Launch of the Ice Age Europe Terminals at Kents Cavern

Earlier this week Jayne and Ian went to Kents Cavern to take part in the launch of the Ice Age Europe project. Jayne was invited to perform the official opening buy cutting the ribbon with a flint hand axe...a first surely!

At the same time, via the live-chat feature, there was an interaction with the terminal at the Neanderthal Museum in Dusseldorf by Dr. Angelica Schwall-Düren, Minister for Federal Affairs, Europe and Media of North Rhine.

The project is a new trans-European interactive Ice Age educational game, controlled by a touch screen and connected via the web to famous European prehistoric sites. The game takes young people on a journey to compare Europe today to Ice Age Europe with no frontiers. The system has a live chat feature and an online photo-postcard to connect visitors at these important prehistoric cave sites and museums in Europe.

Kents Cavern, is a founding member of Ice Age Europe (www.ice-age-europe.eu), the network of Europe’s most important prehistoric sites associated with Ice Age human occupation. 

It was very exciting for us to be invited and involved in this project - the relationship between Kents Cavern and TTPL goes back many many years and, we are pleased to say continues to grow year by year. A huge 'THANK YOU' to Nick and James at Kents, it was our pleasure to be involved.

What can a student do for your business? A placement provider tells us!

We often get e-mails and phone calls saying how well students have done and how much fun they have had... occasionally I get a message that really highlights what we do and (excuse the lack of modesty here) how good we are at doing it.

There is a company in Plymouth, called Adelie; we have worked with them for a good few years and over that time we have got to know Penny and Pete quite well and our students always have a great time with them. We are in contact fairly regularly and today I received a message that demonstrates the difference that our amazing students can make...

It started with an offer of student placements for next year and included this line... "We have had other students from different companies in the past, but none have worked out or fitted in nearly as well as the students you have found for us!"

I went back and asked Penny if it was ok to use a quote from her message and the reply was great...

"Absolutely, you can use a quote! In fact, I would go as far as saying.....without Sara this March, who took up the reigns for me just after I had my operation & Martina who you placed with us from May to August last year, we would have really struggled to get through all the work!"

Now this isn't an easy option or 'free' workers, the European mobility programmes are far more demanding than that.... these young people are mentored and guided, coached and taught. Pete, Penny and the team really do work very hard to welcome students and ensure that they gain a great deal from their placement (and enjoy a great time in Plymouth) - They also have the opportunity to 'create' something for themselves during their placements...you can see Sara modeling her jacket - designed and embroidered during her time at Adelie! 

With their new project 'House of Marguerite', designing & making, bespoke vintage inspired lounge wear, I'm sure there will be some great opportunities for future students.

Thank you Adelie and Bluebells and Nightingales - you, like all of our work placements, really do make a difference and you efforts and support are appreciated.

Goodbye, Auf Wiedersehen, lebewohl, ciao, adios, arrivederci, da svedanya, la revedere, au revoir, arrivederci..... farewell and see you soon Sam

Goodbye is not the end of everything but merely the beginning of something new!

Today is a very strange day for me; sadly it is my last day here at The Training Partnership. My time with TTPL has been fantastic; full of fond memories, faces, experiences, hard work and laughter!  I cannot start to express how thankful I am for the experience and the responsibility I was given.  I have only been here for 14 months but I have learnt so much, grown as a person and gained the confidence to tackle anything that life can throw. Looking back, my time has been filled with smiling faces, amazing people, interesting stories and more importantly a sense that the work I and TTPL do is worthwhile and meaningful. I have welcomed over a 1000 European trainees, helping them to settle in this weird and wonderful country, taken 100’s to work experience placements aiding their professional development whilst organising lots and lots of events, activities and social nights to ensure their time here is fantastic and memorable!!

 From Boat Parties to BBQ’s, pub quiz’s to cream teas, karaoke nights to leading cultural visits, teaching educational classes, English nights, London excursions, hospitals trips, Xmas card making and Halloween ghost tours… I’ve done it all! Life at TTPL is fast paced, ever changing and definitely not boring.  I would like to thank everyone I’ve met for helping me on my journey and a special thank you to the TTPL team for being warm, happy, funny and genuinely great! It’s been a pleasure working with you all and it won’t be forgotten!
So where to now I hear you say …. Well not to rub it in but I’m off travelling – Seeing the impact TTPL has on student’s and the joy our participants gain from being in a new environment, experiencing a new culture and different traditions,  I have decided to see more of the world! I and my girlfriend (also called Sam) are touring Thailand for 4 weeks, and then it’s a quick visit to Singapore (where chewing gum is illegal!! – crazy) before we’re off ready to celebrate Christmas and NYE in Sydney….then who knows!!!  Fiji, New Zealand…USA (route 66) maybe even MARS hahah! I’ll be sure to update you! Follow me on Facebook J I might even create a video blog with my new GO Pro

And now, the end is near; so is this blog I’ve written. My friends, I'll miss you all, I've packed my case, and leaving Britain. I'll live a life that's full, travelling each and every highway; And more, much more than this, I will do it SAM’s way!     

Stay safe Sam, we will all miss you!



With love and our very best wishes from all of us at The Training Partnership
bon voyage !