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VIP College Visits

Written on 2nd March 2022

We regularly host important visits across our nine Greater Manchester Colleges and in the last few months, we’ve seen a range of familiar parliament faces including the current resident of Number 10.

Visits such as these provide a fantastic opportunity to showcase the high quality technical education on offer for students and employers at Greater Manchesters’ nine Further Education Colleges.

Hopwood Hall College

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and MP for Heywood and Middleton, Chris Clarkson visited Hopwood Hall College’s Middleton Campus.

The two guests were greeted by staff and students before heading over to the state-of-the-art Technology Centre. The 6,500 sq metre facility is used by learners studying courses such as Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction.

After exploring the facilities, the PM ventured into workshops that are used by people studying everything from T-Levels and BTECs to part-time courses and Higher Education.

Afterwards the Prime Minister made his way over to the college’s wildlife enclosures, to see some of the exotic creatures cared for by those who study Animal Management at Hopwood.

Wigan & Leigh College 

Labour MP for Wigan and Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Lisa Nandy visited the Centre for Advanced Technical Studies campus at Wigan & Leigh College.

College Principal, Anna Dawe provided a bespoke tour to highlight the work the College is doing with partners to focus on levelling up for the Wigan community.

This followed on from the college’s visit from the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham late last year.

Bury College

Michelle Donelan MP, the Minister for Higher and Further Education, and James Daly, MP for Bury North visited Bury College.

Both guests experienced a T Level session in Health and Digital Support Services, and also heard from students on the new Health Care Practice HNC.

Minister Donelan spoke to students and staff about the college’s new T Level courses, as well as the wide range of higher-level qualifications available at the college’s university centre. 

Oldham College 

Angela Rayner, Shadow Chancellor and MP for Ashton under Lyne visited Oldham College to experience T Level education firsthand. 

Ms Rayner joined Digital learners in the college’s new agile workshop to discuss their recent project exploring the outcomes of COP26.

She also met students in the new on-site simulation suites which replicate real-world nursery, hospital ward and care home environments and spoke to pupils about their future career plans.