Issue 4 April 2018 - the dedicated newsletter of Maxim Business Training

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Glittering occasion: The first-ever Maxim Apprenticeship Awards Evening - attended by more than 70specially invited guests - was recently held at the glamorous Mottram Hall Hotel, near Prestbury,

Maxim’s apprenticeship schemedelivers just cause for celebration

THURSDAY 1st February saw Macclesfield College host its inaugural College ApprenticeshipAwards, in recognition of theachievement, commitment andhard-work its learners continue todemonstrate whilst studying withits dedicated vocational trainingunit, Maxim.

More than 70 specially invited guests -including key regional business figuresand local dignitaries - converged onthe iconic and luxurious MottramHall Hotel, near Prestbury, to join withCollege teaching staff and membersof its Senior Management Team, toformally acknowledge and celebrateits star performers, including twelvevery special award winners who haveeach excelled in their respective subject areas.

These learners included HairdressingApprentice of the Year, Freya Enright,Accounting Apprentice of the Year,Rosie Felon and Business Apprenticeof the Year, Daniel Beard.

The overall Apprentice of the Year award went to first-year hairdressingstudent, Lauren Jayne White-Potter.Lauren is progressing extremely well with her course at Macclesfield College, whilst continuing her on-sitetraining with VaVaVoom Hair & Beautyin Wilmslow, where her dedication to the task and infectious personality are certainly going down well withcustomers and staff alike.

Lauren - pictured right with the Awardshe received from College Director ofEmployer Enterprise &Commercial Services, TracyCosgrave - impressed thejudges with her passionfor learning a widevariety of skills, fromtraditional, hands-on hairstylingto business sales and day-to-day professional salon management.`“As we begin to see the impact ofthe Levy on apprenticeship numbersacross the country,” comments TracyCosgrave, the College’s Director ofEmployer Enterprise and Commercial

Services, “it was extremely rewardingboth for myself and my team here atMaxim to have our apprentices placedin the spotlight for their application andcommitment to their courses. It is clearthat these apprentices are all makingreal contributions to their employers,and are working hard to establishpromising careers in their chosen fields.”

The ceremony also included two employer awards, with lighting specialist LED Technologies of Marton,near Congleton winning SME Employerof the Year, and Adlington-based foodpackaging machine supplier ProSealUK receiving the Large Employer ofthe Year Award.

Speaking after the event, Andy Gray,Training and Contract Manager atProSeal UK said: “We have recruitedand hired a total of 28 engineeringapprentices over the past four years,and now we are really reaping the fullbenefit of our investment. Over thepast two years, ProSeal UK has workedin close conjunction with MacclesfieldCollege,” continues Andy, “and we haveconsistently received great support,joining forces to resolve any issues or challenges along the way.”

Paul Davies, Technical Sales Managerof LED Technologies said: “Afterseveral years of solid growth, we werelooking to expand our business andapproached Macclesfield Collegeback in 2015, in order to participatein their excellent apprenticeshipsscheme, via Maxim Business Training.The young people we have taken onthrough this proven scheme, have allbeen ambitious, committed, diligentand an absolute credit the College.

“Maxim’s support is first-rate in everyrespect,” continues Paul, “and I canrecommend its apprenticeship schemeto any SME, start-up or small business, here in East Cheshire.”

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College apprentice heads into fast lane

MAXIM Business Training is firmlycommitted to optimising the capabilities and performance ofworkforces, throughout the East Cheshire region and beyond.

Its first-rate team of highly qualified,experienced assessors, tutors, teamleaders and training professionalswork collaboratively and tirelessly to devise and deliver leading-edgevocational, apprenticeship and workforce development coursesthat get results in an increasinglycompetitive regional, national andglobal marketplace. Now, Maxim isset to strengthen its hand still furtherby appointing three key professionals,with all the right attributes to take its award-nominated apprenticeshipscheme to even greater heights.

