Cheshire College helps adults retrain, gaining in-demand skills, for free

£2.5 billion is being invested in the National Skills Fund by the Government to help adults across the UK gain the valuable knowledge required by employers to enter key sectors. In response Cheshire’s largest further education provider, Cheshire College, has launched a range of fully-funded flexible study programmes.

Supporting the economic recovery, as well as enhancing the supply of skills employers increasingly require in such a competitive landscape, the National Skills Fund has been designed for adults who are looking to achieve their first full Level 3 Qualification.  This is part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, a long-term commitment to remove the age constraints and financial barriers for adults accessing education.   

Rated Good by Ofsted, Cheshire College has specifically selected courses which will meet the skill requirements across the region and boost job prospects within the Construction, Health, Digital, Business and Engineering sectors.   

Available across all of the College’s Campuses in Chester, Ellesmere Port and Crewe, the courses comprise of varying lengths and delivery methods ensuring adults, regardless of their circumstances or current commitments, are able to easily access the study programmes.  

Jasbir Dhesi, Principal and CEO of Cheshire College, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer these fully-funded study programmes for adults and have carefully selected qualifications in key sectors across Cheshire and Warrington, which we know address the skills employers require and also offer good prospects for those seeking employment or looking to progress within their current roles.  

“As well as providing Construction, Health and Engineering qualifications as part of our National Skills Fund offer, we also appreciate the importance and need for adults to enhance their Digital skills and are offering programmes in this area too, as well as supporting new business start-ups to access the knowledge needed to grow their enterprises.” 

To celebrate the introduction of the National Skills Fund and the extensive courses made available by Cheshire College, MP for Crewe and Nantwich Dr Kieran Mullan met with local learners and employers at the College’s Crewe Campus last week. He heard first-hand how the National Skills Fund will directly benefit them.  

As part of Dr Kieran Mullan’s visit to Cheshire College, he met with learners who are progressing onto Level 3 study programmes made possible by the National Skills Fund and also took part in a round table discussion with employers the College works with to hear how the National Skills Fund will provide them with opportunities to upskill their current and future workforces for free. 

Any adults aged 24 and over who wants to achieve their first full Level 3 Qualification, which is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or two full A levels, will be able to access the College’s fully-funded courses. 

To find out more about Cheshire College’s National Skills Fund offer visit https://www.ccsw.ac.uk/national-skills-fund/ email info@ccsw.ac.uk or call: 01270 654654/01244 656555. 

• Cheshire College is the largest provider of post-16 education in the region offering exciting opportunities to 11,000 learners and 1,400 Apprentices.  
• Their modern Campuses across Cheshire in Crewe, Ellesmere Port and Chester have world-class facilities which are the result of a £140m investment in the latest technology and real work environments. 
• The College provides learners with the skills, experience and qualifications that will prepare them for their future career or higher-level study and encourage them to become confident individuals who will make valuable contributions to businesses and the local economy.  
• With extremely important values which guide the way they work with each other, their partners and within communities, Cheshire College empower individuals and nurture talent, taking the time to listen, help and care, whilst always acting with honesty, integrity and trust.   
• Cheshire College offers a range of courses from Entry Level to Level 7 in: A Levels; Full-time courses; Apprenticeships; Part-time courses for adults; Access and Higher Education courses; bespoke training for employers; Maths, English, IT and ESOL courses for adults; programmes for International learners; Futures Programme for learners aspiring to progress to university.   
• They are also the only Further Education College in Cheshire to have been selected by the Government to offer a new two-year qualification, T Levels, from September 2021.   
• Cheshire College works with key stakeholders and leads on initiatives to provide high-quality education for all ages in Crewe, Ellesmere Port and Chester.  
• They also work with employers, industries and organisations to drive economic growth through the development of future e-focused skills.  
• Cheshire College is on a mission to develop digital across the community with their new five-year project, ‘The Digital Hub’, which is part of a £5m investment made by Cheshire and Warrington LEP. The Digital Hub aims to deliver skills and career pathways in additive manufacturing and Virtual and Augmented Reality, as well as improve Advanced Manufacturing Skills to expand digital infrastructures in existing workforces and facilitate access to technology within community organisations.  
• The College has strong links with local businesses of all sizes and work with many major employers such as Bentley, Brownlow Furniture, Ecolab, Vauxhall Motors, Scottish Power, Unilever, Brunning and Price and National Grid.  
• Cheshire College are an approved Apprenticeship provider and can support local employers who are using the Levy system to recruit and train Apprentices within their business.