Students to create knife crime awareness sculpture from knives handed in to police

Over 600 knives surrendered to Cleveland Police during a recent campaign, will now be used by our students to build a sculpture aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of knife crime.

As part of their curriculum, art students are working on a number of innovative designs, one of which will be brought to life by budding engineers from NETA Training.

Students to create knife crime awareness sculpture from knives handed in to police

The idea for the sculpture follows on from the Knife Angel being erected in Middlesbrough’s Centre Square in August. The 27ft sculpture, made from over 10,000 discarded knives and confiscated weapons from police forces around the country, stands as a tragic reminder of the devastation caused by knife crime.

Stockton Riverside College’s Course Leader for Art and Design, Liz Dixon, said: “The Knife Angel is such a fantastic example of how art can be used to deliver a powerful message. Our students are looking forward to now testing their own creative skills to come up with a unique design that will help further spread the word both to fellow students and the wider community.”

Superintendent Tariq Ali, Cleveland Police lead on knife crime, said: “In Cleveland, knife crime has always been taken very seriously and we always try to get our messages across to younger people in a number of ways in order to educate them about the dangers and potential consequences of carrying knives.

“This initiative is an additional way that we can reach out to young people and educate them, including those involved in designing and building the sculpture and anyone who may see the finished product.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, Barry Coppinger, said: “The visit of the Knife Angel to Middlesbrough was a massive coup for Cleveland and it was visited by thousands of people. This innovative idea by students to create a smaller sculpture forms part of our plan to help rid communities of knife crime.

“It is hoped that by creating something poignant like this, it will help us to spread the message about the dangers of knife crime further. By educating young people and removing knives off the streets of Cleveland, we are another step closer to stamping out knife crime.”

With NETA students tasked with ultimately turning the arts students’ final design into a sculpture, Head of Department for Engineering, David Laycock, said: “It is quite shocking to hear that until recently those 600 plus knives were on the streets of Teesside.

“It is so important for people to be aware that knife crime is not just an issue in London and the big cities but it exists right here on our doorsteps.

“Through projects like this, we hope to play a small part in helping raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and its devastating consequences, not just for those directly affected but for families, friends and the whole community.”

A new group name marks the culmination of an exciting first year for merged college group

Results are in and the future is looking bright for a Tees Valley college group celebrating one year since merger.

Increased student numbers, outstanding achievements and a brighter outlook, all show the decision to merge was the right move.

Now, the group is changing its name to more accurately reflect the diversity of all of its campuses while still maintaining all of the individual college names.

Launching today, the Education Training Collective (Etc.) will be the new umbrella brand for the group, which incorporates Bede Sixth Form College, NETA Training, Redcar and Cleveland College, Stockton Riverside College, Tees Valley Logistics Academy and The Skills Academy.

Etc.’s Chair of the Board of Governors, Mark White OBE DL, said: “Following the successful merger of Stockton Riverside College and Redcar and Cleveland College, we have taken the decision to introduce a new overarching name for the college group, giving all of our sites a shared identity and brand, while maintaining the individual college names.

“It has been such a busy first year for the whole group with some remarkable achievements happening across all our sites. It felt like the time was right to introduce a new overarching name, giving all of our sites a shared identity and brand.”

The merger of Stockton Riverside College and Redcar and Cleveland College was completed on August 1, 2018, securing the future of a dedicated further education college in Redcar and Cleveland.

Mark said: “Investment in improved student facilities, industry standard equipment and services, along with shared resources, all supports best practice and has created greater learning opportunities for students and ensured a cohesive and effective transition across the group.

“One year into the merger we are already seeing significant impact with raised student aspirations, improved achievement and rapid progress.”

Left to right: Redcar and Cleveland College Campus Principal Jason Faulkner, Bede Sixth Form Campus Principal Ben Robinson, Stockton Riverside College Campus Principal Lesley Graham, Etc. Chair of the Board of Governors Mark White and Etc. Chief Executive and Group Principal Phil Cook

Redcar and Cleveland College has seen increased student attendance, retention, and aspirations, along with stronger links with employers and schools. At Bede Sixth Form achievement rates are up and this summer the college saw a 99% A level pass rate and 98% vocational success. In addition, NETA Training is receiving national recognition, being shortlisted for two prestigious industry awards and Stockton Riverside College is continuing to build engagement with employers with the recent launch of the North East School of Shipping in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and PD Ports.

Councillor Alison Barnes, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for
Children, said: “It has been very encouraging to see the success of this merger over the last year with both colleges going from strength-to-strength. We are especially pleased to see the improvements in attendance and retention of students at Redcar and Cleveland College and closer links with employers and schools. It is now the right time to have a new name encompassing both the Stockton and Redcar Colleges.”

