Colleges launch strategic vision to transform skills and opportunities across West Midlands

The Sandwell Colleges have launched their new strategic plan - ‘Your Future Our Focus’.

The plan is an ambitious and transformative vision to ensure the success and progression of young people and adults in Sandwell, Birmingham and from across the Black Country to successful and brighter futures.

Always ambitious for their learners, the three colleges, Sandwell College and Central Saint Michael Sixth Form in West Bromwich and Cadbury Sixth Form College in Kings Norton want to open doors for young people to have greater exposure to industry and business to help them progress to good jobs and great careers. 

In the new strategy they call on employers to help shape the curriculum, offer work placements, support apprentices and ensure that together the vital pipeline of skills needed in sector priority areas can be achieved.

With more than 12,500 students, including young people aged 16-19 years, apprentices, and adult learners, The Sandwell Colleges are the largest further education provider of 16-19 education and skills in the West Midlands.

With the learner firmly at the heart of the new strategy it sets out key ambitions and priorities focussed around ambitious achievement and progression for learners, future focused careers and skills and powerful partnerships.

The strategic plan also features details of the Colleges values which were developed by learners, colleagues and governors.

Together these values signify an ethos to support and challenge, collaborate, inspire and celebrate. Breaking down barriers and never giving up.

Lisa Capper MBE, CEO & principal of The Sandwell Colleges, said: “We are an ambitious organisation with a focus on progression and success for every learner regardless of their starting point or background, ensuring that they achieve their ambitions and progress to good jobs, apprenticeships or higher education.

“I am delighted to present our collective vision anchored in collaboration and working with others to create local and regional impact, enabling social mobility and contributing the well-being and prosperity of our communities.

“By placing powerful partnerships and future skills at the centre of our work, we are creating pathways to meaningful careers.

“Our strategy is aligned to the Government’s Plan for Change and will support the five focused missions.

“With our learners, skilled colleagues and governors working together as One Team, we will make a lasting impact on young people and adults across the local community and contribute to the region’s economic prosperity and growth”

The success of students and partner employers will be supported by the recent capital developments with industry focused facilities and expertise including the new Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and STEM centre in West Bromwich, the new Cradley Heath Skills Campus for adult care, digital and construction, and the Health and Social Care Learning campus on the site of the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital.

Supported by the Towns Fund, Department for Education and the West Midlands Combined Authority – together these developments present game changing opportunities in the local area.

Developed in collaboration with an array of regional stakeholders, the plan is closely aligned with the Mayor of the West Midlands ’Youth Plan and the West Midlands Futures vision, which aims to ensure that every young person and adult can progress into high-quality jobs and brighter futures.

Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, said: "The West Midlands has a higher percentage of unemployed young people than any other region in the country - more than double the national average in some areas. That’s why I want to create 20,000 work-experience, apprenticeship and training opportunities for our young people.

“By working together with skills providers such as The Sandwell Colleges, we can give people the skills they need to get on in life.”

Pictured from left to right: Asa Gordon – deputy principal at The Sandwell Colleges, Helene Dearn – executive director Employment and Skills, Health and Communities, West Midlands Combined Authority, Lisa Capper MBE - principal and CEO, The Sandwell Colleges, Shokat Lal – chief executive, Sandwell Borough Council, and Emma Brannen – senior vice-principal, The Sandwell Colleges