Two former music students have found perfect harmony by getting married 17 years after they met at City and Islington College (CANDI).

Hearts skipped a beat as Steve Mckenzie and Kersha Bailey tied the knot at Muswell Hill Baptist Church surrounded by family and friends on 18 September.

Steve, 35, is a session musician with a background in youth work who founded London Urban Arts Academy last year, while Kersha is a professional singer-songwriter and musician.

Between them they have toured, performed and collaborated with artistes including Emeli Sandé, Sam Smith, Ms Dynamite, Bashy, Naughty Boy, Toddla T and Wretch 32.

The couple studied at CANDI from 2004-06 where Steve, upon seeing Kersha in the first few weeks she started college, told friends “one day she’s going to be my wife.”

They did not date at college, but Kersha admitted being attracted to Steve’s big and bold personality and being quite shy when they would head home from college.

Steve and Kersha went their separate ways for a few months after leaving CANDI until he called and asked her if she would like to audition for his hip hop band Shynenville.

He said: “When we left college we didn’t see each other for a while but then I called Kersha and asked her to join the band. When she came to the first rehearsal of Shynenville she was wearing a headwrap and was looking really good, and I was like wooooo!”

Kersha had recently broken up with her then boyfriend and Steve was already in a relationship, which came to an end before their romance began.

Kersha, 33, said: “Our first dates were in the studio and at rehearsals. I began to feel more and more connected to this guy and that there was something there, but there was also some shyness and we didn’t immediately share how we felt about each other.

“Being in the band singing and doing what I love rekindled the feelings I had for Steve. I thought he was kinda cute. So, we thought let’s do this, take it slow and see where it goes.”

Steve added: “Her voice really impacted me. She had something very special. I felt her voice had a healing quality. It took me to a place of reflection, which gave me warmth and comfort. I felt like I had a duty to help bring out her talent.”

Kersha recalled being attracted to the way the sun made Steve’s black skin look “so golden and rich”, his long eyelashes and big smile, and that his thoughtfulness and selflessness “made him different to other boys”.

She said: “He was a gentleman and always put me first, which was something I was not very familiar with at that time. My experience of boys back then was that they would see their needs as more important. I knew he was going to look after me.”

Steve added: “Kersha used to always wear her hair down over one eye, and one day I asked her to move her hair away from her face and told her she had beautiful eyes. 

“She’s much more confident in who she is now than at college, but she still has those shy moments. She’s still the girl I met at CANDI all those years ago.”      

The couple studied at the college’s Centre for Business, Arts and Technology in Camden Road where Steve got down on one knee and proposed in May.

“I was so happy and elated and full of joy. Then I got emotional and felt I wanted to cry, as I began to think this was actually happening,” said Kersha.

“I never thought he would propose at the college where we first met. It was so thoughtful, and having my family and friends there made it so special.”

The newlyweds celebrated their marriage with a reception at Core Clapton in Hackney and will be spending their honeymoon in Jamaica in December.

Maybe you too could find love on one of our Music courses. Click here to find out more and apply.

A business administration apprentice has praised her assessor for giving up her weekends to help her revise and achieve a distinction.

Holly Young, 20, told how Eda Baltan from Capital City College Training (CCCT) supported her on a Level 3 apprenticeship at education awarding body City & Guilds.

She said: “Eda was so supportive throughout my apprenticeship journey. She was always quick to respond to any queries, issues or problems that I had.

“We would always have catch-ups to review my progress and she would always be there if I needed her at any time of the day, especially last-minute meetings.

“She organised and helped me attend revision sessions and workshops for my exams and even helped me revise on the weekend, which I really appreciated. She also gave me amazing revision resources, such as mock exams and notes, and also gave me some great examples of previous apprentices’ work to help me along the way when I was unsure of things.”

Holly, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, secured a job as Quality Administrator with the Associate Management Team at City & Guilds after completing her apprenticeship.

