Inspiring employability!

Cornwall College Newquay held an employability event this week where students were able to boost their skills and knowledge in order to gain employment by attending an inspirational conference, taking part in mock interviews and hearing about their peers work experience placements. 

Students showcased the work placement opportunities available to their peers in the region and abroad in an exhibition on the campus.  Second year students held talks and exhibited displays about their summer placements to students who are currently thinking about applying for work experience opportunities to encourage them to think about their options. There was a wide range of different work placements on display including local businesses Newquay Marine Group, Blue Reef Aquarium, Cornish Birds of Prey Centre, The Wave Project, Newquay Zoo, Cornwall Seal Group, KB Surfboards, St Francis Dogs Home, Paradise Park, RNLI as well as international Conservation companies EcoTraining in South Africa and Danau Girang Field Centre in Borneo.    

Some of the huge range of work experience posters on display 

Marine Conservation student Joanna Harris from St Columb, initially gained her work experience as a volunteer with the National Lobster Hatchery, which led to a part-time position with Joanna gaining an impressive 390 hours of experience so far. Joanna said: “My role began by learning the basics of working in a visitor centre including meeting and greeting the visitors as they arrived, managing the gift shop, keeping the charities databases up to date and ensuring that visitors got the most out of their visit. I quickly learnt a lot about the National Lobster Hatchery and all the amazing work they do and, of course, all about lobsters so, I was soon able to answer any questions the visitors had as well a guide then around the visitor centre, sharing stories about all the wonderful exhibits.

“I love engaging with people and assisting with the public education aspect of the National Lobster Hatchery and it was brilliant to be part of such a hardworking and dedicated team. I gained a wealth of knowledge about the importance of marine conservation and especially the role of education. I learnt how to teach others in an informative and fun way so to be able to raise awareness about the importance of marine conservation and working in this role has further ignited my passion for it. I didn’t really have a clear idea of where I wanted to go with my degree but my time there has certainly given me focus for my future career.”

Marine Conservation student Joanna Harris

Lecturers also posed as employers in mock interviews to show students what they should expect when they attend a job interview.  As well as getting used to the kind of questions they might be asked, students were also encouraged to attend dressed as they would be in the real situation.

The culmination of the week was an Enterprise and Employability conference where special guest speakers offered their advice on gaining employment.  Inspiring sessions were delivered on a range of topics linked to employability by organisations including Unlocking Cornish Potential, Volunteer Cornwall, Oxford Innovation, Fish for Thought, Sp
ezia Organics and Surfers Against Sewage.

(Videos of all the talks can be found on the Brighter Cornwall Facebook page- well worth a watch)

 CLICK HERE  

Recruitment and Talent Manager from Unlocking Potential Nicky Luke said: "Employability training is essential because students need to be thoroughly prepared to understand what is needed for them to successfully arrive at their ultimate choice of destination within the job market or running a business.  Not all students are ready to actively engage in their futures when they are busy trying to pass their degree courses - but if they don't do so, they risk being unprepared and potentially unsuccessful in achieving their dream careers.

“The speakers were carefully selected representatives from charities and entrepreneurs who were able to demonstrate that their wealth of knowledge and experience and they managed to cut through the day to day pressures of studying and helped the students to generate the fire in the bellies that they will need to focus in on what they want to do, what they need to do to achieve it, how to generate opportunities and how to sell themselves.  Their message was 'If I can do it - you can do it!' and students walked away from the event saying it was 'inspirational'.  The event was delivered by Unlocking Potential as part of the Brighter Cornwall project, funded by Cornwall Council to provide work placement and networking opportunities for undergraduate students".

For more information about Zoology, Marine and Surf Science courses at Cornwall College Newquay please visit www.cornwall.ac.uk, call 0845 2232567

Pond excavation at Treloggan

The ongoing restoration work of Treloggan Doorstep Green took an important step forward this week with the excavation of the pond.    

After a period of neglect, the community space at Treloggan Doorstep Green sadly became overgrown and unusable. As a result, two years ago, there was a move within Treloggan Residents Association to clean up the wildlife area where the pond exists. Staff and student volunteers from nearby Cornwall College Newquay were drafted in to manage and restore the area back to a state that can be enjoyed by the entire community.

Students Invasive Non Native Group (SINNG) is a student volunteer Local Action Group based at the College campus on Wildflower Lane. Project Coordinator for SINNG Nicola Morris, explains the group’s involvement in the restoration project: “I was approached by a former member of Treloggan Residents Association to assist with the restoration of a pond and last year I took SINNG volunteers along to help clear the vegetation which had built up over many years. The idea was to create more water flow through the pond and help conserve this vital community resource.

“This year we realised that more drastic action was needed as the vegetation grew back very quickly and there appeared to be less water in the pond than previously. I am delighted to be involved again and the students have all worked incredibly hard this autumn to clear vegetation from in and around the pond to allow greater access and more light to reach the pond.”

Nicola Morris from SINNG, students Elle Adams and Jade Clayson, Tristan Holmes and Town Councillor Zoe Dixon  

Student Tristan Holmes, who is currently studying the BSc Degree in Environmental Resource Management with Cornwall College, is overseeing the coordination of the project on behalf of the Treloggan Residents Association. Tristan has worked tirelessly to find a local contractor who was willing to help excavate the pond with a digger to allow for the water flow to return. Tristan said: “We have now started the process of excavating the pond to return the water. This will encourage wildlife back into the area and create an outdoor classroom where the community’s children can be encouraged to get back outside and re-connect with their green spaces and wildlife to develop passions and respect for such things.

“It is hoped that community engagement in activities during and in the future of this project will create a sense of ownership and commitment to looking after our remaining green spaces and at least decrease antisocial behaviour such a fly tipping and dog fouling. Ethan Mark Dingley who runs EMD Arenas, a local groundwork business kindly volunteered his services to dig out the pond. On behalf of everyone at Treloggan Residents Association, I would like to thank EMD Arenas for their support in this important project.”

Excavation of the pond underway with the help of EMD Arenas

With the excavation of the pond complete, SINNG volunteers plan to return in January 2017 to clear more vegetation from the stream which feeds the pond and this should ensure that next year the community of Treloggan will once again have a pond to be proud of.

An unusual aspect of this particular pond is that it has no invasive non-native plants living in it and SINNG intend to use it as an example of a flagship pond home to native frogs, newts, toads and bugs which the community can eventually use for pond dipping and outreach work.

Tristan Holmes continues: “During the last two years we have already been holding educational activities for the community’s children, where they have carried out their own experiments to learn about urban wildlife, habitats and services they provide such as pollination.

“This summer we had a Big Bug Day where the children did a grubbing up experiment to see how length of grass effects what insects they find, carried out two national wildlife surveys and made their own bug hotels. The day was a massive success and having the pond restored will increase the volume of classes we can hold throughout the year but also gives them something to do outside once in a while, not having a play park in the area. We will also be seeking funds to help develop the area including creating a wildflower meadow, dipping platforms and place for the community to sit ,enjoy, connect and reap the benefits of increased health and welfare that green spaces provide.”

For more information on the range of Zoology, Ecology and Conservation courses available at Cornwall College Newquay visit www.cornwall.ac.uk/newquay or call 0845 22 32 567.