Magazine - Bridgwater College

Transcription

Land-based learning at Bridgwater College
Work on
the wild side
www.bridgwater.ac.uk
Hear all
about Equine straight from
the horse’s
mouth
With the students of
countryside management
Careers in Floristry
A world of sport
cannington
golf club at
bRiDgWatER
collEgE
9 Hole Golf Course • Driving Range • Pro Shop
Clubhouse • Membership deals • ‘Pay & Play’
PGA Professional Tuition. Pay us a visit!
find us on facebook and twitter
for all the latest news and
special offers.
t: 01278 655050
E: golfcentre@bridgwater.ac.uk
W: canningtongolfcentre.co.uk
cannington golf centre, Rodway,
cannington, ta5 2lS.
1 Bridgwater College • Live it, love it, learn it
Welcome
Contents
31
The land-based, sport and services sector
is very much at the forefront of public
awareness these days, particularly with popular
programmes such as Countryfile and major
events including the London Olympics serving
to highlight some of the issues facing the
industry and society at the present time.
But what is less well-known
is that this burgeoning
industry is facing a massive
skills shortage that could
jeopardise its future, with
an estimated 250,000
new entrants required by
2020. And this is where
our new publication on
life in the land-based, sport
and services sector comes
in, bringing you a unique
insight into the wide
range of opportunities
on offer to people willing
to devote time, energy
and commitment to
their training.
Here at Bridgwater College
in Somerset we are proud
of our varied curriculum;
one that will prepare
our students for roles to
address these various
skills gaps, and which
includes disciplines such
as agriculture, floristry,
animal care, landscaping
and veterinary nursing,
to name but a few. Our
excellent training offer is
supported by facilities and
commercial resources that
are unparalleled in the
region, including a dairy
farm, medieval walled
gardens which also serve
as a visitor attraction, high
ropes activity centre, golf
course, commercial sports
facilities and much more.
We are unreservedly
focused on ensuring that
our students reach the end
of their training equipped
with the competencies that
will enable them not only
to progress into relevant
employment, but to do so
with a mind-set that they
have a key role to play in
changing the shape of the
industry. For this reason, we
have developed excellent
links with local, regional
and national businesses to
ensure that our curriculum
is in line with employer
requirements and fully
embraces new knowledge
and technologies.
Agriculture: 60,000 pairs of boots to fill
3
Floristry: Budding creatives
9
Fisheries Management: Net worth
13
Animal Management: Animal attraction
17
Horticulture: The power of plants
21
Equine: From the horse’s mouth...
27
Arboriculture: Learning the ropes
31
Countryside Management: Work on the wild side
35
Sports: Game on...
39
Public Services: More than the blue light services...
43
Life while learning...
47
So if you are looking for
a career which takes you
away from an office desk
into the great outdoors,
in a sector that seeks to
enhance the quality of
life for everyone, then
we might just have the
training programme for
you. We guarantee you
a learning experience
in a highly supportive
environment, with
teaching by experienced,
enthusiastic and awardwinning staff: one which
has been graded by
Ofsted as outstanding.
Read on to discover more
about how you could make
a difference to the world
we live in.
Follow us on
Jeremy Kerswell,
Head of Land-based,
Sport & Services
Bridgwater College
For more information, visit the website:
Find us on
Thanks to all our students, former students, staff and
employers who have contributed to this guide – we really
value your input and support.
Click here for a short
film on agriculture
60,000
PAIRS OF
boots to fill
Future farmers walk this way...
Like many professions,
farming often suffers from a
negative stereotype. Yet the
traditional view of farming as
a way of life that is inefficient
and outdated is gradually
evolving into one which is
associated with innovation
and new technology.
The creativity and innovation
brought to a wider audience
through TV programmes
such as Jimmy’s Farm and
Countryfile is totally rebranding the image of the
agricultural industry and
generating huge interest
in the opportunities it
offers. Nevertheless, a
serious dilemma still faces
the industry; the average
age of a farmer is now 58
and, astonishingly, half of
all farmers do not have an
obvious successor in place.
This is clearly excellent
news for those drawn to the
industry with no prospect
of inheriting their own
farm, but it also means
that agriculture is now
one of the top ten areas of
study most likely to lead to
employment. Over 150,000
agriculture businesses
are currently looking for
staff, and industry experts
estimate that 60,000 new
recruits will be required
over the next decade alone.
Those who have formal
qualifications are likely to
find employment most
quickly, and it is here that
the training programmes
provided by colleges such
as Bridgwater have an
important role to play.
The College’s 180-hectare
training resource, Rodway
Farm, is one of the leading
providers of agricultural
training and education in
the country and has recently
undergone a £2 million
investment in a bid to also
position itself as one of
the foremost dairy farms in
the South West region. An
emphasis on practical skills
is very much in evidence as
the students manage the
day to day operations of
the farm under the watchful
eye of Programme Manager
Robert Giles.
As Robert explains,
“While the majority of
our students do have
farming connections, this
doesn’t automatically
make them better farmers
than those without. The
industry needs people
with strong interpersonal
and communication skills
who combine practical
ability with business
acumen and who can apply
logical thinking to the
implementation of the latest
technology. And while it
is obviously helpful to be
in line to inherit the family
farm one day, there are
easily enough vacancies
in the industry today to
support real growth in
vocational training.”
The key driver for growth
is undoubtedly the need
for sustainable food
production; as the world
population continues to
increase, there are genuine
concerns that eventually
there won’t be enough
food to go round. Robert
says, “Technological
Robert Giles
“There are easily
enough vacancies
in the industry
today to support
real growth in
vocational
training.”
Robert Giles,
Bridgwater College
For more information on agriculture courses, visit the website:
“There’s a good
programme of
social, sporting and
fundraising activities –
we even have our own
Young Farmers’ Club.”
Kyrin Wiggins, Agriculture student
Kyrin Wiggins
Ben Wilcox, former Agriculture student
advancement is critical in
improving the speed and
volume of food production,
while at the same time
maintaining food safety
standards and promoting
positive animal welfare
and good environmental
practice. Milking parlours
have become fully
mechanised, tractors
are equipped with GPS
– everything works much
more efficiently. Automation
is removing the jobs at the
lowest level - shovelling and
sweeping, for example - and
the industry has become
much more specialist. Now
that employees require
a much higher level of
skills than previously, the
right qualifications and
experience mean the world
could be your oyster.”
Ben Wilcox, a former student
currently working in the
sales team at machinery
specialists T H White of
Frome, listened carefully to
that advice. After completing
his agriculture course at
College in 2008, he went to
New Zealand to gain some
solid work experience with
an agricultural contractor,
before studying Agriculture
with Mechanisation at
university. He said, “Looking
back, I can see that I really
benefited from my training
at College. The practical
learning experience, coupled
with the knowledge and
skills I acquired, put me in
a fantastic position to work
overseas, and consolidating
my learning at university was
instrumental in securing my
current role.”
Courses at the College cater
for students at all levels,
from apprenticeships right
through to degree-level
study, and students follow
one of two main pathways:
livestock - which includes
dairy, beef, sheep, pigs and
poultry or mechanisation
and arable - comprising
mechanical operations plus
crop production covering
crops such as winter wheat,
maize, Italian ryegrass and
red clover.
The students learn their
trade in the Farm’s high
welfare facilities, which
include a milking parlour
showcasing the latest
computerised monitoring
systems, enabling maximum
performance from the
250 strong Holstein herd.
There is also a sheep
enterprise of 250 ewes
and a computerised flock
recording programme
monitors lambing
performance to improve
production. Finally, a
small and varied beef
enterprise enables students
to compare growth rates
and learn classification
skills. The surrounding
land provides plenty of
opportunities to practise
the skills of ploughing,
drilling, mowing, fertiliser
application and harvesting,
and several hectares are
set aside for student trial
plots. The students also
have an opportunity, as part
of their course, to study
additional qualifications
such as tractor, forklift and
ATV driving, pest control
and pesticides and
habitat management,
as well as business and
marketing skills.
Many of the full-time
students opt to take up onsite accommodation at the
College, as Kyrin Wiggins
explains: “Resident students
are much better placed
for the rather anti-social
activities of early morning
milking and midnight
lambing! It’s all part of the
course, and I think living
on campus contributes to
team building and bonding.
There’s a good programme
of social, sporting and
fundraising activities we
can join in with - we even
have our own Young
Farmers’ Club - and I have
represented the College
at a number of agricultural
shows and events such as
Lambing Sunday, held
at Rodway Farm in March
each year.”
The South West has
the largest number of
agricultural businesses in
the UK, and the College
is therefore well placed to
forge excellent links and
supportive partnerships
with key players in the
industry. These relationships
enable it to offer seasonal,
temporary and voluntary
work placements to
students, often with
good remuneration
packages for the right
candidates, and sometimes
including benefits such as
accommodation, vehicles or
access to farm produce.
Terry Miller, of Stogursey
Farm, has been
associated with the
College for a number
of years. Both of his sons
studied at Bridgwater; elder
son Paul studied A Levels
before progressing to Harper
Adams University College
to take a degree course,
and younger son Simon
completed the National
Diploma in Agriculture
at Cannington
before achieving
an HND in
Agriculture,
also at Harper
Adams. Terry
also now
employs
two former
agriculture
students from
the College.
Have you heard
about our new bursary
scheme for agriculture
students? Funded by local
employers, it could provide
you with £500 a year and
a work placement!
Turn to page 48 for
more details.
Factfile
Hours: 40 hours+ per
week, including weekends
Starting salary: £12,000
Earning potential: £50,000
Career paths could include: farm
worker, arable worker, shepherd,
herdsperson, tractor driver, sprayer
operator, combine driver, farm
secretary/administrator, herd manager,
farm manager, estate manager,
researcher, consultant, teacher.
Skills needed
Aptitude and a passion for science and the
environment, strong communication skills, the ability
to be methodical and organised, a down to earth
manner, a willingness to work in all weathers, strength
of character, motivation, dedication.
He explains, “Both of my
sons progressed to higher
education thanks to the
College, but Simon’s
experience was
particularly relevant to
his needs and his chosen
career path. As well as a
good practical grounding
in farming practice, he
received excellent training
in the financial management
of a farming enterprise
which has proved invaluable
now that he is a partner in
the family business. I have
also been delighted with
the work of my two former
College students; with such
a diverse range of activity
on the farm – dairy, pigs and
arable – a degree of flexibility
is essential in order to cope
with the heavy workload and
these employees came to
me well-equipped to rise
to the challenge. Although
it was still a steep learning
curve for them, they have
adapted very well and I
would definitely consider
taking on other students
from the College, when
circumstances allow.”
Working very closely with
employers like Terry, is the
College Farm Manager,
Steve Jones. Steve has
worked at the College
for five years and during
that time he has forged
some incredibly important
relationships with key
players in the industry,
on a local, regional and
national level. Companies
include Micronbio-systems,
Hawkins Agri, Hambleys,
Robert Wiseman Dairies,
“Our leavers are
able to demonstrate
high standards of
husbandry, sound
business practice
and profit making
potential.”
Robert Giles, Bridgwater College
Digi-Star, DeLaval and
Uniform-Agri, to name just
a few. He has also helped
secure many awards for
the farm including the
prestigious Dairy Forage
Award in 2011, presented by
Mole Valley Farmers.
He explains, “We are
preparing students for what
the industry will require.
We push them to see what
is achievable in the future,
rather than simply focusing
on what is being done in
the present. The past is
only good for realising the
mistakes you made. You have
to look to the future and
consider where the industry
is going.”
With this in mind, Steve
has driven the £2 million of
recent improvements to the
farm, including equipping
it with computerised
monitoring and recording
systems for the dairy and
sheep units. He has ensured
the farm is involved in
several scientific trials with
industry and university
partners, and has also
helped establish a ‘Future
Farmers’ group, which will
help identify future research
opportunities. He is also
considering additional
technologies to use on
the farm, such as robotic
dairying and the installation
of wind turbines and solar
PV cells.
It has also just been
announced that a further
£4 million is to be invested
into building a new bespoke
teaching facility at the Farm,
complete with a 24 bed
accommodation block,
classrooms, seminar rooms
and a food technology lab.
So at Bridgwater College,
it is clear that students are
being taught the future
of farming, and acquiring
the knowledge and skills
needed to transform
agricultural businesses
and tackle head-on the
issues farmers are set
to face. Robert Giles
summarises, “The thing that
really sets us apart here at
Bridgwater College is our
commitment to preparing
our students for the world
of work. Our leavers are
able to demonstrate high
standards of husbandry,
sound business practice
and profit making potential.
