Multiple Revenue Streams Keep A Solopreneur Solvent

By Kim L. Clark

To build a successful career as a Solopreneur consultant requires courage, resilience, possession of marketable skills and relationships with people who are willing and able to refer or endorse you for paid project assignments. Solopreneur consultants must have a talent for selling, the discipline to create and pursue business goals, a knack for big picture thinking and implementing strategies and an understanding of human nature and motivation. The ability to attract good luck and dodge bad luck helps, too.

Precious few Solopreneurs are able to just "go to the office" everyday and delve into the usual work. In order to generate the preferred amount of business revenue, we understand that creating multiple revenue streams may be necessary and to make that possible, we must recognize the marketability of our skill sets, in aggregate and in segments. As well, we must learn to package, promote and sell our skills and value to prospective clients.

Consider my revenue streams, for example. When asked, in my short form elevator pitch I say that I'm a self-employed external consultant who provides business strategy and marketing solutions to mid-size for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. What that means in reality is that I've facilitated strategic planning meetings at not-for-profit organizations; edited a 100 page nonfiction book and also served as its photo editor and project manager; developed curriculum for a series of 90 minute sales skills training workshops; and periodically I teach business plan writing.

I've been fortunate enough to regularly win business strategy development or marketing campaign assignments, but the fact is that there are often gaps and in response, I've learned to branch out and offer segments of my skill set to clients or employers as a way to maintain my required cash-flow and, whenever possible, also enhance my brand. In my experience, it's the ability to leverage one's perhaps infrequently promoted competencies that help Solopreneurs to create and sustain a profitable business venture.

My friend Adela is a busy educational consultant who works with college bound high school juniors and their parents to identify suitable colleges for the student and navigate the application process. Adela's business appears to be thriving, yet she nevertheless teaches Spanish at a local university (she was born and raised in Mexico and came to the U.S. to attend Notre Dame University).

Jackie, a friend of many years, is the founder and manager of a small, full-service fitness center that became very successful in that highly competitive market, yet she teaches a fitness class at another gym a few miles away. Why? Because she gets to observe another style of fitness center management from the inside, she receives training in new fitness techniques that she can evaluate for inclusion in her own gym and she earns a few extra dollars each week, something that a mother of four can always use. Sometimes you can get paid to research the competition!

My friend Carole toggles between freelance marketing gigs at technology companies and corporate positions in that sector. She's a Lotus alumna who's also worked for tech giant EMC, distinctions that command respect and open doors in the tech industry. In between corporate gigs, Carole goes out on her own to develop marketing strategies for tech start-ups. A couple of years ago, she was offered a position as director of marketing at one of those start-ups, but when the inevitable reorganization occurs, she'll re-enter Solopreneur life.

So, Solopreneur friend, I invite you to put on your thinking cap and brainstorm how you can create additional revenue streams by exploring how certain segments of your skill set can be packaged and promoted to current and prospective clients!

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Kim L. Clark is an external strategy and marketing consultant who brings agile skills to the for-profit and not-for-profit organization leaders with whom she works. You can ensure that mission-critical goals at your organization will be achieved when you contact Kim at http://polishedprofessionalsboston.com.

What Makes For a Great Location?

By Pritesh Jarodiya

Location of the Business: An Essential Factor

Whether you want to open a caf�, a restaurant, a hairdresser, a grocery store, a kindergarten, a clothing store or any other business, especially if retail services and sales, you need to find a suitable location for it.

Today, businesses of any size and almost every industry are aware that choosing a physical location for a business can often be a crucial factor in the success of any company. Selecting a site for your retail outlet is a challenge and here's what you must consider before choosing a site for retail business.

Cost

Most obviously, can you afford it. Also, though, consider whether your customers and employees can afford it. For example, is there free parking, or is it expensive?

