South Staffordshire College opens Innovation and Skills Hub at Cannock College 

South Staffordshire College is thrilled to announce the opening of the Innovation and Skills Hub at its Cannock College following a formal opening ceremony today.

Thanks to a £250,000 UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) investment, the Innovation and Skills Hub will support job seekers and economically inactive individuals within the region to get the skills they need to enter employment.

The Innovation and Skills Hub is a cutting-edge space equipped with the latest technology to facilitate interactive and collaborate learning experiences to support local people to secure the skills they need to secure employment.

Within the Innovation and Skills Hub local residents can join a Sector-based Work Academy programme (SWAP). The Government initiative will support individuals to gain sector specific skills with the support of the college and local employers. As part of the programme, individuals will be able to gain relevant work experience to the sector they wish to work in. Participants will also benefit from a guaranteed job interview with an employer and assistance with the application process from our friendly and supportive team.

“We are excited to open the Innovation and Skills Hub, which will play a crucial role in supporting the local community,” said Nick Brown, Adult Skills Lead at South Staffordshire College. “The Innovation and Skills Hub will provide invaluable resources and opportunities for businesses, job seekers, and economically inactive individuals, which will help to drive economic growth and improve employment rates in the Cannock Chase area.”

Job seekers will also be able to access support to prepare for interviews and improve their employability skills within the dedicated interview preparation room.

Local businesses from across the region will also be able to utilise the digital training collaboration suites to support their training, development or meeting needs. Affordable rental charges will apply, making the facility accessible to businesses of all sizes within the region.

In addition to this the Innovation and Skills Hub will be able to provide bespoke training to match your business needs.

Claire Boliver, Chief Executive Principal said “The development of the Innovation and Skills Hub has been made possible through the generous support of the Council via its UKSPF funding. We have been able to renovate an existing, unused building at Cannock College and transform it into a modern, state-of-the-art training facility for the community. We hope the Hub will also serve as a central point for community engagement, fostering a sense of collaboration and support amongst residents”.

Councillor Tony Johnson, Leader of Cannock Chase Council said:  “This exciting initiative has been made possible through the Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund investment. This state-of-the-art centre at South Staffordshire College’s Cannock Campus has transformed a disused building, into a vital resource for business training and employment support.  This is more than a building, it’s an investment in our community’s future, and we’re proud to support the College as it goes from strength to strength.”

For more information about how the Innovation and Skills Hub can support you as an individual or your business growth please contact Adult Skills Lead, Nick Brown by emailing nick.brown@southstaffs.ac.uk.