New Year, New College New Opportunities...

On January 5th, South Staffordshire College opened its doors for the first time to 20.000 students.

Formed by a merger of Cannock, Tamworth and Lichfield, and Rodbaston Colleges, South Staffordshire College offers existing and prospective learners a range of courses that are unmatched in the area.

For businesses, the college will provide access to a skilled and enthusiastic pool of prospective employees that will help them meet the challenges of the next few years. In addition South Staffordshire College will work with employers to train existing workforces and help employees achieve their full potential.

Graham Morley, the new Chief Executive Principal of South Staffordshire College said: “Further and Higher Education in the region must be based on the needs of learners and employers alike. Whilst the overall population is set to grow, projections suggest that 15 – 19 year olds may well decline by as much as 8%. With pressure on the economy it is even more important that the skills base of the population and the employment needs of the business community are as closely matched as possible. Not only do we offer local people the opportunity to learn new things and achieve qualifications, we also provide opportunities to work in a commercial environment and gain all the skills needed to work in industry.“

The new college will provide students with access and the opportunity to learn in real businesses.

Resources at the college include a superb media company, modern workshops, hair and beauty salons, restaurants, a fish hatchery and even a zoo!

South Staffordshire College has brought a wide range of vocational, academic, land and industry-based courses from three colleges together, with the declared ambition of forging a world-class college to serve the local community.

It will use its collective resources, facilities, staff and experience to help people to develop the skills required by 21st century society. Both full and part-time opportunities are available, and there are many courses open to adult learners.

“At this time of year, many people will decide to do something different. Resolutions often include learning a new skill or meeting new people by undertaking part time courses. Our new college offers such a wide variety of short courses to meet the needs of the local community,” Graham concluded.