News & Press
Funding of £8.6m has now been approved for the new West London Institute of Technology - one of just 12 to be licenced nationally to create a better qualified workforce in industries built on higher technical skills. West London IoT will boost opportunities for students, trainees and Apprentices to achieve the higher technical qualifications in demand by employers - equivalent to undergraduate study, up to degree level, in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, said: “It’s fantastic news that West London Institute of Technology has been awarded its licence to become one of the country’s very first Institutes of Technology.
“Institutes of Technology will play a vital role in this government’s commitment to establishing our technical education system as one of the best in the world, and I look forward to seeing learners in the area make the most of all it has to offer them and gain the higher technical skills they need to succeed. Congratulations to all those involved.”
Brunel University London, Fujitsu, Heathrow and West London Business and hundreds of other employers are working with HCUC, the merged college group for Harrow College and Uxbridge College, to develop a wide range of qualifications designed to meet the needs of local employers at Levels 4, 5 and 6. Employers will offer input into the content of the qualifications, provide placements and masterclasses, and give students the chance to work on real projects in their workplaces.
West London Institute of Technology is now accepting students on to courses in Digital Technology, Engineering and Building Services courses across Harrow College and Uxbridge College. These currently include HNCs (Higher National Certificates) and HNDs (Higher National Diplomas) and Higher Apprenticeships - equivalent to one or two years at university. The IoT is also working towards an expansion and upgrade of current specialist learning facilities to underpin its developing provision.
West London IoT was one of the first to sign its DfE licensing and funding contracts in August, following the Government announcement in the Spring that they had been successful in the 16 month IoT competition.
Dr Darrell DeSouza, Principal and CEO of HCUC, said: “This is a unique opportunity for students across West London and beyond to benefit from this prestigious new Institute which HCUC is delighted to have been chosen for. Government and industry have identified the need for higher technical skills as a national priority and are supporting this with funding to enable us to continue to develop and expand our STEM offer with our expert academic and industry partners. Qualifications offered by West London Institute of Technology offer excellent career advancement prospects or a pathway to university as well as great industry links.”
Professor Rebecca Lingwood, Provost at Brunel University London, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be part of west London’s new Institute of Technology and I am very much looking forward to seeing the next generation of scientists and engineers start to come through the IoT at HCUC, and for some to join us at Brunel.
“Working together to offer such a broad range of vocational and academic STEM subjects really enriches our local area and helps us stand out as a hub of true educational excellence.”
Ash Merchant, Education Director for Fujitsu UK&I and Global Subject Matter Expert, said: “We are delighted that HCUC have been successful in their application for the proposed Institute of Technology (IoT). As an Anchor Employer Partner to HCUC we are committed to supporting the vision of creating a strong digital infrastructure, with outstanding curriculum that will support the digital economy for West London and beyond. We look forward to working with HCUC, making their vision come to reality and creating an IoT that will enable individuals to be fit for a digital economy.”
Bally S Grewal, Director of IT Programmes at Heathrow Airport said: “We are proud to be a partner of the West London Institute of Technology. There is a vital need to bridge the skills gap in the UK, achievable through the provision of top quality training and apprenticeships. This is the latest step we have taken which will ensure future generations are more skilled than ever and we look forward to working in this partnership, increasing skills in west London and beyond and helping the next generation realise their potential.”
Andrew Dakers, Chief Executive of West London Business, said: “Sat at the heart of the UK’s global gateway the IoT is a local and national asset that will help ensure we have the talent pipeline to propel West London’s £73bn economy forward. Partners will work together to fill some significant skills gaps. We look forward to building the community of employers that will help shape the curriculum, values and culture of the institute to the benefit of both learners and businesses invested in West London.”
Education Minister Michelle Donelan MP praised Uxbridge College’s “fantastic work” following a recent visit.
Minister Donelan said: “Further Education is a big priority for this government. That’s why we recently announced an additional £400 million for sixth forms and colleges next year - the biggest injection of new money in a single year since 2010.
