Colleges passing the test

While not doubting that Mr Wareing (‘Letters’, CM, May) had the misfortune to speak to a motor vehicle tutor who thought he could teach plumbing as well, this is certainly not typical of my experience. I work at a large Further Education college and I can assure him that we employ staff who are not only trained and experienced to the highest levels but are also teacher trained. In fact many staff served their time with local companies before joining the teaching team.

Colleges have had to take the brunt of criticism for the state of skill shortages in the UK without anyone questioning some companies that failed to support apprenticeship and technician training for many years. Colleges are funded at a lower level than 6th form colleges and are subjected to numerous changes to the qualifications and apprenticeship ‘framework’. So, can I ask Mr Wareing - and others clearly concerned with educating the professionals of the future - to support their local college; become involved in their employer consultative groups and promote training to all employers you have contact with?

The picture is never quite as bleak as CM leads us to believe. There is a wonderful organisation called the British Association of Construction Heads. This group fights to retain the prominence of construction education in the UK - and not just in the boom years when employers are knocking our door down to employ our leavers. Last year my college trained over 2000 learners on over 40 different construction courses. Local employers support us to the hilt, learners achieve their goals and not once did we have to turn away an employer wishing to take on an apprentice. Our employers know our tutors on a personal level and would not question their integrity or ability. In addition to professional training we also ‘pre-trained’ over 400 young-people wishing to enter the industry to meet the skills gap. And this is happening all over the country, in every town and city.