Partnership Events
Partnership Event, City College Plymouth
“It is clearly apparent that employers are willing to provide useful inputs into the design, development and delivery of our higher education programmes which will ultimately improve the revelance of our qualifications to meet the needs of both employers and students, as well as engage their own employees in opportunities for continued professional development”.Julie Goering, Higher Education Manager, City College Plymouth
City College Plymouth organised an event to celebrate, with our employer contacts, our joint success in growing a workforce to meet the region’s aspirations.
Our key drivers for the event were to:
- Explain the changing landscape of higher education; raising awareness of our higher education courses and increasingly flexible provision
- Explore opportunities to work in collaboration to enhance our higher education provision
- Identify skills / knowledge needs
- Stimulate demand for higher level skills (primarily part-time routes)
- Establish employers as partners in course development
- Celebrate our success so far in working collaboratively with employers
The partnership lunch was organised by the college's higher education team and sponsored by the Workhigher strand of Aimhigher. 44 people attended the lunch which consisted of a three course meal prepared and presented by students studying hospitality courses at the College, in our own Cite Restaurant.
The event began with a welcome from the Principal followed by an introduction from the Head of Higher Education, and concluded with a speech from BCU Commander for Devon and Cornwall Constabularly. The College's higher education team (including various programme co-ordinators), staff from our Enterprise Development Team and Marketing attended the event, as well as over 20 employers. Every employer in attendance at the event has expressed an interest in continuing to work with us in one way or another.
This was an enjoyable event that raised the profile of our higher education provision, as well as learning a great deal from the employers in attendance. It is clearly apparent that employers are willing to provide useful inputs into the design, development and delivery of our higher education programmes which will ultimately improve the revelancy of our qualifications to meet the needs of both employers and students, as well as engage their own employees in opportunities for continued professional development.
Overall, this event has confirmed the importance of continually working with employers and highlighted the subsequent benefits that can ensue for both employers and City College Plymouth as a provider, and ultimately current and future students.
Tips
- Use the expertise available within your College, i.e. working with teams across the College to ensure success
- Create a clear plan of action, with clear timescales and identifying who will do what
Staff feedback
“we have gained more insight into employer’s possible needs and where we can support them”.
Employer feedback
“I look forward to forging further links with the college and expanding our relationship – all that I have been involved in has been on a very positive basis”
“Thank you for working with us to develop flexible courses that enable our workforce to realise their full potential and exceed our expectations, we look forward to continuing to work together”
“I learned a lot I did not know before I hope there will be some opportunity to work together”
“We will hopefully be offering six more students to the Neighbourhood Management pathway and we welcome your students on work placements”
Resources
- Financial: The whole lunch event cost about £550 (including promotional materials, as well as the meal).
- Time: You need a member of staff to oversee all of the arrangements for the day. Time was spent locating appropriate employer contacts and formalising the invitations, venue and detailed arrangements, also chasing up invitation responses.
