Middlesbrough College boasts an impressive £120million campus with the latest in modern technology and industry professionals at the helm to help students find their place in the world of work.
The college has not only attracted people of all ages and backgrounds to embark on a journey to a rewarding career, but it is also proving to be of great value to North East businesses.
Middlesbrough College teaches a broad range of subjects and holds an award-winning restaurant as well as a simulated aircraft cabin so that students can get a real taste of what it's like to work in their chosen industry. This is why so many employers have already given the college's passionate students a chance to succeed within their businesses.
The high-quality teaching and the industry-standard facilities have resulted in 96% of its full-time students successfully securing employment, an apprenticeship or access to further study at college or university at the end of their studies.
In light of these impressive figures, we spoke with principal and chief executive Zoe Lewis to hear why she believes that taking on an apprentice is one of the wisest business moves you can make in 2023.
Why hire an apprentice?
"There are a number of good reasons to take on an apprentice and one is that as part of being a local business, you will have an interest in supporting the next generation and ensuring the community is as employable as possible," Zoe said.
"And if you can support these students and help develop and shape them through an apprenticeship, then they will become more employable to your business and you'll have the first pick of future employees at very low risk to you. Employers benefit from an enthusiastic individual who is eager to learn and provides fresh ideas - it's good for your organisation and it's good for the people in the community that you serve."
Some employers may be apprehensive about taking on a young person with less experience than they are used to but Zoe explains why it is worth considering.
"There is a temptation to look for and hire people with five or more years of experience but it's really important to break that cycle. We've seen a real correlation between those businesses that we work with who hire our students and the ones that see growth and success."
Northern Skills
The college's apprenticeship and training company, Northern Skills, works with more than 2,000 employers in the North East and Yorkshire to deliver more than 100 different programmes. The experienced team has trained more than 2,200 apprentices and Zoe highlighted that this "puts them in a strong position to help shape the economic landscape of the region".
You might be surprised by the breadth and variety of apprenticeships on offer at the college. With everything from digital marketing, dentistry and engineering to management and construction, almost every industry you can think of is covered.
Plus, the training company has recently entered a partnership with The Open University which means it can provide affordable degree study to students across the Tees Valley, equipping them with the skills and knowledge that employers need.
T Levels offer a new gateway to success
T Levels have also become a popular route for many young people to reach their desired careers and Zoe says the college wants to encourage more students to take this path in the coming years due to recent success.
"We call the new government initiative, T Levels, a 'try before you buy' for the employer so you provide them with work experience and then if you feel that they fit your organisation, you can employ them and put them on an apprenticeship but it gives you the option to see what they're like first.
"It's great for the employer and for the student as it gives them a chance to see what the world of that industry is like so it gives them really hands-on, practical experience. We've got about 400 students on T Levels this year and we're really looking to expand that next year. We're looking for more employers to give our students work experience, particularly in engineering."
The purpose of further education is to be as closely matched to the industry it represents as possible which means that staff knowledge needs to remain up to date. The college has a Back to Industry Week where staff return to the industry they used to work in so that they can ensure if technology, practices or rules and regulations have changed, they are aware and are delivering the latest information to their students.
"This is often very different to other parts of the education system where teachers are more academic in their backgrounds," Zoe said. "Ours are very much industrial professionals - we call them 'dual professionals' so they know the industry and they're great lecturers as well."
Latest in modern technology
Since relocating to Middlehaven in 2008, the college has continued to develop its facilities including its sixth form centre, MC6, and £20m STEM Engineering Centre. In 2022, it opened up a new digital centre and construction skills workshop. Plus, in 2024, it will be opening a new £10million TTE Technical training centre at its Middlehaven campus, relocating the current operation from Southbank.
The inclusive college has invested heavily in modern facilities and equipment that, in turn, provide a great hands-on environment for students. Zoe explained the importance of this.
"The facilities are really important because if you want to be a chef, there's no point learning to be a chef with a normal household oven, you need to be in an industrial kitchen. You need to practise the techniques in a working environment. This means that when the students step into work after their studies or they go into work experience it's not a shock - things feel familiar to them and they're better prepared."
Training existing talent
But the college not only provides employers with apprentices but also helps train their current staff members so that they can develop existing talent.
"One of the best ways to oil the wheels of the economy is to develop your own staff so they can internally progress and be promoted," Zoe said. "They can develop them with us in a number of ways including leadership skills, team leading, health and safety or professional upskilling."
Middlesbrough College is known for investing in skill shortage areas such as digital and engineering in order to help fill the gaps as much as possible. And Northern Skills not only has a campus in Middlesbrough but also has outreach centres in Newcastle, Darlington, Durham, and York to accommodate the needs of North East employers.
Middlesbrough College is the associate sponsor of the North East Business Awards, sponsoring the Business Person of the Year category. The awards take place on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, and nominations close on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Find out more here.
To find out more about Middlesbrough College and what it can offer your business, visit the website here.
