The Growth Company Education and Skills welcomed Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram for a tour of the St Helens Training Centre.
Joined by Councillor Kate Groucutt and Steve Littler, Assistant Director Property & Economy at St Helens Borough Council, they explored the facilities and talked to the team about the provision the Growth Company offers to the St Helens community.
They also had the chance to talk to some learners about their future career plans after completing their programs, including Maddisun, who after completing her Health and Social Care qualification is hoping to pursue a career in psychology to use her own experiences to help teenagers and young people.
During the visit, Mayor Rotheram expressed the importance of employability skills training and praised the positive impact that the training centre is having on young people in the region.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Having trained as an apprentice, I know better than most the life-changing impact that good quality careers advice can have on a young person’s future. But for far too long, too many young people in our area have been prevented from reaching their full potential – not by a lack of talent – but a lack of opportunity.
“Local skills and training providers help us to deliver on our promise of hope to the next generation by giving them the support they need to open up a world of possibilities and build a bright future for themselves.”
Learners at the St Helens Training Centre benefit from unique programmes that focus on the learner journey and wrap-around support from the onsite support team to help them in their journey after leaving school.
Class sizes are kept small to ensure each learner receives one-to-one support and the delivery is focused on each individual. Learners are also taught by experienced staff who can support additional learning needs.
Employability skills are embedded throughout the provision offered at the centre. As part of the integrated employability sessions, learners gain an understanding of areas that are often missed as part of traditional education, including personal finance, budgeting, research skills, digital skills, creating an online portfolio and running a business.
Learners also have the opportunity to take part in summer enrichment programmes during the half-term break where they go out into the local community and gain further essential skills.
Jon-Paul Rimington, Managing Director of GC Education and Skills, said: “It was great to welcome guests to the Training Centre to see the amazing work that the team are doing for the community and hear first-hand from some of our learners the positive impact it has had on them.
“Our St Helens Training Centre is an important part of the town centre and we’re dedicated to ensuring that our provision meets the needs of the town and allows learners to realise their potential. We’re proud to provide a space that focuses on the learner journey and offers bespoke support as they build the skills they have into careers.
“We also work with other external agencies across the area to ensure that no one slips through the gaps, if our offering is not right for them, we will find something that is.”
Visit the website to find out more about the St Helens Training Centre and the programmes we offer: https://www.gceducationandskills.ac.uk/st-helens-training-centre/
