A £15 million Capital Grant Fund has been allocated to develop an additional 21 community hubs and learning centres throughout Wales, confirmed Education Minister Kirsty Williams. Part of the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, the fund is a small part of the total of £3.7 billion that aims to replace and
20 construction and trade students have been welcomed by Stepnell to a number of high-profile building sites across Leicester. There they were offered hands-on work experience on five major projects within the commercial, conservation, education and health sectors. The students took part in up to 60 days of work in their field
City of Bristol College students and apprentices aged 16 to 18 will benefit from support from Dickies, as the two announce their partnership. With a focus on employability and personal development, the partnership will help those preparing for a career in a range of vocational and technical trades and profession
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
A £15 million Capital Grant Fund has been allocated to develop an additional 21 community hubs and learning centres throughout Wales, confirmed Education Minister Kirsty Williams. Part of the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, the fund is a small part of the total of £3.7 billion that aims to replace and refurbish education buildings throughout Wales. “Our 21st Century Schools and Education programme is already making a huge difference to pupils, teachers and local communities throughout Wales; giving them access to state of the art educational facilities. Schools play a vital role within a community, and I’m fully aware of the importance of ensuring that our schools are not only fit for purpose, but are able to cater to the needs of local communities,” said Kirsty Williams. “That’s why we’ve committed to introducing more community learning centres, and plan to make community focused projects a key aspect of the second wave of the programme,” she added. The £15 million fund will be primarily used for projects that cater for the local community. This could be through adapting existing buildings for wider use, such as increasing the size of a school hall, by providing specialist facilities that widen use or enhanced sporting facilities, which can be used by local people. In addition, funding will also be used to create spaces that meet a specific need within the local community, such as learning new languages or vocational skills.
20 construction and trade students have been welcomed by Stepnell to a number of high-profile building sites across Leicester. There they were offered hands-on work experience on five major projects within the commercial, conservation, education and health sectors. The students took part in up to 60 days of work in their field of choice over the last three months. The sites they worked on included St Martins Lodge, Percy Gee Building students’ union, Friars Mill commercial offices, De Montfort Mews student accommodation and Langwith Medical Centre. The scheme was delivered in partnership with Leicester Employment Hub and Leicester College “We have been working closely with Leicester Employment Hub to identify suitable placement opportunities for students looking to build a career in construction and enhance their knowledge. Thanks to our expertise across different sectors, we have been able to offer valuable placements on projects that will have a lasting impact on local people.Tom Sewell regional director from Stepnell said: “The site teams have really enjoyed coaching the students and their enthusiasm to learn and ask questions has meant that they have made the most of the time with our employees. “Investing in the communities we work within and the future generation of the workforce is something we’re really passionate about at Stepnell and we look forward to securing more work experience opportunities for young people in the future.”
City of Bristol College students and apprentices aged 16 to 18 will benefit from support from Dickies, as the two announce their partnership. With a focus on employability and personal development, the partnership will help those preparing for a career in a range of vocational and technical trades and profession with extended opportunities for learning. “We’re excited to be working with City of Bristol College as part of our commitment to instil pride in the next generation of tradespeople. Workwear can play a big part in feeling confident and ready to do a good job, but we know that’s just one aspect to starting a career on the right note. By supporting colleges like this to motivate and encourage students and apprentices, we hope we can make a difference to the careers of future tradespeople,” commented James Whitaker, Marketing Director for Dickies. The global workwear brand will also deliver talks by inspirational speakers and mentors and sponsorship of the College’s Student Awards, as well as provide items of specialist clothing and student induction packs to help students and apprentices with their studies and development. “A skilled, knowledgeable and motivated workforce is an essential ingredient for building a strong and sustainable economy. Our students were delighted with their Dickies induction packs containing essential items to help them make good progress in their studies and career development,” said Emma Jarman, Vice Principal – Curriculum and Quality. “Our partnership with Dickies will enable us to continue developing rich and stimulating learning experiences of our students and apprentices through co-design and co-delivery of our curriculum and engagement with current and highly respected industry practitioners,” Emma added.