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: “This is an exciting change for the group but one thing I’m sure won’t change is its dedication to the highest of standards and its commitment to helping every student be the best that they can be. Our education providers have such a key role to play in our aspiration for economic growth across the Tees Valley and I wish them every success.”

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, added: “I’m delighted to hear of the success achieved by the Stockton Riverside College Group since the merger a year ago.

“It’s important that all of the colleges and training providers are keeping their own identity, but this overarching brand connects them more closely, creating something that will become synonymous with quality. With all of our work to drive jobs and growth, it’s essential we give the next generation the skills to fill the high-quality roles being created. Etc. will play a huge part in helping local students fulfil their potential and giving businesses the skills they need to thrive.”

The Etc. name change has been approved by the Secretary of State and becomes official today. The new brand will be rolled out over the coming months.

Etc. Chair Mark said: “We are incredibly excited about this change. With a team of passionate and knowledgeable staff, engaging workspaces and industry-leading equipment, we have the capability and determination to offer the highest standard of education and training to local businesses, students and community stakeholders.”

It remains learning as usual for students as all of the colleges and training providers in the group will retain their existing names.

Stockton Riverside College teams up with Wildcat Mike to help make the Tees Valley a City of Culture

From pointing 1,245 sunflowers to the skies to bringing together an entire community in song, there’s no denying that Mike McGrother knows a things or two about showcasing arts in the community.

Now the Wildcats of Kilkenny frontman is at it again, but this time he is sharing his knowledge with the next generation of up and coming performers.

Mike has joined forces with Stockton Riverside College to help students discover new ways of bringing their performance into the community.

And the timing couldn’t be better as the Tees Valley works to secure its place as City of Culture 2025.

“It is so important for young people who want a career in the creative sector, be that as a performer or on the technical side of the business, to recognise the fantastic possibilities that are opening up to them,” said Mike. “With the proposed City of Culture status it feels like a good time to be passing on some of what I have learned and getting the students thinking about the possibilities that are here on their doorsteps.”

Having led from the front on Stockton’s cultural scene for some 25 years, Mike’s unique creative residency with Stockton Riverside College, will see him working with students at the college to help them become, “a central driving force in the cultural programme of Stockton and the wider Tees Valley”.

Stockton Riverside College’s Campus Principal, Lesley Graham, said: “I’m delighted that Mike is working with us to help develop our performing arts and technical theatre academy. The Tees Valley has an increasing reputation for hosting largescale events which attract tens of thousands of visitors such as Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) and most recently of course the Great North City Games.

“Add to the mix Stockton’s Georgian Theatre, Arc and the upcoming Globe Theatre, and it is clear there’s a real need to work with young people to ensure they have the wide ranging skills that Stockton and the Tees Valley require to support all the great things planned in the run up to our City of Culture 2025 bid.”

With a line-up of exciting projects in the coming months Mike is looking forward to getting the students on board; one of the projects he describes as his “most ambitious and most important community initiative to date”. The One More Light for Christmas scheme is a Tees Valley-wide life changing musical project focused on suicide prevention.

Mike, who was named one of the Prime Minister’s Points of Light for his work in the community, said: “If you look right back to the very roots of our cultural heritage it is about more than performing, it is also about social commentary and having a voice to potentially make changes in the community, to society and people’s opinions.”

By working with the Stockton Riverside College students, he said: “I want to remind everyone that they are the pioneering creatives of the 21st century and they can help to put Stockton and the Tees Valley on the world stage once again.”

Funding pot could help give Tees Valley SMEs’ growth plans a boost

Hundreds of small to medium-sized enterprises across the Tees Valley could be eligible for a share in a £7 million pot to help upskill their workforce.

But with employers often wrapped up in the day-to-day running of their business, many may be missing out on this bespoke opportunity.

Now, as part of the Skills Support for the Workforce’s network of training providers, Stockton Riverside College is urging businesses to consider their training needs.

Funding pot could help give Tees Valley SMEs’ growth plans a boost — Commercial Business Development Co-ordinator, Andrew McElwee

With a fund of almost £7 million available to SMEs in the Tees Valley alone, the college’s Commercial Business Development Co-ordinator, Andrew McElwee, said: “This is a fantastic chance for employers to access free training through the college for their staff, equipping them with the skills they need to grow their business.”

The Skills Support for the Workforce programme is a national initiative that aims to help SMEs across the UK to thrive by offering access to bespoke training to help plug skills gaps, raise productivity and ultimately grow the economy.

