Birmingham College students bridge skills gap with Industry Day project

Students at Birmingham’s Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College helped bridge the skills gap – with their first ever Industry Day project.

 AS-Level students recently took part in the interactive two-day initiative aimed at providing insightful employer-led programmes within the sector of their choice.

The purpose of the sessions was to broaden the students’ horizons, deepen their understanding of career opportunities they may have not considered before, and give them invaluable industry experience in their chosen field.  

The sessions covered the curriculum areas of Humanities, Science, Art and Design, Business and Finance, Maths and Computing, and Social Science. 395 AS-Level students were eager to take part in the sessions working with the 33 employers who generously gave their time to support the college’s students. 

A spokesman for the college said: “Employer interactions are vital for Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College’s students’ growth, and help to bridge the skills gap, which has become more important than ever. The  college would like to express its thanks to all the employers and its students who attended.”

The College is currently seeking to support its students by providing opportunities for work experience, industry days and mentoring sessions. Interested employers or charities are encouraged to head to the college website: www.jcc.ac.uk or submit an email to wex@jcc.ac.uk. 

This year, 2,400 Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College students also experienced an employer interaction. The spokesman added: “This is especially important in a time when bridging the skills gap is more important than ever.  

“As an educator, Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College aims to continually weave employer-led, industry experiences into its curriculum. This is showcased by the fact that, across its AS/A-Level and BTEC courses, the college has run various valuable work-related activities, including work experience, industry sessions, and trips/visits with over 150 employers in a wide array of sectors.”

To show its appreciation to these employers the Sixth Form College hosted a ‘Employer Thank You’ event, with 92 employers in attendance, including Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Asian Chambers members.

The spokesman said: “It was was a wonderful day filled with outstanding  networking, delicious food, entertainment, and even a small gift. 

The college would like to thank all the employers who attended and supported its students throughout the year. “