IMPACT BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. Social impact report 2013 / 14

Transcription

1 IMPACT BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Social impact report 2013 / 14

2 An engine for change Nelson Mandela once said that education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world. And this is exactly what we are trying to do at City of Oxford College, transforming student lives. We offer training and education opportunities to up to 6,000 students at our city centre and Blackbird Leys campus, including school leavers, higher education students and work-related qualifications. Our purpose is to give young people the chance of a better future. Sounds simple, doesn t it? But better future is sometimes difficult to measure. What we do know is that to create a better future we need to provide our students with the support, skills and experience they need to learn and succeed in their chosen careers. It s about what happens in the classroom and beyond the classroom. Did you know that we offer services to the public, too? Our vibrant businesses and learning companies, including The Oxford Lifestyle Centre, Teamworx and StudioX1, give our students the chance to learn the skills they need to get ahead in their careers the skills that employers want, like resilience and grit. We want to nurture in them a lifelong passion for learning, a strong work ethic, and determination, so whatever life throws at them they will be in the best position to succeed. I hope that you enjoy reading our first ever Social Impact report. You can find out more about the companies profiled here on our website, Ian Francis Principal Health and Fitness Hair and Beauty Nutrition 45,000 hours of learning and work experience 6m invested to create Oxford s leading lifestyle venue Including state-of-the-art gym, hair and beauty salons and café, staffed by experienced professionals and open to the public Focus on providing the best possible customer experience and preparing students to understand brand, key added value behaviours and attention to detail Provides students with over 45,000 hours of learning and work experience every year Added value Customer service and brand: It s no good being an A* student on your course if you don t feel happy and confident in dealing with customers. The Oxford Lifestyle Centre enables students to add value for potential future employers by understanding that behaviour and attitude underpin successful businesses. At Oxford Lifestyle Centre they get the chance to build customer service skills in a business that aims to be second to none

3 Professional video and film production Complete service including postproduction editing Shoot/project management and logistics Added value 6,000 hours of footage Clients include BMW, London Welsh RUFC, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Getting behind the camera isn t always the hardest part. Being up at 3am, for a shoot at dawn, or managing a tight filming schedule with no room for error is where students gain real insight and bring advantage to their future workplaces Fraser s Story My name is Fraser Webster, I am 22 years old and I m a Creative Media Development Coach for StudioX1. Although I am now a fulltime member of staff, I first joined City of Oxford College in September 2008 as a student. My course, Level 3 Extended Diploma in Media Studies, was fascinating and really useful. It helped me find out about all sorts of video production related things, like filming, editing, and much more industry knowledge. After I finished my course, I chose not to go to university. I wanted to find a job. I applied for lots of work experience placements and runner jobs, but was turned down due to my lack of experience. Eventually, I managed to get an internship at Voices from Oxford, a web casting company in the University of Oxford. I stayed in this role for almost a year, helping gain invaluable professional experience. I was then contacted by a college lecturer who asked me if I would be interested in joining the college to lead a video production learning company. That was the idea behind StudioX1: to provide students with vital experience and skills, so they become a lot more employable when they finish their course. I have been running StudioX1 for over three years now. I am responsible for representing the company externally, engaging with new clients, pitching for new jobs and overseeing the full video production process. I coach students on skills and techniques to improve their work, ensuring all filming and editing is of professional standard. It s fantastic to have been given the opportunity to run StudioX1 in my early 20s, and to be able to make a difference to other students lives, helping them gain experience in their chosen careers. Access for all Young people living in poverty: Clients include: Through revenue generated by our companies, we are able to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, or who live in poverty, to embrace education. We support them with equipment, travel and uniforms/work wear expenses, ensuring wherever we can that poverty is not a barrier to education

4 Delivering real progress An Company Teamwork provides team building and leadership courses both to school children and to corporate partners as well as event management and stewarding Using the latest techniques, TeamworX create unique half day or day long experiences for customers Each course is designed with our customers needs in mind Events and Stewarding is run and managed by Security Industry Authority licensed staff Added Value Students learn how important efficient management is and hone their ability to engage with multiple ages and adapt behaviour to best support client groups ,230 student hours of unique experience 13,000 cars parked - Revenue of xxxk raised to support social causes Foundation students at our Oxpens Road campus are responsible for The Shop, which opened in November. The Shop gives staff and students a place to get drinks, snacks and essential items. The Shop helps the students develop commercial and social skills in a live, retail environment. Kyle said: Working in The Shop gives you more experience and builds your confidence. I enjoy organising the deliveries and dealing with customers. You can take the experiences you learn here to your next course or into employment. It makes you feel more ready to move on. Kyle s future goal is to gain full-time employment in the retail sector. Kyle Blake, 18, joined a 3 year Foundation course at City of Oxford College. As part of his course, Kyle was given a work experience opportunity in The Shop. Following this placement, Kyle decide to work in the shop on a permanent basis. Kyle has since moved onto a full-time Retail course and still works at the shop one day per week. The Shop Following a successful bid for funding to the College, our Foundation Students now operate a thriving on-site retail outlet. Offering a range of drinks, snacks and essential items The shop operates on a commercial basis and creates opportunities for students who often face barriers to learning and easy social integration. 3,150 hours of customer service, stock management, point of sale and retailing experience people took part in a TeamworX course last year 22,000 customer interactions

5 Hospitality and Catering Management and catering for four on site food outlets Multiple external events and occasions catered for Front of house teams and serving staff services Rycotewood exhibits at The Pitt Rivers In April, hundreds of tourists from across the world and local people enjoyed an exhibition of objects inspired by the Pitt Rivers Museum. The pieces at the exhibition were all designed and produced by Furniture Foundation Degree students at Rycotewood Furniture Centre, based at City of Oxford College. Added value Students learn that catering isn t always just about preparing delicious food. It s about efficiency in planning and delivery, highclass customer interaction and presentation 66,500 meals Rycotewood student takes top prize at The Queen s College competition Tom Parfitt, a student at Rycotewood, scooped first prize in a competition to design and produce outdoor furniture for The Queen s College in Oxford. The winning pieces will be positioned in the college s medieval Drawda Garden and Tom s designs won out over forty competing entries. 55,000 student hours of real work experience and skills based learning

6 Delivering real progress Matt Stansfield Manager - TeamworX From student to employee and on to becoming a business leader Three years ago I joined the College and enrolled on to the Public Services course. In my second year we were given the chance by our tutors to develop a concept for a commercially focused company and that s how TeamworX was born. In my last year at college, I also started working part time in the Public Services staff team. I spent 2.5 days a week as a student and the rest of the week I was a member of staff. This gave me invaluable insight into blending educational outcomes with commercial operations. In May 2014, after two years of planning and development, we formally launched TeamworX, and in the process also become the first validated Learning Company in the country. I then completed my Public Services Level 3 course, gaining 3 Distinctions. In August 2014 I became a full time member of staff, leading on the development of TeamworX. We continue to grow the business and, at the same time, create real work experience for Public Services students. Summary 2013/14 60,000 hours of student impact outside the classroom With thanks to our partners, suppliers and supporters: 102,000 real customer interactions

7 Social impact report 2013 / 14 Oxpens Road Oxford, OX1 1SA enquiries@cityofoxford.ac.uk cityofoxfordcollege.ac.uk