Paul Cassell, Author at Capital City College Group

Students honoured for their achievements at CANDI awards ceremony

Posted on July 3, 2023July 4, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Students at City and Islington College (CANDI) were all smiles after being presented with awards in recognition of their achievements this year.

More than 50 students from CANDI’s Sixth Form College and its Centre for Applied Sciences at Angel were honoured at a ceremony attended by staff and parents on 29 June.

Curriculum Managers presented students with awards in four categories after choosing the winners from nominations made by teachers at the college’s centres in Goswell Road.

Awards were presented in each of the following categories:

Outstanding Achievement, for students who have attained the best grades.
Curriculum Area Award, for students who have overcome adversity.
Outstanding Commitment, for students who have worked hard.
Contribution to the Course, for students who have helped others or supported the college.

Among the Outstanding Achievement winners was Engineering student Gino Tsotsi who was recognised for his high level of dedication to his studies, which had been reflected in his results.

Gino, 17, said: “The teachers have supported not just me, but all the students on the course. When you ask them anything, they answer straightaway. They want you to ask questions so they can help you. They are very knowledgeable and experienced and explain things well, which is all going to help me. Having good teachers will get you far.

“I want to thank them for seeing something in me and picking me for this award. It makes me feel very happy. It makes you think you’re the best on your course, which has given me the confidence to go further and do well next year.”

A Level student Tanya Qusham, 18, was presented with a Curriculum Area Award for commitment to her studies in the face of mental health problems following an incident at school.

She said: “Compared to secondary school, my teachers at college really helped me. I would have frequent panic attacks in class and it got to the point where sometimes I couldn’t come into college, which meant I found it hard to get my work done.

“My teachers were very patient with me, which is what I needed, and gave me more time to do my assignments. If I left the room, they were fine with it and would come out and check on me. If I wasn’t in, they would email me everything.

“I feel much happier in myself knowing they have recognised I have really tried and put in a lot of work. Everyone at college helped so massively. Without them, I don’t think I would be where I am now.”

Special Recognition Awards were presented to five A Level students who initially joined the college’s Home Education Hub when they were 14. The hub provides Year 10 and 11 students with part-time tuition in English, maths, science and history, and the chance to experience studying at college.

The ceremony was compered by Dominic Eady, Deputy Director of the Sixth Form College, and included guest speeches from former CANDI Health and Social Care Diploma student Zahra Ga-al and Law Amankwah, UK Student Recruitment and Schools Liaison Officer at City, University of London.

Zahra, 23, is about to start work as a primary school teacher after completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Roehampton where she previously graduated with a BA (Hons) Education Studies.

Offering her advice to students leaving this year, she said: “If you are going to university, make use of all the support on offer. Your lecturers will be so supportive if you need to talk to them about your assignments. Have confidence. You can do it. You just need to work hard and you’ll go on to do amazing things.”

The evening also included talks on both the Sixth Form College and Centre for Applied Sciences by Deputy Directors Jenny Nolan and Adam Beral.

Congratulating the award winners, Assistant Principal Matt Wojtyniak said: “It’s a real pleasure to celebrate many of our individual student’s successes this year. In truth, we could have nominated many more students for awards as this current cohort of students has been phenomenal, and I am certainly very proud of them.

“The majority of students receiving awards tonight are the ones that we feel have been most affected by the pandemic, who didn’t sit their GCSEs, and had to work even harder to overcome more barriers than students in previous years.

“Tonight is also about celebrating everyone that has helped to make this happen, the teachers and the support staff who run the libraries, career service, enrichment, and all those who work so incredibly hard to make our college a success.”

CANDI’s Sixth Form College offers a choice of more than 30 A Levels while the Centre for Applied Sciences runs courses in subjects including Applied Science, Engineering, Forensics, Animal Care, Optics, Sports Science and Public Services.

Find out more about courses and apprenticeships at CANDI and apply here.

