The event was the second of its kind run by the children’s cancer charity, and took place in the Printworks campus state-of-the-art training kitchens. 

The charity welcomed organisations across the city to take part in a competitive cook-off in aid of donating vital funds for Candlelighters, raising a total of £5290 from the event. 

Participants included staff from Dovetail & Slate, Leeds College of Building and Intuitive Business Intelligence.

The competition was once again hosted by celebrity chef and presenter Briony May Williams and saw 10 teams of two put their culinary skills to the test. 

Sue Patterson, Candlelighters Trustee, said: “Our second Ready Steady Cook in support of Candlelighters Trust at Leeds City College’s Printworks campus yesterday was an amazing success. 

“Today wouldn’t be possible without other people. There’s been a real effort from Leeds City College so thank you to them. Days like this only happen when people collaborate and get behind a great cause.”

Candlelighters provides emotional, practical and financial support for families as well as investing in research to improve the outcomes and lives of children with cancer.

Staff from Leeds City College’s parent organisation Luminate Education Group took part with Group Vice Principal – Curriculum and Skills, Natalie Wilson, partnered with Andrea Cowans, Director of Student Life, on one of the teams, while Kelly McAllister, Group Director of Apprenticeships and Joanne Patrickson, Director of Business Development were in another. 

Joanne Patrickson and Kelly McAllister were announced runners up with their creation impressing the judges. 

Each team was tasked with cooking a main course and a pudding using ingredients provided by Company Shop Group, the UK’s largest redistributor of surplus food.

The teams each had 30 minutes to discuss their plans and choose their ingredients from the pantry before beginning to cook.

With only two hours to produce their two courses, the contestants were thrilled to have some of our Level 2 or Level 3 Culinary Skills students assisting them who were able to offer support and technique tips.

Andrea Cowans said: “It’s been an amazing opportunity for different businesses and charities to come together and support an incredible cause and working closely with our student helpers has shown us the skills they develop in their courses.”

Natalie Wilson said: “It’s the second year I’ve taken part in this really important event for Candlelighters. We’ve been able to see first-hand the impact it has on our learners. It’s a superb event with the opportunity for our Level 2 and Level 3 students to build on their skills and share their expertise.” 

The event was a great showcase of our students’ talent and professionalism. All funds raised on the day will go directly towards supporting families affected by childhood cancer across Yorkshire. 

Emma Bexon, Deputy Head of Department for Travel, Food and Drink at Leeds City College, said: “It was a privilege for the department to host the Candlelighters Trust fundraiser. We were incredibly proud of our Level 1 and Level 2 Culinary Skills learners, who showed real passion, professionalism, and teamwork throughout the event. 

“A special thank you also to our amazing staff team, Emily Walker and Andrea Guardascione, for embedding such high standards and supporting the learners throughout the day.”

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Diana Bird joins from Shipley College, where she was Principal and CEO, and succeeds Bill Jones in the role (who is now CEO of Luminate Education Group).

 On her future vision for the college, Diana said: 

“I am really looking forward to having the opportunity to be an ambassador for Leeds City College and to nurture really strong partnerships which will expand opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities to benefit from outstanding education, training and learner outcomes.  

“Above all, I want Leeds City College to be a place where colleagues feel proud to work, students feel they belong, and employers see us as a trusted and ambitious partner.”

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The Vision Zero Pledge which was launched alongside the Leeds and West Yorkshire Vision Zero Strategy asks members of the public and organisations to sign and make a commitment to road safety.

Leeds City College is joining the West Yorkshire Combined Authority alongside local councils, emergency services and organisations including Leeds Teaching Hospitals in making this pledge.

On average, one person a week dies on the roads of West Yorkshire and thousands of people are injured every year.

The Vision Zero 2040 ambition is to have zero deaths or serious injuries on Leeds roads by 2040. 

You can support this regardless of how you travel whether it’s driving at safe speeds, removing distractions such as phones and devices, wearing your seatbelt, maintaining your vehicle or giving other road users enough space.

For more information visit: https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/vz-pledge/

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Hosted at Leeds City College’s Printworks campus, the event saw employers and industry experts showcase roles and career opportunities across the manufacturing industry – from engineering to design and quality control.

The event formed part of the Leeds Manufacturing Festival this March, an annual celebration of the city’s vibrant manufacturing sector. The Festival connects young people and local education providers with industry professionals, addressing regional skills gaps and inspiring the next generation. 

