LONG READ: Myerscough backs Colleges Week 2021

Following on from the success of last year’s ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign, Myerscough is dedicating 18 – 22 October to Colleges Week 2021 and highlighting the amazing work colleges do, and why long-term investment is crucial if the government is to ‘level up’ all areas of the country.

The sector remains at the centre of the biggest issues and challenges of present times, and is central to rebuilding the economy post-Brexit and through COVID-19, strengthening communities, and supporting people through some of the toughest challenges we have faced.

With the government’s comprehensive spending review taking place imminently, Colleges Week 2021 is also a reminder to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak that funding colleges, training and skills is the catalyst for a stronger, fairer and more resilient society.

Chief Executive and Principal, Alison Robinson, said: “Our aim is to ensure that all our students are properly equipped with the skills they need and can make a difference in whatever career they choose to pursue. Colleges Week not only highlights the need for proper investment to make this happen but also showcases the amazing place Myerscough is for students and staff. 

“This year’s week of action comes at a crucial time. The big contribution further education will make to the country’s economic rebuild must be recognised and long-term investment is vital if we are to combat long-term challenges like climate change and training workers for the jobs of the future.”

David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “Colleges Week showcases exactly why further education holds the answers to some of the biggest issues facing all of us. Now more than ever we need highly skilled and well-educated workforces to deliver the economic recovery this government aspires to. 

“Colleges Week this year is about celebrating the amazing work colleges do, educating 2.2 million people every year, including more than 600,000 16 to 18-year-olds. They hold the key to reducing skills gaps, combatting inequality, and providing better opportunities to disadvantaged communities. This week is about making our voices heard and campaigning with partners to make sure colleges continue to be a serious political, economic and social priority.” 

Economics

Myerscough’s relationship with employers across the UK is significant, helping thousands of people in businesses across a range of sectors achieve the skilled workforce they need to succeed. This will be even more important post-Brexit and to overcome the issues thrown up by the pandemic.

In apprenticeships, Myerscough works with hundreds of employers who benefit from the latest apprenticeship frameworks, ensuring that people make the most of their talents and ambitions and drive social mobility, helping businesses improve productivity and drive economic growth. We are the skills provider of choice for hundreds of employers. We have extensive industry links, from SMEs through to global brands and Premier League football clubs, changing the lives of local people every day.

Myerscough College has a long and proven track record of delivering a diverse range of apprenticeships, supporting apprentices with their training across the country. Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) remains a key driver and focus in terms of Myerscough apprenticeships and education provision, and the number of apprentices in this area is growing rapidly.

Find out about a Myerscough College apprenticeship could offer you or your business here

In addition, Myerscough offers a range of traineeships, a flexible education and training programme with work experience, designed for young people who are motivated to get a job but who lack the skills and experience that employers look for, to get a ‘foot on the ladder’.

Find out more about Myerscough College traineeships here

The College also offers a wide range of short adult skills courses, boosting works careers with industry recognised professional qualifications, and upskilling the workforce of many businesses.

Click here for more information about how your business could benefit

Supporting industry

Myerscough College and University Centre specialises in education and training for the land-based and sports industries. We teach more than twenty-five different subjects, including motorsports, golf, football, horticulture and landscaping, animal care and equine studies. Plus, there’s a whole range of other subjects available that will give you the hands on, practical skills that you need to secure the job of your dreams.

Our track record and ongoing expansion, means we have as strong a reputation as ever in delivering results and making a difference to people’s lives. We’re OFSTED rated GOOD with ‘highly effective teaching, setting high expectations and clear priorities to improve quality of provision, and delivering high quality vocational learning that responds to local, regional and national needs.’

Myerscough is proud to have its roots in Lancashire, but our branches are truly global, helping our students achieve jobs in their dream careers and chosen industries.

Our students have gone on to dream careers as a Premier League footballer, F1 mechanic, international groundsman, overseas marine conservationist and world leading horticulturalist among many, many others.

In addition to Myerscough offering a wide range of study programmes in the land-based and sport sectors, the College also supports the local and regional economies and communities significantly with a wide range of commercial activities, all of which reflect the College’s academic offer. This includes an award-winning garden centre and tea-room, an International Equestrian Arena, golf course, gym, conference facilities, Rural Business Centre and Canine Health Studio.

Find out more here

Innovation

The world is changing at an ever-increasing pace. Colleges are part of that, they help businesses with labour market planning, they are leading the way in the green economy and with technology. In Lancashire, Myerscough is proud to lead the way with the College’s sector-renowned Food and Farming Innovation and Technology Centre.

The centre was opened in 2017, and is available for use by a range of commercial organisations, societies, farmers groups and food businesses - for conferences, exhibitions, training courses, research, food development programmes or regional meetings, in addition to being integrated into College farm and agriculture student life.

Click here for more information about the FFIT Centre

In a national report last year, Myerscough was highlighted as a leading example of a college that works with employers to drive innovation in the workplace, which in turn leads to increasing innovation in the colleges.

Examples of this include:

Myerscough College Rural Business Centre (RBC), which was originally founded with the help of development funds as a result of the foot and mouth crisis. The building was designed to provide incubator and start-up support to small rural-focussed businesses, and continues to support them to this day. The RBC provides low-cost office rent and space for businesses to develop. It also allows access to other support networks through a range of business networking.

Myerscough College equipment sharing - As a college, Myerscough has extensive links and engagement with in excess of 1000 employers across the country. The nature of the specialist delivery means we expose employers to the managers of the future, whilst in parallel understanding the importance of allowing learners to have experience with the latest innovation in products.

Supporting communities

Myerscough does extensive work with our fantastic students who require additional support to realise their potential. Known as SEND learners (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), the College has a modern, state-of-the-art Foundation Learning Centre, highly qualified and experienced staff, and an Inclusive Learning support network. Staff involved in Inclusive Learning are experts in their field and provide high quality care, which ensures that learners with SEND are fully engaged in their studies and have ownership of their learner journey.

Find out more about Myerscough’s Foundation Learning Centre at the College’s main Bilsborrow campus HERE

Elsewhere in Myerscough’s work to improve the lives of people in the local community, a number of initiatives have been introduced.

This includes the Leading Lancashire programme. This is a scheme where Myerscough College offers the opportunity for businesses in Lancashire to improve the skills of their employees, with free leadership and management qualifications available to the county’s SMEs,

The idea of the programme is to assist businesses to identify, design, develop and implement work-force education and training programmes linked to the strategic needs of the business.

Myerscough College is also committed to playing its part to ensuring skills are at the forefront of economic recovery both during the remainder of, and following the Coronavirus pandemic.

You can read more about our Coronavirus community commitment here