Class

Following the announcement of the final CoLaS, there was a great demand from the region’s business leaders to keep the prestigious award ceremony going.

James Ramsbotham, Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, commented:

“Everyone was devastated that CoLaS 2009 was announced as being the last CoLaS Awards. These awards have brought so much to the region over the last few years. I am delighted that they have been revived and renewed in the form of The Class Awards and would urge the continued support from those who already know the benefits of these celebrations. And, to those who are yet to experience the North East’s largest awards ceremony: make sure you’re involved in 2010.”

The 2010 ceremony will see over 1000 guests enjoy a spectacular ceremony at the Sage Gateshead on 23 April 2009. The region’s business leaders will join key employers, politicians, journalists, representatives from education and the families and friends of the nominees for an evening of entertainment and recognition of achievement.

Ian Williams, Director of Business and Industry at One North East, said:

“The CoLaS awards were an important celebration of learning and skills for the North East so it’s great news that The Class Awards will build on the established reputation of CoLaS. We are also delighted that the awards will continue to stress the key message about the importance of retaining and rewarding skills excellence across the region.

“The Class Awards is an unmissable opportunity to celebrate the achievements of both top class learners and employers - celebrating the talented people in the region who are crucial to the economic recovery as we prepare for the upturn.”

Nominations are now open to employers, organisations and individuals over the age of 16 apart from Young Learner of the Year which is for ages 14 and over. All you need is to have reached the very pinnacle of innovative, progressive learning excellence and success in skills development. The Class Awards isn’t just about academic or professional achievements, it’s about recognising improvements in learning and skills, many against the odds, and award winners are expected to span all sectors.

• Award categories include:
• Young Learner of the Year
• Apprentice of the Year
• Skills for Work Award
• Personal Achiever
• Lifetime Achiever
• Outstanding Achiever of the Year
• New/Enterprising Employer of the Year
• Small/Medium Employer of the Year
• Large Employer of the Year
• Outstanding Employer of the Year
• Apprenticeship Employer of the Year
• Creating Futures Award
• Collaboration of Higher Skills

Angus McLanders, Managing Director, Fawthrop McLanders said:

“The launch of The Class Awards is really exciting. Not just because it means that there will be a spectacular celebration in April but also because the awards offer an unparalleled opportunity for the region’s often unsung heroes who work tirelessly to further the learning and skills of employers and individuals.”

“We are grateful for the support of One North East, Business and Enterprise North East and the region’s universities and enterprise agencies and other soon to be announced award sponsors who have made The Class Awards possible. We can’t wait to see the nominations rolling in and to start the talent search for performers on the night too.”

The Class Awards also launched The Audition which will be held at Dance City. It will identify the best entertainers in the region to perform at The Sage Gateshead. So whatever your talent, spinning plates, juggling, singing, dancing, performing magic tricks, making people laugh or anything in the name of family friendly entertainment, then be sure to get practicing and try out at The Audition. You could win the brilliant opportunity to perform on the night and gain experience of a fantastically professional event on a massive scale in front of a 1000 strong crowd, complete with your name in lights, professional sound, stage and lighting and a live band. A real dream come true experience. To enter upload a video of you performing through the website now.

Melanie Cook, Events & Facilities Manager, Dance City said:

”As the national agency for dance in the north of England, we have an obvious passion for dance and performing arts. By supporting The Audition, we offer access to our excellent facilities and hope to welcome friendly faces and reach new people, all competing for their place performing at The Sage Gateshead. We believe that the power of the arts can reach across communities and cultures and bring people together. The Class Awards is all about bringing together the very best that the North East has to offer and we are looking forward to searching for and selecting some top class acts.”

So if you can handle the thought of a high glamour evening, spectacular entertainment, brilliant achievers and VIP celebrities then make a note of The Class Awards – 23 April 2010. Visit www.theclassawards.co.uk for further details, nomination forms and to upload audition videos.

back to the top of this page ↑

The Class Awards, the successor to the LSC’s Celebration of Learning and Skills Awards (CoLaS), which finished last year, recognise the unsung heroes of learning and skills and the efforts of businesses and individuals in raising skill levels in the region.

The all new awards, which will take place at The Sage Gateshead on April 23rd, will keep the CoLaS flame burning in their search for individuals and businesses who have reached the very pinnacle of learning and skills success. The search is now on to find the acts and nominations for the 13 categories.

Chris Roberts, Regional Director, LSC North East, said:

“Train to Gain meets the demands of employers from all sectors to improve the skills of their employees as a route to improving their business performance.”

