A construction student at West Nottinghamshire College has joined the team managing the delivery of the college’s new Future Tech Skills and Knowledge Exchange for hands-on work experience. Archie Martin, 17, is spending one day a week on the site of the hub, which is currently being built by Clegg Construction at the college’s Chesterfield Road campus in Mansfield. His role from now until the project’s completion next summer includes assisting in the delivery of inductions, capturing progress photos, shadowing project manager Andy Turner and contracts manager Lyndon Bowler, and gaining hands-on experience from key trades on site such as roofers, masons, and window and door installers. Archie, who is undertaking a T-Level Design, Surveying & Planning course, will also spend time at Clegg Construction’s head office in Nottingham city centre’s Lace Market, where he will gain an insight into other areas of the business, including the company’s pre-construction department – learning about bid writing and planning processes. In all, he will spend 315 hours with the company. Michael Sims, Managing Director at Clegg Construction, said: “It is very important to Clegg Construction that we support young people in their training and help the next generation of construction professionals. During his time with us, Archie is gaining valuable hands-on experience alongside his college training." “The Future Tech Skills and Knowledge Exchange that we are delivering for West Nottinghamshire College will be a focal point for T-levels, which is the kind of qualification that Archie is studying, so it is very apt that he is learning some relevant skills by joining us during delivery of the development.” Kelly Hammond, Work Placement Engagement Advisor at West Nottinghamshire College, said: “Work placements are extremely valuable to our students – giving them real-life experiences which helps them with their learning and also to secure employment in the future. We are very grateful to Clegg Construction and the team delivering our new Future Tech Skills and Knowledge Exchange for providing this opportunity for Archie.” Gavin Peake, Director of IT, Estates and Learning Resources at West Nottinghamshire College, said: “This placement is a great example of our partnership with a local company and how we work with businesses to train our students." "Not only does this sort of placement equip students with the skills and knowledge needed in their chosen field, it also has an important role in helping to create a skilled workforce that supports employers in their future development.” Archie Martin commented: “I’ve already learnt some valuable skills by spending time with Clegg Construction and the team delivering the Future Tech Skills and Knowledge Exchange. I’m very grateful to have been given this opportunity and look forward to the next phases of development over the coming weeks and months.” The steel frame for the £8.8m skills hub on the Chesterfield Road campus was recently erected, with the current phase of works comprising the construction of external elevations, masonry work, the installation of windows and doors, and the completion of roof coverings. Funding for the Future Tech Skills and Knowledge Exchange project is through a £4.3m allocation from Mansfield District Council’s Towns Fund pot, £3.8m from the Education and Skills Funding Agency as part of the second phase of its Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, and £734,000 from the college and Nottingham Trent University. Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialities across a range of different sectors. Photo: Left to right, Clegg Construction project manager Andy Turner, Archie Martin, and Clegg Construction contracts manager Lyndon Bowler.

