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Partners Sign Up for Climate Change| 29.06.10

On Tuesday 29 June 2010, the Council’s Community Planning Partners joined Councillor McAvoy and Councillor Hamish Stewart, Chair of South Lanarkshire Sustainability Partnership, to sign up to the Declaration at South Lanarkshire College’s low carbon demonstration house, ‘Aurora’ - a demonstration house built, together with a number of organisations and businesses,  by South Lanarkshire College to demonstrate the use of modern low carbon technologies and building techniques which the Scottish Government foresees will eventually become the norm for housing of the future. 

For more information on this event, please read the press release.

 

Charity Walk| 14.06.10

On Monday 14 June, South Lanarkshire College Painting and Decorating year 1 students raised £1000 in aid of MacMillan Cancer Care by participating in a sponsored walk through the vast Achray Forest, Aberfoyle.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were thrilled to raise so much for the worthy cause.

For more information on this event, please read the press release.

 

Footprint Training| 14.06.10

Three students (Jason Tobin, David McBeth and Andrew Cathie) from NC Digital Media Computing recently completed Footprint training at Glasgow Caledonian University.  The project aims to empower students to take a leading role in reducing the carbon footprints of the communities in which they live.

The carbon management training will enable them to carry out campus and community carbon audits that result in significant carbon savings and positive behaviour change. They have audited Glasgow Caledonian University and South Lanarkshire College.  They were very impressed when shown around the colleges Low Carbon House.

The pilot project involves working with two colleges and two universities in Scotland, training and supporting students to be Carbon Ambassadors.

The volunteers will gain practical experience of reducing the carbon emissions of organisations, enabling them to make a difference to the communities in which they live.  They will be visiting other schools and colleges to give their advice on reducing carbon emissions during the next few months.

 

Ab Fab event| 10.06.10

Beauty therapy students Lisa Black, Lisa McDonald, Michelle Sinclair and Angela Flowerday helped out  at a party night in beauty salon AB FAB.  The night was a fun filled night with raffles, different treatmetns and demos, all the girls worked their socks off for the full 3 hours doing file and polishes at the nail bar. 

Local School Make it Three in a Row| 08.06.10

Molly Robinson and Harry Williams  from Duncanrig Secondary won the title of 'Young Master Chef' school team challenge 2010 beating off stiff competition from joint place runners up Lesmahagow High School and Duncanrig Secondary B team for the title.

Belmont Academy from South Ayrshire were awarded 'Best Main Course' and Calderglen High School won 'Best Dessert'.

This years judges were Keith Marley proprietor of 'La Potiniere' in Gullane, Ginette Hamilton former student and proprietor of 'Mamma Mia' event catering together with Arlene Bonomi our proud sponsors from Brakes Fresh Ideas.

Evelyn Ritchie Principal Teacher in Home Economics at Duncanrig was overjoyed with her teams sterling performance saying ‘I am so proud for both Harry and Molly to have won the competition and it makes it so much more meaningful having won the grand final now three times in a row’.


Choices for Life| 06.06.10

This very popular event for young people is promoted by Strathclyde Police and supported by community partners, ourselves included: The event aimed to show young people of the vast range of activities and choices open to young people, as an alternative to drink and drugs.

South Lanarkshire College had an information stand, a fruit & veg. identification prize quiz organised by our Hospitality Section and  Construction offered a timbercraft  activity, and a stencilling activity.


Pre-Apps Students Visit Royal Glasow Concert Hall| 09.06.10

Students from the Construction faculty's Pre-apprenticeship course to the Royal Concert Hall on Wednesday 9th June for a careers exhibition hosted by Jobserve UK.

Alex Neil MSP visits College’s Home of the Future| 09.06.10

Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities, today (Wednesday 9 June), visited the first affordable, low-energy, low-carbon home at South Lanarkshire College, East Kilbride.  The low-energy, low-carbon house ‘Aurora’ is the result of a successful and unique partnership between South Lanarkshire College, Dawn Homes and more than 50 private sector partners.  It showcases the low-energy technologies and high insulation levels capable of reducing energy use and energy bills to zero while contributing towards challenging government targets to reduce greenhouse gases and carbon emissions. The low-energy house exceeds building standards requirements that are recommended to come into force in 2013 and then in 2016/2017 by The Sullivan Report: ‘A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland’. It also leads the way as a blueprint for eco-friendly house construction and is providing a unique training facility in the UK to teach students the principles behind low-energy buildings.

