The Rt Hon Iain Duncan-Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Stuart Pearce MBE, Head Coach for the England Under-21s football team, visited Burton and South Derbyshire College to launch a new Microsoft IT Academy today, Thursday 22nd September.
The VIPs met with current students and business customers before conducting an official opening ceremony to launch the College's new Microsoft IT Academy. The Academy at Burton and South Derbyshire College is one of just a handful throughout the country, set up by Microsoft to help students of all ages to develop as IT practitioners, web developers and database administrators of the future.
The Academy will also support local employers by offering courses in Microsoft applications for office-based workers, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook.
The College launched the Academy after a report by e-skills UK highlighted that the technology profession needs another 110,000 recruits this year alone, with the IT and Telecoms Industry set to grow at five times the national average over the next decade.
Dawn Ward OBE, Chief Executive and Principal at Burton and South Derbyshire College, said; "Colleges have a vital role to play in supporting people of all ages to develop the knowledge and skills relevant to employment trends." She added; "The Microsoft Academy is yet another example of the College working with high profile companies in order to meet skills gaps and to give our students the best possible chance of career success."
Prior to opening the Microsoft Academy, the Secretary of State met with students and local companies to learn how the college successfully works to safeguard existing jobs, create new employment in the area, and support those facing redundancy through a number of innovative partnerships and the new Skills for Midlands Growth initiative. He also heard from students who have been recognised as contributing to the Government's Big Society Agenda, through their contributions to the local community, caring for those in need, and their involvement in college decisions.
Stuart Pearce MBE attended the event on behalf of The Football Association along with a number of the College's other key partners. Burton and South Derbyshire College is The FA's official education partner for the St George's Park development in Burton, which will bring a host of employment and training opportunities to the region both during the construction phase and when it opens as The FA's new National Centre of Coaching Excellence in summer 2012.
Refreshments for the VIP guests were prepared and served by hospitality and catering students at Mulberry's, the College's training restaurant.
