Nothing stops the move to West Thames College for the Great Skills + Logistics Challenge

Despite freezing fog on Wednesday 25^th January West Thames College opened the doors to host an event to bring young people and employers together.  This was an opportunity for the local community to see the £3 million investment in new facilities and workshops at the Skills and Logistics Centre in use.  Over three hundred students and school children took part in a variety of activities and challenges to try out the skills they would need for future careers in and around Hounslow.

Activities included mastering a truck driving simulator, working in teams to build a helipad, painting a fire door and creating a network cable.  As well as being fun, the activities were designed to highlight the skills needed by the engineers and construction workers, who will deliver the major infrastructure projects such as Heathrow expansion and Crossrail.  There was also a strong emphasis on logistics, a key sector in the Heathrow area, and where the college works with local businesses to offer LGV driver training and supply chain apprenticeships.

The event was opened by Tracy Aust, principal of West Thames College, and Carl Lomas, MBE and chairman of the Institute of Couriers.  They were joined by Christopher Histed, Master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, whose aim is to promote the information technology profession. Chris was delighted to see the collaboration between education, the logistics industry and information technology during the day.  He saw first-hand how the technology of the truck driving simulator appealed to the students and was treated to a tour of the latest gas and hydrogen fuelled vehicles on display at the front of the college.

Also present at the opening were long-standing partners and supporters of the college including a team from the London Borough of Hounslow, led by council leader, Steve Curran, together with representatives from London Heathrow Airport, Premier Inn, Aramark Catering, System Training and the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce.

West Thames College Skills and Logistics Centre offers a wide range of full-time and part-time courses and apprenticeships.  Within Logistics we offer:

• 4 week pre-apprenticeship in logistics
• 12 week logistics traineeship for 16-24 year olds
• Supply chain LGV driver Level 2 apprenticeship
• Supply chain warehouse operative Level 2 apprenticeship
• Supply chain operative Level 2 apprenticeship
• Express delivery / warehouse hub operator Level 2 apprenticeship