Angela Richardson, MP and Kathy Slack, Chief Executive of Enterprise M3 LEP, officially open new Care Skills Training Centre at Guildford College

MP for Guildford, Angela Richardson (@AJRichardsonMP) and Kathy Slack (@KathySlackEM3), Chief Executive of Enterprise M3 LEP (@enterprisem3) officially opened a new Care Skills Training Centre at Guildford College (@GuildfordCollBC) this week.

A collection of local medical professionals and care sector staff gathered at the campus in Stoke Road on Thursday afternoon in order to be treated to a tour of the facility which students are already benefitting from.

Angela Richardson MP said:

“Guildford College is already an establishment of great repute when it comes to the quality of training it offers its students.

“Pair that reputation with the business expertise of Enterprise M3 LEP, the experience of Activate Learning in offering students in Guildford a solid stepping stone in life, together with the generosity of key local businesses and you get a new facility, right here in Guildford which capitalises on the greater challenges of our day and brings great promise and innovation the Surrey, and indeed the whole country.”

After welcoming speeches were given, guests (including those from Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust) were invited into the facility where Activate Learning’s Chief Executive Sally Dicketts, along with Angela Richardson, MP and Kathy Slack, Chief Executive of Enterprise M3 LEP proceeded to cut the official opening ribbon.

Real life work placements invaluable to today’s learners

Sally Dicketts, said: “We have worked hard with a number of NHS Trusts across the Surrey region to provide real-life, work placements for students within care settings and this is invaluable to our learners.

“With the addition of this new state-of-the-art Care Skills Suite, our students at Guildford College will be able to take what they are learning within real-life care settings and develop their skills further.

“This development is part of our wider strategy to engage with local employers and identify the areas where there are skills gaps within the workforce and provide the training and education that will support the workforce of such a vital public service for years to come.”

Current Health and Social Care students of Guildford College were on hand to show guests around the facility which includes a simulated hospital ward, a fully equipped residential environment and an impressive high-tech 360-degree virtual immersive learning space

Guildford College Health and Social Care student, Ella, said

 “I’ve really enjoyed showing our guests round the care skills centre this evening, it’s a great learning facility and will really help to prepare me for my chosen career in nursing.”

Developing skills by providing training that employers want

With funding contribution from Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, this best in-sector facility will provide students with opportunities to practise and refine the skills they need to make them ready for life in the workplace.

Kathy Slack, Chief Executive Enterprise M3 LEP, said ” This is what employers want – training that is innovative, up to date and which delivers first class nurses and care workers with the skills and confidence gained from working in real life settings.

“We know that our greatest skill needs are in nursing and care.  Today has shown me how our investment of £424k can help deliver what our economy and employers need for the future. Hearing how motivated students were from this new style of training was so impressive.”