AoC and ITN collaborating on an online programme to highlight the importance of colleges

As part of an exciting new partnership, the Association of Colleges and ITN Productions are producing an online news and current affairs-style programme exploring how vital colleges are to the future of the British economy and how important it is that government invest properly in further education. The programme, provisionally titled Learning for Life, will look at some of the ways that colleges are transforming the lives of more than two million young people and adults across the UK. It will highlight how they are working with employers to help young adults to upskill to support the labour market and fill the national skills gap, and will showcase the great work of staff and students. Drawing upon ITN’s 60-year heritage and expertise in storytelling, the news-style piece will be anchored by Natasha Kaplinsky to combine key interviews and reports with sponsored editorial profiles from leading organisations. Learning for Life will premiere at the Annual Association of Colleges conference at the ICC in Birmingham in November. The programme will form part of an extensive communications campaign featuring AoC members, industry partners, government partners, as well as relevant journalists, writers and bloggers. David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with ITN Productions for this exciting programme. We are excited to be shining a light on the brilliant things that happen in colleges day in and day out. For the UK to succeed in a post-Brexit world, this country must drastically upskill. Colleges can make this a reality. We need to develop a new culture of lifelong learning and make this the norm for all communities and for all people. This programme will help us to make this case.” Simon Shelley, Head of Industry News, ITN Productions, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the Association of Colleges to produce a programme exploring the role colleges play in today’s education sector and the opportunities available. We hope the content can be used to exchange ideas, celebrate success stories and engage members and the wider audience”. For more information, or to participate in the programme, please contact James Linden, Programme Director at ITN Productions, on 0207 430 4228 or james.linden@itn.co.uk. About ITN Productions ITN Productions is ITN’s bespoke production hub producing creative and commercially valuable content for the business, commercial, broadcast and digital sectors. Industry News forms part of this offering and is a communications tool for leading industry bodies and national associations produced in a broadcast news programme format, including interviews, news items and sponsored editorial profiles. For more information visit: www.itnproductions.co.uk