They are the ones with
the huge responsibility of
implementing new and
innovative ideas, skills and
technology. They are the
ones who will help take the
sector forward to a position
of success.”
Bridgwater College offers
agriculture courses on a
full and part-time basis
for students aged 16
and upwards, at its
centre in Cannington.
For more information call
01278 441234 or visit
Useful links:
www.nfyc.org.uk
www.lantra.co.uk
www.fwi.co.uk
“It’s not an exaggeration
to say that joining
a class like this can
be a completely life
changing experience
for many students.”
Jacqui Weaver, Bridgwater College
Floristry is a word which, for
many, conjures up images of
uninspiring talks in dusty
church halls and clichéd leisure
classes for ladies who lunch.
Yet in a light and airy building
in the historic and picturesque
setting of Cannington, a group
of full-time floristry students
are setting up their studios for a
day of teaching and assessment.
Fresh flowers have been
delivered, the coffee is
brewing and the atmosphere
among the group is warm
and friendly. Recent school
leavers sit alongside career
changers, mugs in hand,
chatting energetically about
the new designs for the
College window displays.
Programme Manager
Jacqui Weaver explains,
“Factors like redundancy or
the children leaving home
often prompt people to
re-evaluate what they really
want out of life, and floristry
is a subject that seems to
hold great appeal for those
seeking a second career.
For others, it’s a chance
to express themselves
creatively via a new hobby
or, for school leavers, the
opportunity to embark on
a career that combines a
love of nature with plenty
of customer interaction. We
learn in a very sociable and
supportive environment
which is also creative and
absorbing, and it’s not an
exaggeration to say that
joining a class like this
can be a completely life
changing experience for
many students.”
Jacqui speaks from
experience; she was a
student at the College
herself 10 years ago and,
wanting to pass on her
passion for floristry to others,
progressed into teaching.
“I recognised that often
employers simply don’t
have the time to train their
staff; they are usually small
businesses with five staff
or fewer, and they need
skilled employees from
the outset. We prepare our
students to hit the ground
running; we focus on real
life work experience, such
as preparing bouquets
For more information on floristry courses, visit the website:
for weddings, designing
centrepieces for corporate
functions and dressing
stage sets or window
displays. We challenge
the students by regularly
attending and competing in
national competitions like
The Chelsea Flower Show
and the World Skills events,
and we also visit suppliers
and enterprises in places
as far afield as Holland,
without overlooking the
fantastic resource we have
on our doorstep - The
Walled Gardens. And
the results speak for
themselves – this year, we
Factfile
Hours: 30 - 40 per week
(including weekends)
Starting salary: £16,000+
Floristry student Lucy Gowar
had a 100% pass rate across
the board, and on the Level
2 programme, all but one
of our 19 students passed
with Distinction, which is an
incredible achievement.”
Yet while the students on
this programme are clearly
enjoying themselves, it
must be said that floristry
is not for the faint-hearted.
The work can be physically
challenging, the hours are
long and often anti-social,
and the industry is extremely
competitive. Entrants needs
to be fantastic multi-taskers,
prepared to combine
technical and creative skills
with strong business acumen,
excellent interpersonal
skills and the ability to work
under pressure. Designing
and creating beautiful
displays is just the tip of the
iceberg; the foundations
are based on effective sales
and marketing, as well
as outstanding customer
care and perceptive and
profitable merchandising.
The floristry industry itself is
relatively buoyant in the UK,
“I knew what I wanted to
achieve with the business,
but I was in a hurry to learn
and the College course gave
me an intensive step up to
the techniques and styles I
wanted to perfect.”
Lucy Gowar, Floristry Student
with over 8,000 businesses
employing around 17,000
people. Yet there are
challenges ahead, with a
growing trend for internet
sales posing a threat to
traditional retail outlets,
which means that retailers
have to be willing to diversify
into gifts and lifestyle
products. Supermarkets,
garden centres and petrol
stations are using their bulk
buying power and their ‘all
under one roof’ approach
to add to the competition,
so that now only half of
all cut flowers sold are via
traditional florists. However
change is not always a bad
thing. Jacqui says, “I think
some of the current changes
will present really exciting
and varied options for
entrants; event decorating
is one area in particular in
which we have seen huge
growth, due to influences
from America. Hotels and
entertainment venues have
finally recognised that floral
art is a specialist skill and
tend to outsource much
more frequently than they
used to. We are also seeing
more interest in craftorientated decoration, and
a wider use of much more
environmentally friendly
products, despite the higher
price tag. Perhaps the most
significant change is that
people nowadays have
a far greater awareness
of air miles and fair-trade
products and actively seek
local flowers, which is great
news for anyone working in
the industry.”
One of the current group
of students, Lucy Gowar,
has been quick to respond
to these trends and has
developed the plans
for her business, Sweet
Cicely, accordingly. Keen
to specialise in sustainably
grown English flowers, she
found that there were some
gaps in her knowledge
base she quickly needed
to fill. She explains, “I knew
what I wanted to achieve
with the business, but
I was in a hurry to learn
and the College course
gave me an intensive step
up to the techniques and
styles I wanted to perfect.
Jacqui supported me in
implementing my ideas and
my small business has now
expanded to the internet
with the result that I am
now fulfilling orders on a
national scale.”
Back to the classroom, and
thoughts are turning to the
annual Bridgwater Flower
Show. The event dates
back over 100 years and
is one of the largest in the
area, attracting hundreds
of entries, and it gives
the students a chance to
showcase their skills at a
local level. Show Secretary,
and advisor to the College
on curriculum development,
Jackie Sealey, is delighted
by the participation of the
local college. She says,
“The floristry students
always impress me. Our
event is in the summer
holidays, when you wouldn’t
expect the group to be
around, yet they always get
involved and we have even
created two special classes
for them within the show.
It’s a fantastic opportunity
for them to showcase
their talents against tough
competition, and it really
enhances their learning
experience. Over the years
we have seen numbers
grow and the quality of
the entries improve, which
demonstrates to me that
Bridgwater College is really
helping to shape the future
of floristry in the region.”
floristry courses on a full and
part-time basis for students
aged 16 upwards, and has
centres in Cannington and
Yeovil. For more information
call 01278 441234 or visit
Useful links
www.lantra.co.uk
www.britishfloristassociation.
org
Career paths could include: florist,
floral designer, business owner,
demonstrator, display designer,
window dresser, corporate event
specialist, sales/telesales and admin
staff, floristry manager, shop manager,
judge, buyer, researcher, teacher.
Skills needed
Creativity and artistic flair,
an understanding of the
properties and needs of
different plants and
flowers, the ability to
explain your ideas to
customers, good
practical skills, patience,
a helpful, pleasant and
tactful manner, an
understanding of gross
and net profit and how
to control costs and the
ability to work under pressure,
often alone.
In September 2012, the floristry studios were relocated to a bespoke new facility at the Brian Galloway Buildings on the main site at Cannington.
For more information on floristry courses, visit the website:
Click here for a short film
on fisheries management
“It’s a simple fact that over 1 billion people, mainly in developing
countries, rely on fish as their primary source of animal protein.
The concern now is that there is no longer enough fish to go round,
and unless we act quickly we’ll be faced with a massive problem
on a global scale. With whole communities potentially at risk, the
need for sustainable aquaculture has never been more important.”
Those are the sobering
words of Iain Turner,
Programme Manager for
the fish husbandry and
management programmes
at the College since they
were re-introduced into
the curriculum in 2009.
He explains, “A love of
angling is generally what
brings young people onto
this course, but they very
quickly realise the enormous
breadth and width of the
subject and the range of
employment opportunities
available within the industry.
The notion that they can
study their favourite hobby
as a full-time subject is often
a complete revelation to
them, and their parents!”
Iain trained in fisheries
management himself, and
has worked in the industry
for almost 30 years. His
experiences at one of the
first Sea Life centres in the
1990s and, subsequently,
the Environment Agency
have convinced him that
there is an urgent need
for improved public
education on the subject.
He says, “An increase in
regulation over the past
fifteen years has led to
many changes in the
industry. For example, the
Animal Health Directive
requires that fish receive
the same treatment and
protection to which
livestock are already
entitled. And fish-related
businesses now need to be
registered, with properly
trained staff - you’ll notice
that aquariums are no
longer the preserve of zoos,
and are regularly seen in
hotels, restaurants and
theme parks. On top
of that, the retail trade is
booming, with increasing
numbers of specialist shops
and retail outlets. And then
of course there is the issue
of fish as a threatened
resource; as sea fish
stocks become depleted,
fish farming increases in
importance. Sustainable
fisheries are a key priority
for global food security
For more information on fisheries management courses, visit the website:
– illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing is
still the greatest threat
worldwide to fish stocks,
marine biodiversity and
to the livelihoods and
food security of coastal
communities.”
Students starting
on the course at
Bridgwater College
will be totally
unaware of many of
these issues, so the
programme initially
concentrates on
practical activity. Today,
the group has been
netting the stock pond
on the College Estate,
improving the habitat
while reducing the
threat of overcrowding.
This activity has also
enabled the group
to carry out some
highly important fish
identification
and grading
activity.
Later
they will
relocate
to the
College’s recently
acquired 4 acre
match fishing
lake to
practise
their
angling
skills.
Later in the course
the students will move
on to study specialist
subjects such as fish
biology, health and welfare,
population surveys, stocking,
farming (especially with
carp), machinery operations,
practical boat work, fishery
creation and much more.
Kingsley Davis is one of
a group of students just
completing the second
year of their studies. He
enjoys the course so much
that even a four-hour daily
commute from Devon,
three days a week, is not a
problem. He says, “It has
definitely been worth the
effort of travelling here to
study a subject I love. The
curriculum is very industryfocused, enabling us to
participate in a number
of study trips, not just to
lakes and fisheries as you
might expect, but to more
specialist businesses such
as the shellfish industry
in Devon, and quarantine
facilities at Heathrow airport.
The study tour to Ireland was
a highlight and gave us an
incredible opportunity for
some hands-on experience
of the salmon industry.”
Kingsley is progressing
to university to continue
his studies of fisheries
management at degree level
after which, inspired by his
tutor, he plans to pursue a
teaching career.
Factfile
Hours: varied, but likely to
include weekends
Iain is clearly delighted
with the success of the
programme. “Our retention
rate – that is to say, the
number of students who stay
on this course – is amazing.
Despite the fact that many of
our students may have been
disengaged at school, or
may even have dropped out,
they are totally immersed
in this subject because they
absolutely love it. Although
united by their passion for
fishing, it is traditionally a
solo activity and this may well
be the first time that many
of them have learned how
to operate as part of a team.
The course also broadens
their horizons on a massive
scale, leading them into
higher education, coaching
or setting up their own
business – when I see that
happening, I know I’ve done
my job well.”
Clearly, many students will
be seeking to go directly
into employment but,
although this £5 billion
industry is keen to attract
skilled workers, particularly
for roles such as river
keepers and game fish
managers, competition for
jobs is still keen. Vacancies,
particularly for higher paid
roles, will almost always
require experience as well
as qualifications, and it is for
this reason that the College
encourages all students to
improve their employment
prospects by gaining as
much work experience as
possible; close links with an
advisory panel of carefully
selected employers within
the aquaculture industry
mean that the College is
often in the position to help
students achieve this.
Former student
Kingsley Davis
The College lake
“The course also
broadens their horizons
on a massive scale,
leading the students
into higher education,
coaching or setting up
their own business.”
Iain Turner, Bridgwater College
Dean Asplin, the South
West Development Officer
for the Angling Trust (the
representative body for
game, coarse and sea
anglers in England) is a
member of the advisory
panel. Formerly a pupil
of a Bridgwater school,
he went on to study
aquaculture and fisheries
management, and his
professional background
includes experience with
a conservation trust, the
Environment Agency and
a small fish farm, as well
as fish retail. He says, “I
meet lots of youngsters
who are keen to progress
in this industry and
always advise them to
actively demonstrate
their commitment and
motivation to a potential
employer by gaining some
work experience. Even if it’s
on a purely voluntary basis,
it might just open doors.
Make sure you achieve
qualifications at a level
appropriate to the career
you want to pursue. And
never give up, because if
you want something badly
enough, you’ll get there in
the end.”
Back to the College lake,
and the group is packing
up the kit into the 4WD
after a long, but rewarding,
day of practising skills,
improving techniques and
acquiring new knowledge.
