Employer need is at the heart of diverse Nelson and Colne College Group University Centre offer

Nelson and Colne College Group’s Dean of Higher Education is urging businesses to consider utilising this period of time to upskill workforces through a new HE offer designed to support Lancashire’s unique economy.

Dean of Higher Education Charlotte Scheffmann says labour market information (LMI) and the needs of employers sits at the heart of Nelson and Colne College Group’s latest diverse Higher Education offer to support businesses right across Lancashire.

The new wide-ranging University Centre provision is offered at two campuses – Nelson and Colne College and Accrington and Rossendale College – and it includes Applied Sciences, Building and Engineering, Business and Professional Services, Education and Childhood Studies, Health and Social Studies and Humanities. Access to Higher Education qualifications and Higher Level Apprenticeships are also available. 

Employers who are seeking to upskill their workforce to improve business performance and succession planning have the option of flexible delivery around their needs, and this can be as little as one day of study per week. There is also the opportunity for employers to have input into the content of Higher Education courses through Nelson and Colne College Group, enhancing further the tailored delivery method. 

The College Group has a 95% student satisfaction rate for Higher Education, and for those wanting to take advantage of the new HE provision now, the College Group is offering the chance to sign up to a remote HNC or HND in Business, with 50% off the advertised price of the course.

Modules that can be studied as part of the qualifications are wide-ranging and include Business Management, Management Accounting, Management Operations, Research, Marketing, Human Resources and Organisational Structure. What’s more, entry requirements are flexible, and there is the option to study now and for individuals to pay later through a range of HE study loans.

Other Higher Education courses available to sign up to include the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education for those seeking a career in teaching – with 40 places available to begin in September, and study bursaries subject to eligibility.

Charlotte Scheffmann said: “Our new University Centre provision is designed with Lancashire businesses in mind, and particularly the unique East Lancashire economy. 

“Through LMI, we understand that certain sectors of the economy in Lancashire struggle to attract people with the right level of skillset and knowledge, and we know that employers believe that some training that graduates receive from Higher Education institutions out of the area is not particularly well aligned to their needs.

“This is where our offer comes into play, which is local, flexible and affordable. Course delivery, for example, can be one day per week. This means that effectively with a one-year course running for 30 weeks, you could upskill your staff within the equivalent of one month of study days. Half day study options are also available, and we believe that these options are advantageous for businesses to utilise.

“As one of the leading College Groups in the country, we have exceptional satisfaction rates for our Higher Education provision, and a member of our team would be happy to help you today.”

Employers seeking to find out more about the Nelson and Colne College Group’s Higher Education offer can visit www.nelson.ac.uk or www.accross.ac.uk for more information, and can contact the Higher Education Admissions Team on 0333 003 1717 or email [email protected] to apply.