South Lanarkshire College’s low energy house project with Dawn Homes won a Business to College Innovation Award on 24 March 2010.  It also won the homes for Scotland Award for Environment and Sustainablity on 21 May 2010.

For more information on this event, please read the press release.

World Cup Fever| 04.06.10

Football fans were given a taste of World Cup fever last week when a team of students took on the might of the Faculty of Construction (plus a couple of ringers) staff side.  The match was played to raise funds for the Football Strips for Malawi initiative which Construction students had arranged as part of the Equality and Diversity Week.

In the searing heat and high altitude of Ballerup Recreational Ground in East Kilbride, the staff side started without latecomers John Carr and David McLaren, and quickly found themselves four goals down, with the students forcing save after save from goalkeeper Michael “The Cat” Duke.

Once at full strength, the staff side eventually got into their stride and with midfield maestros Paul Slavin and Alex Somerville showing some neat skills, the goals started flowing at the other end.  John Carr picked up a quick hat trick as the staff closed the goals gap and they seemed to cope better with the heat as the students’ legs tired.

Despite a late surge, the students hung onto their lead, emerging victorious by 10 goals to nine. 

Staff side – Michael Duke, Kirk Elwood, John Carr, David McLaren, Alex Somerville, Paul Slavin, John Bell and Stephen Nolan.  They all deserve a medal for coming back so strongly in what were particularly non-Scottish weather conditions.

Man of the Match – referee Tony Brown who remained impartial throughout and didn’t put a foot  wrong.

Students Help Diane to the Special Olympics| 28.05.10

Students and staff from across the college worked together to raise £1005 to send student Diane Gillan to the Special Olympics.   The students and staff hosted a variety of fundrasing events including a danceathon, a sponsored walk and a sponsored silence.

Master Chefs of Great Britain Apprentice of the Year 2010| 19.05.10

A hospitality Student from South Lanarkshire College has exceled at the Master Chefs of Great Britain Awards in London.   Julie Morgan - 1st year Hospitality Management Student was placed 3rd at the 'Master Chefs of Great Britain Apprentice of the Year' Awards.

For more information on this event, please read the press release.

Skillbuild 2010| 06.05.10

The Skillbuild 2010 regional final was held in the College on Thursday 6 May with participants from all over Scotland competeing in the event.  South Lanarkshire College had significant successes in the following categories:

PLASTERING

1st    Kenny McAllister
2nd    William Richardson

PAINTING & DECORATING (NE)

3rd    Mark Cooney

PAINTING & DECORATING (Senior)

2nd          Sean Ferguson

ROOF SLATING & TILING

1st    Steven Butler 2nd    Stephen Tipping

IIP Gold Standard Award| 30.04.10

South Lanarkshire College, East Kilbride is delighted to announce that it has achieved the Investors in People (IiP) Gold Standard, following a recent inspection. Investors in People is a national organisation which sets out recognised standards for employers to help improve business performance.

South Lanarkshire College East Kilbride is one of only 22 organisations in Scotland to have achieved Gold Status, putting it in the top 1.25% of all 40,000 IiP accredited organisations across the UK.

For more information on this event, please read the press release.

South Lanarkshire College wins another award| 24.03.10

South Lanarkshire College won a Business to College Award for the second year running.  Last year the college won the award for effective development of a company’s workforce.  This year the college won the “Business to College Award for Innovation” for its work with Dawn Homes and 50 business partners on designing and building an affordable low-energy low-carbon house – the first in Scotland to be built by a mass house builder.  The award was presented by Keith Brown, minister for Skills and Schools at an event organised by “Scotlands Colleges” and hosted by Kay Adams at the Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Wednesday 24 March.

For more information on this event, please read the press release.