She added: “I can’t thank Eda enough for everything she has done. I really didn’t think I could get a distinction but with all the support from the college and my team I am proud of myself for being able to achieve this.”

Duncan Baines, Associate Manager in the Associate Management Team, also recognised Eda’s contribution to helping Holly during her apprenticeship.

He said: “I want to say thank you to Eda for all her support with Holly. She has been very responsive to her when she has needed help and getting her to the point where she is now, having achieved a distinction in her business administration apprenticeship.”

Eda, who has worked as a Vocational Coach at CCCT for three years, said: “This has put a big smile on my face. It is always nice and very satisfying to hear good feedback about the work you put in with a student. It makes the whole job worthwhile.”

“Holly was a very enthusiastic learner and produced good quality work. She did her research and went through the mock exams I gave her. She took advantage of every opportunity presented to her, which has shown in her end result.”

CCCT is London’s largest apprenticeship and training provider that works with more than 950 employers and runs around 2,000 apprenticeships each year.

Jackie Chapman, Managing Director of CCCT, said: “Eda has gone above and beyond what was asked of her in her role as an assessor. The commitment she has shown to her learners including Holly is second to none and has to be applauded.

“I would also like to offer my congratulations to Holly on passing her apprenticeship with distinction and wish her every success in the future.”

Click here to find out more about Business and Professional Services apprenticeships.

Westminster Kingsway College’s Hospitality and Culinary Arts students will play a key role in one of the most important evenings in the UK culinary calendar, when they support the national final of the prestigious Roux Scholarship, which is being hosted by the college this year.

The final, being held on Monday 25 October, will see six regional winners – who have already made it through an online application process and regional finals – compete against each other and the clock in a gruelling cook-off in WestKing’s kitchens.

The six finalists’ dishes will be judged by an expert panel led by Honorary President of Judges Björn Frantzén, from the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm, and the winner will be announced that evening at an exclusive awards ceremony in the college’s Vincent Rooms restaurant. The evening event features a special dinner cooked by the three most recent Roux scholars, Spencer Metzger (who won in 2019), Martin Carabott (2018) and Luke Selby (2017), who will be supported by WestKing students.

Marc Whitley, Hospitality, Food and Beverage Lecturer, said: “We are delighted and honoured to be hosting this year’s Roux Scholarship finals and dinner. As well as giving the six finalists the chance to cook their final dishes in our kitchens, we are very grateful to the Roux family for giving our students the opportunity to work with three great chefs to create and serve the awards ceremony dinner. It’s a unique experience for the students and a great honour for the college.”

About the Roux Scholarship

The Roux Scholarship is an annual award for up-and-coming UK chefs. It was established in 1983 and has become one of the most acclaimed chef competitions in the UK, with many scholars having gone on to win Michelin stars themselves. Previous winners include Sat Bains, Simon Hulstone and former WestKing Culinary student Frederick Forster.

One winner is selected each year, who receives up to £12,000 to support their career development and an invitation to cook and train under the supervision of a leading chef at a prestigious three-star Michelin restaurant anywhere in the world for up to three months.

The 2020 Roux Scholarship award was postponed last year due to the COVID pandemic, so this will be the first time in two years that a scholarship has been awarded.

Speaking in The Caterer magazine recently, Roux Scholarship Chairman Alain Roux said: “After so many dreadful months, we’re now just weeks away from finding our 2020 scholar. The anticipation is building for a truly memorable finale. I cannot wait to get back in the kitchen with our judges and competitors. The award ceremony will mark the end of a competition like no other as we celebrate a brighter future.

For more information, visit the Roux Scholarship website. The announcement of the winner will be livestreamed via the Roux Scholarship website and its YouTube channel.

Westminster Kingsway College has unrivalled connections and contacts in the hospitality industry, which means we can give students who study hospitality and the culinary arts with us, amazing opportunities like the chance to work at prestigious events like the Roux Scholarship finals.

To find out more about out culinary courses and apply to study with us, click here.

