Leaders from Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) recently had the opportunity to speak at one of the biggest events in the further education (FE) sector.
Positive change
Jo Withers, Executive Director of Business Growth and Partnerships, and Liam Plumridge, Assistant Director for Enhanced Skills and Employability, gave a talk at the Association of Colleges’ (AoC) Annual Conference and Exhibition earlier this month.
Taking place in Birmingham on November 10 and 11, the conference provided the opportunity for leaders and staff to collaborate, share their expertise, and discuss how to drive positive change in the FE sector.
Award-winning collaboration
Jo and Liam were joined by Ellie Smith, Senior Social Value Consultant at the global engineering and product management company AtkinsRéalis, which earlier this year won HRUC’s Employer of the Year Award.
Their talk focused on the Heathrow Inclusive Learner Partnership, an award-winning collaboration between HRUC, Heathrow Airport and more than 20 employers. The partnership improved outcomes for SEND and neurodiverse learners through:
- Work experience
- Employer-led projects
- Workplace visits
- Supported internships
- Employment opportunities.
The partnership helped more than 1,000 learners develop their confidence, skills and career aspirations.
HRUC proudly supports more than 1,000 SEND learners and the group has a proven track record for excellent progression and independence outcomes.
Inclusive partnerships
The session with Jo, Liam and Ellie shared how the partnership was established, the impact achieved for learners and employers, and the lessons learned along the way.
Building on this success, they also launched the Inclusive Learning Partnership National Federation and discussed ideas for building a national network of inclusive employer opportunities.
Wonderful opportunity
Jo said: “The AoC’s Annual Conference and Exhibition was a wonderful opportunity to discuss the innovative work we’re doing at HRUC, together with our partners, to ensure students with SEND can reach their full potential. A big thank you to all those who attended our talk and to the AoC for inviting us.”
Working together
Liam said: “We are thrilled to have launched our Inclusive Learning Partnership National Federation, bringing colleges together with employers to create more opportunities for learners. I’ve come away feeling really positive about what we can achieve together.”
To find out more about how you can get involved in the National Federation, please email: