Derby Skills Academy, the newest home of collaborative learning

 There may be an “I” in Academies, but it’s certainly not the ethos portrayed by the individuals within them. Much more of an all-inclusive “WE” philosophy.

Already, the learners at Derby Skills Academy have succumbed to this collaborative culture, which was highly apparent after this morning’s visit to our newest learning facility.

The academy is rapidly taking on its new form. As you step inside, painting and decorating bays sit proudly to the right of the workshop (image 1). The remaining L-shaped area is being ingeniously moulded to host the ITC blockwork, and plastering and joinery areas. While above, the landing wall (image 2) will be knocked through to make way for a second classroom that will sit plumb above the blockwork area at the back left of the workshop (image 3).

Despite the drilling, cutting and remodeling that’s going off around our Digital Business Administration cohorts, they were learning focused and happy to comment on their experience at the academy to date.

Shontell Jones (image 4, far back) said: “What I really like is that the tutors allow us to learn at different levels, but we all complete at the same time. We have different skillsets, which makes us work well together as a group.” While Jade Fergurson (image 4, front) enthused “The tutors give you the confidence and ambition to move forward with your life and your career.”

Keiron Edwards (image 5, front), who recently undertook the new Skills Bootcamp in Plastering at Nottingham Skills Academy (NSA), and now wants to understand the business side of the construction industry, mirrored Shontell and Jade's enthusiasm, saying: “The tutors are very supportive, knowledgeable, polite, and helpful.  The teaching style is great, and they even help you get a job at the end of the course. NSA's tutors, Fabian and Scott, were also brilliant during my time there."

A great start to a new way of learning for the citizens of Derby, and it's a pleasure to have such a hard-learning and motivated team to guide through these beginning weeks!

If you'd like to learn more information about our construction trades and digital business administration courses, please contact sally.leverton@skillspeoplegroup.com or call 07977 153 067 today!