Colleges unite to encourage ethnically diverse staff into sector

Colleges across the West Midlands have joined together on a project to encourage people from ethnically diverse groups to work in Further Education (FE).

West Midlands Colleges support approximately 120,000 students each year, including full time 16–18-year-olds, adult learners and apprentices.

The purpose and direction of this project, set by Colleges West Midlands’ Racial Equality Project steering group, is to create a more diverse workforce through attraction and recruitment of new employees.

Through a series of videos, the project involved staff from a range of ethnic backgrounds talking about why they love working in further education, what attracted them to the sector, their career journey and the support they’ve had on the way. A series of videos will be released across participating college’s social media channels over the coming weeks, with the following video showcased on each college website.

View the video

Colleges are always on the lookout for people with industry experience to share that expertise with the next generation through teaching.

Alongside teaching, the further education sector offers hundreds of different job roles, including student support, finance, HR, Estates, IT, Management and many more. Working in FE provides continuous opportunities for professional development and encourages innovation, creativity and collaboration.

Jatinder Sharma CBE DL, Principal and Chief Executive at Walsall College said: “Building a workforce that truly reflects our diverse society is crucial to the success of colleges like ours. 

“We value the unique perspectives and expertise of those from across all industries, encouraging everyone to explore the many rewarding career opportunities available in further education.  By joining us, you can help to inspire future generations and change lives.”

Find out more about working for the College and explore the current vacancies available: click here for more information.

Colleges West Midlands is a partnership of 17 colleges across the West Midlands who support the region’s economy and drive up the prosperity of local residents through the transformational power of learning and skills development.