Reaching out to support the Growth Agenda in Colleges Week

Caption: Apprentices looking at heavy machinery with a teacher pointing at components 

North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) is joining colleges across the UK to showcase the impact that further education can bring to economic growth as part of the fifth annual Colleges Week. NWSLC is highlighting the opportunities it offers to businesses to upskill and re-skill their workforce as it marks this week of celebrations.

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said, “Our college is an essential part of the employment and learning infrastructure and the culture of Warwickshire and Leicestershire where we have around 8,000 students enrolled in college programmes.

“Colleges play a central role in local communities by delivering the skills that the labour market requires and enhancing life chances for thousands of students. We support employers across all sectors with the skills development and innovation they need to grow, improve opportunities and jobs, and increase productivity. The service we offer is central to solving the skills crisis that is deepening in many industries and for satisfying the high demand for new skills in innovative areas that address the Net Zero Carbon challenge.”

NWSLC is seeing an increased demand for skilled individuals in the digital and IT, health and social care and entertainment sectors. Last month, the college launched its latest campus in partnership with industry that is dedicated to skills for the logistics and supply chain sector. The Centre for Logistics Education and Research (CLEAR) is based at the heart of skills demand at Magna Park in Lutterworth.

The college is also working with industry partners to support the automotive revolution with skills including in hydrogen fuel cell technology at its MIRA Technology Institute campus, and has launched a VR training tool to support efficiency in manufacturing.

The college can help with:

• Access to the Skills Fund to enable more adults to achieve higher level qualifications
• Apprenticeships for existing staff and new entrants
• Easily accessible online courses that lead to recognised qualifications
• T Levels with a built-in industry placement
• English and maths skills training designed for a business environment
• Professional training and higher education options.

Marion Plant added, “Colleges Week this year is about celebrating the amazing work colleges do, educating 1.6 million people every year, including more than 600,000 16 to 18-year-olds. They hold the key to reducing skills gaps, combatting inequality, and providing better opportunities to disadvantaged communities. This week is about reaching out to ensure that businesses and organisations within our communities are aware of how we can help, and we look forward to hearing from them.”

NWSLC has a dedicated area for employers on its website and they can contact the college directly by emailing be@nwslc.ac.uk