When it comes to encouraging healthy lifestyles among its staff the Education Training Collective (Etc.) has proven gold standard.

From keeping hydration levels up to counting steps, the college group makes promoting healthier habits a priority.

Now the group’s efforts, co-ordinated and driven by the human resources team, have been recognised with receipt of the prestigious Better Health at Work Gold Award.

“It’s a fantastic achievement, particularly at a time when we have all faced such significant changes in both our working and home lives,” said the Group Director of Human Resources, Kay Taylor.

As employers, she said: “Focusing on people’s health and wellbeing has been more important than ever.”

However, their commitment to promote healthier habits among the team came long before any mention of the pandemic.

“We started working towards the gold award as part of our Great Place to Work Strategy,” said Kay. “At that point we couldn’t have predicted we would end up in a global pandemic.”

The group, which incorporates Stockton Riverside College, Redcar and Cleveland College, Bede Sixth Form, NETA Training, The Skills Academy and Tees Valley Catering, introduced a host of simple measures to boost people’s everyday health and wellbeing.

Activities have included walking challenges, yoga and meditation workshops, expert talks about healthy eating, dementia and cancer awareness, book swaps and sharing recipes.

With the bronze and then silver awards under their belts, Kay said: “We have had to find new ways to reach people and adapt our activities during lockdown.”

Staff were given access to a host of online resources with hints and tips, the opportunity to tap into an employee assistance programme for those feeling in need of additional support as well as fun online workshops including virtual yoga.

The Better Health at Work Award recognises the efforts of employers in the North East and Cumbria addressing health issues within the workplace.

Kay said: “For us the health and wellbeing of people at work is an absolute priority. It is about raising awareness of small changes that can be made and finding ways in which these can be shared seamlessly with colleagues – which our health and wellbeing platform allows us to do.”

Of hitting the gold award standard, she added: “It is fabulous that our ongoing work has been recognised and we are now among the gold standard employers in the region.”

Have you got the gift of the gab and a passion for IT? AD Network Solutions are recruiting for apprentices.

Seeing the sign go up on their new premises was a proud moment for the team at AD Network Solutions (ADNS).

The culmination of 10 years hard work has seen a step up to larger purpose-designed offices at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Park.

Now the team are marking the occasion by recruiting for three new apprentice IT technical consultants to join the ranks along with two IT technician apprentices.

Commercial Director John Lupton said: “This is a great opportunity for the right people, and, for us, a further chance to grow the business.”

Hitting their official 10-year anniversary last year, John explained: “It has all been very low key so far as it didn’t feel right celebrating at the height of a pandemic.”

So instead, he and Managing Director, Jamie Allinson, struck upon an alternate way to mark the occasion, with the introduction of a brand-new apprenticeship opportunity.

Delivered alongside Stockton Riverside College, and with support from the Tees Valley Mayor and the Combined Authority’s Tees Valley Apprenticeship Support Grant, the technical consultant role will see the new recruits working at the forefront of the business, promoting IT solutions to new and existing clients.

After what has been a challenging year for all, John said: “We are fortunate to be in a position to be able to continue to grow our business. Offering apprenticeship opportunities is a great way to do that.”

With a strong track record for apprenticeship success, ADNS has several team members who started with the company as apprentices, as well as many more who have gone on to progress in the industry.

“For us, it is about being able to grow our own talent,” said John, who is looking for applicants with plenty of passion and drive.

Offering a bespoke mix of IT knowledge, customer service and sales skills, Stockton Riverside College Assessor in Digital and Professional IT, Jamie Gilbey, explained: “We are excited to be working with ADNS to launch this apprenticeship opportunity – which is a first for the college.”

With the digital and IT industry in rapid demand, he said: “In the last 12 months, due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are rapidly becoming a digital workforce. As more companies have had to go digital, they need that IT support.

“This apprenticeship offers another career route for those with an interest in IT, leading to a range of potential roles such as specialist sales consultants, customer support or account management.”

With the potential for progression with ADNS, John said: “These roles are a key component of our business moving forward. We are not just looking for sales people we are looking for applicants who have a real interest in IT and in particular cyber security, data protection and delivery of compliance.”

To find out more about the vacancies visit: Apprentice IT Technical Consultant – Find an apprenticeship (findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk)

Or Level 3 IT Technician Apprentice – Find an apprenticeship (findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk)

The Education Training Collective (Etc.) is delighted to be working with the new Teesworks Skills Academy to ensure local people have the right skills to fill the jobs being created on the development site.

The group, which incorporates Stockton Riverside College, Redcar and Cleveland College, NETA Training, Bede Sixth Form and The Skills Academy, has been selected as the delivery partner for the academy, leading a consortium which also comprises Darlington, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool Colleges, Teesside University and the Learning Curve Group.

The academy will also work with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council who will use their community-based training and employment hubs to help train local people and enable them to access jobs.

The Education Training Collective (Etc.) has been given the official stamp of approval for its work raising students’ aspirations and awareness of potential careers ahead.

The group which incorporates Stockton Riverside College, Redcar and Cleveland College, Bede Sixth Form College, NETA Training and The Skills Academy, has been accredited to the matrix Standard.

Matrix is an international quality standard for organisations that deliver information, advice and guidance to support individuals in their choice of career, learning, work or life goals.

The group was particularly praised for its swift and effective use of online platforms during the Covid 19 lockdown period to ensure young people could access the information they needed to support them in achieving their own career aspirations.

“Being able to offer the best advice and guidance we possibly can is a priority for us all as a college group,” said Etc. Group Director of Marketing, Erika Marshall.  “For us this means always offering clear, accurate and impartial information that is best for the individual. We are proud to once again have our commitment and efforts recognised by matrix.”

Following a three day remote assessment, assessors fed back that information, advice and guidance (IAG) is “clearly visible” across all stages of the learner journey throughout the group.

In a glowing report they recognised the resources offered to schools to assist in Year 11 transition, with young people and parents encouraged to use the facilities of the group for independent advice and guidance.

The assessors said: “The aims of the IAG service are to offer advice that recruits people on the right course, to remove barriers to learning and to provide advice and support for students to progress.”

This is carried out through a range of services including school visits, careers events, workshops, tutorials, enrichment activities, one-to-one interviews as well as open events, taster sessions and student services drop-ins.

The report stated, in addition: “When a learner ends their study, they are included in the sustained destination monitoring that takes place, during which they are offered further IAG and regular contact to ensure they have sustained their onward destination.”

Highlighting strengths the assessors said: “There is an inspirational and consistent leadership for IAG across the group. Staff are directed to look at aspirations and life readiness rather than focus solely on courses and jobs.”

They said: “The result is that staff feel clear that learners should be at the heart of their work and that challenging societal barriers in localities is a key feature of their support.”

Group Director of Marketing Erika said: “Our responsibility is not just to deliver courses and training but to ensure that we are giving all of our students and learners the guidance to achieve the best possible outcomes for their future careers.”

Roger Chapman, Head of the matrix Service for The Growth Company said: “We believe that at the heart of high-quality advice and support services are strong leadership, excellent service and a focus on continuous improvement, all underpinned by effective use of the resources available.  The matrix Standard is designed to benchmark organisations against best practice in these areas. With their accreditation success, the Education Training Collective is working to provide the best possible support to their clients.”

For more information about the matrix Standard please visit: www.matrixStandard.com