FE+ COLLEGES CONTINUED SUCCESS

After seven years in existence FE+ continues to develop and deliver innovative initiatives across the Tees Valley.  These initiatives contribute to economic success and social cohesion across the region.  FE+ continues to devise and deliver programmes of further education, training and skills, working in partnership with organisations from various sectors.  Through a collective income of circa £95M the FE Plus Colleges continue to underpin major change agendas across the Tees valley.

Initiatives such as Foundation Degrees, Second Chance and the FE+ Awards continue to place FE+ at the forefront of raising the aspirations of individuals in our local communities.

Foundation Degree Development

The Foundation Degree development programme brings together in partnership, FE+ Colleges, business and the University of Teesside to develop a portfolio of higher level qualifications delivered in the Colleges for the local community.  In 2006/07 alone FE+ Colleges developed 15 newly titled Foundation Degrees, these titles contributing to the 44 Foundation Degree titles that are available in FE+ Colleges.  The total portfolio of available Foundation Degrees totals 75 some of which some are available in more than one FE+ College location across the region. 

This programme of development has been running for 5 years and has been supported by the Tees Valley Partnership to the tune of £1.54m so far.  The programme currently in its sixth year of development and is seen as a substantial investment to providing businesses with a high level, technical qualifications for their workforce, helping to address the skills gaps.

FE+ Awards

FE+ backed by major business partners organised the third Tees Valley Further Education Awards in 2007.  This high profile event saw 51 learners nominated from a cohort of 60,000 to 70,000 individuals currently participating in programmes in the FE+ Colleges.  Thirteen award categories were up for grabs.  Approximately, 670 people were at the gala evening to witness the events unfold.

The awards themselves enable FE+ to recognise the achievements of many learners who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to learning.  This event showcases their amazing talent.

Second Chance

Second Chance is a current initiative aimed 19-24 and unemployed in the Tees Valley.  This initiative is to provide individuals with the opportunity of a “second chance” to complete their Apprenticeship Framework.  The training is based around an NVQ, Technical Certificate and Key Skills.  Individuals will be matched to relevant training and work placements with progression into employment.

 Train to Gain

The FE+ Colleges have worked closely with the regional Skills Broker Business Link to deliver Train to Gain.  The role of the Skills Broker is to identify business needs, pinpoint the right training and agree a package for the business, including sourcing available funding, usually through Train to Gain. Many companies contact colleges directly to source the training and then the colleges will involve the Skills Broker to ensure access to the wider network of support and maximise on funding opportunities. 

Train to Gain is bringing great opportunities to employers and workers and helping the Colleges to develop the long term relationships, founded on trust, which will help us to produce the workforce needed for the success of our region.  

Strength to strength

The FE Plus group continues to go from strength to strength with many new initiatives planed collaboratively across the Tees valley and beyond.  This joined up approach together with major capital reinvestment programmes is responding directly to the rapidly changing Further Education, training and skills requirements of the Tees Valley now and for the future.

For further information on the activities of FE+ go to www.feplus.co.uk or alternatively contact Shaun Place, Director of Operations, FE+ on 01429 287546.

 

 

 

FE+ TRAIN TO GAIN - AN OFFER YOU CANNOT REFUSE

Train to Gain is a major new government initiative designed to help businesses see for themselves, the positive impact of free skills training in all business areas, whilst employees benefit from achieving their first Level 2 qualification.

The five colleges in the Tees Valley region have been working closely with Business Link, the regional Skills Broker, to ensure an increasing range of high quality vocational education and training. Funded through the Learning and Skills Council the vision is that by 2010 workers in England will have the knowledge and skills matching the best in the world and are part of a truly competitive workforce. In order to meet these challenging targets, the colleges have quickly expanded on the range of qualifications needed for our region. For example, at Darlington College 48 stewards are working towards NVQ Level 2 in Spectator Safety, to meet the needs of Darlington Football Club. At Redcar and Cleveland College, the curriculum has recently expanded to include Construction Plant Operations, to meet specific employer needs. 15 students have already enrolled and several more expected in the near future.

At Hartlepool College, 90 Train to Gain participants are about to celebrate the achievement of their NVQ 2 Cleaning and Support Services. From a variety of employers, for many, this is their first real qualification and will enhance their employability. The qualifications were delivered entirely in the workplace.

National employer, NPower, have entered in to a partnership with Stockton Riverside College to deliver NVQ 2 training to Meter Readers throughout the entire Tees Valley region, whilst Middlesbrough College is responding to demand from new Regional Distribution Centres and is delivering over 75 NVQs at Level 2 in Warehouse and Distribution for local employers, through the Train to Gain initiative.

The Colleges work closely with the regional Skills Broker to deliver Train to Gain.  The role of the Skills Broker is to identify business needs, pinpoint the right training and agree a package for the business, including sourcing available funding, usually through Train to Gain. Many companies contact colleges directly to source the training and then the colleges will involve the Skills Broker to ensure access to the wider network of support and maximise on funding opportunities. 

There has been a cultural shift by all the colleges on how skills training is delivered and the colleges are now ensuring that the training is much more responsive to the needs of every business. Colleges are eager to carry out vocational training on Employer’s premises and have overcome traditional barriers such as term time only working and are now working throughout the year and at times to suit shift patterns at nursing homes, production factories, etc.

Many learners have also benefited from basic skills training through Train to Gain alongside the NVQ which is also delivered discreetly and flexibly to suit both the employer and employee.

Research shows that 1.3 million people go to work everyday without the skills they need to do the job proficiently.  Employers in the region are increasingly investing in staff development, through Train to Gain and are reaping the benefits that include staff motivation, confidence and increased productivity. 

Deborah Ord of Tabner Plasterers said ‘Through Train to Gain we have been able to up skill 17 of our workforce through Redcar and Cleveland College, enabling them to do their best job and we have benefited from being able to access some free CSCS Health and Safety Training, which is an essential pre-requisite for our operatives.’ 

Through the regional brokers, Business Link in the North East, (www.businesslinknortheast.co.uk) contributions toward wage costs may be available for employers with less than 50 employees, for each hour that the employee has been released to take part in the programme.
Train to Gain is bringing great opportunities to employers and workers and helping the Colleges to develop the long term relationships, founded on trust, which will help us to produce the workforce needed for the success of our region.  

The five regional Colleges work in partnership through FE+ to provide the best service for the region and you will find the useful contact details below of individuals within each college for advice on Train to Gain, whether you are an Employer or an Employee.

Middlesbrough College
Joanna Stokes
Tel 01642 333394
j.stokes@mbro.ac.uk

Hartlepool College
Paul Marshall
Tel 01429 288270
pmarshall@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk

Redcar and Cleveland College
Wendy Bell
01642 473132
wbell@cleveland.ac.uk

Stockton Riverside
Wendy Collins
01642 865400
Wendy.collins@stockton.ac.uk

Darlington College
Louise Lawrence-Crockford
01325 503210
Llawrence-crockford@darlington.ac.uk

 

 

 

SECOND CHANCE APPRENTICESHIPS

Second Chance is an exciting new initiative which is funded by the European Social Fund and operated
by FE+, the organisation representing the Further Education colleges in the Tees Valley. The initiative
aims to provide a 'second chance' to individuals who did not complete their apprenticeship at the first
attempt. Unemployed or part-time working individuals (under 16 hours), aged 19-24 living in the Tees
Valley area have the opportunity for a second time to be supported free to complete their Apprenticeship.
The project offers support, advice, work placement or assessment as necessary in order to enable
individuals to fulfil their potential. There may even be the prospect to progress into full-time employment.
For more information phone 'free' on 0800 01 3 221 3

 

You can contact us at:

FE+
Hartlepool College of Further Education, Stockton Street, Hartlepool, TS24 7NT
Director of Operations: Shaun Place
E-Mail: splace@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk
Telephone/Fax: (01429) 287546