Proximity to Potential Buyers

Whether they pass the business as part of their wanderings or they come to the place as a result of other businesses or institutions in the area. Observe the amount of traffic in the area where you want to start the business in the morning and evening. Examine how potential buyers are coming to the location.

It is also possible to conduct a survey of buyers. Another point to check is whether customers are regular or casual. Everything depends on the type of business and the site for retail business that you wish to establish.

Transportation and Parking

Before choosing a location for the retail store, it is essential to consider the location of its parking and transportation. Choose a location that has adequate parking space and it must be reachable without a hassle through public transport. Also, ensure whether the parking space is free of charge or it has a fixed fee for parking.

Proximity to Suppliers

When choosing a site for retail business, choose a site that is close to the suppliers, in order to ensure speedy replenishment of the inventory if your product is out of stock. It makes it easier to reduce transportation and storage costs in the short term if the suppliers are closely located.

Employee Availability

Another essential point to consider when choosing a location for retail business is to inquire about the availability of the staff you need. It will be cost-effective if plenty of workforces is easily available in the locality of the retail business. This way you will be able to save hundreds in transit cost.

The Number of Competitors

The location also depends on the number of competitors in the area. Choose a location that is not very competitive unless you can offer retail services that others find it hard to replicate.

Pritesh Jarodiya graduate with a MBA degree in International Business. He advances his career as a Business Operation Manager.

6 Signs You're Ready for a Career Change

By Estra Roell

As you go through your life, you'll be growing and the career you chose as a younger version of yourself may not be the best fit for you now. It's important to be self-reflective and check in with yourself from time to time, especially if you notice yourself being bored or unhappy. No one deserves to spend their days doing something that is unfulfilling.

Here are some signs you need a change:

1. Energy depletion or boredom.

Any job may have moments of boredom. But if you constantly feel apathetic and feel an energy drain at the end of each day, something's wrong. Do you dread Monday morning starting on Sunday afternoon? Does getting up each day require dragging yourself up and out the door through sheer willpower? Do you hate talking about your work?

Explore what it is that's causing the energy depletion. Is it the actual job itself, the commute, your co-workers or the management style? Is there something you could tweak, like switching to a different position within the same company, or moving closer? Can you arrange to work from home a few days a week?

Then explore what things add to your energy in your life, whether at work or at home. What do you love doing? What things make you lose track of time? What are your interests? What would you like to learn or spend more time with? Do you long for more connection with nature? Do you want to add more creativity to your work and life?

If it's the job itself that is at the center of your energy drain, it's a clear signal its time to make a change in your career.

2. Loss of Passion and Purpose.

Feeling your work has meaning and is personally fulfilling is essential. If you are no longer excited about your work, you won't be happy and your happiness is a key factor in your ability to perform at your best and advance in your career. Many people make the mistake of going for a job opportunity that offers a bigger paycheck. Sure, we all need money to survive. But going for a job only for the payout can backfire. Financial rewards are not enough when the work isn't fulfilling and you aren't happy in it. In the long run, people who are happy and have careers that ignite a feeling of passion and purpose actually can make more money than those in unfulfilling careers. Don't feel like you have to stay stuck in a job you hate just for the paycheck.

3. Your talent isn't valued.

If your employer doesn't value your talent, it's hard to stay enthusiastic and motivated about your work. If you aren't being valued, your advancement won't be supported and your work environment may not be the best fit for you.

4. Your values and the company's values are not in alignment.

You need to be clear on your top values and stay true to them. Are the company's values in alignment with yours? If not, that creates a huge stressor. You may want to do the same job, but with a different company whose values and management style are a match for you.

5. Your body will communicate to you.

Do you experience chronic illness, migraines, or other stress related illnesses? Do you have trouble concentrating? In my own experience, I had a job I had once loved switch management and become very stressful. I was sick much of the time and finally landed in the hospital with a stress related illness. Pay attention to the messages your body is sending to you-before you end up in the hospital!

