On Friday 16th October, Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP for Sutton Coldfield, was invited by Samsung Electronics to Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet). His visit celebrates the investment behind qualifications and training resources in digital literacy that have unlocked learning opportunities and improved employability for young people in Birmingham.
The Samsung Digital Service Academy in partnership with BMet, currently celebrating its fifth anniversary, has enabled Birmingham’s aspiring engineers to boost their skill set by studying for a City & Guilds approved NVQ Level 2 in Electrical and Electronic Servicing, all supported by Samsung wireless technology.
During his visit, the RT Hon Andrew Mitchell MP met students at BMet’s Matthew Boulton College, who are currently on electronic communications-related courses. The students demonstrated their invaluable new digital skills using the latest technology.
Samsung’s partnership with the BMet has gone from strength to strength and has been responsible for the launch of training centres and academies across the city of Birmingham that are committed to training young people with new Samsung technology. The resources made available in the academies help young people gain confidence and learn essential digital and STEM skills needed for today’s job market.
Most recently, the partnership has led to the opening of a Samsung Digital Academy for Teachers at Harborne Academy. This provides free training for teachers on using technology in the classroom, as well as supporting them with understanding and teaching the new computing curriculum.
Mr Mitchell also took the opportunity to discuss changing the name of BMet’s campus in Royal Sutton Coldfield to the Royal Sutton Coldfield Campus – an idea which is supported by the BMet President Andrew Cleaves.
Following the visit Andrew Mitchell said “It is good to be able to see first-hand the progress that has been made through the Samsung/Birmingham Metropolitan paternship since my last visit, and I look forward o seeing their new project at the Sutton Coldfield Campus soon”.
Andy Griffiths, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics, UK & Ireland said: “As a leader in Smart technologies, Samsung is committed to improving the digital literacy of young people across the UK. Over the past five years the Samsung Digital Service Academies and partnership with BMet has offered young adults across the city of Birmingham the chance to learn new technical skills and undertake practical qualifications that will allow them to have a greater understanding of the latest smart technology devices.”
Andrew Cleaves, Principal at BMet commented: “Our championing work with Samsung has met an industry need for training centres that offer continuous professional development, paving the way for young people to develop specialised skills so they can become digital technicians and service engineers.
“Housing these academies within a great college like BMet has inspired our students to continue their technical training through Apprenticeships and other work-based learning programmes. This in turn bridges future skills gaps and supports industry growth.
“BMet is proud to continue to develop its work with Samsung by steering our training model into new avenues of opportunity that will boost the career aspirations of more young people across the region.”