Learning & Skills chief seeks council with college

The new Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council, Mark Haysom, is visiting City of Wolverhampton College’s excellent media facilities this Friday (14 November), as part of a tour of the city of Wolverhampton.

The visit should be particularly interesting for Mark who spent almost 30 years working in the newspaper industry, most recently as Managing Director of National Newspapers for Trinity Mirror.

Mark has been in post since October 2003. Speaking on his first day at the LSC, he said that the organisation’s priorities were clear:

“We must continue to focus on 16-18 participation and to drive up skills. We must also continue to involve employers of every size and type and to work closely in partnership with colleges and other providers to maintain the quality and scope of provision. Over the next few months, I plan to meet and listen to our partners - schools, colleges and other providers, as well as businesses - to get their comments and views on what is working well, and where improvements can be made. Together, we can, and will, turn our vision for a nation with world-class knowledge and skills into reality."

He will experience first-hand the links being forged between City of Wolverhampton College and Sandwell College with employers from the media and creative industries across the West Midlands, in order to provide relevant skills training for future employees in the business.

Pete Whitehouse Mediacove Co-odinator said “The visit is really well timed, CoVE status has helped develop student numbers and improve our links with employers in the media and music industry. For instance, we are currently working with a large number of local and regional newspapers to provide the NCTJ training course for their employees and in addition have established a Mediacove Employers Forum, which is actively assisting in areas such as curriculum design, ensuring that we meet the needs of the industry we are currently serving'.

Mark will meet with members of the Mediacove employers forum, Mike Lockley, Group Editor of the Midland Weekly Media Group, Marie Wright, Sales Director of Beacon Radio, Mike Simpson, Account Director Connect PR and Paul Birch, Managing Director of Revolver Records. He will also get the opportunity to talk with students and gain a better insight into the way the Mediacove is working with local employers.

Val Bailey, Sandwell College’s Principal said, “I am proud of the continuing success of the Mediacove and the genuine partnership with City of Wolverhampton College. Both college’s have brought considerable expertise to the CoVE which has enriched the learning experience available to students.”

Following lunch at the college Mark will conclude his visit to Wolverhampton with a look at the new £7million learning quarter development in the city centre.

Ian Millard, Principal of City of Wolverhampton College, said: “ The CoVE award is the culmination of two years hard work and we are very proud to welcome Mark to City of Wolverhampton College to meet with our staff and students. I am very impressed by the way Wolverhampton and Sandwell Colleges have worked in partnership and I am sure that Mark will see the benefits that good relationships like these can bring to education.”

The Mediacove provides a Black Country Learning hub with high quality facilities for training in journalism, media, music, television, multi-media, animation and photography. Part of a £100m government initiative, it is designed to foster high quality training and education in specialist areas and put employers’ needs at the heart of the curriculum.

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