Burnley College have been recognised with an invitation to attend a special reception at 10 Downing Street this week.
Invited by Burnley and Padiham’s Member of Parliament Antony Higginbotham, Burnley College’s Director of Skills and Innovation Neil Burrows, accompanied by Themis Apprentice, Grace Francis, and her employer, Stephen Kelly, from HycAero, arrived at 10 Downing Street for the Local Skills Champions’ Reception.
They met with Government leaders, including Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, and representations from the world of education and industry from across the country.
The event, hosted by the Education Secretary saw colleges and businesses from around the country coming together to talk skills and apprenticeships – and to celebrate the work taking place.
Speaking about the event Antony Higginbotham MP said:
I have to say I really enjoyed welcoming Grace, a Themis apprentice working at Burnley based business HycAero, Stephen the Operations Director, and Neil from Burnley College to Parliament and Downing Street this week.
I’ve seen first-hand just how transformative apprenticeships are and is why I’m such a big advocate for them. I’m working with the college, businesses and Government to see even more of them in our area.
The event at Number 10 was a brilliant opportunity to speak with the Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan. Of course, we couldn’t let her get away without promising to come up to Burnley to see our new Institute of Technology taking shape at the College.
Commenting on the visit Burnley College’s Director of Skills and Innovation, Neil Burrows said:
What an amazing day. It’s been a real privilege to get involved in discussions over the future of skills and training and to have our voices heard at the highest level.
We’ve taken the views of employers, tutors and of course our amazing learners down to the very seat of Government.
Operations Director at HycAero, Stephen Kelly said:
It was a privilege to get a guided tour of Parliament from Antony and to be recognised by the Secretary of State for Education at the reception in No.10 was a special moment for our business and our degree apprentice Grace.
