A new initiative between further education and sixth form colleges across the West of England has been launched.
The Roper Building at Bath College
By raising aspirations and opening new opportunities, the Colleges West partnership aims to help improve lives and create lasting benefits for communities across the region.
Colleges West represents five leading institutions – Bath College, City of Bristol College, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, and Weston College – to provide a unified voice for further and sixth form education, and support work being led by the West of England Mayor Helen Godwin to drive economic growth.
With a combined annual turnover of £215 million and links to more than 6,700 employers, the region’s five colleges deliver high-quality education and training to more than 50,000 learners every year.
They are also major regional employers, with more than 3,380 employees.
The partnership began meeting earlier this year to strengthen alignment between colleges, employers and national and local government departments.
The partnership will also play a key role in relation to skills on the West of England’s new Business Board.
In a joint statement, the CEOs and principals of the member colleges said: “The launch of Colleges West is an exciting moment for collaboration in the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority area, further strengthening the critical role that colleges play in delivering economic growth, social mobility, and stronger communities.
“By working together, our colleges can better support Government and employers to ensure the West of England has the skills it needs to thrive.”
Metro Mayor Helen Godwin added: “This new partnership will back skills and back growth. Our colleges and sixth forms give learners the opportunity to get on and, working together with Colleges West in this new chapter for our wider region, we can show everyone how they can be part of a bright future.
“In the week that we look forward to launching our new regional Growth Strategy for the coming decade, it’s right to have young people front and centre.”
