Campaign lights up City Centre in opposition to Port Access Road

SAVE Rimrose Valley, which campaigns against National Highways' controversial Port of Liverpool Access Road, took its fight to the City Centre on the evening of:- Saturday, 20 April 2024, as huge images and messages were projected onto buildings across the City.

Locations included:- St John's beacon, George's Dock building on:- The Strand and Byrom Point. Messages urged people from across Liverpool to support the cause and were accompanied by audio of members of the public talking about their love of Rimrose Valley and their desire to protect the park.

The campaign took its inspiration from the work of activist group Led by Donkeys which has blazed a trail in these:- 'guerilla' projections on landmarks such as Westminster Palace in London and other high profile locations across the UK.

The stunt was dedicated to 1 of the campaign's former members, Hazel Davies, who passed away towards the end of 2022. It was part-funded through money raised in her memory by friends and musicians from Waterloo based Secret Ukulele Band and other ukulele bands at a tribute concert that took place back in 2023.

Stuart Bennett of Save Rimrose Valley said:- "This piece of activism has been a long time in the planning, so it's great to finally be able to talk about it. Wider Liverpool may not have heard of Rimrose Valley, but if Sefton Park was earmarked to be bulldozed for a road, there would be public outcry. Why should we be treated differently? Conditions were perfect and to see our campaign up in lights was an amazing feeling. The feedback online has been incredible with hundreds of people liking and sharing our posts. Hazel was a passionate member of our team, a straight talker and didn't mind a bit of controversy. We hope that:- 'shining a light' on this destructive road proposal and the Port of Liverpool's active role in this, is a fitting tribute. We want to pass on our thanks to the team at Focal Studios in Birkenhead for making it happen."

Griff from the Secret Ukulele Band added:- "The bands that played were delighted with how the money we raised was used to highlight the importance of saving Rimrose Valley, and especially moved that it was personalised to the memory of our friend, Hazel, who fought so hard for this. We could have filled a whole weekend festival as she was loved by so many people in the Ukulele family of Merseyside."

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Former Hugh Baird College Business Student Excels in Logistics

WHILST studying Business at Hugh Baird College, Zoe Melling took part in a Scholarship Programme alongside her studies. Having impressed during the scholarship process, she is now enjoying a successful career in the Logistics sector as a Procurement Coordinator at Peel Ports, in Liverpool.

Peel Ports Group is the second largest port operator in the UK, managing the vital gateways which feed, build and power the nation. Ports are the linchpins that connect producers with consumers. They enable the seamless transportation of raw materials, finished goods, and everything in between.

In a recent interview with the College, Zoe discussed her journey since leaving Hugh Baird College and how she's been finding worklife in her current role.

Zoe stated:- "My team and I are responsible for purchasing everything the site needs, from crane and plant parts to PPE. I'm also involved in projects across ports in Liverpool, Heysham and the Manchester Ship Canal.  The Scholarship Programme I completed whilst studying at Hugh Baird College was a gateway to working at Peel Ports, adream company for me. Peel Ports offered me a mentor and  with their guidance I navigated through what I wanted to achieve, leading me to a full time job in purchasing; a field I'm passionate about.  Hugh Baird College played a pivotal role in my journey. Being shortlisted for the scholarship was just the start. The College gave me the confidence to take on a Student Representative role, organise events and meet inspirational people, enriching my educational experience. To future students, don't hesitate to ask questions. Exploring what you want to do and showing eagerness to learn is vital. Peel Ports is a fascinating place to work, and asking questions whilst taking part in the Scholarship Programme is how I found my perfect role."

Hugh Baird College currently has partnerships with Peel Ports, Denholm Logistics Group and Cadent Gas. Each of these companies
offer interesting and diverse job roles in growing industries. Scholarships are open to Level 2 and Level 3 students and have been designed to set students up for future careers and give them a taste of an exciting sector of the local and national economy.

The scholarships at Hugh Baird College offer students the opportunities to undertake industry placements and have 1 to 1 support with a professional mentor. All students who enter the scholarship programme are guaranteed an interview with the company at the end of the programme. The industry experience is also a great addition to their CV or UCAS application.

Kieran Williamson, Business Lecturer at Hugh Baird College, said:- "Seeing Zoe develop and blossom has been extremely rewarding. Zoe earned a scholarship at Hugh Baird College due to her dedication to her College course and willingness to take advantage of new opportunities. Zoe's dedication and passion has secured her a job as a Procurement Coordinator at Peel Ports, this demonstrates the value of hard work and shows the power of learning and perseverance. I wish Zoe the best of luck for the future."

Hugh Baird College is committed to building relationships with multiple industry experts providing students with the best physical work experience opportunities. Through these partnerships, students can gain firsthand experience in various fields, allowing them to develop relevant skills and expand their relationships with employers.

Those wishing to find out more about Hugh Baird College's Business courses can do so via their website. 

If you wish to find out more about the courses we offer linked to logistics, you can do so via logging onto:- HughBaird.AC.UK.