News

ESC Awarded the Mayor’s Construction Academy Quality Mark!

We are delighted to announce that East Surrey College and John Ruskin College have both been awarded the Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) Quality Mark. This Mark identifies and recognises high-quality construction skills training providers in and around London, and sets a high bar for construction skills training provision. The MCA Quality Mark is awarded to providers who are addressing industry skills needs through curriculum and employer links. East Surrey College and John Ruskin College met the Quality Mark criteria, which includes strong relationships with employers, high employer satisfaction, high quality teaching, and a clear student journey.

Jayne Dickinson, Chief Executive (College Group) & Principal (ESC) commented:

“We’re extremely proud to have experienced tutors that are passionate about the construction sector and enthusiastic students willing to learn. This Quality Mark recognises the high standard of teaching and learning at both East Surrey College and John Ruskin College, and we’re excited to continue building relationships with employers to enhance learning within the industry.”

As well as being a strong benefit for the Colleges, the MCA Quality Mark signposts sector employers to outstanding providers, helping to build on Orbital South Colleges’ existing strong relationships with employers in the construction industry. Last year, both Colleges held Virtual Job Fairs, inviting a variety of employers to share sector skills and career opportunities with students on Full-time Construction courses. At ESC, we heard from companies such as Pathway CTM, ISG and Sir Robert McAlpine. Students were excited to hear about their current and future projects, and took away valuable advice for getting a career in the construction industry. Through these strong links, the Colleges are able to offer an exciting range of Apprenticeships in Construction, giving individuals the opportunity to train on the job and gain a qualification in the sector. Additionally, East Surrey College maintains a very strong position nationally in employer satisfaction surveys, most recently in the 2019 Further Education Choices Survey, where the College ranked 1^st across Surrey and Sussex by businesses for Employer Satisfaction. 

For learners, the Quality Mark indicates to students that the training offered by the provider is of a high standard and will increase their chances of obtaining employment in the construction sector. East Surrey College provides industry-level education to Full-time, Part-time and Higher Education students in the Construction industry as well as large numbers of Apprentices. Applications are open for vocational Full-time qualifications starting in September 2021, as well as the new offering of University Level courses. At this level, the College provides HNCs and HNDs in Construction, as well as a new Quantity Surveying BSc (Hons) course, available on a Part-time basis. East Surrey College boasts spacious workshops for students to learn and develop skills on industry tools and equipment, this incudes work areas for Painting & Decorating, Plumbing, Brickwork, Electrical Installation, Welding and Carpentry & Joinery.

To find out more about Construction at ESC, you can pre-register for the next Open Event on Wednesday 24 February or click here to explore our Construction courses.