“In recent times the service has been further developed to help businesses through the economic downturn. Employers are using the service to train staff so that they are better skilled when the upturn begins and many have utilised the service to ensure their employees leave employment armed with skills for a better future.”

“During these difficult economic times, ensuring that we have the skills we need to compete and succeed has never been so important and this is what these awards all about: recognising and celebrating achievement and success in learning and skills raises awareness about the benefits and encourages others to participate. A highly skilled workforce is good for individuals, employers and the wider economy.”

The CoLaS Awards 2009 recently scooped a top award at the CIPR Pride Award when it won the best event category. The Awards also took the second prize in the public sector category.

When the curtain came down on last year’s CoLaS Awards the feedback was overwhelming: people wanted it to continue. Event managers, Fawthrop McLanders took the concept to various North East organisations including One North East, Business Link and the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies North East (nfea NORTH EAST) and their funding has made it possible to stage the Class Awards 2010.

To nominate a large employer, with more than 250 employees, who has shown exceptional commitment to training and developing their workforce and embedded training into the organisations culture visit the Class website. Judges will be looking for employers can show the real benefits of training.

back to the top of this page ↑

Last year, the NHS in the north east spent approximately £250m training and developing its workforce. It is constantly improving the skills of NHS staff which is vitally important to improving in the quality of care it delivers. Testament to this success is the recent rating by The Care Quality Commission which rated every single acute hospital in the region, as well as the ambulance service either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ for quality of services, giving by far the highest score in England. Around half of NHS staff are on non–degree level grades (bands 1–4) and NHS organisations across the region work hard to offer these staff learning and development opportunities.

Dr Moira Livingston, Director of Workforce, North East Strategic Health Authority said:

“This is the second year we have sponsored the Skills for Work award and we are very proud to do so. Seeing the drive, enthusiasm and talent of the people nominated for last year’s awards was truly inspiring and made supporting the new look CoLaS awards, The Class Awards, an easy decision. It is because of passionate, motivated people who are willing to learn and develop to achieve their career aspirations that the NHS in the North East is able to deliver the best healthcare services in the country. As the largest employer in the region, we are heavily involved in education, training and skills development for existing staff and in improving access to learning opportunities and routes into the NHS for those looking for a career with us. For us, The Class Awards are an excellent way of demonstrating our commitment to learning and skills and to the prosperity of the region”

NHS North East has also demonstrated its commitment to learning and skills by signing the Skills Pledge and by continually working with partners such as Job Centre Plus and Skills for Health to improve access to NHS careers.

For the Skills for Work award, judges are looking for individuals who have undertaken specific training for their role at work or taken it upon themselves to learn independently outside the workplace. They must be able to demonstrate how the training has impacted successfully on their job and enhanced their working life, either in an existing role or in a completely new job or sector. The winner of this award will have developed new skills and learning will have had a major impact on their working life. They must be able to show a clear progression path at work, possibly with an increase in responsibility and a development of leadership and management skills. The individual’s determination and training will have played a fundamental part in helping them achieve their career goals.

Nominations close in January and award winners will be announced on 23 April 2009 at the region’s biggest and only learning and skills ceremony. Over 1000 guests will gather to enjoy a spectacular evening at the Sage Gateshead including entertainment and recognition of achievement with 13 awards categories for individual and employers dedicated to learning and skills.

So if you can handle the thought of a high glamour evening, fantastic entertainment, brilliant achievers and VIP celebrities then make a note of The Class Awards – 23 April 2010. Visit www.theclassawards.co.uk for further details, awards categories, nomination forms and to upload audition videos.

back to the top of this page ↑

The NAS believes that Apprenticeships are a vital way of improving the skills of staff and generating a committed and valuable workforce. The Class Awards, supported by One North East, Business Link and National Federation of Enterprise Agencies North East (nefa NORTH EAST), represent an ideal and important opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of apprentices and their employers. This year the North East Apprenticeship Awards are integrated within the Class Awards.

John Wayman, Regional Director, NAS said:

“The NAS is delighted to support the Apprenticeship award categories at The Class Awards. The awards will showcase and highlight the importance of Apprenticeships in improving skills and generating a committed and valuable workforce. We know they provide employers with talented, aspiring individuals of all ages and that employers directly benefit from these highly trained apprentices. They bring new ideas and innovation to businesses and deliver real and tangible results. We know there are some inspirational apprentices and Apprenticeship employers in the North East and are keen that they get the praise and recognition that they deserve at such a prestigious awards ceremony.”

