Harper Adams University College and SBC Training are celebrating the success of a unique joint venture in the health and social care sector.

SBC Training is an approved providers for the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health & Social Care and Children and Young People (previously Level 4 NVQ in Leadership and Management for Care Services) across Shropshire and the West Midlands.  

Colin Thaw, SBC Managing Director, explained: “The company recognised that many of the  candidates for this course had developed their skills and knowledge via competency qualifications achieved ‘on the job’ without the need to achieve formal academic qualifications.  Despite their considerable abilities many suffer from low self-esteem within an academic environment.

“A joint course was devised with Harper Adams which would award the Leadership and Management qualification, which the industry requires, alongside a University awarded Certificate of Higher Education.”

SBC course tutor Alison Roberts said: ‘It is very rewarding that this joint course has helped this group of learners to appreciate their own standing in the academic world as well as within the delivery of health and social care. This sends a message to all their teams that the health and social care sector provides a range of development opportunities which are only capped by the amount of effort which the students are willing to invest. We were all bursting with pride at their graduation.’

Course graduate Cherrill Knott said: “To undertake a higher education course so long after my last experience of school and college was daunting to say the least. My nervousness was clearly matched by my fellow students on our first visit to Harper Adams.

“However, with the support of all of the tutors and the way the course was structured, these fears were quickly alleviated and I was pleasantly surprised by how we all gelled to make the learning experience a pleasant one.

“The content of the course will without doubt assist me in my work within the health and social care sector. I felt overwhelmed with pride on my graduation day, and cannot believe what I have achieved. I can truly recommend this course offered by SBC Training to anyone wishing to personally develop within their management role.”

This joint venture was developed through the Rural Employer Engagement Development Network (REEDNet), of which Harper Adams is a co-leader. 

REEDNet Director Charles Cowap added: “This partnership really pushed the boundaries for Harper Adams. Care was something not within our subject area, and this was not without its issues. But we made it work, and the partnership has drawn into Higher Education a group of people who might not have previously considered university study. Every one of them has blossomed, and we are proud to see yet another employer engagement project resulting in such clear success.”

For more information about Harper Adams see www.harper-adams.ac.uk

Learn more about SBC at www.sbc-training.co.uk.