Licensed Aircraft Engineer.

“Not many people learn their trade working on a Spitfire!”, explained Gareth.
“Learning specialist techniques of renovation on the Spitfire is more romantic than working on airlines because it is part of British history. My job as trainee engineer has lots of variety, from working on the Spitfire to working on the Bleriot, the worlds oldest airworthy aircraft, the same type as the first to cross the channel in 1909. You can sense the history as you work to renovate these historic aircraft to their former glory.”

Una Watts, Trust General Manager, explained that the new trainee scheme is already proving to be a huge success and the close working relationship with Bedford College and Marshall Aerospace ensures that everything is in place to lead to Licensed Engineer status for trainees and for a new generation of qualified engineers to work with the prized Shuttleworth Collection.

She added:

“We have many young people who want to get involved working with us in a voluntary or trainee capacity. Our volunteers span the generations from enthusiasts with a wealth of experience, such as our pilots and engineers, to younger people who want to learn a skill. Gareth has certainly set a high standard for others to follow.”

“The Shuttleworth Collection is about living history and the people who work here are extremely proud of this unique collection of aircraft and motors that continue to be lovingly restored.”

The staff of 21, including 7 engineers, are supported by a dedicated and committed team of 120 volunteers, some of them highly skilled, who give their time in many different roles from pilots to engineers and helping in the smooth running of the many events that take place over the year.

With over 50 world-famous vintage aircraft all in flying condition, visitors to the Shuttleworth Collection can see over 100 years of aviation history and experience the thrill of unique and spectacular airshows. Historic cars, motorcyles and coaches complete the collection, housed within eight floodlit hangars.

Editors' notes

1. The Shuttleworth Trust (Education) became part of Beacon Status and outstanding Ofsted winner Bedford College on 7 August 2009.

2. Issued by Manners PR for Bedford College.

3. For more info contact Sue Gough at Manners PR on 07921 514 940.

4. Photographs available.

5. For more about Bedford College see www.bedford.ac.uk

6. For more about the Shuttleworth Trust and Collection see www.shuttleworth.org

The Princess and the Frog at Shuttleworth College

Katie tries magic dust on African Bullfrog as Carl keeps the creature from hopping it !

As the Princess and the Frog magical animated Disney film shows to packed cinemas, a frog that needs the magic of conservation takes centre stage at Shuttleworth College.

Poison dart frogs have arrived at Shuttleworth College and will be part of a world-wide conservation and breeding programme. The frogs are under threat of extinction in the tropical rainforests of Central America and the work at Shuttleworth will be a crucial part of their survival.

Carl Groombridge, Animal Unit Manager, at Shuttleworth College explained:

"Our students will gain invaluable experience from working with this endangered species of amphibian. They will learn about conservation and the fact that amphibians are under threat from global warming, and a global virus that is adding to the urgency of conservation.

"Our breeding programme aims to maintain this species for future generations and ultimately to release them back into the tropical rainforests of Central America.

"Part of the conservation and breeding programme for students means learning about the flora and fauna that are essential to the survival of these frogs and recreating their habitat here in Bedfordshire.”

The Animal Care Centre is home to just about every family of species in the world. and habitats include a tropical rainforest setting where recorded sounds of the forest give an added dimension to the environment.

Students go to Shuttleworth to learn about animal husbandry, how to create and build habitats from scratch to meet wildlife standards and to develop breeding programmes. The aim is to give students a taste of all aspects of animal welfare and management in preparation for careers from practical hands-on jobs to highly academic research and scientific opportunities, including animal conservation programmes across the world.

Editors' notes

1. Poison dart frog is the common name of a group of frogs in the family Dendrobatidae which are native to Central America. Unlike most frogs, these species are active during the day and often exhibit brightly-colored bodies. Although all wild dendrobatids are at least somewhat toxic, levels of toxicity vary considerably from one species to the next and from one population to another. Many species are critically endangered. These amphibians are often called "dart frogs" due to indigenous Amerindians use of their toxic secretions to poison the tips of blowdarts.

2. Shuttleworth College in Central Bedfordshire became part of Beacon Status and outstanding Ofsted winner Bedford College on 7 August 2009.

3. Issued by Manners PR for Bedford College.

4. For more info contact Sue Gough at Manners PR on 07921 514 940.

5. Photographs available.

6. For more about Bedford College see www.bedford.ac.uk