Derby College will host the regional launch of a new national initiative designed to boost college students’ employability skills and reduce youth unemployment.
Derby College is one of only four Colleges nationwide who have teamed up with REED NCFE Partnership – a venture between recruitment company REED and qualifications awarding body NCFE. They have jointly developed a Student Employability Toolkit (SET) which will now be offered free of charge to other FE colleges.
Using REED NCFE and the pioneer colleges’ experiences in supporting students into jobs, it will provide a proven way for colleges to build better links with employers and ensure that students have the right skills and mindset to get a job.
Colleges in the Midlands will be attending the first of five launches in different regions on Monday October 20 at Derby College’s Roundhouse campus – with further events held at Bournemouth & Poole College, South Essex College, Sunderland College and Stockport College.
Derby College Assistant Principal Learner Journey Helen Jefferson explained: “We are delighted to be taking the lead on the launch of the Student Employability Toolkit which will enable colleges to put student employability at the heart of everything they do.
“At Derby College, we are already providing current students with work placement and part time jobs to boost their CVs and support in their job search after finishing their courses.
“This toolkit takes this work to the next stage and embeds employability into the heart of everything that a College does. It helps colleges ensure that young people have the right mindset and skills that employers need to create and develop a prosperous and sustainable economy.
“It also champions closer working relationships with employers to steer curriculum development.
“Linking individuals’ ambitions with the requirements of employers is at the heart of everything that we do at Derby College and we are therefore ideally placed to be leading the way in this very important work.”