Sixth Form College

	Performance and Visual Arts	Business and Humanities	Social Sciences	Maths and Computing	Science	English, Languages, Media and Film
Outstanding Achievement	Anastasiia Kozak	Romario Mullings	Flora Nolan	Rares Filimon	Oscar Edwards	Joe Andriekus
Curriculum Area Award	Anastasia Burlakova	Tanya Qusham	Sarah Paul	Eduart Cakaj	Emily Clark	Alexus Patsalides
Outstanding Commitment	Amelia Tran	Ilmi Hamdi	Aliya Dahir	Hudda Ahmed	Imogen Whelan	Livia Ikuno Ribolla
Contribution to the Course	Sebe Nkosi-Rawles	Sean Voitov	Klaudia Gjasta	Yahya Mohammed	Mo Shodeinde	Thalir Krishnathas

Scroll along to see all award winners.

Centre for Applied Sciences

	Crime	Health	Animal Care	Applied Science	Medical	Engineering	Optics	Access to HE
Outstanding Achievement	Carmen Whitman-Vazquez	Hannah Fyvie	Kayuana Fletcher	Tilly Lawson Ruby Lawson	Deniz Ercos	Gino Tsotsi	Rebekah Bingle Jessica James	Teodora Belwalke
Curriculum Area Award	Adam Davies-Shahjahan	Stinette Mbala-Aziza	Holly Mpunga	Sumeyye Cevher	Vinicius Matias Vieira	Dawid Kedziora		Zoya Safi
Outstanding Commitment	Andrea Fiodorova	Alan Kola	Shea George	Sarbjot Kaur Lohia	George Eccles	Jacob Duckworth
Contribution to the Course	Diyar Kaygun	Chianna Duggan-Mason	Adnaan Aslam	Abigail Bima Mambu	Nawaal Muhamed	Muhammed Patel

Scroll along to see all award winners.

Home Education Hub

Special Recognition Award

Oscar Edwards

Che Frederick

Laura Foxwood

Jazmin Lowe

Sean Voitov

School-leavers urged to choose path that ‘best suits you’ at Step Up Expo

Posted on July 3, 2023July 4, 2023 by Paul Cassell

School-leavers were urged to choose the right education and career path for them when they discovered more about their post-16 options at the first Evening Standard Step Up Expo.

Thousands of students descended on Olympia London where more than 100 education providers including Capital City College Group (CCCG), employers and youth organisations had stands.

CCCG is London’s largest further education college group and comprises City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, and apprenticeship and training provider Capital City College Training.

Students heard more about their post-16 choices – A Levels, T Levels, vocational qualifications such as a BTECs, and apprenticeships – and the range of subjects available to them after school.

Adam Beral, Deputy Director at City and Islington College, and Carl Boyd, Assistant Principal at Westminster Kingsway College, shared their advice at a series of panel discussions at the show.

“There are two things I speak about when people are trying to make a decision about what they want to do when they leave school,” he said.

“The first thing is what do you see yourself doing in the future, what’s your goal, what’s your career ambition? There are very few jobs, I would say you need to do A Levels for. We’re talking about medicine, veterinary and politics, and even in those subjects there are still students doing BTECs or T Levels who will go on to get those jobs. For any other career, you can choose whatever route that best suits you to get there.

“The second question I always ask is what do you enjoy doing? Are you someone who learns best by classroom learning from expert and taking notes and doing academic research, or are you someone who learns best by doing, using your hands and applying that knowledge?

“If you are someone who learns best by doing, then something like a T Level or BTEC or an apprenticeship is going to get you where you want to go, not only quicker but you’ll have a bit more fun along the way.”

Adam explained that A Levels results are determined purely by end-of-year exams whereas T Levels, vocational courses and apprenticeships use a mix of exam and course assessments but both are legitimate routes to university.

“Even if you go down the T Level or BTEC route and you decide you want to continue your education, you still can. It isn’t so much about A levels requiring one set of entry requirements and T Levels and BTECs requiring another, but much more about your preferred way of learning and what your aspirations are,” he said.

Hundreds of students visited CCCG’s stand to find out more about the extensive choice of qualifications available and its relationships with employers across London.

CCCG’s innovative tuition free coding school 01 Founders also had a stand where students had the chance to take part in some basic coding challenges including programming a drone.

Harry Gardiner, 26, joined 01 Founders eight months ago having felt uncertain about his future after working in various jobs since graduating with a degree in music technology.

