Oldham College is working with a range of external partners to help young people progress from a technical pathway into real careers, skilled employment or further study.
We joined forces with The Gatsby Foundation as part of this work. Through their Local Area Programme we are focussing together on work to help people better understand – and take advantage of – alternative options that are available to purely academic routes to success.
The Gatsby Foundation’s latest case study video (below) showcases Oldham College’s partnership with Ultimate Products.
In the last 20 years Ultimate Products has grown from a local business, based at Manor Mill into a global success story. They develop new, innovative concepts and bring sought-after consumer goods to the mass market through offices across two continents with headquarters in the UK, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Belgium and Germany.
Last year, in collaboration with Oldham College, they launched the UP Academy which offers structured training, support and work placements for college leavers with the aim of leading to employment opportunities.
They are hosting students on placements in several departments across the business – and recently appointed two students, Ryan and Yasir, to full-time jobs after graduating from the programme.
Craig Holden, Operations Director at Ultimate Products, explains the steps they took to ensure the scheme benefits their business – and the learner.
He said: “What we introduced, firstly, was a mentor so that when a person came on site they would have someone that would provide training for them, would provide coaching and guidance, and that person is normally an experience member of the team within that department.”,
“They get issued a Personal Development Programme which makes clear the types of task that they would be doing, and the training that would go with that. And then they had regular reviews, both with their mentor and also with myself.”
Kohinoor Shah is another Oldham College student who took a placement with Universal Products. In the video below, she talks about why she wanted an industry placement, the kind of work she has been doing, and the significant benefits she has gained – including boosting her confidence, skills and employability.
Craig Holden and Lee Harland, Placement Co-ordinator at Oldham College, also discuss how the partnership began and how everyone is benefiting from the scheme.
Industry Placements of at 315 hours (about 45 days) will be integral to the new T-Level qualifications are set to launch at Oldham College in 2021/22.
These will offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on the job’ experience.
Local employers are at the heart of designing new technical qualifications and pathways to employment – including T-Levels and our apprenticeship programmes which will provide the skilled workers that local employers need.
Any business interested in finding out more can contact us via email to OpportunityAreas.OLDHAM@education.gov.uk
