Improving aspirations in Ashfield

Ashfield School was built in 1964 and is now the third largest state-funded secondary school in the UK with over 2,600 students aged 11 to 19. In 2003 staff embarked on the Ashfield Skills Centre project to respond to the enterprise and vocational needs of the local area; bringing together young people, employers, enterprise agencies and the wider community. With a focus on specific skills gaps and the regeneration of the local area, the Centre opened in 2007 and now trains school students and people from the surrounding areas.

It has experienced remarkable successes since it opened in September 2007:

• 173 individuals have been helped in starting their own businesses, creating 49 new enterprises
• 51 businesses have been supported to improve their performance
• 217 adults from the wider community have gained basic literacy skills
• 102 people, plus the school’s own students, have been assisted to get a job

The Centre offers a range of engaging and relevant courses, giving the people of Ashfield the opportunity to learn new skills and improve their employability. It works with employers, individuals and partners to identify current and future skills engage those who would not normally consider joining a learning programme. It has made a major contribution to the future social and economic prospects of the local area through its iconic training and enterprise offer.

The success of the Centre is demonstrated by the fact that people from across the world have come to see the project in action in order to replicate it back home. The Centre has also hosted visits from UK business people and entrepreneurs looking to develop their own communities.

Background

The district of Ashfield is a former coalmining area with higher than average unemployment and wards ranked amongst the most deprived in the country. Facing economic challenges resulting from the decline in traditional trades and a lack of growth in new industries, staff at the district’s Ashfield School designed and delivered a project that has transformed the aspirations of the area’s young people and fostered a culture of enterprise throughout the whole community.

Commercial partnerships

This £7million project at Ashfield School is comprised of a number of parts to link learning with the real world. Electronics manufacturing vocational courses are run in association with the IT firm Cisco. The graphic design centre in partnership with company BEARIT develops skills ranging from video editing to web design. Other facilities include a hair and beauty salon, textiles unit and a business and finance centre offering financial and entrepreneurial advice. In addition, workshops deliver vocational courses in construction (in partnership with Carillion), automotive and engineering skills (in partnership with the RAC) and hospitality (in partnership with Charnwood Training Consultants).

These industrial partnerships are an innovative feature of the Centre. They have brought a range of tangible benefits to the project, both in terms of cash and in-kind support. The RAC fitted out a training workshop and Hyundi and Kia donated cars for students to work on. Carillion supplied the tools and resources needed to train students in the construction industry and Charnwood brought in over £200,000 of equipment and furniture, even employing a full-time chef, to run the hospitality and catering academy.

Provision has also been established for young people considering a career in the uniformed services with courses offered at a number of levels for students aged 11 to 18. These courses are run with input and support from uniformed service professionals in the Ashfield area.

Next steps

The Centre isn’t complacent in its success. It has ambitious plans for growth and a vision to help ‘future proof’ the local economy by helping young people and adults obtain relevant vocational skills giving them the chance to progress within the labour market and reach their potential.

Current plans include an Apple Regional Training Academy for the delivery of digital imagery, photography, video and printing courses. A media training centre is also under discussion with the Media Group, Life Channel and Heart 106 Radio.

It is expected that the raising of the school leaving age will make the Centre an even more important part of the community. With more young people staying on in education or training, it’s essential that the routes on offer motivate them and complement their learning styles. The Centre will be key to achieving this in Ashfield.

There’s no doubt that the Ashfield Skills Centre has provided a unique and innovative approach to vocational training for both the school and its surrounding neighbourhoods. Providing a catalyst for economic regeneration, it has revolutionised the learning opportunities available for young people and the wider community.

The project is a shining example of how education can motivate people to be successful. Providing a bridge between education and enterprise it has developed a sustainable vision which has the potential to be rolled out in other areas of the UK and beyond.