College holds Breakfast Meeting with leather employers

In association with the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, Walsall College held a breakfast meeting with leather manufacturers to discuss training needs for the leather industry.

The meeting, which took place at the College’s Business and Sports Hub, was attended by 29 employers including Ideal Saddle, Jeremy Rudge Saddlery Limited, Glass Slipper Couture and many more.

The Breakfast meeting aimed to inspire dialogue amongst employers within the leather industry, and to give them the opportunity to discuss skills gaps in their organisation and across the sector.

Feedback will then be used to help the College develop training programmes to suit the business needs of leather manufacturers across the West Midlands. These programmes will also equip apprentices with the skills to build a rewarding career in the saddlery and leather-manufacturing industry.

James Norris, Walsall College’s Assistant Principal in Commercial Development, said: “Walsall has a long history of manufacturing leather, and it is an industry that requires skilled workers to continue producing high-quality products.

Responding to employer needs is one of our highest priorities here at Walsall College. The Breakfast meeting was a chance for us to listen to employers about what they require from the next generation of workers. This will feed into our curriculum to ensure that students are equipped with the skills to not only build a successful future for themselves, but to also drive prosperity for West Midlands area.”

If you’re interested in hiring an apprentice or a work placement student, please contact Walsall College on businesstrainingsolutions@walsallcollege.ac.uk