Strategic Plan 2020-2023

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Strategic Plan 2020-2023 Forging Ahead A Strategic Plan for Dudley College of Technology 2020-23 2 For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk 3 Contents Section 1 Section 7 Foreword 5 Our enabling support services 51 Key achievements 6 7a. Careers, learner services, 52 marketing and public affairs Section 2 7b. Information technology & 53 150 years + of professional and 9 management information services technical education in Dudley Section 8 Section 3 Our human resource strategy 55 Our context 13 3a. A synoptic review of 2016-19 13 Section 9 3b. The fourth industrial revolution, the Industrial 14 Our financial strategy 59 Strategy and the skills needs of our region - the role of colleges in a post Augar, Section 10 post Brexit world Our estates strategy 65 3c. Collaboration, devolution and the 15 West Midlands Combined Authority 3d. Being ‘for’ a place - forging Dudley’s future 15 Section 11 Managing our risks 69 Section 4 Our mission and vision 17 Section 12 Our impact 73 Section 5 Learners at the heart of everything we do 21 5a. Our approach to teaching and learning 21 5b. Supporting our learners and keeping them safe 24 Section 6 Making a strategic impact – 26 our priority sectors 6a. Academic studies 28 6b. Adult programmes for learners returning 30 to studies or preparing for employment 6c. Building technologies and services 32 6d. Digital and creative industries 35 6e. Engineering and advanced manufacturing 38 6f. Health and life science technologies 40 6g. Inclusion programmes 44 6h. Professional services and service Industries 46 6i. Worldwide provision - 48 Dudley College Worldwide For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk 4 Section 1 Foreword Key achievements For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk 1 5 Foreword Dudley College of Technology has played a pivotal role in the provision of vocational and technical education in Dudley Borough and the wider Black Country for over 150 years. The college has been on a remarkable and Marches Institute of Technology, due journey over the last twelve years. In 2007 to open in 2021, and the opportunity to the college was graded inadequate by pilot all three new T Levels in 2020. These Ofsted, with failing financial health, facilities projects place the college at the vanguard and resources unfit for purpose and an of welcome changes in technical and higher uncertain strategic future. Today the college technical education. is graded as an ‘outstanding’ provider and is widely recognised as one of the highest The college recognises its role in providing performing general further education system leadership for the further education colleges in the country. sector. Particularly through the Further Education Skills and Productivity Group, a The journey from inadequate to collaboration of twenty-one colleges in the Lowell Williams outstanding has been planned carefully. West Midlands working closely with the We place a great emphasis on considered West Midlands Combined Authority, the Chief Executive Officer strategic planning and turning strategy into college’s strategy is to promote current action. Delivering our strategic ambitions and future collaboration between further over recent years has not been easy, nor education colleges. The college welcomed without risk. This plan again sets out our comments in the Augar Report in this ambitions for the future. We recognise that respect and approaches these discussions the road ahead is a challenging one. in an open and confident manner. The recent three-way college collaboration Over the life of our previous strategic between Dudley, Halesowen and plan, we delivered an investment in our Birmingham Metropolitan colleges, estate of some £60m, predominantly is evidence that collaboration can result from the college’s own funds and through in rationalised and secure provision in an prudential borrowing. This has provided area, providing a positive future for learners us with excellent technical facilities but and staff alike. David Whatton has required careful management of Chair of Corporation our finances. This plan sets out further But more than anything else the college ambitious estate development whilst remains resolutely focused on providing recognising the need to maximise returns all learners with an exceptional experience from prior investments, to rebuild cash which provides for their successful reserves and securely maintain good future careers. financial health into the future. This strategic plan, for the period 2020- The college’s exceptional performance 2023, sets out the actions we will take to in technical areas has resulted in exciting realise our ambitious vision for the future opportunities for the future, perhaps most of Dudley College of Technology. clearly demonstrated by our successful application to develop the Black Country For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk 6 Key achievements from the period of the last strategic plan £60 million £ Recognised by Ofsted Investment in Maintained satisfactory financial as an "Outstanding Provider" Dudley Learning Quarter and health and liquidity during a period of in March 2017. Brierley Hill Centres. significant capital investment. 