Issued: 3 September 2012

Creating Opportunities Together In Angus

Around 200 guests gathered recently for an event to celebrate, acknowledge and publicise the excellent partnerships that exist in Angus between schools and employers.

The Partnership Recognition Event on Tuesday 28 August at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel was organised by Angus Council’s Education service.

At the ceremony presentations were be made to a number of local employers, organisations and external groups from the wider community in recognition of their extremely valuable contribution to the development of skills for learning, life and work within education in Angus.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winners of this year’s prestigious Partnership Excellence Award.

This accolade recognises partnership working between education and the business community, which has made a significant impact on the learning experiences of young people, and has made a lasting contribution to the life of the school and the business/organisations.

There are two categories within the Partnership Excellence Award: a school award to recognise partnerships that have been formed between an employer/organisation and a specific school; and a cluster award to recognise those employers/organisations who work with schools across a cluster or clusters.

The winner of the school award was Glamis Primary School, Agrico UK Ltd and the Scottish Food & Drink Federation, while the cluster award went to the Montrose cluster of schools, Montrose Tennis Club and Guthrie Bros Ford.

The winners received a commemorative trophy from Angus Education Convener Sheena Welsh, who said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in these projects – they are excellent examples of partnerships in practice and demonstrate a clear commitment, are sustainable and have led to real tangible benefits for all parties involved.

“Bringing life to learning and learning to life is important for all our young people – helping to bring context and relevance to their learning, whilst at the same time developing within them the skills, attitudes, knowledge and values required for success in the modern business world.

“Its success relies on the wholehearted support of the business community – something that businesses from in and around Angus continue to embrace.

“Partnerships between employers, the wider community and schools are helping to improve enterprise, employability and entrepreneurial skills amongst young people in Angus to help them prepare for a successful life beyond school whilst enabling organisations to invest in the future of their business and cultivate an enterprising ethos in the county of Angus.”

At the ceremony a further 120 businesses were recognised with a Partners in Learning Award, and were presented with a framed certificate by Neil Logue, director of Education.

These organisations have been nominated by Angus schools in appreciation of the support and assistance received during the last school year to enhance the learning and teaching opportunities within their school.

Big or small, any organisation from the private, public or voluntary sectors can make a difference by contributing in a variety of ways, as well as generating a number of business benefits for their own organisation too.

Any businesses or organisations interested in working in partnership with education to promote and support enterprise in Angus should contact Lesley Watson, business liaison officer, on (01307) 473632.

Partners being presented with a ‘Partners in Learning’ Award were:

Agricar Ltd
Forfar Day Care Centre
Premier Print Works Ltd
Agrico UK Ltd
Forfar Reminiscence Group
Royal Air Force Careers
Alexander Bain Funeral Directors
Forster Roofing Specialists
Results Fitness Studio
Angus College - Construction Faculty
Friockheim Paper Shop
Royal Highland Education Trust – Angus Countryside Initiative (RHET ACI)
Angus College - Sports Team
GE Oil & Gas
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)– Arbroath Station Angus Council - Infrastructure Services (Funding Team)
George Hotel
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) – Montrose Station
Angus Council - Leisure & Sports Services
Gordon's Restaurant
Robert Gordon University (Schools Liaison Team)
Angus Council - Outdoor Education
Grange Golf Club
Rompers Private Nursery
Angus Council Ranger Service
GlaxoSmithKline
Science Learning Institute
Angus Credit Union
Guthrie Bros Ford
Scottish Food and Drink Federation (SFDF)
Angus Women's Aid (Respect & Equality)
Hedzup Ltd
Scottish Parliament Education Service
Angus Young Carers
HM Coastguard (Montrose Sector)
Sensation: Dundee Science Centre
Apollo Hairstyle HMS Montrose – Royal Navy
Sheriff Clerk's Office, Arbroath
Arbroath Herald
Institution of Civil Engineers - Dundee Area Branch (ICE DAB)
Signal Tower Museum
Arbroath Library (Angus Council – Cultural Services)
Jack and Jill’s Nursery
Signpost International
Armstrong Packaging Ltd Journeycall Ltd
Social Enterprise Academy
Army Careers (East of Scotland)
Ladybird Playgroup
Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA)
Art Angel
Letham Bowling Club
St Andrews Church Volunteers
Asda Arbroath
Letham Gardening Club
Stagecoach (East Scotland)
B&Q
Letham & District Twinning Association
Stepping Stones Playgroup
Bank Street Gallery
Liz McColgan Health Club
Stracathro & Careston Estates Ltd
Barry Greenhill Construction Ltd
McConnechy’s Tyre & Exhaust Centre
Strathearn Funeral Directors
Base Camp
Meffan Museum & Art Gallery
Tag Games Ltd
Broomfield Motors Ltd
Meningitis Research Foundation
Talking Tayside Contact Centre Forum
Brunton Design Studio
Montrose Museum
Tayside Fire & Rescue
Busy Bee Nursery
Montrose Port Authority
Tayside Police
Carnoustie Golf Hotel
Montrose Tennis Club
TechFest-SetPoint
Carnoustie Tyres
Murray, Taylor (Scotland) Ltd
The Cooperative Farm
Cash for Kids (Radio Tay)
Murton Wildlife Trust
The Pension Service
Construction Skills
National Trust for Scotland - Barry Mill
The Royal Bank of Scotland
Dalhousie Estates
Netherton Tractors Ltd
The Voigt Partnership Ltd
Deaf Blind Scotland
New Friends Nursery
The Web Project
Delson Contracts Ltd
Newton of Arbirlot Farm (John M Lawrie)
Titanic Pizza
Dorward House
NHS – School Health Service
University of Dundee (Schools Liaison Team)
Dundee College: Centre for Creative & Digital Industries
NHS Tayside
Vericore Ltd
Dundee Repertory Theatre
Nicoll Russell Studios
Volunteer Centre Angus
Enable Scotland
NOV Montrose
Wendyhouse Childrens Nursery
Enterprise North East Trust (ENET)
Nynas
Whelan & Co Solicitors
EQ Chartered Accountants LLP
One World Centre
William Black Funeral Directors
Financial Education Partnership
OPITO Zoe Duthie Jewellery Design