He said: “I like games and seeing how things work and using maths algorithms, so I thought I would look at some bootcamps and third-party training because I didn’t want to go back to university. I stumbled upon 01 Founders. It looked really good and had a job at the end of it, and it was free.

“I’ve found it fascinating, as I have never had this type of learning style before with no teachers or set time to complete a course. It’s really down to your own self-discipline and motivation, but you also get to collaborate as you learn. When you come up against a wall and everyone has the same problem and you work together to solve it, it gives you so much confidence.

“I’ve been working with my team to create a new social network. If someone had said to me at the very start of the course in eight months you could be making something like Facebook or Instagram, I would have laughed in their face. The course leads you from project to project– once you’ve learned this you can apply it to this, and when you know that you can do this – it’s very fluid.

“I now feel confident about my future. If I work hard and nail the projects, the world’s my oyster.”

Students leaving school this summer are urged to apply now with enrolment taking place in August.

Find out more about course and apprenticeships with CCCG and apply here.

Entrepreneurs showcase businesses at Visionnaires Pop-up Market

Posted on June 29, 2023June 29, 2023 by Paul Cassell

New entrepreneurs have spoken of the support they had to launch their own businesses at a market hosted by the social enterprise that helped them get started.

The Visionnaires Pop-up Market at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) featured more than 20 stalls selling an array of products and services.

Visionnaires is a not-for-profit company that has helped 1,500 people gain the skills, confidence and support to start new businesses through its free programmes.

Participants, also known as Visionnaires, take part in practical workshops over five days covering business planning, marketing, selling and finance, and also receive mentoring and support beyond the classroom.

The market at CONEL’s Tottenham Centre included many Visionnaires’ businesses selling cakes, arts, and crafts, photography, clothing, candyfloss and sweets, jewellery, natural oils and beauty products.

Georgina Moore joined Visionnaires two months into starting her sustainable handmade textiles business having been being made redundant after COVID from a 26-year career in childrenswear.

Her business, Moore Revival, uses recycled materials to create various products including children’s clothing, wine coolers, water bottle holders, scrunchies and ornamental telephones.

She said: “My business is less than a year old, so it’s not paying the mortgage yet, but after spending all my career working for the same company it’s nice to be able to work from home and have the creativity to do what I want to do.

“Visionnaires was a real learning curve. Essentially you learn how to create a business plan and what is expected in it, and then do a sales pitch at the end.

“I was reasonably confident about my business as I’d spent half my life designing childrenswear, but Visionnaires was really supportive I was unsure about anything.

“A lot of that was to do with our tutor. She explained that not every day is going to be a winner to begin with, but provided us with that shoulder rub and reassurance to keep going.”

Barry Bottomley started his own business selling prints of his street photography after being made redundant during the pandemic having worked for nearly two decades in the wine trade.

He said: “Visionnaires gave me an overall perspective of what it entails to run a business, what you need to take into consideration, the must dos and the pitfalls. It clarified an awful lot.

“Having a mentor for six months at the end was very productive. Getting the support and validation from someone who has run successful businesses and a genuine interest and passion for what I am doing was really useful.”

Charity Mauluka was inspired to set up her business Che Grandt, which sells a range of botanical skin care products, because of her son’s problems and with eczema and dry skin.

She undertook a diploma in natural and organic skincare and began making her own soaps, butters and creams, which led to an improvement in her son’s condition and interest from family and friends.

“Joining Visionnaires gave me the push I needed. I’m not a businessperson and it was really holding me back. It’s helped me with business planning, cashflow and marketing,” she said.

“My teacher has made it easy to understand, like a walk in the park. Now I realise I can do it.”

The market also included a stall selling chilli oil created by Supported Learning students as part of their Personal Progress Entry Level 1 Award.

Visionnaires was initially set up within Capital City College Group, which includes CONEL, and has since been rolled out across the UK in partnership with several other college groups and colleges.

It was established by CCCG’s Interim CEO Pablo Lloyd OBE, a former finance professional with 20 years’ experience as a social entrepreneur and in leading organisations and mentoring.

