Progress in pictures…

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Jules

To make this Blog a little more interesting I have decided to include some pictures for you to look at, don’t worry there’s no tight lycra shots on there (well, not yet anyway…)
Here is the bike I’m training / competing on:

Only Kidding!
Although we did have this in the workshop, it’s a refurbished Penny Farthing that’s 130 years old!!
My real steed is this one:
She has undergone some modifications since this photo was taken, I have changed the ride position slightly to drop the handlebars down and give me more power when I ride, it also gives me a more aerodynamic position which helps.
I am planning to change the rear tyre for a slightly smaller width and lower profile, and I have changed the pedals to some Look road specific ones (thanks Alex!)

Simon and I have entered a Sportive in Princes Risborough on April the 26th, 100km through the Chilterns with some stinger climbs! Here’s a link to the route profile:

http://www.southernsportive.com/?go=sunday&page=event&eventid=266&page=routes

I conquered my first outdoor rock climb this weekend in the Peak district at a place called ‘Stanage Edge’ It is one of the scariest things I have ever done.
Here is a picture of the rock face we climbed:

Rock Climbing is full of inuendo I have found out, you can scale a greasy crack apparentley…
On Sunday the Sun God smiled on us and we rode the Mountain Bikes round a place called Ladybower Reservior. It was really rocky in places and a real good test of fitness and finesse on the bike.
I thought you would be dissapointed if I didn’t take a picture of my bike:

This week is an easy week for me and I have swum 20 lengths Tuesday morning and plan to get a run in on Thursday. Then a nice easy Easter weekend, making sure I burn enough calories to allow me to have an Easter egg or four…
Jules

Improving Efficiency in Apprenticeship Provision

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Dave Hughes

After attending a LSIS event on the new Apprenticeship Improvement Development Tool. I was pleasantly surprised that the lean tools and techniques from manufacturing industry are starting to be transferred into the education sector. All the components of the apprenticeship framework have been value stream mapped enabling providers to gain a detailed knowledge and understanding of the level of resource needed to support continued growth within their area of delivery, an efficiency review of how staff are deployed against roles and sectors, an indication of any additional resource required to support growth, Identification of current spare capacity through inefficiencies of deployment

Apprenticeship Improvement Development Too is available on the LSIS website from the beginning of April. Can’t wait to see what improvements need to be made to improve the provision.

It’s not easy being green

Posted on March 29, 2010 by admin

“It’s not easy being green” a colleague says this morning. Wrong. It is easy.

Director of Learning and Skills

Not to abandon private cars, holidays or the other life-changing things – they are difficult for most. But to turn a light off, shut down a computer, turn the heating down a degree, empty your car boot of rubbish, drive 5mph slower? Easy.

These are all marginal changes that accumulate to major savings and help the environment. And none of them impinge upon personal freedoms or cause any great inconvenience.

ATG occupies a large, air-conditioned, well-lit building. It needs to if it is to provide comfortable premises suitable for its excellent courses. We will work to reduce our energy consumption this year. By every one of 82 staff making their own marginal saving. We can feel proud of the environmental impact and share in the financial benefit.

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Jules

A quick update for you on how the training is going!

I have cycled to work from my new house in Tring which is a slightly shorter journey of ten miles twice this week, (so an all round total of 40 miles) and have enjoyed a mixed bag of weather conditions, well, I’m not sure that enjoyed is the word per-se but I have ridden in them none the less. I have also swum over twenty lengths twice a week with a run planned for this evening and a trip to the Peak District to practice for the forthcoming event listed below.

As part of the build up (and to increase the bike handling skills) Simon, myself, Gerard and Jason will be entering the ‘Muc Off 8’ Mountain bike Enduro, which is loops of an offroad circuit in a place called Pippingford Park in Surrey, over an eight hour duration. We will have chips fitted to the bikes (the microchip variety not the deep fat version – that will be for after the race) and there is a timed downhill section which has been ridden by downhill world champion Steve Peat in a time of just over two minutes, there is prizes for those who match or beat his time, so that’s what I’m aiming for!

Check out the event and race videos here:

http://www.mucoff8.com/blogs/blog1.php

The new Induction Standards for a career in Children’s Care

Posted on March 22, 2010 by admin

If you have designs on working with children and young people, you’ll know that this is an important career. You’ll relish the challenge of playing a valuable role in shaping the lives of future generations and in making this the best possible place in the world for children to live.