Students at CONEL celebrated as they overcame the challenges of the COVID pandemic to achieve a fantastic set of GCSE results.

The college saw 45.3 per cent achieve 9-4 grades in Maths and 35.9 per cent of students attain the same grades in English. Many were retaking GCSEs or taking them for the first time with some having English as a second language. Adult students were particularly strong in Maths where 71.4 per cent achieved 9-4 grades while 58.9 per cent attained the same grades in English.

Students did not sit exams this year due to COVID-19 with their grades being determined by teachers’ assessment of their actual evidence-based ability rather than predicted grades. 

Maryna Borsuk, 32, took the first step towards her dream of becoming a teacher after achieving a grade 9 in Maths while also studying an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course.

She said: “I am overwhelmed and very surprised. Getting this result is good for my future because I want to study teaching. I’ve been so happy and want to study more and do GCSE English next year. It will be difficult, but I will do everything I can to pass this exam.”

Maryna, who lives in Enfield, came to the UK from Ukraine three years ago, where she worked in various jobs in retail, security, factories and farming. 

She said: “I thought about accounting and teaching, but decided that working with students and explaining things to them would give me more pleasure than numbers and paperwork.

Maryna was full of praise for her college tutors who have inspired her career ambitions.

She said: “It was difficult learning online, but the teachers did everything they could to help. If I had any questions that they did not have time to answer in class I could email them and they would respond in their private time. They’ve been amazing.”

Mohamed Farah, 19, from Enfield, attained a grade 9 in Maths while completing an IT Level 3 Extended Diploma after coming to the UK from Somalia following a year in Cyprus.

He said: “I am really pleased. I never thought I would get a grade 9. I attended every class and my teacher was very helpful. He gave us extra hours revision and everything we needed to succeed.

“He saw my potential and put me in for the higher assessment, and I’m glad he did. I’m very happy and couldn’t have asked for more.”

Mohamed hopes to go on to a degree apprenticeship and a career in data analytics when he has completed his diploma at CONEL.

Michelle Bailey, 39, also from Enfield, achieved a grade 7 in English and hopes to continue her education on an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Nursing course at CONEL.

She said: “I’m ecstatic and so happy. I’ve just recovered from COVID and had a lot of chest pain, but I’ll take it with this good news. This is absolutely amazing.

“Studying in lockdown was extremely hard. The teachers told us what we need to work on and really encouraged and motivated us. I really pushed myself and studied every chance I got. We did a lot of assessments instead of exams, which was good but a lot of work. I preferred it in some ways because I get nervous – it’s been more than 20 years since I’ve done an exam!

“I would walk past the college and say to myself, ‘I’m going to see you again in September,’ and I’m now so excited about coming back and learning more.”

The mum-of-three came to the UK from Jamaica in 2002 and applied for the Access course but family commitments and the cost stopped her from enrolling. Her visa then expired and she was unable to work for seven years before getting jobs in homecare and retail.

She said: “Nursing is something I’ve always wanted to do. Back home in Jamaica my grandmother was a missionary, and I would go with her to help the disabled, visually impaired and those less fortunate. My mum and auntie are nurses, so I come from a very caring family.

“My neighbour was always saying I should do something for myself now the kids are older. I’ve decided to go for it. I don’t care how hard or stressful it is, I really want to do it.”

CONEL runs GCSE and Functional Skills courses in English and Maths along with ESOL courses from Entry Level to Level 1 covering listening, speaking, reading and writing.

The college also offers vocational courses in Accounting, Business, Beauty Therapy, Childcare, Construction, Digital Media, Engineering, Hairdressing, Health and Social Care, Music, Public Services, Science, Sport and Travel and Tourism.

All courses at CONEL are free up to Level 2.

CONEL is part of Capital City College Group, which also comprises City and Islington College and Westminster Kingsway College, and apprenticeship and training provider Capital City College Training.

