One of the country’s most successful specialist colleges, Reaseheath College in Nantwich continues to notch up record student enrolments and achievements.
The college’s annual awards ceremony celebrated the success of 1141 Further Education (FE) students who achieved specialist technical qualifications and skills this year.
The students, from across the UK and abroad, are preparing for careers in land-based and related industries such as agriculture, animal or equine management, agricultural engineering, motor vehicle technology, business and events management, environmental conservation, fish management, forestry, food manufacture, floristry, horticulture, construction, public services or in leisure industries such as sport and outdoor adventure.
Sharing congratulations with a capacity audience, Principal Meredydd David emphasised that the jobs market remained competitive and, whatever the future outside the EU, the education and training that Reaseheath’s students received would make them highly employable in their chosen profession.
The land-based, engineering and associated industries were a hugely important economic sector, contributing over £110 billion a year to the economy and employing four million people.
The global challenge of food, water and energy security, fuelled by a growing world population and volatile politics, would increase demand for food production by an estimated 50% in 12 years’ time. This would create opportunities and he urged the students to use their skills and knowledge to ‘make a difference’.
To help address these challenges, Reaseheath had completed nearly £80m of investment on campus to ensure that its facilities and resources were first class. The latest investment include an agri-technology and advanced engineering centre, a sports science academy and laboratories, an extension to the college’s higher education centre and further halls of residence. Most of the new builds involved partnerships with relevant industries.
Meredydd also paid tribute to the Student Association and the RAG (Raising and Giving) team, who this year raised £24,000 for local charities and in particular for Visyon, a young person’s mental health charity.
Guest speakers included Eileen Milner, Chief Executive of the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
Outstanding students who received cross college awards were:
