GROW Europe and Outbound travel

SO what’s been happening in the busy world of The Training Partnership ltd?

…well I’m glad you asked! This week we had our 2014 induction programme for our outbound GROWEurope programme. GROWEurope stands for ‘Gain Real Opportunity Within Europe’ , it is a 13 week fully funded ‘Mobility’ programme designed to address the need for recent graduates to bridge the gap between academic studies and practical experience.

TTPL has secured UK work placements for over 900 European students this year and felt it would be brilliant if we could send UK young people to France and Germany to gain similar experiences in Europe.  

We had a great response and received a varied selection of graduates from all over the UK. The selection criteria is based upon motivation and commitment, and required the applicants to express why they should be given this fantastic opportunity.

Our UK applicants arrived last week and have undertaken a full 2 weeks programme to prepare them for their placements abroad. It all started with a warm welcome and a detailed introduction to how the GROWEurope programme works and will end with an interview in their chosen language.  Although they looked nervous at first, our applicants soon came out of their shells and interacted with our European Partners chatting about themselves, their experiences and their future goals.

This experience will help them improve their CV, personal skills and employability whilst giving them a lifetime memory they will not forget! The 13 weeks includes 2 weeks of language and cultural training here in the TTPL office Torquay, then 10 weeks of professional work experience in either Toulouse or Leipzig and a final week of video CV making and evaluation when the return. Their European adventures start in October 2014, stay tuned for updates on how they get on, or why not add us on Facebook and Pinterest to see their experience in pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/grow.europe

http://www.pinterest.com/groweurope/

Student Meeting Reminder

Student Meeting – ROCK GARDEN – PUB QUIZ TIME!!!

Today's student meeting 25^th September – is at Rock Garden at 2.30pm!!   40-42 Swan Street Just Off Fleet Street, Torquay TQ2 5ES

As some students have been requesting more social meetings I thought this week we’d go to the pub, TTPL will buy everyone a drink and we can relax, talk and there will be a traditional English Quiz made by Janni (our trainee) to test your knowledge.  So get your thinking cap’s on and turn up with your brains ready to work J!! See you all there guys! Can’t wait!

http://www.rockgardencafe.co.uk/

See you all there!!!

This Week's Student Meeting

Student Meeting – Thursday!

This week’s student meeting is CINEMA!!! We are going to watch SEX TAPE!! 

We have arranged a special price so TTPL will buy you all a ticket…plus a drink and popcorn! 

Yeay!!!

Please meet me at 3.00pm at Paignton VUE Cinema – film starts at 3.30pm but we need to get everyone signed in and get your popcorn and drinks ordered!

http://www.myvue.com/latest-movies/info/cinema/torbay/film/sex-tape

The Esplanade, Esplanade Rd, Torbay TQ4 6AG

Stagecoach Ltd- Bus Station/Dartmouth Rd, Paignton TQ4 5EB, United Kingdom

Head north on Victoria St/A3022 toward Torbay Rd

23 ft

Turn right onto Torbay Rd

79 ft

Turn right onto Torbay Rd/B3201

0.2 mi

Turn left onto Esplanade Rd/B3201

197 ft

Sharp right

Destination will be on the left

197 ft

Vue Cinemas - The Esplanade, Esplanade Rd, Torbay TQ4 6AG, United Kingdom 

 Please get Number 12 bus to Paignton Bus Station Or the train!

SEE YOU ALL THERE!!! FILM STARTS AT 3.30pm but please be there for 3.00pm so we have enough time to register you sort out certificates and gives us time to buy  POPCORN!!!

All systems go!

All system's go!!!

Its only Monday!

Good Morning World! Today has started off with a bang, busy, hectic but just how we like it. So far this morning we have welcomed two new groups to TTPL, we have 3 separate classes running and we have students studying at Riviera English School as well! A busy few hours I assure you.

Our new Stelzer group from Germany has just started their first Cross Cultural lesson, our GROW Europe group (14 British students) are starting their 2 week language programme before undertaking 10 week work placements in Europe (lucky people)  and we still have our Welcome meeting to come this afternoon!

Also this weekend our Thomsen group went to London. We organised a guided Royal tour, taking in Buckingham Palace, the changing of the guards, The Mall, Trafalgar square, Horse guards, Downing street, Houses of parliament and Westminster Abbey before heading to Covent Garden for free time and shopping. It was a great day ..long..but our students loved London and what it has to offer!

 Stay tuned to our Blogs and Facebook to hear what else is going on in the World of TTPL this week!

Have a good week!

Student Meeting!!!

HELLO WORLD!!!!

This Week’s Student Meeting is at Cockington, Torquay, TQ2 6XA.

Thursday 11th September 

Cockington is a picture postcard village that dates back to the Domesday Book (1086). With its characteristic thatched roofs and cider orchards it has always been one of Torbay’s most popular visitor destinations. It’s a typical traditional English Village. Please meet me at Cockington Court (the big House) at 2.00pm. From there you can walk around the beautiful gardens & lakes, explore the art galleries, see the craft shops and private church, play football or volleyball on the traditional English green, ride a horse and carriage AND TTPL will buy everyone a Devon Cream Tea or Ice cream. This is a very beautiful place, and very worth a visit if you arehere in Devon . PLUS you get a FREE CAKE and CUP of TEA …..PERFECT!!! I will bring the football, volleyball and sports equipment so we can have fun or chill in the sun!

http://www.cockingtoncourt.org/

Set in an award-winning country park, Cockington Court is a historic manor house with over twenty craft studios, tea rooms, the Walled Art Garden, a Tudor rose garden and contemporary art gallery. Cockington’s Kitchen Gallery has a growing reputation in the arts world as a contemporary gallery space of regional significance, having exhibited work by artists of international acclaim as well as emerging local talent. Open daily, free admission: 10am-4pm  October-March; 10am-5pm April - September (Please note studio opening times may vary please call the maker or Cockington Court prior to your visit).

