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Mission one: kickstart economic growth

Bridgwater & Taunton College, Somerset

Bridgwater & Taunton College, for example, have forged a true partnership with EDF to ensure that people in the local area have the skills to progress into good jobs on offer at Hinkley Point C, and in turn, that the power station has the skilled workforce it needs to be able to boost economic growth and productivity in the region.

"Employers are crying out for more people with the right technical skills across all levels in the workplace to boost productivity and seize the opportunities of an increasingly digitalised and automated workplace, to ultimately grow the economy. Colleges play a crucial role in this. That is why we and our members are proud to work closely with colleges across the country to ensure that the right skills and training provision is in place to support economic growth and productivity across the nation.”

Sarah Howard MBE, Chair, British Chambers of Commerce

Trafford and Stockport College Group, Greater Manchester City College Norwich, Norfolk

The pandemic has had severe consequences for the aviation sector, creating significant skills shortages and economic inactivity. However, things at the Manchester Airport Group (MAG) are looking up, thanks to the Airport Academy.

A collaboration between the Manchester Airport Group and the Trafford and Stockport College Group (TSCG), the academy launched in 2012, offering sector-based work academy programmes (SWAPs) to equip jobseekers with skills needed for airport employment.

However, post-Covid, the academy aligned with the government’s generation aviation initiative to restore airport operations and create pathways for local communities facing socio-economic challenge into meaningful employment.

By offering targeted training and skills development, the academy helps participants gain the qualifications and confidence needed to secure employment at the airport. Courses include the Level 4 aviation management apprenticeship and Level 3 team leader apprenticeship to meet MAG’s needs. Adults aged 19 and over in Greater Manchester’s disadvantaged communities have been a particular target, and key initiatives to attract them have included bi-annual MAG jobs fairs, community information sessions, and ongoing engagement with job centres.

There are five full-time staff working for the Airport Academy and in 2023/24, they supported nearly 2,000 individuals, achieved a 99% success rate and secured 314 job placements, a 40% increase from the previous year.

"Colleges have a critical role to play in kickstarting sustainable, inclusive economic growth across all parts of the country. Further education colleges are not only essential for meeting current and emerging skills gaps we face across many key sectors. They can be key social partners alongside unions, employers and government to equip people as the world of work changes. At the heart of this are the people working within colleges who continue to do incredible work every day - despite the considerable constraints they and their institutions face. We need to make sure they are fairly rewarded and valued. There’s so much more they can do, with the right investment and right support.”

Paul Nowak, General Secretary, Trades Union Congress

Northern College, Yorkshire

Good mental health across the nation is crucial when building an NHS fit for the future. At Northern College, an adult residential setting in Yorkshire, learners are not only learning to foster their own good mental health but gaining qualifications linked to existing roles in support work, mental health advocacy, as well as learning support assistant and mentor roles.

The college sits within the National Trust Wentworth Castle Gardens site and provides a unique and safe space for students to share and use their own experiences to take positive steps towards further learning, voluntary work or paid employment.

The college offers a range of introductory courses covering an introduction to mental health and wellbeing, management techniques for stress and anxiety, and supporting children and young people’s mental health.

Students can then progress on to accredited Level 1 and 2 qualifications, which then sets them on the path to employment or further training in mental health, support and recovery services, like the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling also offered by the college.

Progression into further study or employment is a key focus, and the courses include input from guest speakers who work in metal health and related services to provide opportunities for students to become involved in local organisations as volunteers, or to understand the range of services that can offer support. As a result, in 2023/24, there was a 97% average positive progression from the introductory courses, and 73% positive progression from the accredited courses.