Amanda Dickens, CEO of Visionnaires, said: “The pop-up market was a fabulous way for many of our Visionnaires to not only sell their wonderful products and services but to test trade, talk to customers and network with other stall holders

“Visionnaires continues to go from strength to strength with more people looking to start their own businesses, start side hustles or become self-employed. We are absolutely thrilled to see so many participants of the programme are now running successful businesses.”

Find out more about Visionnaires and how to apply here.

CONEL Cyphers on top of their game with British Esports national finals win

Posted on June 28, 2023July 4, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Gamers from the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) have been crowned national champions in the British Esports Student Champs finals.

Five students from the CONEL Cyphers team at the college’s Esports Academy beat Exeter Academy in the national finals of the tournament at Confetti X in Nottingham on 24 June.

CONEL’s A team in the Valorant competition, comprising Sefa Mankaloglu, Daniel Ra, Emil Lusuvaliev, Cyrus Sullivan and Ermir Frashni, celebrated as they held aloft the trophy.

Valorant is a team-based tactical first-person shooter where the attacking team aim to plant a ‘spike’ or eliminate the defending team before a timer runs out. The winner is the first to win 13 rounds each lasting 100 seconds.

Daniel Ra, 17, who was voted Most Valuable Player in the tournament, said: “It feels amazing to have won. We’ve practiced hard over the year and going into the final, and it’s nice to be rewarded.

“We were a little nervous but felt well prepared. It’s funny, we knew we would lose the first map because it was one of our weakest, so when that ended up happening our morale wasn’t affected and we went on to win the series.

“Our gameplay has improved a lot since the start of the year. Mostly because we finally found a consistent group of five players. Our coach helped us a lot too.”

Ermir, 17, added: “My friend and teammate Cyrus told me about CONEL that he was going to sign up to their Esports Academy. I’ve always enjoyed gaming. It’s a fun hobby to pass the time, especially with friends. I like the social and competitive aspect of it.

“I’ve really enjoyed playing with the team. Playing in the official matches and especially the trip to Nottingham and winning. It’s been a lot of fun.”

CONEL offers Esports Diploma courses at Levels 2 and 3 along with many other IT and Computing and Digital Media and Creative Computing courses at its Tottenham and Enfield Centres.

The Esports Academy, located at the college’s Enfield Centre, is open to all full-time students at CONEL and features 20 powerful gaming PCs along with training from a professional coach.

The British Esports Student Champs is open to students at secondary schools, colleges and alternative provision schools in the UK.

Esports Coach Finlay Stewart said: “It feels great to win the final. It’s a fantastic way to end the year.

“The team has come a long way from when they first joined. Seeing the team’s development and their hard work pay off has been very heartwarming. Two of them have been here from the start, playing nearly every week, but will be leaving college this year. Whoever comes in will have some big shoes to fill if we are going to retain our title.”

Find out more about the Esports Academy here.

Apply for IT and Computing courses including Esports here. For Digital Media and Creative Computing courses click here.

Former WestKing apprentice chef becomes co-owner of Barnet restaurant

Posted on June 26, 2023June 26, 2023 by Paul Cassell

A former Westminster Kingsway College apprentice chef has told of his excitement at becoming the co-owner of restaurant in Barnet.

Gerry Sands, 21, has teamed up with Louis Loizou to run the Odos Mediterranean Kitchen, which prides itself on quality ingredients, simple preparation and personal service.

The restaurant, which was established in 2019, is ranked ninth out of 102 restaurants on Tripadvisor and has won rave reviews online from critics and diners.

Gerry first met Louis while helping in his kitchen on days off from his Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) apprenticeship with WestKing at the Corinthia Hotel in central London.

He spent three months at The Samuel, a fine dining restaurant in Copenhagen, before joining Odos in January 2022 where he began working front of house and gained an interest in business management.

“Louis took me under his wing a showed me everything he knew,” said Gerry.

“A few months into working at Odos he pulled me aside, as he could see the customers had taken a liking to me, and said, ‘From tomorrow I want you to stop dressing like a waiter and dress like you own the place,’ and nine months later the opportunity came up to be a shareholder in the business.

“Louis is the ultimate restaurant operator, creating an environment that customers will come to two or three times a week or just pop in for a coffee and a chat. He has a fantastic reputation in the business having successfully set up and sold eight restaurants prior to Odos.

