South & City College Birmingham

Welcome to our Engineering Apprentices!

South & City College Birmingham — 29/01/2020

South and City College Birmingham launched the Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship program in September 2019. The course is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain skills as a qualified Engineer through the Apprenticeship pathway.

Based at our state-of-art facilities in Longbridge, the college have invested heavily in the facilities to create a fit-for-purpose training area for trainee engineers. Our first cohort of students come from a range of employers across the Midlands and they are learning the foundation skills they need to progress their future career.

Chris Hayden from the Business Development Team has supported local employers since August last year to identify learners; “This is a really exciting time for the college! Our site in Longbridge holds a significant history for engineering and manufacturing in the region, and we have worked really hard to develop a pathway in partnership with our employers to help develop skills for the future needs of industry”.

“I think we have something very special to offer here at the College. We can deliver training on a flexible basis (weekly attendance) which is something unique for the sector. We also tailor our programs to meet the needs of each employer; whether the apprentice is operating a 3 axis CNC or soldering electrical components, they will learn all the skills they need here”.

Our employers are equally impressed with the new engineering program within the college. HBC Radio-matic have employed James Brain to achieve his Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship. The company provide specialist products and technical support for wireless remote control systems in the construction and engineering industries.

James started with HBC Radio-matic in July 2018 after completing work experience there whilst in year 10. They were so impressed, he was offered a junior position just a week after leaving school. He started his apprenticeship in 2019. “I really wanted to do an apprenticeship” James explained, “I get to be more employable, as I’m gaining actual experience, rather than just going down the academic route. So far I have really enjoyed learning how the CNC machines work.”

Sharon Evans, Chief Executive had this to say, “We are thrilled to support James with his apprenticeship program through South and City College. HBC Radio-matic have supported 6 apprentices within the business and James will be our 7th. We have found apprentices are essential in building home-grown talent for the business to meet our skills needs, and indeed our previous apprentices have gone on into permanent employment.

“When I started the company 20 years ago, I made a conscious decision to support training and development for our engineers. Not only does this support our business to develop the workforce, but it also benefits our clients by providing engineers with recognised qualifications and skills within industry.”

“For too long we have seen bright and talented students heading to University, only to come out of education and start training from scratch to get into employment. Offering apprenticeships to younger students like James has enables HBC Radio-matic to embed the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to do the job, and they are an asset to the team. A degree isn’t always the best option and I only hope more students choose Apprenticeships over University in future”

“We reached out to South and City College Birmingham this year having had a mixture of experiences from previous training providers, and I have to say the college are a breath of fresh air! They have taken a genuine interest in our business and insured we have the right qualification for the right person. They also invited our supervisors and staff on-site at the College’s new Engineering centre for a tour and to give a full overview of the program, which was very impressive to see!”

“James is enjoying his time at College and we are now looking to recruit another apprentice with South and City College. I would highly recommend their services to other businesses within the sector”.

Study engineering with us. To find out about our courses visit: https://www.sccb.ac.uk/courses/engineering

SCCB's Outstanding Achievements Land Them Dual Nominations at Chambers of Commerce Awards!

South & City College Birmingham — 15/12/2023

Lillian Elekan, Head of Membership at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

We are privileged to announce that South & City College Birmingham have been shortlisted for two GBCC Awards 2024:

Excellence in Contribution to the Community
Excellence in Technology & Innovation

This is tremendous news! We are proud to be at the heart of the Birmingham community, bringing the best together every day – education and industry as one. Our goal is to raise the aspirations of our neighbours through high-quality education, training and upskilling.

Here’s the full story released by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

Seventy-eight businesses are chasing glory at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s 2024 annual dinner and awards on Thursday 15 February.

Businesses have been shortlisted in 11 awards categories for the black-tie awards dinner, taking place at the ICC in Birmingham city centre.

Around 1,200 people are expected to attend the event, sponsored by Birmingham City University, which recognises those firms who have gone above and beyond in the past year.

One of the category winners will also be crowned the overall Greater Birmingham Business of the Year (sponsored by Crowe).

Judging the 2024 awards were Zoe Bennett BEM, founder of Training Personified; Andreas Antona, chef-owner at Simpsons restaurant; Alex Nicholson-Evans, founder and director of Living For The Weekend; Karl George, partner at RSM UK and GBCC board member; Gurmit Kler, trustee of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust; Raidene Carter, creative director, Birmingham Festival; Omar Rashid, president of Asian Business Chamber of Commerce and managing director/owner of The HR Dept Bham Central & Wolves; Suzie Branch-Haddow, vice principal – external development, Birmingham Metropolitan College; Steve Allen, GBCC past president; Rob Valentine, regional director – Birmingham at Bruntwood; Nicola Beckford, BBC Midlands Today presenter and journalist; Heike Schuster-James, head of partnership development at Birmingham City University.

The GBCC’s Head of Membership Lillian Elekan (pictured), who chaired the judges, said:

“I want to say a huge thank you to all organisations who put themselves forward for the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s Awards 2024.

“The judging panel was impressed by the high calibre of all entries received and selected finalists who embody the vibrant entrepreneurial and innovative spirit that makes Greater Birmingham so special.

“Each recognised business has not only excelled in their respective category but has also left their mark on the economic landscape and community fabric of Greater Birmingham.

“It has been a privilege to support the judging panel this year in honouring these remarkable businesses who embody excellence and are shaping the future of our region.”
Lillian Elekan, Head of Membership at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

The shortlisted companies are:

Excellence in Contribution to the Community – sponsored by runyourfleet
Arrive Alive
Emotion Dysregulation in Autism
Gateley
South & City College
Touchwood Solihull
Unity Trust Bank
Wesleyan
Word360

Excellence in Customer Service – sponsored by Birmingham Airport
Crown Highways
EBS
EiB Group
Intercity
Rhino
Rohlig
Unity Trust Bank
Word360

Excellence in Hospitality, Retail and Events
Birmingham Hospice
Conference Aston
Fazenda
Hotel Du Vin Birmingham
Malmaison Birmingham
Millennium Point
Selfridges
Unique Venues Birmingham

Excellence in Inclusive People Development – sponsored by South & City College Birmingham
Agilyx Group
Birmingham Hippodrome
EiB Group
Excelsior Multi Academy Trust
Freeths
Intercity
Quilter Cheviot
Wesleyan

Excellence in International Business – sponsored by Gowling WLG
Gensler
GINHO
Liquid
Y International

Excellence in Manufacturing – sponsored by Thursfields
Evac & Chair
KEP Print Group
Shelforce
Vaughtons

Excellence in Sales and Marketing – sponsored by Schumacher Packaging
CUDOS Creative
Evac Chair
Hubtel IT
R&Co Communications
Rewired PR
STORY
The Alexandra
Touchwood Solihull

Excellence in Sustainability – sponsored by Aston University
Arup
Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Conference Aston
Gensler
Lloyds
National Express
National Memorial Arboretum
Voltage

Excellence in Technology and Innovation – sponsored by Close Brothers Asset Management
Agilyx Group
CocoonFMS® Ltd
CPIO
Forensic Pathways Ltd
res:harmonics
Runyourfleet
South & City College
Swof Media

Excellence in Third Sector – sponsored by Unity Trust Bank
Acorns Children’s Hospice
Birmingham Hospice
Carers Trust Solihull
JERICHO
Sepsis Trust
St Basils

Excellence in Training and Education – sponsored by AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group
Excelsior Multi Academy Trust
GuruYou
Hayes Collins Media Ltd
JPF First Aid
Little Bird People Development
St Basils
University College Birmingham
University of Birmingham

Find out more information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the annual dinner and awards.

Change of career to a civil engineer

South & City College Birmingham — 10/10/2019

Kayleigh Smith, 34 from Rednal, is a Worcestershire County Council Civil Engineering Apprentice, studying with South & City College.

Before starting her apprenticeship, Kayleigh was a fully qualified nursery practitioner. She wanted a change of career, however as an older student with financial commitments, it was important to earn a wage, as well as learn new skills and gain new qualifications.

“As an Apprentice Highways Maintenance Technician there is always something new to learn and it’s far from repetitive.” Kayleigh explained. “Highways is not always office based. It is a good variety of interesting onsite work, as well as office work.”

“After my apprenticeship, I am hoping to be offered a position to stay within the highways maintenance team and then on to study HNC Civil Engineering, to increase my knowledge and become a senior technician.”

When asked whether she would recommend apprenticeships to others, Kayleigh was very enthusiastic, stating, “Yes I would, especially if they are looking to go into a profession they have no prior experience in. You get the best of both worlds, you go to college and do all your written work and the rest of the week you are actually hands-on in the profession you want to be in, and you may even get offered a job by the end of your course.”

To find out more about apprenticeships, visit: https://www.sccb.ac.uk/apprenticeships-main

South & City College Engineering Apprenticeships

South & City College Birmingham — 31/01/2020

South and City College Birmingham launched the Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship programme in September 2019. The course is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain skills as a qualified Engineer through the Apprenticeship pathway.

Based at our state-of-art facilities in Longbridge, the college has invested heavily in the facilities to create a fit-for-purpose training area for trainee engineers. Our first intake of students come from a range of employers across the Midlands and they are learning the foundation skills they need to progress their engineering careers.

Chris Hayden from the College’s Business Development Team has supported local employers since August last year to identify students. Chris said: “This is a really exciting time for the college. Our campus in Longbridge holds a significant history for engineering and manufacturing in the region, and we have worked really hard to develop a pathway in partnership with our employers to help develop skills for the future needs of industry”.

“I think we have something very special to offer here at the College. We can deliver training on a flexible basis (weekly attendance) which is something unique for the sector. We also tailor our programmes to meet the needs of each employer; whether the apprentice is operating a 3 axis CNC or soldering electrical components, they will learn all the skills they need here”.

Our employers are equally impressed with the new engineering programme. HBC Radio-matic have employed James Brain to achieve his Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship. The company provide specialist products and technical support for wireless remote control systems in the construction and engineering industries.

James started with HBC Radio-matic in July 2018 after completing work experience there whilst in year 10. They were so impressed, he was offered a junior position just a week after leaving school. He started his apprenticeship in 2019. “I really wanted to do an apprenticeship” James explained, “I get to be more employable, as I’m gaining actual experience, rather than just going down the academic route. So far I have really enjoyed learning how the CNC machines work.”

