Nelson and Colne College Group’s Higher Education Dean says ‘now is your time’ as she encourages adults across Lancashire to use lockdown as an opportunity to think about their future and gain a higher level qualification.
Learners looking to get on the career ladder, upskill, improve their credentials or employment prospects, or who are looking for a career change, are able to benefit from a broad and industry-focused offer, which can be delivered locally, flexibly and affordably.
The offer at Nelson and Colne College Group’s University Centre is wide-ranging and is offered at two campuses – Nelson and Colne College and Accrington and Rossendale College. It includes Applied Sciences, Building and Engineering, Business and Professional Services, Education and Childhood Studies, Health and Social Studies and Humanities. Access to Higher Education qualifications and Higher Level Apprenticeships are also available.
For those wanting to use this time to study now, the College Group, which has a 95% student satisfaction rate for Higher Education, is offering prospective learners the chance to sign up to a remote HNC or HND in Business, with 50% off the advertised price of the course.
Modules that can be studied as part of the qualifications are wide-ranging and include Business Management, Management Accounting, Management Operations, Research, Marketing, Human Resources and Organisational Structure. What’s more, entry requirements are flexible, and there is the option to study now and pay later through a range of HE study loans.
Donna Madden, Divisional Admin Team Leader at Nelson and Colne College Group, gained a promotion off the back of completing her HNC in Business in May 2019 and would recommend the course to others looking at qualifications in Business.
Donna said: “I started my HNC not long after joining Nelson and Colne College, having worked my way up to Reception and Student Services Manager at a secondary school over the course of almost 10 years.
“Before I began the qualification, I hadn’t done any formal education for 30 years, but I felt like it was the right time to do something. The Business qualification was something that I could get my teeth stuck into and improve my chances of career progression.
“Coming back into learning was a little daunting, but I was with a couple of colleagues and there was a broad range of ages with my peers. I was also motivated as I knew it was going to lead to something better, and it was a qualification I had a strong interest in, which made it altogether different from learning at school.
“I succeeded in achieving career progression when I completed my HNC in Business last year and I am now line managing 11 people across three different sites – Nelson and Colne College, Lancashire Adult Learning and Accrington and Rossendale College. I’m looking at the HND now to further my skillset and knowledge again.
“The qualification has improved my presentation skills – I now have the confidence to present in front of a group – and it definitely broadened my knowledge of marketing and finance in particular. I’m enjoying my new role, and the College Group is a great place to work. It’s a welcoming environment and it is like a family.”
Other Higher Education courses available to sign up to include the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education for those seeking a career in teaching – with 40 places available to begin in September.
Charlotte Scheffmann, Dean of Higher Education at Nelson and Colne College Group, said: “The lockdown period has enabled many people to reassess what they want out of life, and that includes the direction of their career – be it kick-starting it, upskilling, or a career change.
“Although we are living through a strange period at the moment, now is the time to achieve the qualification that you have never got around to studying previously, and Higher Education courses are renowned for having a transformational impact on career prospects.
“As one of the leading College Groups in the country, we have exceptional student satisfaction rates for our Higher Education provision, and a member of our team would be happy to help you today.”
Applicants looking to apply for a Higher Education course at Nelson and Colne College Group can visit www.nelson.ac.uk or www.accross.ac.uk for more information, and can contact the Higher Education Admissions Team on 0333 003 1717 or email he@nelsongroup.ac.uk to apply.
