Newcastle College 3D Design student Ashleigh Usher with her unique espresso set cup.

Design students at Newcastle College have entered the world of coffee culture by designing and making a range of wild and wonderful coffee sets, which they will sell in one of Newcastle’s most exclusive gift shops.

Twenty students from the college’s School of Creative Industries have put their impressive creativity to work on the humble cup and saucer and have produced a range of espresso sets that draw inspiration from transport design, alternative music  and even a space shuttle, to name but a few.

The students, who are all studying an Extended Diploma in 3D Design Level 3 at Newcastle College, were given the brief to produce six cups and six saucers by yumLush, which is to sell the espresso sets at its store in Gosforth.

The espresso sets represent the first time that the students will see their creations sold to the public, with each student receiving half of the £30 price tag if their sets are purchased. The sets go on sale at yumLush from Good Friday, March 29, and will be displayed until April 10, at which point they can be collected by buyers.

Simon Bolam, Tutor at Newcastle College’s School of Creative Industries, said: “This project has really inspired our 3D Design students and made them consider a wide range of factors associated with the commercial process. This is a true community programme and one which highlights just what can be achieved through engagement between industry and the talented students we have here at the college.”

The students will also be responsible for designing the packaging for their products and producing point-of-sale materials, giving them even more experience of the commercial process.

This project is the latest example of Newcastle College’s 3D Design students working closely with local industry. The same group of 20 students recently used their skills to reinvent or customise existing IKEA products, which they exhibited at the retailer’s Gateshead store.

Ken Boyle of yumLush said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to commission this project and to be part of such an exciting and creative initiative, myself and my customers are looking forward to seeing the final products in yumLush.”

Eamonn Leavey, NECC Head of President’s Club, John Mowbray, NECC President, Robin Ghurbhurun, Deputy Principal at Newcastle College, and James Ramsbotham, NECC Chief Executive.

Newcastle College recently launched its brand new Recognition Service, Recognise Me, to the region’s business community at a major industry event held by the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC).

Speaking at the NECC President’s Club dinner at St James Park, the college announced the launch of the service to over 140 of the region’s key business leaders, highlighting the huge benefits on offer to employers across the region.

The unique online product enables employees to study a degree course in a way that is quicker and more cost effective than traditional routes. The product uses a process which allows applicants to have their previous experience and learning ‘recognised’ and counted towards their new qualification.

Because the assessment is delivered online, employees working anywhere in the UK can access the service, meaning that no time is taken out of the workplace.

Robin Ghurbhurun, Deputy Principal at Newcastle College, said: “This was the ideal opportunity to launch our new innovative Recognition Service, which gives employers a host of benefits when looking to develop their workforce.

“This ground-breaking approach to delivering higher education allows us to re-train and develop a workforce entirely online, reducing the time and costs involved in completing a degree course, whilst at the same time ensuring that the service is tailored entirely to individual business needs.”

The Recognition Service is initially available for over 40 higher education qualifications in areas such as Business Management, Health and Social Care, Engineering, Science and Construction, Sport, Leisure and Tourism and Digital Media, IT and Computing.

Eamonn Leavey, Head of the President’s Club at the NECC, said: “The NECC is the region’s largest business membership organisation and the President’s Club offers the North East business community the chance to hear first-hand about innovations in the business world, as well as meet and discuss experiences and views. This is the ideal platform for products such as this to be launched.”

Robin continued: “The Recognition Service represents a major development in promoting the accreditation of prior learning. There is no doubt that the current economic climate and changes to funding have created a need for institutions to offer more flexible and cost effective ways of studying and for employers to be able to up-skill their employees in the most cost effective way possible. Our higher education fees, courses and facilities have been developed in direct consultation with employers to enhance careers and help businesses.”

More information can be found at http://www.ncl-coll.ac.uk/adults/which-course/-adults-which-course-recogniseme

Photography Auction: Clockwise Top Joan Hall, Steph Bell, Michael Walker, Wiesia Bojko and Harinder Kaur

North East art lovers have the chance to snap up work from some of the region’s most up and coming photographers as part of an auction that will highlight the talents of students at Newcastle College.

Around 45 students studying Foundation Degree Photography at Newcastle College will see their work come under the hammer on Wednesday 27 March at the Tyneside Cinema, alongside a number of pictures taken by already established photographers.