Iain sums up, “We are the
only college in the South
West to offer this course
which obviously concerns
me, given the serious issues
facing the global economy.
But this, combined with
our excellent facilities
and fantastic pass rates,
does offer us an ideal
opportunity to grow our
student numbers, perhaps
via the introduction of
distance learning options,
to ensure we are being fully
responsive to the needs of
the industry.”
Clearly there is a huge
amount of work to do if we
are to redress the balance
and ensure a plentiful
food supply from fish for
coming generations across
the world; the industry may
be highly competitive, but
it is hard to imagine that
opportunities for qualified
specialists will not increase.
fish husbandry and fisheries
management courses on
a full and part-time basis
for students aged 16 and
upwards at its centre in
Cannington. For more
information call
01278 441234 or visit
Useful links:
www.ifm.org.uk
www.environment-agency.
gov.uk
www.britishtrout.co.uk
Iain Turner with students
Career paths could include:
fish worker/farmer, angling guide,
ghillie (attendant), water bailiff,
ecologist, biologist, environmental
analyst, fisheries officer/manager/
superintendent, consultant,
researcher, teacher.
Skills needed
Practical ability, good observational skills, patience,
hard-working and tenacious, resourceful, good
business and administrative skills.
For more information on fisheries management courses, visit the website:
animal
attraction
Most parents of young children will at some point
have been bombarded by demands for a domestic
pet, so it is perhaps no surprise that Animal
Management is one of the most popular subjects
in the land-based curriculum at Bridgwater
College, with students studying at the College’s
centres in Cannington, Yeovil and Paignton Zoo.
“We very much aim to
progress a student’s
love of animals into a
viable career plan and
help them achieve their
potential and ambitions.”
Dorothy Paul, Bridgwater College
Animal Management
focuses primarily on the
health, welfare, handling,
supervision and husbandry
of animals, birds and reptiles.
It’s a profession that’s
considered to be one of the
most rewarding within the
land-based sector, offering
opportunities ranging
from animal boarding to
breeding, and from welfare
to animal attractions. It is,
without doubt, a career path
which requires commitment,
dedication and motivation.
The College curriculum
currently includes not only
courses at Levels 1, 2 and
3, but also degree level
programmes, vet nurse
training and even dog
grooming.
Animal trainer Linda Berggren
on animal management
Section Leader for Animal
Management at Bridgwater
College, Dorothy Paul,
explains, “Themes common
to every course, no matter
what the specialism or level,
are hard work, commitment,
motivation and maturity – we
very much aim to progress
a student’s love of animals
into a viable career plan
and help them achieve their
potential and ambitions. All
of our courses include work
with exotic species as well
as domestic and agricultural
animals, and we also ensure
that every student has the
opportunity to participate
in work placements and
specialist residential trips to
game reserves and marine
parks within the UK and as far
afield as Africa and America.
Although the facilities at
each centre differ slightly,
students have the same
range of experiences during
their course, wherever they
study, and they do also have
an opportunity to visit the
other centres to gain more
experience.”
Across the UK, it is estimated
that nearly 80,000 people
are employed in the animal
care industry, with a growing
number involved in animal
welfare, wildlife rehabilitation
and conservation. Volunteers
also form a significant
additional workforce, and
20% of all animal care
employees say that they
started their careers through
unpaid work. Securing
employment in this industry
is still competitive and, as
with many vocational
subjects, the College strongly
encourages students to
get a breadth of work
experience under their belts,
over and above that which
is embedded into each
programme. This may take
place in a retail environment,
a rescue centre, a veterinary
practice or a zoo, and a
number of students have
been successful in securing
placements overseas with
animal charities or even
the African Conservation
Experience.
Fortunately, the College
tutors are very in touch
with the industry; among
the current group you’ll
find industry experience
in veterinary practice,
falconry, animal behaviour,
animal nutrition, rescue
centre work, animal
collection management
and much more. This
means they are ideally
placed to help students
find work placements and
to encourage them to grow
their industry contacts,
which has proven valuable in
supporting students forge
successful careers when
they do leave College.
Care programme, which
gave her the confidence
and ability to progress to
qualifications at Levels 2 and
3 in Animal Management.
She said, “I initially went
to my local animal shelter,
Happy Landings, to get some
rescue centre experience
under my belt, and four
years on I’m on the
One student on
placement who
then moved into a job
is Jade Hayes. Her
College studies
started with a
Level 1 Animal
For more information on animal management courses, visit the website:
payroll, working four days a
week. I work mainly on the
kennels section, exercising
the dogs in all weathers.
It can be hard work, and
challenging not to be
upset at the way some of
the animals have been
treated. Equally I have to
be careful not to become
too attached to them! Yet
working with animals, seeing
them become healthy and
socialised, and hopefully
finding new homes for
them, is hugely rewarding,
and working here has really
helped me mature and
become more focussed. I’m
really grateful to my tutors
for helping me to succeed in
doing something I love.”
Despite the emphasis on
practical application, it’s
important to realise that
theoretical elements are
of equal importance on
an Animal Management
programme, and these
include Biology and
Behaviour at Level 2 and
Anatomy and Physiology,
Breeding and Genetics
and Animal Nutrition at
Level 3. The College’s
Animal Management
course is unique in offering
other modules, such as
microbiology, biochemistry,
farm livestock, zoological
health, animal husbandry,
environmental interpretation
and wildlife rehabilitation.
Those studying to be vet
care assistants and vet
nurses will follow a syllabus
which includes emergency
and critical care, hospital
practice, medical and surgical
nursing, pharmacology and
radiography, and those on
the Animal Management
Foundation Degree will
study genetics, reproduction,
breeding, habitat and
environmental enrichment
and behavioural ecology. In
addition, students take on
supervisory duties in their
second year, which builds
their confidence and gives
them a sense of responsibility.
At Bridgwater College
there has been significant
investment in specialist
facilities and is strongly
believed that it is the quality
and variety of the animal
collections which set the
College apart from any other.
Section Leader Dorothy says,
“The Cannington Centre
has a number of specialist
animal areas, including a
nocturnal area for chinchillas,
sugar gliders and rodents,
and a diurnal area for
rabbits, ferrets and other
rodents. The exotic areas
house a range of snakes,
lizards, tortoises, turtles and
amphibians, and for those
interested in fish there are
also cold and tropical fish
tanks. The paddock areas
are home to the alpacas, a
flock of Soay and Shetland
sheep, goats and ponies, and
students also have access
to farm animals and horses
to increase their practical
experience with large
animals. The farm enterprises
include a high yielding dairy
herd, beef cattle, calf and
replacement stock, sheep
flock and breeding pigs,
which means that students
have access to a range of
animals that includes the
relatively ‘safe’ to the more
challenging. It’s excellent
preparation for employment.”
The College facilities
also include a veterinary
nursing room equipped
with a range of veterinary
nursing equipment,
including an x-ray machine,
resuscitation dogs and
surgical equipment, where
both vet nursing and animal
management students can
carry out animal health
checks. The isolation room
provides them with an
opportunity to practise
methods of isolation and
barrier nursing techniques
in a real-life situation, and
the Centre also has a dog
grooming facility which
operates as a commercial
business.
Facilities at Yeovil and
Paignton offer different
specialisms. The Yeovil
Centre has a broad collection
of animals, including
livestock, domestic pets and
Career paths could include: cattery/
kennel worker, dog groomer, animal
technician, animal welfare worker,
animal trainer, animal physiotherapist,
animal behaviourist, dog warden,
rescue centre/welfare charity worker,
veterinary assistant/nurse, dog handler,
zookeeper, safari park ranger, marine
biologist/ecologist, zoologist, animal
conservationist, researcher, teacher.
Factfile
Hours: 40 hours a week to
include weekends
Former student Jade Hayes
“Working with animals,
seeing them healthy and
socialised, and finding
new homes for them is
hugely rewarding.”
Jade Hayes, former Animal Management student
birds, and specialises in an
extensive reptile collection,
as well as being home to a
growing family of marmosets.
At Paignton, students learn
within the unique setting of
Paignton Zoo, which gives
them open access to the zoo
environment and the chance
to work alongside the animal
keepers as part of their
course. Kathy Wolfenden
is the Centre Manager at
Paignton and says, “I think
working and learning in the
unique setting of a zoo is
quite a privilege. I don’t think
there can be many colleges
which offer students the
chance to learn about animal
management and
conservation is such highly
relevant surroundings. Our
positive working relationship
with the keepers and the
Science and Education
departments at the Zoo
means our students have
opportunities to directly
benefit from the Zoo
resources, and interact with
the extensive animal collection.
Where else could they receive
hands-on experience with
Asiatic lions, Diana monkeys
and black rhinos?”
A student who has benefited
from the learning experience
at Paignton is Dan Bentley
who, since completing his
course, has spent three years
at Living Coasts, working
with penguins, puffins and
fur seals. More recently he
has commenced a Master’s
Degree in Animal Behaviour
and Welfare and combined
his studies with a job as
Senior Penguin Trainer at a
specialist indoor ski resort
in Dubai! This year Dan
has joined the team as an
Associate Lecturer working
at the Cannington and
Yeovil Centres. Kathy says of
Dan’s achievements, “This
is a fantastic example of the
unique and exciting career
paths that our students can
progress on to.”
Visitor attractions are a
popular career path for
animal management
students, but competition
for such roles is fierce. The
Supervisor of Animal Training
at Chessington World of
Adventures Resort, Linda
Berggren, worked with dogs
with behavioural issues and
her work with dolphins took
her to Mexico, America and
Turkey. Her advice to students
is as follows: “A lot of people
will tell you that this line of
work is competitive and
they’re right but it is possible
to set yourself apart from the
crowd if you’re prepared to
work hard. Sound theoretical
knowledge is essential, but
I cannot stress enough the
importance of getting handson experience in a range
of roles; whether it’s paid,
voluntary or an internship,
it all counts. Once you get
to know a few people in the
industry you’ll realise just how
small the zoo community is,
and if you network effectively
you will start to find out about
jobs long before they’re
advertised. Suddenly you
could find yourself in a job
you absolutely love, with no
reason to dread Monday
mornings ever again!”
Section Leader Dorothy
concludes, “It’s very exciting
to be working in this
environment at the moment.
Every year we attract more
students, which allows
us to develop the animal
collections accordingly. For
example, we have a phayre’s
squirrel in our collection (said
to be the only one in captivity
in Europe) and – unusually
for a college - we also have
two armadillos, which arrived
only last week. In the longer
term we hope to enlarge the
collection to include meerkats
and prairie dogs, which
would be wonderful news
for future students. In the
meantime, we enjoy hearing
how former students are
progressing, and the recent
news that two of our BSc
Applied Animal Management
students have just achieved
First Class Honours degrees
has made a lot of teachers
very happy indeed!”
animal care/management,
veterinary nursing and
animal conservation courses
on a full and part-time
basis, including Honours
Degree programmes, at its
centre in Cannington, with
some courses also offered
at Paignton and Yeovil.
01278 441234 or visit
Useful links
www.lantra.co.uk
www.rspca.org.uk
www.guidedogs.org.uk
www.petcare.org.uk
www.hearingdogs.org.uk
www.abwak.org
Skills needed
Good communication skills,
commitment, compassion, caring,
good dexterity, physical fitness, ability
to remain calm in a crisis, patient,
positive, observant, safety conscious.
For more information on animal management courses, visit the website:
on horticulture
The
power
of
plants
any people think
that the term
‘horticulture’
refers simply to
gardening but,
whilst all
gardeners
are indeed horticulturalists,
not all horticulturalists are
gardeners! Horticulture is
essentially the intensive
cultivation of plants for
human use, not only in terms
of food production but also
for medicinal, environmental
and social uses. Plants are
critical for the planet and for
human survival, but without
horticulture, we would
not have the knowledge,
skills or technologies to
grow and produce them
in quantities sufficient
for our needs, nor would
we know how to cultivate
varieties that are resistant to
insects, diseases and other
environmental stresses.
Without horticulture and the
ancillary activities of plant
conservation, landscape
restoration, garden design/
construction/maintenance
and horticultural therapy,
we wouldn’t have green
spaces in which to relax, play,
exercise or reflect; our air
would be less pure and less
cool; our water quality would
be compromised; in short,
the world would be a very
different place.
You will require technical
ability, practical aptitude
and business acumen. But
once properly equipped,
a career in horticulture
could take you to beautiful
locations where you will
meet the most interesting
people and enjoy a
wonderful quality of life.