Sharon Evans, Chief Executive had this to say, “We are thrilled to support James with his apprenticeship programme through South and City College. HBC Radio-matic have supported 6 apprentices within the business and James will be our 7th. We have found apprentices are essential in building home-grown talent for the business to meet our skills needs, and indeed our previous apprentices have gone on into permanent employment.

“We reached out to South and City College Birmingham this year having had a mixture of experiences from previous training providers, and I have to say the college are a breath of fresh air! They have taken a genuine interest in our business and insured we have the right qualification for the right person. They also invited our supervisors and staff on-site at the College’s new Engineering centre for a tour and to give a full overview of the programme, which was very impressive to see!”

If you would like to know more about Engineering Apprenticeships with the college, please contact the team on 0121 694 5066 or email apprenticeshipteam@sccb.ac.uk.

South & City College student shortlisted for Midlands Fashion Awards

South & City College Birmingham — 10/10/2019

Mahawa Keita, originally from Mali, though now lives in Rubery, studied HND Fashion and Textiles with South & City College and the next stop on her journey is to Birmingham City University (BCU) to learn textile design.

Mahawa is one of six people that have been shortlisted for the ‘Emerging Designer of the Year’ at the 2019 Midlands Fashion Awards to be held in Birmingham on the 11th October. She joins fellow South & City student Alex Adams, who has been shortlisted for ‘Young Designer of the Year’.

This is not the first time South & City College have had students shortlisted for this prestigious event and last year, HND alumni student Darren Scott, won the Midland Fashion Awards ‘Emerging Designer’ with his company My Real Cover. The brand specialises in bespoke jackets as well as apparel such as hats and t-shirts.

When she first started with the college, Mahawa only wanted to learn how to sew and make her own clothes. Having seen an advert for an Open Day, Mahawa dropped by to find out more about the courses available and meet the tutors.

“When I came to the Open Day,” Mahawa explained, “I met the staff and they were very friendly, they were very down to earth and welcoming. When they explained the course, I was really impressed. I started at Level 1 and now I’m going to university. I never thought I could go to university”

Through the courses, she has learned so much more than sewing: pattern cutting, embroidery, beading and batik to name just a few.

Mahawa’s ambition is to become a textile designer. Textile designers create two-dimensional designs that can be used, often as a repeat design, in the production of knit, weave and printed fabrics or textile products. They often specialise within two major areas of textiles:
• interiors (upholstery, soft furnishings and carpets)
• fabrics for clothing

We wish Mahawa lots of luck for the upcoming awards and much success at BCU.

Engineering Alumni’s ambition to reach for the stars

South & City College Birmingham — 15/01/2020

Jordan Small, 24 from Longbridge, studied Electrical Engineering at Bournville back in 2013-15. Since leaving the college, Jordan has gone on to get a 1st in a Masters in Engineering (MEng) from University of Birmingham.

Jordan went to many college open days before choosing Bournville. He explains, “I could see Bournville was a great campus, but it also offered the perfect course for me to follow my ambition. It had all of the modules I wanted to study and I also got the opportunity to speak to tutors about potential career options.”

He continued, “I really enjoyed my time at college and the life skills I learned, really helped me at university: the self-study and the desire to learn. Once you get to university, these are the skills you really need.”

Since graduation in 2019, Jordan is already working for an automotive firm ZF in Solihull. He’s working on a very interesting project which involves the software for radar systems in the next generation of cars that will be able to drive themselves. Radar will be critical for autonomous vehicles to avoid obstacles, keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and keep pedestrians safe.

In the future, Jordan’s ambition is to reach for the stars, working for a company like Space X, pushing technology as far as possible.

Productivity for SMEs talk set to help businesses survive the future

South & City College Birmingham — 25/04/2023

Continuous Improvement training provider click2 learn is teaming up with South & City College Birmingham for a Productivity talk.

8.30am - 11.30am on Wednesday, May 17 at South & City College Birmingham's Longbridge campus.

Productivity or Bust: Why productivity is vital for SMEs to survive Tickets, Wed 17 May 2023 at 08:30 | Eventbrite

Business transformation experts who work with some of the biggest brands in the UK will be offering free guidance on how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can thrive - by unlocking productivity. This event will be taking place next month.

The talk, titled ‘Productivity or Bust: Why productivity is vital for SMEs to survive’ will be an essential guide for businesses who need to achieve more with less and navigate through uncertain times ahead.

Visitors to the morning session will discover essential techniques to optimise processes, engage employees and unlock productivity throughout their organisations – helping them stay competitive in these challenging financial times.

The event will feature some of the leading Lean and Continuous Improvement experts, alongside business, growth and training specialists from the region. It will also offering valuable networking opportunities.

Dan Briscoe, Managing Director of eLearning company click2 learn, said they were looking forward to sharing their knowledge.

“It’s a really difficult time for most businesses throughout the country at the moment and we want to demonstrate why unlocking productivity is essential for smaller businesses going forward. With rising costs everywhere and a national skills shortage, staying competitive has become much harder. We want to share some proven methods that can not only transform productivity but increase employee capability – helping SMEs thrive, not just survive the coming months.

“We believe that companies can gain the competitive edge by being able to achieve more with less, rather than allowing poor productivity to hold them back. With the right skills and direction any business, especially SMEs, can easily achieve improved productivity of up to 30%.”

Mr. Briscoe added: “The event will be a great chance for business leaders to hear how applying an improvement mindset to an organisation of any size can transform its performance and create a highly engaged workforce.”

Rebecca Waterfield, Director of Business Development at South & City College Birmingham where the event will be held, said: “We are really proud to be a part of this event and to host it at our Longbridge site. The site is synonymous with car production, which fits in beautifully with the theme.

“We work closely with regional and national employers to ensure that the curriculum meets the current and future skills deficiency, to ensure our students are the talent of the future. This talk will be pivotal for us to speak to some of the key industries in the region and find out their needs too.”

Further details will be given later this month on speakers.

The free event will be held at South & City College Birmingham’s Longbridge Campus on Wednesday May 17, from 8.30am - 11.30am.

Networking opportunities will also be available at the start and end of the session.

About click2 learn

Online Continuous Improvement company click2 learn was set up to transform how people learn, by helping SMEs improve their teams’ skills and tackle business challenges quickly and efficiently.

The CPD accredited training courses can be accessed at any time, for any device and can be used within a business. For more details visit www.click-2.com

About South & City College Birmingham

SCCB is the largest college in the region with 8 campuses across Birmingham and over 20,000 students. Our ethos is inclusivity for all; regardless of background or prior attainment we will work with individuals to map their journey to reach their career ambitions.

We work closely with regional and national employers to ensure our curriculum meets current and future skills needs to ensure our students are the talent of the future. See our Business & Finance courses.

Success for local unemployed people who get jobs at HydraForce

South & City College Birmingham — 29/10/2019

Following a successful pre-employment training programme with the College and support from Birmingham City Council, 16 previously unemployed local people gained employment at HydraForce in Aston.

Mel Scarlett, Project Manager, South & City College said “We were really pleased to work with HydraForce again to support candidates into employment, we are delighted that the 14 candidates all passed the course and secured work with HydraForce. The company have been incredibly supportive of the college and the work the candidates have completed and we are very proud of their success. ”

The programme was highly successful with students graduating at a presentation ceremony, held on site at HydraForce, Aston Hall Road. The course is designed to meet employers needs and improve confidence, skill and knowledge for people looking to gain employment.

The certificates presented by Khalid Mahmood MP at the ceremony, were the result of hard work and determination by a group of unemployed candidates who completed the two week pre-employment training programme, delivered by the College.

Dawne Haye, trainer said “I have enjoyed delivering the course and supporting the group from start to finish. I have a very rewarding job and it is always a joy to see students achieve employment and make a massive difference to their lives and the lives of their families.

The course has been very successful and it has been heart-warming to see the confidence built from day one to the end of the two week programme. The success is contributed to the close professional partnership between the employer and the college. Working hard to produce outstanding results.”

During the ceremony, each student gave an account of their journey from applying and being interviewed, to collecting their certificates.

Richard Gillick said “I heard about this course through the job centre and when I got the phone call to say I had been accepted on the course I was really happy and a little anxious as I have been out of work for a year and a half. I had seen the new site being constructed and I remember thinking it must be a big expanding company. I am thankful to HydraForce for this opportunity and the chance to bring stability back into my life. I will be a motivated, loyal and positive worker.”

Christine Tolley, Head of Human Resources at HydraForce Hydraulics Ltd., said “This is the second time that HydraForce has worked with both the Employment Access Team from Birmingham City Council and the college to identify potential employees. Once again, their support has been invaluable and we were delighted to have been able to offer positions to every individual who successfully completed the training programme. As an employer, we believe that it is extremely important to employ local people if at all possible and in doing so, help to develop and support the local community.”

South & City College Birmingham to invest in hydrogen fuel technology

South & City College Birmingham — 25/04/2023

South and City College Birmingham is to receive £1.54 million from the Office for Students to invest in infrastructure for hydrogen fuel.

The College has been awarded £1.54m to invest in infrastructure for hydrogen fuel technology. Developing new workspaces for large vehicles, HGVs and buses for training in the design and maintenance of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles and clean energy solutions. Students will have access to hydrogen vehicles, fuel cell technology and industry software as part of their training for careers in the automotive and engineering sectors.

Principal Mike Hopkins MBE said, "As a college, we are delighted to be investing in the latest cutting-edge technology and to be the first college within the region to have a hydrogen technology training facility. We work in partnership with National Express to train and help recruit their new skilled employees and they already have hydrogen hybrid vehicles. This means that we will now be able to provide the necessary specialist skills that National Express require and to support the skills needed locally and regionally. Along with our Electric Vehicle facilities, it will play a key role in the transition to zero emissions and our students will be prepared with the skills to work on vehicles powered by alternative sources of energy.”

In 2020 the Government announced a commitment to end the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 and plans for transitioning to zero-emission cars and vans by 2035, this needs to be underpinned by a workforce with the knowledge and skills to support the production, diagnosis and maintenance of vehicles as sales increase and a second-hand vehicle market grows. Commercial operators will need trained engineers to support fleets of vehicles with alternative fuels.

