Monthly Archives: April 2014

AQLT and HABC team up to improve access to APLH courses

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National retailers and members of the public seeking APLH qualifications will be able to find courses more easily thanks to this new partnership.

The Alliance of Quality of Licensing Trainers (AQLT)* is now offering Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC) qualifications at a number of their training centres across England, Scotland and Wales, with key examination venues including Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Liverpool, London and Oxford.

The coverage of venues will allow national licensed retailers and the general public to sit HABC examinations at AQLT’s centres on a number of monthly dates, offering them greater flexibility and choice.  The dates will be published on HABC’s Coursefinder Plus .

It is the second time the two organisations have teamed up, having previously partnered in 2012 to offer the first national training programme in Underage Sales Prevention to both the on- and off-licence sectors in 40 locations across England and Wales.

Martin Read, Acting Chair of AQLT, said, ‘We are extremely pleased to now be able to offer HABC personal licence holder qualifications at our training centres across the UK. The initial national series of Preventing Underage Sales courses we delivered using HABC qualifications was most successful and we now look forward to providing this essential APLH qualification to many HABC corporate and public clients’.

Christian Sprenger, HABC MD, said, ‘We have worked successfully with AQLT before, and we know that they have the same commitment to high standards, customer service and meeting expectations as we do. AQLT shares our values, and through this partnership we will be able to deliver high-quality qualifications across England, Scotland and Wales.’

AQLT now delivers HABC’s full suite of licensing qualifications, including the APLH , SCPLH and the SCPLHR , as well as a number of other related compliance qualifications available upon request including food safety, health and safety and underage sales,available to members of the public or delivered to major national retailers.

To find out more, and for contact details of Centres that will be offering HABC qualifications in each region, go to Coursefinder Plus .

* AQLT is a group of five of the UK’s largest and award-winning training companies for the delivery of licensing training in England, Scotland and Wales (abv Training, InnConfidence, Inn Dispensable Training, InnPacked and Poppleston Allen).

Highfield’s rally star sets new racing challenge

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BC Rally Highfield’s very own rally star Ben Cressey has got the 2014 BTRDA Gravel Championship off to a racing start after taking second place overall in the B13 class after just two races.

And then he’ll be setting himself a new kind of racing challenge this April as he runs in the London Marathon for charity.

Ben, who drives a Subaru Impreza (pictured) with co-driver Mark Swallow, has been mixing it with some of the big names of rally driving, but two impressive displays have seen him pick up vital points.

He said, ‘If someone said to me before the start of the season we would be second in B13 class I would have laughed, but it’s become reality and puts us in a different position for the remainder of the season. The amount of money invested in some of the cars surrounding us is phenomenal and for us to be up there mixing it with them in our first year of 4wd is very exciting!’

Ben now has a break in the championship, but isn’t resting on his laurels, as he’ll be running in the London Marathon on 13 April to raise money for VICTA , a charity which supports blind and visually impaired children and young people.

Said Ben, ‘The money raised will go towards helping VICTA in its work to provide equipment, services and events that help blind and visually impaired children and young people develop socially, emotionally and educationally. They also provide parents with a vital network of support and information, so it’s a really worthwhile cause’.

He added, ‘It’s great to be in second place in class in the BRTDA Gravel Championship, but I think second in the marathon might be a little optimistic!’

To contribute to the charity, go to Virgin Money Giving and search for ‘VICTA’.

The next rally for Ben and Mark will be the SJR sponsored Plains Rally this May in Welshpool.

Staff set the pace for blind charity

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(l-r front): Ben Cressey, Diana Hill, Chris Sprenger

(l-r front): Ben Cressey, Diana Hill, Chris Sprenger

Staff from Highfield put themselves through the paces as they completed a 10k run around Doncaster Lakeside on Sunday 9 March 2014 to raise money for VICTA , which supports blind and partially sighted people under the age of 29.

And for three of the runners it was a dry run for an even greater challenge, as they will be competing in the London Marathon on 13 April to raise even more money for the charity.

Chris Sprenger, Highfield Group Managing Director, said, ‘It was a great effort by all the team and I am really pleased that we were able to raise more money on the day, which goes towards the £2000 we have already raised so far.  The money will go towards helping VICTA in its work to provide equipment, services and events that help blind and visually impaired children and young people develop socially, emotionally and educationally, as well as offering their parents a vital network of support and information.Myself, Ben Cressey (Director of Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning) and Diana Hill (Corporate Business Development Manager) will be running the London Marathon in April, and with £2000 already raised, we’re on track to reach our target of £3750’.