6. You feel chronically stressed and complain about work all the time.

Just about everyone complains about a bad day here and there. But do you feel negative and hopeless just thinking about work? Do you constantly complain to your friends about your job? Have you turned into a bitter person you don't recognize? I know I did! That was my wake up call. If you see yourself turning into Negative Nelly (or Ned) that's a clear sign you need to find a career that makes you feel happy, purposeful and alive.

You do have a purpose and what you most love to do will be a key factor in discovering what that is. Start now to reflect on your passions, talents and skills. Don't censor your exploration. You may be surprised by how your passions can translate into a career. Getting help with this process is a great way to focus it, make sure it happens and feel supported though it.

Estra Roell is a certified Law of Attraction Life Coach, certified Life Purpose Coach, Advanced PSYCH-K� facilitator and Happiness Generator Facilitator. She's known as America's Life Purpose Coach™. Estra helps clients get in touch with their passions and purpose and assists them to uncover and remove any blockages or old patterns that may be holding them back from living a life of joy, purpose and abundance. Estra is also a co-author of the books "101 Great Ways to Enhance Your Career" and "How to Create a Rich, Successful and Fulfilling Life." Visit her website at http://www.americaslifepurposecoach.com/ to receive her free report on Visioning Your Purpose and Heading Toward it Today. Join her Facebook Group at   https://www.facebook.com/groups/discoveryourlifepurpose/

Reasons Why Having A Logo Is Important For Your Branding

By Gunjan Singh

A picture speaks a thousand words - the idiom is not new to anyone. It is the reality, which most of us deny accepting, but no matter what, you cannot run away from the fact that visual effects leave a monumental impression than the words or saying. Therefore, when it comes to the branding of your company, so, having a logo is important to stand yourself apart from the crowd. It's an undeniable truth that at some point, we can forget the name of any company, but, we recognize them with their logo. Do you still think it is not worth to invest in? Well, if yes, scroll down and learn the importance of having a logo for your branding, so, you won't deny investing in it.

First Impression: You'll never get a second chance to make your very first impression, so, you should grab it. A logo will help you leave a first as well as the lasting impression of your brand in the customer's mind. Without this, you won't be able to communicate your ownership because it is the only thing that helps your clients understand who you are and what benefits you are trying to offer them.

Distinguishes You From The Competition: Well, we all know that, it takes nothing to join the crowd and do what they all are doing, but it takes everything and courage to stand-alone. And if you want to make yourself a brand in the cut-throat competition, you need to get out of the couch and do something that gives your clients a reason to choose you over your competitors. Also, it will help them distinguish you from the competitors.

Win Customer Loyalty: Customer loyalty is very much important for your branding, as they are your true asset and having them on your list will reflect the growth of your business. A logo will help you win that faith. It'll help you stay close to your customers, so, you can understand their needs better and serve them accordingly.

Do you still have any doubt? No, what are you waiting for? Before your competitors take your customers away, go and design a logo for the branding of your business. Confused from where to start and how to start? Hire a professional website designing company that also serve you logo designing and help you create an identity over the internet or intranet. You need to do it correctly with care because your brand image is connected to it.

Contact us at 8750587506 for   Website Designing Company in India that provides innovative and   Responsive Website Designing

10 Advantages and Applications Of Briquettes

By Gary B Brian

People living in any part of the world need fuel to satisfy his daily living needs. Briquettes are the flammable blocks of matter prepared using extruded combustible materials. The common raw materials used for the process are sawdust, peanut, chaff from rice, crops waste, peat, etc. So, check out the advantages of the best conventional white fuel, i.e., briquette.

1. Concentrated

The Briquetting Machine makes Briquettes by compressing the raw materials. So, they are much harder, denser, and compact. They also have a high density as compared to the loose biomass. Thereby, they offer a concentrated type of energy as compared to the charcoal and firewood.

2. Slow burning

The compression procedure allows the briquette to burn for a longer time.