This project supports the transition to carbon net zero through investment in specialist facilities that will develop a highly trained workforce in readiness for the growth in alternative fueled vehicles across the sector.

The College has also recently invested in a new electric car workshop at the Bournville campus (Longbridge) and launched a new fully-funded Electric and Hybrid Vehicles in-work training course, after a phenomenally successful pilot scheme. The course is already in development to be delivered at another campus in Bordesley Green.

The College's investment in new qualifications and facilities at the College are providing local people with the opportunity to be trained at a higher technical level and gain jobs.

Don't Miss Out: Speakers Revealed for Productivity Talk Aimed at Future-proofing SMEs

South & City College Birmingham — 28/04/2023

Director of leading Midlands technology firm confirmed as speaker for Productivity talk for SMEs.

Darren Jones of Sonihull Ultrasonic which recently picked up King’s Award for Enterprise to speak at regional event for businesses.

The first speaker has been announced for next month’s productivity talk being held to help businesses thrive by unlocking productivity.

Darren Jones, Environment and Sustainability Director of award winning Sonihull Ultrasonic will be one of the key speakers sharing his knowledge at the free to attend event called ‘Productivity or Bust: Why productivity is vital for SMEs to survive’.

Mr Jones, who is also Chair of Environment, Transport and Infrastructure for the Centre for the New Midlands think tank, and is the past president of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, will be focussing on why an individual's productivity can have a knock-on effect upon a business’ efficiency and regional growth.

Speaking about the event, he said: “I’m thrilled to have been invited to talk and it is a subject I am incredibly passionate about. Productivity from an individual within a business can have a huge impact on it not just surviving but thriving - which is paramount in the current economic climate. So I’ll be able to share my knowledge on Continuous Improvement and how it can help businesses in the West Midlands unlock their potential.

“I look forward to meeting everyone who comes along to the morning and sharing my knowledge, and for the invaluable networking opportunities that we will have before and after the event,” he added.

The talk is being held by Continuous Improvement training provider click2 learn which has teamed up with South & City College Birmingham.

Dan Briscoe, Managing Director of click2 learn said: “Darran is an incredibly engaging and knowledgeable speaker and we are proud to have him attend and talk to attendees. His insight into the business world will give some of the best advice to business leaders in the region and we look forward to hearing him speak.”

Rebecca Waterfield, Director of Business Development at South & City College Birmingham where the event will be held, added: “There is still time to sign up to the event and we hope to see many faces from key industries within the West Midlands come along to the free talk which will absolutely add value to your day.”

Sonihull Ultrasonic, which is based in Coventry, recently received the Kings Award for Enterprise as it was recognised for its outstanding achievement in International Trade - and was one of just 78 in the UK to receive the accolade.

The event, which will be MC’ed by award-winning event host and BBC broadcaster Dave Sharpe is being held at South & City College’s Longbridge Campus on Wednesday, May 17 and will run between 8.30am and 11.30am.

Networking opportunities will be available at the start and end of the session.

To book your free space, click on this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/productivity-or-bust-why-productivity-is-vital-for-smes-to-survive-tickets-608572144667

South & City College’s 21st century learning

South & City College Birmingham — 28/04/2020

There are not many that could have imagined just over three months ago, as the bells chimed the beginning of 2020, that before the end of March, the College buildings would be required to close and many people around the world would be working from home, with no indication for how long. Despite campuses being physically closed, our staff are still providing teaching and meetings are taking place using various online technology.

As a college, we have been leading the way with interactive online resources, using a blended approach to learning for some time and have been involved with the West Midlands Combine Authority’s (WMCA) Flexible Learning Fund Project since its inception.

For example, back in 2018 we reported about the College using a ground-breaking artificial intelligence learning platform CENTURY Tech, as a teaching and revision tool for maths and English courses. November last year saw us partner with Mindful Education to deliver content online for apprenticeships in accounting.

The College has a wide variety of online platforms for both staff and students to use to make working and studying from home easier and engaging.

From Moodle, SeeSaw and Google Classroom to Microsoft Teams and our Anywhere Learning Portal. The latter allows staff and students to login and access all the programs and desktop they would be able to do at College.

On an average College day there are 406 Google Classrooms running and nearly 2,300 active daily users. There are also over 200 other classes running using other online and offline resources.

Microsoft Teams collaboration tool has also been deployed across the college, with both staff and students embracing it - the statistics show excellent adoption with almost 10,000 messages and 200 video conferences held daily.

Ben Coley, Online Learning Project Lead said, “I’m really pleased that we are in a position where we can benefit from the blended learning model that we have implemented for a couple of years now. This has meant that the transition to ‘Home Learning’ has been fairly smooth for both our students and our staff.

“Our use of Microsoft Teams has also enabled us, as staff, to continue to have our regular team meetings and ensure that everyone is kept up to speed on developments, but also that everyone is safe and well. Mental health and wellbeing is especially important at this time and we have a culture of care at South & City. These online platforms allow staff and students to keep in contact when it can feel a very lonely place out there.”

Engineering students win again at the UK Industrial Cadets Awards 2019

South & City College Birmingham — 15/01/2020

After winning a regional and national trophy back in May and July respectively, the team of Electrical Engineering students were shortlisted for yet another prestigious award at the third Industrial Cadets Awards, held in London recently.

This latest award saw the team pitted against all of the Gold Level national winners, so it is a special achievement to have come out on top yet again.

Industrial Cadets works with UK employers to create a talent pipeline and a future skilled workforce, whilst helping young people to develop the skills they need to enter industry with confidence.

The original competition, working with Network Rail, tasked electrical engineering students with redesigning Birmingham New Street station and improving the ‘onward journey’ for passengers travelling through the city.

The teams had to devise new strategies for the busiest rail hub outside London, which last year was used by 44 million passengers.

Feedback to the team from the competition organisers said, “The team’s high-speed railway solution was really inspiring as they re-wrote the rules to maximise efficiency and operational availability. This showed a fantastic open-mind to challenge what was in front of them for the benefit of the customer. Their communication skills were tested under intense questioning and they remained calm and in control when giving their feedback.”

Bee Narga-Martin, HE Outreach Advisor for South & City College said, “This is such a valuable experience for our students that can be added to their CV or personal statement to get into university. This will really make them stand out from the crowd and give them a head-start when they go on to university and when they go for jobs. It also gives them extra knowledge of the subject area and an opportunity to meet people who will support their career aspirations.”

A hearty congratulations to the students and staff involved!!

South & City College win RoSPA award for fifth year in a row

South & City College Birmingham — 10/10/2019

For the fifth year in a row South & City College Birmingham has won the RoSPA Education & Training Services Industry Sector Award in recognition of its exceptional health and safety performance.

The internationally renowned RoSPA Awards recognise achievement and progress within health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce engagement and the College is the only public sector institution to have won this award.

The college are honoured to be acknowledged by one of the longest-running industry awards schemes in the UK for their practices in helping improve the wellbeing of their staff and students.

After a site visit by RoSPA representatives to assess a number of elements such as training and competence, communications and occupational health, South & City were also one of the three organisations shortlisted from the all industry sector entrants for the Sir George Earl trophy, RoSPA’s top accolade.

Mike Hopkins Principal at the College commented: “For any organisation to win this award is a major achievement, but for South & City College, a public sector college to win – and win it for 5 consecutive years is nothing short of amazing. I would like to say a huge thank you to our Health & Safety team for helping us all achieve this accolade, which is down to the hard work and dedication of our employees and a culture of safety for all.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s Head of Qualifications, Awards & Events, added: “The RoSPA Awards have become the key fixture in the health and safety calendar with new sponsors and new awards this year including the Leisure Safety Awards, the Safe@Work Safe@Home Award and the Inspiration Awards. Highly-respected, with almost 2,000 entrants every year, RoSPA award winners benefit from the wide-ranging rewards of improved sector reputation.”

The college was presented with the award on Thursday 6th June 2019 at The Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel. The presentation ceremony and evening gala dinner presented the perfect opportunity for senior management, members of staff and governors to celebrate their win.

RoSPA’s specialist award categories based around health at work and environmental management are presented to organisations within 24 industry sectors, including construction, healthcare, transport and logistics, engineering, manufacturing and education.

For more information about South & City College Birmingham, please visit: www.sccb.ac.uk.

Supper Networking with Carl Chinn MBE - The Peaky Blinders, the real story

South & City College Birmingham — 21/10/2019

Carl Chinn and The Peaky Blinders - the real story.
Tuesday 19th November 2019
South and City College, Digbeth Campus.
6.15pm to 8.30pm.

We are really fortunate to host our next College InBusiness network event at our Digbeth Campus with well known social historian Carl Chinn MBE.
Carl has spent his whole life researching the history of Birmingham and has recently launched a gripping book - 'Peaky Blinders : The real story'. The true story of Birmingham's most notorious gangs.

Series 5 of the BBC's award-winning drama, Peaky Blinders, has just concluded and everybody is talking about it !
Our InBusiness President Tom Ross will be hosting the evening and we will all have a unique opportunity to listen how Carl has spent decades searching out the 'Real Peaky Blinders', one of whom was Carl's own Great Grandfather !

As you can imagine, this event will be extremely popular so to avoid disappointment please book your place(s) now by emailing Business and Community Manager Steve Dourass :- steve.dourass@sccb.ac.uk

Dawn & Steve

Fast-Track to Future Tech: Autotech Robotics Engineer Unleashes Cutting-Edge Insights in Dynamic Masterclass for Computing Students!

South & City College Birmingham — 15/01/2024

Anwar Ahmadi, a robotics engineer currently working for Autotech Robotics in Plymouth, called in to our Digbeth and Longbridge campuses to deliver a virtual robotics masterclass for both our BTEC and T Level Digital and Computing students.

Anwar was a Birmingham local, graduating from former Bournville College and going on to do a Bachelor of Engineering in Robotics at University of Plymouth. They shared their journey and tips to get the most out of higher education and work such as the importance of networking (it’s a small industry and word gets around!), listening more and remembering to have fun.

Staff and students said the session was full of invaluable advice.

