Star students are celebrating securing apprenticeships, jobs and places at University as Nelson and Colne College once again celebrates a 100% vocational pass rate.

Students from across all areas, including PE, Hairdressing and Science are starting their Summer break confident in the knowledge that hard work and dedication has paid off as they prepare to take the next step towards their dream job.

Among this year’s success stories for the College are Shaughna Anderson and Shamsa Iqbal, who will be going to the University of Central Lancashire (Masters in Chemistry) and Lancaster University (Pre-Medical Studies) respectively, as well as top Engineering student Phillip Tetley, who has secured himself a full-time job at Keighley Laboratories Ltd, and Health and Social Care student Rebecca Leaver, who has accepted an offer to do Nursing at the University of Salford.

Assistant Principal Paul Britton said: “We are delighted to once again be celebrating a 100% pass rate for vocational studies. This year we have so many students off to exciting destinations after their time at NCC, including Russell Group universities, and exciting apprenticeships/jobs relevant to their career aspiration.

“Students getting an applied or technical qualification at Nelson and Colne College are given a route into a skilled trade or occupation, completing some incredible work experience opportunities alongside their studies to develop their skills and CV and prepare them for employment, training or higher/further education. We are thrilled that their efforts have been recognised and rewarded and that students are now on the ladder to achieving their dream role. We look forward to hearing how they progress as a member of our outstanding NCC alumni network!”

Other 2016 vocational successes for Nelson and Colne College include Childcare’s Elliott Wight, who is now working for Little People of Piccadilly Day Nursery, in Burnley, and Zahra Waris, who has got an apprenticeship at Barrowford Pre-School Nursery. D*D*D* sports star James Ridehalgh is off to Liverpool John Moores University to study Sports Coaching, while Business’ Annabelle Robinson, who also achieved D*D*D*, is set to do an advanced apprenticeship with Calico. Business star Ali Shah is set to progress to Manchester Metropolitan University to read Business Management after gaining the top D*D*D* grade for his studies, while Catering’s Kevin Muldowney has secured a full-time apprenticeship with The Seafood Pub Company at the Town Green Brasserie, in Aughton

Chelsea Tattersall and Kelsie Lampard, who studied Level 3 Hair at NCC, have both been left delighted after securing Steiner cruise ship jobs, Becky Coyne from Public Services is starting training for a career as a firefighter in the RAF, and Zameer Ejaz will be going to the University of Leicester to do Computer Science.

Budding photographer Amy Finn, another D*D*D* success story, will next year take a gap year in Australia, where she is hoping to gain more commissions. She has already gained a place at the University for Central Lancashire for the following year, based on the strength of her portfolio.

Health and Social Care success story Rebecca Leaver, who did a hospital placement and joined the Health Cadet scheme alongside her theory work at NCC, said: “I feel ready to go to the University of Salford to do Nursing after the support I have received from College. At university I am going to have to do placements and theory work, and because I did that at College I feel prepared.

“The university were impressed that I had done the Health Cadet scheme, as not many people are given that opportunity. The tutors at NCC push you further than you think you can go, and the majority in my class achieved more than their target grade. I definitely made the right choice coming to Nelson and Colne College.”

Vocational qualifications are designed to meet specific needs of employers and job sectors. For more information about gaining a vocational qualification at Nelson and Colne College visit www.nelson.ac.uk or contact 01282 440272.