The event, which saw 43 members of staff running on the day, also included a barbeque afterwards for friends and family to raise further funds for the charity.

To contribute t0 the charity, go to Virgin Money Giving and search for VICTA.

HABC’s Mary takes centre stage

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Mary playing the trombone on stage with Lesley Garrett and the Bel Canto Choir.

Mary playing the trombone on stage with Lesley Garrett and the Bel Canto Choir.

HABC’s Mary Golder got the opportunity of a lifetime recently as she appeared on stage with international soprano singer Lesley Garrett.

The quality assurance auditor accompanied the acclaimed singing star as part of the celebrations to mark 50 years of the Dore Male Voice Choir at Sheffield City Hall on 8 March 2014 in front of a packed house.

Mary accompanied Lesley Garret – also known as the ‘Doncaster Diva’ due to her South Yorkshire roots – on trombone, which she plays as part of the Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) Brass Band .

‘Appearing on stage with one of the world’s most famous soprano singers was amazing,’ said Mary, ‘and a bit different to my day to day role of providing support and guidance on quality assurance and best practice to our centres. Lesley Garrett was really nice and friendly, and an incredibly down to earth person. It was a fantastic experience and a great way to help celebrate the Dore Mail Voice Choir’s 50th birthday’.

Mary will also be playing with Leeds-based indie band Chumbawamba later this year as part of a touring show, Coal, as well as getting the opportunity to perform alongside Jarvis Cocker – someone the Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) Brass Band first encountered in 2013.

Mary said, ‘The band recorded a live score for Jarvis Cocker’s BBC4 documentary The Big Melt – which tells the story of Sheffield, the steel industry and the people who worked in it – on the opening night of Sheffield Doc/Fest in June 2013 at the Crucible Theatre, but there weren’t any trombones required that evening so we go the night off. This time however I am hoping to get my chance to perform alongside Jarvis!’

The Sheffield City Hall performance with Lesley Garrett will be broadcast on Songs of Praise on BBC1 this May.

MP Rosie Winterton visits ‘Large Business of the Year’

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Rosie Winterton MP (l) with Jason Sprenger (Highfield Chief Executive - centre) and Christian Sprenger (right).

Rosie Winterton MP (l) with Jason Sprenger (Highfield Chief Executive – centre) and Christian Sprenger (right).

It was an education for Doncaster Central MP Rosie Winterton as she visited Doncaster’s ‘ Large Business of the Year ’, the Highfield Group.

Ms Winterton dropped in to the offices of Highfield to offer some New Year cheer and congratulate staff and directors on winning the ‘Large Business of the Year’ category in the Doncaster Chamber Business Awards in December 2013.

SpeakingwithJason The Doncaster Central MP was given a hands-on experience as she was shown how vocational qualifications such as NVQs and apprenticeships are developed, and how further education is helping to meet the needs of young people and workers in Doncaster and the UK.

Ms Winterton said, ‘I would like to congratulate Highfield on their award and am delighted to have had the opportunity to visit them and see for myself the work that they do. Providing opportunities for people to obtain vocational qualifications and apprenticeships is important in helping people to gain employment and develop their careers, which in turn will help to grow our economy. I am pleased that we have such a successful company in this field here in Doncaster’.

Jason Sprenger, Highfield’s Chief Executive, said, ‘It was a huge honour to welcome Ms Winterton to our office and have our recent achievements, including the Chamber award, acknowledged. Highfield is a global leader in our specialised fields and we are delighted to have that recognised. 2013 was an incredible year for us – with nearly 80 new staff recruited and some incredible achievements in terms of the work we have done – including significant development within our apprenticeship offering. We are confident that 2014 is going to be even more successful’.

Walkaround The visit took place at HABC’s head office, Highfield House, Heaven’s Walk, Doncaster, on 10 January 2014.

SIV Ltd celebrates St. John Ambulance awards success

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Andrew Snelling(Deputy Chief Executive for SIV Ltd), Rachael Pyecroft (Graves Training Centre Manager) and Mark Cowen (Graves & Heeley General Manager)

Andrew Snelling(Deputy Chief Executive for SIV Ltd), Rachael Pyecroft (Graves Training Centre Manager) and Mark Cowen (Graves & Heeley General Manager)

Sheffield International Venues (SIV) Ltd is celebrating after it beat nearly 300 other businesses to make it into the top 10 of the St John Ambulance awards.