The talk included a look into his current role at Autotech Robotics. Autotech Robotics create high-quality machine tool productions, robotics and automation for rail, aerospace, gas turbine, oil & gas, energy and automotive sectors, both in the UK and abroad.

This talk was an upgrade for all of our Computing and Digital students! As they participated in the webinar on the robotics industry, these students will be one step closer to entering the working market of the future.

Students have already been inspired to go into robotics.

After Anwar’s session, at least one student that did not have a mathematics or engineering background decided they will take the jump to Engineering specifically to work in the robotics field.

This is a good lesson for all of our students from any background who think ‘I’d love to do that, but that’s not for people like me’ – grit gets grades, and you should not turn away from career opportunities out there if you are willing to work hard.

Thank Anwar for opening an exciting new world for our Computing and Digital students!

Our Computing and Digital courses are on the cutting edge and benefit from real industry experience – such as our recent speaker who works for IBM and is a global expert on Quantum Computing.

Check out our Computing, Digital & IT Courses on the link below.

See our exciting courses

Trumaine’s perseverance secured him an apprenticeship with National Express

South & City College Birmingham — 09/02/2024

Apprenticeship Level 3 Bus and Coach Engineering student, Trumaine Patterson, previously applied for his course but was at first unsuccessful. However, his perseverance and determination to seek out future apprenticeship courses made him stand out from the crowd, and landed him his National Express apprenticeship second time around.

Trumaine is now impressing his superiors with his growth and hard work, and Craig Perkins, Engineer and Apprenticeship Manager for National Express, explains that Trumaine will “make a top engineer”. This is fantastic to hear.

Interestingly, Trumaine began his apprenticeship without having much experience of working with vehicles. It was a steep learning curve for him but as Trumaine and Craig have both expressed, he has grown in confidence. He is now “an asset to the company” according to Craig.

Apprenticeships offer invaluable opportunities which prepare you for the world of work. Not only do you get hands-on experience, get paid, develop and learn skills, but you also have support from the college every step of the way. When asked how the college has supported Trumaine in his apprenticeship, Trumaine said that “the guys have a lot of experience in this field and they can definitely help me out with any enquiries that I have about the job.”

Starting as someone with a passion for fixing things, and growing into “one of the best apprentices” Craig has come across during his time as the Engineering Apprenticeship Manager, it is clear that Trumaine has a bright future ahead of him.

South and City College Birmingham offers some fantastic apprenticeships from Bricklaying to Digital Marketing and we are delighted to hear stories about our students who are enjoying and excelling their apprenticeship course.

If you’re interested in an apprenticeship then make sure to check out our South and City College Birmingham’s Apprenticeship Hub.

Apprenticeship Hub

You can also contact the apprenticeship team via email or phone:

Email: apprenticeshipteam@sccb.ac.uk

Phone: 0121 694 5066

Vocational route to engineering

South & City College Birmingham — 10/10/2019

19 year old Tyler Reed from Lickey Hills, has just completed his Level 3 in Electrical Engineering at Bournville College and will progress to the Foundation Degree in Engineering (Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering pathways) in September.

Tyler always knew that he wanted to be an engineer, so at just 16 he visited the University of Birmingham to ask them their entry criteria and was told A Levels. Unfortunately, finding out that he got a grade D in GCSE English, meant he was prevented from studying A Levels, just three days before he was due to start.

With his dreams in tatters and thoroughly disheartened, Tyler visited a Bournville College open day to find out what else he could do with his life. After speaking to tutors and enrolling onto Level 2 Electrical Engineering, Tyler regained his motivation and got his dream back on course, when he learned that A Levels are not the only route into university.

During his time at college, Tyler has taken advantage of the Career Ready programme. Career Ready is a national charity that aims to make young people work ready by delivering mentoring, master classes, workplace visits and internships. Through a mentor and work experience, Tyler has learned about project management in building construction and civil engineering.

Hydraulics, gearing and the mechanical elements of robotics will be the pathway he will follow during his last two years at Bournville, before Tyler heads to University of Birmingham for the final year of his degree.

Although Tyler’s plans after university are not yet set in stone, he is liking the idea of six months of travelling the world, followed by six months of work experience in mechatronics, before returning to the University of Birmingham to study for a PhD.

When asked what advice he would give to his 16-year-old self, Tyler said, “The same advice I gave to my 16-year-old brother just a couple of months ago. Don’t stress too much about GCSE exams. You don’t need A Levels to get to university.”

Tyler’s brother will be following in his footsteps to study engineering at Bournville College come September, where he will be studying Level 3 Mechanical Engineering.

How T-Levels are Tackling Recruitment Challenges in Manufacturing

South & City College Birmingham — 17/01/2023

South City College Birmingham’s (SCCB) Engineering students are eager to get out and into the manufacturing sector for some real workshop experience. Level 3 talented engineers are looking to take their skills to the next level with a 45 day industry placement. With hundreds of students ready for the venture, all they need now is manufacturing and engineering firms to offer them the experience. In addition, the placement will come as no cost to the companies that take part.

Based in the West Midlands, SCCB is a vocational college that offers students part time, full time and Apprenticeship courses. Catering to a range of skill sets, the college offers these courses from level 1 to higher education in a range of subjects. What makes them stand out is their innovative approach to training young minds for the future of work and their modern facilities that supply students with hands-on experience.

Training future engineers for the growing manufacturing and engineering sector, SCCB has various workshops that allow students to use state of the art engineering equipment. The equipment used by T-Level students is broken down into two segments Electronics and Mechanical. Students work with a variety of tools from metal soldering, rework stations, Techtroic's Digital Oscilloscopes to XYZ centre lathes, XYZ Vertical Millers, Pillar Drills and more .

What are T-Levels?

T-Level students are required to take part in classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience. As Level 3 qualified professionals, the qualification has been developed in collaboration with leading employers and businesses so that students are prepared for work.

The newly developed course is especially beneficial for manufacturing businesses who are currently undergoing recruitment challenges, due to a shortage of skilled workers. SCCB offers T-Levels that specifically apply to the industry including: Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing, Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing and Building Services Engineering for Construction.

The 315 hour industry placements, 45 days, is an ideal solution for entry level skills. Students can help employers build a pipeline of talent for junior positions or apprenticeships. It also gives businesses the chance to work with the next generation of workers entering the manufacturing and engineering industry, ensuring they take on the knowledge and practical skills they require to work in the sector.

In addition to that, placements offer support to staff who act as training providers to students. This can help them reflect on their work and increase job satisfaction. Young people offer a new perspective and change the way businesses are run.

If you are a Manufacturing business based in the West Midlands, contact SCCB to find out more about how you can recruit a T-Level student: at Pamela.Gerald@sccb.ac.uk or on 07565 713639.

Friendship, Robotics, and Education: Hamed and Martin's Inspiring Engineering Journey

South & City College Birmingham — 15/11/2023

“It is the future, you know. A doctor in New York performing surgery in England via a robot. It’s amazing.”

We sat down with two of our marvellous Engineering higher education Alumni – friends from college to uni, and now both lecturers at SCCB!

Martin just finished his undergraduate with University of Birmingham. Hamed just started his PhD in Medical Robotics, designing a robot for surgeons to perform life-saving procedures across the world. They are both inspiring SCCB success stories.

Hamed and Martin, why did you want to study Engineering?

H: I’m originally from Iran where I was an engineer, before I came to the UK in 2015. I always wanted to do my PhD and become a lecturer at a university level. It was my childhood dream.

M: I always liked engineering, and come from an engineering background. My grandfather was one of the first in the UK to study, to operate and to program a Computer Aided Design machine tool.

Which course did you both study at South & City College Birmingham?

H: We did a Foundation Degree Electrical & Electronic Engineering in 2019. It took 2 years and it was a course which ws a collaboration between University of Birmingham, University College Birmingham and South & City College Birmingham.

M: The course had different pathways in the second year. I moved onto the path of Mechatronic & Robotic Engineering because I was more interested in that. With an eye to the future, I think Robotics has a fascinating journey during my working life. Then we both went onto a Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Birmingham.

How did South & City College Birmingham prepare you for University?

M: The Foundation Degree was a really good base course. It was a bit of a jump between college and university obviously, but most of the basics that we learnt were really helpful for the level up. It was 3 days a week at SCCB, which was easier in the first year to get used to. It made a huge difference that the teaching at college was very good.

H: Going via this college had many advantages. We were paying less money and we had more time to be able to have a part-time job. Also, there were less students in each class than at uni, which gave more contact time for students with their tutors.

M: My final year project at the University of Birmingham was constructing and designing a robotic manipulator. Even going up to that level, I was still using things I learned here at SCCB, the core modules through programming, coding, electronics and mechatronics.

H: The same for mine. I’m a bass guitar player, so my finals project was designing a unique electronic distortion effect.

From left to right: Hamed Akbari Mirshekarlou and Martin Dufficy, university-level Engineering tutors at South & City College Birmingham

What got you into Teaching?

M: I’ve always said I’ve never wanted to teach (LAUGHS). But all the people who’ve ever known me have always said “you’d be an excellent teacher, you’re really good at explaining stuff”. It is a great pleasure to see people understanding and learning.

H: On our college course, we effectively used to be tutors while we were students here.

M: We were 33 and 29 when we started the course, the other students were all about 18, so we were able to help them if they got stuck.

How was it coming back to the college?

H: It was very joyful coming back to SCCB, not as a student anymore but as a teacher. Becoming colleagues with the teachers you were studying under before.

M: It was a privilege to be stepping in for my previous lecturer, James, who taught me Mechanical in my second year. Originally the college stated that there was only one job opening, but they liked us both so much that they found a way that we could both lecture.

Why should Engineering students do Higher Education?

H: Nowadays, the science has become very specified. If you want to be an expert on one field, you need to go into details on that. The only academic way to achieve this is to do higher education. It does depend on your preference, of course. I have been able to help some students who weren’t originally interested in moving up to a degree. I could understand them as I was in their position before as a student of the college.

And finally, tell us about your PhD, Hamed!

H: I got a scholarship from the government, an EPSRC to do my PhD studies. I started at UoB doing Medical Robotics, which I’m very interested in.