Kurt Hintz, Executive Principal of Capital City College Group, said: “We are very proud of the great results of our students after such a disrupted and difficult period. Our students have shown huge amounts of dedication, perseverance and resilience in adversity which has prepared them well for their future education and careers. 

“We congratulate all of our students on their results and wish them well in their next steps. We would also like to give special thanks to our teachers and support staff who worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to secure the life chances of their students.”

Find out more about English, Maths and ESOL courses.

More of us are looking to continue working from home as lockdown restrictions are eased. Jackie Chapman, Managing Director of Capital City College Training, explains how employers can support apprentices while remote working.

Not a day has gone by over the past year when someone hasn’t said “you’re on mute” or been caught off-guard by something in the background of a Zoom or Teams call. Remote working has become the new normal since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, and something we have all had to adapt to quickly. Now, as countries move out of lockdown and vaccinations are rolled out there has been an increased appetite to work from home.

A recent report in the Economist revealed just a fifth of employees would prefer to work in the office post COVID and around 30 per cent want to work a full week at home, while 42 per cent said they would look for a new job if asked to return to the office full time.

The change is startling compared to two years ago when remote working was seen as the exception rather than the norm, even among tech giants like Google.

The world has shown great resilience to adapt in such challenging times, indeed at Capital City College Group, we jumped to fully online learning in just two weeks.

Restrictions are easing and society is starting to open up again, but many workers and their employers want to keep working remotely. So what does this mean for apprentices and how can employers continue to deliver purposeful and effective training?

At Capital City College Training, the apprenticeship and training provider of CCCG, we are responsible for a quarter of completed apprenticeships in London so far this academic year.

Our apprentices work in a wide variety of roles in various sectors and the impact of COVID has been different for each of them. Employers need to be aware of their needs and that much of what apprentices learn, and what makes them valuable employees, is picked up on the job, something that is often hard to replicate remotely. At CCCT, we have worked with employers to meet this challenge head on and help them continue to provide high quality training and support as many employees continue to work from home.

For most practical apprenticeships like construction and hospitality, our apprentices have been able to continue with their learning theory but the lack of practical experience has made it extremely difficult for them to develop the consistent level of skill expected. This has resulted in some apprenticeships taking longer than normal to complete as they waited to be able to return back on site.

Those apprentices who are training in business support roles, such as administration, HR, procurement and management, have been able to continue to train with relative ease throughout the pandemic. However, in both cases apprentices that have struggled, say the biggest impact has been a lack of support from some employers in supporting their development, and home working has often resulted in them being more restricted in their work. This is frequently where their line managers have also been impacted by changing workloads and health. 

CCCT has provided regular online workshops with apprentices to help them with their training and to support their mental health and well-being, and it is important that employers also show this commitment and duty of care.

The majority of our apprentices say they would prefer to be physically at work one or two days a week, so they benefit from working with others in their role or other areas of the business, and this is something at CCCT we would strongly encourage. From September it is our intention to have group inductions on site to help apprentices connect with other apprentices and staff while continuing to provide online workshops and support in the non-practical apprenticeships,

With more of us looking to work from home, it is vital employers do everything they can to make sure apprentices continue to get the best possible training, support and experience that will give them the skills for their chosen industry as the country breaks free from the pandemic.

Here are my top three tips on how employers can best support apprentices while working remotely:

One-to-ones
Set aside time each week to talk to the apprentice, instruct them in their tasks and appraise their work. Encourage a two-way dialogue so they feel fully involved, want to perform well and have the opportunity to ask questions or raise any concerns.

Mental health
Remote working has affected many people’s mental health. Look for signs such as lack of enthusiasm, demotivation, negativity and taking time off. Set aside time with the apprentice in addition to work one-to-ones. A quick chat asking how they are can be very effective.

Broaden horizons
Introduce them to different areas of the business, encourage collaboration and arrange work with other employees to broaden their skills and knowledge, keep them motivated and give them a much better and more enriched experience.

And finally, don’t forget to ask your college or training provider for support.