29/11/2017
Sandwell College Sponsors Growth and Innovation Award Category at Express & Star Business Awards 2018
Delivering vital skills training
Sandwell College is the ideal business partner for apprenticeships, skills solutions and commercial training needs.
Apprenticeships give employees and new recruits the opportunity to build on existing skills and develop technical and vocational training in the workplace, from automotive, construction and engineering to health and social care and business administration.
As the fastest-growing further education college in England and the number one college for success rates in the West Midlands, Sandwell is now ranked 12th nationally out of 230.
A dedicated team of highly skilled and experienced industry professionals brings a huge amount of knowledge to a whole range of accredited and bespoke courses.
Working with partners and employers, the college has earned a reputation for delivering high quality training with a firm focus on meeting customer needs.
Developing and delivering programmes relevant to particular industries, problems or identified skills gaps, its aim is to align courses specifically to the organisational needs of businesses.
Powerful partnerships and state-of-the-art facilities for engineering and creative projects, including the Fab Lab digital laboratory, enable the college to provide free courses in association with The Black Country Skills Factory.
Case in point - Construction
David Hollywood is a former Sandwell College student, who has gone on to become a successful project director for Carillion.
He is the man responsible for constructing the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital – a super hospital for the West Midlands.
Dry-lining apprentices are now working at the site after intensive training in Sandwell College construction workshops.
Conor Coughlan has progressed from a full-time college course to an apprenticeship with Kier Living, working alongside their contractors and management.
Case in point – Automotive
Sandwell College apprentices are on a fast track to success in the automotive industry, restoring and repairing the world’s most elite supercars.
Former automotive apprentice Jack Salter is now working as a panel technician, pursuing his career with Individual Specialist Cars.
The 26-year-old has just been named as one of Bodyshop magazine’s ‘30 under 30’ rising stars of the industry.
After also studying in his own time, Jack has become skilled in panel replacements, body repairs and welding, and has passed Audi aluminium training courses in Germany and Jaguar Land Rover steel and aluminium repair procedures with flying colours.
ISC directors, Amer and Zee Mirza, are thrilled with Jack’s progress.
Amer says: “It is an absolute pleasure for both Zee and myself to work with like-minded, passionate individuals who share the same work ethic as we do, and are willing to constantly learn and take the opportunities given to them here.
“Jack did not have the experience of working with Prestige and Super Cars until he joined ISC, so this was quite a challenge for him. However, he has exceeded our expectations in the quality of work, dedication and attention to detail that he puts into every project given to him.”
Jack says: “I get to work with cars from Fiats to Ferraris, every boy’s dream. I have been inspired by the great work ethics of Zee and Amer at ISC who continually encourage staff development. They have allowed me to fulfil my passion for cars and the work that I do. Seeing a vehicle that has been damaged being fully repaired to showroom condition and knowing that I did it, gives me a great sense of achievement.”
Connected
Get Connected is Sandwell College’s packed programme of regular networking events for business professionals, which can be booked through Eventbrite. For more information on this and much more, call Sandwell College’s business advisers on 0121 667 5018 or email apprentice@sandwell.ac.uk