The Sheffield sport, leisure and entertainment company – which is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and includes the Motorpoint Arena , Ponds Forge and Sheffield City Hall amongst its venues – finished as one of the finalists in the Organisation of the Year for First Aid Excellence category in the St. John Ambulance ‘Everyday Heroes Awards’ , which recognises those who have used first aid to save a life and the individuals and businesses that have championed the cause.

Rachael Pyecroft, Graves Training Centre Manager, SIV Ltd, said, ‘It was a fantastic achievement for us to be a finalist and reach the last 10, as it acknowledges the hard work and dedication the team here have put into making first aid training a priority. The recognition has reinforced our commitment to first aid and we’re determined that next year we’ll do even better’.

Ryan Beresford, Account Manager at HABC, said, ‘It’s always great to see clients recognised this way, and we’re delighted for the team at SIV Ltd. They are seeing the benefits of using HABC qualifications, both in terms of what those qualifications give to individual learners and for the wider recognition they bring to organisations as a whole’.

Graves Training Centre excels in meeting all company training requirements including bespoke training packages.  Contact 0114 237 4563 for further information.

B&V Training Academy shortlisted for ‘industry Oscars‘

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B & V Training Academy One of HABC’s Approved Centres is looking forward to its own ‘Oscar night’ after being shortlisted in its industry’s most prestigious awards.

B&V Training Academy , which worked with HABC to develop qualifications in Legionella , has been nominated in the 20th ‘Training Initiative of the Year’ category at the H&V News Awards – the premier awards ceremony for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning sector.

Now the Northamptonshire-based organisation – which beat serious competition to be shortlisted – must face a Dragon’s Den style interview in front of a judging panel in London before finding out if they have been successful at the awards ceremony on 24 April 2014.

Sarah Pallett, Training Manager at B&V Training Academy, said, ‘We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award as it is our opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the B&V Training Academy over the last 12 months. We are immensely proud of the Ofqual courses we have designed and implemented in Legionella awareness and Legionella control, and would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their support in bringing these courses to market’.

For more information, go to B&V Water’s own blog .


On the road with HABC for National Apprenticeship Week

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APPs_National_App_Week_2014_RGB-Jpg This March saw England’s employers and educators being challenged to get involved in apprenticeships as part of a week long effort to raise awareness of work-based learning.

HABC held free roadshows in five locations – London, Dudley, Doncaster, Manchester and Newcastle – as part of National Apprenticeship Week (3-7 March 2014), with delegates able to find out how apprenticeships can help to reduce recruitment costs, retain staff and improve performance whilst also showing a commitment to the local community and young people.

Ben Cressey, Director of Apprenticeships and WBL with delegates

It was a successful week overall, with a number of attendees at the events having since come back to us to say they are interested in offering apprentices and some now well on the path to doing just that.

Adam Glynn at the HABC apprenticeship roadshow in Dudley

Adam Glynn at the HABC apprenticeship roadshow in Dudley

Throughout the week HABC also played its part in the wider national campaign to raise awareness of apprenticeships across the board.  Firstly, we created this visual infographic to explain more about apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship Week Infographic Then we filmed some video at AS Watson – parent company of Superdrug and Savers – to show how their apprenticeships are helping their staff and their business.

AS Watson Filming

First up, Superdrug.

And not forgetting Savers…

We also had regular updates on our social media accounts using the hashtag #NAW2014 (and retweets by major partners such as the National Apprenticeship Service and the Skills Funding Agency ).  From our Twitter timeline…

Twitter Stream And we had quotes and endorsements from key clients, leaflets handed out at partner events, press coverage in trade and regional titles, and a new HABC blog (this one!).

So if you want know more about how we can help you with apprenticeships, just click here .

Highfield Leisure and Hospitality Week

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HLHW-250 This July sees the first Highfield Leisure and Hospitality Week (7-11 July 2014) , with five CPD events covering food safety, health and safety, customer service, fire safety and pool lifeguarding.

Held at Academy House in Doncaster , we will be dedicating one whole week in July to further enhance your subject knowledge on key topics relating to the leisure and hospitality industries, giving you the benefit of the knowledge and experience of our team of top industry experts.

And with each event worth CPD points, there is no better way to update your skills and knowledge in order to help your career, your business and your learners.

We also have great discounts available for anyone looking to attend more than one of the workshops.

Dates are:

Monday 7 July Food Safety

Tuesday 8 July Health & Safety

Wednesday 9 July Customer Service

Thursday 10 July                      Fire Safey

Friday 11 July Pool Lifeguarding (FREE Event)

Pricing

The more CPD events you attend during this week, the greater discount you will receive. Please note that our Pool Lifeguarding CPD Day is FREE of charge.

