Our Football Academy played in the Nostrum Cup near Barcelona.

Young footballers from the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) have returned home undefeated in their first international tournament in Spain.

Players from the College’s Football Academy, run in partnership with Leyton Orient FC, took part in Mare Nostrum Cup near Barcelona, which ran from 13-16 April.

Each year the competition attracts more than 200 teams from under-10s to under-19s from around the world, including the UK and Ireland, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway Finland, Kuwait, India and the United States.

The competing teams stayed at the Cambrils Park Resort, about 70 miles south of the Catalonian city, with matches primarily taking place a short distance away at the Complex Esportiu Futbol Salou in Salou.

During the tour the players also had the opportunity to visit Camp Nou, the home to European giants FC Barcelona, as well as time to relax and unwind at the PortAventura World theme park.

Players from the Football Academy had the chance to visit Camp Nou, the home of Europran giants FC Barcelona.

The CONEL team started well in the Mare Nostrum Cup, winning their first match 2-0 against Spanish side CD Iruña.

In the next group match the College grabbed an equaliser in the last minute against another Spanish team, CF Solsona, to draw 1-1.

Next up was English side and tournament favourites Tonbridge Angels FC, with CONEL showing real character to come back twice in the game to draw 2-2 with some chances to win the game.

The Football Academy has been in partnership with Leyton Orient FC since 2013 and offers professional coaching, physiotherapy, nutrition advice and technical analysis, as well as a free training kit and bag..

Head of Sport Jonathan Silman said:  “The boys have had a great experience and performed very well against some tough opposition.

“Unfortunately, due to results from the other leagues we did not progress to the semi-finals, but to travel for our first tour and come away undefeated was a real coup for our Football Academy.”

Click this link to find out about our Football Academy.

Left to right, Beauty Therapy students Tudey Mckoy, Sophia Ennon, Kasturi Tandel and Sanya Krasteva, and Tiyana Chitolie, inset, took part in the Alternative Clothes Show.

A group of Beauty students provided the make-up to volunteer models of all ages at a fashion show with a difference.

Sanya Krasteva, Sophia Ennon, Tudey McKoy, Kasturi Tandel, and Tiyana Chitolie, who are all studying a Level 2 Diploma in Beauty Therapy at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL), took part in the Alternative Clothes Show.

The event has been run by environmental group Transition Crouch End and Hornsea Vale Community Centre since 2013 and aims to raise awareness of the hidden human and environmental cost of the mainstream clothing industry.

Sanya, 33, said: “I want to be a make-up professional. For me it’s not just work, it’s an art. The show was a big chance to practice on different skin types and we had to do it very quickly, which was quite challenging.”

Sophia, 28, added: “I love making people look beautiful. I’m really enjoying the course at CONEL. It’s giving me everything I need to do this as a job.”

The show, which took place on 25 March, promoted a wide range of clothing that was sustainably sourced, ethically produced and non-polluting, including some items made by those who attended.

It was attended by Catherine West MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, and included stands from anti-clothing waste charity TRAID and global poverty charity War on Want.

The highlight of the event was a Real People Catwalk where the models were made up of people living in and around Crouch End, and who ranged in age from 16 to over 60.

They received catwalk training during a rehearsal before taking to the runway and wearing various alternative clothes, including some they had made or upcycled themselves.

Beauty Therapy student Sanya Krasteva at CONEL.

Alternative Clothes Show organiser Tilly Williams thanked the students and Debra Pluthero, Lecturer in Beauty Therapy, for their hard work and support of the event.

“We were very grateful to have the CONEL beauty students take part in the rehearsal and on the night,” she said.

“The students worked alongside the hairstylist and appeared very professional at all times. They were enthusiastic, flexible and willing to work with all the models, who were a group with a very wide age range.

“The input from the CONEL students was much appreciated by the models.  They worked hard to ensure everyone looked their best, had make-up which suited them and also complimented their outfits, helping everybody feel special.”

Call 020 8442 3055 or click this link for more information on our Beauty courses.

Beauty Therapy competition winner with Kasturi Tandel, third from right, with her winning 'fantasy fairy' look modelled by Malvica Damania, seated, with second place Valbona Bajrami, second from left and third placed Tudey McKoy, far right, with their models.

A budding beautician's sparkling fairy themed look earned her the first prize in a college competition.

Kasturi Tandel, 34, was among the Level 2 Diploma in Beauty Therapy students who took part in the challenge at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).

