About The Work Place
- The Vocational Learning Trust (VOLT) was established as a charity by Jane Ritchie after inheriting £9m out-of-the-blue from her elderly cousin Margery Freeman in 2005. Jane intuitively knew how to spend it. After 15 years of hard work trying to set up a hub for practical learning, she knew this money would more than pay for such a centre, hence the creation of The Work Place.
- The Work Place opened in September 2008 and runs as the trading arm of the charity, VOLT.
- The building and equipment was paid for mainly by VOLT (£4.9m) and a grant of £660,000 from ONE NorthEast.
- Any profits from The Work Place are returned to VOLT to promote further work related learning.
Testimonials
The Work Place is the result of outstanding generosity. Jane Ritchie’s philanthropy and vision have produced excellent facilities that offer great opportunities for education and training. The Work Place deserves to be well used and to succeed.— Ken Jarrold CBE, Chair County Durham Economic Partnership
The innovative and energising vision of The Work Place makes it a centre for unparalleled interactive learning opportunities within the North East. It is also a first class meeting and training venue offering an abundance of facilities and possibilities to a range of sectors. I wish The Work Place every success for the future.— George Garlick, Chief Executive Durham County Council
The Work Place is situated in a very pleasant setting, there is plentiful car parking and upon entering one can’t fail to be impressed by the bright, modern environment. There is a buzz around the place from both the young people having perhaps their first “work experience” also from clients who have hired the facilities.— Margaret Fay OBE, Chairman of One NorthEast
The design of the building is excellent as a working and training environment. The equipment in the HealthTec room is state of the art and the cantilever staircase is a whole discussion in itself! The setting and the car parking facilities have also been very well planned.— Margaret Elliott, Ebac Ltd
Everything has been thought of dare and I say no expense spared. I believe that The Work Place will go from strength to strength.
Learning
The Work Place is a vocational learning centre offering work related learning opportunities to young people throughout the region. The Work Place provides a taste of real life employment for 14-19 year olds, giving them an idea of different careers and how their learning is relevant to the real world. It is a place where education and business can work together, with flexible working areas that can be used in innovative ways, specifically designed to support applied learning and the new diplomas. Since opening in September 2008 learning programmes have been developed around a number of curriculum areas. The majority of programmes are enhanced with the support of employers whose knowledge and expertise bring learning to life.
Two learning zones have been established. One of these houses a HealthTec. This is a partnership between education and the Health service to offer high quality simulations to students to give them a real experience of the work of Health service professionals. There is an ambulance, life like simulator ‘patients’, old age suits, and a range of equipment used to measure health. To date students have experienced a patient’s journey, what it is like to grow old and experience disability. All of these activities have been run with the support of the north east ambulance service, the strategic health authority and the local primary care trusts.
The second learning zone offers a manufacturing environment where students are involved in product design, art and design and enterprise activities. Once again employer expertise has been used where possible to make these experiences as real as possible. Future plans are focusing on the enterprise opportunities that can be accessed in this zone. The workshop has a laser cutter, dye sublimation, heat press, mug press and sandblasting equipment.
The feedback from staff and students has been incredibly positive. All of the experiences offered enhance the curriculum for the students and in many cases a day at the Centre can generate high quality coursework.
Conferencing & events
The Work Place also provides unique first class meeting, conference and event facilities tailored to your organisation’s needs. Set in peaceful and pleasant surroundings with easy access to the A1 and A167, free parking and great catering, our purpose built centre has been created with flexibility in mind. Designed with environmental concerns in mind, The Work Place offers meeting facilities for up to 200 people. Our flexible options for room hire, from layout to room size, means your individual requirements for each event can be met.
Rooms include:
- We have a spacious lecture theatre which seats up to 120 guests and is the ideal choice for larger events.
- For smaller groups single pods host up to 14 people.
- Our double pods accommodate up to 32 people.
- The HealthTec area provides an alternative backdrop for meetings. This is particularly applicable for Health Service professionals and training.
- Our Workshop area offers practical facilities for seminars or training space to give an interactive experience. The opportunities are numerous.