Prices are as follows:

HABC Centres
1   CPD Day £85
2   CPD Days £150 (£75 per day)
3   CPD Days £200 (£66.67 per day)
4   CPD Days £240 (£60 per day)
Non-HABC Centres
1   CPD Day £130
2   CPD Days £195 (£97.50 per day)
3   CPD Days £245 (£81.67 per day)
4   CPD Days £285 (£71.25 per day)

All prices listed are exclusive of VAT .

Attendance at all five days will entitle you to 30 CPD points.

Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

For further information or to book your place, please contact our sales team on:
0845 2260350; alternatively email: events@highfieldabc.net

Delivering apprenticeships with Superdrug and Savers

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Recently Superdrug and Savers – part of the AS Watson Group – made the switch to HABC for all their apprenticeship needs. As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2014 (3-7 March 2014), we spoke to Operations Manager Sue Johnston, and two learners, about how apprenticeships were bring real benefits both to the business and to young people.

Sue Johnston, Operations Manager, Superdrug and Savers

Sue Superdrug ‘For us, one of the main benefits of Apprenticeships is the up-skilling of our workforce. Apprenticeships bring in new people who, given the opportunity and the right training, can become a key element of our succession plan. Great people means great service, which in retail can also have a positive effect on sales and the profitability of the business.

Our Apprentices gain a qualification as well as some very valuable life skills such as increased confidence, better communication skills and self-belief, all of which are transferable into any other workplace or further education scheme.

To any business considering taking on apprentices, I would say ‘Go for it!’ You are giving a young person an opportunity to develop their skills, get on the career ladder and gain valuable experience. The business also benefits from this experience. It’s a win-win situation.

I would say for young people considering an Apprenticeship; choose carefully and ensure the area you want to go into is right for you. If possible, volunteer somewhere first to be sure. But once you have made your choice, you’ll get a qualification, valuable experience, a chance of a permanent job at the end – all whilst getting paid….Why wouldn’t you?

Superdrug Eighty percent of our completed Apprenticeships have gained a permanent role within our business, but one of our great success stories is Christy.

Christy became an apprentice after completing a 6-week Retail Traineeship through the Job Centre voluntarily, as she was registered unemployed. She showed such promise during those 6 weeks that we offered her the opportunity of doing an Apprenticeship. Christy completed her qualification over 12 months and gained a permanent contract. She has recently been promoted from being a Sales Assistant to a Store Supervisor – and she is still only 18!

We chose to work with HABC for Apprenticeships because of their customer service, their family atmosphere and the fact that they include you as a provider, rather than dictate to you. So far it’s been an excellent experience and there is always someone to answer your questions. We meet regularly to discuss our future and where to want to develop, and HABC fully support us in this.’

Christy Horsley, Superdrug (Apprenticeship: Retail Skills)
Savers_logo ‘I chose an apprenticeship over other courses as I prefer to learn practically. Classrooms never suited my learning style and doing an apprenticeship meant I was getting experience, as well as a qualification.

So far the best part for me has been passing my tests. I was very nervous but with the support from my assessor and my manager, I sailed through each one first time. I’m already achieving my goal of getting a permanent position as I have now completed my apprenticeship. I am now a store supervisor, but I want to continue learning do more so that one day I may be a store manager, helping other people become what they want to be.

To any other young people considering an apprenticeship, I would say this is the best thing I ever did. If you like being hands-on then take the opportunity, work hard and you will achieve your goals. I did!’

Gemma Superdrug Gemma Southcoat, Superdrug (Apprenticeship: Retail Skills)
‘I wanted to have a career, not just a job, so I though an apprenticeship would be the best way to start that process as it could lead to so much more.

Working with the team and the customers has been the highlight for me. I am a trainee sales assistant and work with the public every day in small town so you get to know the locals. I love the customer service part of this role as I can help people, learn new skills and I am so much more confident talk to people now than I used to be.

I hope that my apprenticeship will give me the opportunity to stay in retail with my current employer, but if not with them then certainly in the same area of the business. I want to progress and work towards being a manager of my own store one day.

My apprenticeship has helped me now only with the knowledge of retail but also in myself. I was quite shy to begin with, and now I am far more confident and outgoing.’

To find out why more and more organisations are moving to HABC for apprenticeships, check out the AS Watson testimonial video on Highfield TV: