Wigan & Leigh College is responding to the national and local levelling up agenda by increasing the breadth of its curriculum offer, delivering more higher technical education opportunities at its new Centre for Advanced Technical Studies.

The Centre opened its doors to students in September to expand and focus on higher technical skills to benefit people in the Wigan borough and beyond.

Based in Wigan town centre, opposite the College’s Parsons Walk building, the new Centre offers dedicated space and facilities to develop future health professionals, civil engineers and digital and cyber specialists.

Anna Dawe is Principal of the College. She said:

“The new and modernised curriculum is for those who want to train and develop their specialist higher level technical skills to respond to skills shortages in specific careers. It is for those who are looking for a financially more rewarding career and for employers who need to upskill their current workforce. Working with our partners, the Centre is part of an integrated skills system that will attract larger employers to our borough and ultimately bring higher paid job opportunities.”

The College is working with employers such as Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust and Wigan Council to make sure that it is offering the skills needed to prepare future nurses and care workers.

And in engineering, students, tutors and the College community already benefit from positive working relationships with engineering companies such as Sellafield and MBDA but, Anna says, the College wants to do more.

“We want to extend our work with employers, providing more bespoke, tailor-made training and career pathways, so that businesses have ongoing access to a higher level skilled workforce. Our existing employer partnerships are already delivering huge benefits in areas such as engineering and health and the response from local business leaders has been very positive. Partnership and collaboration between skills providers such as ourselves and employers is the only way we will truly respond to the levelling up agenda.”

Employers who are interested in working with Wigan & Leigh College to provide work placements or advise on curriculum can contact The Employer Engagement Team on employerengagement@wigan-leigh.ac.uk or call: 01942 761615.