Local business owners and special guests in Coventry and Warwickshire gathered to celebrate the launch of a new book championing hospitality and resilience in the local community. ‘Bia’s Kitchen Show: The Cookbook - A Culinary Journey of Gratitude’ is the first in a collection being launched by Brazilian-born entrepreneur and foodie Bianca Rodrigues-Perry last week. It comes ahead of the first anniversary of the successful Bia’s Kitchen Show, hosted by Bianca, and celebrates the region that, for the last 15 years, she has called home. The book showcases some of the area’s brilliant local chefs, nutritionists, and food and drink artisans who share some of their own recipes and top cooking tips, alongside Bianca’s. But the project is also rooted in her own journey of overcoming personal mental health challenges through a passion for cooking. It’s in this spirit that the self-taught chef-come-author has also pledged to donate the book’s profits to Mind Warwickshire, a cause very close to her heart. On the night, Bianca talked candidly about her personal battles with mental health which began after leaving behind her family and a high-flying marketing career in 2009, emigrating from her native Rio de Janeiro to Leamington as the new Mrs David Perry. But Bianca’s combined passions of cooking and entrepreneurialism became a lifeline – even going on to win Couple’s Come Dine With Me on Channel Four. Buoyed by her early business success running a thriving food delivery service during lockdown, it was in January this year that she stepped out of the shadows of her busy Cubbington kitchen once more, and into the limelight. The Bia’s Kitchen brand was born. Since then Bianca and her show, which is streamed twice monthly on YouTube, have won the affections of a loyal and growing UK audience, even winning the entrepreneur a national award, recognising the enterprise and compassion she has shown in her work with local businesses. She said: “I was filled with joy from the incredible support I received during the book launch, especially knowing that it benefits such a wonderful cause. It felt like a dream come true, and the experience was deeply emotional. Sharing my story with so many people and realising that I'm not alone on this journey brought me to tears." “I feel truly blessed to have an amazing team that works diligently to accomplish our goals. The message of togetherness resonates strongly with me; we are stronger united, and my mission is to connect individuals with through their food and authentic stories!” She added: “As well as sharing great recipes from fantastic local chefs, the idea behind the book is to hopefully inspire with the message that you can have a bad day or a bad period in your life and come back with a determination to succeed all over again. Hence the title ‘A Culinary Journey of Gratitude.’ Through food and through supporting other people, we can all do better." “Food has played a huge part in my own journey of recovery from a very dark place. If sharing my personal story goes some way towards helping and inspiring other people who are struggling, I find that incredibly rewarding. Empowering others is what also empowers me.” The event was sponsored by some of the 20 local businesses which feature in the book, including headline sponsors Whittles of Binswood in Leamington which hosted the party and That Gin Company, in Warwick. Anja Kozerski, General Manager at Whittles, said: “Whittle’s at Binswood has loved being part of Bia’s Kitchen Show. Bia is a passionate, empathic and community spirited individual that I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and seeing her grow. To be co-sponsor of her book launch event was a great honour and I cannot wait to see what is next for her on her journey.” Steve Bazell, of That Gin Company, said: “It's been exciting being part of Bianca's first book, not least because it celebrates local independent businesses." “It was also a fun experience being a guest on one of her shows and, after witnessing the growth of her Bia's Kitchen Show brand, we were proud to become a headline sponsor for her book launch event. We wish her continued success with the show next year and look forward to seeing what else she has in store.” Private fine dining chef Raj Darji, of Scratch Cook Social in Leamington provided some of his food on the night. He said: “Being on Bia’s show has been an incredible experience. From the first moment I met Bia and right through to book launch it has been a real journey of discovery and I feel truly humbled and honoured to be invited in to her world!” Guests also had the chance to feast on a selection of food from some of the featured chefs, including Scratch Cook Social, Paprika Club, A Good Catch, Homewrecker and Emie’s Little Bakery, all in Leamington; and Tropical Brazil Foods and Rodizio Rico in Coventry. And centrepiece of the evening was the book recreated from cake by Cakes by Sophie Page in Coventry. Sophie said: “Bia is a great person and being on her show was a day of hilarity and fun that I’ll always remember. I was thrilled to get the opportunity to be in Bia’s book, amongst so many other great chefs and talents. It’s given me a new eagerness to explore all the great restaurants in Warwickshire too. “As someone that’s experienced mental health issues and lived with others who suffer too, I think the heart behind this book and the fact that proceeds go to Mind is brilliant and I’m proud to be a little part of that.” All profits from Bia’s Kitchen Show: The Cookbook – A Culinary Journey of Gratitude go to Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.

