Stockton Riverside College - At the heart of the business community

Sep 14 2006 North East Vision

Stockton Riverside College is a further education establishment that serves the local community, businesses and organisations throughout the Tees Valley and beyond.

The college is situated along the banks of Stockton's riverside and is equipped with state-of-the-art teaching, learning and learner support facilities.

The college provides courses from foundation to advanced level in areas including business, childcare and computing.

Last year, 14,708 students attended Stockton Riverside College, gaining more than 23,860 vocational and academic qualifications.

Stockton Riverside College aims to work in partnership with local businesses to provide practical solutions to their training needs as well as confirming the college's status as an asset to the community.

The innovation and development unit at Stockton Riverside College specialises in providing education and training to industry, business, commerce, the service sector and individual clients.

It is an innovative, successful organisation with the resources and ability to meet specific needs. It provides high quality consultancy and advice with specialist expertise in a wide range of areas.

Train to Gain

Employers are well aware of the costs associated with training but through a new Government initiative called Train to Gain, the innovation and development unit at Stockton Riverside College can offer a huge range of courses in areas as diverse as customer service, ITQ (information technology qualification) and business management - and are available at a time and budget to suit employers' needs.

Train to Gain is aimed specifically at helping employers. If you have employees with no previous level two qualifications and they are aged over 19, they may qualify for free training and you may be eligible for wage subsidies.

Wendy Collins, employment engagement officer at Stockton Riverside College, said: "I speak with employers on a daily basis and I know how aware they are of the benefits of training, but I also know that they are acutely aware of the cost. With the Train to Gain initiative, employers will be able to look at training opportunities which we aim to provide at the college."

For more information about the Train to Gain initiative, contact Wendy Collins on (01642) 732375.

Retail Academy

Stockton Riverside College is also a partner in the Retail Academy. This partnership is designed to support retailers in and around the North-East and Tees Valley to help employers grow their businesses by gaining skills and experience to help them get an edge over competitors.

The Certificate in Retail Principles is designed to fit in around the needs of a busy retail environment and schedule. The course is delivered through seven bite-sized City and Guilds qualifications that are aimed at a variety of specific retail concerns including security in a retail environment, marketing and legislation.

Developed hand in hand with retailers, this new resource is relevant to specific day-to-day queries as well as long-term needs and concerns of retailers in the area.

More information on this can be found at www.retailacademy.org

World class buildings for world class skills

SRC two, a £4.6m development, has been handed over to Stockton Riverside College after completion by the building contractors Mansell.

SRC two is the second phase of development on the college site at Teesdale, which has already been recognised as providing outstanding facilities by the Learning and Skills Council and the Royal Institute of British Architects as an example of "world class buildings for world-class skills."

The new building is located on one acre of land adjacent to the college building and will increase the college provision to cater for students. SRC two will house electrical installation, higher education and a further beauty studio along with many other classrooms and added social space.

Richard Howe, project architect, describes some of the features of the new building, saying: "Along with the unusual elliptical window design on the front façade, another arresting feature is a large internal café atrium and social space.

"There are no corridors at all in the building because it is laid out that way; circulation at ground floor level is via this central atrium café, which is overlooked by balconies on the upper floors, creating a lot of activity."

Sujinder Sangha, college principal and chief executive, said: "SRC two is a magnificent addition to the Stockton Riverside College campus and further extends the existing facilities offered to all of the college's learners.

Completion of the new building takes the college to a new level and it will enhance and support the college's infrastructure and facilities development for teaching and learning and learner support services."

SRC two has been completed in time for the start of the 2006 academic year and students and staff will be making the most of the new facilities.

The innovation and development unit has many other practical and flexible training solutions to suit both company and individual needs.

To discuss any of the training options in this article, contact Stockton Riverside College's innovation and development team on (01642) 732735, fax (01642) 865560 or email business@stockton.ac.uk