The Sports Careers Event took place on the campus and among those invited to attend were representatives from the Armed Forces, the National Health Service, universities popular with students on sport-related courses and companies running outdoor and adventure centres such as PGL.

Lecturer Mark Kent explained: “We asked employers and higher education providers to discuss a range of options open to our students on successful completion of their current courses. We also offered details of our own Foundation Degrees for those who want to go on to a university-level qualification here at College. It is important for students to understand the full range of opportunities open to them when they complete these highly-regarded vocational courses. Stafford College has an excellent reputation for its sport, adventure and public services courses and employers as well as universities are keen to meet our students”.

Sporty young people interested in a qualification that reflects their talent can choose from a variety of Sport, Outdoor & Adventure and Public Services qualifications at Stafford College – from entry-level right up to Foundation Degree. For more information contact 01785 275468 or visit one of the Open Evenings held throughout the year.

“Students on our sport, outdoor adventure and public services courses will learn archery as part of their course,” explained lecturer Mark Kent. “It is important for these students to have a really wide skills base to impress prospective employers and this is, quite literally, another string to their bow!”

As well as those on specialist courses, students from other areas of the College will be able to learn archery, when a new lunchtime club gets underway next term.

“It can be quite expensive to begin archery but lessons in the Archery Club will be free to students who have joined the Sports Association,” said Mark Kent. “Our students pay an annual fee of £20 to get free term-time access to the gym, sports hall and classes like spinning, fitness and yoga. We already run teams in a wide range of sports and I’m hoping that by next year, Stafford College will be competing at a high level in archery.”

The College will be hosting advice and information evenings from 6-8.30pm on January 10, 11 and 12.

“These evenings are usually extremely popular because they’re perfectly timed for young people starting to think about what they want to do next,” said College Principal Steve Willis.

“The mock examinations and revision timetable after Christmas really brings it home to these students that the GCSEs are just round the corner and it is time to start thinking about life after the exams. These open evenings are a great first step for families to get the wider picture about what is available post-16.”

The Open Evenings will include tours of the facilities and exciting glimpses of plans for a redevelopment of the town centre campus. Visitors can sit-in on presentations about college life and there is also the opportunity for individual guidance from subject staff and careers advisers.

“The fact that it is so easy to reach the College is undoubtedly a big reason why so many students choose Stafford College,” said Steve Willis. “School leavers are looking for more than convenience, though. They know that Stafford College produces great results, year after year and that this is an award-winning college in terms of its students and its staff”.

As well as gaining valuable catering qualifications and experience in the College restaurant kitchens, Kevin Willdigg, 45, has also started his own business baking and decorating cupcakes.

“I always wanted to be a chef but somehow, at school, I didn’t get the chance. I felt as if a life as a mechanic and heavy goods vehicle driver was planned out for me as a teenager. Eventually I decided that I’d given it 20 years and since I still wanted to cook, I’d better do something about it.,” explained Mr Willdigg, who is now studying towards the Professional Diploma in Catering & Hospitality.

Students on catering courses at Stafford College have the opportunity to gain experience in the demanding environment of the restaurant kitchens and also work alongside some of Staffordshire’s top professionals as they teach ambitious prospective chefs how to create some of their signature dishes.

“I’ve already gained the skills and confidence to start my own business in a small way. I’ve called my business Lavender Hill Cupcakes and I take orders for decorated cupcakes for gifts, celebrations and special occasions,” said Staffordshire’s newest baker.

• Kevin’s cupcakes are available through his website http://www.lavenderhillcupcakes.yolasite.com/

The artists are in the second year of the Foundation Degree in Contemporary Art Practice Fine Art. Forming a collective called Fourart, they approached the Mill Street bar and coffee lounge to ask if they would host an ambitious exhibition of their work which they have called Inspire.

Students Jenny Cottingham, Carrie Reynolds and Therasa Ruttledge have installed a vibrant, eclectic and sometimes controversial selection of work including paintings, sculpture and photography. Several pieces were immediately snapped-up by art collectors and a notebook left in the bar inviting comments has been filled with appreciative responses:

“I came all the way from Norwich to see this. Keep up the good work”, writes one visitor to the exhibition. “I am 10 and I absolutely love the picture called The Start. It’s gorgeous!” comments one of the youngest contributors. “It’s very exciting and I was impressed by all the different styles and exhibits,” reflects another.

The local artists say that they have gained a great deal of confidence from their course and hope to be able to make a name for themselves through this kind of unusual urban showcase. Lecturer Neil Wood said “We are extremely proud of Jenny, Carrie and Therasa. The exhibition formed part of their work-based learning brief for this semester and they have created a magnificent collection which looks perfect in its setting. Particular thanks go to Gez Prendergast and his colleauges at the Vidal Lounge, who have been so supportive of the project.”

Land owned by Stafford College has been turned into new football and rugby pitches. Students playing on the pitches will be able to use the changing rooms belonging to nearby Stafford Town Football Club, while the College has agreed to make the pitches available to other clubs and community organisations when they are not being utilised by students.

Councillor Mike Smith, Cabinet Member for Leisure, was one of those invited to attend one of the first training sessions on the new pitches. He watched while members of Stafford College women’s football and men’s rugby teams were coached to success: “We were very pleased to be able to work in partnership with the College to make facilities like these available to the wider community. We have been keen to create a sports village in this area, at the same time as maintaining the valuable ecology of the riverbank”, he said.

Lecturer Vinnie Fullegario coaches the teams, numbering several England players in his squads. He explained that prior to the creation of the new pitches, the College had to hire local facilities: “These are superb pitches, on land which the College already owned. The area was resurfaced and seeded in the summer, taking into account advice obtained by local conservationists who helped us preserve the important habitat areas. Students have been able to use the pitches for the first time this term and we are also able to host competitive fixtures on the ground. It is a big asset for the College and a great resource for other community organisations.”

Bill Gregory, Chairman of the CMPE Midlands branch announced that the award for the Level 3 Apprentice would go to Robert Dingle. Robert lives in Cornwall, where he works for Imreys Minerals Ltd. For the past three years he has combined on-the-job experience in the workplace with training on the Construction Plant course at Stafford College. A previous winner of the Level 2 Award, Robert has also been nominated for a City & Guilds Medal of Excellence.

Robert’s lecturer is Patrick Perry: “Rob has been an excellent student, earning the respect of staff and peers. Like many of the apprentices on this course, Rob travelled considerable distances to attend college. This is a highly specialised course dealing in large plant equipment and it is not uncommon for trainees to travel from overseas for the training, which we offer in blocks throughout the year.”

The winner of the Level 2 Apprentice Award was Daniel Neal, who lives in Birmingham and works for Marubeni Komatsu Ltd in Redditch. Patrick Perry said that he had demonstrated “An enthusiasm for electrical work which is very important as modern machinery is becoming more electronically complex. At work Daniel is required to work on a range of plant machinery from very large pieces weighing tens of tonnes to small machines weighing-in at less than one tonne.”

A brand new award went to a third Stafford College apprentice. The Acorn to Oaks Award recognises the achievements of a student who has overcome significant difficulties to achieve a personal goal or qualification. The inaugural presentation was made to William McCaw, who works for Selwood Ltd in Hixon. Pat Perry explained that William has trained at the College since 2008: “William is dyslexic and experienced difficulty with aspects of the course such as report-writing. We put support in place to help him and were delighted to see him pass his NVQ Level and Intermediate Technical Certificate. It was an achievement for him to pass both these qualifications and he continues to do well on the advanced apprenticeship programme, which he is due to complete in July 2011.”