46,000 Over the last four years As one of the country's largest 46,000 learners have Apprenticeship providers we successfully achieved 95% of full-time supported over 7,000 apprentices. their qualifications. learners' progress to positive destinations. Selected by DfE following a national competition, to lead the development of a prestigious new Achievement rates consistently Institute of Technology. Dudley College Worldwide delivers above national average. to 1,200 learners worldwide. High levels of satisfaction throughout the life of this strategic plan: FE Choices Employer Survey – rating of 9.6 for ‘likelihood to recommend’ FE Choices Learner Survey - rating of 8.1 (16-18), 8.6 (Adult) and 8.5 (Apprenticeships) for ‘satisfaction with teaching/training’. For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk 7 National Entrepreneur of the Year winner 2017 & 2018 and Achieve prestigious Inspirational Learner and Dudley Academies Trust is formed STEM Assured kite mark. Enterprise Manager award under the sponsorship of the college. winner in 2018. Accredited by the Office for Students Lowell Williams Chief Executive College becomes as a provider of higher education – Officer is recognised Chartered Institute of Further met all 24 standards for our provision. as FE Leader of the Year at Education member. TES Awards 2018. Received British Council The college wins managing Re-Accreditation for agent status for Waltham Forest Dudley College of Technology English Teaching. Borough Council's Construction becomes T Level provider. Training Centre. For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk 8 Section 2 150 years+ of professional and technical education in Dudley For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk 2 9 150 years+ of professional and technical education in Dudley 1927 Five acre site at The Broadway offered by Dudley Town Council. 1936 1862 Official opening of The Broadway site. Dudley College of Technology traces its origins to the building of the Dudley Public Hall and Mechanics Institute in 1862. 1939 Outbreak of World War Two – decision to postpone completion of further 1896 building work. Additional accommodation in Stafford Street was acquired and became the Dudley Technical School (renamed the Dudley Technical College in 1928). 1931 Building works begin following acceptance of a tender of £74,177. 1935 First learners admitted in September. 1955 1918 Completion of building work to include electrical engineering, metallurgy, meteorology. Agreement reached between Dudley and Staffordshire Education Committees to erect a college to provide Technical Education facilities. 2 For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk 10 1966 2013 Termination of joint administration with Completion of Aspire Living – Centre for Staffordshire Council – college became sole Independent Living. responsibility of Dudley Council and renamed Dudley Technical College. 1998 Opening of Centre for Learning at Rover, Longbridge. 2014 1968 Completion of Aspire Works – Centre for Completion of The Broadway F block to Independent Work Skills officially opened by accommodate Motor Vehicle, Electrical and 2001 Ian Austin, Member of Parliament for Dudley th Hydraulic laboratories. North 13 March 2015. Merger with Rowley Regis College. Completion of Dudley Advance - Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering officially opened by Professor Brian Cox on 24th April 2015 and Dudley Enhance, 1973 (extension to Dudley Sixth incorporating 2002 the STIR Bistro). Glass Centre opened at Brierley Hill by Acquisition of Castle View campus from HRH Duchess of Kent. University of Wolverhampton. 1982 2011 Construction of Wolverhampton Opening of Energy Training Hub in Tipton. Street site. 1990 Mons Hill campus opened. 1993 Official opening of G & H block at The Broadway by HRH Duke of Kent. 2012 Completion of Dudley Evolve and Dudley Sixth, to form phase 1 and 2 of the Dudley Learning Quarter, officially opened by the Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on 21st November 2012. Closure and disposal of Castle View site and relocation of Glass Centre to Dudley Evolve. For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk 11 2017 Dudley Advance II a Centre for Advanced Building Technologies opens its doors. 2019 August Art & Design Centre (Brierley Hill) Independent Living Centre (Brierley Hill) Black Country Skills
Recommended publications
  • Your Skills, Your Future
    Your Skills, Your Future In this issue... Pages 4-5 Additional Support & Incentives for Employers Page 6 NEW - FREE Adult Courses* *for people aged 19+ and living in the West Midlands Combined Authority Area Page 14-15 Sector Based Work Academies Page 16-17 NEW - £1,000 if you offer Work Experience to a T Level Learner And much more… Apprenticeship Cash incentive scheme extended and increased! See pages 8-9 Summer 2021 Welcome We all know that these are challenging times for business and if we are to emerge from the impact of COVID-19, protect jobs and create long term stability for the West Midlands economy, we will have to take the long view whilst managing the immediate effects on day-to-day business. Through talking to many of Dudley College of Technology’s employer partners, we know that you are keen to understand the ways in which we can continue to fulfil your training needs and help you to access the expanding of government measures designed to support your workforce development. In this context this updated brochure aims to give you an overview of what’s on offer. We now have an exciting and expanding range of Part-Time Courses that will give your staff the chance to expand their skills and knowledge. If they live in the West Midlands and are aged 19+ these courses are absolutely free. You will discover Apprenticeship incentives, now extended to 30th September 2021, that from 1st What will College be like for your staff when they access these April 2021 attract up to £4,000 for every new apprentice you hire.
    [Show full text]
  • Locally Responsive, Regionally Valued, Globally Competitive: a Strategic Plan for Dudley College of Technology 2016 - 19 2 Introduction
    LOCALLY RESPONSIVE, REGIONALLY VALUED, GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE: A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DUDLEY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY 2016 - 19 2 INTRODUCTION CONTEXT VISION WHAT WE WILL DO OUR PLANNED STRATEGIC OUTPUTS For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk CONTENTS FOREWORD 4 HIGHER SKILLS LEARNERS 53 150 YEARS+ OF PROFESSIONAL AND Context 54 3 TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN DUDLEY 8 Vision 55 CONTENTS RESPONDING TO THE SKILLS NEEDS What we will do 56 OF THE REGION 10 Our planned strategic outputs 58 OUR MISSION AND VISION 15 DUDLEY COLLEGE WORLDWIDE 59 DIVERSE STRATEGIES FOR OUR KEY Context 60 CLIENT GROUPS 17 Vision 62 APPRENTICES 17 In-country operations 63 Context 18 UK based learners 65 Vision 19 Our planned strategic outputs 66 What we will do 21 CROSS COLLEGE ENABLING AND Our planned strategic outputs 26 SUPPORT SERVICES 67 Our support services 68 FULL TIME LEARNERS AGED 16-18 YEARS 27 Our facilities and resources 69 Context 28 Developing our people 72 Vision 30 Safeguarding and promoting British values 74 What we will do 31 Meeting our corporate and social responsibilities 75 Our planned strategic outputs 35 FINANCIAL STRENGTH 77 FULL TIME A LEVEL LEARNERS AGED16-18 YEARS 37 Context 78 Context 38 Maintaining our financial strength 79 Vision 39 Maximising income 79 What we will do 40 Maximising liquidity 79 Our planned strategic outputs 43 Strong financial control 80 FULL TIME AND PART TIME ADULT STRATEGIC RISKS 82 EDUCATION LEARNERS 45 Identifying and overcoming the key challenges to Context 46 the delivery of this plan 82 Vision 47 TO FIND OUT MORE 84 What we will do 48 Our planned strategic outputs 51 For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk FOREWORD The college’s Strategic Plan 2013-16 set an ambitious vision for 4 FOREWORD our development over the period.
    [Show full text]
  • West Midlands
    West Midlands Introduction The West Midlands has an area of just under 13,000 km2. Around 5.2 million people live in the region, giving a population density of 405 people per km2. This is close to the average for England, but West Midlands metropolitan county – which consists of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton – is the second most densely populated urban area in the country after London. It has nearly 3,000 people per km2. Birmingham has just under 1 million inhabitants, making it the second largest city in the UK. Other significant urban areas are Stoke-on-Trent, Worcester, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Stafford. Economic development The economic output of the West Midlands is just around £63 billion, 8.2 per cent of the total UK GDP. Manufacturing industry is responsible for just over a quarter of employment and almost 30 per cent of GDP, the highest proportion for any region in the UK. However, the manufacturing industry is declining in favour of service industries. Unemployment in the region is above the national average at 5.9 per cent. The total income of higher education institutions in the region is over £990 million per year. Higher education provision There are 12 higher education institutions in the West Midlands: eight universities and four higher education colleges. There are an additional 41 further education colleges with students taking higher education courses. All nine Staffordshire FECs offering HE courses have joined a funding consortium of 12 institutions led by Staffordshire University. The higher education student population is over 127,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) students.