“Owning a restaurant has always been a dream of mine. I love being able to serve food I am proud of and creating something special that others can enjoy. I couldn’t be more excited to be a partner.”

Gerry and Louis have big plans for the restaurant. It is currently undergoing a refurbishment over the summer with a new menu being launched when it reopens at the end August.

Gerry said: “My passion for cooking all started with a love for all things food. I would cook with my mum and grandma in the kitchen every chance I could. Stepping into a professional kitchen at the age of 13, I knew I wanted to make a mark on the industry from an early age.”

One of Gerry’s highlights during his apprenticeship was meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla, then HRH Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, at the 40^th anniversary of RACA in May 2021.

“WestKing gave me the opportunity to be able to work for and meet many incredible individuals who have guided me to where I am today,” said Gerry.

“The knowledge I gained from attending on my apprenticeship will continue to be invaluable to me for the rest of my career. My lecturers gave me the freedom to be creative and guided me in the right direction, entering me into competitions and giving me amazing opportunities.”

“With its incredible facilities and the amazing experience of the chef lecturers, I couldn’t think of a better place to have studied than WestKing.”

WestKing’s Victoria Centre is home to the college’s renowned School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, which provides high quality training for a wide range of careers across the sector.

Sharon Barry, Head of School for Hospitality and Culinary Arts Apprenticeships, said: “We are extremely proud of Gerry’s achievements and wish him every success in his new adventure.

“During his time at the college, Gerry was always ahead of the game and went from strength to strength as he progressed through the prestigious RACA apprenticeship programme.

“It is no surprise that he is now a co-owner of a restaurant. I have no doubt that he will continue to move forward and support and develop talented chefs coming through his business.”

Find out more about hospitality and culinary arts courses and apprenticeships and apply here.

Nearly 300 students celebrate a love of books in Reading Ahead challenge

Posted on June 21, 2023June 21, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Around 300 students at two Capital City College Group (CCCG) colleges have shown a real passion for reading after completing this year’s Reading Ahead Challenge.

Reading Ahead aims to encourage reading by challenging participants to read six books, poems or articles and write a reading diary sharing their thoughts on what they have read.

A total of 215 students from the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) and 78 from City and Islington College (CANDI) completed the challenge run by the Reading Agency.

The students who took part were from English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Functional Skills in English courses or the colleges’ Supported Learning provision.

Each CONEL student who completed the challenge was presented with a certificate of achievement and a book with four of them being entered into a prize draw to win a £20 voucher.

ESOL student Shahrbanoo Jafarian, 48, who moved to the UK from Iran in 2021, said: “I wanted to do this challenge because I want to learn English perfectly.

“The challenge and my ESOL course have helped me to improve my English, which will give me confidence to help me find a good job and have a better social life.

“I want to learn and read more. I want to join this challenge again. It has really inspired me.”

Mayor of Islington, Cllr Gary Heather, congratulated students from CANDI who completed the challenge and presented them with certificates and £10 vouchers at Islington Central Library.

CANDI students also said that taking part in the challenge had improved and given the more confidence in their English with some saying they now enjoyed reading to their families.

CANDI Library Team Leaders Simon Nelson and Lucy Hallworth praised the students on their achievement and commitment to the challenge.

Lucy said: “I’m thrilled to see the hugely positive impact the Reading Ahead challenge has had on our participating students’ learning and personal development. It’s fantastic to see the students’ great achievements celebrated. I hope that they will continue to love reading and spread the word on how enjoyable and fulfilling recreational reading is.”

Pavla Jonasova, Curriculum Manager for ESOL at CONEL, said: “Reading Ahead really helps our students with their literacy skills. There is no obligation for them to do it, but we really encourage them to get involved. You can tell those that have done the challenge because it really reflects when it comes to their vocabulary and their reading and writing skills.

“Most importantly those that do participate really enjoy it. It’s great to see so many have completed the challenge this year. I’m very proud of them. They have all done fantastically well.”

The Reading Agency is a national charity that inspires people to read more and promotes the benefits of reading in libraries, colleges and other community settings.

Find out more about ESOL, English and Maths and Supported Learning courses and programmes and apply here.