I’m working on surgery-assisted robots. Trying to design a robot to be high performance, low cost and easy to use. With many robots, surgeons need six months training to start, so we’d rather it be user-friendly. So that any surgeon can try in a week and start doing some simple surgeries with that.

M: It is the future, you know. A doctor in New York performing surgery in England via a robot. It’s amazing.

Thank you so much Hamed and Martin! SCCB are very proud!

Want to follow in Hamed and Martin’s path? Our exciting Higher Education Engineering routes will help you change the future.

Head to our Higher Education Engineering Courses

Webinar Invite: Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Young People - What does the summer statement mean?

South & City College Birmingham — 14/07/2020

On Friday the 16th of July 2020 at 11 am, Made in the Midlands Member South & City College will be hosting a webinar to talk through the developments of the recent ‘Summer Statement’ by the Chancellor, and what they mean for Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Young People.

Speaking about the event, Rebecca Waterfield, the Head of Employee Engagement at the college said, “In the Summer Statement a range of incentives was announced for employers to take on apprentices, young people and trainees, which include a potential grant of £3,000 for taking on 16-18-year-old apprentices and wages support for taking on people aged between 16 and 24.

There were a lot of welcomed opportunities to support employers in taking on apprentices, young people and trainees; however, the underlying rules and eligibility criteria are still to come.”

You can register for the Webinar, for free, by clicking on the following link.

Fully-Funded Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Course Launched for Engineers

South & City College Birmingham — 26/05/2022

Members of Made in the Midlands South City College Birmingham has launched an Electric and Hybrid Vehicle course for engineers and aspiring engineers, a first for the college. This comes after a successful pilot scheme DfE Funded and supported by National Express. The course will benefit small garages that would usually pay over £1,000 per team member to access specialist training to meet the increasing demand for hybrid and electric car servicing and repairs. Engineers with these skills will also benefit businesses that are part of the development of EV and EV technologies.

South City College Birmingham is a leading provider of a wide range of hands-on courses. A vocational college based in Birmingham, the organisation offers students part-time, full time and apprenticeship courses from level 1 to higher education. What makes SCCB so unique, is its firm commitment to promoting and embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion for all of its learners, staff, and governors.

The launch event for the announcement of the college’s new Hybrid and electric vehicle training course took place on Friday 18th March at the Longbridge (Bournville College) campus and the ribbon was cut by Gary Sambrook, MP for Northfield and Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Muhammad Afzal. In a blog post published by the college following the launch they said:

“Hybrid and electric vehicles are the way forward in our region and nationally. More than 10 million electric vehicles (EVs) were on the road across the world in 2020. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, or ACEA, said registrations of hybrid electric passenger cars accounted for 20 percent of the total EU market during the third quarter (July-September 2021).  

There is currently a skills gap in the developing technology and industry. The College's investment in new qualifications and facilities at the Longbridge (Bournville College) campus is providing local people with the opportunity to be trained at a higher technical level and gain jobs. While at the same time supporting the industry by enabling companies to employ skilled people and upskill existing employees. Normally this course would cost £1,500 per candidate.”

The training provided will upskill staff and students in routine maintenance, repairs and replacement, and development diagnosis, testing, and repair of hybrid and electric vehicle components. Essentially, candidates will gain a formal qualification and certification of skills in relation to understanding hazards around hybrid/electric vehicles and know how to reduce risks to yourself and others when working with hybrid/electric vehicles and more. The industry-standard qualification enables employees working with developing parts for EV batteries and technology to understand the end-user processes and enhancement of their job role and support progression into other roles.

The course in total is 5 days and candidates normally study the levels 2/3 for 2 days and then return around 4 weeks later to complete the level 4 over 3 days. Courses run every week and employers can contact the College’s Employer Services Team: call 0121 694 5066 or email business.dev@sccb.ac.uk for more information and to book.

Unveiling the Power of Placements: Students Share Their Transformative Journeys

South & City College Birmingham — 05/07/2023

T-Levels, introduced in recent years as a vocational alternative to A-Levels in the United Kingdom, have gained attention for their practical approach to education. As students embark on their educational journey, the placement process plays a crucial role in shaping their experience and career prospects.

In the realm of education, the voices of students often go unheard amidst the clamour of academic discourse and institutional narratives. However, within these young minds lie stories of resilience, triumph, and personal growth that can serve as a beacon of inspiration for others embarking on similar paths.

The testimonials of two students, as well as the employer's perspective, shed light on the valuable skills and opportunities gained during their work placements. These stories exemplify the positive impact of T-Level placements and highlight the significance of collaboration, mentorship, and real-world experience.

One of our students, Nawal, a first-year student at our Digbeth campus pursuing digital production, design and development, doing a work placement at Makemefitclub Company, She says, “My work placement with Makmefitclub has been an amazing opportunity for me. I have gained valuable experience and built my professional network, learning from experienced professionals in my field.”

Nawal has gained a lot of skills and experience during her time as she says, “During my work placement, the marketing campaign was the most enjoyable for me. It provided me with ideas and skills on how to advertise. I particularly liked this aspect because it's a skill I need to develop to further progress in university. I absolutely thrive on planning and researching topics related to campaigns for my company. Being able to learn new things about how advertising works on various social media platforms is essential for my business-focused course study in college.”

She also adds how the excellent work of the college played a major role in getting her the right experience as she says, “South and City College has truly transformed my educational experience. The opportunity to participate in work placement programs has opened doors and allowed me to gain practical experience. I highly recommend this college to anyone seeking a comprehensive education that combines classroom learning with real-world experience.”

Another student who wishes to be not named, also working alongside Nawal at Makemefitclub, says “One of the highlights of my placement was helping plan for Makemefitclub events. From creating posts, editing them, and putting them out, I learned a great deal about planning and executing successful events. This experience helped me develop my creativity and attention to detail, which I know will be invaluable in my future career.

During my placement, Dalbir Kaur, my employer, was an amazing mentor who helped me grow both personally and professionally. She gave me the opportunity to apply the skills I had learned in college to real-life situations, which helped me better understand the concepts of marketing and management.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a fantastic company and to have had the chance to learn from such a good mentor as Dalbir Kaur. I know the skills and knowledge I have gained during this placement will be invaluable as I move forward in my career.”

Dalbir Kaur, the employer at Makemefitclub, recognises the importance of providing T-Level students with a supportive and nurturing environment. As she says, “both students are doing very well; they have been a part of launching marketing campaigns, planning and executing our latest well-being event and attended the latest board meeting. They feel like they are getting value and enjoying their placements.”

The testimonies of these T-Level students and their employer highlight the invaluable experiences gained through work placements. The students' accounts illustrate the practical skills acquired, such as advertising, planning, leadership, time management, critical thinking, and analysis. These skills will undoubtedly prove beneficial in their future careers.

Furthermore, the mentorship and collaborative work environment provided by employers like Dalbir Kaur contribute to students' personal and professional growth. T-Level placements, as exemplified by these success stories, offer students a comprehensive education that combines classroom learning with real-world experience, paving the way for a promising future.

Our students need YOU!

South & City College Birmingham — 21/10/2019

South & City College is on a mission to ensure our students are prepared to meet your needs in the world of work. As part of this we are looking to support over 400 students through 315 – 460 hours work experience each academic year and we need your help to achieve this!

High quality work experience is extremely valuable to students to prepare them for the next stage of their learning, be this higher level studies, apprenticeships or starting their careers. We are looking for companies to help support our students to gain this experience and in return we can off financial support of up to £750 per placement to help cover any costs involved!

By helping young people to gain work experience, your business can reap real benefits, such as:

developing the supervisory and management skills of your current workforce
enhancing your public profile by supporting your local community
accessing a pool of hidden talent - people who offer enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to your business
promoting workforce diversity

To find out more and meet some of our students please come along to our launch Wednesday 20th November from 8.30am to 1.30am at Aston Villa Football Club.

A hearty full English will be provided as well as networking opportunities with likeminded businesses.

To book places please contact placementteam@sccb.ac.uk

SCCB Provides Talent to Manufacturing in West Mids

South & City College Birmingham — 22/10/2020

South & City College Birmingham (SCCB) have plans to introduce 15 new Level 3, engineering apprentices, to businesses across the West Midlands. The organisation supports students throughout their working term, of any age, alongside helping upskill students after their 4-year apprenticeship.

Committed to ensuring students have the relevant skills, qualifications, and experience required for their future, the college supports apprentices whether they seek employment or to continue their education at college or university.

In September 2019, SCCB launched the Level 3 Engineering and Technician Apprenticeship program. This has already supplied 10 manufacturing and engineering apprentices to the West Midlands area. By January 2021 they hope to get 15 new students into job roles within the sector to help close the existing skills gap.

Supporting apprentices in learning, SCCB provides a state of the art workshop that includes 5 axis CNC machines, grinding and drilling machines.

Students work with a number of different materials and even work on projects for businesses, helping them understand the real needs and skills of working in manufacturing.

Matthew Warman, an apprentice and Engineering Technician at Samuel Taylor, said: “We use a lot of CNC's where I work, so to be able to use my hands and get stuck in has helped me to gain a better understanding of different materials and their properties."

Provided with the relevant skills through practical workshops once a week, students also attend regular seminars on topics such as engineering and robotics, depending on their specialism. The apprentices are ideal for manufacturers looking to future proof and grow their business, with SCCB also providing them skills to progress in their chosen field.

Matthew continued: "My employer is really supportive, and we have already talked about me moving into my HND after this course. I know the college is partnered with the University of Birmingham, which is a great opportunity for me, as I'll be able to continue into my degree without having to change colleges."

As part of the Institute of Technology, a combination of industry and education, South & City College Birmingham is dedicated to tailoring apprentices to allow companies to take on someone with the right skills.

With an array of Government schemes available to businesses, including the Kickstart programme, SCCB offers an all-round service in supporting businesses in taking on new apprentices.

SCCB believes that businesses taking on apprentices is the most affordable way to get talent into business. With over 150 apprentices starting throughout their course offering globally, SCCB see themselves as consultants who support businesses, both in where they are now and where they want to be. Chris Hayden, Business Consultant at SCCB, said:

“We are a hidden gem whose ethos is inclusivity. We will work with everybody and anybody to supply them with the right skills for where they want to be. We believe in building partnerships with businesses and removing all red tape involved.”

