Jonathan Gullis MP for Stoke North hands out awards at cutting edge campus to students moving into jobs
Jonathan Gullis MP gave full support to technical skills at Stoke on Trent College today as he tried his hand at welding and machining in the College’s state of the art facilities at Burslem campus.
Visiting the Technology Hub and the Construction Hub he met students who have been successful in obtaining either jobs or apprenticeships as a result of their studies at the College.
Backed by over £120,000 in Government funding for digital technologies in Construction the campus is providing a vital pipeline of skills that local businesses need in key sector areas such as Construction, Engineering and green technologies.
Mr Gullis met Catherine Tomlinson who studied Level 3 Motor Vehicle and accompanying engineering courses such as welding and has secured employment after being awarded Student of the Month in April. She showed the MP her welding skills and discussed her passion for engineering.
Elliot Hegarty found his passion for engineering whilst on work-placement at Unilathe. He has studied level 2 Engineering at the College and after developing his skills has now been accepted as an apprentice at Unilathe.
Other students such as Muinul Haque showed the MP the importance of hand drawn design before transposing on to CAD (Computer aided design) 3D imaging as part of a Level 3 in Construction in the Built Environment. He plans to be a Building Inspector and has been offered other job opportunities, too.
Jonathan Gullis MP said “Skills are the future of this country and progression routes to College need to be promoted. The young adults I have met today have very bright futures ahead of them in their chosen industries.
Construction, engineering and new technologies are key drivers of our economy and regeneration in Stoke on Trent. It is important that we show parents and young people the opportunities available to them in these great facilities.”
Lisa Capper MBE CEO and Principal of the College said “The specialist Construction and Technology Hubs at our Burslem campus are second to none and are creating great futures and careers for our learners. We encourage schools, parents, young people and adults wishing to learn a new skill or make a career change come and visit for themselves.
The skills they learn with us will make them an asset to any business. In turn this will strengthen our local economy.”
Jeremy Cartwright Chair of Stoke on Trent College Board said “Our Burslem campus has true potential to attract businesses, boost skills and grow existing talent across Stoke and Staffordshire,
‘We are very proud of all our students and it was great to see them receiving certificates for outstanding achievement today from MP Jonathan Gullis.”
Stoke on Trent College is currently training 617 apprentices on their two Stoke campuses and with local employers and 8,000 local people get qualifications every year through the college.