Happy New Year...the Christmas and New Year festivities are now a distant memory and here at TTPL towers we are already well under way with this years students.
We are creeping ever closer to having our new website completed - I have seen some of the design pages and can't wait to see it 'live' - really exciting stuff for us and will be a great new experience for our Students, Partners, Placements and Hosts. #excited
So sat at my desk, looking at a clear blue sky (even though it is cold) the possibilities for 2015 seem almost endless. We have two groups of Teachers and a group of Nurses booked in in the first quarter of this year, along with well over 500 students booked already. It is at times like this we realise just how efficient the TTPL team are, organising host families and work placements, student meetings and delegate visits - all running like clockwork! Laura, who joined us only last December, has settled in and is now part of the TTPL team. Kerry is still looking after all of our visiting students as Student Support Officer and Sam and Lorenzo who went off travelling at the end of 2014 are now journeying around the world, soaking up sun and culture (and perhaps the occasional cold beer).
The weekly student meetings are as well attended as ever and our students have already seen the film 'Taken 3' last week at VUE Cinema and had a General Knowledge quiz at the always popular DT's. We have two great students in our office, both have settled in really well and enjoying their time in Torbay - their blogs are already published and are here: Manon and Diana
We have introduced a couple of new Certificates, the first, based solely on the student evaluation questionnaires, is awarded to Work Placements who provide amazing experiences for our students. The first batch of about 70 certificates were presented at an event just before Christmas and already they are apparent when we are out visiting our placements - I saw this one at Shoreline in Paignton, always a popular placement. The other certificate is for 'Student Excellence', this was prompted by an email from a Work Placement extolling the virtues of the young man that is carrying out his placement with them. So a big Thank You to Maureen at Exeter City Council and a huge Well Done to Torben - the first of many I am certain.
As a final point, those that know me will know that I am quite partial to watching the odd game of Rugby...our friends and media marketing gurus Astley Media gave us a little present - we have an autographed rugby ball from Exeter Chiefs, it has pride of place on the shelf behind my desk for the time being and will, I hope, bring a little luck during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. We have not yet decided what to do with the ball but watch this space.
I and all the TTPL team hope that 2015 brings you all the health and happiness that you want and deserve.
Have a good one
Ian
(Work Placement Manager)
