Walsall College urges employers to step up and stand out

New initiative will help develop tomorrow’s talent today

A programme at Walsall College will demonstrate how all the subjects and courses they teach are backed by local employers.  The newly-launched Employer in every Classroom encourages businesses to further validate the studying and training of the college’s 11,000 learners.

Industry-led career talks, work experience placements and professional projects enable students to work side by side with organisations, enhancing their mutual understanding of future workforce skills and talent.

Jatinder Sharma OBE, Principal and Chief Executive at the college said: “To help business build back better after Covid, we’re making it our priority to have an ‘Employer in Every Classroom’.

“The college already has a strong track record of meeting employer needs.  90% of our curriculum is aligned with local skill priorities.

“However, we are still seeing key sectors and our young people hit hard professionally and economically, not just by the pandemic.  More needs to be done to futureproof jobs and careers so that our business community delivers on its priorities.”

Employer is every Classroom is aligned to the government’s Building Back Better agenda.  This sees employers involved in creating new ‘Local Skills Improvement Plans’.  They are also invited to work more closely with further education to co-design and co-deliver curriculum.

Since the start of 2021 more than 110 employers and industry leaders have shared their expertise with the college through Virtual Work Experience Weeks.  Around 1,000 learners so far have benefitted from 150 hours of direct employer engagement in total.

In addition, live work experience and industry placements are once again underway for students studying vocational courses, including the new T Levels.

Jatinder Sharma added: “We urge businesses yet to engage with us, or who feel they can go that extra mile to come forward now, without delay.  Getting involved in our curriculum ensures our students develop the practical skills, knowledge and experience they need to thrive in their sectors.

“Working together, we can significantly upskill the regional workforce and provide a pipeline of work-ready candidates for emerging vacancies.”

Find out more information on how to get involved in Employer in every Classroom here.