Conservative Education Spokesman Visits South Staffordshire College

Christopher Pincher welcomes David Willetts to Tamworth

Christopher Pincher, Tamworth’s Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, this week joined Shadow Secretary of State for Universities & Skills, David Willetts, on a visit to the Tamworth campus of South Staffordshire College in Croft Street.  The pair met college staff and students including Charlotte Burford who won a bronze medal at the World Skills finals in Calgary, Canada.  They also met hair stylist students and the builders of the college motor race car in the mechanics’ garage.

The college has over 20,000 students across three campuses in Staffordshire and the Tamworth site is the largest.  The college claims that by training over a 1000 more students than its funding allocation, it plays a significant part in the battle against unemployment.  Across the country the number of young “NEETs” (Not in Employment, Education or Training) has now topped the one million mark and in Tamworth, which has a young population and a high rate of unemployment, the problem is a real concern.  The college Chief Executive, Graham Morley, says the courses his staff provide help improve the life chances of thousands of local youngsters.

David Willetts said:

“I was delighted to visit the college in Croft Street and talk to staff and students and see what the college has to offer.  We want to support colleges like this to be more flexible in the way they provide their services so that the staff at the sharp end and not the bureaucrats in the QUANGOs make the decisions.”

Christopher Pincher added:

“David Willetts visited Tamworth at our invitation so he could see the talent our town has to offer.  Tamworth’s unemployment doubled between 2008 and 2009 so we desperately need to use education as a means of helping people find good jobs.  There was a real enthusiasm amongst the students, particularly amongst the motor engineering students, which was tremendous to see.  I really enjoyed meeting them and getting to sit in their customised racing car.”