Ofcom has awarded North Manchester FM community radio station a full broadcasting licence. Broadcasting from a base at Manchester NTI at One Central Park, the station will be an independent company. The full-time station is looking to start broadcasting fully in late 2008. The station will be supported over the initial three years by MANCAT and Radio Regen.
Community volunteeers, with support from RadioRegen and Manchester NTI, have successfully completed a 28 day broadcast as North Manchester Community Radio. Over 60 volunteers made the station successful, working with the station manager and key technicians for three months prior to the broadcast. Manchester NTI’s Radio Production Foundation Degree students jumped at the chance in their first year to make their mark as volunteers and gain real world practical experience from production to presenting.
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MANCAT principal Peter Tavernor is delighted with the Secretary of State’s decision to approve the merger between MANCAT and City College Manchester (CCM). Visit the MANCAT website to see him talk about the merger and what it will mean for education in Manchester.   Â
MANCAT hosted one of Apple’s Young Creative Roadshows at its Openshaw Campus, in October, giving young people the opportunity to learn from top professionals from the pioneering global technology company.Â
Around 70 Year 10 and 11 pupils from Barlow High School, St Peter’s High School and Cedar Mount High School took part in the software applications workshops where experts demonstrated how music and digital technology could be combined and taken further at a professional level.
The event featured live performances from MANCAT’s music students in The Amp and the band that took part in the live track mix by the Apple Educator. The event featured competitions with top prizes up for grabs, including two Apple Touchscreen iPods and two iPod video Nanos, courtesy of Apple.  Â
MANCAT mentors, who were studying IT courses at the East Manchester Sixth Form, worked with groups of pupils in the workshops and course coordinator, David Gee, led a workshop and helped substantially in the pre-planning.Â
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You may have just left school with no qualifications or you may have a PhD. You may have learnt all your skills ‘on the job’ or you may still be in learning. One thing is for sure, whatever your current skill level, you’ll need more in the future.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways in which you can enhance your skills and benefit from the rewards of learning; like qualifications, better work prospects and potentially a better salary offering you greater success.
So what options are available to you?
On the job training
Already working but looking to improve your skills and gain some recognised qualifications? Well look no further than Train2Gain, supported my Manchester colleges to help individuals improve their skills and reach their potential.
Over 19s
MANCAT offer a range of courses for Adults in a variety of areas. Whether you’re looking for Access Courses in Manchester or Transport and Driving Qualifications, contact them now for more details.
Something a bit more technical
If you want to explore new possibilities open to you and gain more skills, Manchester NTI offers opportunities that develop more than just ICT skills. Their programmes have been designed to offer a rounded package that will help them on the road to success.
Adults (aged 19 and over) who wish to study on a course in September 2007 can enrol at MANCAT during the college’s main enrolment period:
9.00am to 7.00pm – 28th to 30th August and
9.00am to 4.00pm - Friday 31st August
9.00am to 7.00pm - 3rd September to 6th September and
9.00am to 4.00pm - Friday 7th September
During these times staff will be available to interview and enrol applicants at the following sites:
Guidance staff will be on hand at all campuses to offer advice and guidance on a range of issues from career guidance to financial support.
For any further information on enrolment or courses, please contact our Course Enquiry Team on 0800 068 8585.
Open days are being held at our Openshaw Campus this month. Attendees will be able to find out about the financial advantages of studying HE at MANCAT, speak to tutors about the subject areas they are interested in and more importantly enroll on the course of their choice.
There will be two opportunities to attend in August:
• Thursday 16th August from 12-7pm
• Friday 17th August from 12-4.30pm
If you are unable to attend on the above dates and would like further information on our higher education courses, contact our Course Enquiry Team FREE on 0800 068 8585 or visit The MANCAT Website.
Download the Higher Education leaflet here 
This year for the first time, Manchester NTI students were entered in one of the categories at the Big Chip Awards, the North West’s annual awards for digital excellence.
The students went head-to-head for the ‘MANCAT promising student award’ at the digital industry gala evening hosted by broadcaster Anthony Wilson at New Century Hall on 23 May.
The students, who are all enrolled on multimedia courses, had been working on their individual projects for approximately two months. Their work was judged by an experienced panel of judges in the weeks prior to the event and the winner, Cormac Fulton, was announced on the night. The HND Multimedia student was presented with his award by Mario Dubois of BBC Manchester.
The Big Chip Awards (organised by Manchester Digital) is now in its ninth year and continues to improve year on year. This year the awards attracted a record number of entries, with over 100 companies submitting over 200 entries. There were 25 award winners in total, covering all sectors of the digital industry in the North West.
Chairman of Manchester Digital, Shaun Fensom, said: “Yet again this year’s winning entries are a real testament to the talent and quality of work found in the region’s digital sector. The Big Chip Awards continues to act as a showcase for the industry’s cutting edge and original work and the best of the North West.”
Presented by Simon Wharton, Managing Director from VirtuAffinity Ltd & PushON Ltd.
Date: Weds 6 June (5-8pm)
Location: MANCAT – One Central Park, Northampton Road, Harpurhey, Manchester.
For more information please contact Claire or Janet on 0161 918 6886.
Presentation Slides: The powerpoint Slides of the evening are available here.
If you have a business, you are obliged by law to make your services accessible to disabled people, but don’t panic, it’s more about making reasonable adjustments, than turning your business upside down. Here are some common misconceptions:
‘I don’t have premises so it doesn’t affect me.’
Wrong - The law affects all service providers, not just those with premises. You’ll need to consider how to make your service accessible to disabled customers, for example, making your website readable to anyone with a visual impairment.
‘All my staff will have to learn sign language.’
They could, it’s not a bad idea, but there are a lot small adjustments you can make like having a pen and paper handy for customers with poor hearing.
‘There aren’t that many disabled people around and they can’t have much money.‘
Wrong - in fact there are around 10 million disabled people in Britain and they have a combined spending power of £80 billion. Wrong - in fact there are around 10 million disabled people in Britain and they have a combined spending power of £80 billion.
Presented by Tina Wright from T&CI.
Date: Weds 27 June (5-8pm)
Location: MANCAT – One Central Park, Northampton Road, Harpurhey, Manchester.
To book your place please call Claire on 0161 918 6888.
