FURTHER EDUCATION HUB TO SUPPORT GROWING CANNOCK ECONOMY

A new further education hub will open in Cannock town centre this September, in a bid to meet the needs of local and regional employers and a growing economy in the District.

The Cannock Chase Skills and Innovation Hub will be based at the campus location owned by South Staffordshire College, and is the result of Cannock Chase Council and the College working together to create a new partnership venture. 

The hub will give the District’s young people access to a range of education and skills opportunities provided locally, and will deliver courses, training and apprenticeships across seven new disciplines.

It comes as the District gears up for the arrival of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cannock, the future development of the Rugeley Power Station site, as well as other significant business and industrial expansion anticipated over the next few years.

Learning opportunities will be provided in engineering / advanced manufacturing, electrical installation and electrical engineering, energy, construction, digital, health and social care and early years, and mathematics and English for employability. 

Some of these will be available from this September while others will be developed in future academic years.

There will also be an apprenticeship hub, as well as incubators for start-up businesses, and space for office use.

Claire Boliver, Chief Executive Principal of South Staffordshire College, said: 

“After many months of weighing up a wide variety of options, we have now arrived at a new futurefor the Cannock Campus that we feel represents the best outcome for the local community.

“Having taken advice from all stakeholders, we have now completed our due diligence and come to the decision that the new Skills and Innovation Hub will be the most financially sustainable and economically beneficial use of this site. This will benefit local employers, small businesses and start-ups, learners and job seekers.

“We are therefore no longer offering the site on the open market, and are now at advanced stages of discussions with our partner stakeholders to move forward with this plan.”

Councillor George Adamson, Leader of the Council said,

“After positive discussions with the College and employers, we have created a very new and exciting opportunity for further education in the District. 

“The College should be commended for exploring and now committing to this new venture, and we welcome the support of the business community to help provide invaluable educational opportunities which will help to raise skills levels among the local workforce.

“The District Council is already committed to investing £500,000 into an engineering academy to provide modern equipment.”

More details on courses provided by South Staffordshire College are available by calling 0300 456 24 24.