“Uxbridge College are doing fantastic work to make sure more young people can gain the skills they need to progress and secure rewarding careers. It was great to meet students and staff, and see how the college is preparing to deliver new T Levels from September 2020, and working with employers including Heathrow and Fujitsu and Brunel University London to provide high-quality technical training through the West London Institute of Technology.”
The high profile visit focussed on the college’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) provision, including the new West London Institute of Technology, run under HCUC, the merged college group for Harrow College and Uxbridge College. Minister Donelan is overseeing major changes in the UK around how technical skills are taught, having recently taken over Ministerial responsibilities including the introduction of T Levels and the national Institute of Technology (IoT) programme.
The Minister visited electrical and electronic engineering workshops and classrooms, chatting to students and staff and finding out more about their theoretical and practical teaching and learning. She discussed HCUC’s work to develop both its Institute of Technology, and to introduce T Levels, the new technical qualification equal to three A Levels and including an industry placement, next year.
Dr Darrell DeSouza, Principal of Uxbridge College and CEO of HCUC, said: “It was really pleasing to be chosen for this visit by Minister Donelan and to have a chance to show her our excellent academic and practical facilities. It was also extremely interesting to discuss the key work taking place in Further Education and with employers towards equipping more young people with technical qualifications and work skills in these sectors, and increasing STEM provision, and any additional funding for Further Education is undoubtedly always welcome. It’s a great privilege for HCUC to have been chosen both to head up the West London Institute of Technology and to provide T Levels, and to have such a high level visit in support of our work.”
Minister Donelan is pictured second left with Principal of Harrow College and HCUC Deputy CEO Pat Carvalho (far left), Dr DeSouza (third left), and the Minister’s Private Secretary Alex Jones.
HCUC is at the helm of one of just 12 collaborations selected nationally to set up an IoT, working with partners Brunel University London, Fujitsu, Heathrow and West London Business. IoTs provide higher level STEM education - HNCs, HNDs, and Higher Apprenticeships, which are equivalent to up to two year’s undergraduate study (Level 4 and 5). T Levels (Level 3) will be offered in Childcare and Digital Production, Design and Development from 2020, and no other London FE College has been offered the T Level pilot by the Government for the launch.
Standout students from across Uxbridge College were honoured with awards from multi-award winning entrepreneur and author Junior Ogunyemi.
The author of the revolutionary book, “How to be a Student Entrepreneur” gave an inspirational talk and presented the awards at a glittering ceremony. Junior proved a hit with the audience with his unique presentation style and great motivational tips - including his advice to treat failure as feedback.
The young people and adults from the college’s broad range of full and part-time qualifications and Apprenticeships celebrated their personal, academic and vocational successes at The Beck Theatre in Hayes along with friends and family. They were joined by employers from among the 1,000 who work with the college providing work placements, on-the-job training for Apprentices in 25 sectors, and other link activities, who were also recognised for their support.
Students had achieved good grades but a number had achieved maximum results, overcome additional challenges, made outstanding progress, or gone beyond the call of duty for their communities.
Winners included:
Klaudia Piorkowska - Super Star and Star Award for Health, Social Care & Creative Arts. Klaudia has made excellent progress in her studies in Health & Social Care, from Level 1 in 2017 to Level 3 this year. She has trained as a mental health ambassador so she can give support to other students, and even before this was a listening ear to her peers giving sound advice. She supports and raises awareness of issues such as homelessness, looks for positives and learning opportunity in every experience, and brings sunshine everywhere she goes in her own unique style, including coming in dressed as Father Christmas during the festive season. She hopes to become a counsellor.
Kulsum Shaikh - Star Award for the Sixth Form Centre. Kulsum studied GCSEs at Uxbridge College and went on to A Levels and is now in her second year. Absolutely determined to study Medicine at university, she is doing everything possible to prepare, attending lectures and outreach days at King’s College, and Cambridge and Oxford Universities, completing a placement at the Wolfson Institute at UCL in her holidays, and volunteering at a charity shop.
Travis Williams - Star Award for Business, sponsored by M4Money Credit Union Ltd. Travis achieved the highest possible grades in his BTEC Level 3 in Business - three Distinction stars - and won a place on a degree in Fashion Branding & Creative Communication at the Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts. He also runs his own clothing business called ALL4SUCCESS and photography business, shotbytravis.