Funded by the European Social Fund and the Education and Skills Funding Agency, the programme is being delivered in the region by Calderdale College, working alongside Local Enterprise Partnerships and a network of professional training providers, including Stockton Riverside College.

Andrew said: “We are excited to be able to play our part, along with the Tees Valley Combined Authority, in bringing this opportunity to business owners across the Tees Valley. This is a massive opportunity in that it is a chance to upskill the individual, to upskill the business and grow the economy.”

With a particular focus on advanced manufacturing and engineering, energy, digital, life sciences, business services, the service sectors, retail and construction, Andrew said: “SMEs from any sector can apply.”

Now keen to spread the word, he said: “If a small business owner, for example, is going to work every day and then going home to do the books and pay the bills, they can easily not be aware of the opportunities that are available to them.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Here in the Tees Valley we have a fantastic workforce with employees who are really keen to improve their skills and further their careers. This fund will give businesses and entrepreneurs the opportunity to provide the training needed to help them do this.

“I have always supported schemes that create jobs, encourage investment and support growth and I encourage businesses across the Tees Valley to take advantage of this pot of money which could really benefit them.

“There are well-paid, good quality jobs being created in the Tees Valley and I want them to be filled by local people equipped with the right skills.”

Ebrahim I Dockrat, Director of Commercial Services and Partnerships at Calderdale College, said: “By offering free training provided by specialists we can help our SMEs grow, which will boost our economy and deliver even more high-quality jobs that can be filled by local people.”

To find out more about the support available visit: ssw.fundingunit.org.uk/areas/tees-valley/ or call 01642 777217.

Inspiring and supporting young people is our job, says new Etc. marketing director, Erika

The move from automotive manufacturing to education might sound like a bit of a leap. But for the Education Training Collective’s new Group Director of Marketing, Erika Marshall, it has felt more of a natural progression.

After 15 years honing her skills in the dynamic world of manufacturing, engineering and construction marketing, she said: “I have come to realise that we have a moral obligation to help and support young people on their career journey.”

And given that her grandparents both worked in education – her grandma was head teacher at Normanby Primary School and her granddad a history teacher at the then Yarm Boys’ School – it sounds like it could be in the blood.

Picture of Group Director of Marketing, Erika Marshall

Now the latest addition to the Senior Management Team at the Education Training Collective (Etc.), Erika joins the college group as it undergoes a brand transformation, adopting a new shared corporate identity.

She said: “It has been a bit of a running start for me but with the launch of the new brand I feel I have already been able to make a strategic impact.”

Etc. incorporates Stockton Riverside College, Redcar and Cleveland College, Bede Sixth Form College, NETA Training, The Skills Academy and the Tees Valley Logistics Academy.

The launch of the new overarching name cemented what has been a successful first year following the merger of Stockton Riverside College and Redcar and Cleveland College last summer.

Erika said: “Collectively the colleges have a great reputation among businesses and within their local communities, when you get inside you can see why. The passion and commitment of the staff, across all of the sites, is incredible.”

Joining Etc. from North-east car part manufacturer Nifco, where she spent five years as Marketing and Communications Manager, Erika’s marketing career has taken in roles across the Tees Valley in construction management consultancy, industrial engineering, oil and gas and the offshore wind industries.

“At Nifco I was massively exposed to working with young people, offering careers advice and being given various platforms on which I could share the story of my own career journey – it was largely this engagement with education that inspired me to become more professionally involved with the sector,” she said.

Driven to do more, Erika, who is also on the governing board of the Vision Academy Learning Trust, said: “I discovered a desire to give something back and to help support more young people. It was a determination to make a difference and if you want to have that strategic impact you have to really understand the fundamentals of it.”

Now taking that leap into the sector full time, she said the move into education is certainly a new challenge but it is something she has always had a strong interest in.

Passionate about the Tees Valley and all the opportunities it has to offer, she explained: “I want to highlight that the boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees and Redcar and Cleveland are great places to study. We should encourage our young people to really consider the wealth of opportunity that lies right on the doorstep.

“I want to make the Etc. member colleges the learning providers of choice in their local areas and to highlight the amazing experiences you can have when studying locally.”

She said: “It is an exciting time for Etc., it is growing year on year and we are seeing students progressing on to some fantastic destinations. It is an amazing time to be part of that positive story. I am excited to contribute to the next chapters.”

Etc.’s Chief Executive and Group Principal Phil Cook said: “I’m delighted to welcome Erika to the group. She brings to bear both high levels of marketing strategy and extensive local knowledge, it’s always great news to be able to recruit high performing local talent.”