Gloucestershire College Joins Collab Group

The Collab Group of Colleges is pleased to announce Gloucestershire College as its newest member. The college has a strong focus on high quality technical and professional education, delivered in partnership with a range of employers. Gloucestershire College plays a key role in increasing the productive capacity of the region and this is supported by a strong market orientated strategy. The college works with around 1300 employers and delivers 1200 apprenticeships annually, with 650 starts in 2017/18. This strong commercial focus makes Gloucestershire College an excellent fit for Collab Group.

Gloucestershire College also has strong links with the local community. This has resulted in high confidence from employees and a genuine willingness to support the college. Parents are an active partner in college life over the last two years and the employer, student and parent voice is strong across the College. The last round of perception surveys recorded satisfaction rates of 99% from employers and 91% from students.

GC offers a wide range of technical provision which focuses on key sectors for Collab Group; these include Construction, Engineering and Manufacturing, Social Care and digital. The college offers a wide range of choice to learners with excellent support and careers services. The college will make a great addition to the Collab Group network of commercially minded and forward-thinking colleges, and we are delighted to welcome them on board.

Ian Pretty, CEO of Collab Group, said:

I am delighted that Gloucestershire College has joined Collab Group. The college has demonstrated, a clear commitment to working strategically with employers to provide learners with excellent education and training opportunities. The college has a considerable local reputation and we greatly look forward to working together. It is my pleasure to welcome Matthew Burgess, his leadership team, and all students and staff at Gloucestershire college into the Collab Group network.

Matthew Burgess, Principal and Chief Executive of Gloucestershire College, said:

We are pleased to join this innovative group of colleges to take a leading role in shaping future skills needs for the benefit of the UK economy. Our vision ‘learning that works’ supports the group’s focus on developing the technical and professional skills in demand by employers, and giving students the employability skills needed to meet their career aspirations. We look forward to working with our fellow members on sharing best practice in technical and professional education in order to continuing making a positive impact in Gloucestershire and beyond.