    [Show full text]
  • Our Offer to Primary Schools Stronger Together Primary Phase Challenging World
    Our offer to primary schools Stronger together Primary Phase Our academies: BEACON HILL PEGASUS STJAMES THE LINK ACADEMY ACADEMY ACADEMY ACADEMY Sedgley Dudley Dudley Netherton Highly effective governance Dudley Academies Trust currently combines four secondary schools and a Our values: leading outstanding primary that has recently joined us. With a strong and experienced central team and the active sponsorship of Dudley College of Technology, the Trust is very well positioned to provide a high quality cross phase education for learners from the age of three to nineteen. Dreaming big Committed to providing an excellent learning experience and to improving the economic fortunes of young people in Dudley and beyond, Dudley Academies Rewarding effort Trust is now ready to grow. We are keen to invite more primary schools to join us in order to work together in a coherent manner to meet the needs of learners in the area. Leading together Respecting each other and our world Lowell Williams, Chair of the Board of Trustees Learning that inspires Our mission: Working together we will develop inspirational schools which instil ambition and desire Sponsored by in young learners, open their minds, widen their horizons and equip them to succeed in a Dudley College of Technology challenging world. Primary Phase 02 03 Creating inspirational schools Leading the Primary Phase We are now in our third fully operational year and it is wonderful to see Surinder Sehmbi is the Executive Director of the primary phase. the Trust flourishing. Our five core values underpin all that we do and are Surinder is an experienced Dudley headteacher who has taken her integral to a Trust wide, dynamic endeavour that enables all learners to school on the journey from below satisfactory to outstanding.
    [Show full text]
  • Undergraduate Grants and Scholarships Principles
    Undergraduate Grants and Scholarships Principles The University has a scholarship scheme and grants scheme which applicants are eligible for. The following principles are applied to both schemes: 1. Applicants can be awarded both a scholarship and grant if they meet the qualifying criteria as follows. For the scholarship scheme applicants must: Have firmly accepted a conditional or unconditional place on a qualifying BCU undergraduate course by 4 May 2016. All nursing courses and degrees in midwifery, diagnostic radiography, radiotherapy, speech and language therapy, medical ultrasound and operating department practice [Dip HE and BSc (Hons)] are excluded and do not count as a qualifying course. Only courses beginning in September 2016 qualify. Be resident in the UK. Be in receipt of or be predicted to get 320 UCAS tariff points or above. They must meet this qualification level at the point of enrolment. Be among the highest tariff points scoring students within their relevant Faculty on entry. Outline their commitment to the course/subject in a written piece. This varies per Faculty as follows: Faculty Piece of written work Faculty of Arts, Design and Media (ADM) Additional piece of written work based on enterprise – more information about ADM scholarships Faculty of Business, Law and Social Personal statement (within application) Sciences Faculty of Computing, Engineering and The Personal statement (within application) Built Environment Faculty of Health, Education and Life Personal statement (within application) Sciences Fully enrol by the end of September 2016. Maintain a 2:1 average during their course (although the first year’s payment may, at our discretion, by awarded before the average is calculated).
    [Show full text]
  • Colleges Mergers 1993 to Date
    Colleges mergers 1993 to date This spreadsheet contains details of colleges that were established under the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act and subsequently merged Sources: Learning and Skills Council, Government Education Departments, Association of Colleges College mergers under the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) (1993-2001) Colleges Name of merged institution Local LSC area Type of merger Operative date 1 St Austell Sixth Form College and Mid-Cornwall College St Austell College Cornwall Double dissolution 02-Apr-93 Cleveland College of Further Education and Sir William Turner's Sixth 2 Cleveland Tertiary College Tees Valley Double dissolution 01-Sep-93 Form College 3 The Ridge College and Margaret Danyers College, Stockport Ridge Danyers College Greater Manchester Double dissolution 15-Aug-95 4 Acklam Sixth Form College and Kirby College of Further Education Middlesbrough College Tees Valley Double dissolution 01-Aug-95 5 Longlands College of Further Education and Marton Sixth Form College Teesside Tertiary College Tees Valley Double dissolution 01-Aug-95 St Philip's Roman Catholic Sixth Form College and South Birmingham 6 South Birmingham College Birmingham & Solihull Single dissolution (St Philips) 01-Aug-95 College North Warwickshire and Hinckley 7 Hinckley College and North Warwickshire College for Technology and Art Coventry & Warwickshire Double dissolution 01-Mar-96 College Mid-Warwickshire College and Warwickshire College for Agriculture, Warwickshire College, Royal 8 Coventry & Warwickshire Single dissolution