3. High efficiency

Another advantage of briquettes is the boosted heating value which is due to the low moisture and high density. Briquette Machine produces briquettes that relatively generate more heat as compared to other fuel.

They have high thermal value and also have much low ash content (2 to 10 %) in contrary to coal which has 20 to 40 %.

Moreover, they are 40 percent more efficient and also have a longer lifespan than firewood.

4. Smokeless

It is the unique property of Briquetting Machine to make briquettes smokeless, i.e., they create no smoke, carbon footprint, or soot. Plus, they generate little or no fly ash which all depends upon the raw material.

5. Easy Availability

Biomass Briquette Machine generates Briquettes out of the biomass materials which are available everywhere in plenty of quantity.

6. Simple to make

The commercial briquettes are sold in the market right now. But its use is quite common for heating in the ordinary households. For this, you just need a pile of combustible matter, molder, and binder to shape out the briquettes.

7. Easy to store

Its shape and size make them easy to store anywhere. You can also pile them up in the heaps as they are available in many different shapes likes cubical, rectangular, spherical, or cylindrical. In fact, they can be cleaned easily and also packed into bags.

8. Easy transportation

Biomass Briquette Machine compact the biomass waste into the briquettes which lower the volume by nearly ten times. So, it makes them easy to transport rather than lose biomass waste. Depending on their density, shape, and size, the briquettes are the best for a long distance. In fact, its loading and unloading rates are quite less.

9. Affordable

As briquettes can be made quickly with animal and plant waste, so they are affordable to produce and thereby sold at low rates too.

10. Renewable

As biomass Briquettes uses 100% organic materials so, they easily get renewed. Hence, it's the most sustainable resource available rather than fuel.

Application of Briquettes:

1. Domestic use

Many households widely use briquettes for the cooking, space, and water heating purposes.

2. Hospitality

Hospitals used Briquettes for the space heating, water heating, and cooking applications.

3. Ceramic production

Many ceramic industries use Briquettes for the tile making, brick kilns, and pot firing.

4. Textiles

Textile industries use high-quality Briquettes for bleaching and drying purposes.

5. Commercial and institutional catering

Commercial firms use Briquettes for the grilling, cooking, and water heating.

6. Food Processing Industries

Food processing agencies use Briquettes in the drying, bakeries, distilleries, canteens, and restaurants.

7. Industrial Boilers

Industrial boilers use high-density Briquettes for the steam and heat generation.

8. Poultry

Briquettes generated out of Briquette Machines are also used by the poultry for the heating of chicks and incubation purposes.

9. Agriculture-based Industries

Agro-based firms use Briquettes for the tea drying, tobacco curing, and oil milling, etc.

10. Gasification

Many industries use Briquettes as the fuel for the gasifiers to generate electricity.

So, use Briquettes rather than firewood and charcoal.

If you need   Briquetting Press, Briquette Plant, Hammer Mill Grinder machine then, visit our website EcoStan.

BTEC Level 3 Engineering Qualifications: 3 Major Challenges for Learners

By Andrew G Smith

September 2016 saw the launch of new BTEC Level 3 Nationals qualifications in Engineering and the majority of students registered with the awarding body from September 2017 would have been enrolled onto these new style qualifications.

The new BTECs contain externally assessed units. This means that learners studying a BTEC Level 3 in Engineering from September 2017 will more than likely be required to take an exam. This exam will be used to assess a core unit, Engineering Principles (Unit 1).

As this is a mandatory component of the new BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Engineering, it is not something that can be avoided.

In an earlier article, I outlined the challenges faced by Schools and Colleges responsible for delivering this unit, but today we are going to be looking at this from the learner's perspective.

Challenge 1: Preferred Assessment Methods

Students of vocational qualifications often prefer to be assessed with assignments, avoiding the need to sit exams. Having spoken to BTEC students about exams, I know that the vast majority would rather avoid them entirely!

There may be a number of reasons for this. For example, the learner may not feel that they can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding most effectively when placed in the exam environment. It may be because in an exam, you only have one opportunity, on one given day, whereas you have more time to think about and work on assignments. Or it may be because there is a greater likelihood of failing an exam, with additional pressures of potential retakes.

Whatever the reason, most BTEC Level 3 Nationals students will be required to sit an exam for a relatively large and technical unit, which is something that may place them under additional pressure.

Challenge 2: Volume of Content

The second major challenge arises because of the volume of content in the Engineering Principles unit, all of which could potentially be assessed in the exam. The unit covers applied Mathematics, as well as fundamental Mechanical and Electrical / Electronic principles.

The unit accounts for 120 hours of a 720-hour National Diploma qualification. What this means in practical terms is that this single unit accounts for almost 20% of the overall qualification. Unlike with other units in the qualification, the learner will not be able to accrue pass criteria as they progress through the unit. They will need to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of all of that content in the final exam.

Not only that, as there are only two opportunities to sit the examination, learners must be able to recall information that was covered at the start of the unit. This content may have been delivered up to 40 weeks before the final exam!

Challenge 3: Technical Nature of Content

As mentioned above, this unit covers applied Mathematics, as well as fundamental Mechanical and Electrical / Electronic principles. Most learners naturally prefer either Mechanical or Electrical Engineering and generally are more capable in one or other of the disciplines. This unit requires students to learn and be able to apply principles from both Engineering disciplines.

Students who favour Mechanical Engineering will need to work at the same pace as their peers when covering Electrical content and vice versa for students who favour Electrical Engineering. There may not be sufficient time in the academic year to ensure that all learners understand all of the topics in the unit specification.

A Solution for Proactive Learners

Performance in this unit alone, could have a huge impact on the final grades achieved by students on these programmes. Most students will accept the need to sit an examination and will want to prepare as best as they can. Learners should be encouraged to identify their own strengths and areas for improvement in this unit, as this will enable them to work on their weaknesses to develop their understanding and hence, improve their overall grade.

It is also important to note that revision (particularly in areas identified as requiring improvement) is essential in order to perform well in this type of assessment. The difficulty is that not all learners will have the same areas for improvement, so this will need to be done independently and outside of the classroom.

For these reasons, online courses may provide a solution. some online courses contain video tutorials and self-assessment practice questions, where coding is used to ensure that repeated sets or practice questions differ from earlier attempts. This encourages a greater level of understanding, rather than memorising solutions.

The    Engineers Academy offers a range of online engineering courses. If you are studying a BTEC Level 3 in Engineering then this course has been deigned with you in mind:
   https://engineers.academy/product/l3-nd-engineering-principles-exam-preparation/

New Zealand Kiwisaver

By Robert Alan Stewart

There is little doubt that saving for ones retirement will go some way toward helping you to live a financially stress-free life after you have finished working. The New Zealand kiwisaver scheme was set up to help people save for their later years. Kiwisaver has many features and benefits and it is important to know the difference. A feature is a part of what makes a product unique while a benefit is what is in it for me. For example, a feature is that your savings in kiwisaver are not accessible until you reach the retirement age of 65 while the benefit is that you will have a nest egg when you retire.

The beauty of kiwisaver is that is a great savings tool irrespective of your age, stage of life, and your savings goals. If you are younger, you are able to use a portion of your kiwisaver money to go towards a mortgage of your first home. For a husband and wife with kiwisaver accounts, this is a big help towards getting your first home. I believe that you need to have been a member of kiwisaver for at least 5 years in order to qualify.

To help you with your savings, the government will put in $520 per annum into your kiwisaver account but you must put in at least $1040 per annum to get this amount. If you put in less than this, the government will put in 50% of your contribution. For example $400 contribution, $200 government money. It is in July when the government deposits this money into kiwisaver accounts because the kiwisaver year starts 1 July and ends 30 June. That means that you are able to deposit money into your kiwisaver account in June and still receive the government money the following month.

