THE new government minister for apprenticeships and skills was in Basildon today (Thursday, 21 October) to take a tour of the South Essex College campus and its T-Level provision.

MP Alex Burghart visited the college's new Centre for Digital Technologies in Basildon town centre to celebrate Association of College's 'Colleges Week.'

The minister met with staff, students and employers to discuss the college's new T-Level courses in digital and construction.

T-Levels are new two-year technical courses. They combine classroom study with on the job training as part of a substantial industry placement. They are an alternative study option to other existing qualifications such as A-Levels and apprenticeships.

Nicki Kelly, Assistant Principal Curriculum and college T-Levels lead, said: "It was great to show the Minister how we have implemented two new T-Level courses at the college. We're working with big employers such as MicroTill and Willmott Dixon to offer students excellent work placements alongside their classroom learning."

David Hughes, Chief Executive of Association of Colleges said: "It's great to see the new Apprenticeships and Skills Minister at a college during Colleges week. Colleges Week showcases exactly why further education holds the answers to some of the biggest societal issues and I'm confident that Alex Burghart will have seen the breadth of opportunities for people of all ages on his visit today.

"Colleges train the highly-skilled and well-educated workforces needed to deliver the economic recovery this government aspires to. With the government's Comprehensive Spending Review just days away, Colleges Week is a reminder that funding colleges, training and skills is the catalyst for a stronger, fairer and more resilient society."

To learn more about the college's T-Levels offer, with more subjects planned for 2022 intake, visit www.southessex.ac.uk/t-levels.