Paul Gadd - Construction AssessorA high quality, well-seasoned construction professional with more than 20 years of hands- on experience under his

belt, including a proven specialism injoinery and carpentry, Paul began hissuccessful career in education as anApprenticeship Assessor at SalfordCity College, moving on to becomeConstruction Team Leader during his time there, before re-locating to Northamptonshire, to take up asimilar role at Corby-based TreshamCollege, now part of the BedfordCollege Group.

Paul Jones - Construction Assessor

Paul benefits from over 20 years of experience at the sharp end of the construction industry, and has engaged in all

types of projects, from site worksand extensions, to full re-furbs. In 2007,

he entered the world of apprenticeshipsand work-based learning by acceptingthe role of Assessor in Brickwork at TotalPeople. Since then, Paul has gone onto work for many different trainingproviders across the North West,teaching and assessing learnersacross a range of core building disciplines.

Angela Garner - Digital MarketingAssessorAn exceptionally talented and driven

professional, Angela benefits fromover 20 years of experience in high-profile marketing and promotions,beginning as an Account Director at Manchester-based agency WalshSimmons, before moving on to becomeE-commerce Trading Manager at Littlewoods Shop Direct. In 2006, sheworked with leading omni-channelsolutions provider Maginus as an E-commerce Consultant, before movinginto the education sector as an ICT/Business Studies teacher for StockportCouncil. In 2014, Angela returned tothe private sector, as Sales Executivefor Glossop-based Fig Creative.

ONE of East-Cheshire’s fastest-growing businesses is currentlygearing up a Macclesfield Collegeapprentice for a career in the automotive industry, in conjunctionwith Maxim Business Training.

Located in the Hurdsfield district ofMacclesfield, CSG Automotive is oneof the region’s most advanced andforward-thinking automotive repairspecialists, offering an unrivalled levelof expertise in car servicing, MOT testing, tyres, brakes, exhausts andair conditioning.

Led by its dynamic MD, Alex Morris,CSG Automotive also benefits froma highly professional and committedstaff base with a combined industryexperience spanning six decades.

This fast-moving company operatesfrom its state-of-the-art workshopand service centre, opened in September 2017, which is fullyequipped with the very latest indiagnostics technology. This helpsto ensure that CSG can service andmaintain practically all makes andmodels of car, even classic andvintage vehicles.

Just the place then, for a talentedyoung apprentice to gain a detailedunderstanding of how the automotiverepair and maintenance industry works.

Currently enrolled on a Motor VehicleService and Maintenance Technician(Light Vehicle) course at MacclesfieldCollege - which is a Level 3 programmeand one of the new apprenticeshipstandards - 17 year-old Charlie Perrinis currently undertaking the practicalside of his course at CSG Automotive,and company MD Alex Morris isextremely impressed by both hiswork ethic and performance to date.

“In the time he has been with ushere at CSG, Charlie’s attitude andapplication have been first-rate andthis is testament to the automotiveteam working at Macclesfield College,led by Paul Vandermotten.”

The strategic partnership MaximBusiness Training has forged betweenthe College and CSG Automotive isabout to be extended and strengthenedstill further, with outline plans alreadyin place to use CSG’s cutting-edgeMOT testing facilities, to train younglearners and give them a real headstart to a long and successful careerin the automotive repair industry.

“This is all still pretty much in theplanning phase,” confirms the College’sAutomotive Tutor, Paul Vandermotten,“but it’s certainly very exciting, and aclear example of us thinking outsidethe box to work with local businessesin an effort to benefit all parties and,particularly, our terrific learners, hereat Macclesfield College.”

Maxim builds on apprenticeship provisionwith three key new appointments

State-of-the-art: Hurdsfield-based CSG Automotive

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Maxim kicks off morning with high-profile business event

BENEFITING from a proven trackrecord in health and social care,Maxim Business Training is an established leader in East Cheshirefor providing comprehensive andfully tailored apprenticeship andworkforce programmes to this vitally important sector.

