Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2014 | Page 137

EDUCATION Get ready for the job you dreamed of t: 01983 550580 e: [email protected] T oday’s 16-year-olds are spoilt for choice when deciding what to do next after Year 11. They need to continue in education or training until at least their 18th birthday, but this does not necessarily mean staying in school after GCSEs. The Isle of Wight College is not like school. It is a more mature environment and this encourages self-confidence and motivation. There are work-relevant courses at all levels plus the traditional A Levels in a modern sixth form centre for those thinking of university. However, if you choose BTEC National Diplomas you will get a qualification that not only gives you work-relevant skills and knowledge, but also up to 420 UCAS points so you can then choose between work or university. Another good route into employment is via an apprenticeship. Training to gain job-specific skills takes place in the workplace with attendance at college usually only one day per week. The IW College has strong links with employers and has consulted them to ensure the new £6.5m STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Centre is equipped appropriately as a state-of-the-art learning environment. The STEM Centre will host the best engineering training facilities including robotics, pneumatics, hydraulics CAD/ CAM and renewable energies. The centre will be opening in September. For adult learners there are hundreds of part time courses to choose from. To find out more about the opportunities available visit www.iwcollege.ac.uk For more information please contact: Mary Silk, Head of Marketing and Admissions, The IW College. [phone]. [email protected] Portsmouth University ready for bake off t: 02392 844888 A University of Portsmouth father of four is one of the 12 competitors in this year’s Great British Bake Off on BBC1 this autumn. Enwezor Nzegqwu, 39, is a business consultant in the Information Service at the University by day and a self professed ‘baking geek’ by night. He was selected from 20,000 applicants to take part in the show. “Being on the Great British Bake Off has been the most amazing experience” he said. “I’ve learned so much and made the most fantastic friends. I couldn’t believe I was selected”. e: [email protected] Enwezor , who is an expert at making macaroons, is well known among work colleagues as the guy who sometimes brings homemade bakes to meetings. He is not allowed to say how long he actually remains in the programme in which one contestant is sent home by the judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry each week, but he described the first time the judges criticised fellow contestants’ work, on the first week, as tortuous! “I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. It was awful, just awful” he said. The final will air in October. www.visitilife.com 137