The auction comes hot on the heels of the EX-25 photography exhibition earlier this year, which showcased work by former Newcastle College students who have achieved enormous success as professional photographers across the globe over the last 25 years – including work by North East born, award-winning Avatar animator, Paul Kavanagh.

The auction, which is now in its 11^th year and will once again be held by North East auctioneers Anderson & Garland, will see 110 pictures put on sale, including work by successful local photographers Alex Telfer, Mark Westerby and Mark Taylor, who are also former students of the college.

London photographer Tom Miles has also donated a number of prints to the event, including portraits of intrepid explorer Ranulph Fiennes and comic actor Adrian Edmondson.

Graham Stouph, leader of the college’s Foundation Degree in Commercial Photography Practice, said: “It’s great for the students to exhibit their own work and it is always exciting for them to see what sort of price they bring at auction. It helps the students showcase their work, but also raises the profile of Newcastle College’s great photography department.”

The money raised from the event will fund a two week exhibition of students’ work at The Print Space in London from 3 July. Work on sale is likely to fetch sums ranging from £10 to £250.

John Oswell, owner of the Tyneside Coffee Rooms within Tyneside Cinema, which is where the auction will take place, said: “It is a great pleasure to be able to host this event as a way of supporting young artistic talent emerging from Newcastle College. The work sold at this auction has always been of the highest quality, with a huge amount of variety among the images.”

John Anderson of Anderson & Garland said: “I am always impressed by the standard of the work auctioned at this event. Photography has become more popular as an art form over recent years and this event allows people to get their hands on work by some of the region’s most talented up and coming photographic talent at an unbelievably affordable price.”

The auction takes place at the Tyneside Coffee Rooms, Tyneside Cinema, on Wednesday 27 March and will begin at 7pm, with a chance to view the images on offer from 6pm. Entry is free.

Children from Stephenson Memorial Primary School enjoying their visit to Newcastle College’s Energy Academy, Wallsend, with their class teacher and school lead for Science Subjects Vicki Raynor, and Dave Dudman, Section Manager for Renewable Energy at Newcastle College and Energy Academy Manager.

Children from Stephenson Memorial Primary School in Wallsend have visited Newcastle College’s Energy Academy as part of National Science & Engineering Week.

The Year 4 children, aged between 8 and 9 years old, were given a tour of the academy and had the opportunity to explore how renewable energy works, through a range of workshops including designing and building a wind powered machine to lift up a cup of pennies; designing, building and racing a wind powered car; and building a model wind turbine.

The workshops were created and developed especially for schools visiting all this week, when the Energy Academy opens its doors to the local community’s school children.

Vicki Raynor, class teacher and school lead for Science Subjects at Stephenson Memorial Primary School, said: “The aim of our visit was to create a passion for STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – and to inspire the children to pursue a career in the STEM field. We want to show the children the amazing opportunities that they have in their local area – and show them that they are achievable.”

The Energy Academy in Wallsend was launched in May last year and was developed in partnership with the Shepherd Offshore Group, along with support from a range of key employers in the region. The unique 20,000sq ft facility in Wallsend focuses on training and development in offshore wind and renewable energies, training students for roles in management, project management, manufacturing, planning, operations and maintenance.

Dave Dudman, Section Manager for Renewable Energy at Newcastle College and Energy Academy Manager, said: “We place great importance on working with the community and getting school children involved and interested in the industry from an early age. We are delighted that the school could join us for Science and Engineering Week.”

Staff from Newcastle College have also been invited to join Stephenson Memorial Primary School’s science and engineering themed Fair this week.

Children from Stephenson Memorial Primary School enjoying a workshop at Newcastle College’s Energy Academy, Wallsend.

Music Lecturer Brian Emerson has returned from a glamorous ceremony on the Sunset Strip, where his band, the Trevor Sewell Band, picked up the Best Blues Artist award at the Artists in Music Awards.

The band’s songs attracted the attention of the awards judges after receiving heavy rotation among the thousands of Californian radio stations dedicated to Americana and Blues music.

The band is now hoping to pick up the Best Blues Artist award at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMAs), which are also held in Hollywood in November.

