The Edge - December 2020

6
College News
Centre of excellence in advanced
manufacturing & engineering at Winsford campus
The new academic year brought
with it exciting changes at
our Winsford campus, which
during the summer months
was transformed to become
the home of our new Advanced
Manufacturing & Engineering
Training (AMET) Centre.
Thanks to funding from the Local
Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP)
Local Growth Fund, the college
will serve the region as a specialist
centre for advanced manufacturing
and engineering training.
Students joining AMET at Winsford
this year are studying a number
of subjects including diplomas
in Mechanical Engineering and
General Engineering, plus Levels
1, 2 and 3 Electrical Installation.
Alongside these vocational
courses, engineering apprentices
will have the opportunity to work
for employers across Cheshire.
Moving forward, our Winsford
campus will house additional
equipment to support the skills
required for smarter manufacturing
techniques and accelerate the
adoption and use of Industrial
Digital Technologies (IDTs) such
as robotics, industrial control and
digital intelligence. This will enable
cross-sector collaboration and raise
productivity and competitiveness.
The investment from the LEP will
ensure the facilities and curriculum
across both college sites in
Winsford and Warrington are in
line with local employer demand
within the manufacturing and
engineering sectors. There will
be a strong focus on Metallurgy
within the Winsford campus and on
Mechatronics and Metrology at the
Warrington campus.
As part of a five-year plan, the
centres across both campuses
will be equipped with specialist
equipment which will enable
businesses to transform their
business practices at a faster
pace and through cross-sector
collaboration.
To find out more about the exciting
plans for the AMET Centre in the
coming months and the subjects
on offer to students joining the
college in September 2021,
visit: wvr.ac.uk/amet
Fantastic feedback for the
Learner Services Team
Record numbers of Access
to Higher Education students
apply to university
Warrington & Vale Royal
College’s Learner Services team
are delighted to have received
an abundance of wonderful
compliments from existing and
future students.
This dedicated team pride
themselves on providing the best
possible customer service, whilst
helping students with a huge range
of queries. One student, who
had been away from education
for some time, thanked the team
for how reassuring they were,
saying, “I was very nervous being
an older student and Sadie has
been amazing through the whole
process, making me feel more at
ease for my return to education.”
Other students praised our helpful
staff saying, “I’d like to say how
helpful Emily has been; I’ve asked a
lot of questions and she’s answered
all of them.” Another student stated,
“Sue was lovely to deal with and
she was very helpful.”
The team were also thanked
for their prompt and polite email
correspondence, “I received great
information and quick, helpful
replies.” Another student said,
“I’ve found the replies came back
really quickly. Really helpful and
informative. It’s just helped the
entire process flow a lot smoother
for myself.”
As a college, we are incredibly
proud of the lovely compliments
our Learner Services team have
received and look forward to
providing a consistently excellent
service to all of our students.
This year, Warrington & Vale
Royal College are incredibly
proud to see record numbers
of Access to Higher Education
students setting their sights on
university.
Over 60 adult students studying
a range of courses, including
Access to HE - Social Work
and Access to HE - Health
Professionals, have applied to
university courses beginning
in 2021. Several have already
received conditional offers.
Progressing onto a range of
courses including Nursing, Mental
Health Nursing, Social Work,
and Midwifery, the students are
set to become part of the next
wave of health and social care
professionals entering the field.
Kerri Cowell-McQuillan, who
is currently studying Access to
HE - Health Professionals at the
college, has received a conditional
offer from the University of Chester
to study Psychology. Kerri says,
“Education is always something I
have had a passion about. Being
a full-time mum to three boys,
I put my dreams on hold, but I
never dimmed my light. You are
never too old to do what you love!
The college tutors have been
great with their advice and guided
me through the stages of UCAS
applications.”
Fellow student, Tanya Gregory
has received an offer from Edge
Hill University to study Nursing
(Learning Disabilities), and is
also delighted to be moving on
to higher education. She says,
“It’s taken me a long time to
pluck up the courage to return to
education. My motivation to further
my education onto university is
to have that ability to help and
support others. It’s the step in the
right direction to get me where I
need to be to become a learning
disability nurse.”
Warrington & Vale Royal College’s
specialised careers team are
dedicated to supporting students
with their university applications
and ensure they are in the best
possible position to reach their
desired career.
To find out more about our Higher
Education courses, visit
wvr.ac.uk/higher-education
01925 494 494 Campuses in Warrington and Winsford Warrington & Vale Royal College
wvr.ac.uk