The group was asked to create a style on a historical, fantasy or special occasion theme from a mood board featuring ideas they had gathered to help them to create their final look.

They were required not only to do the make-up but also style the hair and choose the clothing to create their different looks.

Kasturi said: “I wanted to do something creative and imaginative and so decided on a fantasy fairy look. My daughter is 10 and into fairies, which was part of the inspiration behind it.

“I did some research on the internet and spent a lot of time preparing and it took about three hours to create the finished look. I am amazed to have won the competition. It’s a really good feeling.”

Kasturi’s model and sister-in-law Malvica Damania said: “I feel like I want to go to a birthday party. It’s so colourful and vibrant. I wish I could keep this look all day, but I’ve got to go to work later and don’t think I could turn up like this!”

Second place in the competition was awarded to Valbona Bajrami, 31, and in third was Tudey McKoy, 22, who both created glamorous special occasion looks.

Beauty Therapy compeition winner wirh Kasturi Tandel with her winning 'fantasy fairy' look modelled by Malvica Damania, centre, with, left and right of main photo, Valbona Bajrami, Tudey McKoy, Sanie Yusein and Gulbeyaz Yildiz with their models.

Each of the top three students won a selection of hair and make-up products donated by Redken, the official partner of the College’s hair and beauty salons in Tottenham and Enfield.

The beauty competition was judged by Ann Atkin, Head of School - Hair and Beauty Therapy, and lecturers Joan Bardouille and Maria Rees.

Debra Pluthero, Lecturer in Beauty Therapy, said: “The finished looks were all of a very high standard and an excellent good interpretation of the brief.

“It was a difficult decision for the judges to make, but overall they felt that Kasturi’s effort really stood out against the rest.”

Call 020 8442 3055 or click this link for more information our Beauty Therapy courses.

Martyna Baranowska and Veronica Vladuca practice CPR as part of Health and Wellbeing Week.

Students had the chance to learn first aid when they took part in a workshop run by St John Ambulance.

Around 25 learners from the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) participated in the activity as part of its annual Health and Wellbeing Week.

Each year the charity trains 400,000 people how to save a life through its courses as well as providing first aid support at events across the country.

Pauline Crawford, Trainer for St John Ambulance, led the First Aid in a Day course, which covered resuscitation using the ABC method - airway, breathing and circulation.

Students also learnt how to place a patient in the recovery position and respond to situations including choking, poisons, bleeding, allergies, chest pains and burns.

The group was given further advice on casualty care and first aid kits.

Veronica Vladuca, 31, who is studying a Level 1 Certificate in Caring for Children, said: “I want to work as a nursery teacher, so I am sure that I will need to use first aid at some point in the future.

“The course has been very informative. I’ve learnt how to check if a person is responsive and do CPR (pictured). It’s been really good.”

Martyna Baranowska, 18, who is studying an Entry Level Diploma in Health, Care and Early Years, added: “I now feel much better prepared and know what to do if there is an accident and need to help someone.”

Health and Wellbeing Week ran from 24-28 April and is one of many enrichment activities held at the College throughout the year.

The event also saw a number of organisations visit CONEL to promote healthy lifestyles. These included Fusion Leisure, Friends of the Earth, Wise up To Waste, Embrace UK, Mind in Haringey, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) in Haringey and Enfield, Haringey Advisory Group on Alcohol (HAGA). Haringey Sexual Health Service and One You Haringey.

Chloe Lydon won her third successive gold medal in the English Karate Federation National Championships. Picture courtesy of Chadwell Heath Karate Academy.

Top stylist Patrick Cameron, left, presents Suzanne Simmonds, third from left, with her trophy and prize after she won the Chris & Sons hairdressing competition for her 'gothic raven' look modelled by friend Kelly Tundervary, second left, and Hairdressing Lecturer Pinar Mistiki far right.

A hairdressing student’s striking ‘gothic raven’ inspired look has been named the winner in a completion for aspiring stylists at colleges across London.

Suzanne Simmonds, 36, scooped the first prize in the contest run by Chris & Sons in Enfield for her unique style, which was judged by top stylist Patrick Cameron.

She is studying a Level 2 Diploma in Hairdressing at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL), which has now produced a winner in the competition on three occasions, the other times in 2016 and 2015.

Suzanne’s winning design was one of around 20 styles created by students from 18 London colleges, including five from the CONEL, who entered  in the competition.

Patrick Cameron critiques Suzanne Simmonds' 'gothic raven' look, left, and Suzanne with her winner's trophy and model and friend Kelly Tundervary, right.

Each participant had three hours to create styles on their chosen themes, which included an eclectic mix of styles, including ice maiden, modern African woman, 1940s, Queen of Hearts, Mad Hatter and a spring bride.

Suzanne’s look was modelled by friend Kelly Suzanne Simmonds who loved its complexity and admitted she would gladly wear it out.

Suzanne said: “I wanted to do something on a gothic theme. I like rock music, so that may have also influenced the look. I also think it’s unusual and a style you can be very creative with.

“Towards the end I started to feel the pressure and kept checking it to make sure it was finished, and I was really pleased with how it turned out.

“Winning this competition has given me more confidence. Patrick is the guru of long hair, and to have someone of his stature say they like your work is amazing.”

Suzanne Simmonds' 'gothic raven' look, left, and 'modern African woman' and '1940s' themed looks created by CONEL students' Jennifer Asiedu and Kamilakhan Zhuraeva for the competition.

Suzanne won a two-day masterclass with Patrick and a Babyliss Italia Brava hair dryer and Perfect Curl, and was also presented with a trophy.

Congratulating Suzanne on her success, Patrick said: “I absolutely loved the ‘raven’ because of the level of detail in the hair and the balance.

“The inspiration from the character to the execution, and the amazing outfit was on point. There was nowhere it fell down and she deserved to win and I think she is going to be a great hairdresser.” 

Each student who entered the competition was presented with a selection of Babyliss products.

Call 020 8442 3055 or click this link to find out about our Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy courses.

ESOL student Alexandra Mihai is set to start work as a cashier at Barclays Bank in Ponders End.

Six students whose first language is not English have secured jobs after impressing on work experience.

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students from The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) were offered part-time employment following their placements.

Alexandra Mihai, 18, who is from Romania but lived in Italy for past 15 years, is set to start work as a cashier at Barclays Bank in Ponders End.

She said: “When I came to England eight months ago I could only say, ‘Hello,’ and ‘How are you?’ but now I can have a conversation.

“At Barclays I was able to practise my English by helping customers with opening accounts and transferring money. I’m so pleased to get a job.”

Jean Diallo, 19, who moved to the UK from Guinea in 2015, has gained employment as a coach at Vicars Moor Lawn Tennis Club in Enfield.

He said: “My English was very poor to start with, but now it has improved. It feels good to get this job. English is the first language for many people in the world and will help me in life.”

ESOL students also undertook work placements at The Business Consultancy and Accounting Services, Ripmax, WJ Meade and Harris + Hoole.

Many employers commented on the students’ good punctuality and how they worked and performed well with colleagues and in their roles.

Six ESOL students were offered employment following work placements.

CONEL offers a wide range of ESOL courses from Pre-Entry Level to Level 1, covering speaking, listening, reading and writing, as well as English and Maths courses from Entry Level to GCSE.

Oya Karabetca, ESOL Course Team Leader, said: “Work experience provides an ideal opportunity for our ESOL students to really put their English language skills to the test in an actual working environment.

“It is always satisfying when you hear really good feedback from employers how well they have done, and even more so when you hear they have been offered employment.”

Call 020 8442 3055 or click here for more information our ESOL courses.

Talent scouts from one of the world’s largest signing talent competitions, The Voice, visited SoundSkool at CONEL’s Enfield Centre last month (27 April).  SoundSkool students studying, Artist Development and Music Production showcased their exceptional talent, as they auditioned to get to the next stage of ITV’s flagship TV show.

The Voice UK is a British television talent show currently searching nationwide for the best solo and duo artists. Seventeen SoundSkool acts from Levels 1 to 3, studying two different Music courses auditioned, performing their piece, singing or rapping, followed by a brief discussion as the talent scouts asked about the students’ musical backgrounds.

Level 3 Music student, Maeve Kane, stage name ‘Shivon’, was the first to audition performing ‘I’m gone’ by Lianne La Havas. Shivon discussed her background with The Voice scouts saying: “I’ve been singing for 14 years and I’m from a musical family. I’ve been doing open mic nights in London.”

Georgia Michael (pictured left) studying Level 1 Music Production and Business said: “This was my first audition. It was nerve wracking but when I got into the performance it felt good.”

Last to perform, Level 1 Music Production and Business student, Christina Marcia (pictured right) sang ‘Because of you’ by Kelly Clarkson. Christina, who has been singing since a young age, said: “It was an amazing opportunity. It went well and I hope I gave a good impression.”