MSPs debate South Lanarkshire College's low carbon house project "Aurora"| 10.03.10

Linda Fabiani, MSP, sponsored a debate at the Scottish Parliament on the project.  To see the full members' debate, click on the link below.
http://www.holyrood.tv/popup.asp?stream=http://vr-sp-archive.lbwa.verio.net/archive/040310_members_business.wmv

Give Yourself a Treat with a Pampering Session at SLC-ek| 09.03.10

Staff and students of South Lanarkshire College East Kilbride would like to welcome all regular and new clients to the college's state-of-the-art hair salons; spa and beauty rooms where they are offering a wide variety of hair treatments and therapies to assist student assessment.  Beauty and hair appointments are offered throughout the week to members of the public at extremely affordable prices. The Salon is also looking for models for student assessment.  Prices for styles and treatments range from £4 for a shampoo/set for short hair to £18 for a full head colour.  With the choice of conditioning treatments for £5 and a cut and blow dry ranging from £5 to £9.   All members of the public are welcome, so please let family and friends know about the service.

For more information on treatments, please read the press release or refer to the hair & Beauty price list.

Citizenship Students Show Racism the Red Card| 05.03.10

A selection of students from all 3 faculties joined the campaign on Friday 5 March to show racism the red card.

Each of the students pictured arrived in football colours of teams from around the country and beyond.  They will now donate their strips to Malawi in partnership with Glasgow the Caring City to encourage citizenship.  Malawi is amongst the world's least developed and most populated countries.  The Malawian government depends heavily on outside aid to meet development  needs.  The strips will be a welcome addition to the townships and will be warmly received.

Brakes UK Silver Medal for SLCEK| 03.03.10

The students of Hospitality from South Lanarkshire College excelled at the 'Brakes UK Student Chef Challenge' on the 3rd March 2010 at 'Hotelympia' culinary competition in the Docklands, London.

Gillian Hanson (41) The Murray, East Kilbride, Laura McFarlane (19), Blackwood, Heather Simpson (45) Cambuslang and Claire McEwan (33) Greenhills, East Kilbride - who travelled as reserve, were awarded ‘Silver medals’ and placed 2nd overall narrowly beaten by Sheffield College for the coveted 1st place prize. Westminster and Kingsway College the largest catering establishment in Britain were 3rd.

For more information on this event, please read the press release.


Battle of the Dragon| 18.02.10

Following on from the Hospitality section's success at the Scottish Culinary Team's Dinner in January 2010, students went on to have further success at the 'Battle of the Dragon' International Cookery competition held in Wales on Thursday 18 February.  HNC Hospitality Management student Julie Morgan represented the National team in the pastry section and the team went on to be the overall competition winners.

For more information on this event, please read the press release.


Pre-Apprentice Students Charity Walk| 04.02.10

On Thursday 4 February 2010, South Lanarkshire College Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Craft students participated in a sponsored walk around Strathclyde Country Park to raise Funds for Yorkhill Children’s Hospital, Ward 2B. The Apprentices organised this as part of the course involving Citizenship skills.  The entire organisation of the event was managed by the students themselves. They chose the charity as their lecturer in construction Derek Brown’s son has had 4 major operations connected to ward 2B. The group managed to raise a fantastic sum of £805 which will be put to good use at the hospital. Two of the group John Murphy and Gary Noble attended Yorkhill along with Derek Brown and his son Derek to present the cheque to Mr Davis the surgeon who operated on Derek and the staff nurse on the Ward.  Mr Davis was overwhelmed by the college’s kind donation and thanked the students personally as he showed them around the ward explaining where the money would be used.  Mr Davis also pointed out that Derek Brown’s son is a testament to all the equipment that is needed on the ward and without donations, children across Scotland would be greater disadvantaged.

Brakes Competition Winners| 28.01.10

SVQ level 3 South Lanarkshire College Hospitality students Claire McEwan 33, Greenhills; Gillian Hanson 41, Lindsayfield and Laura McFarlane 19, Blackwood recently won the Scotland and Northern Ireland and Northern English Final of the 'Brakes Student Team Challenge' at a fiercely fought competition at Ayr College. The regional finalists included Ayr College (reigning Holders of the trophy), Forth Valley College, two teams from North West catering College in Northern Ireland and Tyne Metropolitan College from Newcastle.

For more information on this event, please read the press release.

