Latest news with #WiltshireCollege
BBC News
26-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Apprentices transform Trowbridge garden with rambling roses
A team of four apprentices have transformed the garden of a 300-year-old house in time for a town's flower festival using plants from a national horticulture apprentices from Wiltshire College & University Centre's Lackham campus used rambling roses at Parade House in Fiander, from the college, said: "Normally we would like a year to plan and grow for a project like this but fortunately we had the roses we have been cultivating as part of our national collection and they were perfect for it."The town's flower festival started this month and events are planned until September. They were asked to plant in the front of the Georgian town house just a few weeks used as a venue for events, it was built for wool merchant Robert Houlton in about Fiander said: "The students worked really hard. They began by carefully inspecting each plant and applying precise pruning techniques to maintain its health, form, and structure." Tristan Huft Higgins said the apprenticeship had been giving him "a good background in the practical side of things"."You really have that opportunity to learn through doing. Learn about the plant life around you through witnessing it grow through the different seasons," he flower festival is organised by Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce and features 50 businesses around the town entering displays.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Air Ambulance charity needs £5m each year to maintain 'lifesaving service'
The Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance charity has revealed it needs more than £5m each year to maintain its "lifesaving service." Last year, the charity responded to a record 1,343 missions, showing the crucial need for its critical care. Doctors were present on over half of these missions, significantly enhancing the medical care provided. However, this increased presence of doctors comes with additional costs, putting more pressure on the charity's finances at a time when it is already feeling the strain of rising utility bills, fuel costs and National Insurance contributions. READ MORE: Wiltshire College creates realistic medical teaching centre Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance needs £5 million annually to operate (Image: Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance) Chief executive David Philpott said: "We know the demand for our medical expertise has never been greater and that puts understandable pressures upon the charity. "Just like people across the country, we have been experiencing sharp rises in our utility bills, as well as fuel for our helicopter. "To be able to attend the majority of our missions with doctors on board is amazing for the people of Wiltshire and Bath. "However, that adds further cost pressures to deliver the enhanced clinical care a doctor brings." Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance has included doctors in its crew since 2019, allowing them to perform critical procedures like repairing heart wounds, conducting caesarean sections and anaesthetising patients. SEE MORE: NHS staff plant dozens of trees at Salisbury area practices Record 1,343 missions highlight rising demand for air ambulance service (Image: Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance) Medical director Maria Smith said: "Having doctors on board massively enhances the level of critical care we can provide, enabling us to carry out complex surgical procedures, advanced pain management and lifesaving interventions directly at the scene. "Essentially, we can bring the hospital to the patient and every mission we undertake represents someone's loved one - a parent, child, sibling or friend. "Ensuring we have the resources to deliver the best possible care is our priority." The charity, which has been operating since 1990, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this month. Mr Philpott expressed his gratitude for the community's support over the years, stating: "We are very fortunate that the people of Wiltshire and Bath have supported our charity for 35 years, digging deep to donate the necessary funds needed so we can continue to be there for those people who need us most." However, he emphasised that the charity now needs the community's support more than ever to sustain its vital service.
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wiltshire College to teach builders sustainability skills
A new centre will train plumbers, electricians and construction companies how to build to sustainability new Green Skills Innovation Centre at Wiltshire College and University Centre Lackham campus will teach about solar panels, solar thermal heating, air source heat pumps and renewable college received £100,000 through the Wiltshire Council Shared Prosperity Fund to develop the Iain Hatt said: "It's a really exciting project that will benefit our students on construction apprenticeships and employers across the area." The college will offer short courses to construction sector employers who need to develop their plumbing and heating engineers, electricians and builders' renewable skills as demand Hatt said: "Climate Change is presenting us all with a growing challenge and the construction industry is having to adapt quickly to meet that challenge. "We are seeing the demand for sustainable housing grow, and not just because of global warming but also rising energy bills."Our Green Skills Centre will be there to meet this demand for new skills and it will be convenient for employers because it is based here in Wiltshire at our Lackham campus."The college is also converting a former residential house at Lackham into an eco-house to act as a showcase for renewable has been developed in partnership with Chippenham energy firm Good Energy, which will use it to train its engineers."Both of these projects are vitally important to the training we offer," said Mr Hatt.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Chance to change their lives' - Free Festival of Learning for adults in Salisbury
A FREE Festival of Learning in Salisbury will offer adults the chance to change careers. Wiltshire College & University Centre Salisbury campus will be opening its doors to tell people more about its range of part-time courses on offer. The event will take place on Saturday, March 1 and it will have a creche and activities for children so parents have time to look at courses, try some fun activities and talk to staff about what they want to learn. Lisa Cuffy, the college's Adult Learning and Commercial Development Manager, said: "There's so much going on here, we have a wonderful new campus and a range of courses from art to languages, floristry, photography or motor mechanics to music. "What people don't realise is that the government has recently changed the rules about funding for adult learning and now if you are earning less than £25,000 you may be entitled to study for free. "We want to help them to recognise that the college is here for the whole community and they are welcome here." Wiltshire College & University Centre Festival of Learning in Salisbury (Image: Wiltshire College) There will also be a chance to see the college's new Healthcare Zone, complete with its own ambulance and a ward that is a replica of those at Salisbury District Hospital, where individuals, as well as companies, can learn first aid and a range of other healthcare subjects. READ MORE: Salisbury children get pitchside access at Bath Rugby Club Ms Cuffy said: "It's really impressive because you don't realise you're actually in a college. "Many just want to develop an interest, and a by-product of that is meeting new people who enjoy the same thing. It's amazing how quickly people on a course will set up a WhatsApp group, they build good friendships and keep in touch after the course." She said many people come to study to help boost their mental health. "We see a lot of that, certainly around floristry and some of our art courses. It is great for your well-being to come and focus on a creative activity alongside others." One new course has been launched as a result of a Facebook appeal for people to tell the college what they'd like to learn. Ms Cuffy said: "We are running a course called The Art of Saying No because of demand." "It really gives the adults the chance to change their lives."