Simon Gordon, Founder and CEO of SoundSkool said: “I’m really proud of how professional the students were and for giving great performances. This was a fantastic opportunity for the students and The Voice was impressed at the calibre of the performances.”

If successful the SoundSkool students will go forward to further meetings with The Voice staff and could lead to the blind auditions in front of the iconic judges Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson and Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale.

The winner will win a life-changing recording contract with one of the music industry’s most successful record labels, Polydor Records.

For more information on SoundSkool’s Music Production and Artist Development courses click here

Left to right, Rail Track Engineering Tutor Grant Lee, Kelly Rail apprentices Muhammad Ali, Mikesh Meisuria, Isreal Nelson, Kemar Taylor Norman Nyikadzino and Ingli Shehu with Apprenticeships Sales Executive Asnan Mojumader.

Aspiring rail engineers from The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) have secured Apprenticeships working on London Underground with Kelly Rail.

Kelly Rail is part of Kelly Group and one of largest rail contractors in the UK specialising in signalling, telecommunications, electrification and civil engineering.

The new apprentices were chosen by the company after completing a Level 2 Pre-Apprenticeship in Rail Track Engineering at the College’s Enfield Centre.

Pre-Apprenticeships are a three-month courses that act as a stepping stone to Apprenticeships by providing students with the essential skills for their chosen career.

The apprentices are predominantly working on projects on the Underground with some additional work on Network rail sites, and are being trained in design and planning, track maintenance and installing signalling.

Muhammad Ali, 20, chose an Apprenticeship over studying for a degree in civil engineering at university and is currently working on the Hammersmith and City Line.

“The best thing about the Apprenticeship is that I am actually learning what I need to learn rather than wasting a lot of money going to university and it taking longer to get a job,” he said.

“I’m really enjoying it. It’s helping me to achieve what I want to in life, and I really appreciate what College has done for me.”

Another new apprentice, Norman Nyikadzino, 24, had worked in several jobs with little option for progression before deciding to enrol on the Pre-Apprenticeship.

He said: “I was getting to the age when I needed to find a career. I heard about the course from a friend who had a lot of great things to say about it. The teachers were very helpful and had a lot of experience.

“Getting an Apprenticeship means I and now able to start work properly.”

Kelly Rail apprentices Muhammed Ali and Norman Nyikadzino.

The Kelly Rail apprentices follow another group from the College who were offered rail engineering Apprenticeships with VGC Group in October last year.

Stuart Bruce-Jones, Signalling Delivery Manager at Kelly Rail, who undertook the interviews, congratulated the new apprentices and welcomed them to the company and Kelly Group.

He said: “The College has a fantastic combination of locality and engineering facilities to equip the apprentices with the skillsets, knowledge and experience they need to enable  them to work on our  major transportation projects, including the largest and most complicated Re-Signalling upgrade projects currently being undertaken in Europe.

“I was very impressed with what they have learnt in such a short space of time to prepare them for the challenges of working in the rail industry.”

Call 020 8442 3442 or click here to find out more about Rail Track Engineering courses and and apprenticeships.

CONEL offers a wide range of courses and apprenticeships.

Find out how to get the cutting edge skills for your career at The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) this weekend.

The College is holding Open Days for prospective students and apprentices at its Tottenham and Enfield Centres on Saturday 6 May from 10am to 2pm.

CONEL offers more than 200 full-time vocational skills courses and works with many big name employers to offer hundreds of apprenticeships each year.

Visitors will be able to meet teaching staff and take part in activities at stands covering all curriculum areas offered by the College, including plumbing and carpentry workshops, games design and robotics demonstrations, manicures and massages and an English and maths quiz.

The College offers courses in Business and Accounting, Construction, Creative and Media, Engineering, English and Maths, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Hair and Beauty, Health and Social Care, Childcare, Computing, Music and Performing Arts, Public Services, Science, Sport and Fitness, Supported Learning, Teacher Education and Travel and Tourism.

It also offers Access to University Diploma courses and Higher Education courses from Higher National Certificates and Diplomas to a BA (Hons) in Counselling.

CONEL has continued to invest  in the latest technology and resources to ensure students and apprentices receive the best possible education and training to succeed in their chosen careers.

These include a Microsoft Showcase Classroom, creative media suites and recording studios, engineering and construction workshops, hair and beauty salons and science laboratories.

The College is consistently among the most popular and best performing Further Education colleges in London with more than 60% of students gaining employment six months after leaving and around 300 progressing to university each year.

