Suffolk College and Jobcentre Plus in Partnership - East Anglian Daily Times Education Page, 13 January 2004

Dr Peter Funnell Assistant Principal at Suffolk College reports on a new collaborative initiative to support job seekers.

The formal signing on Wednesday 17th December of a commitment to partnership between Jobcentre Plus and Suffolk College marked the development of an innovative approach to education and training for those seeking employment in Suffolk.

The scheme, which provides access to Suffolk College courses on Jobcentre Plus premises, has already been successfully piloted at the Jobcentre Plus in Felixstowe, where over 50 Jobcentre Plus clients have enrolled on a total of 72 courses. More importantly, many have used their new skills to secure employment.

A Letter of Understanding, signed by Tina Ellis District Manager for Jobcentre Plus Suffolk and Professor Dave Müller Principal of Suffolk College, allows for this initiative to be rolled out to other locations in the county. The first of these will open in Woodbridge in January, followed by other centres later in the year. In addition Jobcentre Plus staff will offer job search surgeries in the Learning Centre that Suffolk College will be opening in the new Hadleigh Business and Learning Centre in the early spring.

As well as helping people into work, the partnership will support the skills development of Jobcentre Plus staff in the workplace. An exercise to identify the most suitable programmes is currently under way.

The text of the Letter of Understanding read:

“Jobcentre Plus and Suffolk College recognise and celebrate the importance of offering innovative approaches to education and training in order to widen and deepen participation in learning and to enhance individuals’ ability to secure employment. To facilitate this Jobcentre Plus and Suffolk College are pleased to sign this commitment to equal and mutually beneficial partnership working and intend to build on this commitment so as to develop new education and training provision and new learning opportunities.”

Commenting on the initiative College Principal Professor Dave Muller said: “Our partnership with Jobcentre Plus provides a new opportunity for learning and extends the role of Suffolk College in the county.”

Whilst Tina Ellis was equally enthusiastic about the initiative: “This new approach extends access to learning and the skills necessary for the world of work.”

For more information about this initiative or the wide range of courses offered by Suffolk College please contact the Information Centre on 01473 296606 or visit the website www.suffolk.ac.uk.