Tag Archives: career

Is The Drive For ‘Quality’ Killing Education?

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educationIs the consistent drive for higher quality or at least the control of quality effectively killing our educational efforts? It’s a question that has sparked some very heated debates among parents and among educators.

Quality should be the driver of education, working to improve FE at every level. Some would argue that the push for quality, rather than the delivery itself is distracting us from the mission at hand and additionally detracting from the level of education that we provide. In and of itself, quality is not detrimental. It is, and should be an integral provision of education that our country currently needs. With the right staff, and the right approach, we can use quality as the driving force for improved education on every level.

At any level, it’s the quality of educators that will determine the success of students. Lecturers, support staff, educational management and even non-academic support should all be aligned with the same focus; delivering and supporting a curriculum that leads to success.

Before we can improve education, the system within any FE organisation should be analysed to determine its effectiveness. This should involve benchmarking, as well as competition analysis. Benchmarking will determine the capabilities of courses and modules, as well as the support structures around them. Academic results only tell part of the story, because it’s the function of the whole organisation that leads to these results. Competition analysis can indicate where processes are working, and where they are failing. Studying competing universities, polytechnics, and private FE providers can provide insight in to why a particular system is failing, and adapting successful strategies to an underperforming institution can help to improve quality and deliver results.

Quality of leadership will be the determining factor in the improvement of education through the quality of FE providers. Directors, vice principals, and principals etc. will continue to play a key role in the decision-making process. They will offer tips and assistance in strategy and focus, and have the task of driving these strategies through their leadership teams. Through the trickle-down effect, lecturers, leadership, assessors, trainers, and other support staff will all have the responsibility to drive strategies that eventually result in improved education for students.

Because quality is a huge focus in education, from a government, and private institutional level, there is currently a high demand for skilled individuals in all areas of education. Academic and vocational lecturers of the highest quality are required to deliver learning in a way that is engaging to the current generation of students. Apprenticeship assessors and trainers are also required to facilitate learning and grade competency in the trade industries outside of traditional academia.

There is even a need for high calibre guidance counsellors, and student support professionals. These are the people who will be able to gauge the effectiveness of any FE institution, because they are the ones who can view the structure holistically, right down to the experience of students.

A strong leader will be able to build the right teams consisting of professionals from all areas, while fostering the change required that will raise quality in their institution. Are you prepared to raise standards in further education?

As a senior educator, it will be your drive that raises the bar when it comes to quality in education. Whether you’re tenured in your current role, or seeking your next opportunity as a senior FE professional, a market leader in academic recruitment has a lot to offer you. At Morgan Hunt, their vastly experienced education team have the knowledge and inside view of market shifts to help you discover the roles where you can make a difference, or to find the professionals that you need to assist you in delivering excellence at your current facility.

 

Five Mistakes Actors Make That Stop Them Getting Work

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Getting work as an actor is hard. With long periods of unemployment and vast competition. This was the main reason I wrote my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming An Actorpreneur. The odds are not good but you can tip them in your favour. You can make your own work, work on your skills, get your name out there. They say success is opportunity meets preparation. So here are my top five tips to make sure you are prepared and stop making the mistakes that stop you having the best career you can. Here are five mistakes actors make in their career that stop them being successful.

 

howtobeasuccessful_actor_book become How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur

Arrogance

Far too many actors are arrogant. Especially just after they have left drama school. Thinking you are the best actor that ever walked the earth is not going to convince anyone else to hire you. No one likes arrogance. Always under-promise and over-deliver. Be humble and modest. The traits that make a good human being also make a good actor.

 

Marketing Yourself Wrong

Yes, you are an artist but you are also a product. You have to brand yourself correctly so people know what you are ‘selling’. If you are Irish and want to market yourself as an Irish actor you must be prepared for only getting Irish roles. People will try to put you into a box but you can do yourself a favour by making yourself versatile. If you don’t want to be known as a certain type of actor, (like Australian, Irish, etc) don’t market yourself that way. Play up to your strengths and downplay what will limit you getting mainstream work.

You must also update your head shots, CV and showreel at least yearly. Don’t forget to update the various online acting sites you may be on every time you get a job.

 

Not Continuously Working On Your Skills

Actors can go months, and even years without working. If you do not work on your skills when unemployed not only will you be rusty when it comes to audition and getting work, but you will also not be as confident. Your CV will also be lacking. You are a business, invest in yourself. Even if it is getting a camera and making some short films with friends.

 

Thinking The World Owes You a Living

You are not special. You do not deserve to be a super-successful world famous actor. The world does not owe you anything. A sense of entitlement is not going to do you any favours. This was the main piece of advice American casting director Daryl Eisenberg gave me for my book on becoming a successful actor. Don’t think you are better than anyone else.