What’s more, there is a
diverse range of vacancies in
this industry just waiting to
be filled by trained, technical
and socially-aware graduates
who have the skills to start
work straight away.”
But given the common
misconceptions, it’s hardly
surprising that the public are
generally ill-informed about
in the sector, believing that
horticulture represents an
unscientific, unglamorous
and poorly paid career
choice. To establish whether
these views are based on
myth or reality, we head
to the Walled Gardens
of Cannington - the hub
of horticulture training at
Bridgwater College - to
speak to Grounds Manager
Andre Gardner. He is keen
to challenge the view that
‘anyone can do gardening’
and explains, “Horticulture
is truly a skilled trade – you
need to be part artist, part
builder and part scientist.
He says, “I can say that
while this has been the
most challenging role to
date, it’s also been the
most rewarding. I started
off with a blank canvas
and responsibility for
everything connected with
the Gardens – new layouts,
the design and construction
of a 960m2 glasshouse and
the appointment of all the
staff and contractors to
bring these ideas to fruition.
Meanwhile I also assumed
responsibility for the entire
College estate, which
includes the Bridgwater
and Cannington Centres,
as well as the sports pitches
and the golf course. For
the first time I started
supervising students on
their horticulture duties,
Andre’s background doesn’t
quite fit any of society’s
horticultural stereotypes;
a former member of the
Parachute Regiment,
Andre decided to re-train
in horticulture, obtaining a
number of work placements
during his studies. These
included a role with the
Birmingham Botanical
Gardens, which ignited
a passion for managing
collections and gardens, but
his CV also includes senior
roles at Paignton Zoo’s
Botanical Gardens and the
historic Hever Castle in Kent.
Seven years ago, he was
offered the job of leading the
restoration and development
of the historic Walled
Gardens at the former
Cannington College.
For more information on horticulture courses, visit the website:
Factfile
Hours: 40 hours, including
weekends
Potential salary: £45,000
One of the College’s winning Show Garden teams of 2012
and began to pass on my
skills and knowledge to
another generation. Before I
knew it, I was escorting HRH
Prince Edward at the official
opening and the Gardens
had achieved two significant
accolades - Quality Visitor
Attraction and Classic
Gardens of Somerset! My
current challenge is to create
a new Rose Garden while
re-establishing two national
collections and managing
a new landscaping project.
There’s still a lot to do here!”
The students at Bridgwater
College are very fortunate
to have access to a variety of
live projects on the College
estate, although the Walled
Gardens are the most
significant resource, with
themed areas that include
a Blue Garden, Herbaceous
Border, Productive
Garden, Sub-Tropical Walk,
Australasian Garden and
Dry Garden. The £500,000
multi-purpose glasshouse
is organised into a series
of zones, or biomes; the
Arid Zone, Tropical Zone,
Warm Temperate Zone,
Propagation Zone, Student
Zone and Growing-on Zone.
An environmental control
system gives students
the ability to set, adapt
and measure the heating,
ventilation and humidity
levels within each zone in a
way that emulates the Eden
Project in Cornwall.
Students develop a range of
skills during their training,
such as plant and soil
science, plant identification,
plant propagation, tool
maintenance and machinery
operations. Other topics
which may be covered
are fruit and vegetable
production, lawn and turf
care and landscape design.
Computer Aided Design
can be studied either as a
short introductory course,
or in more depth as part of
the Foundation Degree in
Landscape Design. Work
placements and business
management skills are
also key elements of most
programmes, and students
are able to practise retail
skills in the College’s own
plant shop, which operates
as a commercial business
open to the general public.
Putting practical skills into
action on the College Estate,
in the Gardens and within the
specialist glasshouse is known
as ‘duties’, and every student
is expected to participate.
Andre explains, “Sometimes
the students feel challenged
by their duties – not realising,
perhaps, that a career in
horticulture is not for the
work-shy! But my view is that
I’m not just teaching them,
I’m instructing them and,
hopefully, inspiring them. I
want to give them the best
possible experience while
they’re here and for them to
leave us with the skills and
knowledge that will enable
them to walk into any job. I
love nothing more than to
see students learn their
“I want to give students
the best possible
experience while they’re
here and for them to
leave us with the skills
and knowledge that will
enable them to walk
into any job.”
Andre Gardner, Bridgwater College
craft, spread their wings
and go on to get great
placements or jobs. That’s
what it’s all about.”
Students who have
completed a horticulture
programme in order to
specialise include James
Webber, who focused on
sports turf management and
is now working as a green
keeper overseas. James
left College in 2010 and is
still only 20 years old, but
in a short space of time
has completed seasonal
positions at golf courses in
Queenstown in New Zealand
and Loch Lomond in Scotland,
and is now in a permanent
role at Golf International in
Paris. He says, “It’s not easy
getting a job, but having
relevant qualifications and
varied work experience has
really helped me. You have to
be very tenacious – I have sent
literally hundreds of emails
to some of the world’s top
golf courses and have been
fortunate to have now worked
on three of the best. Being
involved in a major televised
event such as the French
Open is quite incredible and
there is nothing that comes
close to world-class players
complimenting you on the
condition of the greens. On
the flip side, it can be long
hours and physical work,
but taking everything into
account, it’s easily worth it.”
Ambitious James plans to
be in charge of his own team
of staff on a major golf
course by the time he’s 30.
Many former students have
already established their own
small businesses, particularly
in the areas of landscape
and garden design and
maintenance. These include
former Foundation Degree
student Will Brett, who is now
running his own landscape
design and construction
company. Another
Foundation Degree student,
Claire Treharne, has secured
her dream job as a gardener
in the exquisite gardens of
Hestercombe, and National
Diploma student Zachary
West-Gaul is now employed
as a plant buyer for one of
the region’s largest and most
successful plant and garden
retailers, Cadbury Garden
& Leisure.
Student success has also
been reflected in the number
of trophies that students
have won in regional and
national competitions.
These include gold at the
National Gardening Show
in 2012 and silver in 2011,
silver at the Taunton Flower
Show in 2012 and 2011,
silver at the Ideal Home
Show’s Young Gardeners
of the Year competition in
“I feel very fortunate
to have a job that is
also my hobby. Plants
have always fascinated
me, and being able to
share my knowledge
and experience is very
rewarding.”
Kevin Frediani, Paignton Zoo
2012 and bronze at the BBC
Gardeners World Live Show
in 2011. These events give
the students the chance to
demonstrate their design,
build and teamwork skills in
a professional, competitive
environment, which builds
their confidence and allows
them to experience what
working in the sector might
be like.
Employment in the sector is
going to be an achievable
goal for most, given that
there are going to be an
estimated 11,000 vacancies
between now and 2020.
In the public sector, urban
regeneration schemes
require people with
green skills to landscape
new housing, highway
and parkland areas. New
nature reserves and
wildlife parks are springing
up in response to the
conservation agenda. And
private clients with busy
lifestyles and disposable
incomes are looking for
people to provide simple
design and maintenance
solutions for their gardens.
All of these factors mean
that grounds maintenance
and greenkeeping are
much higher up the agenda
than ever before, offering
in the UK and abroad.
Increased consumer
spending on home
gardening and allotments
translates into an increasing
number of opportunities in
commercial horticulture and
retail, and the important
role that horticulture plays
in safeguarding the world
food supply for the years to
come opens up numerous
opportunities for scientists,
researchers and advisors.
This College needs to
be responsive to current
trends, and meets regularly
with a panel of employers
and industry experts to
inform future curriculum
development. A recent
addition is a new zoological
horticulture programme,
focusing on botanical
gardens, landscape ecology,
sustainable habitats and
the creation of displays
for wild and endangered
animals. This programme
will be offered at the
College’s outreach centre
within Paignton Zoo, which
is famed for its 80 acres of
botanic gardens and themed
garden areas.
Kevin Frediani is the multiaward-winning Curator
of Plants and Gardens at
Paignton Zoo Environmental
Park and has been advising
on the development of
this new programme. His
CV includes senior roles at
Windsor Great Park, London
Zoo and the botanical
gardens in Amsterdam,
yet he originally
trained as an arborist
before specialising in
environmental horticulture
and conservation
management at university.
He says, “I feel very
fortunate to have a job that
is also my hobby. Plants
have always fascinated me,
and being able to share my
knowledge and experience
is very rewarding. My advice
to young people today
is to follow a career you
love, because if you are
passionate about what you
do, this will shine through
and you’re more likely to
be successful. However
you will need to acquire a
good level of theoretical
knowledge and the
achievement of a formal,
professional qualification
will show employers that
you are motivated and
committed.”
So if you now feel
encouraged and inspired
to consider joining a £9
billion industry which
currently employs nearly
200,000 people and is in
need of thousands more
to replace a rapidly ageing
workforce, you would be
well placed to start training
for it soon. The sector is
buoyant and defying every
economic downward trend;
with climate change, water
shortages, pressures on
land use and a growing
population, many scientists
believe that this could be
one of the most important
industries of all in the future,
and one that really could
provide you with a career
for life.
horticulture courses on
a full and part-time basis
for students aged 16 and
Cannington, with Zoological
Horticulture offered
at Paignton. For more
information call 01278
441234 or visit
Useful links
www.lantra.co.uk
www.hortweek.com
www.landscape.co.uk
www.rhs.org.uk
www.horticulture.org.uk
www.growcareers.info
Career paths could include: garden
centre worker, grounds person/
green keeper, landscaper, gardener,
nursery/parks officer/manager,
ornamental plant producer, medicinal
horticulturalist, plant propagator,
researcher, scientist, teacher.
Skills needed
Practical, physically agile, hardy in nature, flexible,
creative, environmentally aware, ability to work alone
or in a team, customer service skills.
The London Olympic and
Paralympic Games promised
to ‘inspire a generation’ and
equestrianism was an area in
which the British team excelled.
As a result, the land-based
industry is expecting continued
interest in horse-related careers
and colleges are gearing
themselves up for an increase
in applications to study
equestrian-related subjects.
Horse ownership across
the UK is growing, with
leisure riding becoming the
most popular equestrian
pursuit, and riding lessons
and competition activities
following closely behind.
The expectation, therefore, is
that highly skilled equestrian
staff are going to be very
much in demand.
At Bridgwater College’s
Equestrian Centre, the
staff are preparing the
yard for a day of teaching
and commercial activity.
The level and range of
expertise among the team
cannot fail to impress: Yard
Manager, Michael ‘Pepsi’
Kohler, is a former Sergeant
Major in the King’s Troop;
Jane McGuiness, Lecturer,
is a former European
Championships Gold
medallist in Endurance
Riding; Programme Manager
Debbie Ball’s background
is in vet science and horse
breeding, and Associate
Lecturers Rose Scofield
and Hatti Scott are an
equine behaviour specialist
and a highly experienced
instructor, respectively.
film on equine
It is Debbie who is keen
to share the philosophy of
equine studies at Bridgwater
College. “Although many
of our students decide to
progress their learning by
taking a related university
qualification, the focus of
all our full-time training
is to prepare students for
employment. Studying an
equine programme is not
simply about horse-riding;
students need to learn the
principles of horse health,
psychology and behaviour
alongside the practical
activities of grooming,
feeding, mucking out,
tacking up and exercising
- the health and welfare of
the horses is paramount.
With so much to fit in, the
hours can be long, the
weather unkind and the
work physically demanding.
But if you love horses, the
benefits of learning and
working in this environment
easily outweigh any
disadvantages.”
Interestingly, not all of
the College’s training
programmes involve
riding itself, and there
is a non-riding option
for those wanting to
develop their expertise in
other equestrian-related
areas. Key components
of every course include
principles of equitation,
stud management, animal
anatomy and physiology,
animal health, event
management, horse
behavior and welfare,
business management
“Studying equine
is not simply about
horse-riding; the
focus of all our fulltime training is to
prepare students
for employment.”
Debbie Ball, Bridgwater College
For more information on equine courses, visit the website:
“As a teacher the
ultimate reward is
learning that former
students are achieving
their ambitions as a
direct result of what
they have learnt at
our yard.”
Former student
Stephen Heal
and much more. Yard duties
are compulsory for everyone,
and there are lots of
opportunities to participate
in visits to equine businesses,
shows and events.
The equine industry is
big business and covers
everything to do with
horses, ponies and donkeys,
so is actually very broadbased. In the UK alone
there are more than 19,000
equine businesses with
41,200 employees, as well
as countless volunteers.
