Colleges Week 2020 will take place Monday 19 October - Friday 23 October 2020.
It is a chance to celebrate and shout about all of the brilliant things that colleges do, day in and day out to build communities, boost businesses, and support individuals.
There are 5 key themes covering:
- Be at the centre of the economic rebuild
- Support the construction & built environment to adapt and grow
- Be at the centre of innovation and designing the future
- Support people and communities
- At the centre of the COVID-19 response.
Everyday we will be sharing stories of how Leeds College of Building supports students, staff, businesses and the wider community.
Monday 19 October - Be the Centre of the Economic Rebuild
We have a long history of supporting employers and the local community to upskill or retrain, and at the start of 2020 we had 2,500 apprentices, working for 600 construction based companies, across the whole of the UK.
Employers who recruit an apprentice can take advantage of incentive payments, up to £2,000 per apprentice.
This week we have launched the Skills Plan, a free service to employers across the Leeds City Region, where we will work with businesses to review current and future workforce development and identify training and skills needs.
Tuesday 20 October - Support the construction & built environment to adapt and grow
As specialists in construction, we are at the forefront of industry developments, we work with employers and industry bodies across the UK, to create and deliver courses and apprenticeships that meet industry needs now and in the future.
From civil engineering to plumbing, and from painting & decorating to transport planning, helping businesses to grow and people to get new skills and experiences.
Read former student Robert Jowitt’s story about the vital work he is doing with the Canal & River Trust, leading a team who are repairing Toddbrook Reservoir and keeping it secure. Rob was inspired to follow a career in civil engineering by a College lecturer.
Wednesday 21 October - Be at the centre of innovation and designing the future
Leeds College of Building deliver over 200 courses related to Construction & the Built Environment. By working in partnership with employers and industry bodies the College has successfully launched new apprenticeships in civil engineering and transport planning.
In 2019 we opened phase 2 of our South Bank campus after receiving an £11.9m investment from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP), delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal - a £1 billion package of government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.
Phase 2 is home to the College’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Centre which includes GUNT experimental equipment for fluid flow, heat exchange and changes of state and materials testing. We also have Virtual Reality headsets and a BIM (Building Information Modelling) Suite where students can use CAD and Revit software. A large proportion of our 6,000 students attend the two South Bank sites, with the remainder using the College’s North Street Campus which recently benefitted from £1-million of the funding for refurbishment. This included the relocation of the Dulux Academy, one of the largest Painting & Decorating training facilities of its kind in the UK.
Thursday 22 October - Support people and communities
The College works hard to ensure everyone has the support they need to learn, achieve and enjoy college life.
We have an Inclusive Learning Support Service team who are committed to working with students to help them overcome any barriers to learning they might face.
Our Student Advisers can help students make the most of their time at college, whether on a study programme or an apprenticeship they receive support with academic difficulties and any help with personal problems and difficulties.
The College also offers a supported provision for students with SEND, aged between 16 - 24 years, who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have High Needs. The Bridge Builder course can be personalised to meet most individual needs; learners will work towards outcomes linked to further study, employment and independent futures. The course benefits from reduced class sizes and a small dedicated staff team who work closely with the students throughout their course.
Friday 23 October - At the centre of the COVID-19 response.
The College is committed to supporting our students and the College community. Whether you’re a student, a member of staff or part of the wider College community, we all have a role to play in creating positive attitudes towards mental health and wellbeing. We put together a page on our website about support and resources during lockdown. This included useful webpages and tips to look after your health.
To encourage the college community to stay active and keep in touch, we posted weekly health and fitness challenges on our social media channels.
We will be sharing our stories on all of our social media sites, why not follow Leeds College of Building on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter
