Training & Development
With an enviable collection of industry awards during the past twelve months,
Myerscough College’s sportsturf students and graduates remain at the forefront of the industry, both in the UK and overseas.
In this article, Stuart Davidson, Head of
Marketing, focuses on the training opportunities available at the College and the drive to bring new blood into the industry
Sportsturf training at Myerscough
Fast-track your future in turfcare… I
f you think back to your school days, how many of you knew that you wanted to work in turfcare? Not many I bet? I also imagine that those of you who realised that turf was for you, probably
had more knowledge than whoever was tasked with careers advice at your school. And there lies the challenge of today, tomorrow and the future. How do we get youngsters to aspire to careers in turfcare?
Careers advice in schools has recently undergone a huge transformation, arguably for the worse, since the 2011 Education Act effectively broke up the established Connexions careers service and tasked schools with providing similar impartial advice themselves, but with no additional funding to do so.
As a college we attend careers events and parents evenings at more than 300 schools across the North West, in addition to trade- only events like Harrogate Week and Saltex. Our challenge in schools is not only to ‘sell the College’ but also to ‘sell the industry’ to prospective applicants.
Most teaching staff in schools have followed a route from school to sixth form, to university, to teach. By their own admission their knowledge of practical, vocational training is limited. Ideally, we need to get youngsters out of their classrooms at some
138 PC APRIL/MAY 2013
stage, to visit local stadiums and experience the behind-the-scenes work that takes place before a football match, rugby match or cricket tournament - to provide a taster of what career opportunities exist in the sector. Mention Premier League football clubs or Premier Rugby grounds to them and their eyes light up. I’d welcome any thoughts, comments or suggestions from people who have organised such visits successfully.
Here at Myerscough we effectively offer three routes into the industry:
Full-time school leaver training
A range of one-year and two-year sportsturf programmes for youngsters leaving school who want the reassurance of a full-time college course. There’s the choice of practical introductory programmes or more comprehensive academic Level 3 courses that offer A-Level equivalent BTEC qualifications for those students considering progression to higher level Sportsturf degrees. This route is also often popular with parents, where the security and familiarity of a College setting and established qualifications often provides that additional impetus to support their son or daughter into not necessarily following their friends to the nearest sixth form college.
Apprenticeship training
A well-established programme of quality work-based training across the United Kingdom that delivers academic knowledge and practical skills within the apprentice’s workplace. A network of regional work- based assessors supports each apprentice, through the latest online learning opportunities and the use of electronic portfolios and interactive learning resources.
The recent feedback from learners and employers has been outstanding and has provided the College with the reassurance that our apprenticeship delivery model continues to meet learner, employer and industry needs.
- 98% of employers are ‘satisfied with the College’s provision and would recommend apprenticeships to others’
- 99% of apprentices surveyed are ‘happy with the training programme and would recommend it to others’
- 93% of employers stated that ‘work based delivery had a positive impact on their overall business performance’
- Apprentice success rates 9% above the national average
The College introduced a free employer
Apprentice Chris Pickles with Burnley FC Head Groundsman Paul Bradshaw and Myerscough College Deputy Principal Paul Morton
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156