Astonishingly, the industry
has a combined economic
impact of £7 billion, and
over half of this derives
from horse racing, which is
also Britain’s second most
popular spectator sport, after
football. The racing industry
contributes significantly
to the prevention and
control of infectious equine
diseases, and raises almost
£2 million a year through
charity race days at the UK’s
60 racecourses. And of
Former student Amelia Sandford
the 18,000 vets registered
in the UK, 18% consider
equine as their primary
area of expertise, with an
average healthcare spend
of £300 per animal each
year. The influence of the
equine industry, therefore, is
much more significant than
people might think, and
the ownership and care of
horses impacts on a broad
range of communities.
Bridgwater College’s Debbie
adds, “The training and
are varied and can range
from welfare centres to
racehorse training. We see
students becoming saddlers
and farriers, working in
riding schools and livery
yards, taking up employment
with breeders, coaches and
rehabilitation centres, or
increasingly, taking up places
at university to follow careers
within the management of
this industry. There are some
incredible opportunities
to specialise; for example,
competition grooms – those
involved in show jumping
dressage and eventing
- are very much in
demand. And if
you are lucky
enough to
get work
experience
or a job
with a successful yard, you
may have contact with horses
and riders competing at
international level.”
The College has numerous
examples of student success
stories. Former student
Sinead Woolf secured
employment at the British
Racing School, where she
was named Head Girl, and
then moved on to work
with National Hunt trainer
Phillip Hobbs, who trains
100 horses and has had
over 1,000 winners. Another
student, Emily Rawlins,
started her own business
and numbers among
her clients a successful
breeder, a trainer and
various wedding and funeral
businesses. She says, “I feel
privileged to have worked
with some fabulous horses
worth thousands of pounds,
including Arab stallions
and mares for breeding,
and beautiful Friesians for
dressage and driving. My
work brings me into
contact with such a range
of people, including clients,
vets and farriers, and I have
the taken the chance to
travel for work, to places
including New Zealand. I
am now in the fortunate
position that I have more
work than I can manage,
which is a great feeling!”
Of those recently
progressing to university,
Amelia Sandford decided
she wanted to specialise
in welfare issues, so is
now at Moulton College
in Northampton, studying
Equine Studies with Applied
Behaviour and Welfare.
Nicole Bosley’s experience at
Bridgwater College inspired
her to consider a career as an
equine physiotherapist, and
on completion of her Level 3
programme, she moved on
to Equitation Sports Science
at Hartpury College.
Other successes include
former student Stephen Heal,
who has ambitions of one
day being an Olympic rider
and has moved to Shropshire
to take up a position of
working pupil, rider and
groom for international event
rider Oliver Townend. And
former National Diploma
student Bobbi Larcombe
has managed to secure her
dream job, breaking, training
and exercising horses at
a ranch in California. She
explains: “Here in Ventura
County there are so many
opportunities, and it’s such
an exciting way of life – when
bringing cattle down from
the mountains, we often see
mountain lions and bears!
The best part of the job
though is gaining a horse’s
Factfile
Hours: Varied to include
weekends
Earning potential: £50,000+
Debbie Ball, Bridgwater College
trust and rehabilitating those
that have been ill-treated.
The worst part is seeing them
leave when my job is done,
but luckily I’m often asked to
stay on and exercise them. I
hope to have my own yard
one day, and would say to
any young person that the
opportunities are there if
you are really passionate
and committed.”
The progression of equine
students from Bridgwater
College to employment is
therefore very robust, and
no doubt helped by the
excellent links the College
has with industry. One of
those businesses is Poplars
Equestrian in Somerset, run
by Alex and Simmone Bragg.
As well as competing event
horses they offer a range of
services including schooling,
training and selling of horses.
They also offer tuition for
all levels and abilities in all
three disciplines. Simmone
explains, “I always tell
anyone trying to get into the
business that experience
is absolutely vital; if in the
early part of your career
you can base yourself in an
established yard, it will give
you the experience and
knowledge to go forward in
the industry. Match that with
a love of horses, patience
and determination, and
you will progress as far as
your ambition and effort
will take you.”
At the College’s Equestrian
Centre, the facilities aim
to simulate industry and
include two stable blocks,
indoor and outdoor arenas,
teaching rooms and various
paddocks and fields
located around the yard.
Operating as a commercial
enterprise, with 16 horses
of its own plus the capacity
to accommodate students’
own horses, it is a British
Horse Society-approved
riding establishment offering
full-time and work-based
training, as well as specialist
instruction in dressage and
show jumping. The Yard
Manager teaches several
riding clubs and pony clubs
by appointment, and group
riding and jumping lessons
are also available; there are
even ‘own a horse/pony’
days for those who do not
have their own.
Programme Manager
Debbie reflects, “The
outcome of learning and
working in a commercially
focused environment,
with the support of highly
experienced staff and an
industry-relevant curriculum,
is that every student can
expect to acquire the skills,
personal qualities and
qualifications to progress
into what has become a
highly competitive sector.
They are equally very
well-placed to further their
learning at university, and
only rarely do we see a
student not progress into an
equine-related job or course.
Of course, as a teacher, the
ultimate reward is learning
that former students are
achieving their ambitions as
a direct result of what they
have learnt at our yard. The
knowledge that we have
helped young people follow
their dreams makes me very
proud indeed.”
equine courses on a full
and part-time basis for
students aged 16 and
Cannington and at outreach
centres throughout the South
West. For more information
www.bridgwater.ac.uk or
www.canningtonequestrian
centre.co.uk
Useful links
www.horseandhound.co.uk
www.bhs.org.uk
www.brs.org.uk
www.abrs-info.org
Career paths could include: groom,
stable hand, stud hand, jockey,
instructor, coach, yard manager,
horse transporter, racehorse trainer,
behaviourist, carriage driver.
Skills needed
Good observational skills, patience and willingness
to do routine tasks, awareness of health and safety
issues, the ability to work alone and as part of a team,
good communication skills, competence in riding,
experience of looking after horses.
For more information on equine courses, visit the website:
It’s a balmy afternoon in June and temperatures are
soaring. The vast majority of students and staff are
taking advantage of the fine weather to play sport or relax in
the sunshine, but one group of arboriculture students is still in
the ‘classroom’, high among the treetops of the Cannington Estate.
One glance at the equipment
involved – ropes, harnesses
and chainsaws – is testament
to the skill and courage
required to undertake this
type of work.
Today’s trainees are under
the close supervision and
watchful eye of Programme
Manager, Mike Cullen, a
tutor at the Cannington
Centre for fifteen years.
Well known and respected
in the industry, Mike draws
on thirty years of practical,
commercial experience
all over the UK, starting
his career as a forestry
contractor, progressing
to climbing arborist and
finally managing a city’s
entire tree stock for a local
authority. He says teaching
is his most rewarding
experience to date.
“Arboriculture attracts
a real mix of students,
including those who might
have struggled at school,
possibly because they are
not academic achievers,
or because the classroom
environment doesn’t engage
them. This subject takes
them outdoors and gives
them a chance to learn
practical skills, develop
self-discipline and assume
real responsibility. It’s an
opening that, for many, is
potentially life changing, and
I have seen once disaffected
students completely revise
their opinion of education
and start to appreciate the
doors it can open. Some of
these students will enjoy
their time at College so much
that they’ll forget they’re
studying and achieving,
simply because it’s
“This subject takes
the students outdoors
and gives them a
chance to learn
practical skills, develop
self-confidence
and assume real
responsibility.”
Mike Cullen, Bridgwater College
film on arboriculture
For more information on arboriculture courses, visit the website:
Factfile
“Good teamwork is the
key when you are learning
in an environment where
dangerous and high
pressure situations
can arise.”
Hours: 40 hour week,
sometimes affected by
seasonality (shorter hours
in the winter due to less
daylight)
Career paths could
include: arborist,
arboriculturalist, forest
machine operator,
chainsaw operator,
tree surgeon, conservation
officer, countryside officer,
groundsperson, forest office/
manager, landscaper, researcher,
consultant, teacher.
Russell Windows, Arboriculture student
Student
Russell Windows
nothing like school. Seeing
that process play out in front
of you is a bit like watching a
child learn to walk; it never
ceases to inspire me.”
Of course, not all of the
students on these courses
are school leavers. The landbased courses traditionally
attract career-changers,
many of whom will not have
been near a classroom for
years. Arboriculture offers a
tempting mix of excitement
and risk, as well as requiring
good fitness levels and a
passion for the outdoors, so
it’s hardly surprising that a
large number of ex-military
personnel sign up for this
course. Mike goes on to
explain: “Our adult learners
generally face a tougher
challenge than our school
leavers, often having to
combine family life with
a return to learning that
involves sacrifices in terms
of time and money, but they
also tend to be focused
and hard-working, which
is exactly what the industry
needs right now.”
Trees and timber, as it is also
known, needs new workers
at all levels. It is reported that
17% of forestry businesses
in the UK have a vacancy,
almost half of which are
proving hard to fill, due
mainly to skills shortages.
These shortages will be
even more evident as new
government targets and
European directives sharpen
their focus on the sustainable
development and
management of woodland
areas, when the demand for
arboriculture staff is likely
to double. The industry is
particularly on the look-out
for young recruits, managers
with practical and technical
expertise, and craft workers.
But back to the pines, and
student Russell Windows is
keen to share his passion
for the course. “There are
many things about this
subject that set it apart
from more mainstream
programmes. Rather than
sitting in a classroom all
day, we have the forests and
woodlands as our learning
spaces and most days are
spent outside. Our work is
very physical, we are given
a lot of responsibility and
we have to be ultra-safety
conscious. Good teamwork is
the key when you’re learning
in an environment where
dangerous and high pressure
situations can arise, so it’s
essential that our tutors work
with us to break down any
barriers in the group and that
we learn to look after each
other. This means that as well
as acquiring new skills, we
also become part of a closeknit team and get a real
sense of belonging, which
can be very motivating.”
The skills that the students
develop are varied. One of
Skills needed
Good practical skills, comfortable with working at
heights and with potentially dangerous machinery,
interested in nature, physical fitness and agility,
business skills, happy to work in a team and from own
initiative, excellent communication skills.
the most important physical
skills that most students
choose to learn is climbing
with a rope and harness,
although there are also nonclimbing options available.
They also learn how to use
and maintain specialist
equipment such as
chippers, chain saws,
stump grinders and mobile
elevated work platforms,
as well as the art of tree
identification, planting
and maintenance. Good
communication skills
are also essential, and
students are specifically
trained in offering advice
and information to
potential customers. Work
placements, residential visits
and additional qualifications
are all key features of every
arboriculture programme.
Over 40% of the
arboriculture workforce
is self-employed. David
James, a former College
student who also studied
at Westonbirt Arboretum
and received the LANTRA
Award for Professional
Tree Inspection, is now the
director of his own company
– Active Tree Care Limited.
He explains, “I worked for
ten years in the industry
before setting up my own
company, and the things I
enjoy the most are being my
own boss and managing the
variety of tasks. No two days
are ever the same, whether
it’s meeting clients, working
outdoors or resolving
problems, to say nothing of
all the exercise we get into
the bargain! It’s for these
reasons that arboriculture
is becoming such a
popular career choice,
and I wholeheartedly
endorse training which
provides plenty of handson experience and the
chance to achieve specialist
certificates along the way.”
Programme Manager Mike
Cullen adds, “While this is
a buoyant industry, both
in the UK and overseas,
it’s becoming increasingly
competitive as people
wake up to the range of
opportunities on offer.
We strongly recommend
that our students build a
good portfolio of work
experience to accompany
their certificated skills
and, to this end, we
have developed strong
relationships with industry.
Our employer advisory
panel helps ensure that our
teaching is fully preparing
our students for work and
we consult with these
professionals on everything
- from the right type of kit
to purchase, to the most
relevant modules for any
new course we are creating.
They are highly supportive
of our students and get
involved in various events
such as career days, work
experience and our annual
awards evening. As a result,
I think the students feel not
only up-to-date with the
industry, but more valued.”
The College curriculum is
constantly responding to
change as new practices
and policies emerge, for
example the management
of new species, the
recognition of new diseases
and the impact of climate
change. And the delivery
of training is becoming
ever more focused
towards the needs of the
industry, leading to a new
Apprenticeship programme
which enables employers to
source on-the-job training for
new and existing staff, whilst
allowing trainees to earn
while they learn their trade.
Distance learning options
are also being investigated
to cater for a broader
geographical spread of
students, and for those
combining employment
and study, and more
female entrants are being
encouraged to address the
current 80/20 split in favour
of male employees.
