East Sussex College's £1million pledge gathers pace

Our £1million pledge is picking up pace, and Director of Sussex Skills Solutions, Stephen Burkes, tells us more about the initiative.

As we enter August 2020, the hibernation of the wider UK economy is drawing to a cautious end.

Furlough is winding down for the majority who used the scheme, and many of those businesses who closed their doors are now open to customers in some face-to-face capacity beyond their online offers.

Although the long term effects of the pandemic remain unknown, for many, it seems that the opportunities and threats expected to emerge over the next five years are now accelerating towards us at pace.

“Change”, “Digitisation” “Vigilance” and “Control” are the keywords of the post-Covid risk management process.

At East Sussex College, we have accelerated our business planning at a previously unheard-of pace. Our goal to offer a technology-led learning experience is no longer an ambition but a core strand of our offer.

Plans to create scale blended online learning solutions that would typically have taken 18 months to be fully embedded were established in less than two months. Since March 2020, all of the college’s existing learners have been supported online using virtual classroom environments to deliver lectures, share feedback and promote debate.

We have also expanded our offer to support the unemployed, establishing virtual sector-based work academies to provide training and support to individuals looking to immediately enter the Health & Social Care sector, filling roles for the NHS, as well as the large number of care homes.

It has been our experience that our learners and staff have risen to the challenge and adapted quickly to the new ways of working. It is this new acceptance of change that creates the real opportunity for business in these unprecedented times.

Working in close partnership with Sussex Chambers of Commerce, East Sussex College Group has developed a suite of qualifications to support businesses to change and adapt by developing skills in four key areas; Digital Skills, LEAN Management, Equality & Diversity, and Mental Health Advocacy in the workplace:

• Level 2 Certificate in Digital Skills for Work:- Become qualified in the use of the latest digital applications used in the workplace including Microsoft Teams, OneFile/Dropbox, Instagram, Linked In etc. understanding best practice and how to use the evolving technology in a GDPR compliant way across your organisation.

• Level 2 Certificate in Equality and Diversity:- Qualify your staff with an accredited certificate to ensure equality and diversity is embedded in your strategic planning and continuous professional development process.

• Level 2 Certificate in Lean Organisation Management Techniques:- This Certificate is aimed at team leaders and project managers wanting to improve business performance through continuous professional development of employees and their skill set. Learners will develop an understanding of lean organisation techniques in business, develop their knowledge and understanding of business improvement tools and techniques and understand what makes an effective team, including how to handle conflict.

• Level 2 Certificate Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace:- Raise your employees’ knowledge and awareness of the different types of mental health problems and their prevalence, as well as understanding individuals with these conditions in order to care for and interact with them.

Using an intuitive online platform with optional 1-to-1 support from tutors via video conferencing, we are providing a government-funded training package to give your staff the skills and resilience to meet the challenges of recovery.

Use the promotional code SUSSEXCHAMBERS1 to access any of these four courses free of charge for yourself or your staff while funding is available. To enrol, go to escg.theskillsnetwork.com and follow the application process. You will need to complete a short maths and English assessment and be asked some short questions about how the course will benefit you.

If you would like more information, please contact: sussexskillssolutions@escg.ac.uk