SMB College Group is proud to be an active member of Coalville’s vibrant community, and as the 2022-23 academic year comes to a close, the College is taking the opportunity to reflect and celebrate the activities they’ve undertaken this year to help Coalville thrive!
Supporting local schools, the council, businesses, and employers is a vital building block of the college’s overall strategic vision, with the aim of supporting the educational and economic future of Coalville and its surrounding areas.
Last month, the College hosted a drop-in recruitment event at Coalville C.A.N. HQ in Memorial Square, showcasing Engineering jobs at the College. They were also key player in Coalville’s S.T.E.M Summit, which took place across Coalville C.A.N. HQ and the college’s Stephenson Campus, seeing local schools visit the campus for a planetarium experience hosted by the National Space Centre. In addition, local employers attended the college on this day to exhibit at a Careers Fair and take part in an Engineering Round Table to discuss the future of one of Coalville’s key economies.
The College has also enjoyed hosting regular Job Fairs for the local community at their Stephenson Campus this year in collaboration with Leicester Employment Hub, Job Centre Plus and the North West Leicestershire District Council - showcasing the range of exciting employment opportunities in Coalville and surrounding areas, as well as promoting the array of apprenticeship options offered by the College.
In addition, earlier this year, Stephenson Campus officially opened the doors to its brand-new, state-of-the-art Plumbing & Gas Academy in partnership with Worcester Bosch. This exciting project involved creating brand new state-of-the-art workshops to provide students with advanced technology and equipment to gain their qualifications and kick-start their careers in the industry, as well as launching a commercial centre where employers can discuss their training needs and upskill their existing staff.
The College is proud to have cultivated a successful working relationship with Worcester Bosch. Mark Durrans, External Training Manager at Bosch, said ‘Worcester Bosch’s is delighted to work in Partnership with SMB College Group; placing a strong emphasis on training, which is mutually beneficial to both the college and ourselves. Our collaboration will help students excel and be inspired by our training programmes ensuring they are industry-relevant and meet the latest standards in the ever-evolving market.’
The College is also proud and grateful to have worked with several local businesses to ensure that their students are learning with the very best equipment, having received a number of beneficial donations in recent months. Most recently, local merchants Harlow Timber Group have donated an ex-demo mobile field shelter building to the Stephenson Campus, following an exciting new partnership formed with the College. In addition, Wolseley, a plumbing merchant with a local branch in Coalville, have generously donated an array of industry-standard tools for the Plumbing and Gas workshops, and the Rotary Club of Ashby Hastings have donated an Autel diagnostics kit for the college’s Vehicle Engineering students – all of which will go a long way to helping students gain hands-on experience with sector-specific equipment and facilities, helping them to become industry-ready for when they complete their college qualifications and progress into the workforce.
SMB College Group has regularly been recognised for its partnerships with local and national businesses over the last few years, offering academies, apprenticeships, work experience and upskilling of employees. This year, the College won the Nachural Entrepreneurship Award for Promoting Apprenticeships, recognising the excellent work that they have undertaken to build sustainable, ambitious workforces that are well-equipped for the future. In addition, the college also won Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at the AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2022, recognising their excellent apprenticeship delivery in partnership with Barratt Developments - one of the UK’s top home builders.
Phil Megson, Director of Quiet Storm and Love Business East Midlands said of SMB College Group ‘Quiet Storm have been working closely with SMB College Group over the past year to address the serious skills gap within North West Leicestershire and the East Midlands in general. The college understands the needs of business and talk our language, which is refreshing as many FE providers don't really understand the business world and the challenges we face when recruiting.’
Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at the East Midlands Chamber, added ‘SMB College Group effectively engage with the Leicestershire business community to understand future skills needs of the private sector, and strive to meet this by continuously evolving their curriculum to meet these demands.’
The College’s Stephenson Campus is located in Coalville, just a stone’s throw from the new Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre. Within walking distance of the town centre, the Campus is perfectly situated to connect with the wider community and hopes to widen their reach and participation even further in the coming years.
Specialising in technical and trade courses, Stephenson campus is home to state-of-the-art learning environments for Motor Vehicle, Construction, Building Services and Engineering as well as fantastic facilities for Business, Hair and Beauty and Health and Social Care alongside open learning spaces. With courses ranging from Level 1 through to degree level, and fantastic learning support and personal development teams, the college aims to provide a well-rounded curriculum that serves both the needs of its students and staff in addition to the local economy.
You can get involved and become a member of Coalville’s vibrant community by applying for a course at SMB College Group’s Stephenson Campus, or visiting one of their Job Fairs in collaboration with North West Leicestershire District Council. Discover more about the college or apply today at https://www.smbcollegegroup.ac.uk/