- The Street is available for corporate networking events, exhibitions, etc, accommodating up to 200 guests.
- Hot-desking facilities, administrative support, laptop hire, photocopying and faxing are also available.
From small events to large conferences, whatever your requirements, The Work Place can cater for your every need.
The Work Place Staff
Nigel Goodall – Business Manager
Tel: 01325 375905
E-mail: nigel.goodall@twpa.org.uk
Nigel joined The Work Place as Business Manager in March 2009. He has 23 years banking experience, and has recently worked in commercial property finance and corporate banking with two PLC banks in the North East. Nigel also deals with the marketing of The Work Place.
Tracy Henderson – Senior Client Liason Officer
Tel: 01325 375906
E-mail: tracy.henderson@twpa.org.uk
Tracy had previously worked in sales for 17 years before joining The Work Place in October 2008. Now an Administrator she keeps the booking system running smoothly, ensures a warm welcome to customers and looks after their requirements.
Lesley Coates – Finance Officer
Tel: 01325 375900
E-mail: lesley.coates@twpa.org.uk
Lesley joined The Work Place in August 2009. She has worked in a financial environment for the last four years, including working for a charity and in the building trade. Lesley is now responsible for maintainiing the accounts for The Work Place.
Natalia Watson – Receptionist
Tel: 01325 375900
E-mail: natalia.watson@twpa.org.uk
Natalia is with The Work Place as a Business & Administration Apprentice through Bishop Auckland College. Previous to this she studied A levels at Durham Gilesgate Sixth Form Centre. Natalia’s main duties include welcoming visitors, dealing with telephone queries and assisting other Work Place staff.
Ian Titley – Technician
Ian switched careers in 1994 from engineering to ICT. He now uses his experience in both these fields to deal with all the technical issues within The Work Place.
Tel: 01325 375916
E-mail: ian.titley@twpa.org.uk
Tommy Hamilton & Dave Parkinson – Caretakers
Tel: 01325 375900
E-mail: tommy.hamilton@twpa.org.uk / dave.parkinson@twpa.org.uk
Tommy & Dave have years of experience working with local firms such as Electrolux. Their duties include the setting up of the meeting rooms and ensuring The Work Place is maintained to a high standard.
We are also the base for the Durham Education Business Partnership, including the Work Experience Team and the Durham Secondary Schools Centered Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) Programme.
Durham Education Business Partnership
Anne Gibbs – EBP Manager
Tel: 01325 375960
E-mail: anne.gibbs@durham.gov.uk
Durham Education Business Partnership aims to bring business and education together in a variety of ways. The EBP works with all the secondary schools across County Durham and Darlington.
The Work Experience Team arrange approximately 5,500 work experience placements each academic year for Key State 4 students on employers premises. Placements are health and safety audited by appropriately qualified staff.
The Work Related Learning Team work with approximately 15,000 students at Key Stage 3 and 4 delivering a variety of Work Related Learning and Enterprise activities. Business Ambassadors from a huge range of organisations are recruited to work in schools to support the activities.
The EBP also offer teachers the opportunity of Professional Development days with a variety of organisations.
With the advent of Diplomas the EBP have put together packages of support for schools from employers to assist in the delivery of the diplomas.
The SCITT (School Centered Initial Teacher Training)
Pippa Jenkinson – Course Director
Tel: 01325 308918
E-mail: info@durhamscitt.co.uk
Durham Secondary Applied SCITT offers the opportunity to train to teach vocational subjects to the 14 – 19 age range and Mathematics to the 11 – 16 age range.
The SCITT has been created through a partnership of the majority of secondary schools in County Durham, and it enjoys great support from the local authority and from the Learning and Skills Council. The lead school is Woodham Community Technology College, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and the partnership stretches from Barnard Castle in the West, to Stanley in the North out to Peterlee in the East. All schools in the partnership share a commitment to providing an increased range of opportunities for young people, through offering a varied and appropriate curriculum. The partnership also extends to the four Further Education Colleges.