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Regional Minister Welcomes New £40m College Campus
West Midlands Regional Minister Liam Byrne MP took an early look at the new Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College, due to open in September thanks to a £22 million investment from the LSC.
Mr Byrne was shown the college's outdated current site before officially opening the £40 million development's new library.
As part of a day of visits and talks highlighting the region's investment in skills, Mr Byrne had earlier visited I and M Controls in Hockley, Birmingham to see how 16 members of the company’s 35-strong workforce have gained new skills and qualifications through Train to Gain.
The Minister also launched a series of talks across the region with key business representatives on the government’s plans for new laws to be introduced to parliament this year.
Liam Byrne said: “The West Midlands is now leading the country in accelerating a multi billion pound skills revolution. Investment in skills is the key to Birmingham’s prosperity in the growing global economy but we believe in action not words.
“The transformation of Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College is a shining example of turning ideas into action, and on a large scale. By 2012, nearly £1.5 billion will have been spent in our region on up to 130 separate projects with the Government investing £520 million.
“Our investment in work-based learning is similarly impressive. With nearly 56,000 Train to Gain learner starts in the region and more than 500 companies having made a public commitment to skills development through the Skills Pledge, we are on course.
“But we must be clear – we are at the beginning of a long and difficult journey. We have our road map - three months ago, I unveiled the first Skills Action Plan for the West Midlands, which set out ambitious targets to raise the number of businesses offering Apprenticeships by more than 50 per cent coupled with new measures to tackle low literacy and numeracy skills among nearly half a million of the region’s adults.
“We have made it easier than ever before to access opportunities to learn new skills. That is why I am repeating my call to all West Midlands employers – get on board with us, use the support and funding available to invest in skills, and play your part in building a richer region in the decade ahead.”
David Cragg, Regional Director of the Learning and Skills Council, said: “We are at a critical moment as we strive to meet the challenges of transforming the skills landscape in our region.
“A lot of hard work has gone into creating a new skills proposition for employers and individuals. That encompasses skills needs analysis and funded training through Train to Gain; it includes brand new college facilities, designed to deliver the skills employers need; and it is underpinned by a more joined-up, streamlined approach among all agencies involved in economic regeneration and skills development.”
Lynne Morris, Principal of Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College, said: “We serve a relatively poor community but one that has high ambitions for its youngsters. That aspiration deserves proper support in terms of the environment and facilities available to them for learning.
“This is an opportunity to transfer all the wonderful things we’ve been doing in very outdated facilities into a landmark building to last for decades and we are very grateful for the substantial support of the LSC in making our vision a reality.”
Notes
The new 14,000 sq m Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College (JCC) campus at Haden Circus, Highgate, Birmingham will open to its 1,300 full-time students in September 2008 and includes sports and learning facilities for community use. The £40 million development incorporates state-of-the-art learning facilities on an attractive, landscaped campus and was made possible with a contribution of £22 million from the LSC.