E3 Recruitment, Made in Yorkshire, MPM Group, Next Gen Makers, Greyhound Box, RSE were a few of the city’s manufacturing organisations present who showcased their offering to students across the city. 

Clayton Stott, Head of Engineering and Manufacturing at Leeds City College, said: “This event gives students exposure to the variety the sector has to offer and opportunities to see what they could do in the future, which will broaden their horizons to seeing different avenues into the workplace.”

Stephanie Plazzi, Marketing manager at E3 Recruitment, said: “It is very important to have employees directly connect with students because they can offer a different perspective to colleges.

“We have some really good conversations with students. Some know exactly what they want to do but some don’t, so we’ll find out what skills they have and how they can apply these. A lot of hobbies can relate to careers in manufacturing without people even realising.”

The event included break-out sessions where students could develop key skills in CV writing, interview preparation and work readiness.

Simon Logan, Site Services at RSE, said: “Its community payback for us as a business. It’s not always about a position available. We can give free advice at these events and give students an opportunity to practice their interview skills so we can then provide feedback to help them progress.”

Vincent Hemsworth, an apprentice at MPM, discussed the power of the younger generation:  “they bring new opinions. They come straight off the back of learning and can pick up skills really quickly.”

What’s next? 

Leeds Manufacturing Festival is hosting a range of events in the future including this year’s Leeds Manufacturing Awards.

If you know of an individual, team or organisation who deserves recognition, you can nominate them here: Awards

Visit the Leeds Manufacturing Festival website for more information on these upcoming events: Leeds Manufacturing Festival 

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On 10 March Tracy Brabin joined students at Quarry Hill campus in the immersive sessions which are part of a programme called Project On Guard run by Suffia Hussain from Gushukan Karate Academy in Bradford.

Over 25 sessions surrounding personal safety have been delivered across West Yorkshire. Learners wear a VR headset which puts them face-to-face with real life scenarios to encourage open conversations around consequences and decision making. 

The sessions run alongside a range of projects, including sessions from UniteHer Girls Club on self-defence and Better Man’s Project, which is creating opportunities for male learners to discuss prominent topics whilst engaging with outdoor activities.

There are also Switched on to Women’s Safety sessions, which are delivered to all male students across Quarry Hill Campus.

Tom Griffiths, Interim Head of Public Services at Leeds City College, said: “This project has been a fantastic opportunity for our learners. By providing access to state of the art VR technology,  we have been able to engage them in topics that both relate to keeping themselves safe, as well as exploring topics that relate to careers in the emergency services and armed forces.”

Image credit: West Yorkshire Combined Authority

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Emma Burke and India Chahal first got involved with The Youth Association through the Peer Research project in 2022-2023.

The initiative saw students at our Quarry Hill campus receive training in interview techniques, research methods, scriptwriting and more – and conduct interviews with other young people for a weekly podcast.

India and Emma both found the experience – the project was a collaboration by The Youth Association and the college’s Student Life enrichment team – really inspiring. It concluded with their group producing a short film, highlighting creative opportunities for young people across Leeds, that was shown at the Royal Armouries Museum.

Committed to opening up opportunities for others

Keen to continue working with charity after the project ended, the pair (both now 20) applied to become Young Trustees, and each attracted enough votes to land the role.

Emma said: “The Youth Association has provided me and many other young people with the opportunities to create and lead our own projects, which has really helped so many people.”

Looking back to her time on the Peer Research Project, she added: “We all came up with the ideas ourselves and planned everything from scripts to how we would film. The Youth Association provided us with all the tools and connections we needed to make our idea a reality.

“Experiences like this not only help young people with CVs and university applications but they also build up important life skills such as confidence, taking responsibility and social skills. They also involve the local community, which I believe to be very important.”

Spreading the word – here and overseas

Based in Wakefield, The Youth Association describes itself as ‘Yorkshire’s youth work charity’ and has been working with young people, on everything from life-changing skills development to fun activities, since 1904.

Since becoming a Young Trustee, India has taken on an active role within the organisation.

Her work has even included representing the charity internationally, during a visit to the Netherlands with Cultuur In De Wijk. She has also joined interview panels for new staff members and contributed to discussions about how the group’s work is delivered and developed.

