Ministerial visit for DCG

Bondholder Derby College Group (DCG) has recently welcomed the Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Gillian Keegan MP, to see how its new T-Level qualification study programmes will be developed.

DCG is the first FE provider in the East Midlands to launch the new two-year T-Level qualifications, which will see students spend 80% of their time in College and 20% on an industrial placement.

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Gillian Keegan Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills said: “It was wonderful to visit the Derby College Group and to meet some of the pioneering students starting our new T Levels and seeing first-hand how excited they are to be leading the way.”

Kate Martin, DCG Vice Principal, who is leading on the College’s T-Level introduction programme, added: “We are widely recognised for proven strength in these professional and technical subject areas and for our nationally-acclaimed partnership work with employers so we are well-placed to be among the first to introduce these new qualifications.”

The Minister met the first students enrolled on the Construction, Design, Surveying and Planning T-Level programme at the Hudson Building on Pride Park.

After joining in with an ice-breaker activity with the students, Mrs Keegan had a virtual meeting with a group of key employers in the industry who have been instrumental in developing the T-Level programme with DCG through the long-established Employment and Skills Board. These included representatives from Bondholders Morrison Design and Bowmer+Kirkland.

The T-Level programmes have been developed in collaboration with employers so that they meet the skills requirements of industry and better prepare students for the workplace with progression routes either straight into work, through degree apprenticeships or full time university programmes.

As well as gaining work experience at local employers, new facilities are being developed at DCG to support the T-Level programmes including:

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– a virtual reality laboratory at Broomfield Hall for Education and Childcare T Level students to replicate workplace environments such as learning health and safety procedures in pre-school nurseries;

– new digital laboratories and workspace at the Joseph Wright Centre and Roundhouse; and

– enhanced facilities for Professional Construction students at the Roundhouse and nearby Hudson Building .

Gillian Keegan added: “The high-tech facilities and equipment available for the T Level students across the College, were truly impressive. This investment will be crucial in providing the high-quality study programmes which will be recognised as the gold standard in technical education.”