Successful people in this field see themselves as professional – right from the start.

So lots lots of enthusiasm, energy and passion is required. You will also need knowledge and understanding of what children, young people and their families need to achieve their full potential.

Perhaps you are new to a role working in children’s services or maybe your work role has changed within children’s services – whichever it is, you can be sure it will be demanding and challenging, yet thoroughly rewarding.

What are the induction standards all about?

The induction standards from the Children’s Workforce Development Council (the sector Skills Council) set out the knowledge, skills and understanding which are essential to improving outcomes for children, young people and their families. All new staff coming into the Children’s Care workforce, should complete the induction standards. ATG Training can help you understand the requirements.

Induction is your first step along a journey of developing your professional skills and understanding your role. Workplace induction is a planned programme of activities to prepare and orient new staff to the workplace.

The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the children and young people’s workforce sets out the basic skills and knowledge needed by all people (including volunteers) whose work brings them into regular contact with children and young people. For more information, please contact future@atg-training.co.uk

Triathlon blog – now it’s getting serious…

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Jules

Hi all,

Just to give you an update as to our Triathlon progression!

Time has been hard for us both recently as we have both upped and moved house (no – we haven’t moved in together – we’re to competitive!) which has threatened to put a dent in our training, but, as we are hardy souls – we haven’t let that put us off and training is getting progressively ramped up tthe nearer we get to the deadline.

I have had a couple of weeks off having said that, down wholey to a rather nasty Dental infection – I can honestly say I’ve never experienced pain like it.
So now minus one tooth later (hell, it’s saved some weight at least) and with the knowledge that Mark Cavendish (a proffessional road bike rider) has also been laid off recently for two weeks with the same problem, It is with renewed vigour that I’m pounding the pavements/road/pools!

After work yesterday was our toughest ride to date, we clocked an average speed of 20.1mph on the bikes, over a distance of 15 miles with a maximum speed of 41.8mph with a total time (for me – Simon was a minute and a half behind me ) of 44 mins. Happy with that! and that was on top of a 26 length swim before work…

We’ll keep you posted as we get faster / fitter!

Engineering

Posted on March 11, 2010 by admin

Director of Learning and Skills

ATG’s Board of Trustees have recently approved investment in new CNC machinery for the engineering programme. This new equipment will give businesses the opportunity to train and practice on modern machining equipment supported by the latest CAD/CAM software. With short and medium-length courses available, ATG is able to meet many business’ needs for training.

ATG’s unique selling point is its responsiveness. We are not tied to academic cycles or set delivery patterns. Employers can talk to us at any time about training and learning programmes. Our longer-term programmes such as apprenticeships and NVQs can be delivered in a pattern and over a timeframe suited to the employer. Our shorter courses run regularly and our modern training centre opens evenings and weekends if employers prefer to train outside of productive hours. As a not-for-profit organisation, we take pride in re-investing our surpluses to the benefit of employers and learners. Come and visit us to see the fantastic accommodation and training facilities we have as a result of that re-investment.

Electrical Training

Posted on March 9, 2010 by admin

Electrical Apprentice

ATG has expanded its Electrical Training area and can now accommodate 36 students on its six-month, full-time programme. With excellent instructor-to-student ratios, ATG Training has a track record of starting apprentices on a career in electrical installation and maintenance. With ATG’s recruitment cycles, there are start dates to suit anyone so applicants need not be constrained by the academic year.

Contact ATG Training to find out how to join this exciting programme.

Cycle Maintenance

Posted on March 8, 2010 by admin

Matt Goodrich - Divisional Head - Cycle Training

ATG Training has been selected as a training partner for London’s Cycle Hire Scheme. ATG will advertise and select 29 apprentices to work on the London hire fleet.

The apprentices will be attending ATG’s world-class Cycle Training Academy in Aylesbury for ten days in April and will then be assessed in their new roles until the summer. ATG faced competition from numerous London-based competitors but won the business because of its national reputation and stunning facilities.

Another step on ATG’s path to becoming the first point of contact for all things cycle-related. Serco, who are running the London Cycle Hire Scheme, are discussing other partnering opportunities for ATG.

March 2010
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Feb				Apr »
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31