Report by the International Chair for the period November 2016 - October 2017

Mrs Andrea Bennett

There a number of highlights to look back on over the last year worthy of note, in what have been a challenging but worthwhileyear for the ICTa.

Education and Training Committee-Chair Paula Wardle

of particular note is the continuing success of the IoM3/ICTa Level 2 and 3 clay technology courses, both of which have been completely revised by the and received validation from the IoM3 Awarding Body-PIABC

This has been a mammoth task and resulted in both courses being made relevant and up to date for their target audiences, with the new course work books being revised and professionally printed, all ensuring that they will be most suitable for some time to come

The L3 now provides a transitional pathway on to the Foundation Degree

My thanks go to Paula Wardle, the team of people who have given considerable time in re writing the course work and to Ibstock Brick Ltd for facilitating the printing work in time for the current courses, and to the ICT Education and Training Trust for funding the whole exercise

The present courses which started in October have been very well supported, with continuing demand for future courses to be run

Study Tour

Whilst the previous event was very successful, in order not to clash with European exhibitions in 2018, it is planned that an event will be run in 2019

Management Committee

During the year the Management Team and specialised sub-groups have made progress in ensuring that the ICTa web site (within the IoM3 portal,now shows the full range of courses available and up to date news

Additionally the team has also written.in draft form at present, job role descriptions for the committee, so that a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the posts within the Management Committee is understood-hopefully this will help with volunteers to assist with this important function

ICTa Bank Account-no activity has taken place,with funds remaining as last year

To ensure continuity ,it is intended that I will remain as International Chair for a further year, and that Andrew Carp, North Staffs Local Society, will step into the role of Deputy International Chair. This move will enable Paula to step and down and continue in her role as Chair of the Education and Training Committee. This proposal will be submitted for approval at the Annual meeting 2017

Membershipstands at 320, down from the previous year, with the majority of the loss attributed to student members on theIoM3 Clay Quarry course, not renewing their membership.

Local Societies

Yorkshireand North Staffs are both active societies, with a full programme of events, many of which are aimed towards those members on the IoM3 Clay Quarry course to achieve the required CPD points

West Midland committee, with requested that the society be put into “Dormant” status, which was approved at the last Management Committee meeting

Similarly East Midlands is also in the same category, with there being no activity to record at Lancashire, Notts and Derby or London and Home Counties

Whilst the education activities of the Association are very well supported, the local society network is dying away, all despite there being membership of those societies

This is of great concern and the management Committee would welcome ideas on how the local network can become more relevant and interesting in an ever changing and demanding work and life balance that everyone is trying to juggle with

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the ICTa Deputy Chair, Paula Wardle,to the Chairs and Secretaries of the local societies, and to Mike Chapman who has helped me so much in my duties in his capacity as Honorary General Secretary

Finally thank you once again for your support to me, and your continued supportof the ICTa.

Andrea Bennett

International Chair, November 2017