Over the past year and a half, MaximBusiness Training has established astrong working relationship withMacclesfield General Hospital.

Through Maxim, the College suppliesthe hospital with bespoke training inaddition to administration, healthcareand IT apprentices. Maxim also worksin close conjunction with Learning andDevelopment to facilitate growth inHealth and Social Care and assistant

nursing practitioners - developingpathways for new and existing stafftowards a nursing degree.

The highly focused, new MaternityTheatre apprenticeship Maxim hasdevised in close conjunction with Macclesfield General Hospital and

the East Cheshire NHS Trust, willsee learners employed as maternitysupport workers, under the aegis ofhighly experienced, fully qualifiedmidwives, to assist in the care ofmothers and babies in the hospital’shighly reputable paediatric unit.

This innovative, 18-month course willprepare suitable learners with theskills and knowledge base they willneed to enter into a career workingwith the NHS Trust, either in maternitysupport work or paediatric care. Eachapprentice enrolled upon the College’s

exciting new Maternity Theatreapprenticeship - devised via MaximBusiness Training - will be assigned a dedicated assessor, who will visitthem in the hospital in order to observe their developing skills at firsthand, in the workplace, as well asensuring they are completing theirtasks in a correct and timely manner.

“The health and social care sector is a vital industry that works to ensurethe best possible health and welfareof the individuals using these services.Moreover, it is currently experiencingrapid growth,” confirms the College’sDirector of Employer Enterprise andCommercial Services, Tracy Cosgrave.

“Our new Maternity Theatreapprenticeship has been specificallydesigned to equip the Hospital witheager, young people with a naturallycaring and respectful approach toothers, a clear passion for the Healthand Social care sector and, most importantly, a tangible work ethic and willingness to learn from the experience and expertise of the excellent midwifery and paediatricsteam in place at Macclesfield General.”

THIS February saw Maxim BusinessTraining represent the College at a strategic away-day event inStockport, to present its leading-edge apprenticeships programmeand demonstrate how it can enhance local workforces andtransform business and economicperformance.

Business Development Managers fromschools across the metropolitan borough - including some from theindependent sector - descended onthe Cheshire Conference & Events

Centre at Edgeley Park - the home of Vanarama National League Northfootball club, Stockport County - to attend a breakfast meeting and networking event focused on the future of apprenticeships provisionacross Cheshire.

This morning breakfast event alsocomprised keynote speeches andpresentations given by the College’sDirector of Employer Enterprise andCommercial Services, Tracy Cosgraveand Maxim’s Employer Engagement

Manager, Karl Coppack (pictured inset left).

Tracy and Karl explainedhow Maxim’s provenapprenticeship scheme

works and is delivered, how the Government-implemented Levy appliesto schools, and how to effectivelymake use of - and manage - theirfunding. They then proceeded to detail the support the local unitary

authority (for which Macclesfield College is an approved supplier) hasin place for maintained schools acrossStockport and its surrounding area.

Tracy Cosgrave has been instrumentalin the rapid rise to prominence of theMaxim apprenticeship and workforcedevelopment programme. She endedher presentation to Stockport’s schoolBDMs by highlighting the apprenticeopportunities open to them, via MaximBusiness Training, including AAT Accountants, IT Technicians, Art and Design Technicians, BusinessAdministration and Management.

“It was pleasing to see so many BDMsattend the apprenticeships breakfastmeeting held at Edgeley Park,” Tracyconfirms. “They are a vital interfacebetween ourselves and the schools.I hope they found the event usefuland look forward to helping themimplement the necessary changesinto their day-to-day operations.”

Maxim delivers the goods with newMaternity Theatre Apprenticeship

Level playing field: Maxim Business Trainingpresented its leading-edge apprentice scheme atEdgeley Park, home of Stockport County F.C.

