The West London Institute of Technology, a key partner in the Education and Skills landscape across Park Royal, provides an update on its latest activities…
Following the successful launch of the Food and Drink Innovation and Skills Hub, we are pleased to share an update on one of the activities that is underway, as part of the Hub’s remit to become a centre of excellence for skills development, innovation, and cross-sector working together.
In partnership with The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) have developed a vocational ESOL course programme for staff working at Dina Foods, supporting them to develop their English skills.
Following a diagnostic session to assess existing language levels and develop a suitable programme of study, a cohort of 20 staff will be embarking on the very first course at the end of April. The 12 week accredited programme focuses on speaking and listening units and is based on the Park Royal Estate, with sessions scheduled to accommodate shift patterns and minimise travel to ensure it is easy for staff to attend.
Wilda Haddad Project Director at Dina Foods said:
“We are proud to be part of this pioneering ESOL initiative with HRUC and ODPC, which reflects our long term commitment to developing our people and creating an inclusive, supportive workplace. By investing in language skills, we are not only empowering our staff to thrive at work, but also strengthening communication, teamwork, and opportunity across our business. Partnerships like this demonstrate how employers and education providers can work together to build a more skilled and confident workforce for the future.”
This programme paves the way for further ESOL courses that will be contextualised for staff in the food and drink manufacturing industry providing the key English skills that are beneficial for their job roles.
Through Hub partners, including OPDC and PRBG, we look forward to developing the ESOL programme and exploring a number of other opportunities to engage with industry, enhancing collaboration and developing initiatives to help meet workforce development needs.
If you are interested in finding out more about how HRUC can help you to deliver courses and recruit apprentices to develop your existing workforce, please get in touch with Jo Withers, Executive Director – Business Growth and Partnerships at jo.withers@hruc.ac.uk