    [Show full text]
  • A Parents' Guide to Secondary School Admissions
    A parents’ guide to Secondary School Admissions 2019-20 This booklet describes Dudley Council’s arrangements for admitting children to secondary schools in September 2019 If you would like this document on audiotape, in large type, or a translation into your own community language please contact The School Admissions Service. One click… makes it quick www.dudley.gov.uk/admissions A parents’ guide to Secondary School Admissions 2019-20 One click… makes it quick www.dudley.gov.uk/admissions A guide for parents This booklet provides details of the admission arrangements that will operate at secondary schools in the Dudley borough for admissions in September 2019. We have also included general information which you may find useful. If you would like further information about a particular school, a more detailed booklet (‘the School Prospectus’) may be obtained direct from the individual secondary school concerned. Other documents available direct from the school or online include the School Profile and inspection reports by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). The Dudley Secondary School Performance Tables relating to the 2017 examination and test results are currently available from the People Directorate and public libraries. The results for 2018 will not be available until December 2018. Please pay particular attention to the timetable set out on Page 4, especially the closing date for applications, and the specific detail given about each school’s admission arrangements from Page 18 onwards. Local authorities (LAs) are required to liaise with each other in relation to the transfer of children from primary to secondary school for all schools, whether the schools are in Dudley or in other boroughs.
    [Show full text]
  • Dudley College of Technology Inspection Report
    Dudley College of Technology Inspection report Audience Published Provider reference Post-sixteen March 2007 130475 Contents Basic information about the college 3 Background of the organisation 4 Scope of the inspection 4 Summary of grades awarded 6 Curriculum areas 6 Overall judgement 7 Main findings 9 Curriculum area inspections 14 2 Basic information about the college Name of college: Dudley College of Technology Type of college: General Further Education College Principal: Jeanne E Harding Address of college: The Broadway Dudley West Midlands DY1 4AS Telephone number: 01384 363000 Fax number: 01384 363311 Chair of governors: Viv Astling OBE Unique reference number: 130475 Name of lead inspector: Nigel Flood, ALI Dates of inspection: 5 – 9 February 2007 3 Background of the organisation 1. Dudley College of Technology is a large general further education (GFE) college situated in the Black Country metropolitan borough of Dudley. The college is located at four main sites: The Broadway, Mons Hill Centre, Castle View and Wolverhampton Street. Its administrative site is at The Broadway. The college’s mission is: “Putting learners and our community at the heart of all we do”. 2. Around 40% of learners are from Dudley, 25% from Sandwell and most of the remainder are from the other neighbouring Black Country borough, cities and counties of the West Midlands. Dudley has two GFE colleges including Dudley College of Technology, a sixth form college and a tertiary college. 3. Dudley’s population is 305,155. Dudley has a ranking 109 out of 354 for the highest levels of deprivation in England. Dudley’s unemployment rate is 3.8%; the national unemployment rate is 2.5%.
    [Show full text]
  • The Buzz Newsletter Summer 2019
    Dudley Academies Trust Summer Newsletter 2the buzz 019 I can hardly believe that another academic year has passed. What a year this has been for the Trust. I feel so proud of our learners and staff and I think this edition of The Buzz really does show the vast range of talent in our academies. I am delighted that learners in all year Please, take a look groups are certainly Dreaming Big and fully at the report, as embracing the opportunities presented to Ofsted have validated them. We have enjoyed so many amazing many of the Trust’s experiences with our young people; to initiatives that are name but a few: the DAT choir performance clearly making a real at University of Wolverhampton, a great difference to our quality team of young people who were trained of education. Well done by the Welsh National Opera, listening to all learners and staff at to Molly’s fantastic ‘Speak Out’ speech Pegasus. at the Speakers’ Trust regional final in Birmingham, and simply hearing about so So, our learners and staff are currently many learners receiving rewards throughout enjoying end of year celebrations by the year for their superb level of effort. participating in an action-packed activities week. I am working closely with Principals To cap it all, an and members of the central team to Ofsted inspection ensure that the Trust continues to improve team visited our academies at pace. We have exciting Pegasus Academy plans for our team of student leaders, we recently to have a ‘commitments’ programme ready undertake a to launch for all learners (a range of extra- full inspection, curricular opportunities and challenges) six months and we are launching our ‘mind to be earlier than we kind’ programme as part of our pledge to anticipated.
