The British Chamber of Commerce named Kirklees College as regional winners in the Chamber Awards 2015 in the Education and Partnership category, for the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce area.
The college’s nomination highlighted its partnership work with a number of local employers including Huddersfield Town Football Club through the Huddersfield Town Enterprise Academy, via its Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and many others.
But the main focus was KC Works – an innovative partnership scheme with recruitment specialists Stafflex, which helps young people to boost their work skills through work experience, work placements and potential opportunity to progress into Apprenticeships or the world of work, aiding local businesses to increase
KC Works provides a vital link between the college and employers from across the area.
The partnership has highlighted significant skill gaps, present and future, in key industries locally and identified the key skills employers want from students entering the workforce as well as potential new areas where training is needed in the region.
KC Works provides an employer responsive approach specifically targeted to college’s curriculum delivery on addressing local business needs.
Working directly through new employers identified through Stafflex, KC Works supports students in gaining real work experience; developing their employability skills and preparing them to fulfill the employment needs of the future.
Kirklees College vice principal Melanie Brooke said: “The partnership has started conversations which are really changing the way the college works.
“It started as a route to promote work placements but has grown into a programme which develops students’ employability skills, promotes them to think about future goals and encourages them to be proactive in working towards them.
“Putting employability and enterprise in to the heart of every element of our curriculum and student activity supports the development of skills employers want and need.
“We are extremely proud of the work that we are doing and delighted that the British Chamber of Commerce has recognised our efforts with this award. Thank you to everyone who has worked on and supported the project to make it such a great success.”
Abigail Stahelin-Hall, from Stafflex, said: “Stafflex is extremely proud to be associated with this award. It signifies a new era in the way in which education and recruitment can work together.
“Our congratulations go to Kirklees College not only for achieving this accolade, but for having the foresight and determination to make the project a success.”
Regional winners go through to the national finals in London on 26 November.
For information on working with Kirklees College to develop training packages, offer work placements, talk about Apprenticeships and Traineeships and to discuss opportunities for funding through the LEP Skills Service project.
Call 0800 781 3020
Email us
employers@Kirkleescollege.ac.uk