“Everyone was a winner today!”

During the Big Bang South West event at Exeter University on the 25th June 2015 - Photo mandatory by-line: Gary Day/Pinnacle - Tel: +44(0)1363 881025 - VAT Reg: 183700120 - Mobile:0797 1270 681 - 25/06/15 - Exeter University, Exeter
Future Scientists at Big Bang SW 2015 (c) Pinnacle

Alex Ledbrooke from Education Business Partnership South West and member of the Exeter and Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board writes –

This year’s Big Bang South West Fair at the University of Exeter celebrated the very best in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

The event attracted nearly 2,000 eager students from across the region to participate in one of the largest events of its kind regionally.

The emphasis was on interaction and the chance to explore the wide range of careers and opportunities in the field of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

More than 50 industry experts volunteered to judge nearly 100 student projects with the very best projects being selected to represent the South West at the prestigious finals of the National Science and Engineering Competition to be held at the Big Bang UK in March 2016

A huge interactive exhibition hall with more than 80 local, national and international organisations, including Western Power Distribution, the Met Office, South West Water, TDK, and AnTech Ltd were on hand to share their expertise and inspire those attending.

In addition, nearly 1000 young people took part in a ‘Mega Class’. Led by the National Space Academy and sponsored by Western Power Distribution.

The Big Bang Fair South West highlights to us all that STEM offers an exciting wealth of opportunities, not just internationally but also here in the South West too.

Nationally and locally businesses are facing skills gaps. Today was about recognising and celebrating the talents that exist in the South West and helping students to recognise the opportunities available to them. I’d like to thank everyone who attended, the companies that played such a vital part in making in an important aspect of regions annual calendar, and to all the winners and the teams that competed – everyone was a winner today.

The 10 project winners from the region going through to the finals of the National Science and Engineering Competition in March 2016 can been seen here

See this years photographs and project video here

EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL & INVESTMENT FUND UPDATE

Invitation:

Find out about the latest round of calls for the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) at our update and networking for collaboration event:

Date: Tuesday  21st July 2015
Time: 09:00 for 09:30 start – finish at 12.00 noon
Venue: Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter, EX1 1BW

Purpose:

This free event is an opportunity to hear about the latest round of calls, the realities of running European Funded programmes and it will provide an opportunity to meet with potential partners.

Booking:

Booking is essential. Please book on this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/european-structural-and-investment-fund-esif-update-tickets-17443174003

Agenda:
09:00 Arrival, registration and refreshments
09:30 Welcome and housekeeping Mark Shepherd, Waitrose – Chair and/or Kay Eldergill, Met Office – Vice Chair of Exeter & Heart of Devon Employment & Skills Board (EHOD ESB)
09:40 Working together to build a World Class Workforce Cllr Rosie Denham, Exeter City Council – Economy & Culture
09.55 European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF):

  • Overview
  • Update
  • Q&A
Heidi Hallam, Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP) – Partnerships Manager
10.20 Refreshments
10.40 Big Lottery

  • Overview
  • Update
  • Q&A
Catherine Stevens, Big Lottery Fund
11.00 The reality of running ESF funded programmes George Curry, Westward Pathfinder – Chief Executive
11.15 Final questions and comments Mark Shepherd or Kay Eldergill
11.25 Collaboration exchange
12.00 Finish

Prevent Duty – Home Office Training in Exeter

Rod Davies from Dorset & Somerset Training Provider Network has let us know that a new law will come onto the statute books in July which will require educational establishments to put structures in place to ensure, amongst other things, that learners on their programmes are not radicalised. The aim is to improve how local government, the health service, schools, universities, Further Education, Work Based Learning and others work together to prevent people being drawn into terrorism.

The provider response to this duty will be inspected under the new Common Inspection Framework by Ofsted and in some cases is already being considered at inspection. This duty is considered significant and is a must for all providers. It will be looked at as a part of safeguarding and as one secondary school has already discovered failure to address it can result in a grade 3 or 4.

The Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network would like to invite two delegates from each organisation, a strategic leader and an organisation champion to an event to support implementation of the duty. The event venue details, description and outcomes are below:

Event Description  

Date: Tuesday 1st September 2015
Time: 09:00 to 12:30 hours
Venue: Flybe Training Centre, Exeter
Trainers: The Home Office

Prevent is about stopping people being drawn into extremism and becoming terrorists. The workshop builds our understanding of how young people can become radicalised and be vulnerable to extreme views and actions which could lead to acts of violent extremism. Practitioners working with young people may well become aware of changes and signs that might indicate the early stages of vulnerability to extremism. Extremism in itself is not illegal but practitioners need to be aware of potential signs that may be part of a pathway to terrorism.

Event Outcomes

  • Gain an understanding of the Prevent agenda and be able to identify your role within it
  • Recognise signs that a Young Person may be vulnerable to radicalisation
  • Receive a clear picture of the risks and threats both nationally and at a local level
  • Develop knowledge and confidence to discuss grievances
  • Gain a raised awareness of the key issues and how these can be tackled by all agencies Increase your agency’s capacity to prevent violent extremism.

Places are limited to 50, to book a place on the event please contact Rod Davis r.davis@dstpn.co.uk by 24th July 2015.