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March 2022 Principal’s Column

March2022

Building close links with local businesses is absolutely crucial to our work here at Telford College.

It’s important for us to understand the ever-changing skills needs in the local economy, so we can shape our curriculum to deliver what companies require.

This week we have taken another big step forward by launching a new apprenticeship hub, bringing employers together to share best practice and discuss the challenges of employing and developing people.

The hub, sponsored by the Gatsby Foundation, already includes some of Telford’s biggest and best-known businesses such as Aga Rangemaster, Wrekin Housing Group, the Dodd Group, and Telford and Wrekin Council.

The aim of the programme is quite simple – to share ideas and make it easier for employers to deliver an expansive apprenticeship programme.

It’s about balancing the need to get the job done with the need for the apprentice to learn, ensuring their time spent in college feeds directly into improving skills required in the workplace.

It’s our fourth ‘employer hub’. We already have a health hub which is now working with 10 different NHS Trusts, and an engineering hub which has already triggered changes to the college’s course offering.

And last month we launched a digital hub, giving technology companies chance to feed directly into our curriculum as a forerunner for a new maths, digital skills and enterprise hub soon to be opening in Telford’s ‘Station Quarter’.

The rising cost of living, following the issues we’ve all faced during the Covid pandemic, is presenting big challenges for many households.

For some, it’s persuading them to re-evaluate their career choices.

Remember, it’s never too late to learn a new skill, and you don’t need to leave Telford to pursue your career dreams.

We’re proud to offer the widest range of further education courses in Shropshire, and our university-standard facilities have received millions of pounds of investment over the past couple of years.

From A level right up to degree-level, plus a range of adult part-time and professional courses, there’s never been more choice.

And what’s even better, many of our courses are completely free. Please come and talk to us if you’d like to find out more, or sign up for one of our VIP campus tours.