Companies facing skills shortages can now turn to Milton Keynes College for even greater support thanks to the opening of a new hi-tech business centre equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. The Chaffron Centre at the Chaffron Way campus is the latest offering from the college in its drive to help business and education work more closely together, and it’s the ideal place to start for companies in need of boosting their leadership and management and digital know-how.
Caroline Indge is Head of Partnerships and Innovation at Milton Keynes College Group. She explained how the Chaffron Centre came into being and why it could be a game-changer for local trade and industry.
“The college entered a bid for finance from government under the Strategic Development Fund and we were fortunate to be awarded a little over £3.5m,” said Caroline. “We were granted the money because of our strong track record providing business with the skills it needs and working with employers to make sure we fine tune our teaching to match their requirements. We’ve put a lot of effort into understanding what skills and talents are missing locally and adapting the curriculum to fit.
“My job is to build collaborative relationships with not just companies but the groups that represent business, and we’ve done a lot of work with a number of partners involved in the Chaffron Centre project, including Milton Keynes Council, SCIoT (South Central Institute of Technology), Milton Keynes College Group, SEMLEP (South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership), The Open University, Cranfield University, MKAI and Biztech.”
A number of business forums were hosted, bringing together local employers across a range of sectors including construction, engineering, health and hospitality.
Caroline said: “We asked them about the skills they needed and what concerns they had about what was around the corner. We did some training needs analysis with them and armed with that information we put together some bite-sized courses of three hours, these were a mix of online, in person and both. Following the sessions employers requested training which was tailored to their needs. Everything we’ve learned from those courses has helped inform precisely what’s needed in the Chaffron Centre, so we know we’re on the right lines.”
The Chaffron Centre itself is kitted out with some very impressive technology and Caroline believes it will provide an opportunity for companies to discover not only what’s out there but also if and how it can benefit them.
“We have artificial intelligence kit including Tesla suits and VR headsets. We want businesses to come along and try it out – to see it, feel it and explore it. There’ll be people on hand to explain how it works and hopefully take some of the fear out of dealing with new and unfamiliar technology. Training sessions can be arranged to help people understand the possibilities. We also want companies to come in and demonstrate their own equipment; opportunities to connect and networking with others is another element of the Chaffron Centre.”
Companies will be able to take advantage of the Chaffron Centre as a meeting place, for hotdesking or product launches, the possibilities are endless. There is free parking, a central location and ability to support the local community as well as businesses. The Chaffron Centre aims to offer a flexible service.
Milton Keynes College has an enviable track record of links to businesses and hosting training facilities for employers including Anglian Water and Careys Construction.
Both companies work with the college to ensure the curriculum and teaching reflects industry need so the skills delivered are those required.
To find out how your business can take advantage of the amazing facilities available at the Chaffron Centre, visit their website.
