College
Student success stories 2010-11
(for student profiles from 2011-12, click here)
Horticulture
Duan Juan Li BTEC National Certificate in Horticulture, Foundation Degree in Garden Design
Having been brought up on a farm in China, 18-year-old Duan Juan Li grew up with a passion for nature. During her horticulture course she proved to be very good at garden design, progressing on to the foundation degree with a view to continuing her studies in garden design at university. She said: “I want to return to China and build a career designing and constructing public spaces for people to enjoy. The course has enabled me to train in something I love, with the chance to raise awareness of the benefits plants and nature can bring to people.”
Sami Hursuit City & Guilds Phase 2 Hard Landscaping
Sami, 18, came to Capel Manor after leaving sixth form. As well as studying, he undertook landscaping projects in his spare time, including building a wildlife pond. Sami was awarded the Student of the Year prize on completion of his course and has gone on to work for a landscaping company. He said: “I’d recommend Capel Manor College to anybody, it’s a beautiful place to study. My tutor was fantastic and very thorough in what he taught us.”
Arboriculture
Nick Fish BTEC National Diploma and Certificate in Arboriculture
Currently an assessor for arboriculture apprentices, Nick started part-time study at Capel Manor before leaving school. He went on to gain diplomas in Horticulture and Arboriculture and win multiple climbing awards, as well as leading the college’s volunteering scheme. Now 21, he has joined the fire service and plans to set up his own tree surgery business to run when he is off shift. He said: “I have gained so much experience here. I can pass on the skills I learned to the next generation and because I am young myself I am on their wavelength.”
Annie Rozee BTEC National Certificate in Forestry and Arboriculture
Annie worked as a freelance journalist for four years, spending the rest of her time volunteering for organisations such as English Nature and the Corporation of London. Her time spent in the woodlands sparked the idea of a career in forestry and was referred to Capel Manor College for training by several of her contacts. Her role supporting other students on the course won her the Student of the Year award. She said: “The great thing about Capel Manor is that if you want to learn you will be given every possible opportunity. The staff are absolutely fantastic, it’s no wonder they have such a good reputation for their training.”
Floristry
Olivia Williams Advanced National Certificate in Floristry, Advanced Balloon Artistry
18-year-old Olivia Williams came to Capel Manor after leaving school. After attending an open day, she enrolled for the Modern Retail Floristry course and went on to do advanced courses. Balloons were an area that Olivia was particularly interested in, playing a big part in her initial attraction to Capel’s floristry courses. She said: “Very few colleges offer this element which is not only an extra qualification but also really interesting and increasingly crucial in the industry nowadays. Even though it was the emphasis on the hands-on that first attracted me, I really enjoyed the theoretical aspects too.”
Nikki Budd Advanced National Certificate in Floristry
Nikki, 44, undertook Level 2 and 3 floristry qualifications at Capel Manor after leaving her job as a PA. She relocated to Oxford but commuted to Capel to do the advanced course, saying the quality of the teaching kept her coming back. After working from home for a year she has now opened her own shop near Oxford. She said: “Techniques I learned at Capel were at the forefront of design and they are setting me apart now. When I came I’d had an accident and my confidence was at rock bottom but it gave me the biggest boost I could ever have in life: a new career and a different life.”
Garden Design
Vanessa Adorni Level 3 Diploma in Garden Design
A career change from account management to property development led Vanessa to learn more about garden design. She completed courses in horticulture and hard landscaping with the college before undertaking the diploma and a Computer Aided Drawing qualification. Vanessa also won various competitions that involved building show gardens, one at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. She is now successfully running her own business. She said: “There is a huge sense of satisfaction that goes hand in hand with the work you do as a garden designer. Much care and attention goes into creating pockets of beauty which is extremely gratifying.”
Annabelle Farndale Diploma in Garden Design
Annabelle, who’d always been a keen amateur artist, trained in garden design after a break from her job in advertising to start a family. She decided to enrol for the foundation course in garden design at Capel Manor, with the idea of being able to set up and run her own design practice by the time her children went to school. Annabelle then went on to achieve her diploma and a Computer Aided Drawing qualification whilst at the college. She said: “Capel Manor gave me the training and confidence to start a new career. It is a most inspirational place to come and learn and I made lasting friendships here. The lecturers all have practical experience and the grounds are the biggest plus point.”
Animal Care
Jasmine Johnson Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Animal Management.
Jasmine, 19, developed a passion for animal care as a child when she helped care for some rescued stray kittens. Whilst at secondary school she studied for a Level 2 course in Animal Care and then enrolled at Capel Manor after moving to London. Jasmine also won the Best Presentation category of a national land-based science competition, making a presentation to a panel of celebrity judges. She now plans to become a vet and is studying veterinary nursing, with a view to studying veterinary science, at the Royal Veterinary College. She said: “My course was very hands on, much better than spending all my time in the classroom. I found everyone on the course to be very supportive and we all learned from each other. ”
Rebekah Sinclair National Diploma in Animal Management
A childhood love of pets led Rebekah Sinclair to join Capel Manor College at 16. Three years later her outstanding work as an animal care student led to her being presented to the Queen. Following diplomas in animal care and management, she has left the college to do a degree in animal management, while working at Capel Manor in her spare time. She said: “Meeting the Queen was an amazing, once in a lifetime, experience and not something I could have imagined myself doing before I came. Being here has really improved my confidence, I’ve grown up as a person and it has made me focus.”
Saddlery
Mary Wing To Cordwainers’ Diploma in Saddlery
A fashion graduate turned saddler, Mary has had her designs featured in the fashion press and in advertisements shown on the underground. She came to Capel Manor after graduating from Central St Martins College of Art and Design where her final collection, “A Horse Tale”, contained aspects of saddlery. Her unique ability to incorporate masterful leatherwork in fashion has netted her multiple awards, including the Lorinery master achievement award and first prize at the National Saddlery Competition, both section prizes for ‘Soaked in Luxury’ and the overall Grand Prize at the Wearable Art Show in Holland, and two awards at the New Zealand World of Wearable Art Show one of which was Best International Designer. She continues to win Society of Master Saddlers’ awards and has now set up her own business.
Apprentices
Dominic Grech Advanced Apprenticeship in Amenity Horticulture
Dominic Grech completed a three year Apprenticeship in Amenity Horticulture at the end of 2008, and has been working full time in Capel Manor Gardens for nearly a year. Dominic decided after the one year apprenticeship that he wanted to complete the Advanced Apprenticeship programme to develop his supervisory skills. He said “After three years getting paid and learning at the same time, I completed the programme not only qualified but also experienced, making me a valuable asset to any employer.”
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