A transformative experience

The college’s Student Voice and Social Action Lead, Lindsey Topham-Whitton, said: “The Peer Research project and podcast club turned into an incredibly powerful opportunity for the learners.

“Emma and India’s continued engagement with The Youth Association has led to vital development, and even the opportunity to become young trustees there. Experiences like this equip learners with incredibly versatile skills that can be transferred to any workplace.”

Lindsey is keen for other learners to get involved with the charity too, and learn more about the important work it is doing – through, for example, initiatives like Lads at the Back. This community research programme is focused on helping tackle the problem of young men being more likely to disengage from education.

It is asking 16-23 year olds in Leeds and Wakefield for their thoughts on why the problem exists, and to take part in sessions to discuss possible solutions.

Visit https://youth-association.org/ for more details.

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The AHT competition is held annually to assess the practical skills and knowledge of students in the hairdressing and beauty therapy fields.

Leeds City College students partook in the North West regional heats hosted in Blackpool on 24 February.

The competition consists of a variety of categories from body painting to makeup and hairstyling. 

We delivered some incredible results with our Media Makeup students achieving three first place wins across the Create an Image and Fashion Magazine Front Cover categories. 

Our Hairdressing students also put on an impressive performance, placing first in Trending Bridal out of 60 entries and fourth in Classic Bridal out of 93 entries. An amazing achievement for all involved.

All our learners have now progressed through to the National Finals in May.

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After completing her Level 3 in Journalism at Leeds City College’s Quarry Hill campus, Niamh wanted a pathway that would allow her to continue learning while gaining meaningful workplace experience. A Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship offered the ideal balance – combining structured study with real responsibility from day one.

In her role, Niamh supports the planning and delivery of events, awareness days and learner trips, while also contributing to Teaching, Learning and Assessment (TLA) and quality processes within the department. She helps ensure projects are delivered to a high standard and within set timeframes, demonstrating impressive attention to detail and organisation at an early stage in her career. Drawing on her journalism background, she also supports the marketing and promotion of events to staff, students and parents, confidently communicating across a range of platforms.

Her manager, Alisha Brown, has seen remarkable growth in a short space of time:

“Niamh is a fantastic member of the Events and Projects Team. Niamh joined us in August after completing her Level 3 in Journalism at Quarry Hill and has grown tremendously over the last 6 months. Her attention to detail, time management, and communication skills are excellent.

She is continually supporting the department TLA and Quality Process, ensuring the team is maintaining a high quality of work and within the set timeframes. As well as this, Niamh utilises the skills from her Journalism course to support the marketing of our events to staff, students, and parents. Her ability to communicate across a range of platforms and media is very impressive, and I am looking forward to seeing how she grows and develops further in her role.”

Since starting her apprenticeship, Niamh’s confidence has grown significantly. She has built strong working relationships across teams and campuses and feels comfortable asking questions, contributing ideas and communicating professionally with colleagues. The combination of theoretical learning and hands-on experience has allowed her to quickly develop practical skills in organisation, communication and problem-solving.

Niamh credits the supportive environment at Luminate as a key factor in her progress. With encouragement from her manager and apprenticeship tutor, she has taken on new responsibilities and embraced opportunities to work across different areas of the organisation.

For Niamh, the apprenticeship is more than a qualification – it is a foundation for her future career.

“My apprenticeship has allowed me to develop a range of transferable skills. It’s an absolutely amazing opportunity to grow, learn and develop in an inclusive environment – I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Her advice to others considering an apprenticeship is simple: “Go for it. I have grown and learnt so much by taking on this opportunity.”

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Nikita, 24, began her journey in butchery through an in-house apprenticeship with her previous employer. Wanting a formal qualification and the chance to push her skills further, she moved onto a certified Level 2 apprenticeship at Leeds City College. 

A typical week for Nikita is busy and hands-on. She is currently stationed in the lamb department, fulfilling customer orders and preparing stock for larger clients. Throughout her apprenticeship, she developed essential technical skills, including knife skills, health and safety, food safety, and her Level 2 Butchery Qualification.

Her manager, Kyle Linley, says: “Nikita is exceptionally dedicated, with outstanding attendance and engagement. She consistently produces high-quality work and demonstrates a genuine passion for butchery, often going above and beyond the programme requirements.”

Nikita completed her 21-month apprenticeship in just 15 months, achieving several elements at Pass with Excellence – a remarkable accomplishment, particularly given she had no prior experience in the trade.