For more information on arboriculture courses, visit the website:
With the trees and timber
industry contributing a
massive £246 million to
the UK economy, and with
22,452 people currently
employed across 3,920
businesses, the future is
certainly looking bright for
this cohort of students yet
to complete their training.
arboriculture courses at its
Cannington Centre on a
full and part-time basis, in
addition to short courses
and apprenticeships.
01278 441234 or visit
Useful links
www.lantra.co.uk
www.isa-arboriculture.org
work on
the wild side
Have you ever thought about swapping the
harsh glare of office lighting for the soft
glow of autumn sunshine, or the full blast of
the office air-con for the gentle breeze of a
warm summer afternoon?
Choose the countryside as
your office and experience
the full force of nature at
first hand, in surroundings
that are peaceful, calming
and often breathtakingly
beautiful.
Ditch the water cooler for a
cool breeze, strip-lights for
sunlight and whiteboards for
wide open spaces. Welcome to
the outdoor office...
Arguably, there has never
been a better time to embark
upon a career in countryside
and wildlife management;
sustainable development
lies at the cornerstone of all
areas of government policy
and improved protection
and access for the open
countryside is being actively
encouraged. Inevitably,
therefore, opportunities for
employment in the sector
are increasing.
Set in picturesque rural
Somerset, in close proximity
to the Quantock Hills, the
Somerset Levels and miles of
rugged coastline, Bridgwater
College’s Cannington Centre
offers the perfect location
to study countryside topics.
We talk to the College’s
Programme Manager for
Countryside Management,
Alan Sinclair, about his
passion for green spaces.
“The way I see it, we are the
custodians of the countryside
for future generations. If we
do not care for it, nurture
it, and protect it - who will?
And if we allow rural skills to
disappear now, they will be
lost forever. This is why we
must equip students with the
right skills, work experience
and qualifications to take
this industry forward. Our
courses aim to give new
entrants an understanding
of the conservation and
policy issues affecting
the countryside,
wildlife and the
environment,
and the need
to balance
these
against
the often
competing needs of
recreational visitors.”
The facilities at the College
include a 400 acre estate
with its own wildlife area,
bird hide, spinney, and lake/
wetland area, enabling a
strong focus on practical
experience as well as
management skills. Students
become proficient in
activities such as fencing,
hedge laying, coppicing,
tree planting, surfacing and
dry stone walling, and learn
also how to identify and
survey different species, how
to trap and release small
mammals, undertake water
quality sampling, create new
habitats and use a broad
range of machinery including
chainsaws, strimmers and
chippers. These skills will be
invaluable to them as they
seek to progress into related
employment.
Alan goes on to explain,
“One of the appealing
things about this line of work
is that there’s really no such
thing as an average day. One
minute we might be in the
midst of a robust discussion
on topical issues and events
in the industry, another might
see us up to our necks in
practical work on the
“We are the custodians
of the countryside for
future generations.
If we do not care for
it, nurture it, and
protect it - who will?”
Alan Sinclair, Bridgwater College
For more information on countryside management courses, visit the website:
Have you heard
about our new bursary
scheme for countryside
management students?
Funded by local employers,
it could provide you with
£500 a year and
a work placement!
Turn to page 48 for
more details.
Career paths
could include:
countryside
officer/ranger/
manager,
gamekeeper, warden,
contractor, conservation
officer/manager, recreation officer,
ecologist, biodiversity officer, estate
manager, local authority officer,
wildlife trust worker.
“There will be employment
staff, as well as work
experience, volunteering
and placement prospects
for Bridgwater College
students.”
Tim McGrath, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
College estate or on location
at places like Westonbirt
Arboretum, Kilve Beach,
Slimbridge Wetlands Centre
or Glastonbury Tor.”
The students also undertake
a work placement as part
of their studies and the
College works hard to
forge close links with a
broad range of employers
including the National
Trust (particularly Fyne
Court Gardens in Nether
Stowey), Natural England
(Somerset Levels), National
Parks (Exmoor), Areas of
Outstanding National
Beauty (the Quantocks)
and the Somerset Wildlife
Trust. Alan comments, “The
industry expects students
to get work experience and
volunteering hours under
their belts – there are a lot of
qualified people chasing the
same vacancies, and people
will happily relocate for the
right job, so competition
is fierce. Key organisations
such as the National Trust
are popular employers,
so candidates need to
distinguish themselves
from other applicants and
demonstrate their passion
and commitment to the
industry. This is why regular
volunteering is key, and
you never know when a
volunteering position
might turn into a full-time,
paid role.”
One of the organisations
with which the College is
currently forging a positive
relationship is the Wildfowl
& Wetlands Trust (WWT),
a leading conservation
organisation with nine
wetland visitor centres
across the UK. Tim McGrath
is the Habitat Creation and
Demonstration Site Project
Manager and draws on
a wealth of experience,
including volunteering roles
with the British Trust for
Conservation Volunteers
and a job as Head of Nature
Reserves with the Wildlife
Trust in Bristol & Avon. Tim is
currently involved in a habitat
creation project at the Steart
Peninsula near Cannington,
which will provide a wealth
of new employment
opportunities for aspiring
land management entrants.
He explains, “The Steart
Peninsula Project is a really
exciting Environment Agency
initiative that seeks to find
ways of managing the flood
risk whilst simultaneously
creating suitable habitats
for some of the hundreds
of thousands of birds that
migrate from Northern
Europe each year. Steart will
eventually become home
to one of the UK’s largest
new wildlife reserves which,
from 2014, will be managed
by the WWT. This means
there will be employment
staff, as well as work
experience, volunteering
and placement prospects for
Bridgwater College students.”
Factfile
Hours: 37 hours a week,
which may include evenings
and weekends. Weekend
work could increase
significantly during the
main visitor season.
Tim’s advice to young people
considering a career in this
area is very much based
on his own experience.
“Although there are more
opportunities now than
when I graduated, this is still
a very competitive industry.
It is hard work, so it’s vital
that you identify the area
of expertise that interests
you the most and which
you most enjoy. You’ll need
practical experience as well
as qualifications, because it’s
crucial that you understand
how to apply theoretical
knowledge to a practical
situation. Fortunately, there
are plenty of opportunities
locally, especially with the
Environment Agency based
in Bridgwater, so you need to
keep an eye on job adverts
and work out how to adapt
your skillset to match them.”
It is perhaps no surprise that
the South West ranks second
in the UK for the number
of countryside and wildlife
management industries. Yet,
with an ageing workforce
and a shortage of skills, the
sector is now actively looking
for new recruits. With so
many roles being publicfacing, employers are seeking
competent and technically
skilled staff, who also possess
excellent communication
and interpersonal skills.
Bridgwater College is doing
everything it can to ensure
that students are equipped
with the broad range of
skills required.
As Alan explains, “In
addition to practical and
technical skills, we teach
our new entrants how to
gain confidence, work as
part of a team and solve
problems. We seek also
to open their eyes to the
significant issues of the
day, such as sustainability,
the economy and climate
change – our courses
cover so much more than
countryside management.
A significant proportion of
our students are inspired
and motivated to progress
onto higher education, and a
number of the more mature
students, usually the career
changers, establish their
own businesses as a result
of their training.”
There are some fantastic
examples of students who
have achieved great things
upon completion of their
course. David McDonnell and
Ivor Watkins, both mature
students on the Foundation
Degree programme, joined
forces to form their own
company - Southwest
Ranger Services - offering
traditional land management
and conservation skills
and services to a broad
range of clients. Another
Foundation Degree student,
Michelle Easton, progressed
to the prestigious Royal
Agricultural College to top
up her qualification to a
full BSc Honours degree,
and has since gained
employment with FWAG
Southwest, an independent
farm conservation and
agri-environment advisory
service. Career changer
Trudi Dove moved from
a customer services role
to employment as an
Environment Agency Officer
on completion of her studies
on the Foundation Degree.
Former National Diploma
student Rory Proctor used his
qualification as a stepping
stone to set up RFP Trees,
Woodland & Countryside
Management, and his
customers include Natural
England, as well as
number of local estates.
The potential for paid and
unpaid employment in
this industry is therefore
clearly growing. As public
interest and enthusiasm
for conservation issues
intensifies and membership
of countryside affiliated
organisations continues
to rise, so the number and
breadth of opportunities will
increase. New management
roles for our landscapes,
habitats and wildlife will
emerge, as will those
associated with the needs of
the general public, such as
countryside officers, wildlife
rangers, urban conservation
advisors and waterway
managers. So whether
you’re starting out and
considering your career
options, or seeking a
complete change of
employment or even just
want to play your part in
improving the world in
which we live, the right
training and qualifications
will help ensure your
contribution is both
relevant and positive.
countryside and wildlife
management courses on
a full and part-time basis,
including Honours Degree
programmes, at its centre
in Cannington. For more
information call 01278
441234 or visit www.
bridgwater.ac.uk
Useful links
www.btcv.org.uk
www.countryside
management.org.uk
www.countrysidejobslink.co.uk
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
www.wwt.org.uk
www.somersetwildlife.org
www.naturalengland.org.uk
www.rspb.org.uk
www.environment-agency.
gov.uk
Skills needed
Interest in the natural environment, ability to work
both as part of a team and alone, passion, energy,
enthusiasm, determination, interpersonal skills,
practical skills, awareness of health and safety,
business and management skills.
For more information on countryside management courses, visit the website:
He explains, “Typically, it’s
during their school and
college years that youngsters
find out whether or not they
excel at sport, and during this
critical period the influence
of coaches and teachers is
pivotal. A sports student will
gain skills and qualifications
to prepare them for a range
of sport-related careers,
but participation in sport
delivers so much more than
that: it teaches teamwork,
leadership, commitment,
discipline, morality, integrity
and ambition, all of which
are important life skills
relevant to a much broader
range of careers.”
With the roars of support for a triumphant
Team GB still ringing in everyone’s ears, and
the record haul of 120 medals testament to
the nation’s sporting success, the Olympic
aspiration to inspire a generation looks a
real possibility.
The Olympic effect on the
level of interest in sport
in the UK has not been
confined to the higher profile
activities such as cycling.
Swimming, rowing, athletics,
gymnastics and boxing
have all reported significant
increases in participation
levels, matched by sizeable
retail growth in clothing and
equipment. The short term
leisure impact is therefore
clear; the question is, what
will be the knock-on effect
in the longer term on
training and employment
in the sports industry?
We pose this question
to Jason Gunningham,
Section Leader for Sports
at Bridgwater College.
“It is very obvious that
this incredible summer of
on football coaching
sport has touched many
people’s lives in one way
or another. Whether it’s
taking up a new sporting
pursuit, volunteering for a
local sports organisation
or inspiring the Olympians
of the future, the impact of
London 2012 will definitely
be felt for years to come.
And increased participation
at all levels will certainly
mean new jobs within sports
facilities, in sports coaching
and development and in
sports equipment retail.
Don’t forget too that public
health remains high on
the government agenda,
not least for delivering
reductions in health care
costs in the longer term,
so the sports and leisure
industry would certainly
appear to be one of the
more recession-proof
industries in which to
seek employment.”
It is quickly apparent
that Jason is passionate
about sport. A former
Bristol Rovers YTS trainee,
he has been a member
of the Sports Section at
Bridgwater College for
the last 18 years. As Head
Coach for both the Somerset
Football Association and
the Somerset Schools &
Colleges FA U18 squads,
he coached the team to
National Championship
success in 2002 and to
the final in 2004. He is
also the National
Performance Manager
for the England Colleges
National Men’s and
Women’s Football Squads.
According to Jason, there are
three key features which set
Bridgwater College’s Sports
department apart from other
colleges. “Firstly, we are really
fortunate to have specialist,
experienced staff, all of
whom are professionally
qualified within their
teaching specialisms. They
understand the industry
inside out because they
don’t just teach it, they’ve
lived it - and they are
passionate about passing on
their expertise and insight.
Secondly, we have incredibly
strong links with the
sector and are focused on
delivering industry standard
qualifications, to get students
directly into employment
at the end of their studies.
Brilliant examples of this
are our Personal Training
and our Football Coaching
qualifications – at the end
of these programmes our
students will be fully workready. Finally, we make sure
that sport at the College isn’t
confined to the curriculum –
we’ve just received funding
from Sport England for a
Sports Makers position to
deliver an even broader
range of sports and leisure
activities as enrichment and
extra-curricular activities
for students who wish
to participate purely for
enjoyment, whilst the Sports
Academies provide a centre
of excellence for those who
want to play on a more
competitive basis.”