Williams Racing Academy Driver Oleksandr ‘Sasha’ Bondarev will make his full-time debut in the Italian Formula 4 Championship with PREMA Racing for the 2025 season. The announcement follows promising performances in the final two rounds of the 2024 championship, where the Ukrainian graduated from karting to single-seaters, securing three points finishes including a top 5 in the Monza finale. Bondarev, 15, has had an impressive career so far, winning karting’s WSK Super Master Series and being crowned CIK-FIA European Champion OKJ in 2023. He was announced as a Williams Racing Academy Driver at the end of 2023 and went on to take home the WSK Champions Cup in 2024, before stepping up to Italian F4 with PREMA Racing from Barcelona onwards. Bondarev’s ascent through the motorsport ladder demonstrates the Williams Racing Driver Academy’s proud tradition of supporting young talent, which has most recently seen Academy product Franco Colapinto graduate to an F1 race seat. The Driver Academy supports drivers on every rung of the motorsport ladder, working with them on and off the track to develop the skills necessary to race at the top level. Oleksandr Bondarev commented: "I'm super happy to continue with PREMA for the 2025 Italian Formula 4 season. I enjoyed learning everything about the championship and the team during my first 2 rounds, and I hope we can soon have some really great results with the team." Sven Smeets said: “It’s exciting to see Sasha take the next step in his motorsport career by competing in the 2025 Italian F4 season with PREMA." "Since joining the Williams Racing Driver Academy, he has gone from strength to strength on track and has shown impressive development in his transition from karting to single-seater racing. We will be following his season closely next year and hope to see him continue his positive trajectory.”

STRIDE Dorset has innovation grant packages, subject to eligibility, which are available for innovative businesses in the Dorset Council area. No match funding is required but companies are urged to apply now because the deadline is on December 2nd. The STRIDE programme is based on a similar one in Cornwall and has a raft of other benefits. These include masterclasses and innovation exchanges, specialist surgeries and support covering topics that include intellectual property, patent registration, NDAs, R&D tax credits and general finance. It can also help with product development and prototyping and give one-to-one assistance. Jessica Dennis, who is running the Dorset programme, said: “This project is intense, running only to February. Therefore we are keen to hear from businesses who want to register interest for the grants and associated support." “Those innovative businesses that need funding and help to improve efficiencies, create a new product or service, develop a minimum viable product, buy equipment to enhance business growth or protect an innovative idea or product are invited to apply." “We have experts ready and willing to help and they are highly experienced. Those businesses who don’t qualify for the funding might benefit from other services STRIDE Dorset offers." “Each grant comes with up to 30 hours dedicated support and we aim to replicate the high levels of success we’ve had with the Cornwall programme.” The project is run in collaboration with Dorset Council and funding for STRIDE Dorset was secured from the Government’s Shared Prosperity Programme. Dorset has more than 63,000 businesses and last year more than 8,500 start-ups were registered. To apply for the innovation grant package, email innovationinfo@plymouth.ac.uk and ask for an expression of interest form. The deadline for applications is Monday 2nd December.

Construction student at Castleford College, Alfie Parratt, has been commended for the exceptional progress he has made throughout his studies at the Youthbuild UK’s Young Builder of the Year Awards 2024. Alfie was commended in the 14-18 category and was one of ten finalists at the prestigious awards ceremony, which was held at the House of Commons on Wednesday 20th November 2024. Hosted by the Youthbuild UK’s Honorary President, Sir John Hayes MP, the awards celebrate the achievements of young people who have succeeded in training or gaining employment in the construction industry despite having to overcome a range of challenges. Alfie has struggled with dyslexia from an early age, but he’s not let this stop him from pursuing his passion for construction, progressing from a Multi Skills Level 1 Construction programme to a Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying. Alfie said: “I was overwhelmed to be commended for such a highly regarded award in the construction industry. The bricklaying workshop at College is my happy place and I really enjoy being able to work with others and learn from them, as well as share my knowledge. That is why I would like to own my own Construction business one day.” Alfie’s