West Cheshire College

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Type	Vocational college
Principal	Sara Mogel
Website	www.west-cheshire.ac.uk

West Cheshire College is a vocational college of further education based in Chester (Handbridge), Ellesmere Port and Capenhurst.

West Cheshire College is recognised as a key driver in the regeneration of the local area. Our excellent success rates, combined with significant on-going investment and forthcoming state-of-the-art build, demonstrate our commitment to providing the highest standards of service to our learners and key stakeholders.

The College is the largest provider of vocational learning in the area, with campuses in Ellesmere Port, Chester and Capenhurst. Every year West Cheshire College delivers learning to over 20,000 people at its three campuses, in workplaces and community venues. The College’s extensive range of full and part-time courses cover a wide range of subject areas and are from entry to degree level.

The College also works very closely with employers, helping them to develop their staff and close skills gaps. In fact we were one of the first 26 providers in the UK to secure the Learning and Skill Council’s highly prestigious new standard, which highlights excellence in the two areas that employers say is most important to them: provider responsiveness to employer needs and excellence in a particular vocational area (the College received an additional specific accreditation for its work in engineering).

The College holds the Matrix Standard, which is a unique quality framework for the effective delivery of information, advice and guidance on learning. It also has three Centres of Vocational Excellence (COVEs) in Health and Social Care, Logistics and Automotive Manufacturing.

Economic Impact Survey - College major contributor to local economy

Following research undertaken by international leader in economic modelling, EMSI, West Cheshire College has come out top of the class.

Economists assume a 4% rate of return on government investments, but when EMSI looked at West Cheshire College the rate of return was an amazing 17%. They found that the Cheshire economy receives £117.1 million in added income from its annual operations and the effects of its past and present learners.

The outcomes of the report break down the impact that West Cheshire College has on learners, businesses, taxpayers and society in general. On all measures the College provides a major contribution to economic and social well-being.

The findings include the following gains for the area:

Learners gain:

• 12% return on their educational investment

• An increase in their annual income of £931 per qualification gained

• A 38% higher annual salary if they get an advanced level qualification at the College (relative to someone with no qualifications).

Businesses gain:

• £21.5 million of College annual spending on local services and supplies

• £12.4 million of learners’ spending per year on local services and supplies

• A skilled workforce with 55,900 qualifications from the College improving productivity.

Taxpayers gain:

• An increase of £2.7 million in added tax revenue every year

• A reduction of £328,900 every year in avoided costs associated with educated people

Society gains:

• £13.6 million additional annual income to the UK economy

• Due to improved health and lower crime rates among educated people a reduction of £699,000 in social costs every year.

Principal Sara Mogel commented, “Further Education Colleges make a tremendous contribution to society and its economy. At West Cheshire College we recognised this, but even we have been amazed at the size of our own contribution. We won’t be resting on our laurels, but will continue to work hard to make West Cheshire a stronger economy and society.”

Dr. Kjell Christophersen, President of EMSI commented, “West Cheshire College is one of the first 40 Colleges in the UK to participate in this research. The results show that the College generates a strong financial return to government, learners and the local community.”