Solihull


All the latest news, advice and events for the Solihull business community


Contact: Samantha Frampton T: 0121 678 7488


Technology institute praised for ‘good practice’


A technology institute established at Solihull College & University Centre has been praised as an example of ‘good practice’, in a white paper published by the Government. The Greater Birmingham & Solihull Institute of


Technology, and its partners, were highlighted in the Government ‘Skills for Jobs’ white paper. This white paper sets out reforms to post-16


technical education and training to support people to develop the skills needed to get good jobs and improve national productivity. The citation of the institute in the white paper


reads: “Greater Birmingham and Solihull (GBS) IoT is operational and has a curriculum focus on engineering and advanced manufacturing including future developments in industry. “It is investing in a cyber physical


manufacturing rig, which is the centrepiece of the IoT’s capital investment and will act as a ‘learning factory’ for both learners and employers to engage them in the latest manufacturing technology and help them understand the importance of skills in developing their business and competing in the marketplace. The rig is part of a £9m Department for Education capital investment across four delivery sites in the Greater Birmingham area.” Rosa Wells, executive director for employment


and skills at the college and the IoT, said: “As the lead college for GBS IoT, we are delighted to have informed the skills white paper demonstrating that our commitment to developing an agile, industry informed curriculum offer is at the forefront of the Government skills agenda.”


First homes handed over


New homes: Erica Hillman, new homes executive for Stonewater with Phil Morgan of Living Space, at the Malvern Oaks development


Developer Living Space Housing has handed over the first tranche of homes to housing provider Stonewater at the Malvern Oaks development, in Cradley, Herefordshire. The six-acre development site offers 32 homes


for affordable rent and shared ownership, together with 19 open market properties. Located off Pixiefields, the £12m scheme has


views of the Malvern hills. The development comprises a total of 51 two,


three and four-bedroom family homes and bungalows. Steve Davies, managing director of Living


Space Housing, said: “Malvern Oaks is a shining example of how well mixed-tenure development can work. “The proportion of the 51 homes which are


available for affordable rent, shared ownership and private sale is very equal.


Cambridge dream realised


A Solihull student, with aspirations to work as an architect, has been offered a place to study at the University of Cambridge this autumn. Sakura Izaki-Lee, a former Queensbridge


School pupil, has secured an offer to study architecture at Selwyn College, Cambridge, after undergoing the gruelling selection process. She said: “Applying to Oxbridge is initially


very daunting because of the status of the institution. But it was honestly not as difficult as I had thought, and if you try not to put too much pressure on getting in, it can actually be very enjoyable. “The college was extremely helpful


throughout the whole application process. I benefitted from numerous meetings for reviewing and editing my personal statement, practice interviews, and having someone to ask questions to about Cambridge in general. In addition, the independence of studying at the college has encouraged me to become more proactive in learning beyond the content


42 CHAMBERLINK March 2021


of my A-levels. This has made the intensity of Cambridge’s learning experience more appealing to me." Currently in her second year at the college,


studying A-levels in biology, geography and fine Art, Sakura has good advice for other students contemplating making an Oxbridge application in the future. “If you are on the fence, just do it. I didn’t


ever imagine I would actually get an offer. The ease of the application process is really dependent on how passionate you are for the subject you are applying for. “To perform well at the assessments and


interview you need to have immersed yourself in that subject, whether that be wider-reading, watching documentaries or listening to podcasts. “For me this meant reading books from the


architecture department reading list and continuing to listen to a wide variety of podcasts, which wasn’t very difficult since I was genuinely interested in learning more about the subject.”


“There has been very little new development


in this traditional rural area of Herefordshire and so demand for each type of housing is extremely high.


‘We are delighted to be able to hand over the first homes to Stonewater’


“From the outset, we have worked alongside


Stonewater to ensure this partnership scheme raises the bar in terms of quality – both for the newly built homes themselves and the landscaping and communal open space. “We are delighted to be able to hand over the


first homes to Stonewater. Construction on the final phases of the development is not due to conclude until the summer.”


Laptops donated to Birmingham schools


More than 100 laptops have been donated by BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK to Birmingham schools. Solihull-based BNP Paribas has made the


donation as part of various initiatives across the West Midlands to bridge the gap in digital poverty. A survey carried out by the Birmingham


Education Partnership (BEP) revealed that an estimated 5,000 students across Birmingham are living without devices or connectivity to the internet; and the charity believes this number has increased dramatically over the last year. Jayne Licari, head of brand and external


communications at BNP Paribas, said: “Bridging the gap between education and youth unemployment by helping young people to acquire valuable life skills is at the heart of what we stand for as a business. “Without access to the technology they need


to support home learning, the risk of disadvantaged students slipping through the cracks is higher than ever before. That’s why we’re encouraging other businesses and individuals to join us in donating their unwanted devices, to help students stay connected during this challenging time.”


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