BMet College and the Midcounties Co-operative have forged a new partnership to open-up more inclusive opportunities for students in the West Midlands.
This new initiative is set to widen the pool of talent within the Early Years Childcare and Travel and Tourism sectors, by developing new learning modules and giving students from diverse backgrounds support in developing their career.
This will take the form of practical support and work experience opportunities within Midcounties’ Your Co-op Travel, Your Co-op Holidays Business and Co-op Childcare’s Little Pioneers nurseries.
The partnership will also help Midcounties by increasing the number of job applicants and colleagues from a BAME background, as well as further improving gender balance across the Society.
BMet is a further education college and training provider with over 10,000 students across the Greater Birmingham region, two-thirds of whom are from some of the most deprived areas of Birmingham.
The partnership with Midcounties, will support the college in meeting its ambitions of widening participation and recruitment, whilst also providing opportunities for its students.
The Midcounties Co-operative is one of the largest UK co-operatives fully owned by its members. With around 650,000 members and more than 7,000 colleagues across its Food, Childcare, Travel, Post Office and Utilities businesses.
As well as having operated in the West Midlands, Worcestershire, Wiltshire and the wider Midcounties region since the mid-19th Century, the Society also operates nationally through its Childcare, Travel and Utilities businesses.
As a co-operative, Midcounties is committed to having a positive impact on the planet and in the communities where it operates. All members have a say in how the society is run, including the work it does to support local communities in partnership with local volunteers and community groups.
The new partnership will see Midcounties provide expertise and insight to help BMet further develop its curriculum in Travel and Tourism and Early Years Childcare, ensuring that students at the college can benefit from practical and professional experience throughout their learning.
Students will also have opportunities to undertake work experience with Midcounties, helping them to establish effective routes into long-term careers in Travel and Childcare.
Suzie Branch-Haddow, vice principal – external development at BMet, said: “It is great for BMet and the Midcounties Co-operative to come together and align with shared values, that will benefit many people within the Early Years and Travel and Tourism sectors.
“Through this partnership, we will work with Midcounties to look at curriculum programme development and innovation, as well as live work experience models.”
Sara Dunham, chief officer for Travel, Childcare, Utilities & Leisure businesses at the Midcounties Co-operative, said: “Partnering with BMet will not only help us in our efforts to increase diversity and inclusion across our workforce, but we hope will also provide local students from all backgrounds with the tools and knowledge needed for a vibrant career within the Travel and Childcare sectors.
“Midcounties is built on the power of co-operation, and we know firsthand the positive difference that bringing together people from all backgrounds and experiences can bring to our local communities. We look forward to working with BMet to unearth some of the future stars of our Society!”
The partnership is set to operate separately for both the Travel and Tourism and Early Years programmes, with content tailored to suit the student groups and the sector specialisms.
Activity will include the delivery of “How to Apply for roles” at Midcounties within Your Co-op Travel and Co-op Childcare - including a simulated assessment centre/interview process.
BMet is also currently scoping out an Employer Board for the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Sector across the region and will be collaborating with Midcounties on this.
For more information about BMet’s employer partnerships visit BMet’s website.
