TV’S FIRST ‘APPRENTICE’ TIM CAMPBELL LAUNCHES NEW RANGE OF VOCATIONAL COURSES AT JOHN RUSKIN COLLEGE
JRC announces creation of Business & IT Academy and Health, Care & Early Years Academy
March 2008
Tim Campbell, who won the very first series of ‘The Apprentice’ on television and went on to work for business leader Sir Alan Sugar, was at John Ruskin College (JRC), South Croydon, last week to launch two of JRC’s new vocational Academies.
JRC is developing five new Academies, to offer more career-focused qualifications such as BTECs linked to a broad range of industry sectors. The first of these – the Business & IT Academy and the Health, Care & Early Years Academy – were launched by Tim Campbell, who urged JRC students to “make the connection between learning and earning – don’t forget you are studying to get a career.”
In an inspirational speech, Tim – who founded the Bright Ideas Trust to encourage budding young entrepreneurs to start business ventures, advised students at JRC to seize the advantages that education has to offer. “You don’t need to be on the telly to be a success. Everything is in your head and in your hands.”
“I’m proud of what I have now but I do have some regrets. As a teenager I wasted too much time when I should have been learning. My advice is to do the best you can at everything and success will come as a result. You are in a privileged position as everyone here at JRC wants you to succeed, and there’s great support in the college.”
“Find a mentor”, he said. “Someone who can support and guide you. I thought I knew everything when I was a teenager but what I actually needed was someone with a bigger view of the world.”
Asked by one student what he thought were the three most important things for success, Tim replied: “Confidence – believe in yourself. Passion – live and breathe what you do. Plus determination and tenacity – while learning from your mistakes.
The Business & IT Academy has been established by JRC to provide a “career-focused” route for those who want to develop their skills in business and IT and to learn about the enormous variety of employment opportunities open to them. It will also enhance students’ chances of progressing to university or a career. John Ruskin College has links with many large employers across the London area who can offer students a range of experiences.
The aim of the Health, Care & Early Years Academy is to widen students’ opportunities within Higher Education and the world of work, but with a focus on careers in the health service, care homes, and in professional child care and related areas.
The launch events were also attended by the Academies’ sponsor companies GE Healthcare and RM, as well as the Army Careers service, John May, Chief Executive of UKCAF (UK Career Academy Foundation) and representatives from local schools.
Helen Clarke, Deputy Head of Coulsdon High School, one of JRC’s partner schools, told the college students and guests that she was “extremely impressed” by JRC’s hard work and could see that the college was “going from strength to strength”. She commented that Coulsdon High School’s Health and Social Care students who attend classes at JRC enjoy their time there and are encouraged to work well and to get better results.