Tutor, Christopher Leaf, said: “It was an honour to be able to join Alfie and his family at the Young Build of the Year Awards at the House of Commons. Watching him develop both personally and academically has been nothing short of amazing and seeing him collect his award is the icing on the cake." "Alfie is the first student from Castleford College to be a finalist in the Youthbuild UK’s Young Builder of the Year Awards and I hope this inspires our current and prospective students to always pursue their passion, no matter what hurdles they may face.” Since starting on a Multi Skills Level 1 Construction programme, Alfie has gone above and beyond to expand his knowledge and hone his bricklaying skills. Alfie’s Inclusion Practitioner at Castleford College, Phil Evans, said: “Alfie was incredibly shy when I first met him, so it’s brilliant to see the progress he has made on his journey. He’s come out of his shell and built his social and academic skills and has achieved significant personal milestones such as passing his driving test. Being commended for the Young Builder of the Year Award is another string to his bow and highlights how far he has come since starting at the College.” In addition to his personal achievements, Alfie has also taken on various bricklaying jobs, further honing his skills and gaining practical experience which has improved his technique and boosted his confidence in his abilities. The Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying aims to provide learners with the practical skills for this craft, whilst ensuring they develop knowledge in health, safety and the principles of construction. Learn more about the course, at: Level 1 Certificate in Bricklaying

The supermarket’s commitment to sustainable innovation, trend-setting products, and customer focus triumphs over pricier competitors including Waitrose and The Whisky Exchange The nation’s cheapest supermarket [1] , Aldi, has fought off competition to be crowned ‘Retailer of the Year’ at the prestigious Spirits Business Awards  – announced at a packed ceremony at The Underglobe Theatre in Bankside, London. The result comes after the supermarket revolutionised the spirits aisle with its sustainable and innovative approach this year. From the world’s first paper bottle with its award-winning Greyson’s London Dry Gin to removing excess packaging and prioritising eco-friendly practices. Coupled with trend-driven product development, like the popular Ballycastle Cream Liqueurs, and expanding its low and no offering, it has continued to deliver exceptional quality at unbeatable prices. Aldi’s customer-centric approach, including initiatives like the Aldi Gin Club—where shoppers received free gin in exchange for reviews—has propelled the supermarket to the forefront of the spirits category, outpacing competitors. Judges were extremely impressed, commenting , “With its accessible approach and agility to adapt in a fast-moving market, Aldi develops new products at affordable price points to allow customers to experience something they may not have tried before. Combined with the supermarket’s sustainable efforts, such as a paper-based gin bottle, and impressive volume growth, Aldi is a deserving winner.” Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “Winning Spirits Multiple Retailer of the Year is a resounding victory, showcasing Aldi’s commitment to trend-led innovation, exceptional quality, and value that can’t be matched." “This prestigious award underpins our dedication to not only meeting customer demands but exceeding them with sustainable practices, including our supermarket-first paper gin bottle. It’s proof that our approach is the recipe for success!” Full results can be found   here : [1]   visit here .

A decorative image for Christmas in Loughborough events taking place between Friday, 29 November and Sunday, 1 December 2024. Loughborough's Christmas lights will be switched-on in front of thousands of people on Friday 29 November, 2024. The event, organised by Charnwood Borough Council, will be an evening of fun with a variety of market stalls, food and drink stalls, stage entertainment and children’s fairground rides. Local radio station Fosse 107 will once again be hosting the event. Loughborough Kia are this year’s headline sponsor for the switch-on event, which is also sponsored by Specsavers. The Christmas lights will be switched-on at approximately 6.30pm by the winner of this year's Light up Loughborough competition. Meet the winner of the Light up Loughborough competition The Christmas lights switch on event is part of a full festive weekend taking place in Loughborough's town centre. The event is also one of several which form part of the Living Loughborough project which is being supported by Loughborough Town Deal. The Town Deal secured £16.9 million from the Government’s Towns Fund to support 11 projects and in total, they are worth more than £40 million of investment. Below is