 

Being a Jerk

No one wants to work with horrible people. The film industry is tiny, as is the theatre and TV industry. If you are rude, horrible and difficult to work with then you will have a pretty short career. Be nice. Manners cost nothing.

 

Catherine Balavage is an actor and writer with over ten years of experience in the industry. Her book, How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur, came out in June this year. She also co-directed and wrote her own feature-length film, Prose & Cons, which will be out later this year.

 

 

Sir David Frost Dies Aged 74

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Legendary journalist and broadcaster Sir David Frost has died aged 74 after giving a speech aboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship. Sir David was famous for his political interviews, including the time he challenged US President Richard Nixon about Watergate. The episode was later made into a film, Frost/Nixon.

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Sir David was born in 1939 in Kent and went too study English at Cambridge University. He was also a member of the legendary Footlights, where Hugh Grant and Hugh Laurie also got their start. He has done many TV shows including The Week That Was and his own The Frost Report. He also became big in America thanks to Frost on America and The David Frost Show.

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: “My heart goes out to David Frost’s family. He could be – and certainly was with me – both a friend and a fearsome interviewer.”

Sir David married Lady Carina Fitzalan-Howard in 1983, she is the second daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. They had three sons.

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family. May he rest in peace.

How To Be Your Own Boss – Innocent Inspires Event

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On the 24th July Frost went to an amazing event all about entrepreneurialism, as part of the Innocent Inspires series at Fruit Towers.

The entrepreneurs speaking at the event were Innocent co-founder Richard Reed, luxury jewellery brand Astley Clarke founder Bec Astley Clarke, creator of not-for profit computer charity, Raspberry Pi, Eben Upton, not on the high street.com founders Holly Tucker & Sophie Cornish and founder of global peace charity Peace One Day Jeremy Gilley.

We arrived and grabbed an Innocent mocktail from the Innocent van and then mingled. The talks were brilliant. A particular favourite was Jeremy Gilley who is the founder of Peace One Day, which is on the 21st of September. Keep it in mind and spread the word. If the world need anything it is an International day of peace.

Richard Reed was as concise, smart and inspirational as ever, Bec Astley Clarke started a business and had a baby at the same time, which actually makes her superwoman, Sophie Cornish gave great advice and Eben Upton was not only great, but we also had a good chat with him after and he told us that someone took his Raspberry Pi (which he throws into the crowd during his speech)  in Iceland, but because the country is so small he mentioned it to one of the organisers and got it back from a sheepish teenager who went to his hotel and apologised.

We had a great night and we learned a lot. During the break we had some great food from the Scandinavian Kitchen and we also took away a goody bag full of stuff made by people who used to work for Innocent. That is the great thing about Innocent; they are creative and great businesspeople, and they are also ethical and moral. You can’t ask for more. Head to an Innocent Inspires event soon.

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#innocentinspires  www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/inspires

Win Tickets To Innocent Inspires Evening All About Entrepreneurship

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win tickets to innocent inspire eventFrost has a pair of tickets up for grabs to an evening all about entrepreneurialis, as part of the innocent Inspires series,  at Fruit Towers on 24th July. 

 

The line up includes some of Britain’s most dynamic, interesting and successful entrepreneurs from the worlds of food, drink, retail, technology, charity and luxury – who will all be sharing their tips and ideas on how you can become your own boss, along with how they got it right (and times when it all went wrong.)

 

The entrepreneurs who will be there are Innocent co-founder Richard Reed, luxury jewellery brand Astley Clarke founder Bec Astley Clarke, creator of not-for profit computer charity, Raspberry Pi, Eben Upton, not on the high street.com founders Holly Tucker & Sophie Cornish, founder of global peace charity Peace One Day Jeremy Gilley

What Innocent have to say about Innocent Inspires:

When we started innocent 14 years ago, it was with the aim of doing business in a truly good way – to make products
that taste good, that do you good, and to do good in the wider world too.  It hasn’t always been easy, but having a set of
clear and simple values has helped shape the business we’ve become.

innocent inspires is a series of one-off events where people will discuss, debate and be inspired by the values we
believe in with the help of a group of interesting people who do brilliant things every day.

Whether the focus is on health, ethics, entrepreneurship, taste or creativity, we’ll share everything from inspirational
tales to tips on the little things you can do to help make the world a little bit better today.

Curated by innocent, each event will be fully immersive, so there won’t be boring lectures or numb bums, instead expect
laughing, smelling, listening, tasting, jogging, drawing, thinking and, above all, lots of inspiration.  There’ll probably be the
odd smoothie in there too.

 www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/inspires   #innocentinspires

To win like Frost on Facebook, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Twitter. Then comment below and tell us what you did. Good luck!

Should You Get Married In Your Twenties?