    [Show full text]
  • Dudley College Strategic Plan 2013
    1 STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-16 2 FOREWORD In February 2013 Ofsted recognised Dudley College as one of the highest performing general further education colleges in the country. For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk FOREWORD 3 FOREWORD Dudley College has played a pivotal role in the provision of vocational and technical education in Dudley borough and the wider Black Country for over 150 years. The last five years have been particularly remarkable for the college. In 2012 we successfully completed and opened the first two phases of the Dudley Learning Quarter, catalysing the regeneration of Dudley town centre. We opened our Skills Hub, enhancing services for employers and also our Employment Hub, helping young people and adults into work. We supported more young people in learning than ever before and achieved a significant increase in the number of apprentices of all ages studying at college and in their workplaces. We continued to extend and diversify our curriculum introducing exciting new programmes. As a result, in February 2013 Ofsted recognised Dudley College as one of the highest performing general further education colleges in the country. But we acknowledge there is still much to be done. The Black Country faces significant challenges in the years ahead, foremost of which is the need to further improve the skills and attainment levels of young people and adults. Higher level skills are essential if we are to continue to drive the region’s economic recovery. This strategic plan, for the period 2013-16, sets out the mission and vision we have for Dudley College.
    [Show full text]
  • WMREDI Policy Briefing Series May 2021 Priorities for Up-Skilling and Re
    WMREDI Policy Briefing Series May 2021 Priorities for up-skilling and re-skilling: what role can and should universities play? Abigail Taylor, Anne Green and Sara Hassan Summary and policy recommendations Universities and colleges in the West Midlands are contributing considerably to up-skilling and re-skilling through developing future sectoral skills, piloting new ways of learning, supporting graduate employability, addressing access to higher education (HE) barriers, developing pathways between further education (FE) and HE, introducing applied higher-level skills development initiatives and working with regional governance stakeholders. Strengthening partnership working across universities and regional stakeholders is crucial to effective up-skilling and re-skilling over the next decade. Key skills-focused partnership opportunities for universities relate to developing analysis of skills needs in local areas, improving support for graduates given the challenging labour market caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, better linking skills to innovation and developing higher level skills through regional investment and R&D and innovation activities. The research identifies 12 key short- and long-term priorities for universities and other regional stakeholders to expand their role in up-skilling and re-skilling. They include simplifying progression routes between FE and HE. 1 Introduction This briefing summarises findings from a research project examining the role of universities in skills and regional economic development. It identifies key short and medium-term priorities for the up-skilling and re-skilling of school leavers, graduates and existing employees in the West Midlands. It analyses the current and potential future role of universities within this. Based on analysis of 22 interviews conducted in winter/spring 2020/2021 with universities and selected colleges in each Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area in the West Midlands Combined Authority area, as well as their partner organisations, it contrasts experiences across the various universities.
    [Show full text]
  • Education and Skills Pledge June 2020
    Education and Skills Pledge June 2020 6907CWM Skills Pledge_vis4.indd 1 30/06/2020 09:28 Education and Skills Pledge The impact of Covid-19 on learners and businesses in the West Midlands has been unprecedented. As we move through the public health emergency, further education colleges in the West Midlands will play a pivotal role. We recognise that Covid-19 may change ways of studying and working in the future. Many of you, as residents in the region, may need to refresh and redevelop your skills. Colleges in the West Midlands are working collaboratively for you. We have agreed this Education and Skills Pledge to support both individual learners and the region’s businesses. In addition to the great courses offered across our colleges, we are committed to supporting anyone who is out of work, helping them to gain new employment or re-train. We will also support businesses, helping them to restart and flourish again. We will provide more higher and technical skill development opportunities required by employers. Colleges West Midlands is delighted to be working collaboratively for you in these challenging times. Lowell Williams Chair Colleges West Midlands www.collegeswestmidlands.org.uk 6907CWM Skills Pledge_vis4.indd 2 30/06/2020 09:28 Our Pledge 1 All learners will continue to receive online or distance learning delivery right through to the end of the summer term. Access to college sites from June will be prioritised for those learners needing to complete technical elements of programmes in order to progress or for some elements of transition programme delivery, subject to safe working conditions being in place.
    [Show full text]