Closer ties have been forged between City of Wolverhampton Council and City of Wolverhampton College to secure the college's financial future.

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The new relationship will provide a boost to the jobs and growth agenda in the city - helping to get more people into employment.

City of Wolverhampton Council is providing a financial guarantee and governance support to enhance the further education offer.

At the college board meeting on Monday 5 senior council figures were appointed to the Board of Governors.

Managing Director, Tim Johnson, was named as the new Chair of the Board of Governors, Amanda Newbold, Head of School Improvement, became Joint Vice Chair, while Angela McKeever, Head of Skills, Isobel Woods, Head of Enterprise, and Chief Accountant, Alison Shannon, will support as governors.

The college received a Good Ofsted rating in November 2017 and the council is keen to help them build on it.

It is viewed as fundamental to closing the skills gap between job seekers and what city employers require from them, as identified in the Wolverhampton Skills and Employment Action Plan.

The plan also highlights the development of a City Learning Quarter as a key project - and the new closer working relationship between the council and the college will help in delivering this vision.

The aim is to improve the offer to all users of Central Library, the college and the council's Adult Education provision.

Councillor Lynne Moran, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "It is vital we improve the city's learning, apprenticeship and employment offers to young people and adults in Wolverhampton.

"This enhanced relationship with the college will enable us to more easily create a more joined up approach for local residents to access the support they need.

"The City Learning Quarter will help allow education and skills providers to flourish and grow together."

Malcolm Cowgill, City of Wolverhampton College Principal and Chief Executive, added: "This is a significant milestone for the college and for the City of Wolverhampton.

"Having the College and Council aligned will focus our efforts to meet the local skills agenda with the City learning Quarter at the heart of our partnership."

  • released: Thursday 26 July, 2018