Travel and Tourism students jet off to celebrate graduation in Turkey

Posted on June 21, 2023June 27, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Travel and Tourism students at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) celebrated the end of their course by flying out to Istanbul for a graduation ceremony.

Students wore mortar-board caps and gowns as they collected scrolls congratulating them on completing their Travel and Tourism Level 3 Diploma in the Turkish capital.

They stayed at the five-star Celal Aga Konagi Metro Suites and Spa Hotel and visited many famous landmarks including the Blue Mosque, considered one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture in the world.

Students later visited the Basilica Cistern, the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city, and enjoyed a sightseeing bus tour and a cruise on the Bosphorus strait.

They also spend time at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with 61 covered streets and more than 4,000 shops, and the Spice Bazaar, where numerous spices, Turkish delight, caviar, dried nuts and other delicacies and food stuffs are sold.

CONEL covered the cost of the four-day trip and provided spending money for each of the students.

Travel and Tourism student Nassira Ed-Dahmany, 21, said: “The graduation ceremony in Turkey was a lovely way for us all to get together and celebrate the end of our course.

“A few months before we finished, we were told we might go there for work experience and thought if the college could help us with the trip financially that would be great, but if not we would plan something together.

“We came up with an itinerary, which gave us the chance to practise what we’d learnt in class, and in the end the college agreed to pay for the trip. No one expected the college to do something like this. It was like wow!

“We didn’t know we were going to have a graduation ceremony until a month before we went. I’d never been to Turkey before first time. I always wanted to go, but it never happened. Now if I go back, it will have a nice memory for me because I graduated there.

“We managed to cram a lot of things in and learnt a lot about the places we visited. Being Arabic, I have been to many mosques but seeing the Blue Mosque, the architecture and wondering how they built it, was really magical.

“I have enjoyed my time at CONEL. When we needed help, our teacher was there to explain things in lessons and when we were doing our assignments. She really believed in us and encouraged us to do well.”

CONEL’s Travel and Tourism Level 3 Diploma provides students with the skills, knowledge and experience for careers in the UK and abroad. It covers a wide range of areas in the sector including customer service, marketing and sales roles for travel agencies, airlines and holiday companies.

Sandra Mirkovic, Lecturer in Travel and Tourism, said: “The students wanted to make their final year something exciting and create lasting memories in a unique way to celebrate their achievements.

“They had wonderful time enjoying the breathtaking scenery, famous landmarks, fascinating history and amazing shopping areas as they soaked up the culture, food, and attractions of Turkey.

“They have all worked incredibly hard throughout the course in class and on their assignments, and this was a lovely way for them to celebrate the end of their studies at CONEL.”

Find out more about Travel and Tourism courses and apply here.

Capital City College Group appoints Angela Joyce as new CEO

Posted on June 20, 2023June 20, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Capital City College Group (CCCG) is delighted to announce the appointment of Angela Joyce as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Angela will start her role in January 2024. Pablo Lloyd, the Group’s current Interim Chief Executive, will continue in his position until Angela assumes her responsibilities.

Angela brings a wealth of leadership experience within a large FE college group, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Warwickshire College Group (WCG), which comprises six colleges in the West Midlands.

She said: “I am delighted to join one of the UK’s largest college groups and lead the organisation into its next phase of development. While I will be sad to leave WCG, I take much pride in the achievements accomplished by our board, colleagues and students during my eight-year tenure as CEO.”

Prior to her tenure at WCG, Angela served as the Principal and Chief Executive of Peterborough Regional College, where she became the sector’s youngest ever leader.

Angela has held a number of non-executive roles including as a board member at Land Based Colleges Aspiring to Excellence (Landex), WorldSkills UK, the Quality Assurance Agency and Shakespeare’s England.

She has also sat on the Employment and Skills Boards for both the Worcestershire and Coventry and Warwickshire LEPs, been a CBI Regional Director and Chair of the Midlands Engine Skills Group. She is a Companion of the CMI and a Fellow of the Chartered Institution for Further Education.

Alastair Da Costa, Chair of CCCG, said: “Angela stood out as the exceptional candidate during our extensive selection process. Her unparalleled track record in leadership and ambitious vision for CCCG’s future make her an ideal fit for the role.”

