Transforming lives, communities & employers

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For too long, too many employers in this country have relied on recruiting their workforce from EU countries and beyond – in some sectors as much as 20% comes from abroad. For too long, too many people have not been offered the opportunities they need to make the most of their talents. Our message is simple – for this country to succeed and prosper, we need to have a culture of lifelong learning to fill the skills gaps. Colleges can make this a reality.

Colleges across the country provide high-quality academic, technical and professional education for young people, adults and employers. Whether general further education, sixth form, specialist or land-based, colleges work with individuals, communities and employers to change lives. Colleges really are anchor institutions. Every community needs and deserves a successful and vibrant college.

This publication outlines a fraction of the work that colleges do and will continue to do to help communities and transform lives. The case studies are inspiring and serve to remind us all how important further education

FOREWORDThe recent General Election result has revealed a country which cares about its people and wants public services which help people realise their ambitions and maximise their talents. Education was rightly seen as an area ripe for more investment and attention, with all main political parties committing to support better transitions for young people and better opportunities for adults. These commitments are particularly important as we enter the Brexit negotiations and employers experience widening skills gaps and recruitment challenges.

is for people of all ages and at all levels of learning. We want more people to understand this and to encourage the culture of lifelong learning that we believe is needed for the UK’s future prosperity and happiness.

This marks the start of the Association of Colleges’ transforming lives awareness campaign. We know the impact colleges have and want to make sure this is shared.

David HughesChief Executive

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COLLEGES

transform lives

744,000 16 to 18-year-olds choose to study in

colleges

1.9 million

adults study or train in colleges

153,000 people study higher

education in a college

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Support for former members of the armed forces

City Lit, for example, runs a unique lipreading and managing hearing loss project for serving and retired armed forces personnel living with acquired hearing loss, funded by the Royal British Legion. The course helps to vastly enhance their lipreading skills, in turn boosting their self-confidence, enjoyment of social gatherings, emotional and mental wellbeing, and their communication with family.

Gateshead College has been working with Persimmon Homes to re-train ex-military personnel for a

Colleges across the country are using different approaches with former armed forces personnel to help prepare them for life outside the service.

career in the construction industry through a Combat to Construction programme. As well as helping forge a career in the industry, the programmes develop a pipeline of skilled talent that will enable Persimmon to remain competitive going forward. They are also helping the company to anticipate and address skills gaps in the workforce.

The impact on individual lives is also critical. Former Kirklees College student, Richard Bentley, was a bomb disposal expert in the army. On duty in Iraq he received extensive injuries he had to overcome including numerous operations and learning how to walk again. Through working with children and thinking about his own issues post Iraq, this led to a desire to go in to mental health nursing. He chose to study an Access to HE – Health Science Professions course at the college which helped him prepare for university and develop confidence and communication skills.

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Helping the homeless

From functional skills to higher education

Brought up by her grandparents in Kenya and having to walk miles to school, makes Julitin Coulthard appreciate the opportunity to further her education and study business to the highest level at York College. Julitin, 40, enrolled in the college to study Functional Skills GCSE English and maths, going on to study the Access to HE – Business Diploma course. Even though she has previously owned a successful business in Kenya, she knows that she lacks a formal business education. She said:

Confident Futures

Wigan and Leigh College, in collaboration with the local authority and Jobcentre Plus, has developed a specially designed course to raise the confidence, aspirations, skills and work experience of local adults who have not been in work for a long time. The Confident Futures course develops a range of skills in manageable sizes, in order to make once seemingly difficult and overwhelming skills something students can now tackle with confidence. Catherine Derbyshire is one of the students involved. She said:

“I started on the course to build up my maths and English skills. Instead of sitting at the back of the class like I did at school I now sit at the front and pay attention and am learning. We share our experiences as a group and work out solutions, what to expect and discuss our work environments.”

The Future Builders scheme, inspired and funded by OVO Foundation, is facilitated by three key partners: South Gloucestershire & Stroud College together with Bristol City Council and 1625 Independent People (1625ip) a Bristol-based youth homelessness charity. They are creating a ground-breaking new live-in apprenticeship scheme in Bristol. It gives homeless young people the opportunity to refurbish a property that will then be their home. The pilot scheme will help move young people who have experienced homelessness to complete independence as they literally build their own future.

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“York College has given me everything I need, I have a life to look forward to where my hopes and dreams can be realised.”

Julitin Coulthard, York College

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Cornwall College Group has developed provision to support recovery from mental ill health through engagement with learning. The courses are based on one or more of a variety of subjects such as creative writing, cookery and ICT, but the primary learning outcomes are around the development of personal, social and employability skills. The transformations in people’s lives range from the early stages of recovery through to preparation for employment, it can be from simply being able to recover quicker, to securing employment. One student said:

“My life has changed from being a recluse to being able to mix with other people happily.”

Learning For Recovery

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Young Carers Ambassadors

Improving health and wellbeing

In one of the most economically deprived areas in the UK where health is also significantly worse, Walsall College has made great strides to improve health and wellbeing. Almost 1000 young people have become involved with an inclusive sports programme which started in 2013. The college has developed partnerships with agencies including the FA and embedded a cross-college approach to reach more students. The most significant impact has been on the 150 students with learning difficulties and disabilities (SLDD). Many of these students are now taking part in competitive sports on a regular basis and the results are not just those being witnessed on the pitches and courts. Students are significantly more confident in their own abilities, motivated and engaged in college life and have become active members of the community. Sport has become part of their everyday lives and a habit they will continue.

Young carers make great sacrifices on a daily basis in order to care for a member of their family. There can be significant impact upon their education, progression, attendance rates, finances and personal wellbeing. Peterborough Regional College (PRC) has developed a relationship with Carers Trust Peterborough to develop the student voice for this under represented and vulnerable group, setting up PRC Young Carers Ambassadors. These students volunteer to help identify other young carers to ensure they are aware of the additional support available to help them. The Ambassadors also raise awareness and understanding amongst staff and students, and across the city. Sarah, for example, volunteers at a group for young people with disabilities in her spare time whilst caring for her father who is recuperating from several years of ill health. Despite her own mobility issues, she is an avid and vocal Ambassador and continues to be the voice for students with caring responsibilities. She said:

“I find it rewarding to know that I can help the young carers just as much as they help others. To me the best thing in life and the most inspiring thing in life, is the pure act of kindness, love, and the generosity those amazing young carers give to their amazing loved ones.”

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23% of 16 to 18-year-olds

and

30%

of adults in colleges are from an ethnic minority

background

106,000

college students are

aged 60 and over

Colleges provide higher education for local people from non-

traditional backgrounds – the average

distance between home postcode and

learning location for undergraduate

students attending a

college is 17 miles compared to

52 miles for those at a university

17%

of students on further education and skills

provision have a learning difficulty and/or disability

COLLEGES

transform communities

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Local improvements

Colleges across the country are involved in projects which literally transform communities.

East Kent College, for example, has recently delivered one of its largest social action projects to date with the help of Shepway District Council, and the backing of the local residents group. The project saw students help restore a dilapidated Grade II Listed lodge house in a prominent area of Folkestone. Now supported learning students – some with severe disabilities – gain work experience running it as a tea room.

Villagers in Embsay near Skipton can use a local footpath with confidence after improvement works were been carried out by Craven College land-based students and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. The path is in daily use and the renovation work has transformed the walk through the village and nature reserve to homes, a school and other amenities.

Within Salford City College, the first ever Prince’s Trust team, specifically for young people not in education, employment and training, has transformed a play area for children. This social action project has transformed a nursery garden which means children can now play outside during spring and summer months. Students raised the money for the work themselves to transform the nursery’s woodwork, garden area, sheds, and blackboards. The community project gives the young people a real sense of pride and fulfilment within their local environment.

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Changing Lives Initiative

Community engagement

Bury College has recently completed successful delivery of a community-based project called Changing Lives. This three-year initiative, funded through the Big Lottery, was designed to improve the life chances of unemployed and low-skilled ‘hard to reach’ residents. The college provided training and support, including employability skills, digital learning and English and maths. Through the project, over 180 accredited and non-accredited qualifications were achieved, leading to 20 students progressing to employment and 59 going on to further learning. The project has made a real difference to people’s lives in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Bury. Many activities have been sustained as more residents are aware of organisations, groups and support services in their own community, and have also become more active in their own community.

Digital innovation

A unique partnership between New College Nottingham and international technology pioneers Fujitsu has seen the creation of a new digital innovation hub at the college. This acts as a catalyst to increase digital engagement in the community. The project, part of the Fujitsu Education Ambassador programme, aims to support people to take their first steps into digital literacy so they can develop skills, grow in confidence and boost their self-esteem. Ash Merchant, Director of Education at Fujitsu, said:

Haven Court, based within South Tyneside District Hospital in South Shields, is a purpose-built facility which provides health and social care services for people with dementia, their carers and families across the borough. South Tyneside College introduced its Lee Stafford Education Academy@STC into Haven Court in 2016, promoting highly innovative community engagement. Open to the public and hospital users, the facility sees students work in a hairdressing hub, where they offer a range of beauty treatments, and look after a shop and café. Not only do the students receive hands-on experience in the salon, it provides an opportunity to be at the heart of the community.

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“New College Nottingham is passionate about digital transformation and the role of digital in supporting its students – and we’re excited to be a part of that with the launch of the Innovation Hub.”

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Carbon reductionStudents from Sir George Monoux College have started a campaign calling for a 5% reduction in carbon footprint, reaching out to other organisations in Waltham Forest to join their ‘5% Carbon Reduction Challenge’. Environmental Leadership Programme students, working in partnership with Citizens UK and Friends of the Earth, met with the local council to express their concern at the toxic air in the borough, which is affecting society and is especially problematic for young children whose lungs are still developing. Jiri Goldman, one of the students involved, said:

“It’s been brilliant working on this and learning how to create positive change. I have long term health problems which were caused by man-made air pollution and I don’t want others to suffer like me.”

