A Staffordshire college group has been chosen to be the West Midlands Technical and Vocational Excellence Hub as part of a major national programme to strengthen technical and vocational education across England.

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) is one of just nine regional TVE Hubs nationally, forming a key part of the Department for Education-funded Technical and Vocational Professional Development (TVPD) Programme, delivered by the Association of Colleges (AoC).

NSCG said: "Designed by the sector, for the sector, the programme will support teachers, lecturers and education leaders as they prepare for and deliver T Levels, new V Levels and Level 2 pathways.

"The nine provider-led Hubs will help shape and deliver subject-specific professional development, build teaching expertise and strengthen collaboration between education providers and industry.

"As the West Midlands Hub, NSCG will work with colleges, sixth forms, training providers, universities, awarding organisations, employers and other partners across the region.

"Activity will include professional development for teachers, sharing effective practice, regional workshops, mentoring, employer collaboration and support for providers implementing new technical qualifications."

NSCG has already played a major role in the delivery of technical and vocational education across Staffordshire, including its large-scale delivery of T Levels, strong employer partnerships and experience supporting other education providers through technical education reform.

Lasting for three years, the programme will support providers across England to prepare for the implementation and delivery of new post-16 technical and vocational pathways.

It will allow NSCG to develop subject-specific professional development for national use, support a train-the-trainer model across the region and work with employers and education providers to ensure professional development remains responsive to changing industry and workforce needs.

Shelley Brown, Deputy Principal at NSCG, said: "We are incredibly proud that Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group has been selected as one of only nine regional Technical and Vocational Excellence Hubs in England.

"Being chosen through a highly competitive national process is a significant endorsement of the quality of technical and vocational education at NSCG, the expertise of our staff and the strength of our partnerships with employers, education providers and industry.

"As the West Midlands TVE Hub, our focus now is on collaboration.

"We want to bring providers and employers together, share what works and support teaching staff as the technical education landscape continues to change.

"This is not simply about NSCG; it is an opportunity to build expertise and capacity across the West Midlands.

"By working together, we can ensure teachers have the knowledge, confidence and industry insight they need and, ultimately, improve opportunities and outcomes for learners across our region."

David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said: "I am so pleased to see the launch of the Technical and Vocational Professional Development programmes. 

"Developed by the sector, for the sector, I know that TVPD will provide invaluable professional resources for everyone involved in the new post-16 pathways.

"The Technical and Vocational Excellence (TVE) hubs sit at the heart of TVPD, helping to build capacity from within the sector and supporting providers to deliver high-quality technical education.

"We had such a range of applications from right across the education sector and I want to say a huge congratulations to those who were successful.

"These hubs will bring together education providers and employers in every region to make sure that the programme supports high quality teaching and strengthens skills development in the subjects and sectors that matter."

To find out more about the technical and vocational education pathway at NSCG, click here.

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