New training centre could give lifeline to Stourbridge College students
Students affected by the planned closure of Stourbridge College have been offered a potential lifeline in the shape of a new education centre for the town.
Skills Training UK has revealed it is looking at opening a new base to replace the college campus on Hagley Road.
The Government-funded national training provider has sites in Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall and said it planned to launch a new centre "in the heart of Stourbridge" if there is enough interest.
Bosses said they wanted to assess the level of demand before committing to opening a centre in Stourbridge, which would offer post-16 vocational courses for people aged 16 to 18.
They are hoping to take advantage of the closure of the college by offering an alternative training base for students, many of whom have been left facing trips to Dudley or Halesowen colleges from September.
A campaign spearheaded by former Dudley Council leader Pete Lowe to save the college has gathered momentum over recent weeks.
Union leaders have been in discussions with bosses at Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet), which runs the site, but there has been no indication yet of a change of heart.
The new centre would initially provide Level 2 BTEC vocational qualifications in business enterprise, customer service operations, and warehousing and storage. Travel support and bursaries could also be available.
Joanne Heywood, operations manager at Skills Training UK, said: “Our tutors help learners to develop their skills and confidence so they can progress to their next stage – further education, an apprenticeship, or employment.
“With small group sizes and bespoke mentoring support available, we can offer young people the support they need to succeed. But we need to establish local demand first.
“We therefore encourage everyone in the community to register their interest in a Skills Training UK Stourbridge Centre via our online form if they want dedicated post-16 vocational support to continue in the Stourbridge area.”
Councillor Lowe, Labour ward member for Stourbridge, said the interest from the training provider was a "positive step" for the town.
He said: "What we would want to do is look at the finer detail but if we have got an educational organisation looking at Stourbridge College and trying to help it can only be a positive step.
"It is certainly a significant step in the right direction, depending on the scale of the offer."
He added: "My main focus is Stourbridge does not lose further education provision."
People can register their interest in the Skills Training UK centre at skillstraininguk.com/stourbridge-support.