If you think SSCB could help you, get in touch by heading to their microsite https://southandcitycollegebirmingham.madeinthemidlands.com/

How T Levels became the optimal decision leading to success for Anas and Mohammed.

South & City College Birmingham — 05/03/2024

Mohammed left and Anas right, onsite at a Winvic construction site in Birmingham.

“A T Level was just right for me. Doing a placement has easily been so important for my practical skills growth. What you learn in a classroom is completely different to what you learn onsite. Everyone here at Winvic Construction has told me this, and now I understand it’s true. The experience you get working onsite, you can’t match it to anything else, you just can’t.”

Mohammed Sammad, T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Management

Curious what life is like on a T Level course, which balances classroom study with real work placements? Or, just want to get into an exciting construction career with a course that lets you find the area you are meant to be in?

We interviewed two of our brilliant students on their second and final year of a T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Management course, Anas and Mohammed. They are doing their placement together with Winvic Construction in Birmingham. Let’s meet the lads!

My name is Anas Ahmed and I’m doing a T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Management. I am in my second and final year of the course, doing placements weekly at Winvic Construction’s Birmingham office and construction sites.

Honestly, I’ve just had a passion for construction ever since I was at secondary school, when I did Design & Technology. I’ve always had an interest in building stuff. I liked doing projects where I had to plan it, design it, buy all the assets myself – I just grew my love for construction there. I’m also the first in my family to go into construction.

Why did you study at our college? When I was looking for my courses, South & City College Birmingham has always been top recommended by family and friends. I went on their website, found an amazing T Level course and I pursued it.

What’s your long-term life goal? At the start of my T Level I wanted to be a Site Manager, but as I got to work with different departments and to try different jobs I think, right now, my main focus is to be a Site Engineer. (Site Engineers are more technical problem-solving and engineering focused)

What does a week on your T Level look like? For my T Level, currently we are doing 2 days at placement, and 3 days in college. For my placement days, sometimes we are on a construction site, sometimes we are in the office doing other work.

The placement part has 100% been so important for my development. What you learn in the classroom, or out there on site, is completely different. I think you will learn crucial life skills while you are on-site, or at placement.

Every single one of the staff at the college has been helpful to me on the way.

How has the college supported you? The college has supported me a lot on my T Level. One of the biggest things that helped me is definitely paying for my transport, giving me a bus pass. That obviously saved me money and stress.

My Placement Officer Pam helped me a lot with logging in my hours, placement details, knowing what days I’m going in. If I have problems with anything on my placement, she helps me. Also my tutors, they are always telling me how good of a job I’m doing, what things to do or not to do. They’re very helpful.

How have Winvic helped? Honestly, everyone at Winvic has been helpful, every department. If I’ve had questions about software I go to certain people, if I have questions about the work I’m doing I can go to anyone, and they will be more than happy to help.

One thing that shocked me the most was how, just 2 weeks in, Winvic were already giving me tasks to complete independently with my mentor onsite. It’s one thing being trusted to do work in the office, but trusting me to be onsite in my opinion is a great sign of respect.

My name is Mohammed Sammad, and the course that I’m studying at the moment is a T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Management.

What got me into Construction? Now, that’s a good question. When I left school I did study art, which made me want to do construction. But what boosted me was that my father and my uncle both know a lot about construction and that made me want to do it too. I was interested in designing buildings and how they were made, and the architecture of them.

Why did you study at our college? Obviously it’s local, which is important, but really and truly I heard good news about it from my family. My father, my cousin and even two of my uncles have studied at South & City College Birmingham. I heard that this T Level is a very good course, so that’s why I chose to study here.

What’s your long-term life goal? Hopefully my next step is to either start an apprenticeship, or if not, go to university. The end goal is to be a Senior Site Engineer.

This course has helped me develop a lot, because I don’t think I would have known anything about construction. How buildings are made, how they have to get everything precise to the nearest millimetre. It’s helped me a lot.

What does a week on your T Level look like? Right now, for my second year, every Tuesday and Friday I am on placement, which I do from 8 til 5. I like to come in early and I leave late. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday I am at college.

At the college, I have very good tutors. I get taught about surveying on Monday. On Wednesday and Thursday, they teach us everything else we have to know. Pam, my Placement Officer, has helped me out a lot in my placement, she’s a gem. My other two teachers, Susanna and Ian, are also helping me out a lot in my course.

Has the placement been useful? A T Level was just right for me. Doing a placement has easily been so important for my practical skills and growth. What you learn in a classroom is completely different to what you learn onsite. Everyone here at Winvic Construction has told me this, and now I understand it’s true. The experience you get working onsite, you can’t match it to anything else, you just can’t.

How has Winvic helped? Everyone at my placement has been good to me. At Winvic Construction, when they give us work, we can go to anyone and they are more than willing to help. They’ll take the time out of their day to help us out.

Doing a placement with another student has been great. It’s improved both of our communication skills, how we can interact with people, and how we complete work. We do get a lot of work together, and we get it all done to a higher standard.

Thanks so much and well done, Anas and Mohammed, our T Level success stories. And also to Winvic Construction, and the staff who made the boys’ journey so useful.

Check out our T Levels in South & City College Birmingham

T Level Courses

Gas Engineer Lee on how his apprenticeship changed his life

South & City College Birmingham — 12/02/2024

“Applying to South and City College to work for Worcester Bosch back in 2018 has been one of the best decisions I have ever made and I am proud of myself for coming this far and achieving what I have.”

Lee Smallman, Gas Engineer at Worcester Bosch

This story was written by Tracy Kerr, Business Consultant at South & City College Birmingham

South and City College Birmingham have been working with Worcester Bosch for 7 years and have recruited and trained over 45 Gas Engineering Apprentices from all over the UK, most of which are now qualified Gas Engineers working in the field for Worcester Bosch.

One of our success stories is local lad Lee Smallman from Wolverhampton. Lee left school in 2002 and moved from job to job and after being made redundant twice he decided to apply for the Gas Engineering position in 2018.

Lee got through an intensive recruitment process and was offered the position by Worcester Bosch and he started training at the College in September 2018.

Lee states: “I was over the moon I secured the role, and I couldn’t wait to start work with my mentor in the field. I just wanted to get stuck into the job and I was apprehensive about College as I didn’t have many good experiences at school”.

Lee started block release at the Bordesley Campus of the College and immediately felt at ease as all the staff were supportive, helpful and friendly. “I left school without achieving A-C grades in English and Maths at GCSE, so I was very reluctant about the prospect of doing these again. Yvonne was a fantastic teacher and she helped and supported me to successfully achieve Level 2 in English and Maths. I was so proud of myself and grateful to Yvonne for her help and support from start to finish.”

Lee praises his other tutors and Assessor too…

“I always felt like nothing was too much to ask, the tutors push you to get better and better and always went over things if I wasn’t sure. For some of the time Covid hit and the College still kept in touch to make sure I was ok and set work for me to do. This was the case for my mentor, Allan and Jason in Worcester Bosch too. They were really supportive at a difficult time for everyone.”

Lee passed his course and apprenticeship in 2021 and is now a qualified Gas Engineer and works independently covering areas in the West Midlands.

“Applying to South and City College to work for Worcester Bosch back in 2018 has been one of the best decisions I have ever made and I am proud of myself for coming this far and achieving what I have. I couldn’t have done this without the help, support and dedication of Worcester Bosch colleagues and all the staff that taught me at College”.

Lee is thriving and is looking forward to a long and rewarding career in the company and supporting new apprentices coming into the business.

Want a hands-on career with skills that will always be needed? Take a look at out Plumbing & Gas courses.

See our Plumbing & Gas Courses

Engineering Excellence Abroad: A Unique Work Experience in Spain

South & City College Birmingham — 11/10/2023

Twelve lucky students from our Engineering, Electrical Installation and Automotive courses took an unforgettable trip to Córdoba, Spain, for a week of real international work experience… and lots of fun!

It was a tremendous opportunity to boost their skills and CV for the labour market, to mix with other international students and also to enjoy the culture of a beautiful European city. It was all thanks to Europe Connexion, who organise exciting agendas and packaged educational trips. ¡Muchos gracias!

Our students were introduced to local companies in their field and had a week-long placement. The companies and staff made them feel very welcome. Students said the experience boosted their confidence and knowledge massively in a very short timeframe.

Hammad, Mechanical Engineering, said: “The Spain trip was an amazing experience for me, it was a really good chance for me to go abroad and learn new things. It has helped me boost my confidence levels. With my work placement I got a chance to work properly with machines that I never used before. I have enhanced my skills within my course. I have learnt a lot and saw a lot in the week that I was there. Thanks to Europe Connexion and Masood. Hope to gain more experiences like this in the future again!”

Outside of work, our students were treated to laughs and memorable moments aplenty. They toured historical sites in Córdoba such as the Temple Romano and Plaza de las Tendillas, took an immersive Spanish course to hone their conversational skills, and played dodgeball with their ‘Spanish family’ – students from Hungary and Austria.

“I am extremely proud of our young learners who took the brave decision of working abroad,” said Masood Yasin, Senior Student Retention Co-ordinator. “The valuable experience working with people from other backgrounds abroad exposed our learners to different working styles, forcing them to develop stronger communication skills and confidence as they progress their careers.

“Overseas experience on any CV will give our learners a valuable competitive advantage when they return home. A global perspective is highly regarded by employers, which will open them up to excellent opportunities into the future”.

Read our student stories from the trip:

Mia, Mechanical Engineering

“The trip to Spain was a beautiful experience. I had so much fun with everyone. During my stay I did a week’s work experience. I worked on some CNC machines and did some hand work (filing). I also worked on the computer using systems such as CAD software.

The employees were really nice and helpful. The environment was laid back. I learnt about the Spanish culture and language as we had lessons during the week.

Everyone got along which made me happy and less nervous as I was the only girl. It felt like I had known everyone for ages, like we were a big family. I felt involved and confident.

Exploring Spain was one of my favourite experiences. I found my way around the area we were staying really easy. The views were beautiful and the weather was amazing. On some days it would get really hot but eventually it would cool down in the evening.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay and I would go back 100 times with the same people as I really enjoyed myself. Thanks to Masood and Joshua and our Spanish family, they really looked after us and made it worth our time.”

