Teachers and learners from across Scotland came together recently to explore the latest developments in technical education at the Big Ideas for Technical Education (BITE) conference, held in Fife.

Reid Kerr College in Paisley attended the event, showcasing the College's commitment to the very latest in renewable energy training, now offered as pre-vocational apprenticeship and commercial training courses

Keynote speakers at the event included David Hayman, actor, director, humanitarian activist and Head of Operations for the Scottish based charity, Spirit Aid.

Andrew Fogarty, Senior Lecturer at Reid Kerr College said: "David Hayman's presentation – 'Big Ideas for a Troubled Planet' was thought provoking and complimented the aims of the conference well. Our students were delighted to meet with David during the conference and we were all captivated by his revealing insight into how organisations like Spirit Aid are helping young people and children around the world."

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David Hayman added: "I thoroughly enjoyed my time at BITE and found it very forward looking and ambitious in terms of how it wished to embrace an environmental/ethical element to the future training of young people. I was particularly impressed with the output on display from the groups of young people represented, including Reid Kerr College students, who showed what hard work, ingenuity and imagination allied to skills can produce. I wish them all the very best for their future."

Students Mark Hodge, 17 from Salcoats and Mark Graham, 17 from Clydebank began their pre apprenticeship training at Reid Kerr in the new National Progression Award with Renewable Energy at Intermediate 2.

This programme aims to equip students with the skills required to move into further education or into training or employment within the energy sector. The two students helped build a rig for the event, which showcased the College's solar panels, used as a simulator for training in domestic solar power systems.

Student Mark Hodge said: "I really enjoyed my time at College working through all of the main trades within the National Progression Award in Construction. However with the work we covered within the Renewable and Sustainable Energy programme I would be keen to follow this as a career working with electricians or plumbers installing hot water solar and voltaic panels, as well as air source heat pumps."

(GK/KMcA)