Ankerside Centre Management met with representatives from Tamworth College today to discuss their upcoming relocation and what the move will bring to the town centre.
Building upon the centre’s relationship with the college, we are delighted to announce that the college will be partnering with Ankerside to offer a variety of workplace training courses in areas such as Health and Safety, First Aid, Workplace Organisation and Customer Service to both centre staff and its retailers. The courses aim to strengthen existing training, upskilling workers to benefit local businesses.
Claire Boliver, Chief Executive Principal from South Staffordshire College, said: “Our ambition to bring Further Education into the town centre will bring economic and social benefits to the community as well as an exceptional learning environment for the development of the workforce of the future. The central location would make the college’s high-quality courses and apprenticeships even more accessible to people from across the region.
“Our focus is on ‘careers not courses’ which means we don’t just teach courses – we help local people get the skills required by local employers. With the new central location, our ambition is to help more businesses to fill their skills gaps, and get more local people into their dream careers, whatever their starting point.”
Part of South Staffordshire College Group, the college’s move to the site of the former Co-operative Society department store is part of the wider Tamworth town centre regeneration scheme to develop a town centre that meets the needs of 21st century shoppers, residents, and businesses.
The new College Quarter will bring an estimated 1500 students, staff and visitors directly into the town centre, with the college offering a mix of both daytime and evening courses in academic as well as service-based education.
Jason Challoner, president of Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber of Commerce, commented: “By bringing Tamworth College into the heart of the town will enable young adults to take advantage of a great modern learning space and breathe a new youthful energy into the town centre.”
The college plans to open in early 2025.