Nikita’s talent has also been recognised nationally. In 2025, she competed in the Battle of the Butchers at The Dalziel Apprentice Butcher Competition, earning the Golden Cleaver Award, as well as Best Innovative Lamb Product and Best Innovative Beef Product. Most recently, her outstanding achievements were celebrated at the Luminate Apprenticeship Awards, where she was named Leeds City College’s Learner of the Year. 

On her award, Nikita said: “Winning the Golden Cleaver Award at the Great Yorkshire Show was a huge moment for me. Competing against so many talented apprentices and being recognised was an honour.”

The apprenticeship has had a transformative effect on Nikita’s confidence and career prospects. Initially unsure of her abilities, she says: “Learning alongside people my age and experimenting with different cutting techniques at college made me feel a lot more confident at work.” Support from her team was crucial, ensuring she had access to practical sessions and guidance, which helped her complete the programme ahead of schedule.

Looking ahead, Nikita has ambitious plans. She has applied to join Team GB Butchery, aiming to compete at the World Butchers Challenge in Australia in 2028, and hopes to establish her own educational platform to support women in the butchery industry, creating equal opportunities and mentorship for the next generation.

Reflecting on her apprenticeship, Nikita is a strong advocate for the programme: “Apprenticeships provide invaluable learning opportunities, especially when employers may not have the resources to teach everything in-house. Being able to gain knowledge from tutors, peers, and practical experience is an amazing feeling.”

Nikita’s story is an outstanding example of dedication, skill, and ambition. Her achievements showcase the value of apprenticeships in developing the next generation of industry professionals, while her passion and drive make her an inspiring ambassador for butchers everywhere.

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“I never saw myself doing an apprenticeship,” Phoebe reflects. “After working in administration alongside performing, I was looking for something that combined creativity and organisation, which led me to this apprenticeship.”

In her role, Phoebe creates and oversees events and projects on campus, helping learners develop skills alongside their curriculum work. Despite being one of the youngest in her cohort, she has embraced the challenge with energy and enthusiasm. “When I started the apprenticeship in October 2025, project management and apprenticeships were new concepts to me, and I was reluctant to speak during sessions for fear of being wrong. After only three months, I’ve found my feet and feel much more confident putting forward ideas to my assessors and classmates and taking every opportunity to learn.”

Phoebe’s contributions have already made a significant impact. She has managed events including a Macmillan bake sale raising over £150, a Culture Day celebration promoting diversity and inclusivity and the setup of a campus Museum of Inclusion showcasing learners’ work from Black History Month.

Her manager, Alisha Brown, says: “Phoebe is an outstanding member of the Events and Projects Team. Her attention to detail, creativity, and ability to juggle multiple projects are beyond anything I’ve seen before. She’s a pleasure to work with and always brings positive energy to the office. Phoebe is working at an extremely high level and has created a range of creative and practical ways to encourage our learners to engage in education, building positive relationships and inspiring them to reach their full potential.”

The apprenticeship has also been a key opportunity for Phoebe’s professional development. She has gained knowledge of project management principles, project lifecycles, and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and has developed critical thinking skills directly transferable to her career in events and projects. Shadowing different departments at Luminate Education Group has been a particular highlight, giving her a broader perspective on organisational operations.

Phoebe emphasises the support she has received throughout her apprenticeship: “Everyone I’ve come into contact with at Luminate has been supportive, especially my team at Somerville House. I have protected time each week for apprenticeship sessions and portfolio work, and my team are always on hand to answer questions or give advice.”

Looking ahead, Phoebe is confident her apprenticeship is paving the way for her long-term career in events and projects. Her experience leading Industry Week in December 2025, managing stakeholders and coordinating a week-long event, was a standout moment that affirmed her skills and ambition.

Her advice for anyone considering an apprenticeship is simple: “Don’t ever rule it out and don’t feel like you are too old to start! At 25 years old, I am learning something new every day, and it is hands-on learning that is helping toward my new career goal.”

Reflecting on her journey so far, Phoebe sums it up perfectly: “As an apprentice, I feel supported in every aspect, I love the work I do, and every day is a new challenge and opportunity to learn.”

Phoebe’s journey demonstrates how apprenticeships can combine hands-on experience with personal growth, transforming creativity and organisation into tangible impact for learners and teams alike.

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