Walsall College Construction student, Grace Morgan has been shortlisted for a national 2017 BTEC Award.

The BTEC Awards, now in their seventh year, aim to recognise individuals for exceptional achievements while working towards their BTEC qualifications.

BTECs are career-based qualifications designed to give students the skills they need to move on to higher education or go straight into employment.

Grace is in the second year of her BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction and The Built Environment and has been offered a scholarship by Northumbria University to study a degree in Building Surveying.

Construction Lecturer at Walsall College, Andrew Stubbs, said: “From day one Grace has shown a real passion for learning and a clear desire to develop her skills and knowledge of the sector.

“She completed her work experience placement with Turner and Townsend, an international project management firm based in Birmingham and received excellent feedback from a senior quantity surveyor.

“She is also keen to promote the sector and has volunteered her time at school career days to talk to youngsters considering following the same path as her.

“We are delighted that she has been shortlisted as it is testament to the dedication she has displayed as well as her hard work and efforts on all her assignments.”

Curriculum Manager for Construction at Walsall College, Barry Hill said: “We have some exceptionally talented students at Walsall College so we are very proud when they receive external recognition. Grace has worked hard and I’m confident she will be successful in her chosen career path when she completes her studies.”

Studying BTEC qualifications help students to develop a range of practical knowledge and skills to prepare for and progress in their chosen career.

Classroom style teaching combined with project work and practical, work-related activities help to develop students' behavioural skills, which can include teamwork, creative thinking and presentation skills.

More employers and Higher Education institutions than ever before are choosing BTEC-qualified candidates for their academic and practical knowledge and skills.

A major new study published by the Carnegie UK Trust revealing trends in library use across the UK and Ireland is challenging stereotypes about who uses public libraries in England.

The research, which compares library use between 2011 and 2016, has revealed that young people aged 15-24 years are the most likely age group to use libraries in England (51%), whilst those over 55 are the least likely to use a library (43%). Meanwhile almost half (46%) of 25-34 year olds are also now using public libraries, a rise of 2 percentage points since 2011.

As well as reaching more young people, many public libraries in England are also now serving many more people who don’t read books. Libraries across the UK have begun providing a much wider range services and activities in recent years. More than a third of people (37%) in England who read only one book a year now say that they use their local library. Forty percent (+5 percentage points from 2011) of people who only read one book every six months also now identify themselves library users. 

These trends are good news for English public libraries as they seek to attract new customers and protect their funding. However, the Carnegie UK Trust’s research also confirms that libraries across the UK and Ireland face a number of significant challenges. Overall library use in England has seen a decline of 4 percentage points from 50% to 46% since 2011 and all UK nations have experienced seen a steady decline in the number of  people using the library ‘frequently’.

Martyn Evans, Chief Executive of Carnegie UK Trust says that libraries must make a persuasive case for continued investment in staff and services if they are to continue to meet the needs of local communities.

He said: “Public libraries remain an immensely popular civic resource, both in England and across the rest of the UK and it’s extremely promising that there’s been a rise in library use in England amongst those aged 25-34 and amongst non-readers.

“However, we know that the future success of public libraries depends on how effectively they respond to the changing needs of their communities. Local authority budgets are under severe pressure. All of us who value libraries’ rich and varied contribution to our wellbeing must provide clear and compelling evidence of their impact if future investment is to be secured.

“We also know that the public want libraries to do even more. People in England told us that they would be more likely to use the library if they had better information about the activities on offer, if they could access more Council services there, if the library held more events or had a café or coffee shop on site.”

Neil MacInnes, President of the Society of Chief Librarians said: “The Carnegie UK Trust’s unique report is the only report that enables us to look across the UK and Ireland at how public libraries are used and what people think about them. It depicts the state of play, challenges and the opportunities ahead for public libraries in England.

“It is clear from the research that public libraries in England have an enduring place in people’s hearts and that they are highly valued services. We need to ensure that libraries continue to prosper and deliver against key policy goals and wellbeing. The Trust’s recommendations set out a way in which we can all work towards a thriving future public library service.”