Scotland Leads the way in low-energy housing 01.12.09

Just a few days before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, has launched the first affordable, low-energy, low-carbon home at South Lanarkshire College, East Kilbride.  The low-energy, low-carbon house ‘Aurora’ is the result of a successful and unique partnership between South Lanarkshire College, Dawn Homes and more than 50 private sector partners.  It showcases the low-energy technologies and high insulation levels capable of reducing energy use and energy bills to zero while contributing towards challenging government targets to reduce greenhouse gases and carbon emissions. The low-energy house exceeds building standards requirements that are recommended to come into force in 2013 and then in 2016/2017 by The Sullivan Report: ‘A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland’. It also leads the way as a blueprint for eco-friendly house construction and will provide a unique training facility in the UK to teach students the principles behind low-energy buildings.

For more information on this event, please read the press release.

Children in Need 2009| 20.11.09

South Lanarkshire College Students Association had a fundraising spectacular for Children in Need on Friday 20 November 2009, with help from College staff they managed to raise £431.33 in aid of the worthwhile charity.  Staff were on hand to participate in a range of fundraising activities which included Depute Principal Angus Allan enduring excrutiating pain whilst Beauty students waxed his legs.  Lecturers Isabel McCartney and Richard Patterson were lambs to the slaughter when they allowed students to throw sponges at them in aid of the good cause and a special mention goes to Construction Curriculum Manager Dave McLaren who bravely adopted a new hairstyle for the event - a rainbow mohican.  A big thank you to Mrs McLaren for allowing her husband to come home like that on Friday night.

Real Radio Film Shoot| 03.11.09

HND Year 1 and 2 Make- Up Artistry students did their bit for Charity last week when they vounteered to work on the make-up for Alan Rough's debut rap video.  The Real Radio Football Phone-in presenter and ex Celtic goalie has penned a rap song entitled 'Wi Ma Dug' for release in aid of the Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).  The students had great fun on the day as they made up Rough Daddy's female co-stars for the charity music video.  The video will now only be released if a certain amount of money is raised for CHAS - the video will not be released if the money isn't raised.  Only Bossman Jay on Real Radio knows what the figure is and will only let everyone know once the figure has been reached.
To help Real Radio reach their charity target and ensure our creative students work goes on display all you have to do is text the word POUND to 63344 (terms and conditions apply).

SQA Star Awards| 30.10.09

South Lanarkshire College student Martin Quinn had further success at the SQA Star Awards which were held on Friday, 30 October at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh.  Martin was awarded the SQA Star Award for Skills Competitor of the Year.  The award which is sponsored by the Government on behalf of UK Skills recognises candidates who have developed their vocational qualifications to competitive levels locally or nationally.

Martin was presented with the award due to this success at the 2008 Regional and  National Skillbuild finals.  Martin not only won his category at the events but he was also awarded the Frank Eaton Trophy for Best Overall apprentice.  The win gained him a place in the British team at the next Roofing World Championship Competition.

Martin was still reeling from the shock of winning the Star Awards Skills Competitor of the year award when he was awarded the highest accolade - the Pride O'Worth Award.

Wear It Pink Day 2009| 23.10.09

The College’s 2009 Wear it Pink Day was a great success, with all staff and students getting right into the spirit of the event. Pink events took place across the college, including nail and face painting and marshmallow counting, and there were pink dishes on the menu in the canteen.  More than £1100 was raised for Breast Cancer.

Thank you very much to all who contributed, and to all those who helped out so enthusiastically on the day.

South Lanarkshire Students Graduate| 28.10.09

South Lanarkshire College was a buzz of excitement on Tuesday 27 October as HNC/D students donned graduation gowns and took part in the annual graduation ceremony Proud family members, friends and College staff looked on as the students were presented with their certificates by College Chairman Ian Macpherson at the ceremonies held in the Hamilton Town House. Students of all ages gained awards in subjects as diverse as Accounting, Construction Practice, Hairdressing and Early Education and Childcare. A full list of grauands are detailed below: Faculty of Business

HNC Accounting
Lynn Henderson Brown, Christine Campbell, Marie Lynn Crossan, Debbie Lindsay, Tracey Elizabeth Paterson, Elaine Simpson, Stephanie Steele, Kirsty Carina Stevenson,

HNC Administration & Information Technology
Chantelle Caldwell, Heather Clare, Janice McEwan, Rebecca Park, Morag Taylor,