The College’s Sports
Academy programmes
offer specialist coaching in
Basketball, Football, Golf,
Hockey, Netball, Rugby and
Trampolining, and the teams
compete in local, regional
and national events, with
considerable success. A
number of players go on
to represent their sport
in the England College
National Squads, and others
are offered professional
contracts as a result of their
Academy experiences.
Talented Football Academy
player Alex Pathy was signed
by Cardiff City Futsal team
upon completion of his
programme and fellow
players Jacob Bennett and
Matt Shaxton both gained
soccer scholarships to go on
and study and train in the
United States.
Matt says, “My time in the
Football Academy definitely
helped me get headhunted
for the soccer team of
California State University
Bakersfield, which also
enabled me to study for an
MBA on a sports scholarship.
I played in the highest level
of collegiate football in the
US, in tournaments in New
York, Seattle, Las Vegas, San
Diego and San Francisco. In
my final year I captained the
team, was selected to play in
the all conference team, and
was also awarded Player of
the Season. I now live and
work in Los Angeles, but I
still play football at semiprofessional level.”
Hockey Academy player
Joe Naughlty went on from
Bridgwater College to
represent Wales and has
since gained numerous
international caps. Sports
student Tom Bailey is now
a sports physio and has
worked with Somerset
County Cricket Club, Cardiff
City FC and was a volunteer
in the London Olympics
medical team, working with
top class athletes such as
Usain Bolt and Mo Farah.
“Sports students will gain skills
and qualifications to prepare
them for a range of sport-related
careers, but participation in sport
delivers so much more than that:
it teaches teamwork, leadership,
commitment, discipline, morality,
integrity and ambition.”
Jason Gunningham, Bridgwater College
Matt Shaxton, Soccer
Scholarship Student
Jason Gunningham,
Section Leader for Sports
Lisa Pyke is another former
sports student, who is
For more information on sports courses, visit the website:
Career paths
could include:
fitness instructor,
personal trainer,
sports coach/trainer,
sports professional,
sports therapist, sports
psychologist, sports
physiotherapist, sports
physiologist, sports nutritionist,
sports development officer, recreation/
leisure assistant, lifeguard, activity centre
manager, events manager, volunteer
coordinator, sports official (club, county,
regional, national, international), PE
teacher, sports administrator, health and
well-being officer.
“My advice is – if you really
want something in life get
out there and grab it. Work
hard, and you can achieve
anything. Don’t let anything
stand in your way and never
settle for second best.”
Skills needed
Factfile
Hours: 30 - 40 hours,
including weekends
Potential salary: £50,000+
film on sports
Strong communication skills, good leadership,
physical fitness, good organisational and problem
solving skills, enthusiasm, ability to inspire confidence
and motivate, determination and patience, a sensitive
and supportive approach.
Lisa Pyke, former sports student is now a PE teacher
now a PE teacher at the
new Bridgwater College
Academy. She says, “I wanted
to be a PE teacher from
about the age of seven! In
secondary school, I had my
first encounter of what that
might be like when I got a
placement in a local school.
Then in College I took every
work experience opportunity
I could - teaching my peers,
children with disabilities and
pupils in secondary schools.
Even when College broke up
for the holidays, I volunteered
to help out in local schools.
I knew places were limited
at university, and that I had
to make sure I stood out
from the crowd. Then with
my degree under my belt, I
achieved my dream job and
have been there for 11 years.
My advice is – if you really
want something in life get
out there and grab it. Work
hard, and you can achieve
anything. Don’t let anything
stand in your way and never
settle for second best.”
Jason adds, “The quality of
our provision has also been
recognised by a number
of awards. Not only are we
five time National Award
winners with the FA, we
were also the first institution
to be awarded Football
Focus College of the Year
by British Colleges; we were
given National Leadership
Academy status by Sports
Leaders UK for our work
with local clubs, schools
and community groups
in places as far afield as
Romania and South Africa;
we have a number of
Excellence Achievements
for developing leadership
and volunteering, for
sharing best practice and for
developing curriculum and
community programmes.
It’s always very gratifying
to have our expertise and
achievements acknowledged
in these ways.”
The College ensures that its
programmes remain relevant
and correctly focused by
developing close links
with the industry, and was
recently selected by Bristol
City Football Club and Bristol
City Community Trust to
deliver its football coaching
programme at Ashton Gate.
Amy Kington, Director of the
Trust explains, “We chose
Bridgwater College as our
lead education provider
because we were aware of
its award-winning reputation
and its amazing track record
of delivering high quality
educational programmes.
Our partnership has resulted
in a unique football coaching
programme which provides
young people with a genuine
insight into how a football
club really operates. The
main benefit for us is that,
potentially, we’re being
introduced to our future
workforce. It’s a very
exciting prospect.”
Somerset as a whole is
undergoing a period of
significant change and
investment, with the result
that there has been a
commensurate growth in
the local leisure sector.
There are clear employment
opportunities in the growing
number of gyms and
personal training facilities
in the region but other
potential career paths
include work within grass
roots community projects,
amateur and professional
sports clubs, and anything
related to the promotion
of an active and healthy
lifestyle. Feedback from
employers confirms they
are looking for specific
qualifications such as first
aid, health and safety,
coaching, and sports
leadership awards as well
as work experience and life
skills. These are elements
which are covered in full
on any sports programme
offered at the College.
“These are really exciting
times to be studying sport at
the College,” Jason confirms.
“We have just started
awarding financial bursaries
to students who demonstrate
exceptional promise and
potential - recently two
male basketball players and
a female footballer have
benefited from this new
initiative. We are also hoping
to create a new Sports
Village at our Cannington
Centre which, apart from
excellent sporting facilities,
will include residential
accommodation, thus
providing opportunities for
students from further afield,
possibly even overseas,
to study here. And our
partnerships with employers
and agencies are going from
strength to strength, which
serves to further improve
work experience and
for our students.”
The College’s sports facilities
in Bridgwater also operate
as a commercial enterprise
open to the public and
comprise a gym with cardio
and resistance equipment,
a four-court sports hall
(for netball, badminton,
basketball, volleyball and
5-a-side football), two grass
pitches and an all-weather
full size artificial turf pitch.
And the plans to expand the
facilities at the Cannington
Centre mean that land-based
students will soon have more
opportunities to participate
in sport on an extra-curricular
or Academy basis.
for a career that will enable
you to make a difference to
people’s lives, at whatever
level, this is the industry to
be in.”
Jason concludes, “The
best thing about working
in this industry is that it
literally changes lives. At
the recreational end of the
spectrum, sport improves
people’s health and wellbeing and at the other, it
can completely transform
the lives of those who aspire
to play it professionally.
Most of us, at some point
in our lives, are spectators
and supporters of sport,
and it can influence our
moods, our behaviours and
even our lifestyles. And the
way in which sport brings
communities together has
never been more evident
than at the 2012 Olympic
Games. So, if you’re looking
sports, leisure and coaching
courses on a full and parttime basis, in addition
to short courses and
apprenticeship programmes.
01278 441234 or visit
For more information on sports courses, visit the website:
Useful links
www.uksport.gov.uk
www.sportengland.org
www.sportscoachuk.org
www.bst.org.uk
www.skillsactive.com
www.careers-in-sport.co.uk
www.bcsport.org
www.somersetfa.com
www.sasp.co.uk
More than
the blue
light
services...
The words ‘public and
emergency services’ evoke
images of blue lights flashing,
sirens blaring and the walking
wounded. Yet the public sector
currently employs over 5
million people and, as well
as the emergency services,
encompasses roles in the
armed forces, justice services,
immigration control and local
government, to name a few.
The range of career
opportunities in the sector
is therefore widespread
and diverse, although
many of the public services
also require their recruits
to have undergone an
element of ‘life experience’
first and do not recruit
below the age of 18. The
industry consequently
requires training providers
to offer relevant training
at both further and higher
education level to ‘plug the
gap’ between school and
employment, and to provide
a solid foundation for a
career in a wide range
of disciplines.
At Bridgwater College,
aspiring public service
employees study a specialist
programme which provides
this firm foundation and
opens up a wealth of
opportunities that they
otherwise might not have
considered.
on public services
We talk to Programme
Manager for Public and
Emergency Services at the
College, David Cousins.
As an ex-serviceman and
prison PE instructor, he has
a wealth of experience to
draw on and is also a keen
sportsman with a sports
science background. He says,
“The great thing about this
course is that it broadens the
mind. Quite often, students
arrive with fixed views about
the sector and face a few
personal challenges as a
result; this course helps
them overcome these by
teaching them a broad range
of transferable skills, such
as teamwork, leadership,
endurance and discipline,
as well as developing their
physical fitness. In short,
the course not only equips
young people with skills and
a formal education, it also
provides focus and direction,
and introduces them to
opportunities they might
otherwise have overlooked.
They will also have the
chance to achieve additional
qualifications such as first aid,
health and safety, coaching
awards, sports leadership
certificates or an AS Level.”
As David explains, the
College’s Public Services
courses focus not only
on relevant skills and
knowledge development,
but also outdoor pursuit
David Cousins with students
“This course teaches
students a broad range
of transferable skills,
such as teamwork,
leadership, endurance
and discipline, as well
as developing their
physical fitness.”
David Cousins, Bridgwater College
For more information on public services courses, visit the website:
activities and fitness training.
The students have free
membership to
the fully equipped College
gym and are actively
encouraged to participate
in the many extra-curricular
sports activities offered
at the College. They also
have regular access to the
facilities at Bridgwater’s
YMCA, which focus on
outdoor pursuit provision,
as well as the resources at
the College’s Activity Centre
at Cannington. This facility
includes a range of high
and low rope challenges
that will improve team
building, communication
and leadership skills – all
essential for this subject.
“The other really exiting
element of these courses
is that our excellent
partnerships with the
sector enable us to offer
students direct and regular
engagement with a range
of services personnel,”
David goes on to explain. “In
recent times students have
undertaken endurance tests
and leadership challenges
with Royal Marines just back
from Afghanistan and have
also worked with 1st Battalion
The Rifles on developing
emergency and survival skills.
Sea survival training at RNAS
Yeovilton has equipped
them for a seven-day tall ship
challenge between Kent and
France that enabled them to
gain their RYA Competent
Crew certificates, and they
have developed map work
and navigation skills during a
two-day hike across Exmoor,
and expedition skills during a
trek across the Mendips with
members of the Police Force.
All of these activities help
make the course much more
vocationally relevant.”
The students are also
actively engaged with
charities; they have recently
worked on fundraising
projects for the British
Red Cross, which enabled
them to achieve their NCFE
Volunteering Awards, and
David is hoping to take
them on a residential trip
to Romania to support the
SWEEPS Charity in helping
local communities and
schools, thus contributing
towards the achievement
of their Community Sports
Leadership Awards.
Improving one’s CV at every
opportunity is absolutely
crucial, because this can be
a surprisingly competitive
sector. In the fire and rescue
service for example, there
are above average numbers
of applicants for vacancies,
although there is still a
shortage of retained (parttime) firefighters, so this may
be a better entry point. The
police force is an equally
popular employer, and
notoriously difficult to
access; new entrants might
currently find it easier to
progress by investigating
employment as a police
community support officer
or a special constable. The
armed forces might offer an
easier route, with the Army
most likely to be looking
for new recruits; Bridgwater
College is accredited with
the Army to deliver the FE
Army Bursary Scheme, which
pays students up to £5,000
to study at college prior to
enlisting. Another important,
but frequently overlooked,
sector is the justice service,
which employs nearly 50,000
people, the majority as prison
or probation officers. And
it is a well-known fact the
employees in the services
often find they acquire skills
which enable them to transfer
between sectors at different
stages in their careers.
The College has an excellent
track record of students
progressing into relevant
employment. Recent success
stories include Ben Pavey
who has secured a position
as a special police constable,
Alice Haggett who has
joined the Royal Navy, Fran
Inman who - while working
towards a Master’s Degree
in Public Service - secured
a volunteering role with
Avon and Somerset Road
Traffic Police, and Hannah
Forbes, who is now the chief
instructor at the College’s
Cannington Activity Centre.
“The course helped me
to understand the role
and responsibilities of the
emergency services, and
equipped me with the right
skills to succeed in the tough
recruitment process.”
