Manchester Training wins educational award

Bill Rammell, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, presents Learning and Skills Beacon status to Manchester Training

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Learning and Skills Beacon status was awarded to Middleton-based work based learning provider Manchester Training at a ceremony in central London.

Manchester Training specialises in the logistics and automotive sectors.  It offers apprenticeships and NVQs including Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, Storage and Warehousing, and Driving Goods Vehicles.

It is one of 13 organisations to be awarded the status in recognition for its high quality and innovative teaching, and outstanding leadership and management.

The Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell, presented the status to the providers at a ceremony in central London.

Speaking to the new Beacons at the ceremony, Bill Rammell said:  "I am delighted to formally acknowledge your achievements.  It is always a great occasion when we can get together to recognise and celebrate the excellent work that is taking place in Further Education.  As providers of high-quality exemplary teaching and learning, we look to you to work with the Quality Improvement Agency to help us drive our reform programme forward.  We are building a world class system.  Your painstaking excellence has been recognised as one of the 99 Learning and Skills Beacons working in this country to effect lasting and positive change in post-16 education and training."

The Quality Improvement Agency’s Chief Executive, Andrew Thomson, also congratulated Manchester Training. He said: “I welcome them to the Learning and Skills Beacon network.  There are exciting and challenging times ahead for the post-16 education sector and their experience and knowledge is needed to help improve performance in the sector.

“QIA works closely with Beacons to address the sector’s performance and foster a culture of self-improvement and pursuit of excellence.  This year the network provided input into our forthcoming Improvement Strategy.  We have also invested £1 million in innovation projects that are being run by Beacons to test new and innovative approaches to learning which benefit learners and contribute to improved performance.”

There are now 99 Learning and Skills Beacons in England.  They include general FE colleges, tertiary colleges, sixth form colleges, work based learning providers and, adult community learning providers. 

Learning and Skills Beacons are required to work with QIA to help improve the performance of colleges and other providers in the sector.