The United Colleges group, comprising of College of North West London and City of Westminster College, recently hosted a Future Workforce, networking employer breakfast event with over 50 local, national and international businesses attending at the Willesden and Paddington campus.

The breakfast was held to demonstrate the college's facilities and to educate industry on the incoming T level qualifications, in the areas of Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction (Civil Engineering), Digital Production, Design and Development (Digital), Laboratory Science (Health and Science), Building Services Engineering (Electrotechnical Engineering), and Education and Childcare, which will be replacing the outgoing BTEC qualifications in England. 

T Level qualifications require close partnership working with employers to enable the student to participate in over 300 hours of industry placement and allow the employers to help shape the future workforce in conjunction with the education specialist providers. T levels are an alternative to A levels, apprenticeships and other 16 to 19 courses. Equivalent in size to 3 A levels, a T Level focuses on vocational skills and can help students into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships.

Representatives from the following partners were in attendance: Age UK, Axcis education, Chase farm hospital, City Engineering ltd, Construction Youth Consultant, Hospital interiors, Cuttle construction, Energy Carbon, Headmaster, ICAEW, Jobs go public, London Metropolitan university, Magnite, Marriott, McGee, McVitie, Michael Lonsdale group, Ministry of Defence, Morgan Hunt, Morgan Sindall, Osbourne, SEND child services, Sir Robert McApline, Size group, St Giles hotels, Touch of class, WCC, West London alliance, Westminster adult education services, Westminster council, Winta hair and beauty.

The employers had a tour of the colleges green skills area, workshops, labs, and classrooms, including the immersive room. The college works with hundreds of employers on work experience and work placements, across several subject areas and are keen to partner with existing and new employers. The next stage of the employer engagement strategy is to commence termly forums.

If you are interested in partnering further with the college, please contact Joanne.Smith@cwc.ac.uk or Louise.Reynolds.cwc.ac.uk