The ‘Shining a Light’ report   is the result of a unique five year study by the Carnegie UK Trust and IPSOS Mori into public library use in the UK and Ireland The report is the only one of its kind, enabling data on changing use and attitudes towards library services to be compared across the individual jurisdictions of the UK and Ireland. Around 10,000 face-to-face and telephone interviews were involved in total in 2011 and 2016 combined.

Birmingham’s Broadway Casino have announced that they will be sponsorship one of the UK’s best-loved boxers when, on Saturday April 22, Birmingham-based Tommy Langford enter the ring at Leicester Arena to face Avtandil Khurtsidze for the WBO World middleweight title.

Just three years after turning professional, Langford claimed his first regional championship, (the WBO Middleweight title), which led seamlessly into a stellar 2016 which saw him claim the British strap in and reclaim his Commonwealth title.

On the sponsorship, Broadway Casino’s Managing Director, Denis Dowling, said; “We are sure that our sponsorship of Tommy will see avid fans flock to the casino. He has bags of talent and we are honoured to be able to associate our brand with him.”

The Leicester Arena will be filled with BT Sport cameras documenting the monumental fight between the pair.

West Midlands youngsters can take advantage of a unique and free development programme to grow their employability skills and provide at least 90 hours targeted work experience within some of the city's top creative organisations.

‘Foot in the Door’ has 60 places available for young creative types aged 16-23 and no qualifications or experience are necessary - just an open mind and a willingness to get stuck in.

Applications are especially encouraged from those from a diverse background, whose perceptions may have led them to believe they couldn’t even contemplate a career in the creative sector.

This exciting new scheme is being run by Custard Factory-based Creative Alliance (the leading training provider within the creative and cultural sector in the Midlands) in partnership with 10 organisations keen to help future industry talent get a foot in the door of the city's burgeoning creative and cultural sector – Bareface, Beatfreeks, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Blue Whale Training, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, DanceXchange, Desi Blitz, mac Birmingham and The Old Rep.

Noel Dunne, Creative Alliance Director, explains: “Foot in the Door is structured around a series of bespoke training courses, specifically designed and delivered by the 10 partner organisations and focusing on the skills that employers in this sector require.  Together we’re looking to build a legacy and help future-proof Birmingham’s young creative sector.

It’s not a fast track to performance success and becoming famous, however, rather about gaining insight and access to the myriad of other industry roles in front of house, backstage, technical, event management, design, production, marketing, administration, plus learning and participation, etc.

Project Coordinator Jodie Mason (a recent beneficiary of a similar scheme) adds: “The only cost to the lucky 60 is their time and commitment and in return Foot in the Door will open their eyes to the vast range of creative organisations available and the variety of quality roles they might not have been aware of.

There’s a lot of untapped creative potential out there and disadvantaged youngsters who think this sector just isn’t a viable option, but I know otherwise so why not give it a go?”

Creative Alliance will be undertaking a series of outreach sessions and targeting schools, colleges, youth groups and job centres, alongside ongoing social media campaigns using young creative industry ambassadors who have recently managed to get their foot in the door for that crucial first break.

A series of 90-minute briefing sessions will commence on April 27 and 28 and conclude on May 4 and 5, with at least two of the partner organisations presenting at each one. The final deadline for applications is May 15 and the lucky 60 will then attend a launch event in early June where they will meet all the partner organisations and declare their favourite three to work with. The actual skills courses commence end June to December ’17.

For Foot in the Door application details visit http://creativealliance.org.uk/fitdbrum/ where you can ‘nominate a mate’ too.

Two London-based clubs - Croydon Domino Club and Cosmopolitan Sports & Social Club – have announced their support for a major blood donation drive, in association with Kiwanis Brixton, a children's charity raising money, through raffles and events, to fund a children's hospital, Saturday Supplementary School, contributing to schools in Africa. As well as hands-on projects at community centres for adults and children alike.

#EveryCaribbeanDonorMatters, a collaboration between RAFFA International Development Agency, Blood4Life and NHS Blood & Transplant, with support from UK Caribbean High Commissioners and MCW Ltd. are working together to raise awareness and improve Caribbean Diaspora communities understanding about blood donation and it’s life saving contribution to helping people of all ages lead healthier lives.

The overall goal is to increase the number of people from the Caribbean population group to register to donate blood and get involved in health promotion and self-care activities.