Find out more at the Open Day this Saturday and on each Monday evening throughout the summer, or alternatively call the College on 020 8442 3055.

Pastor Nims Obunge, Borough Commander Helen Millichap, Simon Natas, Ken Hinds, Commander Neil Jerome and Inspector Tim Tubbs with CONEL Public Services students.

Top London police officers, a Haringey community consultant and a human rights lawyer visited over 150 students at CONEL on 2 May to talk about the way in which ‘stop and search’ is used in policing, and how it affects young black people in particular.

Three times more likely to be stopped than their white counterparts, the police officers argued the figures were the result of a complex picture and not proof of discrimination in themselves, despite questions from some CONEL students which suggested the contrary.

Urged towards positive action, the panel chaired by Reverend Nims Obunge, encouraged the young students to take part in the local scrutiny groups assessing the implementation of ‘stop and search’.

Defending ‘stop and search’ as essential for effective policing if used properly, senior ranking officers included: Commander Neil Jerome, Metropolitan Police Service Lead for Stop and Search; Helen Millichap, Haringey Borough Commander and Inspector Tim Tubbs, British Transport Police.

Commander Jerome said:  “I want to move to a situation where all officers  wear body worn video cameras while on duty so that we have an impartial record and can analyse how the ‘stop and search’ was carried out, ensuring that the dignity of all is preserved throughout. Stop and search needs to be fair and effective.”

Haringey Borough Commander, Helen Millichap explained that the police service is committed to the use of ‘stop and search’ as it is a useful policing tool, but emphasised that it has to be fair and proportionate.

She said: “Every ‘stop and search’ that takes a knife away is a life saved and police officers are motivated to make our communities safer.” She went on to say that the broader solution to the problem of carrying knives has to be tackled at a community level, as well as in schools.

Inspector Tim Tubbs said the number of black people involved in ‘stop and search’ was two in ten for the British Transport Police, which was a representative reflection of the ethnic make-up of people using the transport network.

Based at Euston station, Inspector Tubbs told the gathering that he personally reviews every ‘stop and search’ at Euston and other inspectors scrutinise ‘stops and searches’ in their respective areas on the transport network.

Human rights lawyer, Simon Natas, stated that “‘stop and search’ is used by police officers too often for the wrong reasons. It is an investigative tool that should be intelligence led and based on evidence that a person may be concealing drugs or weapons.”

Public Services student Hasret Keles asked what could be done to make ‘stop and search’ fairer and her classmate Adil Xurshe asked what training is given to officers to avoid racial bias when making a ‘stop’?

In response, the Chair of the Haringey Independent Stop and Search Monitoring Group, Ken Hinds, urged the young students to make their voices heard by getting involved with scrutiny panels assessing the way in which ‘stop and search’ is carried out within their communities. His views were strongly supported by Pastor Nims and echoed by Borough Commander Millichap.

Pastor Nims ended the session by challenging the young people to take responsibility for each other and the future saying stop and search must start in homes and with their friends to ensure we reduce knives and death on our streets.  

CONEL’s young public services students, many of whom want to become police officers, are already taking up opportunities to make a positive impact on what is considered to be a highly controversial policing method.

If you are interested in a career in uniformed service and would like to study Public Services at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, click this link to browse our courses and to apply.

Basketball Academy champions Gklori Santilou, Cristian Arthur, Kerim Baysal, Alex Malesi, Fredrick Ode, Rupert Burnett, Eden Mbuyi, Ben Ankrah and Reece Quinland.

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London’s Basketball Academy team have been crowned league champions for the first time.

The team, known as the Warriors, won the Association of Colleges Sport Basketball East Men’s League with a 59-55 win away to Peterborough Regional College's  side the Pumas in their final game of the season on 3 May.

The top of the table clash saw both sides go into the game level on 18 league points with CONEL coming back and holding onto their lead in the final quarter to secure victory.

Alex Malesi, 18, who was one of the top scorers for the Warriors in the match, said: “It feels incredible to be league champions.

“We put in a lot of training and effort and I felt we deserved it. We managed to shut the noise of the Peterborough crowd out of our heads, and maintain our concentration and got the win.”

Team-mate Fredrick Ode, 18, added: “We have a good team spirit. If we did not have that understanding, there’s no way we would’ve won.

“The coaching at the College has been great in helping us to get in shape and improve our game. There’s everything you need to be the best basketball player you can be.”

