A partnership between Blackburn College and Capita continues to go from strength to strength, after eighteen months of collaboration, leading to a long list of accomplishments including keeping graduate talent in the Borough.
The partnership between the College and Capita is a strategic response to the skills shortage currently affecting the construction industry but also the part of a scheme designed to keep graduate talent in Lancashire. First signed in early 2016 – the partnership has resulted in a number of University Centre graduates receiving permanent positions with Capita.
Nick Hall, Business Engagement Manager at Blackburn College said:
“Capita is a major employer in Blackburn, which has been working alongside Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council for the past fifteen years to help transform the borough into the kind of place that local people and businesses want it to be.
“We are very proud to have had so many graduates and apprentices receive permanent employment with them and feel the partnership so far has greatly benefitted both parties involved.
The partnership between the College and Capita has recently been extended and will provide a minimum of twenty work placements to students enrolled at the College, as well as a number of further employment opportunities for students enrolled on an Apprenticeship.
Since the initial signing, three graduates have received permanent positions, three apprentices have been employed, numerous paid internships and shadowing opportunities have been provided and Capita have visited the College to provide degree students with construction master classes.
Former student Daniel Sutcliffe, 29, graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Construction (Sustainable Design) at the University Centre at Blackburn College and is one of the graduates who have gone on to receive a permanent position with the construction giant. He said:
“I’m currently focused on a project called the Darwen East Development Corridor – which comprises a series of junction improvements and the building of a new link road through a piece of land which is being opened up for development.
“I want to thank Blackburn College, Capita and their partnership for the opportunities that have been presented to me over the past 14 months. “It’s very rewarding to be involved in projects that shape and improve the surroundings you’ve grown up in. I feel fortunate.”
