Stairways announces new training partnership with Walsall College

Stairways Midlands has launched a new partnership with Walsall College.

The stairways and doors manufacturer, which has three midlands-based factory units, including one in Walsall, offering over 85,000 sq ft of bespoke and mass production capacity, has already welcomed two Walsall College students from the NVQ Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery course for work experience.

Anthony Walker, 24, and Kyle Chapman, 21, were working within the manufacturing environment, learning about modern woodworking and production methods, volume manufacturing and general workplace skills.

This was the first of many planned collaborations. From September Stairways plans to offer apprenticeships to college students. The partnership with Walsall College will see the company sharing its knowledge and resources in a host of other ways, to the benefit of the college and its students.

The projects are being led by Andy Clarke, Production Manager, Walsall, and Stairways Managing Director Karen Wood.

Karen Wood said: “We are very excited about the new partnership – both Andy and I share a passion for supporting the next generation and passing on skills essential to the future of our sector.

“We have so much experience and expertise to offer, and a long track record of developing apprentices – including Andy Clarke himself, who joined us as an apprentice at 16.

“This is the start of what I am sure will be a long and successful partnership, not only bringing fantastic new talent into Stairways, but inspiring and supporting many more young people into a fulfilling career, as well as helping to safeguard the future of our sector.”

Future planned projects include students collaborating with Stairways to make a new table for the Stairways Walsall factory boardroom, Stairways providing off-cuts and timber to college for students to use in the development of their woodworking skills, as well as Stairways providing the in-work training environment for students studying relevant apprenticeships and T-levels. Stairways is also set to design and manufacture a staircase for the College building.

The new partnership is also being supported by the Construction Industry Training Board, with skills grants and funding.

Paul Underwood, Lecturer in Carpentry and Joinery at Walsall College, said: “Developing real-world skills and understanding is essential to our students’ future success, so partnerships such as this one with Stairways are vital in providing that supportive in-work training environment where they can learn from experienced professionals.

Paul, who used to work at Stairways’ Walsall factory under a previous owner, and still knows some of the longer-serving team members there, added:

“I am delighted to be working with their team, ensuring that together we pass on to the next generation the carpentry and joinery knowledge and skills which are essential for the future of the construction industry.”