Jeremy Corbyn tours £5.5m Blackburn College tech hub

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn paid a visit Blackburn College this week to see how the facility equips students with the skills to succeed in an ever-shifting job market.

Mr Corbyn was taken on a tour of the £5.5m Regional Automotive Technology Hub that forms part of the college’s £65m campus.

During the visit, Blackburn College representatives told Mr Corbyn about the site’s links with local employers such as Bowker BMW, Chorley Nissan, and Moffatts Motor Accessories, and how such relationships are preparing young people for the possible impact of Britain’s departure from the EU on employment opportunities.

Speaking at the event, Mr Corbyn said: “I’ve had a great day meeting the staff and apprentices at Blackburn College.

“The car manufacturing industry is vital to the North West and it’s so important that colleges like this get the support they need to continue creating highly skilled workers.”

He added: “The college is excellent and is inspiring students into engineering. I was very impressed with the college’s grasp of and commitment to the local community.”

Blackburn College’s vice principal of curriculum and quality, Tracy Stuart, commented: “As well as enjoying a world-class campus with excellent resources, Blackburn College delivers a curriculum from entry level up to Masters – which supports students to enter and exit their qualification pathway at intervals during their lives.

“We know this approach best equips our students because 9/10 of students who leave the University Centre at Blackburn College are in work or further study within six months for the past four years in a row.”

She continued: “We focus on delivering not just the academic or technical qualifications themselves but the skills and work readiness that employers are looking for.

“We deliver this through our highly qualified and experienced teaching staff and through the expert support staff who provide wraparound care and study skills development to ensure students stay and succeed in their studies.”

Phil Watson CBE, chair of the corporation board at Blackburn College, said Jeremy Corbyn’s visit will help the college showcase its facilities.

He explained: “This particular visit focused on the apprenticeship side, but we also work closely with the employers – who not only offer placements for the students, but have also helped to design the automotive centre and the training programme.”

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