The bulletin provides updates on recent events attended by AoC London Region members, including the Skills Show, Skills London, and AoC National Annual Conference. It also announces upcoming networking events, training programs and calls for funding proposals. South Thames College students achieved success at the World Skills competition. The bulletin closes with contact details for the AoC London Region team.

1. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin
23 November 2012 – Issue 125
Dear Colleagues
This has been an exceptional two weeks for our Colleges and the sector with the Skills Show
th
2012 (15-17 November, NEC Birmingham), Skills London 2012 (23-24 ExCel, London), and
the AoC National Annual Conference (20th – 22nd November, ICC, Birmingham) all taking
place.
The Skills Show last week inspired hundreds of competitors and participants and thousands of
visitors to take part and have a go. Many, many congratulations to our London medal winners.
Skills London 2012 was today also a hive of activity, including a fantastic range of interactive
stands and exhibits from London Colleges. Skills London offers young people and their
families a chance to find out all the career options that are available to them. The event is open
tomorrow (Saturday 24th November) from 10:00am until 4:00pm.
This week has also seen the AoC Annual Conference taking in place in Birmingham. This was a
highly successful conference with over 1800 delegates. For me personally it was a great chance
to network, learn and meet up with our Colleges and stakeholders. Key speeches and
announcements can be found on the AoC website.
Best wishes
Caroline Neville
CALLS FOR ACTION
PROGRESS Programme Call for Proposals: Social Policy Experimentations
The European Commission has just published the PROGRESS Programme’s Call for Proposals
for Social Policy Experimentations which has a budget of €4.2 million and a deadline for
submission of applications of 15th February 2013.
For more information please visit European Commission funding website or contact Paul
Laffin, EU Policy Adviser.
Adutlt Learners' Week nominations – one month to go!
There's now only one month to go to get your nomination in for Adult Learners' Week. The
deadline is Thursday 13th December to complete your nomination for an outstanding learner
or project. You can nominate online, electronically or on paper.
For more information please contact Amanda Pavon-Lopez London and South East area
Coordinator.

2. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 23 November 2012
Building money management skills in FE colleges with Barclays Money Skills
The Barclays Money Skills programme is returning for a third year, and further education
Colleges across the UK are now invited to register to take part in this national campaign to
build the financial skills and confidence of FE college students.
Participating colleges receive a free resource pack full of entertaining and
informative activities to run with students in the Spring term. Activities cover
themes such as budgeting, saving and spending, and are based on topics
including food, fashion and independent living. Colleges can request
support from Barclays volunteers, who are trained to deliver presentations
and support tutorials, and colleges funded by the Skills Funding Agency can
apply for a grant of between £400 and £4,000 to support the delivery of the
programme.
For more information and to register your College to take part please check the Barclays Money
Skills website.
LONDON NEWS
London Colleges news
South Thames Brings Home the Gold at World Skills
Students representing South Thames College brought in a haul of
medals when they competed in the national finals of the World
Skills competition held at the Skills Show in Birmingham last week.
The College had eight students competing in three separate
competitions, which are designed to test the advanced skill levels of
students in specific vocational areas.
The stand'out performance was from Raquel Cole who picked up
the Gold medal in the advanced Afro-Caribbean hairdressing
competition.
South Thames College picture
Other medal winners in the Afro Caribbean hairdressing category were Tanya Grant who won
the silver in the intermediate category and Sabrina Hilaire who won the bronze in the same
category.
To read the full story please visit London Colleges website.
GLA news
London playing fields under threat, warns Assembly
Fast Food City – Mayor urges action on healthier eating
News from Darren Johnson AM: Mayor questioned on support for free schools
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3. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 23 November 2012
UPCOMING EVENTS
AoC London Network Events and Dates for the Diary
• AoC London Marketing committee meeting/Strategic workshop, 27 November.
• AoC London Procurement Network, 28 November.
• AoC London Marketing Managers Network, 4 December
• AoC London Regional Committee, 6 December
AoC Create News
AoC Digital Marketing and Engagement Conference, Thursday 6 December 2012, Prospero
House, London
Please be advised that the AoC Digital and Engagement Conference is on Thursday 6
December. The event will provide information, debate and examples of best practice in email,
mobile, social media, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and much more. The agenda is
attached to the Bulletin.
For more information please vist event’s website.
