Cheadle & Marple Sixth Form College is the first college in the borough to open its own ‘Career Academy’. It’s part of the UK Career Academy, a national scheme combining education and practical business support. The aim is to inspire business student, build confidence and support employability skills. The career academy model has transformed young people’s lives in the USA for 20 years. Cheadle and Marple’s Academy in Business and Finance vocational qualification has attracted a huge amount of interest for the 15 places. It also meets the needs of the new 14-19 Diplomas which should be approved in Stockport next year.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC) has supported the College in its planning. The college interviewed student applicants in Council offices, which Human Resources (HR) staff and solictors from Gorvins involved on the panel to ensure the students had a development experience to remember! The Council and other business partners will offer internships in the Summer and support the business mentoring and business specialist lectures.

Carmel McKeough, the Council’s Head of HR in the Business Services Directorate, has joined the UK Career Academy’s Advisory Board which is chaired by Julie Finch (director of Axon Birch Ltd and President of Stockport Local Chamber Council) and includes representatives from the College and Governing Body and LSC. The study programme includes business studies, and finance with a mentor business partner, specialist lectures from employers and an internship.

Students will graduate at Canary Wharf in London. The UK Career Academy is being promoted through schools, and Cheadle and Marple College hope to expand recruitment at both its sites next year. Pete McGhee, Deputy Principal at Cheadle & Marple Sixth Form College, said : “This is undoubtedly a prestigious programme and a fantastic opportunity for young people interested in a career in business. It puts the UK Career Academy and Stockport on the map.” 

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 1:14 pm and is filed under GM Chamber/Stockport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.