Advisors believe that the type of fund you choose is largely dependent on your age and stage of life. The funds range from the conservative to the growth funds. The rule is that the higher the potential return, the higher the risk. When you are younger you can afford to take more risks because you have more time to recover from a sharemarket crash but again if you are young and saving for your first home then you may want a combination of growth and conservative funds because when it comes time to withdraw some of your savings to purchase your first home then the markets may be down.

Kiwisaver is New Zealand's own retirement savings scheme to enable people to live a more comfortable retirement when they cease working. The incentives available for those joining the scheme make it worthwhile for every New Zealander to become involved if they not already are a member. It is better to regret the things you never did than regret the things you have done which will be the case if you reach the retirement age of 65 (applicable in NZ) and not have any savings behind you. My site http://www.robertastewart.com has some interesting articles on saving and investing.

BTEC Level 3 Engineering Principles (Unit 1): Alternative Approaches to Effective Teaching

By Andrew G Smith

All new BTEC Level 3 Nationals qualifications in Engineering now include the mandatory unit, Engineering Principles (Unit 1), which is assessed by examination. This is a 120-hour unit, containing technical content from both Mechanical and Electrical Engineering disciplines.

Due to the nature of this unit, it is likely that it will be challenging for Schools and Colleges to deliver and may also be difficult for students to develop the knowledge and understanding required to excel in the exam.

In this article we will explore some alternative approaches to the delivery of this unit, with a view to enabling students to achieve their full potential.

It is important to note that performance in this unit will affect students' overall grades, and poor performance may even prevent some students from achieving a positive outcome for the qualification. For this reason, it is necessary to ensure that students are given every opportunity to gain the knowledge and understanding required to do their best in the exam.

Unit 1 Engineering Principles - Examination Opportunities

Students have up to two opportunities to sit the exam for this unit. The first is at the end of January and the second is at the end of June. A decision will need to be made prior to curriculum development, whether or not to enter students into the January exam, as this will influence how the unit is delivered. Doing so will give students two opportunities to attempt the assessment, but may not allow sufficient time for all of the unit content to be covered beforehand (approximately 120 hours of content).

It is likely to be of benefit to the students if they are able to sit both the January and June exams. A successful outcome in January would alleviate some pressure and an unsuccessful outcome would not have as much of a detrimental impact on the learner. They would also gain additional insight into their own strengths and weaknesses during this process, before the second exam in June.

One option then is to be selective over the content delivered in the first half of the academic year. Having reviewed the Sample Assessment Materials available on the Pearson website (here) it is possible to identify some potential 'easy wins'. For example, there will almost certainly be a question on simply supported beams and also a resistor network question!

BTEC Engineering Principles - Unit Content

The BTEC Level 3 Engineering Principles unit contains Mechanical and Electrical / Electronic Engineering content, as well as a substantial amount of Mathematics. Most Engineering teachers will have a specialism in either Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering, so it may be difficult to ensure that all of the content is delivered with the same rigour.

Ideally three teachers will deliver the unit, a Maths specialist, a Mechanical specialist and an Electrical specialist. However, this approach also has a downside because opportunities to embed the mathematics into contextual questions may be lost. The major advantage of this approach to delivery is that it would prevent the teachers own biases from being projected on to the students. It is important to enable learners to explore all aspects of Engineering for themselves, especially if they are seeking future employment in the sector.

Differentiation in Engineering Principles Content Delivery

As teachers will understand, the ideal is to provide teaching resources that are tailored to the individual needs of each student. Some students may require additional support to grasp basic concepts, whereas others will be able to work independently, at a very high level, providing there are given the opportunity to do so.

The same will be true for this unit, where some students may be working at a borderline pass level, whilst others are working at a high-end distinction level. It can be difficult for teachers to pitch lessons at a level which will be suitably challenging for all learners, but this is necessary to ensure they all receive the grades that they are capable of.

