Thanks a million to employer partners

Leading employers working with The Manchester College were given thanks and recognition during the second ever Employer Thank You Event.

Around 25 companies who offer work placements and work related activity to College students were invited to attend the special ceremony at Openshaw lecture theatre and collect a Certificate of Appreciation.

Companies included Greater Manchester Police, Network Rail, Wilmott Dixon and Joseph Holt have all arranged relevant high-quality work experience placements for 16 to 18-year-old students, a key Government requirement to boost employability.

The Employability and Partnership Team hosted the event as a way of giving back to organisations who have been instrumental in providing quality work experience.

Thomas Mantel, Head of Employer Partnerships at The Manchester College, said: “Today’s event is being held to thank our employers for all their support, industry placements and work related activity they have provided over the academic year. We are also celebrating some of the massive successes with had with students, and are making sure our employers are aware of how much we value their contributions to our students.”

Christine Kenyon, Vice Principal FE Curriculum, said: “We’ve got many employers working with us and over 5,000 of our students. Building working relationships with employers is vital, and I’d like to thank our employers for showing their commitment to our College and our students.”

Sarah Ogden, Resourcing Business Partner at Network Rail, said: “Working with The Manchester College has been excellent. One of the students has even completed his work placement and has been fast tracked onto a Level 3 Health and Safety Apprenticeship with us.

We would definitely recommend working with The Manchester College, we find it so easy dealing with staff and the students are really well behaved and keen to get involved.

Bradley Waterfall, workshop technical manager at GMP, said: “We had a College students undertake a successful work placement in our work shop. He worked with the mechanics and gained practical experience, but also grew in confidence during his time with us.

“GMP is struggling to recruit technicians so working in partnership with The Manchester College has been excellent.”

Picture features (L-R) Sarah Ogden, Resourcing Business Partner at Network Rail, and Magdalena Sarna, Head of Visuals at Pie Analysis.

Find out more about becoming and Employer Partner at The Manchester College.