a rundown for Christmas in Loughborough this year. Friday 29 November, 4-8pm - Christmas lights switch-on From 4-8pm, the Market Place will host Santa's grotto, a wide range of stalls, food and drink stands and rides, and a host of talented performers will be appearing on the main stage to entertain the crowd. The lights will be switched on approximately 6.30pm. Full line-up for Friday's switch-on: 4pm – Loughborough Student Union (LSU) Classical Concert Band 4.30pm – St Botolph’s School 5pm – Loughborough Schools Foundation (LSF) Concert Band 5.30pm – Ilea Cavner 5.50pm – Saffy Foster 6pm – Magic Voices 6.20pm – Jonezy 6.30pm – Christmas Lights Switch-On 6.40pm – Jake Thompson 7pm – Loughborough Student Union (LSU) Tuxedo Swing Band Please note, timings and acts are subject to change. Saturday 30 November, 11am until 1pm Family friendly activities and rides in the Market Place from 11am until 1pm, including stalls, Christmas characters meeting and greeting visitors and a special performance from carol singers around the Christmas tree. Details below: 11am until 11.30am - Charnwood Voices 11.45am until 1pm - Carey Hall Baptist Church Choir Love Loughborough will also be offering gift wrapping in the town centre. Sunday 1 December, from 9am (Christmas films shown from 2pm until 6pm) The Loughborough Santa Run for Rainbows Hospice starts in the Market Place from 9am. From 2pm, the big screen will be showing two Christmas films, which will be chosen based on the results of a poll conducted on the Council’s Facebook page. There will be stalls serving food and hot drinks for anyone feeling the cold. New festive lights for 2024 This festive period will see the installation of new Christmas lights in Loughborough town centre. Our existing lights are coming to the end of their life cycle and require changing. Some of the existing lights are being refurbished (about 10 per cent) but the other 90 per cent will be brand new designs, including ground-level installations of festive-themed characters and displays that will be ideal for photo opportunities.

Williams Racing and Duracell are thrilled to announce a multi-year extension to their powerful Formula 1 partnership on the eve of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. . Duracell, a true household name as the world’s leading battery manufacturer, was one of the first global brands to join Williams’ comeback mission when they joined forces with the team for a North American partnership ahead of the 2022 season. Since then the alliance has grown into a global partnership known for its eye-catching activations such as the incorporation of the iconic copper and black battery into the Williams airbox, supported by captivating fan engagement on social media, innovative retail activations and multi-market TV ad campaigns. The Duracell airbox will continue into 2025 when the FW47 will be driven by Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz – one of the most formidable driver line-ups on the grid. Duracell’s logo and instantly-recognisable colours will remain featured on the drivers’ helmet visors, and the team’s devices will benefit from Duracell’s unique Power Boost ingredients. The announcement hails a new and exciting era for the partnership of two icons driven by performance and cutting-edge technology, united by a determination to think differently and never stop pushing forward. It comes on the eve of the Las Vegas GP, where Williams is turning the DRS flaps on Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto’s FW46 rear wings into the look of a Duracell battery and changing the colour of the DRS button to iconic copper to tie in with Duracell’s sponsorship of the race’s DRS zone. Duracell also becomes the third long-term partner in recent weeks to extend its relationship with Williams, joining Kraken and Gulf Oil International in another vote of confidence for the team’s ongoing transformation in pursuit of championship success. James Bower, Commercial Director, Williams Racing: “Williams are proud to have Duracell powering our comeback journey into 2025 and beyond as we continue building long-lasting relationships with industry-leading brands that share our vision and values. The partnership has delivered memorable moments and iconic branding that has become a fan favourite on our cars, and we look forward to the next chapter as we continue building momentum.” Ramón Velutini, Global CMO, Duracell: “We are excited to extend our partnership with Williams Racing as we continue to support their journey towards getting back on top of the grid. Our shared passion for performance and relentless pursuit of improvement makes Williams Racing a perfect fit for Duracell. Both Williams Racing and Duracell are ‘Built Different,’ embodying the belief that ‘good enough’ is never enough. I’m particularly thrilled that our exclusive ‘Power Boost Ingredients™’ technology will be powering their devices, both on and off the track.”

