Published: Friday 13th July 2018 | 10.52am
Following South Staffordshire College’s decision to re-open its Cannock Campus as the new Cannock Chase Skills and Innovation Hub, Cannock Chase Council and the College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
The memorandum sets out the principles behind establishing the new hub and how the partnership between the Council and the College will plan for its success over the coming years.
Key to those principles is raising the skills and qualification levels in the District and meeting the needs of local and regional businesses for specific skills in high demand and growth sectors.
The first students are due to commence study in September and will eventually be able to access further (and in some cases higher) education across seven course areas as well as gain apprenticeship opportunities.
The full list of courses being offered over the next few years are:
- Engineering / Advanced Manufacturing
- Electrical Installation and Electrical Engineering
- Energy
- Construction
- Digital
- Health and Social Care and Early Years
- Mathematics and English for employability
New signage has now been erected on site, while discussions continue to create an Engineering Academy within the Hub with funding of £500,000 available from the Council, and a new retail academy provided by Walsall College which will link to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlook development.
Councillor George Adamson, Leader of the Council said: “We are pleased that further education opportunities will soon be available again locally. The partnership is also about finding new ways of working with schools in Cannock Chase and ensuring there can be genuine progression into work or to gain higher level qualifications.”
Claire Boliver, Chief Executive Principal at South Staffordshire College said: “The district’s economy is growing, and our intention is that the new Skills and Innovation Hub will boost it further by equipping learners with the skills and qualifications they need to meet the needs of employers. This is a really positive initiative for Cannock Chase, and we look forward to working with the Council and welcoming the first intake of students in September.”
Added Councillor Diane Todd, Portfolio Leader for Town Centre Regeneration: “It will be great to see students at the Hub. It’s fair to say that since the campus has been unoccupied there has been a noticeable drop in the number of people in the town centre during weekdays. Its opening is potentially good news for our retailers and eating places.”
More details on courses provided by South Staffordshire College are available by calling 0300 456 24 24 or visiting www.southstaffs.ac.uk
Photographs:
Pictured below, alongside the new Hub signing are (l to r) Steve Burgin, Chair of Governors at South Staffordshire College, Claire Boliver, Chief Executive Principal of South Staffordshire College, Tony McGovern, Managing Director of Cannock Chase Council and Councillor George Adamson, Leader of Cannock Chase Council.
Signing the Memorandum of Understanding are (l to r) Councillor George Adamson, Leader of Cannock Chase Council and Steve Burgin, Chair of Governors at South Staffordshire College.