HND Business
Arlene Manderson, Kerry McLellan,

HNC Computing
Michelle McLean, Andrew Reilly,

Faculty of Care

HND Beauty Therapy
Pamela Jemima Duncan, Sara Elliot, Chloe Marjory Geraghty, Jill Hastie, Agnes Sarah Hynd, Eilidh Janet Jardine, Julie Lingham, Linda Marion Mathieson, Alison Margaret McGrail, Amanda McMahon, Natalie Slowey, Dana Uhercikova, Anne-Mharie Worrall,

HNC  Fashion Make-up
Debbie Ann McLean, Nadine Prow,

HNC Hairdressing
Lesley Gourlay, Pamela King, Vicki McArthur, Angela McDonald, Margot O’Neill, Phyllis Therese Taylor, Judy Watton, Tracey Yates,

HNC Early Education & Childcare
Nicola Ballantyne, Nicole Braid, Arlene Bulloch, Amanda Burns, Isobel Mitchell Burns, Daneka Connor, Lynnette Cruickshank, Debra Dawes, Karen Ann Deans, Margaret Dunbar, Fiona Fleming, Nicola Gallacher, Karen Galloway, Heena Gill, Kirsty Jean Glass, Sandra Haig, Nicola Catherine Kilpatrick, Kathryn Marion Lynas, Olivia Mackie, Lynsey Mary McClelland, Kirsteen Fiona McLaren, Angela McLucas, Joan McMillan, Carol Miller, Arlene Primrose, Lisa Catherine Robb, Susan Robertson, Claire Scott, Arlene Telford,

HNC Health Care
Katie Chung, Lesley Ann Hiddleston, Jennifer Martin, Mark James McGaw, Angela McNally, Gary Semple, Steven Simpson,

HNC Social Care
Susan Anderson, Martyn Bradley, Carolyn Jane Callaghan, Karen Clark, Michelle Dean, Elaine Ellan Docherty, David Duncanson, Mary Dunn, Karla Ferguson, Kirsty Jane Fleming, Kathleen Hamilton, Donna Henderson, Barry Johnston, Pauline Jones, Susan Lees, Yvonne McMeeking, Janis McNaught, Megan Miller, Louise Mitchinson, Katherine Moir, Linda O’Brien, Zoe Primrose, Elizabeth Marie Thomson

Faculty of Construction

HNC Construction Practice
David Boland, Ross Deans, Andrew Osprey, Martin Russell, Robin Shearer, Graeme Welsh,

HNC Painting & Decorating Supervision
Stewart Campbell, Stewart Davidson, Mark George Gillespie, James McLean, Craig Robert McLeish, Ian Shaw

Faculty Awards

Faculty of Business
Edward McGee
Accounting & Business

David Higgins
Computing & Information Technology


Faculty of Care
Anne-Mharie Worrall
Beauty

Vicki McArthur
Hairdressing

Susan Robertson
Early Education & Childcare

Michelle Dean
Health & Social Care


Faculty of Construction
Graeme Welsh
Construction

Mark Gillespie
Painting & Decorating Supervision


Prizewinners

Ede & Ravenscroft Award
Gary Semple

Norma J Hutton Award
Janice McEwan

College Award for Best International Student
Qian Yu Chen

SQA Centre Award
David Duncanson

South Lanarkshire College Hosts UK SkillBuild National Finals 2009 | 06.10.09

Scotland’s top construction talent were joined today by MSP for Schools and Skills, Keith Brown, at South Lanarkshire College, East Kilbride to mark the launch of the final of Britain’s largest skills competition, SkillBuild, which is organised by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the industry.

The three day event,  held at  South Lanarkshire College’s recently launched £34 million state of the art campus, will see over 100 apprentices and young trades people from across the UK battling it out to become Britain’s best trades person in categories such as carpentry, joinery and painting and decorating.

SkillBuild provides an opportunity to recognise the importance of apprentices and their skills and this year 14 competitors will be flying the flag for Scotland and representing their country at the ConstructionSkills managed competition.

Douglas Robertson, 21, from Coatbridge, is one of the talented apprentices who is representing Scotland today. A student at South Lanarkshire College, he scooped gold in carpentry at the regional heat back in May.

