The Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan was welcomed to Truro and Penwith College last week to see the impact of investment in skills for Cornwall’s students firsthand.
The Education Secretary visited Truro and Penwith College’s three campuses in Penzance, Truro and Bodmin, meeting staff, students and apprentices.
The education secretary attended a roundtable in Penwith with local employers and education providers to understand skills needs in Cornwall and how the Government can support businesses to get the workers they need to thrive.
She also formally opened the college’s new STEM and Health skills centre on the Bodmin campus, which has been backed by £3.78 million from the Government Local Enterprise Partnerships.
The new centre will enable young people in Cornwall to break into the industries of the future, and has partnered with mineral company Imerys to recruit 12 apprentices to do their Level Three Engineering Technician apprenticeship at the centre.
Keegan said: “Cornwall has such a proud history of enterprise, hard work and innovation and it’s been inspiring to meet so many fantastic young people getting the skills they need for the future.
“I’ve been working with my colleagues across the south west to deliver skills and opportunity. Truro and Penwith College shows that when employers work together with education providers, they can really power growth and public services in an area, and these new facilities are transformative for North Cornwall.”
College principal, Martin Tucker, added: “We were delighted to welcome Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan to our three campuses, spanning the length and breadth of Cornwall.
“As well as an exciting opportunity to meet and chat with our students and staff, the two-day visit was also provided a forum for education and business leaders to sit with the Secretary of State and have an open conversation about the future of education and training in Cornwall, something that was welcomed by all who attended.
“We were especially thrilled that the Education Secretary, along with North Cornwall MP Scott Mann, officially opened our new Bodmin STEM and Health Skills Centre in front of a delighted audience of students, staff and members of the north east Cornwall business community.”
