Academy News
Acorn Academy opens and welcomes new staff.
For the past 6 months we have been developing the Acorn Academy, our new Foundation Learning centre. This has been a big task as we are converting 4 large furniture showrooms into 12,000 feet of vocational training facilities. As well as the established Pathways in Business Administration, ICT and Customer Service/Retail, a whole series of new Pathways are available. These include Hospitality and Catering, Horticulture, Sport and Leisure and Beauty to date.
Acorn’s Bistro welcomes Carole Cookson, who joins us from Castle College and brings with her a wealth of experience in the Catering and Hospitality Sector. She will be developing the new Hospitality provision which will allow learners to work within the new Bistro in both catering and table service and achieve a variety of qualifications.
Acorn’s Green Pathway welcomes Martin Allcock. Martin has joined us to work in the new Horticulture section, and comes with experience in Horticulture, Conservation and Floristry. He will have a vital role in developing the Pathway leading to offering a variety of relevant qualifications in the sector. Young people will have hands on experience in growing foods and decorative plants in an allotment, maintaining woodland and a dipping pond at a local school, as well as contributing to conservation projects in a local park. Young people on the Horticulture Pathway will grow produce for the Bistro.
Acorn’s Sport Pathway welcomes Alex Pilkington, who has moved within Acorn to the new Academy to lead this programme. Her experience and enthusiasm will be vital when working with local communities to run and develop schemes for young and old to participate in.
Acorn’s Beauty Pathway will provide level 1 qualifications including nail art, massage, skin care and make up. We are looking for a suitable experienced and qualified tutor – do you know anyone who would be interested?
Finally, Acorn Academy welcomes Carol Dicken, who joins us from Castle College, where she worked as a learning support team leader. She has taken on the vital role of Learning Support Officer, providing support and offering guidance/mentoring to the learners. Her primary role is to safeguard our learners and ensure that they are all progressing well in their chosen Pathway. She will be the real lynchpin because she will look after the welfare of the all the learners across the various vocational Pathways.
We invite everyone to visit the new Academy. Please email Natalie.gregory@acorn-training.com at any time to arrange for us to welcome you.
