Riverside College Launch Bell Decorating Academy
On Thursday 14th December Riverside College, in partnership with Bell Group, launched the North West’s only Bell Decorating Academy which will provide a host of exciting opportunities for the college’s painting and decorating students.
Taking place in the college’s £3.6 million Engineering and Construction Skills Centre, the painting and decorating department were presented with a plaque to mark the new partnership.
At the launch, Bell Group experts Anna Higham (National Community Investment Manager), Julie Lawrenson (National Training and Development Manager) Rich Abbotts (Branch Manager), Andy Tweedale (Bell Group Manager) and Ken Worsnip (Bell Group Manager) provided motivational talks about the exciting new opportunities the partnership will provide to students and staff at the college.
The new Bell Decorating Academy will help to create skilled workers through opportunities including specialised masterclasses by Bell Group tradesmen, fantastic work experience placements, first choice on Bell Group apprenticeships for Riverside College students, and free painting and decorating materials and equipment to aid lessons.
Darren Moore, Head of Construction of Riverside College, said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for our Painting and Decorating students to kick start their career in the industry. The masterclasses that Bell Group are providing will give our students that extra special experience that no other college in the North West will be able to offer.
“I am delighted that Riverside College is the chosen college in this area and would like to thank everyone at the Bell Group for giving our students this fantastic opportunity. To be the only college in the North West who have the Bell Group Academy status shows just how far our Painting and Decorating area has come in the past two years.”
Jayne Smith, Head of Skills and Enterprise at Riverside College, said, “We were thrilled when Bell Group asked us to be the only college to partner them in the North West. Construction has been identified as a growth sector across the Liverpool City Region, particularly with the investment in housing and the subsequent need for painting and decorating skills.
“We therefore look forward to working with Bell Group and developing programmes that reflect the skills employers’ value alongside work experience opportunities and master classes provided by the trade experts. This will give our students exceptional opportunities to secure apprenticeships and progress into employment.”