Managing Quality: The Sector Management College – the management development
programme for FE managers, 11-12 December
Over 350 delegates have attended SMC to date and the next module ‘Managing Quality’ will
take place from 11 to 12 December. ‘Managing Quality’ has been newly developed with input
from the AoC’s policy team and College sector experts. It will enable you to describe and
evaluate a range of quality management theories and tools, identify the need for continuous
improvement in their own setting, and apply some of the tools examined.
Click here for more info www.aoccreateevents.co.uk/smc1213
One day workshop: How Gangs Operate in Colleges, 13 December
Are gangs and youth violence a concern in your College? Can you spot the signs of gang
behaviour? A new one day workshop aimed to address your concerns raise your awareness of gang
and serious youth violence and equip you with the necessary tools to help prevent problem
groups in your College. Presented by serving police officer Barry Green and Security
Consultant Peter Smith.
Peter Smith is an ex police officer with extensive knowledge in dealing with Gangs and Serious
Youth Violence. He helped devise the AoC London Region Gangs Checklist in June 2011 and
the checklist was extremely helpful to Colleges, including following the riots in August 2011.
This workshop builds on this expertise and the work piloted in London, along with police
officer Barry Green who also worked on this project.
To book your place please visit the workshop’s website.
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4. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 23 November 2012
All programmes and events are organized by AoC Create, the commercial subsidiary of the
AoC. All the money AoC Create make is reinvested to benefit AoC members.
AoC London / ACER Regional Procurement Service Update
Procurement Trainings
AoC London and ACER are pleased to offer free of charge procurement training to any London
College staff during the month of December. Four half-day events are to be held at the AoC
offices at Stedham Place, WC1A 1HU. The topics to be covered and scheduled dates and times
can be found in the enclosed leaflet.
GET A LINE ON AOC LONDON REGION MEETINGS
Recent meetings
Date Meetings/Events
12 November AoC London Heads of Sport Network, Eversheds (JS)
12 November Higher Educational Funding Council for England Workshop (CN)
13 November ESOL Group meeting (JS)
13 November Excellence Awards event at Barking & Dagenham College (JS)
14 November London Consultative Group at the Institute of Education, University of London (CN)
14 November AoC London Business Development Managers’ network meeting (CN)
15 November New models of engagement for Colleges and the Financial Services sector Event (JS)
15 November Meeting with Maria Thompson, Principal Havering College of FE and HE (CN)
15 November ‘Havering Asks Event’, Havering College of FE and HE (CN)
16 November The Skills Show, NEC Birmingham (EB)
16 November London Employment & Skills Taskforce for 2012 Implementation Group, GLA (JS)
20 November AoC Annual Conference & Exhibition, Birmingham (CN, JS, EB)
21 November AoC Annual Conference & Exhibition, Birmingham (CN, JS)
22 November AoC Annual Conference & Exhibition, Birmingham (CN, JS)
23 November Skills London 2012 Event (CN, JS, EB)
Future meetings
Date Meetings/Events
27 November Aoc London Marketing Committee/Strategic Workshop, Eversheds (CN, JS)
27 November Meeting with Denise Brown-Sackey, Principal Newham FE College (CN)
28 November AoC London Procurement Managers Network Meeting (CN)
28 November Linking London – Building Progression Project meeting (CN)
30 November High Needs Students Policy: Implementation in London meeting (CN)
4 December AoC London Marketing Managers’ Network Meeting (JS)
4 December Regular catch up meeting with Vic Grimes, Apprenticeships (CN)
4 December Post 14 Network Advisory Group – Institute of Education (CN)
5 December Jill Lowery , Skills Funding Agency (CN)
6 December AoC London Regional Committee meeting (CN, JS)
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5. AoC London Region Members’ Bulletin, 23 November 2012
If you like to get more information about the AoCLR attended recent and future
meetings/events please contact Etha Taylor, AoC London Region Team Administrator.
CONTACTS
If you wish to contact the AoC London office to give feedback on this Bulletin, to request
additional information where we have offered it, or to provide suggested content for future
issues, please email Evelina Bagusyte.
Caroline Neville Judith Smyth
Regional Director Deputy Director
caroline.neville@aoc.co.uk judith.smyth@aoc.co.uk
Evelina Bagusyte Etha Taylor
Regional Co-ordinator Team Administrator
evelina.bagusyte@aoc.co.uk etha.taylor@aoc.co.uk
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