Katy Austin, former student
Factfile
Hours: 30 - 40 hours,
including weekends and/
or shifts
Potential salary: £50,000+
Former student Katy Austin
studied the further and higher
education qualifications in
Public Services at the College
and is now working as an
Emergency Care Assistant
for the Great Western
Ambulance Service. She
says, “I have no doubt that
my College studies helped
me get into my current
role. The course helped
me to understand the role
and responsibilities of the
emergency services, and
equipped me with the right
skills to succeed in the
tough recruitment process.
I’m hoping to continue my
studies via distance learning
and eventually achieve my
ambition of qualifying as a
paramedic.”
Programme Manager
David comments, “Helping
students realise their full
potential is what every
tutor strives to do, but it is
particularly rewarding when
we see a student progress
up through their studies into
related employment, and
it becomes a real source
of pride and achievement
for anyone who has
supported the student
through that journey.”
Someone who is no stranger
to supporting students at
the College is Major Mick
Norris, Army Careers Officer
for Somerset, Bristol and
Gloucestershire. He works
closely with Bridgwater
College and is responsible
for career presentations
and advice, employability
skills workshops, team
building and communication
activities, as well as
expedition modules.
He says, “The training at
Bridgwater College means
that students complete
their studies equipped with
life experience skills and a
formal qualification. They
are motivated and ready to
progress. I work in lots of
schools and colleges, and I
would say that the students
we get from Bridgwater
College are first class – if
you are thinking about
going into the services, this
is the best college for your
training by a mile!”
So if you’d like a career
that offers the opportunity
for significant selfdevelopment as well as
the chance to make a real
difference to your local
community or even your
country, then a career in
public service may be for
you. If you’re an energetic,
committed and motivated
individual, the possibilities
for career success are huge.
For more information
on any of these courses
offered at Level 1 through
to Foundation Degree,
Useful links
www.army.mod.uk
www.raf.mod.uk
www.royal-navy.mod.uk
www.justice.gov.uk
www.mcga.gov.uk
www.fbu.org.uk
policerecruitment.
homeoffice.gov.uk
www.ambulance-life.co.uk/
jobs
Career paths could include: firefighter,
police officer, police community
support officer, ambulance technician,
immigration officer, customs
officer, prison officer, dog
handler, merchant
navy role, RAF role,
army role, security
officer, teacher.
Skills needed
Strong communication skills, good
leadership, physical fitness, good
organisational and problem solving skills, team
working skills, enthusiasm, confidence, determination
and patience, a sensitive and supportive approach.
For more information on public services courses, visit the website:
Life while learning...
If reading this publication has
inspired you to consider a landbased, sport or services course
at Bridgwater College, we aim
to answer some of the most
commonly asked questions here…
Q1: Where is
Bridgwater
College?
The College is based in the
heart of rural Somerset,
located mid-way between
Bristol and Exeter and just
a couple of miles from J23
of the M5 motorway. Sports
and Services students are
currently based at our
main Centre in the town of
Bridgwater, and all landbased subjects are delivered
at the Cannington Centre,
some seven miles north of
Bridgwater; an inter-site
minibus operates regularly
between the two Centres.
We also have two outreach
centres in Yeovil and
Paignton, where we offer
animal care and floristry
courses, and animal care
and zoological horticulture
courses, respectively, and
our football coaching and
development programmes
are offered on an outreach
basis in Bristol, in
partnership with Bristol
City Community Trust.
The history of Bridgwater
College can be traced back
to 1888 and it merged with
the former Cannington
College in 2004, since
which time the partnership
has gone from strength to
strength; recent investment
totalling £10 million has
resulted in brand new
facilities for every land-based
subject. An institution with
an award winning reputation,
Bridgwater College has been
accorded Beacon status,
with a responsibility for
disseminating good practice
to others. It achieved an
Outstanding grade in
its most recent Ofsted
inspection and its exam
and course results place it
among the top performers
in the county.
Q2: What are
the College
facilities like?
In addition to high
quality, purpose built
accommodation and
equipment, there are a
number of general facilities
for all students to use. At
Bridgwater and Cannington
these include the Learning
Resources Centres, offering
brand new computer suites
as well as access to books,
e-books, newspapers,
magazines, journals, DVDs
and CDs. You can use
your own laptop, tablet or
smartphone via the free
wi-fi network, and there
are study areas for quiet
work or group activities.
The College website offers
online access to webmail, the
library system, IPTV and the
College desktop from home.
Blackboard is our Virtual
Learning Environment and
allows you 24 hour access to
course materials, assignments
and resources. You can
submit work and chat online
here with your tutor.
can provide specialist help
if you have any additional
learning needs, and we can
support your transition from
school with extra visits to
College before you start,
should you need it. We
also offer a professional
counselling service, a
health advisor, first aid and
a sexual health surgery.
The Restaurant at
Cannington has just been
refurbished and offers
excellent value for money
options for breakfast, lunch
and dinner, and there is also
a College shop selling all
the student essentials. The
Student Common Room
has a pool table, jukebox
and games machines and
is the ideal spot for relaxing
between lessons or at the
end of a long day.
Q4: Do you
offer on-site
accommodation?
At Paignton and Yeovil the
same resources are available
on a proportionate scale, and
all students are able to use
the facilities at the Bridgwater
Centre, which include a
number of restaurants and
two common rooms.
Q3: What sort of
support will I be
entitled to?
We consider tutorial support
to be highly important,
and you will be allocated a
personal tutor to support
you through your studies
and help you make the
most of your time at College.
They will meet with you on
a regular basis and, if you
are under 18, offer feedback
to your parents/carers. We
Yes! You can apply for
on-site accommodation if
you are applying for a fulltime course at Cannington
and you live outside of
the immediate area, or if
your course includes out
of hours duties. We have
130 study bedrooms, most
with en-suite facilities and
all with internet access;
please note that if you are
under the age of 18, you
will live in one of our mixed
ten-room lodges during the
week but cannot stay there
at weekends. There are fully
catered and self-catering
options available, as well as a
laundry room, common room
with various leisure activities,
shop, restaurant and bar (for
over 18s). Note also that all
accommodation has security
controlled access, CCTV and
24 hour security support.
Q5: How will I get
to College if
I live locally?
There are a number of bus
routes scheduled to arrive
at the College sites at the
beginning and end of the
College day. If your transport
arrangements bring you to
the main site at Bridgwater,
there are regular minibuses
out to Cannington. Your
place of residence will
dictate the costs of a student
bus pass, but the College
regularly subsidises the
cost of these to make them
more affordable for students.
Each site has limited parking
for those travelling by car,
and there is also dedicated
parking space for those
travelling by bike, moped or
motorbike. Train travel may
also be an option depending
on where you live – visit www.
bridgwater.ac.uk for more
detailed information.
Q6: Will I have
to pay for my
course?
Education is currently free
for under 19s, with fees
payable only by those
aged 19 or over. Fees vary
depending on the type of
course, and you should
check for current details
on our website at www.
bridgwater.ac.uk You
should bear in mind that
there are often additional
costs associated with a
course, including specialist
equipment and clothing,
residential trips (which are
optional), books etc and you
will be advised of this by
your tutor before you enrol.
Q7: Can I get
a grant or help
with any costs?
Our Student Support
Team will give up-to-date
information on support
funds, help with transport,
equipment and book costs.
They can also provide
information on loans, grant
and any bursary schemes
available, including the
Sports Academy Bursary
and the FE Army Bursary
Scheme.
For 2012/13, the College
is launching a new bursary
scheme for students on
Agriculture and Countryside
Management programmes.
The bursaries are funded by
employers and will provide
successful students with
£500 a year and a work
placement opportunity.
Please call us for more
information on these.
Call our Student Support
Team at Bridgwater on
01278 441233 or at
Cannington on 01278
655149 or email them
studentsupport@bridgwater.
ac.uk
Don’t forget to ask about
our Bursary Schemes which
might provide you with
funds to help with your
training!
For more information on being a student, visit the website:
Q8: If I live in,
what is there
to do in the
evenings?
Whether you are a day or
resident student, you are
likely to come into contact
with our Cannington-based
Student Liaison Assistants.
Their role is to provide help
and support, as well as
organise a range of activities
on and off campus. Regular
activities include film
nights, trips to the cinema,
ice rink and bowling, a
range of sports, fundraising
events, college parties and
much more.
Top marks! Our residential
accommodation and
the work of the Student
Liaison Team were graded
Outstanding by the Ofsted
Care Standards Inspection
in November 2011.
Q9: What could I
do in addition to
my course?
There are a number of other
fun activities which are
organised to help enrich
your learning experience.
At Cannington, the College
has its own Young Farmers’
Club, which is run by the
students and is famous for
an active social calendar
and an exhausting schedule
of fundraising events! The
Green Pioneers is another
popular group, and offers
students a chance to get
involved in a range of
environmental projects
in the community.
There are also a number of
College Sports Academies
– particularly popular
options with Cannington
students are the Rugby
Academy, Hockey Academy
and the Golf Academy.
All Academies are very
well supported by Sports
students, in particular. See
our Sports chapter in this
guide for more information.
An enrichment activity
currently in development
is a shooting club, which
will be student-led, with the
support of key staff.
All students based at
Cannington are entitled
to participate in activities
organised at the Bridgwater
site, timetables permitting.
These include a broad
range of sporting, creative
and practical enrichment
activities. Students at
Paignton and Yeovil will
be offered their own
extra-curricular activity
programmes.
Q10: What are
the pass rates
for land-based
courses?
We have very strong pass
rates, above the national
averages, which we
publish on our website
under ‘Publications’ and
we encourage you to look
at these. We celebrate
student success in a
number of ways, including
the termly Value Added
Awards to mark personal
achievements, an annual
awards ceremony to
celebrate achievements
on FE courses by subject,
and an annual graduation
ceremony, in full academic
dress, for university level
students.
Our pass rate for
Apprenticeship programme
is one of the highest
nationally, at 96% in 2012.
Q11: What help
will I get if I
want to go on
to university?
Your personal tutor and
our impartial Information,
Advice and Guidance Team
will help you through the
research and application
process. You may also have
the chance to visit higher
education institutions,
or you might want to
consider progressing to
one of the many HE courses
available at Cannington and
Bridgwater. We also have
an excellent careers section
in the LRC where books,
videos and eLearning
resources are available to
help with your planning.
LIVE IT, LOVE IT, LEARN IT
RIGHT FROM DAY ONE
- with a Land-based OR SPORTS Apprenticeship
Come and see us! Every
term we hold a range of
events to help with your
decision making, including
Open Days and Taster
Mornings. We also attend
events throughout the South
West, including Careers
Fairs, County Shows and
Garden Shows. An event you
shouldn’t miss is Lambing
Sunday at our Farm in March
– visit www.bridgwater.ac.uk
for more details.
Q12: How do
I apply?
Once you have decided you
want to make an application,
you need to complete a
form available from www.
bridgwater.ac.uk. If you
want to apply for a full-time
HE course, you will need to
apply through www.ucas.
com. You will then be invited
to attend an interview, which
will provide you with more
information, and for under
19s in receipt of a formal
offer of a place, you will
also attend familiarisation
days in advance of your
course. If anything about
the application process is
unclear, please just call our
Course Enquiries Team on
01278 441234 and they will
be happy to help.
Did you know you can
also instant message our
Course Enquiries Team?
Choose this option on the
home page of our website
– staff are available online
to chat with you during
office hours. You can also
email them on enquiries@
bridgwater.ac.uk
If you’d like to get your land-based or
sports career under way right now, then an
apprenticeship is the perfect way of gaining
practical experience alongside recognised
qualifications, all while earning a salary.
And if you run a land-based or sports enterprise
and would like to boost your business with some
FREE training, then an apprenticeship for a new
or existing employee is a cost-effective way of
improving their skills without interrupting their
day-to-day work.
With government grants available to support
apprenticeships, and such a wealth of opportunity
in the sector, there’s no better time to embark on
an apprenticeship at Bridgwater College.
All information is correct at the time of going to print (December 2012).
Bridgwater College reserves the right to amend information at any time.
Please check with Course Enquiries on 01278 441234 for up-to-date information.
If you’re a young person interested
in becoming an apprentice, call us
now on 01278 441234
If you run a land-based or sports
business and would like to find
out more about employing an
apprentice, call 01278 655111 or
email business@bridgwater.ac.uk.
Bridgwater College, Bath Road, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4PZ
Course enquiries: (01278) 441234 General enquiries: 01278 455464
E: enquiries@bridgwater.ac.uk www.bridgwater.ac.uk

Magazine - Bridgwater College

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