A leading businessman is to speak at a free event open to all businesses in Dorset. STRIDE Dorset has booked John Acton for its two-hour Innovation Exchange on Thursday 5th December. John has 30 years’ experience working in senior leadership roles within global organisations. While MD of the DPD Group he was instrumental in driving five consecutive years of triple market growth in its international business, taking it from a £4bn group to a £9bn group. Among other achievements John helped set up ‘peer2peer global’ to support business leaders. He will be talking at the event to be held in conjunction with Dorset Council at the BattleLab in Wool near Dorchester. He will take questions and the event will also provide networking and pitching opportunities. Jessica Dennis, who is running the STRIDE Dorset programme, said: “John’s experience and ability to communicate are of great value. He has worked with hundreds of businesses, from large corporations to SMEs and start-ups, and understands the problems and issues that businesspeople face. Securing him to speak at our Information Exchange event is a real coup and all businesses are invited." “STRIDE Dorset is based on a similar programme in Cornwall that has helped many innovative businesses get products and services to market. Our programme is deliberately intensive and runs only to February, and the Innovation Exchange is one of a number of opportunities we offer to business.” John said: “My talk will cover 12 simple steps to build a great business. Following a successful corporate career I set up my own leadership and development business. Since 2012 we’ve guided hundreds of leaders to build better businesses whilst getting that work-life blend right." “I am looking forward to speaking to Dorset business leaders, taking questions and sharing what I have learned to help others.”

Bristol independent brewer, Left Handed Giant, has launched a new specialty café as part of the recently completed £12m refurbishment project at the city’s BLOK business hub. Commune Café is already proving a huge hit with customers after opening its doors for the first time last month – serving up a quality selection of hot drinks, sandwiches and sweet treats. The contemporary office space, located in the heart of Bristol’s commercial district, has been transformed thanks to an extensive ‘re-imagining’ process from owners Boultbee Brooks, which has breathed new life into what is now a most welcome amenity-rich addition to the Bristol business community. Currently at 70% capacity, the site offers 70,000 sq ft of modern office workspace and a further 11,000 sq ft of welfare and amenity space, including a communal lounge, meeting rooms, a courtyard garden, roof terrace and private gym. Left Handed Giant is a Bristol-based brewing company with seven further outlets serving food and drink across the city, including the Finzels Reach Brewpub which overlooks the city’s floating harbour and its main brewery Taproom site in St Philips. Having started brewing in 2015, Commune Café complements LHG’s other coffee offerings at New Cut Coffee on the Harbourside Hotplate Diner in Stokes Croft. There are plans to expand the operation in the near future to include an alcohol licence so that customers can enjoy all of the beverages that Left Handed Giant offer. Bruce Gray, MD of Left Handed Giant, comments: “This was a wonderful opportunity for us to expand our presence in the city and continue to serve top quality food and drink to the people of Bristol." “The BLOK site has been extensively refurbished to an extremely high standard and to be able to open up the Commune Café as part of this project is truly exciting for everyone involved." “We now operate two main brewing sites in the city, producing around 7,000 hectolitres of beer annually, which is sold through independent pubs, bars and bottle shops with the majority straight to tap through our Brewpub, the St Philips Taproom and from where it all began for us at the Small Bar.” Having purchased the tired-looking 1980s-built property in 2021, Boultbee Brooks now has a raft of big-name tenants operating from BLOK, including Coreus Group, Basekit, 5 Values Consulting, RWK Goodman and Irwin Mitchell Solicitors. The process of ‘reimagining instead of rebuilding’ at BLOK has prioritised sustainability and occupier experience, reflecting in the extensive building certification which includes BREEAM, very good EPC A, Fitwell 2* and Activescore Platinum. Boultbee Brooks Managing Director, James Whitcher, comments: “The opening of Commune café completes the extensive £12m refurbishment of the building and we are absolutely delighted to welcome Left Handed Giant into the BLOK family and we look forward to working closely with them as we continue to deliver quality office solutions – and coffee – for the people of Bristol.” Commune café is open daily from 8am to 5pm and includes access to a courtyard garden, as well as providing views of the iconic St Philip and St Jacob Church.