“Getting through to the final is a big deal as I’ll be competing against the best young talent the UK has to offer. So I’m trying to make sure I’m in top form to stand up against the competition as I know it will be tough.

“I really couldn’t believe that I’d won the Scottish regional heat as the other apprentices in my heat produced some great work. I found the task challenging and  the brief was to construct a wooden frame incorporating some of the most complicated shapes and joints I’ve learned in my time working on the job and studying at South Lanarkshire College.

“To win would be fantastic but I’m more than happy to be getting the experience of competing in the final as I anticipate it’ll be good fun. “

Competitions manager for SkillBuild, Heather Bliss, commented: “SkillBuild is a fantastic opportunity to encourage and recognise excellence, as well as to help develop the future talent of the industry. The calibre of entrants this year really is some of the best that we have ever seen which is a great boost for the construction industry.

“We wish all of the competitors the best of luck and look forward to seeing them in action over the next three days; I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the employers and colleges for being so supportive throughout the competition.”

A total of 12 trades are represented at SkillBuild across the board with apprentices from as far south of the Border as Somerset.

The winners will be announced at a special ceremony at Hampden Park on Friday, 9 October, which will be opened by television presenter, Angelica Bell, who will talk to the apprentices about the importance of teamwork and showcasing your talents. The ceremony will also feature a key note speech from Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of ConstructionSkills.

The winners from this year’s national final could be in with a chance of competing to be the best in the world by taking part in the international WorldSkills competition, which is held every two years and will next take place in London in 2011.

Sponsors of this year’s SkillBuild included Crown Paints Ltd, British Gypsum, Stabila and the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC). For further information about the SkillBuild competition please visit www.cskills.org/skillbuild.

SWAP Access to Nursing Students sweep to Victory | 20.09.09

SWAP Access to nursing at South Lanarkshire College students finished the year on a high by winning the International Adult Learners’ Group Award. The students who all have places in nurse training at the University of the West of Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian University enjoyed a night of celebration at the award ceremony held in the Marriot Hotel, Glasgow.
One member of the class, Catherine Alexander, reached the final of the Individual Adult Learners Award and is a winner in the Helena Kennedy Awards 2009.

Scotland’s Learning Partnership recognised the hard work and commitment of the class in successfully completing the course, organising charity events, managing the College Student Association as well as meeting with local groups and people applying for places on the programme.

The award was presented by Chris Harvey and Vicky Lee from STV. Kenny Anderson, Director of SWAPWest also attended the event and was delighted with the groups’ success.  Family, friends and members of the college staff joined the class in celebrating their success and the night was filled with fun and laughter – after the results had been announced!

To find out more about the SWAP Access to Nursing Course and other courses at South Lanarkshire College please contact the admissions team on 01355 270750.

Recruitment Event for Potential Full-time Business Faculty Students | 20.08.09

South Lanarkshire College East Kilbride will host a specialist Business Faculty information event on Thursday 20 August.  The event will focus on full-time business courses and will be offered as a drop-in session between 4 and 6 pm, when staff from the faculty of business will be on hand for one to one chats with potential students on courses commencing in August 09. Subjects which  students can enquire about include HNC Hospitality, HNC Professional Cookery, HNC/D Accounting, HNC Interactive Media, Advanced Administration, HNC Administration and Information Technology, NQ Digital Media Computing, Intermediate 2 Administration.

To find out more please pop in to the College between 4 and 6 pm on Thursday 20 August or enquire prior to this on all Business courses by contacting South Lanarkshire College’s admissions team on 01355 270750.

John Swinney Kicks off Construction of Home of the Future | 01.06.09

John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, today (Monday 1 June) formally launched a unique public-private partnership project to construct the first affordable eco-home for the mass market.  The house, a partnership between South Lanarkshire College, Dawn Homes and more than 20 private sector partners, will not only provide a unique training facility to teach students the principles  of sustainable design, it is also a first for the Scottish housebuilding industry. 