The Apprentice of the Year Award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate apprentices’ exceptional contributions to their workplaces. Judges are looking for ambitious apprentices that make a real difference to the organisation they work in by going beyond everyone’s expectations and delivering measurable benefits. They might have introduced a new idea or initiative that has had a positive impact on the business, for example doing something that has improved procedures and systems, or made an important contribution to the development of a product or special project. Apprentices must be working towards, or have completed, a Young Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship or an Advanced Apprenticeship.

The Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award seeks to acknowledge an employer’s commitment to Apprenticeships as a training route. Judges are looking for organisations that can demonstrate how Apprenticeships are delivering measurable benefits. Apprentices may have helped the organisation improve profitability, performance or morale. In the current economic climate, the judges are particularly keen to see an ongoing commitment to training through this route and for employers to show how continued training is helping to reduce skills gaps and maintain and improve competitiveness. Employers of all sizes and from any sector can enter.

Nominations close in January and award winners will be announced on 23 April 2009 at the region’s biggest and only learning and skills ceremony. Over 1000 guests will gather to enjoy a spectacular evening at the Sage Gateshead including entertainment and recognition of achievement with 13 awards categories for individual and employers dedicated to learning and skills.

So if you can handle the thought of a high glamour evening, fantastic entertainment, brilliant achievers and VIP celebrities then make a note of The Class Awards — 23 April 2010. Visit www.theclassawards.co.uk for further details, awards categories, nomination forms and to upload audition videos.

top ↑

The successful acts are:

Edd Muir – circus artist

Edd, one of the founding partners at Frayed Knot Youth Circus, trained in Circus Maniacs Aerial & Acrobatics in Bristol before returning to the North East to establish his company with fellow artist Victoria Carlin. Edd will be amazing the crowds with a solo Chinese Pole act at The Class Awards.

ANSD – Dance Troupe

Led by Amanda Nicole, who started dancing at the age of seven, Amanda now leads a dance school based in Wallsend. The group that will be performing at The Class Awards is choreographed by Mark Keenan and made up of urban street dancers ranging from six-26 years old.

AKA – Dance Troupe

Fresh from Britain’s Got Talent Auditions, this group is waiting to see if they are through to the live semi finals. They were a definite “yes” from our judges and won Feativals4Stars in 2009. The group brings together 19 dancers ranging from age ten to twenty. They compete regularly and practice hard with team training usually 3-4 times a week. Their act, a tribute to Tina Turner, is performed to a lively mash up.

Creamy Licks, band from South Tyneside College

Comprising music students Joseph Inskip, guitarist, Nathan Bell, bass, Anthony Dunn, singer and guitarist and Alan Burns, drummer, this dynamic group have been together for just over a year and enjoy performing gigs across the North East. Their style is rocky and funky and they will be performing Johnny Be Good at The Class Awards.

Ami Vaziri, solo artist

Ami is currently studying at Sage Academy of Performing Arts and performed at The Celebration of Learning and Skills Awards (CoLaS) in 2007. After graduating this year, she will be pursuing a career in performing. For The Class Awards 2010, she is hoping to sing a cover of one of Leona Lewis’s songs.

Leanne Tonks, solo artist

Leanne is a studying A Levels at South Tyneside College but is a keen performer and plays regular gigs with a band outside of her studies. She performed at The CoLaS 2009 and will return to the stage at The Sage Gateshead for The Class Awards singing her version of “Hallelujah.

Bre Archford, solo artist

You’ll have to wait to hear his voice, but this charming performer is guaranteed to entertain with his cover of Michael Buble.

The Finale act is to be announced.

Dorothy Kelly, Talent Challenge Project Manager, One North East said: “The Audition: Live surpassed everyone’s expectations. It really is quite amazing how much hidden talent there is right on our doorsteps. It’s not just Joe McElderry who has the X Factor, we’re sure you’ll be wowed by all of the acts we’ve chosen and that they will all make a fantastic contrition to a high impact, highly entertaining celebration of learning and skills success (class) in April.”

Melanie Cook, Events & Facilities Manager, Dance City said:”As the national agency for dance in the north of England, we have an obvious passion for dance and performing arts. By supporting The Audition: Live, we offered access to our excellent facilities and were able to play our part in giving hopeful performers the opportunity to win their place on stage at The Sage Gateshead. The Class Awards is all about bringing together the very best that the North East has to offer and we are delighted to have helped identify some top class acts.”

To find out more visit www.theclassawards.co.uk or follow us on Twitter twitter.com/theclassawards.

top ↑