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Duke and Duchess of Cambridge celebrate first wedding anniversary

April 30th, 2012

On 29 April, 2011 huge parts of the UK came to a halt as people tuned in to the witness the marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton. Thousands of people lined the streets of London between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, where the wedding took place. The newly-married couple waved to the crowds as they made their way back to Buckingham Palace.

Could you organise the wedding of the year? Learn how to create dream weddings with our Event Management and Wedding Planning course. This course is also an ideal stepping stone to running your own business.

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The ZX Spectrum turns 30

April 23rd, 2012

Technology has changed so much over the years, however, you can keep yourself up to date with any of our extensive range of IT courses. Make sure you don’t get left behind – Start Learning now!

The ZX Spectrum is 30 years old. The successor to Sir Clive Sinclair’s ZX81 – at the time the world’s best selling consumer computer – it introduced colour “high resolution” graphics and sound.

It also offered an extended version of Sinclair Basic, a computer language with which hundreds of thousands of users were already familiar.

More than five million copies of the various ZX Spectrum computers were sold over the family’s eight year lifespan, not including third-party clones.

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Dr Who sonic screwdriver “invented” at Dundee University

April 20th, 2012

Science is an amazing subject – why not try one of our fascinating Science courses. Who knows where it might lead…

Scientists claim to have invented their own version of Doctor Who’s famous sonic screwdriver. The Dundee University researchers have created a machine which uses ultrasound to lift and rotate a rubber disc floating in a cylinder of water.

It is said to be the first time ultrasound waves have been used to turn objects rather than simply push them. The study could help make surgery using ultrasound techniques more precise, the physicists said. Surgeons use ultrasound to treat a range of conditions without having to cut open a patient.

The ability to steer ultrasound waves to the precise spot where they are needed could make those treatments even more effective. The ultrasound waves could also be used to guide a drug capsule through the body and activate it, for instance right inside a tumour.

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Sugar warning for “healthy” soft drinks

April 17th, 2012

People underestimate the amount of sugar in drinks which are perceived to be “healthy”, research suggests. While many overestimated the amount in fizzy beverages, they underestimated levels in smoothies and fruit juices.

The research also found soft drinks could be accounting for a large chunk of their recommended calorie intake. The team asked participants to assess their weekly drinking habits. Their answers suggested 450 calories a day were being consumed – a quarter of the daily limit for women and a fifth for men.

It’s important to keep healthy and look after you and your children’s diets. Our Diet, Exercise & Health courses provide a wealth of information to help you do so.

Our courses are split into small sections to make studying both easy and convenient. Plus, don’t forget your tutor will also be available to help every step of the way. So Start Learning today!

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Drought may last until Christmas

April 16th, 2012

Official drought zones have been declared in a further 17 English counties, as a warning came that water shortages could last until Christmas.

The Environment Agency said dry weather over the past few months had left some rivers in England exceptionally low.

Do you want to learn more about weather patterns and climate change? Why not take our Managing Evironmental Resources or Environmental Studies course to give you a better understanding.

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Lowest Ever Mastermind Score

June 7th, 2011

Mastermind has a reputation as the playground of the very smart but last week Mr Thuraaisingham was knocked out of line by the fearsome black chair. You can read a detailed account and some of the questions here.

He scored just 14 questions right in two rounds. His specialist subject was The Life of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk the founder of modern Turkey.

The moral of the story here seems to be keep calm and make sure you have studied your subject inside out. We like to think our courses would give you this expert knowledge – fancy a specialist subject of Human Anatomy or Forensic Science?

Go on – study what makes you passionate! We would be love you to be the next Mastermind!

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5 Great Reasons to Learn by Distance

June 7th, 2011

1. Flexibility: Fit learning into your busy day!

2. In your own space: Study where you want – at the office, your dining room table or even in the bath.

3. Start when you want: You can start tomorrow if you want – you don’t need to wait for the next start date.

4. Take as long or as short as you need: Don’t let anyone rush you or race ahead if you feel confident.

5. Study what you love: With 150 courses to choose from there really is something for everyone.

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Wind Power Fuels Growth in Construction

February 11th, 2011

Why not think about a career in construction for long term growth and opportunities?

There has been a 91% rise in employment in the Wind Power sector.

Renewable energy is the future and with increasing funds and resource dedicated to it. The search for more energy sources has lead to increasingly diverse methods of energy collection.

The construction industry will be absolutely vital in providing structural support for these projects and will be looking for skilled workers to take on the development.

A career in construction has ever increasing opportunities within both the housing and the commercial market.

Why not find out more about our construction courses today – to see if this is the field for you!

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22% of workers ‘unhappy in job’ – Why not start a new Career?

January 26th, 2011

Over 25% of employees in the UK are unhappy in their position and another 30.5% are ambivalent about their work the recruitment agency Badenoch & Clark has discovered.

This is a huge switch from from 2010, when 78% of UK workers had high levels of happiness at work.

Heidi Waddington, associate director at Badenoch & Clark, said the decline in workplace happiness over the last year is due to factors such as job cuts, longer working hours, the rise in inflation and VAT and ultimately a lack of security.

“Economic uncertainty over the past year has put tremendous pressure on employees. This trend is particularly evident in professional services, which has resulted in heightened intensity in the workplace and increasingly poor morale,” she added.

Last month, the latest Workmonitor study published by staffing firm Randstad found that employees in the UK are feeling less confident about their prospects of getting a job in the future

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5 Ways of Making Extra Money in 2011

January 6th, 2011

2011 is going to be a tough year financially for almost every family in Britain, resulting in many families looking for new income streams.

Having an additional family business can bring extra money into your home, as well as increased stability in these difficult times.

If you are looking for new ways to make some extra cash in 2011 why not try?

Dog Grooming

Britain is a country of pet lovers with over £10 million dogs in the UK. Pet owners are prepared to lavish their pets with attention and gifts, and in particular like to make sure they are well groomed. Dog Groomers are often booked weeks in advanced and can charge up to £80 a dog.

Web Design

Do you have a web business idea? Do you have lots of family and friends that need websites? Do you fancy having your own web design business? Designing websites is fun, rewarding and creative and even better the business can be ran from anywhere you can fit a computer – even your bedroom!

Property Development

As house prices have started to fall – there are some very good opportunities in the property market. The most important thing is for you to have a real feel for the area and how the market is currently moving. If your family has building skills or doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty this is a great way to make some extra cash.

Digital Photography

Do you like taking photos? Do you realise there is a sizeable online revenue to be made from selling your pictures? This might be the right time to upgrade your skills and start taking fantastic digital pictures. You can then think about selling them online for some great extra revenue.

Bookkeeping

It might not be glamorous but Bookkeepers are in more demand than ever. Training as a bookkeeper could give you an extra revenue stream and long term even a new career. If you have a head for figures why not think about taking a Bookkeeping qualification.