The low-energy house incorporates a holistic approach to sustainable design rather than adding expensive eco-extras which make the cost of mass replication prohibitive. The potential cost savings on energy bills not only have positive implications for the private housebuyer but also for the social housing market where the provision of low-cost, energy efficient properties offers a practicable solution for tackling fuel poverty.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said: “Moving to a low carbon economy presents huge opportunities for Scotland and we need to make our buildings greener to meet ambitious climate change targets. With forthcoming changes to building standards to reduce emissions, there is a real opportunity for innovation and this project will help develop the low carbon house of the future. This project could improve skills and support jobs, enhance the built environment and reduce emissions, while lowering people’s bills. It is precisely the kind of project I would encourage.”

From the design of the timber frame and placement of windows to the inclusion of heat recovery units and a rainwater harvesting system, the low-energy house, called the “Aurora” will incorporate techniques and technologies many of which are still uncommon in the UK.  The four-bedroom detached house is scalable, allowing smaller or larger properties and semi-detached or terraced styles to be produced as the market demands.  

Martin Egan, Managing Director of Dawn Homes, commented on the launch: “The ‘Green Living by Dawn’ concept is the first step towards producing affordable and eco-friendly homes for the masses.   By following the principles of the Code for Sustainable Homes and integrating them into the property from the design stages we have produced a house that is both low carbon and commercially viable.  Not only will the Aurora help students at South Lanarkshire College who are the housebuilders of the future, we believe that this property is housebuilding in the future and could provide a very real solution both for reducing carbon emissions and the eradication of fuel poverty, an issue that affects an estimated 850,000 households in Scotland.*”

The Aurora at South Lanarkshire College will be used as a training facility to meet the imminent and emerging needs of operatives in the construction industry.  With integrated cut-away sections and models demonstrating technologies, construction approaches and insulation materials that would otherwise be hidden below ground or behind walls, the facility will offer a unique insight into design features that will become a necessity following the implementation of the Code for Sustainable Homes legislation in Scotland in the coming years. 

Angus Allan, Depute Principal at South Lanarkshire College: “I am delighted with the positive and enthusiastic involvement of all the partners in this project.  There is no doubt that over the next few years house design will need to evolve to meet demanding changes in Scottish building regulations with reduced targets for energy use and carbon emissions.  We hope that all the partners will benefit from the experience of being involved in this innovative and forward-looking project.  South Lanarkshire College is the largest trainer of operatives in the Construction Industry in Scotland and we always aim to be well placed to offer the necessary skills required to meet emerging training needs.”

As part of the project Glasgow Caledonian University will be monitoring the house to provide live data on the low heat losses and the contribution that micro-renewable energy will make to energy flows into the building, evidencing the effectiveness of the eco-friendly design.  

Construction is due for completion in September 2009 when SKILLBUILD, a major UK construction skills competition, will take place at South Lanarkshire College.  

* Source: Estimate of fuel poor households in Scotland, The Scottish House Condition Survey Team, March 2008.

South Lanarkshire College Sweeps the Board at Skillbuild | 28.05.09

South Lanarkshire College students overcame the competition from other College’s at the regional skillbuild competitions on May 27 2009 to become the most successful institution at the event.  The College hosted the regional competition which saw South Lanarkshire College students excelling in the majority of categories.   South Lanarkshire College Students from across the trades collected 4 first prizes, 3 second prizes and 1 third prize.  Prizewinners from the College were:

Bricklaying (New Entrant) 1st – Craig Lindsay – John Calderwood Builders
Bricklaying (Senior) 1st – Kenneth Calder – Alan Johnstone
Carpentry 1st – Douglas Robertson – Faced FM UK Ltd
Roof Slating & Tiling 1st – Steven Butler – Ian McDonald   2nd James Linton – City Building
Plastering  2nd – Scott Wright – East Ayrshire Council     3rd – Kenny McAllister – Bryan McAllister
Painting & Decorating  2nd – John Getchell – Spectrum Decorators

There are 4 more regional heats prior to the UK final which will culminate at South Lanarkshire College between 7 and 9 October 2009.  The event is estimated to attract more than 300 competitors and 5000 visitors.

