"The Investment Into Skills is Transformational" - Ian Girling at College's 2030 Strategy Event.
On Friday, 23rd January, we were proud to bring together civic leaders, business voices, student representatives and our colleagues at Poole’s Lighthouse for our Staff Conference, to share our ambitious five-year vision for the future.
With partnerships spanning over 1,000 businesses and more than 10,000 students learning across a broad curriculum, Phil Sayles, Principal and CEO of Bournemouth and Poole College, shared how the college will continue to align education with the needs of learners, employers and the regional economy.
A panel discussion, entitled: “What do our communities need from Bournemouth and Poole College?”, saw Neil Duncan-Jordan, MP for Poole, Millie Earl - Leader of BPC Council, Ian Girling - Chief Executive, Dorset Chamber and Gareth Sherwood - Chief Executive Officer, YMCA Bournemouth and Taia Fedchenko, College Senior Student Rep discuss the impact and benefits the college brings to its conurbation and wider region.
Speaking during the discussion, Millie Earl praised the College’s role in addressing critical skills shortages, stating that, “with the current challenges, those skills in things like advanced engineering, green skills and creativity come from here”. She added: “The College is doing an amazing job at fulfilling skills in the area.”
Neil Duncan-Jordan MP emphasised the importance of the College in providing opportunity and social mobility for young people and adults across Poole and beyond: “The College provides the workers of tomorrow, giving opportunities to people who wouldn’t have the opportunities otherwise.”
The panel also considered whether young people are getting a good deal from education and what colleges can do to prepare learners for the future. Ian Girling noted the importance of equipping students not only with technical skills, but also with the life and employability skills needed to thrive in the modern workplace.
The event also welcomed keynote speaker Dr. Paul Redmond, a leading expert in generational theory and employability, who presented ‘From Boomers to Beta: Learning, Teaching and Working Across Five Generations’, examining how education providers and employers must adapt to generational change in an evolving labour market.
We’re hugely proud that the Conference was delivered with students at the centre. College students across a range of curriculum shot videos, photographed the day, performed on stage, and helped to take care of guests, acting as ushers and guides. A collective effort and a clear statement of intent for the role the college will play in shaping the region’s future.
