Lakes College have been awarded the ‘Training Excellence’ award at the 2013 National Heat Pump Awards for their delivery of the Combined (Ground and Air Source) Domestic Heat Pump Installation training course. These annual awards celebrate achievements, innovations and skills within the UK’s heat pump industry.

Lakes College were up against strong competition from global firms including Mitsubishi and Danfoss, but the college's dedication to train and improve the skills of local heat installation professionals resulted in the college collecting the award. The college targeted local SME’s to attend this training, enabling them to remain competitive and benefit from the predicted growth in the renewable market. Over 30 local employers accessed funding from ‘Green Ways to Work’ to achieve the Combined (Ground and Air Source) Domestic Heat Pump Installation qualification.

Construction Area Manager, Steve Wilkinson and Plumbing Tutor, Paul Carruthers attended the ceremony and collected the winning award at Birmingham’s International Conference Centre at a prestigious ceremony on the 16 May.

Steve comments, "This is a fantastic achievement for the college and reflects recognition of the hard work and dedication that the college puts in to training local businesses. With the introduction of our £7m Britain’s Energy Coast Construction Skills Centre, we will continue to improve the skills of our community so that they benefit from opportunities the Energy Coast developments bring to West Cumbria".

As part of a mountaineering lecture series Lakes College will be hosting an evening with mountain climbing experts John Porter & Doug Scott CBE to raise funds for the Charity Action Nepal on Thursday 16th May from 6pm. Attendees to the dinner will be able to experience an insight to the adventures of the two experts and will be sampling an authentic Nepalese themed 3 course dinner cooked by Lakes College students for just £25 per head. There will also be an auction of climbing memorabilia and Nepalese goods to raise extra funds for the charity

Both of these men have careers that span over four decades, covering many continents and many infamous expeditions. Unlike other explorers, John Porter brings a military & political aspect, and will explain how many of his first ascents on mountains in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India were affected by geo-politics, punctuated with humorous tales of being smuggled across the Soviet Union and nearly fatal results exploring areas without permission.

He will reflect on how 'The Great Game', the rivalry between the British and Russian empires in Central Asia, led to exploration and mountaineering and explain why the CIA planted a nuclear monitoring device in the sacred Nanda Devi Sanctuary. He will also reveal the roots of conflicts between India, Pakistan and China today.

Doug is hosting the pre event dinner and the auction.

Tickets are available to reserve for the meal at just £25 per head including the lecture. £5 will go to Charity Action Nepal. Tickets are also available to reserve for the post-dinner lecture at only £12.50 a head, students at £7.50 per head. To book a place or request further information contact Liz Parkes on 01946 839300 ext 1018 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Commercial lawyer John Wilson, senior partner at the highly respected Carlisle based law firm Baines Wilson LLP, will speak to local companies at the next business lunch hosted by Lakes College West Cumbria on Thursday 13th June.

Based on his own experience of many types of organisations and transactions over the years, John will give an overview of 10 top legal issues that can affect businesses. These issues will not only cover the things which businesses don’t do (and which they really should do!) but conversely, things which businesses do (and which they really shouldn’t do!).

This event is suited to all types of businesses from sole proprietors, through to partnerships and small, medium and large companies. The legal seminar is preceded by a delicious three course lunch, prepared and served by the talented Lakes College catering students. The lunch takes place on 13th June at 12 noon in the college’s hidden gem of a restaurant, ‘Graduates’.

Tickets for this event are £20 pp and include welcome drink, three course lunch, coffee and legal seminar, with opportunities to network throughout.

For further information, or to book a place contact Liz Parkes on 01946 839300 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .'; document.write(''); document.write(addy_text24659); document.write('<\/a>'); //-->\n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.