Home > News > February 2004 > 12-Feb-2004

City & Guilds announces plans for high street learning centres

City & Guilds has announced plans to develop a national network of high street learning centres in partnership with Further Education colleges and other training providers.

Known as City & Guilds Local, the new centres aim to provide a friendly and supportive learning environment where people of all ages can drop in seven days a week and take a variety of courses designed to build their confidence and develop new talents.

The plans form part of City & Guilds' long-term commitment towards raising the UK's skills base, and enable every adult to achieve their full potential.

Chris Humphries, Director General of City & Guilds said: "Recognised learning and skills are increasingly the price of entry to rewarding employment for people while employers stand to benefit from improved productivity and success. But for many individuals, accessing effective learning is difficult unless that opportunity is close at hand, completely flexible in timing, and modular so that learning can be fitted around other work, domestic and social commitments.

"City & Guilds Local is our response to that need, bringing learning out of the institution and into the heart of the local community. Our first new centre, developed in partnership with Derby College, will provide highly flexible and accessible courses that can also be tailored to match the skills requirements of local employers. Whether their learning interest is leisure or livelihood, City & Guilds Local will give people access to the tools they need to build a brighter future. This initiative allows us to get much closer to our learners while building a stronger relationship with our colleges and other providers."

Under the scheme, participating Further Education colleges will staff the centres and deliver the training whilst City & Guilds will provide a package of support services.

Initially, City & Guilds Local will focus on flexible IT training but will later introduce programmes in numeracy and literacy, employability skills and management training. Centres will offer a range of courses accredited by City & Guilds, Learndirect and other awarding bodies.

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