The result saw the Warriors end up with seven wins from their eight league fixtures against five other college teams home and away and scoring a total of 526 points.

The Basketball Academy, which is run in partnership with the London School of Basketball, was launched in 2014 and is coached by former England and GB international player and ex-London Lions’ Assistant Coach Jay Williams.

He said: “This is a massive achievement. The whole team has worked really hard all season, and we weren’t sure how good we were compared to the other teams.

“We just focused on getting better individually and then as a team and everything started to fall into place and they have done really well.

“Hopefully this is the first of many championship wins for the Academy.”

The Basketball Academy is open to all students aged 16 to 18 on 31 August of the year they enrol on a course at the Enfield Centre.

It includes professional coaching, physio support and rehabilitation, exercise and nutrition advice and technical analysis of performance.

Earlier this year the College announced it was to become the only college in London to offer a new BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Basketball course from September.

Click here to find out more about our Basketball Academy at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London.

Ex-offender Junior Smart, from the SOS+ project run by St Giles Trust, speaks to students.

Two reformed ex-offenders warned students of the dangers of getting involved in gangs during a series of hard-hitting talks and workshops this week.

Junior Smart and CJ Burge, who were both previously jailed for their offences, spoke candidly about their experiences at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).

On being drawn into a gang, Junior said: “You think you’re going into a big thing but the reality is you’re working seriously long hours for little pay off.

“I know for a fact it doesn’t pay up, when you consider the time you can be sent down for and not get to see the people who are important to you.”

He then asked the students: “How much is your life worth?”

The event was part of SOS+, a project run by St Giles Trust, which provides support for disadvantaged people, such as those who have experienced prison, homelessness, long-term unemployment, addiction and severe poverty.

SOS+ provides thought provoking and interactive discussion designed to empower young people to stay safe, resist street pressures, avoid destructive situations and make better life choices.

Sessions run by the charity include looking at the reality of prison life, gangs and the consequences of crime, drugs and violence, weapon awareness, sexual exploitation, bullying, victims of crime, assertive behaviour and motivation.

Student Franci La Paz, 18, who attended one of the talks, said: “I’ve learnt to think about who I make friends with, and it’s not worth joining a gang just because you want to be cool as you could be killed or end up in jail.”

Another student Reka Varju, 19, added: “You need to be careful. What I’ve heard today has opened my eyes to what being in a gang is like and the consequences. It’s made it much more real.”

The event formed part of the College Values Week, one of several enrichment activities run at CONEL throughout the year, and followed on from a talk by police, a lawyer and community figures on ’stop and search’ powers on 2 May 

Click here for more information on our Student Support services.

Wanessa Carvalho, Qilong Li and Yordon Tomov are arepresenting CONEL in WorkSkills UK.

An aspiring hairdresser, computer games designer and electrician are out to prove they are the most skilled young people in the country.

Wanessa Carvalho, Qilong Li and Yordan Tomov, are representing the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) in this year’s WorldSkills UK competition.

WorldSkills UK is the country’s largest skills, apprenticeships and careers event, and aims to inspire young people in pursuing world class skills needed by UK business and industry.

There are five competitions – Engineering and Technology, Media and Creative, IT and Enterprise, Hospitality and Lifestyle and Construction and Infrastructure.

Around 3,000 young people are taking on challenges set by industry experts and hoping to make the National Qualifiers at colleges, workplaces and trade shows across the UK and reach the National Finals at Birmingham NEC in November.

Wanessa, 28, who is undertaking an Apprenticeship in Hairdressing at the College’s own commercial salon at its Tottenham Centre, was excited to be representing the College.

She said: “Since I was young I always wanted to be a hairdresser. I never changed my mind. The support I’ve had on my apprenticeship has really prepared me for competition and my career, and hopefully I can win it.”

Yordon, 24, who is completing an Electrical Installation Apprenticeship with R&I Electrical Services in Tottenham, said: “This is a big challenge for me and could help in me the future. Nothing is 100% certain, but I am confident in the skills I have learnt that I can do well.”

Qilong, 22, who is studying for a Level 3 Extended Diploma in IT, has entered the IT and Enterprise competition, added: “I’ve enjoyed working with computers for a long time. I just want to do myself justice and maybe I can get to the finals.”

The winners of WorldSkills UK who excel in the National Finals will be invited to a UK Squad Selection to secure a place in Team UK, and represent the country in international competitions, such as EuroSkills and WorldSkills.

Click here to find out about our courses and Apprenticeships and how you can gain the skills for your chosen career.