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Key stakeholder event sets outfresh challenges for the College

Taking counsel: The College’s Senior Management Team met with local council leaders and MP forMacclesfield, David Rutley, to update them on current achievements and present a vision for the future.

THE solid and sustainable platformon which Maxim has built workingrelationships with the East CheshireCouncil, was strengthened stillfurther in February, with a mid-morning engagement event, heldat Macclesfield College’s state-of-the-art campus.

Attended by local MP and championof the College, Mr. David Rutley, thiskey stakeholder event also attractedMacclesfield-based Councillors JanetJackson (Central), Gareth Jones(Tytherington), Adam Schofield(West & Ivy), Nick Mannion (West & Ivy), James Nicholas (Bollington),Lesley Smetham (Gawsworth) andMick Warren (East).

The event began with the localCouncillors being given a tour of thecampus, by members of the College’sSenior Management Team. This wasthen followed by a sterling performance

in the rotunda from theCollege’s exceptionally talented Performing Arts students, led by its Headof Music and PerformingArts Lecturer, Adam

Kelly and Performing Arts CourseLeader, Sarah Bacon (pictured insetabove left).

This local stakeholder engagementevent culminated in a first-rate presentation given by the College’sVice Principal for Curriculum & QualityAndrea Murphy, which summarisedthe recent Ofsted visit, the refreshedcurriculum for 2018 and its success inthe DfE tables - including Macclesfieldbeing confirmed as the top-performingcollege in Cheshire for Applied Generaland Technical Level qualifications.

“Our refreshed curriculum here atMacclesfield College, is designed tomeet the exact needs of the learnersand employers,” says Andrea Murphy.“As part of our plans to enhance andextend our apprenticeships deliverystill further, we are currently expandingour Level 1 provision and developing arange of highly focused access coursesthat lead to higher apprenticeships anduniversity courses in key shortageareas, such as engineering.”

“Moreover,” Andrea Murphy continues,“we are actively growing areas ofour curriculum to meet the specific requirements and skills needs of the Cheshire and Warrington LocalEnterprise Partnership (LEP).”

Proceedings were brought very capably and fittingly to a close by the College’s Director of EmployerEnterprise & Commercial Services,Tracy Cosgrave, as she delivered aninsightful and highly informativepresentation centred on the recentapprenticeship reforms, and whatthey mean to Macclesfield as an FE and HE college, going forward.

“Our apprenticeships programmehere at Macclesfield College continuesto go from strength to strength,”concludes Tracy Cosgrave. “Currently,we have 419 apprentices in total, 302of whom are learning on frameworks,with the remaining 117 learning onour new Standards programme.

“Furthermore, we now offer a widerrange of apprenticeships than everbefore, spanning 12 key sector skillareas, with programmes from Level2 to Level 5.”

New CIPD courses to spring into action this April

THE latest round of CIPD coursesare about to be launched at Macclesfield College, following a successful introduction to itsbroad-based curriculum back inSeptember 2017.

Targeted at learners aged 19 andover, this CIPD-approved Level 5course - devised and delivered byMaxim Business Training - providesa deep and detailed understanding of core HR skills, functions and issues.It also gives learners a platform onwhich to build their organisationalperformance, by applying fundamentaland strategic HR policies and interventions.

“The cohort who enrolled on our CIPDcourse back in September have allworked and progressed well throughthe programme,” confirms Director ofEmployer Enterprise & CommercialServices, Tracy Cosgrave. “Our nextcohort is now fully prepared to begintheir course in April, following successful interviews held back inJanuary, and we are all very excitedto be delivering a course that impactson so many areas of modern businessand human resources management.”

Founded in 1913, the Chartered Institute of Professional Developmentis the world’s oldest association in

its field, with morethan 135,000 membersinternationally working

across private, public and voluntarysectors.

Additionally, the new CIPD Level 5HR programme delivered via MaximBusiness Training, provides studentswith practical, relevant and useful insights into supporting best practicein managing employment relations,resourcing talent and deliveringlearning and development activity.

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