Mohammed, Electrical Installation

“I went on a Spain trip to learn and develop a new set of skills abroad with the rest of my team. I was given this opportunity by Masood and Europe Connexion and my former teacher Adnan.

The tourist attractions were stunning. At our hotel we met with our Spanish family, the Hungarians and Austrians. We stayed in Córdoba where we explored the old capital and the history behind it and the ancient relics. The people in Córdoba were very friendly and positive.

I worked at a place called Teleplaca. I was with the Hungarians learning about solar panels and renewable energy sources. The team were friendly and helped us understand the concept of work.

Me and my group also stopped off in Sevilla at the end of our trip where we spent our whole day there, sightseeing the city and many food spots which was amazing. We took daily Spanish lessons in Córdoba which helped us communicate with the locals and understand what they were saying. I give all the thanks to Europe Connexions for helping us and also big thanks to SCCB and Masood for giving me this opportunity.”

Inspired to get started on one of these courses? Students on our Automotive, Electrical or Engineering courses all get plenty of opportunities for real industry work to make sure that they finish with the best possible chances of getting into employment.

Take a course at South & City College Birmingham for access to modern facilities, hands-on training from staff with industry experience, exciting opportunities and a supportive learning environment. What would be your favourite?

Ready, set, go! See our Automotive courses

Got the spark? See our Electrical Installation courses

It’s by design! See our Engineering courses

South and City College motors ahead with its Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training Centre

South & City College Birmingham — 04/08/2022

Proud sponsor of the Greater Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards 2022 is at the cutting edge of technology

The cutting edge Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training Centre

The West Midlands has powered up Britain for hundreds of years: A key driver from the days of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century, it has been at the forefront of anything from coal mining and car production to brickwork and glass factories. And its present day achievements in engineering and manufacturing have only strengthened that solid reputation.

But keeping those economic wheels in motion relies on a highly skilled, agile, adaptable and motivated emerging workforce - and that’s something the award-winning South and City College is passionate about.

In fact, its cutting edge Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training Centre, coupled with innovative courses such as HNCs, apprenticeships and BTEC diplomas, are seeing the college at the epicentre of training.Its Longbridge campus (Bournville College) and Bordesley Green campus offer great opportunities in engineering and contribute to the city's growth and development.

And the college, a proud sponsor of the engineering and manufacturing category at The Greater Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards 2022, in partnership with the Ladder for Greater Birmingham campaign, has the accolades to prove it: The past year has seen it scoop Further Education College of the Year at the Education Awards as well as the award in Transforming Life through Partnership through its work with National Express.

South and City College works in partnership with National Express

It’s a great example of hard work, dedication, and a close connection with industry, paying off: In 2018, the National Express Engineering Training Academy was created at Bordesley Green campus. The focus was to create a workspace that encompassed all of the facilities needed to enable apprentices to have a realistic learning experience whilst in college that closely matched the workplace experience.

Engineering training manager for National Express, Lee Sandford explained: “From the very beginning of the project to create the National Express and South & City College Engineering Training Academy, we all knew that we had the opportunity to create something very special that would transform the opportunities and lives of people in the local area whilst addressing the skills shortage within the bus and coach industry. Through true partnership working, that included innovative thinking, joined-up processes and open communication, this initiative is making a fantastic positive impact.”

Principal for South & City College Birmingham, Mike Hopkins added: "We have been a supporter of the West Midlands Education Awards since its inception, but I am particularly pleased that this year we have been successful in winning two of the prestigious awards. It is a great achievement and recognises what the college does within Birmingham."

The Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training Centre

Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training Centre

This year has also seen the college launch its Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training Centre. This centre allows engineers to gain qualifications up to level 4, allowing them to work on electric and hybrid vehicles. Hybrid and electric vehicles are the likely way forward in our region and nationally - more than 10 million electric vehicles (EVs) were on the road across the world in 2020. And The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said registrations of hybrid electric passenger cars accounted for 20% of the total EU market from July-September 2021.

But there is currently a skills gap for developing technology and industry, something the college is keen to address. Its investment in new qualifications and facilities at the Longbridge (Bournville College) campus is providing local people with the opportunity to train at a higher technical level and gain jobs - while at the same time supporting industry by enabling companies to employ skilled people and upskill existing employees. Normally this course would cost £1,500 per candidate.

South & City College Birmingham developing the workforce of the future

South & City College Birmingham — 11/09/2023

This article is featured in the Midlands Edition of ‘The Business Post‘ – regional B2B publications that deliver thought-leadership and expert advice from the heart of small business to industry leaders across the UK.

Birmingham is one of the youngest and most ethnically diverse cities in the UK.

That means there is a plethora of talent to support the regional economic growth; the city has access to a talent pool of residents that are meeting current and future skills needs. However, the city also has some of the lowest attainment levels of education and highest levels of deprivation in the country. This is where Further Education Colleges play a vital role in supporting Birmingham residents to gain the skills and qualifications needed to become the workforce of the future.

The Local Skills Improvement Plan shows that over 75% of businesses in the West Midlands have not engaged with FE colleges and many are uncertain of both how to do this and the benefits of doing so.

FE colleges have the opportunity to provide a range of skills intervention programmes, enabling companies to access talented individuals that can fill vacancies, as well as help employees gain skills and qualifications for the emerging requirements of the sector.

There is a common misconception that colleges only run programmes for young learners starting in September and finishing in June, where you may go if you are not academically strong enough for A Levels and need a more vocational programme. This is not the case.

FE Colleges have the ability to adapt curriculum to meet employer needs.

We can put on tailored pre-employment programmes to help unemployed candidates gain skills needed to enter work. For example, South & City College Birmingham runs the BBV Construction Gateway, a 6-week programme to help unemployed candidates by getting them work on HS2.

Colleges run a range of upskilling programmes, many of which are funded through the government’s Free Courses for Jobs, to support employers and ensure their workforce are developing the skills needed for the future and can progress within their organisations. This ranges from work-based diplomas in Health or Management to short upskilling programmes in Computer Networking and Security and working on electric and hybrid vehicles.

Through local employer advisory boards, colleges encourage businesses to work with our teaching staff.

This helps us improve the design and delivery of our curriculum, which will be developing our region’s young people to meet future skills needs. Colleges understand this need and want to work with our employers to support all of our learners into work, and to be able to progress within their roles.

Colleges support local communities with accessing education and many have strong community outreach provision to be able to access some groups who are further away from education. By working with colleges, employers can access a more diverse workforce which supports any business to be more successful. Businesses whose workforce represents the communities and customers they serve see the benefits of this diversity.

Collaboration is the key.

By combining the strength of our businesses within Birmingham with the further education community, a recruitment and skills alliance can be formed to ensure we have access to the best talent with the best progression opportunities, and therefore support our region to be the most economically successful.

So, let’s begin collaboration today! Head to our Employer’s Hub to see how SCCB can upskill your staff with bespoke training for your needs.

Employers Hub

Contact us

To find out more about our opportunities, please get in touch with our friendly team:

Phone: 0121 694 5066
Email: apprenticeshipteam@sccb.ac.uk

Unmasking the Future: South & City College's Unveiling of RoboThespian Ignites Educational Evolution

South & City College Birmingham — 08/12/2023

South & City College Birmingham introduces the latest addition to its academic arsenal: RoboThespian. This cutting-edge creation, designed and manufactured by British company Engineered Arts, is a robot that’s not just your ordinary tech, but a dynamic partner in learning.

Standing at 1.75 metres (5 ft 9 in), this animatronic marvel is a true sight to behold. Sporting LCD screens for eyes, powered by pneumatic motors and equipped to converse in over 30 languages, it’s a global sensation. This robot isn’t just a pretty face either – it boasts an aluminium chassis and a plastic body shell, weighing in at 33 kilograms (5 st 3 lbs). What’s truly astounding is its agility, with more than 30 axes of movement that make its actions fluid and lifelike.

The college’s investment in this humanoid marvel signals a pivotal leap forward and commitment to innovative education. The RoboThespian isn’t just a technological spectacle; it’s a catalyst for interactive, immersive learning. The robot doesn’t replace human educators; it enhances their efforts, offering a dynamic and tech-savvy approach.

This high-tech marvel isn’t limited to a script—it’s your live interactive showstopper! Whether it’s unravelling the mysteries of cutting-edge technology or sparking your curiosity with audience participation, this robot takes the spotlight.

But here’s where it gets seriously cool. You’re not just an onlooker; you can be in control. Imagine getting hands-on, commanding the robot via a touchscreen. How’s that for some serious power at your fingertips?

And guess what? This robot isn’t just about its flashy moves. It’s smart. With sensors that react to your waves, recognise your face, and even decode and respond to QR codes. It’s like the future is right here, in the palm of your hand.

But here’s the real deal for our college students: it’s not just about the glitz. This robot’s mission? To fire up passions for STEM: subjects like computer science and engineering. It’s all about inspiring and challenging us to dive into these fascinating fields and shape the future. It’s not just a gadget; it’s a gateway to a whole new world of technology and innovation.

Bilal Mohammed (pictured above), an engineering apprentice working to Level 3 was the first student to be introduced to RoboThespian and said, “It’s the coolest thing I’ve seen. All the things you can do with it. I’ve never seen anything like it before, I’m really impressed. You can program poses, head movements and create a script for it to speak too.”

Fancy a career working in robotics? Check out our Foundation Degree Electrical & Electronic Engineering (Awarded by University of Birmingham).

South & City College Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards Evening 2022

South & City College Birmingham — 09/05/2022

South and City College Birmingham has again celebrated the success of apprenticeships with employers and young people at the Sir Doug Ellis Apprenticeship Awards evening. After a year-long break, the awards were held at The Macdonald Burlington Hotel on Friday 11 March.

The Awards were hosted by our very own College Ambassador and InBusiness President Tom Ross. On the night, Tom was joined by special guest speakers Andrea Jester, Consultant Plastic/Hand Surgeon Birmingham’s Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, The Lord Mayor’s Deputy, Honorary Alderman Randal Brew and entrepreneur Carl Barton, EarnLearn.co.uk.

