Virtual College Expo is Scotland’s landmark event for everyone working, studying or involved in post-16 education and training. The event, which this year was held over two days on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 June 2021, was a celebration of college excellence.
The overarching theme of the event was ‘Press the reset button: Reimagining college learning and life.' The theme focused on the adjustments that have worked well during the pandemic, what we can take forward, and how that could alter and enhance college learning and life in the future.
South Lanarkshire College was delighted to contribute to the online event by delivering a session on Trowel Occupations. Lecturer Michael McGhee submitted a video showing the students at work learning and showcasing their skills through applying external wall insulation. The class group involved are part of a pilot programme which the College is running in partnership with A.C. Whyte, an energy efficiency contractor specialising in installing External Wall Insulation.
All students involved in the demonstration were part of the South Lanarkshire College/ A.C. Whyte Skills Academy. They train in a purpose-built external structure on South Lanarkshire College’s East Kilbride based campus as part of a partnership scheme. The building is designed to simulate a real working environment and the facility will allow the students to practise and hone the skills and techniques required to be an external wall insulation installer ahead of visiting A.C. Whyte’s sites, where they will train under the direct supervision of some of A.C. Whyte’s most qualified, experienced installers. On completion of the 20-week programme, all students who successfully complete their training will be offered a guaranteed job with A.C. Whyte.
Following the College Expo online training session, South Lanarkshire College Interim Head of Construction David McLaren delivered a question and answer seminar on the A.C. Whyte partnership.
South Lanarkshire College Interim Associate Principal David McLaren said,
“We were delighted to be involved with College Expo 2021, at South Lanarkshire College, we pride ourselves on being responsive to industry needs and we’re delighted we can share our knowledge and experience with our colleagues across the sector. Our collaborative programme with A.C. Whyte emerged as we were answering industry demands and meeting key Government low carbon objectives. The project was based on a number of key factors including: the growing importance of the PAS 20-35 framework document, our partners winning significant council housing retrofit contracts; Brexit affecting the availability of a trained experienced workforce; the national zero carbon agenda and the development of the College curriculum to meet the needs of the green economy.
David continued, “As a result of these key factors, the College has worked with A.C. Whyte to secure funding to enable us to erect the bespoke Skills Academy on the South Lanarkshire College campus. Despite current COVID restrictions, South Lanarkshire College and A.C. Whyte have pivoted to ensure the course was able to start last month, beginning with online tutorials. The course will run twice a year, and will be a blend of in college and onsite training.
Jennifer Phin Managing Director from A.C. Whyte went on to say, “South Lanarkshire College are an innovative, forward thinking partner. Together our aim is to deliver local training, local jobs, with a view to delivering local decarbonisation and housing strategy requirements in partnership with our clients. Creating the 20-minute neighbourhood establishes multiple benefits for the community. Local residents are upskilled, quality permanent jobs are created with fair work for everyone, local communities are empowered, and we achieve a just transition to Net Zero, all whilst achieving inclusive sustainable economic growth.”
This article appears as part of The Herald's The Future Of Education campaign, in association with South Lanarkshire College.
If you would like to become a partner in our Future of Education Series, contact Stephen McDevitt, Head of Digital and Branded Content campaign@heraldandtimes.co.uk
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here