Renee Perkins - Star Award for Hair, Beauty, Hospitality, and Early Years, sponsored by Dennis Williams Ltd. Renee made fantastic progress in her Level 2 in Professional Cookery with both her theoretical and practical work and is now progressing to Level 3. Extremely polite and passionate about the industry, she challenged herself to take on a work placement at Colham Manor School, gaining great feedback from the Executive Chef in this busy kitchen which provides meals to 900 schools across the borough.
Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Limited - Apprentice Employer Award. Martin-Baker has the highest number of mechanical engineering apprentices of any employer working with Uxbridge College, with eight apprentices in 2018/19 and a further three being enrolled this year. The company has extremely high standards of training, and also employs a number of learners on the college’s HNC in Mechanical Engineering (equivalent to the first year of university study).
Sponsors of the event also included Dennis Williams Ltd, Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce and John Guest Ltd, and The Gavin Taylor Bursary Fund awarded a total of £1,500 to students progressing to Higher Education.
Dr Darrell DeSouza, Principal of Uxbridge College and CEO of the merged college group HCUC (Harrow College Uxbridge College), said: “Here at Uxbridge College we are incredibly proud of our students’ dedication and achievements all year round, but it’s even better to be able to take a step back and take the time to really celebrate. I’d like to say a big thank you to Junior Ogunyemi for joining us this year to make it such an inspiring evening.
“Our winners are all different whether they’ve overcome the odds to progress up the ladder of qualifications within the college, gone on to university thanks to their A Levels or BTECs, or learned or gained formal recognition of professional skills. One thing they’ve certainly got in common though is that we think they’re amazing! A massive congratulations to everyone!”
Performing arts students from the college’s music, dance and technical theatre courses at the Hayes campus also took part by providing the entertainment - the Can, Can, Can from the film Moulin Rouge and the choral song Seasons of Love from the musical Rent.
Star and Special Award winners were:
SIXTH FORM CENTRE
Star Award: Kulsum Shaikh
The Gavin Taylor Bursary Award – Winner: Harmeet Gulati
The Gavin Taylor Bursary Award – Highly Commended: Melika Setareh
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Star Award (Sponsored by M4Money Credit Union Ltd): Travis Williams
Higher Education Award: Sophie Masters
SCHOOL OF COMPUTING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Star Award: Mona Alboukharey
Higher Education Award: Jay Pankhania
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING (Mechanical & Electronics)
Star Award: Vikesh Sampath
Higher Education Award: Jack Dove
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING (Technology & Innovation)
Star Award (Sponsored by John Guest Ltd): Ronnie Woodman
SCHOOL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING, LEARNING SUPPORT & FOUNDATION STUDIES
Star Award: Bakri Ahmed
SCHOOL OF HAIR, BEAUTY, HOSPITALITY, EARLY YEARS AND PERFORMING ARTS
Star Award for Hair, Beauty, Hospitality & Early Years (Sponsored by Dennis Williams Ltd): Renee Perkins
Star Award for Performing Arts: Keeley Winter
The Comfort Simoyan Award (Sponsored by Dennis Williams Ltd): Weris Dubad
SCHOOL OF HEALTH, SOCIAL CARE & CREATIVE ARTS
Super Star Award and Health, Social Care & Creative Arts Star Award: Klaudia Piorkowska
Ian Hebditch Award: Tasnia Alam
SCHOOL OF SPORT, TRAVEL AND PUBLIC SERVICES
Star Award: Beata Ostrowska
Higher Education Award: Zaneta Kasperuk
David Keating Memorial Award: Tomass Petrons
EMPLOYERS AND APPRENTICES
Intermediate Apprentice Award (Sponsored by Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce): Jack Marriage
Advanced Apprentice Award (Sponsored by Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce): Paulina Colaco
Apprentice Employer Award: Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Limited
Work Experience Employer Award: Kingsley Court Care Home - Healthcare Homes Group.