News and Views from The Source Skills Academy

The Source Skills Academy is proud to have been awarded ‘Invest in Skills Provider of the Year’ at the Yorkshire Training Partnership Work Based Learning Awards 2012.

The award ceremony, which is designed to recognise work based learning providers across Yorkshire, was held at the Mecure St Pauls Hotel on Friday 27th January.

The Source was nominated for the Invest in Skills provider of the Year category recognising an organisation who has demonstrated the effects of improved staff skills on Learner achievement and progression.

In addition to winning this award, The Source was also a runner up in three other categories, including Employee of the Year, Trainer of the Year and Learner of the Year.

Pat Wilce, Work Based Learning Manager at The Source, said: “The Yorkshire Training Partnership Awards are the region’s way of recognising work based learning providers

and we are incredibly proud to receive two honours at this prestigious event. Our team at The Source are dedicated to their learners and the businesses they support and it is because of our unique approach to building relationships that we have developed an excellent reputation across the region.”

...to News and Views direct from The Source – a summary of events, achievements and activities from the last few months. 2011 was a great year for The Source, with new openings, various award wins and the launch of several new community programmes. 2012 is set to be even better – watch out for new courses, exclusive offers and more exciting developments. You can even keep up with our latest news via Twitter and Facebook. We hope you enjoy this bulletin - please email any feedback to our marketing team.

Ann Cadman

YTP Awards Success

Welcome...

sourceNEWS DIRECT FROM

TH

E

VIEWS&

The Source Skills Academy300 Meadowhall Way, Sheffield S9 1EATel: 0114 263 5600 Fax: 0114 263 5700Email: [email protected]

www.thesourceacademy.co.uk

Like 'The Source Skills Academy' on Facebook

Follow 'The Source Skills Academy' on Twitter

2011 saw the launch of The Source Skills Academy Rotherham, a brand new site based in the heart of Rotherham Town Centre designed to offer advice, guidance and training services to increase skills levels and to support trade in the town centre. This was shortly followed by the unveiling of the Sheffield Hub on 23rd September a new venture that provides a hub of guidance and advice for local individuals and businesses.

Both sites have allowed The Source to offer more dedicated support to individuals and businesses in both Sheffield and Rotherham whilst offering well appointed conferencing facilities.

The Source’s Conferencing Manager Katrina Ferris said: “We have an excellent reputation for quality room hire facilities in Sheffield

and we have now launched this service in the heart of Rotherham Town Centre and Sheffield City Centre. Local businesses can access our facilities in a choice of three locations - Rotherham, Sheffield City Centre and at our head office at Meadowhall, Sheffield. Having a choice of venue locations across South Yorkshire makes the booking process as convenient as possible for our customers. Please feel free to get in touch – we look forward to welcoming you to our facilities.”

To take a look at The Source’s facilities or to book a meeting space, call 0114 263 5643 or visit www.thesourceacademy.co.uk for further information

The Source Expands in South Yorkshire

Sept 2011 – Jan 2012

All Wrapped up for Christmas

First in Best Dressed!The Source launched First In Best Dressed in September, the first charity shop of its kind!

First in Best Dressed, based on Cambridge Street Sheffield, is a brand new charity shop that aims to develop apprentices by giving them practical experience of running a business as well as raising money for local charities.

A number of charities each gain for three months from the shop’s profits and Autism Plus was the charity to benefit during the first quarter. First In Best Dressed is looking for charity nominations for the next two years from the residents of Sheffield, so please get in touch with your suggestions (contact details below).

Council Leader and supporter of the project, Julie Dore unveiled First in Best Dressed on 9th September. The project is supported by Sheffield City Council, the Skills Funding Agency and The Source Skills Academy.

Julie Dore said: “This is an excellent project, supporting local charities, young people and revitalising an empty unit in the city centre. By donating your unwanted items, you are providing the fuel to develop young people and raising vital funds for local charities. I’m

sure people will be pleased with what First In Best Dressed has to offer; come down and take a look!”

Ann Cadman, Managing Director at The Source Skills Academy, said: “First In Best Dressed is an exciting new charity shop that not only supports local charities, but gives young people the opportunity to gain practical experience in a retail environment.”

First In Best Dressed needs your donations - to donate to this worthy cause, you can drop your goods into any of The Source Skills Academies or to the First In Best Dressed Charity Shop:

Meadowhall: 300 Meadowhall Way, Sheffield, S9 1EASheffield: 2 Surrey Place, Sheffield, S1 2LPRotherham: 15 High Street, Rotherham, S60 1PTFirst in Best Dressed: 60 Cambridge Street, Sheffield, S1 4HPPhone: 07747 314 309 Email: [email protected]

Shoppers in Rotherham Town Centre had the opportunity to take advantage of two special services in the run-up to Christmas, making Christmas shopping that little bit easier!

On Saturday 3rd, 10th and 17th December a personal shopping and gift wrapping service was available in partnership between The Source Skills Academy, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Rother FM.

The services were launched in early December and the Lord Mayor, Shaun Wright and Lady Mayoress were on hand to meet shoppers.

The personal shopping team was on-hand to help shoppers with their Christmas list. The aim was to help those shoppers looking for a novel present idea or for those who knew what they wanted but didn’t know where to get it- ultimately making it as easy as possible for them to spend their money in Rotherham town centre.

The team even launched a Gift-Wrapping Service meaning that those looking for an easy life could drop off their gifts, head for a coffee and come back to pick up their gift-wrapped items in their own time.

George Elliott, Account Manager at The Source Skills Academy Rotherham, said: “These extra special services were launched in 2011 to make Christmas shopping a pleasurable experience for Rotherham residents. The Source Skills Academy, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Rother FM came together to make the event a great success and we had lots of happy customers leaving the town centre with bags full of gifts!”

The Source has a range of events coming up over the next few months including ‘Wear a Woolly Hat to Work Day’ in aid of the Cathedral Archer Project Charity on 10th February. The Cathedral Archer Project supports people from a variety of backgrounds associated with homelessness including rough sleepers, drug and alcohol addicts, women street workers, probation clients, asylum seekers and refugees. With support most will be able to establish secure lifestyles free from drugs and alcohol and the lifestyle that accompanies them. To get involved in the scheme, contact the charity on http://archerproject.org.uk

The Source is also hosting a range of events for Apprenticeship Week, with Information Evenings and an Apprenticeship Hit Squad that will promote Apprenticeships to Meadowhall Retailers. Apprenticeship Week runs from Monday 6th – 10th February with events across the country. To find out more about our events, visit www.thesourceacademy.co.uk

Wear a Woolly Hat to Work Charity Day, Apprenticeship Week Events

sourceNEWS DIRECT FROM

TH

E

VIEWS&

The Source Skills Academy300 Meadowhall Way, Sheffield S9 1EATel: 0114 263 5600 Fax: 0114 263 5700Email: [email protected]

www.thesourceacademy.co.uk

Like 'The Source Skills Academy' on Facebook

Follow 'The Source Skills Academy' on Twitter

100 Apprenticeship Scheme Provesa Great Experience for Young People

Delivering Excellence in Customer Service

Daniel Crapper attended the Opportunity 100 Apprenticeship training programme, a Sheffield City Council funded scheme, to help him find employment. During his six weeks training with The Source Skills Academy Daniel worked hard to complete the Level 1 qualification in Workskills where he studied self assessment, self management skills and interview techniques.

Daniel was a shining star on the course - he had excellent attendance and time keeping, was very enthusiastic and adopted a “can do” attitude. He is polite and friendly and his dedication to find employment was evident.

Prior to attending the course Daniel had attended College to do public services but realised that his chances of employment in the police force were limited so he looked elsewhere for work. After completing his training with The Source Skills Academy, Daniel was offered work experience at The Source to enhance his work

knowledge, experience and skills. During the three weeks work experience, Daniel worked as part of a team, carrying out a wide variety of essential administration tasks including filing and speaking to students and clients for other community programmes at The Source. Daniel even helped to design the job boards in classrooms and used his computer skills to update spreadsheets. His assistance on the team proved invaluable. Lorraine McGreal, Administrator at The Source, said: “Daniel has helped out a great deal; he has completed a range of jobs and made a positive contribution to the team. Daniel has also fitted in well with other community projects we host at The Source.”

Daniel said: “I have finally got my future mapped out and it’s thanks to the Opportunity 100 Apprenticeship course and the opportunities it has given me. I would like to thank Keilly for supporting me through my training and I will keep in touch with the team”.

The Source Skills Academy is collaborating with Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail to exclusively deliver a new suite of programmes supporting businesses to train their workforce to deliver excellence in customer service.

The suite of courses includes the following elements:

• The Principles of Customer Service

• Sales Powered by Service

• Frontline Management Solutions

The programmes have been tailored by Skillsmart Retail for the UK retail sector and are delivered exclusively through the National Skills Academy for Retail. To date nearly one million people have been successfully trained using WorldHost in over 20 countries. The programmes are modern and energetic,

offering a comprehensive training toolkit and topical DVD and CD scenarios. They can be used across a wide variety of industries where the quality of front-line customer service is key to the success of the business.

Participants on these certificated programmes will gain valuable skills and techniques and be eligible to wear the WorldHost pin badge which recognises and demonstrates customer service excellence.

With the Olympics 2012, the Paralympics 2012, the Ryder Cup 2014 and the Commonwealth Games 2014 coming to the UK, there has never been a more important time to deliver excellent customer service.

For further information or to book one of our courses, please contact Chrissie Cameron on 0114 263 5672

To contribute to News and Views, contact Sophie Taylor at [email protected] or call 0114 263 5667