Our Impact Colleges West Midlands We are delighted to be part of Colleges West Midlands, a partnership of 20 colleges throughout the region working together to support skills development and responding as a single voice to new initiatives and government reform. Take a look at the CWM prospectus, “Reignite Your Future” published December 2020 promoting free work-related courses in different areas of the West Midlands region, including Fircroft College. This prospectus was developed to promote the new Regional Skills Recovery Programme, a recent training and skills initiative introduced to combat the impact COVID-19 has had on the regional economy. The programme provides adults with access to free training across the West Midlands enabling them to refresh or redevelop their careers to reignite their futures. The Regional Skills Recovery Programme is specifically for people who are at risk of redundancy, people whose employment has suffered because of COVID-19 or people who wish to upskill or change career direction. Sector Based Work Academy Programmes(SWAPs) SWAP’s last for around 6 weeks and are developed with employers who are recruiting. SWAP’s include work placements and employer support to help develop current and future skills needs, increasing immediate employment prospects. Whilst re-training with a SWAP, learners will not lose their benefits. Technical Training The West Midlands Combined Authority has identified key priority growth sectors for the region and colleges are offering free technical training on a flexible, part-time basis to suit those learners who are currently in work. The technical training courses are aimed at increasing people’s knowledge, skills levels and job opportunities within those sectors allowing them to consider a change in career direction, especially if their current job is at risk. Reignite Your Future! Take a look at College West Midlands' prospectus and see the range of free training programmes available in your local college and enrol now! Adult learning can greatly enhance progression opportunities for those in employment helping them to potentially increase their salary potential, job prospects within their organisation and job satisfaction. For those seeking employment, enhancing their work-related skills can allow them to be more appealing to employers looking for specific knowledge and abilities, enable them to change career direction and increase their confidence when job seeking. Take a look at Colleges West Midlands' Skills Pledge dated June. Our Impact Read all about how our Adobe Certified Associate students benefitted from completing this digital course. The Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) course helped Rosanna to move into a new sector and find a job. Find out more about how Colleges West Midlands is working in partnership with colleges and key stakeholders to benefit the region.