The    Engineers Academy offers a range of online engineering courses. If you are studying a BTEC Level 3 in Engineering then this course has been deigned with you in mind:
   https://engineers.academy/product/l3-nd-engineering-principles-exam-preparation/

Guide to Skill Development Courses for Getting Better Jobs in Hospitals & Clinics

By Bruce Thomsan

Many people dream of working in the healthcare industry for numerous reasons. To get the satisfaction of having made a difference in the lives of people, to help them in their times of sickness and bad health or to have a professional workplace and earn a decent livelihood. To work with a group of professional and well qualified personnel and enjoy meeting new people every day. The reasons maybe diverse but if the goal is to secure a better job in hospitals and clinics then the best way to do so is by upskilling. You may be trying to gain entry into the healthcare profession or you might be trying to move up the corporate ladder in your chosen field the way to go is by acquiring new skills through skill development courses. Here is a brief guide to the various skill development courses for your benefit.

1. Diploma /Certification in Medical Laboratory Technology
This course trains the students to work as full-fledged lab technicians. They are capable of collecting samples, storing them, analyzing the sample and creating a report based on the sample to be further analyzed by the doctor. They briefly study blood bank management, safely disposing bio-medical waste, materials management, and supply chain management. They are also trained to clean and maintain the equipment in the lab while adhering to the quality control standards according to NABL regulations.

2. Diploma /Certification in Medical Record Technology
Here the students are trained on handling medical case sheets and records in a scientific manner. They check a file for completeness and prepare a file for storage. They are made aware of the International classification of Diseases I.e the ICD 10 system and should enter the appropriate code in the file.

3. Diploma /Certification in X-Ray and Imaging Technology
Trained students are eligible to work in clinics and radiology departments as radiology technicians. They are given a basic understanding of human anatomy and physiology and are taught the right way to handle X-Ray equipment, develop exposed x-ray films using both using both wet development and computerized X-ray machines. They are also taught how to handle Sonography, CT scan, MRI and Ultrasound machines.

4. Diploma /Certification in Dialysis Technology
Trained students go on to become skilled Dialysis technicians who are capable of handling hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis on both the Fresenius and B Braun dialysis machines. They are trained on preparing dialysis fluids and washing and storing the dialyzer for reuse.

5. Diploma /Certification in Operation Theatre Technician
Students with this training will be capable to maintaining and preparing an Operation Theatre for surgery. They are trained in setting up the instrument trolleys and the operation theatre as per the specific surgery by positing the operation table and the patient in the right way and also assisting the surgeon during the operation.

6. Certification in Hospital Front Office & Billing Executive
Trained Front office executives will be capable of recognizing medical terminologies, abbreviations and diagnoses. They are capable of working on hospital information system for hospital operation work and real time online billing

7. Certification in Emergency Medical Technician
Trained professionals are equipped to respond quickly to emergency medical situations and provide critical pre-hospital care to patients. EMT's are highly critical resources and there is a huge demand for skilled EMT resources in all hospitals and nursing homes. They should be trained in handling highly critical and emergency situations like heart failure, accidents, and burns and so-on by providing the necessary first aid and arresting further damage to the patient.

8. Certification in General Duty Assistant
General duty assistants are trained to be nursing aids in hospitals as well as home care environment for patients who are unable to look after themselves. They are trained in both helping the nurses as well as independently caring for a patient themselves by providing the required nursing care.

9. Certification in Home Health Aid
These students are trained to look after a patient who is unable to look after themselves and provide basic nursing care in home care setting.

10. Certification in Phlebotomy Technician
A phlebotomy technician is trained in extracting blood from patients and preparing specimens for testing by labelling them correctly. They are experts in drawing blood from patients by minimizing their pain and discomfort.

Smart academy as also tie-ups with numerous medical and paramedical institution in Delhi and will ensure that the students get 100% placements after their training.Smart Academy believes in giving back to the society and hence aims to improve the livelihood of many people by helping them be a part of the healthcare industry and earn their living in a dignified manner. It lays a foundation for securing a good job in the healthcare industry and inculcates in its students a mindset of service. It constantly encourages them to be better at their job every day and up-skill as and when required to secure better working opportunities.

BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Engineering: Challenges Faced by Schools and Colleges

By Andrew G Smith

September 2016 marked the first teaching of the new BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Engineering. The majority of students registered from September 2017 were enrolled onto these new BTEC qualifications.

The revised specification saw the introduction of externally assessed elements. This meant that most students studying a BTEC Level 3 in Engineering from September 2017 would be required to sit an examination. This exam is used to assess a core unit called Engineering Principles (Unit 1). This is a mandatory component of all new BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Engineering.

So why does this present such a huge challenge for schools and colleges?

There are actually 3 major challenges that will be discussed in this article, along with some suggestions on how each of them can be overcome.

Challenge 1: Volume of Content

The first major challenge arises because of the volume of unit content, all of which could potentially be assessed in the exam. If you are familiar with previous versions of the BTEC National qualifications, then you may already have realised that the Engineering Principles unit amalgamates content from the old Engineering Mathematics, Mechanical Principles and E&E Principles units. This would have accounted for 30 credits from a 120-credit qualification in the old framework (or � of the content).

Challenge 2: Technical Nature of Content

The second challenge relates to the technical content of the unit. Finding teachers with a specialism in both Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, or sufficient knowledge to deliver this unit in its entirety will be difficult at best! Colleges may consider splitting the unit delivery between two teachers, but opportunities for applying the maths elements to contextual examples will more than likely be missed if this option is chosen.

Challenge 3: Examination Opportunities

The final major challenge presents itself due to the timings of the exams. Students will have two opportunities to sit the exam, once in January and again in June. Students who do not pass in January will have the opportunity to resit in the June. This presupposes that students will be ready to sit the exam in January, roughly half way through the academic year.

This makes structuring the unit delivery equally challenging. Will schools and colleges aim to cover all of the information in half a year, or will they prioritise some content over other content? This may impact on the students' progression onto higher education courses, where they would need a working knowledge of all of the topics outlined in the unit specification.

A Wider Problem for Further Education Colleges

These problems are likely to be amplified in a college environment, especially if students attend college on a day-release basis. Put yourself in a learner's shoes and imagine studying once a week for 30 or more weeks and being expected to recall knowledge from week 1 for an exam that might be sat 35 weeks later!

It is easy to direct the responsibility at the student and say that they should be doing work in their own time, but is this being facilitated? Is it reasonable to expect an employed learner to direct their own study when they are working full-time alongside college? Will they even know where their strengths and weaknesses lie?

So what are the solutions? What alternatively are there for delivering this unit?

Solution 1: The Integrated Approach

One option is an integrated approach, where classroom delivery is supplemented by self-study. Teachers could set regular homework which is checked rigorously and this could be used to inform what each student needs to work on to improve. Ideally each student's self-study work should be differentiated according to their needs, but this could be both time consuming and difficult to implement.

This is where online Engineering courses may help. Some include video tutorials and self-assessment practice questions for a range of engineering topics. Coding is often used to ensure that students who reattempt practice questions do not receive identical questions.

Solution 2: The Holistic Approach

An alternative to the integrated approach would be to use online courses both in and out of the classroom. Many online courses have been carefully prepared to support and challenge the students. There are often facilities in place for monitoring learner progress throughout the course and this can sometimes be done in 'real-time'. Students could work independently, with limited supervision and could all progress at their own pace and according to their own learning needs.

The   Engineers Academy offers a range of online engineering courses. If you represent a School or College that are delivering BTEC Level 3 qualifications in Engineering, then this course has been deigned with you in mind:
  https://engineers.academy/product/l3-nd-engineering-principles-exam-preparation/