By Bus: The number 12 bus runs approximately every 10 minutes throughout the day. Take the number 12 bus to Cockington Lane/Livermead House Hotel. Walk up Cockington Lane and through the Watermeadows on the boardwalk, a 20 minute walk. Unfortunately, the route is not suitable for wheelchairs.

I recommend the No.62 bus runs Monday to Saturday (10am to 4.25pm).  You can catch the bus from Princess Gardens and Torre Abbey Sands. Visit www.dialabus.info for further timetable information.

October to March: Mondays – Fridays get the 62 from Torquay Harbourside takes you directly to Cockington. Get the 12.40 0r 13.20 

See you all Thursday!!!!

 Yummy!! 

Bank Holiday Blog

Here it is...the last Bank Holiday before Christmas! This year is flying by but there is still so much more to do and so many exciting things going on - but first:

Today we said good by to two of our office students Kim, from Paris, has been with us for the past 8 weeks and produced some great work and been involved in a project to invite Engineering partners to the MTI  event in October - we will really miss his him, his great humour and of course, his work.  We are also saying 'kvedja' to Rut from Iceland - she has only been in our office for a week but has a larger than life character that we will all miss. We will also say a very big TTPL 'goodbye' to the other 15 students from Germany, Italy and Spain who are returning home this weekend - cheers guys.

It is also the start of Torbay Regatta week, with loads of events around the bay, not least the amazing Red Arrows display on Wednesday evening at 6.00.

This is a big Bank Holiday weekend for England which means that

for most of us it is a three day weekend (wooohooo) so make sure you enjoy it. We also had another fantastic barbecue on Ilsham Green for our Thursday student meeting. Sam arranged for football, fun and of course burgers...he even managed to keep the rain away although it was a little chilly!!! Next week is a visit to Living Coast and the opportunity to see the new baby seal - awwwwwww! 

So have fun, stay safe and enjoy the fun and festivities across Torbay in the next 7 days. Next weeks Conversation night will be at the Rock Garden on Tuesday at 8.00 pm...Sam will see you there.
See you all soon
Ciao for now :0)

Blog – Sam’s Summer Madness

Hello World,

It’s been a while but I’m back – it’s Blog time again!!

As you may know I’m the Student Support Officer here at TTPL – I manage the welfare of our students and organise our social and cultural activities. This summer has been crazy – since June we have had over 150 students with us each week…and the numbers are staying like this until November (we must be doing something right!).

It’s been great to see so many faces over the summer enjoying their time here, I feel like an ambassador for Torbay! However it has been a real challenge to find interesting activities to accommodate our large groups but one I’ve thoroughly enjoyed!

Our students meet us every Thursday afternoon to socialize, relax and to see the different attractions Torbay has to offer. We have had some fantastic meetings this summer from trips to Splashdown Waterpark (making most of the sun), visits to Paignton Zoo, amazing BBQ’s on Ilsham green with sports and slip and slide activities; the 10^th Torbay Sea Scouts even came to cook our burgers! We’ve had cream teas at Cockington, a football tournament for the World Cup, an educational experience at Kents Cavern and even the odd Bowling match. I know I know it’s a hard life organising events for students – but someone has to do it!

As well as Thursday meeting’s we have had a host of extra activities on offer for our students this summer. It all started with the weekly Conversation nights here in Torquay – the night is aimed at students using and practising their English speaking and listening skills. It gives them a chance to meet others in a friendly safe environment whilst improving their confidence to speak out loud. We meet in local restaurants/pubs each Tuesday, and spend the evening chatting; it also gives me a great chance to learn more about their experience and time spent here with us. The nights have become really popular with over 70 students attending last week and I have now just started them in Exeter too on Wednesdays – I will be at The Imperial Exeter next Wednesday @8.00pm if you want to join me! 

As if that hasn’t been enough for our hard working bunch they all manage to squeeze in time to attend the Disco Boat Parties. Tell me more, I hear you say… well it’s a 2 hour tour of the lovely bay on a private boat with a DJ and licensed bar – trust me this is a must for the summer and proved very very popular. We have also organised private discos at Mambo’s Torquay too – which was great to see our students dancing and singing together! I’ve tried to promote Torquay United and get a group up to watch a match… however for some strange reason this has proved rather difficult, instead our students have preferred karaoke nights at JD’s and watching live bands at the Spinning Wheel. Finally we have been part of the Riviera Fringe Festival and even had an excursion to London!! M&M world was amazing – but don’t go crazy with the pick n mix.

What a summer!

Our next excursion is planned for 30^th August - London, Bath, RoundRobin or Thorpe Park; Get voting!  VOTE

Well thanks for reading; We had a great Boat Party last night with 160 students (see our Facebook page for the pictures) – and the rain stayed away!!! Keep tuned for my next blog!

Adios, Au revoir, auf Wiedersehen, Ciao, Shalom, Zai jian & Goodbye!!!