Apprentice of Year Winners 2022

IT Apprenticeship Award - Sponsored by Open College Network West Midlands
Stephen Harrison
Bus & Coach Apprenticeship Award - Sponsored by National Express
Sheldon Swaize
Accountancy Apprenticeship Award - Sponsored by Patara Chartered Accountants
Lily Newman
Business Administration Apprenticeship Award - Sponsored by Longrow Capital
Lucy Jones
Childcare Apprenticeship Award - Sponsored by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Faith Edwards
Construction Gateway Award - Sponsored by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Rene Nunes
Construction Craft Apprenticeship Award - Sponsored by Belfour Beatty Vinci
Joe Hulbert-McQuaide
Carpentry
Construction Higher Apprenticeship Award - Sponsored by Aston University
Jack Baker
Building Services Engineering Apprenticeship Award - Sponsored by VGC
Elliott Thurstance
Sir Doug Ellis OBE Special Recognition Award
Royston Burke
Adult Care

Employer Awards

Large Employer of the Year Award – Ability Matters Group
Small Employer of the Year Award – Blue Thorn Technology
Employer Newcomer of the Year Award – BWC Management Services Ltd

The evening raised over £1,800 in aid of the Birmingham Women’s Children’s Hospital.

The college would like to thank the generous sponsors of the event: Aston University, Open College Network, VGC, Balfour Beatty Vinci, Longrow Capital, Patara Chartered Accountants, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, National Express, NFDC, Subway, Birmingham City Football Club, The Belfry Hotel and Resort, Chung Ying Group, Lyons Boat Yard and of course our partners at the MacDonald Burlington Hotel.

Many congratulations to ALL our winners and a big thank you to all our employers and college staff who contributed and nominated - along with the staff and students who helped set up this incredibly successful evening of celebration.

Make sure your diaries are free for next year’s Apprenticeship Awards evening at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel.

Rising Stars in Engineering: T Level Students Impress in GBSIoT Challenge

South & City College Birmingham — 01/12/2023

“It really gives us hope that there will be young, capable engineers ready to embark on careers in industry.”

Rob Johnson of Automation Controls Ltd

A blueprint for success! Students from our T Level in Engineering & Manufacturing Design and Development spent an interactive learning week working on a manufacturing project, led by local employers and in collaboration with the fantastic GBS Institute of Technology.

It ALREADY led to work placement opportunities for a couple of star students! Wow!

Rob Johnson of Automation Controls Ltd, who specialise in bespoke control systems in the industrial sector, set the student challenge using a real product that the company was currently working on – a pressure release valve designed by Worcester Bosch.

A top-of-the-line learning experience

Students looked how to assemble a PRV on the assembly lines and got a peek at exciting new technology of the industry 4.0 wave. The final task? Presentations from the students to employers, hosted at the IoT, to show their understanding of the material.

“The staff were lovely, and the tutors were very helpful. We got a hands-on experience and were able to look at tech that otherwise we wouldn’t have seen. The factory was amazing, and it really gave us an insight into what automated production looks like.”
George, T Level Student at South & City College Birmingham

The collaboration led to amazing opportunities for two students

Congratulations to Harry and George, who were both offered a work placement at Automated Controls Ltd after their exceptional work. The college is very proud – this just goes to show how our T Levels really are designed to develop career skills and exciting industry placements.

“It was great to be involved in the IoT project. I am very impressed with the facility, staff and the students. The presentations were excellent, and the delivery was confident. It seemed that the students really engaged with the tasks that they were set.

It really gives us hope that there will be young, capable engineers ready to embark on careers in industry.”
Rob Johnson of Automated Controls Ltd

“It’s been a really great week here at the Hub, highly energised. It’s great to see so many students and with the presentations at the end, I could see that the employers were captivated with the work that they’ve done.

GBS IOT are a partnership of four universities and three colleges, and our whole reason for being is to bring partners together, working with employers, to make teaching and learning more engaging for our students. This week has been a perfect example of that.”
Mickey Burke, Operations Director for the Greater Birmingham & Solihull IoT

Thank you to all involved in making this a great experience for our learners.

Find out more about our partnership with the GBS Institute of Technology.

GBS Institute of Technology

Check out our T Level Engineering & Manufacturing Design and Development

More Details on our Course Page

South & City College Birmingham

Welcome to our Engineering Apprentices!

SCCB's Outstanding Achievements Land Them Dual Nominations at Chambers of Commerce Awards!

We are privileged to announce that South & City College Birmingham have been shortlisted for two GBCC Awards 2024:

Seventy-eight businesses are chasing glory at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s 2024 annual dinner and awards on Thursday 15 February.

The GBCC’s Head of Membership Lillian Elekan (pictured), who chaired the judges, said:

The shortlisted companies are:

Change of career to a civil engineer

South & City College Engineering Apprenticeships

South and City College Birmingham launched the Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship programme in September 2019. The course is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain skills as a qualified Engineer through the Apprenticeship pathway.

South & City College student shortlisted for Midlands Fashion Awards

Engineering Alumni’s ambition to reach for the stars

Productivity for SMEs talk set to help businesses survive the future

Success for local unemployed people who get jobs at HydraForce

South & City College Birmingham to invest in hydrogen fuel technology

Don't Miss Out: Speakers Revealed for Productivity Talk Aimed at Future-proofing SMEs

South & City College’s 21st century learning

Engineering students win again at the UK Industrial Cadets Awards 2019

South & City College win RoSPA award for fifth year in a row

Supper Networking with Carl Chinn MBE - The Peaky Blinders, the real story

Carl Chinn and The Peaky Blinders - the real story.Tuesday 19th November 2019South and City College, Digbeth Campus.6.15pm to 8.30pm.

Fast-Track to Future Tech: Autotech Robotics Engineer Unleashes Cutting-Edge Insights in Dynamic Masterclass for Computing Students!

Anwar Ahmadi, a robotics engineer currently working for Autotech Robotics in Plymouth, called in to our Digbeth and Longbridge campuses to deliver a virtual robotics masterclass for both our BTEC and T Level Digital and Computing students.

Staff and students said the session was full of invaluable advice.

Students have already been inspired to go into robotics.

Check out our Computing, Digital & IT Courses on the link below.

Trumaine’s perseverance secured him an apprenticeship with National Express

Vocational route to engineering

How T-Levels are Tackling Recruitment Challenges in Manufacturing

Friendship, Robotics, and Education: Hamed and Martin's Inspiring Engineering Journey

“It is the future, you know. A doctor in New York performing surgery in England via a robot. It’s amazing.”

Hamed and Martin, why did you want to study Engineering?

Which course did you both study at South & City College Birmingham?

How did South & City College Birmingham prepare you for University?

What got you into Teaching?

How was it coming back to the college?

Why should Engineering students do Higher Education?

And finally, tell us about your PhD, Hamed!

Want to follow in Hamed and Martin’s path? Our exciting Higher Education Engineering routes will help you change the future.

Webinar Invite: Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Young People - What does the summer statement mean?

On Friday the 16th of July 2020 at 11 am, Made in the Midlands Member South & City College will be hosting a webinar to talk through the developments of the recent ‘Summer Statement’ by the Chancellor, and what they mean for Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Young People.

Fully-Funded Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Course Launched for Engineers

Unveiling the Power of Placements: Students Share Their Transformative Journeys

Our students need YOU!

SCCB Provides Talent to Manufacturing in West Mids

How T Levels became the optimal decision leading to success for Anas and Mohammed.

Curious what life is like on a T Level course, which balances classroom study with real work placements? Or, just want to get into an exciting construction career with a course that lets you find the area you are meant to be in?

My name is Anas Ahmed and I’m doing a T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Management. I am in my second and final year of the course, doing placements weekly at Winvic Construction’s Birmingham office and construction sites.

Every single one of the staff at the college has been helpful to me on the way.

One thing that shocked me the most was how, just 2 weeks in, Winvic were already giving me tasks to complete independently with my mentor onsite. It’s one thing being trusted to do work in the office, but trusting me to be onsite in my opinion is a great sign of respect.

My name is Mohammed Sammad, and the course that I’m studying at the moment is a T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Management.

This course has helped me develop a lot, because I don’t think I would have known anything about construction. How buildings are made, how they have to get everything precise to the nearest millimetre. It’s helped me a lot.

Doing a placement with another student has been great. It’s improved both of our communication skills, how we can interact with people, and how we complete work. We do get a lot of work together, and we get it all done to a higher standard.

Check out our T Levels in South & City College Birmingham

Gas Engineer Lee on how his apprenticeship changed his life

“Applying to South and City College to work for Worcester Bosch back in 2018 has been one of the best decisions I have ever made and I am proud of myself for coming this far and achieving what I have.”

South and City College Birmingham have been working with Worcester Bosch for 7 years and have recruited and trained over 45 Gas Engineering Apprentices from all over the UK, most of which are now qualified Gas Engineers working in the field for Worcester Bosch.

Lee praises his other tutors and Assessor too…

Want a hands-on career with skills that will always be needed? Take a look at out Plumbing & Gas courses.

Engineering Excellence Abroad: A Unique Work Experience in Spain

Read our student stories from the trip:

Mia, Mechanical Engineering

Mohammed, Electrical Installation

South and City College motors ahead with its Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training Centre

Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training Centre

South & City College Birmingham developing the workforce of the future

Birmingham is one of the youngest and most ethnically diverse cities in the UK.

The Local Skills Improvement Plan shows that over 75% of businesses in the West Midlands have not engaged with FE colleges and many are uncertain of both how to do this and the benefits of doing so.

FE Colleges have the ability to adapt curriculum to meet employer needs.

Through local employer advisory boards, colleges encourage businesses to work with our teaching staff.

Collaboration is the key.

So, let’s begin collaboration today! Head to our Employer’s Hub to see how SCCB can upskill your staff with bespoke training for your needs.

Contact us

Unmasking the Future: South & City College's Unveiling of RoboThespian Ignites Educational Evolution

South & City College Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards Evening 2022

Rising Stars in Engineering: T Level Students Impress in GBSIoT Challenge

“It really gives us hope that there will be young, capable engineers ready to embark on careers in industry.”

A top-of-the-line learning experience

The collaboration led to amazing opportunities for two students

Carl Chinn and The Peaky Blinders - the real story.
Tuesday 19th November 2019
South and City College, Digbeth Campus.
6.15pm to 8.30pm.