More than 125 students from Selby College’s University Centre graduated as part of a prestigious Graduation Ceremony at Selby Abbey, on Friday 15th November 2024. Marking their special day, the graduates were joined by family and friends, as well as their tutors and support staff from the University Centre at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group. Special guests including Councillor Linda Bayram, Chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and her Consort, Charlie Bayram and Gareth Morton, Headteacher at the Rubicon Centre, also joined the celebrations. Representatives from the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s University Centre’s awarding bodies were also in attendance, including Gwyneth Allatt from the University of Huddersfield and Lynne Braham from the University of Hull. Keynote speaker and Member of Parliament for Selby, Keir Mather MP, delivered an inspirational speech to graduates, acknowledging the hard work and resilience they’ve shown throughout their studies. Sharing his experience of becoming the UK’s youngest Member of Parliament when he was appointed at the age of 25, Keir encouraged them always to be ambitious and take control of their destinies as they embark on their next steps. Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, also praised the graduates for their outstanding achievements, saying: “Our graduates have invested considerable time and energy into gaining their degree-level qualifications, with many carrying out their studies alongside their careers or raising a family. This is no mean feat, which is why it’s so special to be able to celebrate these remarkable achievements alongside graduates’ loved ones and special guests in the spectacular backdrop of Selby Abbey. I hope they feel incredibly proud of themselves.” Following this, Performing Arts students from the University Centre delivered breath taking performances of a range of songs from West End musicals. The graduates were then invited up to the stage by Stephen Mulligan, Head of Higher Education at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group to be presented with their certificates by Vice Chair of Governors, Martyn Shaw. Amongst those graduating were mother and daughter Gemma and Ellie Anstee, with Gemma achieving a BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (Top-Up) degree and Ellie graduating with a Higher National Certificate in Business. Validated by some of the region's most well-established universities, the graduates were awarded a range of Foundation Degrees, Full Degrees, Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, Top-Up Degrees, Professional Qualifications and Teacher Training Qualifications. These degree-level programmes are delivered through the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s University Centre and cover a range of subjects, including Animal Management, Art & Design, Business, Construction, Childhood Studies, Digital Technologies, Education, Engineering, Health & Wellbeing, Music, Performing Arts, Public Services, Social Science, Sport and more. Results of the latest National Student Survey revealed that the University Centre placed significantly higher than the national average in a range of areas, including quality of teaching, learning opportunities, academic support and assessments. This comes as Selby College celebrates 40 years of educating the local community, which has seen it provide learning and training opportunities for learners aged 15 right up to 70+.

Glasgow - Children from disadvantaged backgrounds, who might otherwise go without gifts this Christmas, will wake up to a little bit of festive cheer this December 25th, thanks to a £5,000 donation from the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust to Sunshine Wishes Children’s Charity’s 2024 Christmas Appeal. Based in Bishopbriggs, Sunshine Wishes Children’s Charity works with sick, terminally ill, and disadvantaged children and families across Scotland, actively supporting families in financial hardship by providing essential items like food and clothing. Their network includes eight food banks serving 21 organisations, including 15 nurseries, that discreetly distribute food and other essentials to families in need. Over the past year alone, the charity has supported more than 3,500 families and over 6,000 children, with a focus on communities where economic challenges are prevalent. The £5,000 donation from the Trust will enable Sunshine Wishes to supply over 200 Christmas gifts, for children whose families struggle with the basic costs of daily life, such as food and heating. By providing gifts and food vouchers, the charity hopes to relieve some of the financial pressure parents feel during the Christmas period, helping families focus on the joy of the season rather than making difficult choices between bills and holiday traditions. Additionally, Sunshine Wishes will continue to connect families to further support services for additional needs throughout the year. Linda Ford, General Manager at Sunshine Wishes, expressed her gratitude: “The generous award of £5,000 from Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust will significantly impact the Christmas appeal of Sunshine Wishes Children's Charity. On behalf of the charity and, more importantly, the children and their families who would otherwise go without, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude. Thank you for helping us make a positive difference. Your support inspires our ongoing commitment to assisting those less fortunate.” Gerry Facenna, owner of Allied Vehicles Group and Chairman of the Trust, added: “As a family business we believe that nothing is more important than family, especially at this time of year. We are delighted to support Sunshine Wishes’ Christmas Appeal to lift a small amount of financial pressure from families this Christmas.” The Trust’s contribution will help Sunshine Wishes Children’s Charity to make this Christmas a memorable, joyful time for the families they support, giving children across Scotland a reason to smile on Christmas morning.