Sandwell College: Our students are contributers to the future economy

It is an exciting time for Sandwell College, one of the largest providers of further and higher education in the West Midlands. In March this year, the college unveiled plans for a 60 million pound state-of-the-art campus. The centre, destined for the corner of Spon Lane and West Bromwich Ringway, is set to replace the college’s three existing campuses in Oldbury, Smethwick and West Bromwich in September 2010.
 
Funding Bodies for the new 250,000 sq ft iconic development include Advantage West Midlands and the Learning Skills Council. College Principal and Chief Executive Val Bailey said: “The new building will mark the start of a new era for Sandwell College. This project is brilliant news not just for the college but for everyone associated with it – particularly prospective students who can look forward to a more learner-friendly environment and facilities of a very high standard.”
 
Work-plus is the college’s work-based learning division. It offers apprenticeships in a range of specialist areas including electrical installation, Association of Accounting Technicians, or AAT, Hairdressing, Automotive and Business. Examples of young people who have secured work placements include: Lee Taylor, who is currently employed by a franchise dealer of Honda in West Bromwich. He was recently crowned apprentice of the year 2007; Matthew Nicholls, a Business Administration apprentice, has just been offered a permanent post, on completion of his apprenticeship, at Trident Housing Association, after his work and personal qualities stood out from the rest. In the 12 months Workplus has developed good links with Co-operative, Debenhams, Dunelm, and Lloyds Pharmacy.
 
The College has also established links with British Gas, thanks to Paul Leahy, Head of Sales and Business Development. He, and other colleagues, recently made themselves available to speak to employees at a local centre of the nations largest gas supplier, about the potential for them to learn-on-the-job; thus giving them the opportunity to sign up to specialist courses in an attempt to further their training and development. Also, auditors from UKAS, a national accreditation body, awarded “exceptional” status to Sandwell College’s Gas department. The accolade demonstrates competence, impartiality and performance capability.
 
Just this month, it was announced that three students from Sandwell College beat off stiff competition for paid-work placements with Liberata, an outsourcing company which has secured a £300 million contract with BT over 15 years. The winners were: Priya Naman, Kayleigh Bernard and Daryl Bagnall.