Pablo Lloyd, Interim Chief Executive of CCCG, said: “Angela is one of the most respected leaders in our sector and I very much look forward to working with her to ensure a smooth and positive transition over the next few months.”

WestKing’s hospitality students looking even smarter after uniform donation

Posted on June 19, 2023August 18, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Westminster Kingsway College’s hospitality students are looking extra smart after a donation of uniforms from catering company Amadeus.

Amadeus has gifted the college a selection of male and female jackets and trousers along with waistcoats, skirts, dresses, shirts and ties, which happen to be the same purple colour as the uniforms already worn by hospitality students at the college.

The Birmingham-based company provides catering for around four million visitors a year at NEC Group venues including the NEC, ICC, Resorts World, Utilita Arena Birmingham and The Vox, and at various external events across the UK.

Amadeus decided to donate the clothing following a refresh of its uniform across its estate and learning about WestKing’s excellent reputation for hospitality training from its uniform supplier Russums. The uniforms were previously worn by staff at The Vox.

Paul Jervis, Head of School for Hospitality and Culinary Arts said: “We are incredibly grateful to receive this fantastic donation of hospitality service uniforms from Amadeus.

“Over the years WestKing has received generous support from many catering suppliers who have kindly provided industry equipment and clothing to help us train the next generation of chefs and hospitality professionals to the highest possible standards.

“As a college, we have been very proactive when it comes to recycling and tackling food waste. This latest contribution to the college is just another example of how WestKing is looking to become more sustainable, not just in hospitality, but across the wider college group.”

The donation also represents WestKing and Amadeus’s shared passion for growth and development of people wanting to work or who are currently employed in the hospitality sector.

The uniforms will not only be used by students and apprentices training at the college’s Victoria Centre but also be available for students to borrow when they go for job interviews.

Mark Charlampowicz, General Manager of The Vox, said: “Our uniform donation to WestKing demonstrates our commitment to empowering careers and supporting the growth of aspiring caterers. Through this unique partnership, talented individuals entering the culinary world will receive the necessary attire to confidently progress in their careers.

“This signifies the importance of investing in the next generation, promoting education, and working together to elevate the catering to new heights. With this promising start, the future holds endless possibilities for this impactful industry partnership between Amadeus and WestKing.”

Find out more about Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses and apprenticeships and apply here.

Creative students showcase ‘wonderful and inspiring’ work at end of year shows

Posted on June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 by Paul Cassell

Talented students at Capital City College Group (CCCG) have been proudly showing off their flair for art and design at two spectacular end of year shows.

A stunning collection of creative, innovative and thought-provoking work has been on display at City and Islington College (CANDI) and Westminster Kingsway College (WestKing) this month.

The shows feature paintings, sculptures, fashion and textile designs, masks, models, digital artwork, book illustrations, photography and animations, with many pieces accompanied by concept designs.

Lola Brown, 18, used silkscreen printing and spray painting on a thick jersey fabric to create a vest, skirt and jacket, on a street culture theme.

“I didn’t want to be too literal when thinking about streetwear. In my opinion it means an outfit that has no path. It’s not meant for work or school, it is your fashion and about who you are,” she said.

“I’ve really enjoyed my course. The teachers are nice. They do overtime with you sometimes when they don’t need to, and are always listening and helping, giving you tips and letting you learn.”

Ray Ahlin, 17, who made a pair of dinosaur skull masks from recyclable materials, said: “This was a six-week project to make something to transform a human being into something completely different. I didn’t think they would come out as well as they did, I’m really pleased with them.

“My dad’s a creative director and my grandma’s an art teacher, so I’ve had a lot of creative influences in my life. I’ve had amazing teachers at college. They’ve given me extra motivation when I’ve needed it, pushed me to do bigger things and been inspirational in so many ways.”

CANDI and WestKing offer a wide range of creative art, design and media courses and other opportunities for students to gain skills and qualifications, including CANDI’s recently launched Fashion Academy.

Kurt Hintz, Executive Principal of CCCG, said: “The end of year shows are one of the highlights of the academic year, which really show off the huge breadth of incredible talent at our colleges.

“This year our students really excelled themselves in using their flair and imagination to push the boundaries and come up with some truly wonderful and inspiring works.”