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Help South Staffordshire College to shape its curriculum to close skills gaps in your region

February 2023

Group of business people chatting around a table

South Staffordshire College (SSC) is looking for support from businesses like yours to help close the skills gap in your industry and specifically within your local area, through the development of its new skills’ advisory panels and a special skills advisor role.

Taking part in the skills advisory panel or becoming a skills advisor, will provide a unique opportunity for your business to have a real contribution to shape the curriculum being delivered in your local college both now and in the future whilst simultaneously ensuring your future workforce have the skills you and your sector really need.

Skills advisory panel

SSC want to ensure that its courses help teach the right skills needed for your industry, so that when students complete their studies and move into the world of work, they can be an instant benefit to your business.

The purpose of the skills advisory panel is to enable the college to consult with employers most likely to employ its students upon completion of their course to ensure they have the most in demand skills. The college is creating a skills advisory panel for each course area / industry and will allow employers to help the college to ensure its course content is entirely relevant for industry as well as advising on any changes you as industry experts think need to made to ensure the curriculum enables students to gain the skills most needed by your business and your sector.

What is a skills advisor?

As an expert within your sector, the college would like to ask for your expertise as a skills advisor. As a skills advisor you will have the opportunity to consult on the colleges curriculum but to also showcase your sector to future potential employees through guest speaking opportunities, hosting student visits, running masterclasses and careers talks, or by offering work experience placements to SSC students.

In return for your time and expertise, skills advisors will ensure your future workforce has the skills your industry needs. You will receive VIP invites to a range of awards events held by SSC, receive the college’s employer newsletter and regular updates on funding opportunities. You will also have access to thousands of students who could just be your next recruit.

Kirk Hookham, Deputy CEO at South Staffordshire College said “Whilst many national qualifications contained an element of employer involvement when they were approved, we are keen to ensure our programmes meet the current and future needs of our local and regional employers. By getting involved you can make a real difference to the skills our students, your future workforce, develop.

If you can help us shape the skills of your future workforce and make a real impact in your industry, please feel free to email Marcus Roberts, Director of Faculty for some more information using employers@southstaffs.ac.uk