Brian, who comes from Greenside in Gateshead, has been a life-long friend of front man Trevor Sewell and decided to join his band in 2011 as base player after the pair had previously played together as part of successful 80s heavy metal group Tygers of Pan Tang.

The band recently released its debut album ‘Calling Your Name’, which was number one in the American Blues Scene Chart for seven weeks, and will be celebrating their achievements by performing at The Cluny pub in Newcastle on April 4 as part of a ‘Hollywood After Party’.

Brian said: “Winning such a prestigious Hollywood music award was a fantastic experience, as was meeting so many of my guitar heroes on the night.

“I have known Trevor for a long time and it just seemed like a natural step to rejoin him in his new band. We are starting to really get noticed in the States and will hopefully go on to win at the HMMAs in November.

“It may seem strange for us to be heading up a blues band after playing in a heavy metal band, but I guess it just comes with changing tastes as you get older and the interest musicians have in discovering the roots and heritage of modern day music.”

For Brian, the award win has given him even greater experience to pass on to music students at Newcastle College’s Performance Academy, which range from Level 3 Music students to those studying FDA Music Production Year 1 and 2. Brian is working closely with students looking to forward on demos to the College’s in-house record label Push Puzzle, and also produced the label’s first release by the band “The Face”.

He said: “Having had success in very different bands, I feel I am in a good position to develop the talented music students we have here at Newcastle College, both in terms of their musicality and to guide them through the pitfalls of the industry.”

The Trevor Sewell Band will perform at The Cluny in the Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle, on Thursday April 4.Tickets cost £7.00 and doors open at 8pm.

For more information on Newcastle College’s music courses visit www.ncl-coll.ac.uk

‘’From summer 2013, young people will be required to continue in education or training until at least the end of the academic year in which they turn 17. And from 2015, young people will be required to continue until their 18th birthday.

‘’However, raising the participation age does not mean young people must stay in school. There is a whole range of options open to them, which is a very positive thing.

‘’Young people aged 14-19 will be able to choose full time education in college, free schools or traditional schools; from 16 they can decide to explore an apprenticeship in their favoured area of training; or opt for part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours a week.

‘’In the present economic climate, it makes sense for young people to come out of education with the best possible start. To give young people a range of options that will equip them with the skills they need to make informed choices once they reach adulthood at 18, can only be a good thing.

‘’We are ensuring that this country’s next generation workforce is fully equipped to impact positively on the economy. Newcastle College actively encourages young people to stay in education. The Government’s new and clear direction echoes our mission and is one that we wholeheartedly support. Education has the power to change lives and communities for the better.

‘’The Government’s approach ensures that there is an inclusivity for under 18’s in education, that all these young people have educational support and importantly, all have access to impartial advice and guidance on the paths that are open to them. Raising the participation age is a positive, new direction for the further education sector and Newcastle College will certainly rise to the challenge’’.

Newcastle College students and original Billy Elliott cast members Lucy Stephenson and Brooke Havana Bailey

A brand new talent show like no other comes to Newcastle College on Thursday 21 March. The spectacular night will showcase the finest talent Newcastle College has to offer, along with some of the former cast from the West End musical Billy Elliot, all in aid of a charity which is close to the hearts of the performers, The Charlotte Leatherbarrow Foundation.

The show, entitled ‘Scouting for Talent’, will put the spotlight on the budding young singers, dancers, actors, bands and entertainers from the college’s Performance Academy, which has nurtured talents like Ant & Dec, Joe McElderry and Little Mix’s Perrie Edwards.

The students will perform in categories, with the ultimate goal of winning top show prize. Scouting for Talent will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday 21 March in the Peter Sarah Theatre, Newcastle College’s Rye Hill campus.

Two of the original Billy Elliott cast members – Brooke Havana Bailey and Lucy Stephenson – will perform in the show. Brooke is studying a BTEC Extended Diploma and Lucy is studying a Foundation Degree both in Musical Theatre at Newcastle College.

Charlotte Leatherbarrow was a young Billy Elliott dancer who was tragically killed last year in a road traffic accident in London, on her way to her ballet class. In her honour, Charlotte’s father set up the charity, which now helps young disadvantaged people realise their performing talents.