HNC Interactive Media | 28.05.09

New course starting August 2009

There are many exciting job opportunities available in this expanding area eg Web Developer, Web Portal Manager, Internet Designer, Intranet Designer, SQL Developer and Web Support.  With this new and exciting course you will gain the knowledge and skills to create multimedia, web, animation and graphic design techniques:

Create your own website
Film and edit your own digital videos
Work as part of a team to complete a media project
Use a database to log and interrogate data

Hurry, a few places remaining on a number of courses for August 09 | 08.05.09

Do you have an interest in numbers, computers, information technology, cookery, hospitality, administration or business?  If so, South Lanarkshire College East Kilbride has the course for you.  There are currently still a few places left on the following full-time courses starting August 2009:

HNC/D Accounting
HNC/D Business
HNC Administration & Information Technology
HNC Interactive Media - New for August 09
HNC Hospitality
HNC Professional cookery
Advanced Administration and Information Technology
Intermediate Administration
Access to Business and Accounting - New for August 09
NQ Digital Media Computing
SVQ 2 Professional Cookery and Food Service

Qualifications in the above areas are highly sought after by employers and can lead to careers in administrative, commercial and managerial roles, financial institutions, marketing and business, customer care, multi-media and the internet and the hospitality industry.  In the current climate such areas are still progressing at a good rate and are still frequently hiring from job centres, employment agencies and newspaper recruitment.

To find out more about any of our courses please contact the Admissions team on 01355 270750, they are waiting to take your call.

Workforce Development Award | 26.03.09

For over 10 years South Lanarkshire College has assisted Land Engineering with the training and development of staff and sub-contractors.  This has helped Land Engineering establish its highly credible reputation in the civil engineering sector and at the SQA sponsored Business to College Awards 2009 the success of this project was acknowledged when the College won first place in the Workforce Development Award category.

In 1999, the College began working with Land Engineering on the FOCIS Project (Future Opportunities Construction Industry Skills) which aimed to provide employment, training and certification to young people in South Lanarkshire through the redevelopment of town centres and other major construction projects.

 

Since then, the relationship has grown as Land Engineering responded to the increasing demand for civil engineering work and the need to have trained, certificated staff to comply with legislation.  Ann McCracken, College Training & Employment Advisor, and William Bryce and John Bell of the Faculty of Construction, have all played major roles in ensuring the ongoing success of the project which has assisted in the development of around 800 staff, with the majority of the training and certification taking place on-site.

Visit by HRH The Princess Royal | 18.02.09

The College was delighted to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to officially open the new campus in East Kilbride and launch the 60th anniversary celebrations on Wednesday 18 February, 2009.

Hair & Beauty Sweep the Board at Aberdeen Beach Ballroom | 01.12.08

South Lanarkshire College Hairdressing and Beauty students scored a hat trick at the 2008 Hair and Beauty Festival which was held last week at Aberdeen Beach Ballroom.

The competitions had over 350 entrants, and of the six students entered from South Lanarkshire College three scooped top awards.

In the Fantasy Futuristic Make-Up Competition SVQ Level 3 Beauty Therapy student Donna Leverage earned 1st place, with classmate Kirsty Ford earning 3rd place from over 60 entrants. Success then followed in the Ladies High Fashion Cut and Colour competition where HNC Hairdressing student Tracy Yates earned 2nd place.

Everyone involved was delighted with the success, and very impressed with the standard of work from all six entrants.

Matthew Becomes the SQA Star | 21.11.08

Matthew Lyden from Whiltlawburn, Cambuslang has recently become the proud recipient of the SQA Star Award for ‘College Candidate of the Year’ at a glittering awards ceremony held at the Radisson Hotel.  Matthew, a student of the College from 2005, won the award for his life changing efforts over the last few years.  Matthew had left school with no formal qualifications due to caring for his father during periods of ill health.  He then spent the next few years in jobs he did not enjoy while suffering from his own poor health.  In 2005 he found the motivation to change his life and enrolled on a Computing for the Terrified course run by South Lanarkshire College at Rutherglen library.  His passion for computers took centre stage at this point where he continued at the College achieving both NQ and HNC qualifications in Computing.  He is currently continuing his education at Stowe College where he hopes to pursue a career in Digital Media Computing.

South Lanarkshire College Computing Curriculum Manage Steve Cassidy said:

“Mathew has been an inspirational student who has worked his way up the South Lanarkshire College learning ladder from his first learning experience at Rutherglen Library on a 'Computing for the Terrified' course to an HNC in Computing”.