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In the past few decades relationships have changed. While my parents generation tended to get married young and have kids. These days people are told to focus on their career and live their life first. My mother was married with three kids by the time she was twenty-three. I was acutely aware of this from the moment I got past twenty-three. Not because I thought I should be in the same situation, just because finding The One and possibly having children with them is a big part of life. In the 1980s women got married at twenty-six. Now the average is thirty-three.

I was twenty when I first moved to London. I knew no one, had no job to go to, no place to live and no family anywhere near the city. It was a brave move that has paid off. But the entire time there was something missing: someone to share my life with. I had a series of first dates with unsuitable men, and the occasional second. I managed to fit in one unsuitable non-serious boyfriend before meeting my fiancé. Fiancé? Yes, you read that right. I am getting married in my twenties. My fiancé is also in his twenties and it was our third anniversary when he whisked me off to Paris and proposed. When we get married next year we will both be in our late twenties.

Too much too soon? No, I don’t think so. Who knows when you should get married. I am sure there will be people who say I am missing out on things but I don’t agree. Let’s run though them.

Sex: erm, I can do that with my fiancée. Sex with random men has never interested me.
Career: No one is more supportive of my career than my fiancée. He drives me and supports me. My career is better with him in my life, not worse.
Putting myself first: It is overrated. The day you realise the importance of putting other people first your life improves considerably. That being said; we don’t hold each other back. If you love each other you will always make it work. I am doing some travel writing next week, going to France on my own to write a piece on Toulouse.
Finding Myself: Already done. I know who I am and what I want. I am completely secure in myself
Social life: I still go out both with and without my fiancée. We have a great social life.
We both still have good friends outside of our relationship that we see as regularly as we can.

What else is there? To be honest I cannot think of anything bad about getting married in my twenties. The fact that I have found the love of my life also means I can tick off a major life event. I am secure, I am happy and I am in love. What could be better than that?

What do you think? When do you think is the right time to get married?

BlackBerry targets the best and brightest women in the UK for BlackBerry Scholars program

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aliciakeysBlackBerry Scholars Program – a multi-level strategy to engage young women across the globe in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

BlackBerry is reaching out to women in the UK to urge them to apply for the new BlackBerry Scholars Program, an initiative designed to inspire women globally to enter and develop careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Led by BlackBerry Global Creative Director, Alicia Keys the BlackBerry Scholars program will offer ten full, four year university scholarships to outstanding female candidates. The BlackBerry Scholars Program is available to women across the UK and will provide scholarships to outstanding applicants who are seeking degrees at accredited local colleges and universities in the areas of STEM across the UK.

“Women are underrepresented in fields of science and technology, and we feel strongly that it’s time to drive a change,” said BlackBerry Global Creative Director, Alicia Keys. “It’s important to connect the dots for young women in school and college, and show them that careers in science and technology are within their reach. And when women do land these jobs, it’s vital they receive the mentoring and support they need to advance in their careers. I’m proud BlackBerry is demonstrating leadership in women’s education, both in school and in the workplace, and giving back to its most loyal users in such a profound way.”

Applications are now open to candidates in the UK, who are interested in the scholarship, and will close on June 26 2013. The scholars will be selected by a panel of inspirational and accomplished women, led by Alicia Keys, who will recruit candidates based on their academic merit and passion for entering the mobile computing industry.

This scholarship program is the first step in BlackBerry’s long-term commitment and multi-tiered strategy to engage young women at every step of their education from school to college, and as they rise through their careers. As more than 55% of BlackBerry customers are women, BlackBerry aims to champion this generation of female leaders as they strive to achieve their ambitions in this highly-competitive industry.

For those interested application is now open and will close on June 26, 2013. For more information about the program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply, please visit www.blackberry.com/scholars.  Please spread the word on Twitter by using #BBScholars.

Actz Acting Workshops: Kickstart Your Career

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Acting Agency Actz are doing a series of workshops to help actors succeed in the most competitive industry in the world. Ranging from day workshops to a full weekend workshop with accommodation and breakfast, Actz really know what they are talking about and do great workshops. Take a look and see if any are for you. They are based in Yorkshire so are perfect for actors who are not in London. Details of their weekend workshop is below.

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FULL WEEKEND WORKSHOP
Starts Friday 20th September at 7 pm – Sunday 22nd at 2 pm

Other dates: 18th Oct, 2013,  24th Jan 2014, 14th March 2014 plus further dates tbc.

Combine a stay in a beautiful fishing village (Staithes, North Yorkshire)

with a weekend packed full of interesting wokshops.

Meet professionals and learn how to become more successful as an actor.

Most of all there will be lots of fun as you learn!

Food and accommodation provided.

[Disclaimer: Actz are one of my acting agents. I am on their books. I obviously have not been paid for this article but did it as I can personally vouch for them]