Sandra Chapman, Lecturer in Events Management at Newcastle College, said ‘’This is an amazing opportunity to see the up and coming talent in the college, which is well known for nurturing some well known faces and voices within the entertainment industry. The audience will also have the opportunity to watch some of the former cast from Billy Elliott – and its all for a cause that is dear to our hearts‘’.

Guest judges from the industry will be in attendance and the audience can also participate in a raffle with a range of prizes donated from well known companies.

Scouting for Talent has been organised by the Performance Academy’s own student event management team, Epic Events. Epic’s marketing manager, Katie Doyle, said “This event will be a great evening of entertainment, as well helping to continue Charlotte’s legacy through the charity, which supports and gives opportunities to young performers”.

Tickets for this event are on sale at £5 from the Performance Academy’s Box Office on 0191 226 7510 or email craig.hissett@ncl-coll.ac.uk Tickets can be pre-paid and collected on the evening or purchased on the night.

For more information follow us on Twitter: @SFTalent or like us on Facebook: Scouting for Talent.

TWO 20 year old contemporary acting students at Newcastle College have been awarded £25,000 under Lord Young’s StartUp Loan scheme to help teach people to act.

Entrepreneurs Daniel Middlewood and Conor Lowson, from Jesmond, Newcastle, recently launched their own company, Overcoming Theatre, with the help of a £3,600 cash prize from a Business and Enterprise Challenge at Newcastle College.

Now the lads believe there is a gap in the marketplace to teach acting in a way that makes it accessible to people from all walks of life, providing them with the skills to act at a professional level, as well as develop a greater appreciation of theatre.

Daniel said, ‘’We’re both ecstatic about the opportunity that’s been given to us by being awarded this loan. The grounding we’ve been given in acting at Newcastle College has inspired us to pass on our love of theatre and performance to others and we know just how to do that’’.

The students, who are currently studying a BA Hons in Contemporary Acting at Newcastle College, plan the roll out of a number of workshops for the public and they will even employ out of work actors to help facilitate the sessions that are open to all. They will also develop an educational, drama website.

Conor added, ‘’Getting the loan is a fantastic achievement. We plan to revolutionise theatre and how acting is taught’’.

Daniel and Conor are currently performing a 50 day nationwide tour of their movement and physical theatre production, ‘’Being’’, as part of their Big Theatre Campaign. The performances are taking place in schools and public spaces from John O’Groats, through the Highlands of Scotland and in major cities across the UK to Lands End and London from now until the autumn.

Gavin Huscroft, Acting Tutor at Newcastle College, said ‘’We are very proud of Daniel and Conor and what they have set out to achieve. Newcastle College provides its students with the support and encouragement they need to go out into the world and succeed in their chosen profession. Overcoming Theatre is a fantastic example of entrepreneurial, owner-business success’’.

Overcoming Theatre has benefitted from StartUp Loans, a Government-backed project launched by Lord Young Graffham last year and which offers loans to any young person wanting to start a business. More information about the loans can be found at http://www.startupbritain.co/loans/

Acting course information can be found at www.ncl-coll.ac.uk

Winner of the Learner of the Year award Joseph Jones.

A former sign language student has been promoted to the role of Communication Support Worker at Newcastle College after being named Learner of the Year at an awards ceremony that celebrates the efforts made to improve the lives of deaf people.

Joseph Jones was handed the title by deaf charity Signature at its recent Annual Awards after completing his Signature Level 3 NVQ Certificate in British Sign Language course at Newcastle College.

The 20 year old from Gateshead overcame adversity during his training after splitting up from his partner and suffering a number of family bereavements.

With the help of Learning Support staff at Newcastle College, Joseph was helped back onto the road to success and is now committed to helping students with hearing difficulties after being promoted by the college from his role as a Learning Support Assistant to that of a Communication Support Worker (CSW).

Landing the role of a CSW is a natural move for Joseph, with the 30 year old having motivated fellow students during his studies, as well as organising additional study sessions and visits to deaf groups in the North East.

Joseph hopes to become a full time Sign Language Interpreter in the future as a way of continuing his support for the deaf community.

He said: “Being awarded Learner of the Year at the Signature Annual Awards means the world to me, particularly as I faced a number of personal challenges to get to where I am today. I want to continue my support for the deaf community and intend to go all the way to becoming an interpreter with the help of Newcastle College.”