December 2006 saw the launch of the new Redbridge Business Education Partnership (ReBEP) website. Kelly Sims, ReBEP's General Manager said, "Hopefully users of the site will find it much easier to navigate through the pages and find the information that is relevant to them. I would welcome comments about the site, or any other aspect of relating to ReBEP from users of the site".
Working with our colleagues at the Havering and Newham EBPs, together with training providers from the East London Training Alliance (ELTA), we have secured funding over two years to provide a number of subsidised places on our Vocational Inclusion Programme (VIP). Year 11 students from a number of Redbridge schools have signed up to the programme where they attend a work placement one day per week and the local training provided for a second day.
Following last year's high demand for work related learning from Redbridge Schools, ReBEP has appointed a new member of staff and restructured the team.
Jill Martin, a consultant with the Havering Business Education Partnership joins the team to help us develop our activities. Jill is a qualified teacher and has been involved with Education Business Links for "more years than she cares to remember". Jill has worked for TVEI, the Teacher Placement Service, ICAA / NDTEF and has been a chief examiner for business studies. Jill has also written and or edited numerous materials and text books that have been published and sold across the country.
Following the submission of a portfolio of evidence and a full day inspection from the Centre for Education and Industry at the University of Warwich, it has been confirmed that ReBEP have once again achieved the 'National Standard for Work Experience Organisers'.
The assessor commented, "Planning is a real strength in this EBP and a new action plan was written in March 2007. This was examined by the assessor. There was evidence of substantial development and progress since the last assessment and a detailed discussion was held with the general manager on both national and local trends and relationships. Specific information was given on the approach of the EBP to the current uncertainties linked to the new diplomas."
The full report is available on our 'docs' page or by clicking here.
ReBEP's Vocational Inclusion Programme continues to grow in demand. Now in it's third year there are more schools and students on the programme than before. To meet the growing demand for high quality training provision, we have set up and opened our own Training Academy. Students at the academy are aged between 14 and 16.
In our first year we are delivering practical and function skills courses including:
As part of our continued developments, we have moved our main operations to newly refurbished offices in Rainham. Alonside the Taste Building in the Redbridge Teachers' Centre, our new facilities will allow us to expand our provision for Redbridge schools.
As we will be be sharing accommodation with Redbridge Chamber of Commerce, Havering BEP and the Havering Chamber of Commerce we will be able to target our combined resources at maximising employer engagement and improving the quality of our programmes.
Together with our colleagues at the Havering BEP, ReBEP has launched a new community radio station called Link FM. Broadcasting on 92.2 FM and on the internet at www.linkfm.net, the station will provide training opportunities for teaching staff and work experience for students of all ages.
The station was first established in 1992 as a temporary station and now holds a full licence until 2012, when we hope to reapply.
