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YOUNG PEOPLE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO TASTE TOP JOBS
DREAM work
placements at Everton FC, Sony BMG Records and Rick Stein to be won.
Young people in England are being urged to apply for dream work
experience placements set up by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).
To inspire young people the LSC has launched a competition for 16-18
year olds to win aspirational work placements. The placements
include a week at Trevor Sorbie’s salon, Everton FC, the Newcastle
Falcons Rugby Club, Sugar magazine or working as a sports journalist
for Sportsbeat. The winner could also find themselves working
alongside MP Khalid Mahmood, behind the scenes at Rick Stein’s
restaurant, for record company Sony BMG, at Red Bull Formula 1 or
backstage at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The LSC has set up the competition to raise awareness of the
possibilities young people have - but only if they achieve at least
5 good GCSEs or the vocational equivalent, such as Level 2 diplomas
in subjects like Motor Vehicle Maintenance, Multimedia Design or
Animal Care. Each placement is in an industry where a minimum
level of qualifications is essential and highlights the fact that
gaining relevant work experience along with these qualifications
will add over £141 a month to a young person’s starting salary.
To apply for one of these placements taking in place during May half
term young people must log on to
www.getsetforlife.org.uk
where they can submit a short statement on which position they would
most like to win and why they deserve this once in a lifetime
experience. The prize includes travel and accommodation near to the
work placement, so young people from all over England can apply.
The competition is targeted to reach the 20% of young people who the
LSC predicts will drop out of education and training this year in
favour of work and access to an immediate pay packet - a decision
that some may later come to regret.
David Shaland, Executive Chef at Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant,
said:- “This is a great opportunity for a young person to gain
an exclusive insight into the hospitality industry. The winner will
get a week of hands on experience in the restaurant and a unique
opportunity to see what it takes to succeed in this kind of role.
We’re delighted to be working with the LSC because qualifications
are essential for success and we encourage all young people to stay
on in learning to achieve their full potential.”
Julia Dowd, Director of Learning at the Learning and Skills Council,
said:- “Work experience is absolutely crucial in today’s
competitive job market. Not only does gaining practical work-based
experience give young people an opportunity to see whether they are
suited to a job, it also means a bigger pay packet when they enter
the world of work full-time.”
Phil Hope MP, Skills Minister for the Department of Education and
Skills, said:- “By offering work experience to young people we
will help create the skilled workforce of tomorrow. Work experience
is essential in linking education and employment. It is critical
that all young people are given work experience opportunities as
this allows young people to make decisions about their learning and
employment paths. We need employers to be working increasingly
closely with schools and colleges - by offering Apprenticeships,
work based learning and work experience for those in learning.” |
The
Blood Red Moon
Photograph by Patrick Trollope
PUBLIC and
astronomer have waited six years for this spectacular total eclipse
of the Moon to happen again. On Saturday 3 March 2007 thousands of
people across Britain, Europe and Africa watched the amazing site as
the silvery full Moon darkens and turns coppery red or orange. On
Merseyside the cloudless night sky as added to by the sill air that
made viewing of the event a joy to watch. The dramatic views of the
eclipse happen from 10.24pm to 11.58pm. A spokesman for MeteoGroup
UK said that:- "Large tracts of England and Wales had
perfect conditions for the event and advise people to get outside
with their binoculars." Many did and some pup goes came out
to see the event unfold in the heavens above. In ancient times a was
viewed with dread and seen as an omen of disaster or great change.
Thankfully we now know that it is just a simple phenomenon that
occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Moon and the Sun.
The colour gave it's name to the event, "The Blood Moon."
The colour is produced due to the light from the Sun scattering
through the Earth's atmosphere is reduced to predominantly-red
wavelengths, which are then reflect off the lunar surface back to
Earth. So sadly it is not down to vampires or evil?
To find out more
about the moon visit:-
Our Link.
Merseyside Astronomy Day
SOME of the
country’s most prominent astrophysicists will visit Spaceport in
March for the 2nd Merseyside Astronomy Day. Astronomer Royal
for Scotland John Brown will join professional astronomers from
Liverpool John Moores University’s (JMU) Astrophysics Research
Institute, the University of Southampton and the Royal Observatory
Edinburgh to give a series of exciting presentations.
The event is being held on Saturday 10 March (10am to 5pm) at
Spaceport, Merseytravel’s £10 million space-themed attraction.
Leading astronomers taking part in the day include Professor Mike
Bode, Dr David Bersier and Dr Maurizio Salaris of Liverpool JMU, Dr
Suzanne Ramsay Howat of the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh and Dr
Christian Kaiser of the University of Southamption.
Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, which owns and operates
both the Mersey Ferries and Spaceport, said:- “To get so many
experts in the field of astronomy in one place – Spaceport – is a
real coup for the attraction. Spaceport is a great example of
how we can make space educational and entertaining and this
Astronomy Day is a great example of that. We hope the event inspires
people to get even more interested in space and the universe.”
Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel,
added:- “This will be a great opportunity for people to learn
more about space and the stars. Spaceport is a major success story
and this event just adds to its appeal.”
The event is being organised jointly by Liverpool John Moores
University and Spaceport. For more details about this event visit
www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/mad.
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