CONEL students Yousef Alashi and Gina Gibbs on board the University of Northampton's Big Yellow Bus.

College students jumped on board a big yellow American-style school bus to find out more about going to university.

The bus arrived at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) on 11 May, as part of a tour by the University of Northampton.

Students stepped on the bus in the car park at the Enfield Centre to find out everything they needed to know about university life outside of London.

They were given personalised ‘uni-prep’ sessions, including two talks on student life and an introduction to university, and the chance to hear from some of the current cohort of students from the university.

Level 3 Business student Shaqueen Greaves, 19, said: “I am looking to go to university, and it was really good to hear about the different business courses you can study like marketing, finance and accounting.”

Level 3 Engineering student Hasim Gashi, 19, added: “There was some really useful information about what it’s like living on campus and bursaries that are available to help you for with your studies.”

Top left: CONEL student Leseana Joseph-Kennedy boards the University of Northampton’s Big Yellow Bus. Top right: University of Northampton Marketing Officer Megan Denny talks to CONEL students Gina Gibbs and Yousef Alashi about university life.. Bottom left: University of Northampton Marketing Team and Student Ambassadors.

CONEL offers a huge range of Level 3 vocational skills courses as an alternative to A-levels, which are accepted by many universities, including the University of Northampton, for places on most degree courses.

The College also offers Access to Higher Education Diplomas in Computing, Engineering, Science and Nursing, as another route into higher education.

Hundreds of our students from the College progress on to university each year and around 60 per cent are in employment within six months of leaving the College.

Helen Watson, Careers Officer at CONEL, said: “As a College we provide a wide range of support to our students so that they can achieve their future aspirations, including advice on CVs and interviews, career options and preparing for university.

“We were pleased to welcome the University of Northampton’s big yellow bus to the College, to give our students further insight and advice on university life.”

Call 020 8442 3055 or click her to find out about courses at CONEL.

Bright spark Yordan Tomov has been named WorldSkills UK best electrician in the South of England.

The 24-year-old was thrilled after scooping a gold medal in the National Qualifiers of the Construction and Infrastructure competition.

WorldSkills UK is the country’s largest skills, apprenticeships and careers event and aims to inspire young people to develop world class skills.

Yordan’s win means he will now have the opportunity to go on and compete in the National Finals at Birmingham NEC in November.

For the National Qualifier, Yordan had to completely build and test three electrical boards and circuits in five hours against three other competitors, which were then inspected by a panel of expert judges.

“I couldn’t believe I had won. It took a whole day to sink in,” said Yordan.

“The competition was exciting and the pressure was on to complete the projects in a limited time, but I felt well prepared and was confident I would finish.”

Yordan is completing an Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation at R&I Electrical Services in Tottenham with the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).

He said: “I’m enjoying my Apprenticeship. Every day is different and there are new problems to solve. I’ve gained a lot of experience, and grateful to my employer and tutors.

“Having this competition on my CV is a big step and could really give me the edge.”

CONEL offers a wide range of Construction courses and apprenticeships in Bricklaying, Carpentry and Joinery Plumbing and Electrical Installation.

Derek Munro, Lecturer in Electrical Installation, said:  “Yordan has been a keen and enthusiastic learner who has worked hard during his Apprenticeship, and has shown he has the skills and expertise to succeed as an electrician.

“He performed brilliantly in the WorldSkills UK competition and I would like to congratulate him on his achievement and reaching the National Finals.”

Yordan is one of three entrants from the College taking part in WorldSkills UK competitions this year.

Hairdressing Apprentice Wanessa Carvalho, 28, is competing in the Hospitality and Lifestyle competition, while ICT and Computing student Qilong Li, 22, is hoping to win in the IT and Enterprise competition

Call 020 8442 3055 or click here to find out about our courses and apprenticeships at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London.

Artnisa Muca, Priscilla Arthur, Marcia Gois and Gentjana Gashi take part in the newspaper and apple icebreaker during the employability workshop with Goldman Sachs at our Enfield Centre.

Students gained the skills they need to secure employment and succeed in their chosen career when they took part in a series of employability workshops with financial giant Goldman Sachs.

Volunteers from the global investment bank passed on their expertise and advice to students at the Tottenham and Enfield Centres of the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).

The workshops began with an icebreaker in which students were divided into groups and asked to build the tallest tower they could to support an apple on top.

There were then discussions on the subjects of What is a Business?, Business Culture, Career Motivations. Career Insights, First Impressions, Making an Impact, and Application Top Tips, along with a talk by staff from Goldman Sachs about the company.