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Volunteering in the community

Colleges and students recognise the impact that volunteering can have on improving local communities. Over 170 college sport students from Central College Nottingham, for example, have amassed over 4500 volunteering hours with placements at primary schools, leisure centres and community organisations encouraging children to get active.

The College of West Anglia’s National Citizen Service programme has donated over 24,500 hours to charities and organisations in the Anglia region. Students get to show the local community that young people can make a difference. West Norfolk benefits through volunteering and fundraising every

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Employers view 17 to 18-year-old college leavers

as better prepared for work than

school leavers of the same age

(71% compared to 60%)

35% of large employers

who train their staff do so through a college,

compared with

32% who do so through a

university

The average FE college

works with around

600 businesses

to provide training for their staff

COLLEGES

transform training for employers

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BSix Sixth Form College and Transport for London have collaborated to deliver a pre-apprenticeship programme aimed at helping 16 to 25-year-olds from across London into apprenticeships in transport and engineering. The six-week programme was designed to teach these young people the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. Brandon Lambert, one of the students involved, said:

“I now have a good understanding of how apprenticeships work and my aim now is to work in the transport industry. Hopefully, I can start out as an apprentice and work my way up from there.”

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London developed a pre-apprenticeship programme with Conneely Group, one of the country’s leading facade and dry wall lining companies to tackle skills shortages in the sector. The 15-week Level 2 programme had a positive impact on the students who after doing the course felt better prepared and more confident in their ability when they came to work with existing Conneely teams on

Pre-apprenticeship programmes designed with employers

site. The programme was a change from the usual apprenticeship model in that Conneely was keen to recruit apprentices who already had

some training in advance so they could immediately start work on site.

College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London

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Understanding training needs

Dudley College has been working with small, medium and large companies to understand their training needs for the future. The college found that companies were identifying skills gaps due to retirements within the workforce. For example, they worked with A&M EDM, a global supplier of components to brands in the aerospace, automobile and Formula 1 sectors, to deliver an apprenticeship programme for new engineers. By recruiting a series of apprentices, the company is not only ensuring its survival but is also giving its apprentices an invaluable learning experience.

Developing aviation partnerships

Leicester College has created a new academy with Swissport, the world’s largest global airline company, for new recruits to the aviation industry – the only one of its kind in Leicestershire. The students will be learning new skills required for airport ground handling services with the Level 2 Travel Operation and Level 3 Professional Travel and Tourism courses. The course includes a unique learning opportunity with Swissport. All students are guaranteed an interview at the end of the training, with the view to a position with Swissport after graduation. Julie Whittle, National Training Manager for Swissport said:

“The academy is a crucial starting point for a future in the aviation industry and we are excited about the potential of the new students from Leicester College”

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Engineering for the futureThe new £11 million Harlow Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Centre (HAMEC) at Harlow College is a major investment for the area and will inspire and train the next generation of engineers. HAMEC is a genuine partnership between the college, local employers and technical partners to address the skills gaps identified across Essex. It combines state-of-the-art industrial equipment, with an employer-led curriculum to provide a pipeline of apprentices and the technicians of the future. Julian Bedford, Managing Director of BTL Precision said:

“The opening of HAMEC is a huge boost for the engineering sector in the region. With the state-of-the-art facilities onsite and close collaboration between the college and industry, the long term future of young, talented engineers suddenly looks extremely bright.”

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Developing the healthcare sector

North Hertfordshire College has been working with Hart Learning and Development to design and deliver bespoke apprenticeships for Ramsay Health Care UK, a global hospital group. Ramsay has cut recruitment costs, has better qualified people and eliminated the need for agency staff. The Ramsay apprenticeship programme has grown extensively since its inception. It has gone from offering Level 2 Healthcare Assistant apprenticeships to adding Level 3 Healthcare Assistants and Level 5 Assistant Practitioner (new standard).

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has signed up to be part of The Sheffield College’s supported internship scheme. Students with learning difficulties and disabilities can face barriers to employment. The recently launched supported internship programme helps students to overcome those challenges so they gain the personal, communication and work skills to succeed.

Working with Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Chesterfield College offers students with a passion for a career in nursing to take part in a cadetship programme, giving them vital hands-on nursing experience. The 12-week cadetship, which has been running for the last two years, is designed to prepare students for their future and develop a talent pool for the NHS. This is more than work experience. This is an opportunity for the students to be inspired and the hospital to inspire the next generation of health service workers who will provide essential services in the future.

Chesterfield College

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Pattonair is one of the leading global aerospace and defence supply chain service providers. It has a policy of promoting from within the company and recognised that a training programme was required to support senior managers. It worked with Derby College to develop the bespoke PILOT programme – focusing on the ‘softer skills’ linked to relationship building, such as communication, personality profiling, delegation, motivation and conflict resolution. Pattonair HR Manager April Hunt said:

“PILOT has been an innovative and transformational programme - changing the way our leaders work with each other. The success of the working relationship with Derby College has also led us to allocate our employer apprenticeship levy on the expansion of our apprenticeship programme for young apprentices and for existing staff.”

Bespoke training

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Cover photograph courtesy of Waltham Forest College