MTI Event 2014 - and a visitor from Saxony

This week saw the annual MTI (Manufacturing Technology and Innovation) event, organised by the TDA and held at the Riviera International Conference Centre.

This year we put out an invitation to some of our partner organisations who send us engineering based students and are delighted to have been able to welcome Tina Butterbrodt from Bildungs Werkstatt Chemnitz gGmbH. She arrived on Wednesday evening and enjoyed a two night stay at The Grand on Torquay sea front. A lovely 'English' hotel (according to Tina) and very convenient for the RICC. Pretty good breakfast too!

As soon as we arrived at the event we bumped into Torbay mayor, Gordon Oliver, who welcomed Tina and spoke for a while about the Torbay twinning with Hamelin and the great relationship we have with many organisations in Germany. We also had a very interesting conversation with Stephen Criddle - Principal of South Devon College. I think a proper visit to the college will be in order for Tina's next visit to Torbay!

We spent a few hours at the event and had the opportunity to speak with many of the High Tech companies in this area that have (and will continue to) host our/her students - with some excellent experiences and stories to tell - it was a very enjoyable time. A very interesting presentation from Spirent and some inspiring young people demonstrating their technical skills! Before we continued our day Tina asked about the differences between the German and UK Apprenticeship system - with particular reference to Engineering. A very big 'thank you' to Anthony Sutton from South Devon College who spent some valuable time explaining the current system and how we train our young people - excellent!

A visit to our offices to introduce Tina to the TTPL team and then...LUNCH! We (Nadine and I) took Tina to the new Visto Lounge, a really great demonstration of how the bay is developing - excellent food and a lovely location.

Then on to have a tour of Torbay, as it was Tina's first visit to this area we felt it was important to show how much there is here, so in spite of the weather we drove around the area pointing out the many highlights of Torbay - ending at South Devon College, where I was told that "we have nothing like this in Germany" - high praise indeed for our local college!  We rounded off the day with our weekly student meeting, this week at the AMF Bowling on Torwood Street - 113 students all having an amazing time in a European all comers challenge - so good to see them all having fun and also an opportunity for Tina to meet up with one of her students currently here with us and many of the others from across Europe. All in all a very good day and I know that Tina enjoyed her brief time here in Torbay.

They have arrived!

Our GrowEurope students have just touched down in mainland Europe (Lucky them!).

Some of you might have seen them out and about in Torquay 2 weeks ago. They were here for their   pre-departure training consisting of Cross Cultural training, Language lessons and Work preparation. They even got involved with our European students practicing their language skills at our weekly Language Cafe.

Our GrowEurope group is made up of 14 graduates from all over the UK. The lucky few have been given a fantastic opportunity to complete a work experience placement in either France or Germany!

After their pre departure course here at TTPL, they had a week at home to prepare and  have finally left England to begin this amazing experience. 

Our guys will be spending 10 weeks in 3 different cities; so here they are:

Tabby, Johanna, Becky and Jodie are excited to start their new adventure in Nancy;

Bordeaux has just given Ellie, Jenny, Holly and Sam a big welcome!

And finally Aidan, Ray, Nathan, Nitin, Eira and Emma  have just arrived in Leipzig, Germany.

Good luck guys!

Enjoy your time and make an incredible experience over there!

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!!