The sessions ended with a CV workshop and job application and interview tips, as well as the chance for students to participate in mock job interviews.

Madiha Ahmed, 30, who is studying for a Level 1 Certificate in Developing Employability Skills, said: “I am trying to build up and organise my CV for interviews, and the volunteer from Goldman Sachs was able to give me advice on putting it together to best sell my skills.

“The interview practice was quite nerve wracking. It made me realise how important it is to prepare so you don’t just stumble through, which made me feel more confident.”

Left, Student Madiha Ahmed takes part in a mock interview with Goldman Sachs volunteer Elizabeth Garnham-Jong, and right, Erikas Poliakovas, Andi Durici and Panagiotis Zekthi with Goldman Sachs volunteer Colin Altman.

Goldman Sachs has run several employability workshops at the CONEL as part of a number of enrichment activities arranged by the College to support students’ learning and development.

Anthony Robinson, Quality and Learner Experience Manager, said: “These workshops are a fantastic opportunity for our students to develop the skills they need for the modern workplace, and also speak to employees from Goldman Sachs to help them to get a job and understand what is expected of them once they are in employment.”

Borough Commander Helen Millichap presents CONEL student Mek Mehmet-Yesil with an award for two years voluntary service with the Metropolitan Police.

Over 60 employers attended the #ApprenticeshipsNow event at CONEL.

Businesses welcomed the chance to discover more about starting up an Apprenticeship with the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) this week.

More than 60 emplyers attended the #ApprenticeshipsNow event at the College’s Enfield Centre to find out about vocational training and the Apprenticeship Levy, which came into effect on 1 May, and other funding reforms and support for professional development.

Attendees also had the opportunity to take a College tour and see some of the cutting edge technology, workshops and facilities, which have been used to train over 800 apprentices so far this year.

Tufael Aliahmed, Client Relationship Manager at Step Ahead, said: “We have a new contract with Southwark Council to help get residents into work.

"As an organisation were not sure how the Levy affected smaller and medium businesses, so we can now go back speak to the employers we target with the correct information, so it’s been very beneficial to us.”

“It was really valuable to hear about the range of apprenticeships available and talk about what we need as an organisation and tailoring this to an individual employee’s development.”

Earlier there were presentations by Enfield Council and Haringey Council, which both focused on regeneration and employment in the boroughs.

Anna Loughlin, Economic Development Manager at Enfield Council said: “We recognise there are a lot of exciting opportunities here in Enfield. We have pockets of deprivation and huge barriers getting into work, but we need to raise aspirations.

“That’s why we’re working with schools and colleges to let parents and students know what amazing careers are out there and how they can progress further.”

Ambrose Quashie, Interim Head of Employment and Skills at Haringey Council, also introduced the Tottenham Charter, a pledge by local businesses to improve access to jobs and deliver world class training.

Free Construction courses at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) are paving the way to future careers.

The College offers short courses in bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing and painting and decorating throughout the year, which usually take place on one evening a week for up to six weeks.

Adam Sullivan, 33, who is attending a bricklaying course, is keen to move into the building trade having worked in road construction for several years.

“I wanted to decide what I was interested in rather than diving straight in to a course, which can be quite expensive,” he said.

“Having a course in the evening meant I could fit it around my work as well.”

Joe Wright, 30, has been inspired to apply for an Apprenticeship while on a carpentry course.

“I’ve been unemployed for a couple of years and I’m on a low income, so the fact the course was free was really appealing,” said Joe.

“Carpentry is a skill you can take anywhere in the world, and as soon as I heard about the Apprenticeship I was on board. Hopefully, this is the start of a career for me.”

Mohamed Abdelfadel, 52, is completing a plumbing course and hopes to enter the profession.

“We’ve learnt a lot in a short space of time,” he said.

“People need plumbers, and there is a lot of work around. Next year I would like to do a higher level course.”

For others, like Natalie Galloway, 24, the decision to do a bricklaying course was not just about learning new skills.

“You can save money if you need a job done when you can do it yourself, so it’s more financially beneficial,” she said.

Elizabeth Minter, 53, who is studying carpentry is looking forward to using her new skills to build a lean-to at her home.

She said: “It’s been brilliant. It’s given me the confidence to know I can pick up a drill or a jigsaw and use it, rather than having someone else do it.”

Call 020 8442 3055 or click here to find out about Free and Professional Courses at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).