Skills West Midlands + Warwickshire, the body formed by further education colleges and independent training providers across the region as a one-stop shop for business, has marked its first successful year by presenting Skills Partnership Awards to thirteen employers which have invested in education and training.
The celebration event, staged at PwC’s offices in Paradise, Birmingham on 7 March 2025, also featured remarks from the Skills Minister, Baroness Smith of Malvern, and the Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker.
Michelle Dowse, Principal and CEO at Heart of Worcestershire (HoW) College, said:
"At HoW College, we know that strong partnerships between education and industry are key to unlocking potential - both for individuals and for businesses.
“Skills West Midlands + Warwickshire is creating real opportunities by fostering collaboration, addressing skills gaps, and driving innovation in training. These awards celebrate the businesses that recognise the value of investing in skills, and we are proud to work alongside them to build a workforce that is ready for the challenges of the future.”
Excellence in Skills Partnership Awards winners were:
| Winner | Nominated by |
| Brown and Holmes | South Staffordshire College |
| Consilium | South and City College |
| CPW | University College Birmingham |
| Currys | BMet |
| Freeflow Pipesystems | Dudley College |
| hydraPower dynamics | The Sandwell Colleges Group |
| Marcegaglia | Performance Through People |
| Midwest Mechanical & Electrical Services | City of Wolverhampton College |
| Millboard | Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training |
| STS Aviation | Solihull College and University Centre |
| Thorlux Lighting | Heart of Worcestershire College |
| Trade Centre | Walsall College |
| TruTrade | Warwickshire College Group |
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said:
"Skills West Midlands and Warwickshire is showing exactly how the system should work, bringing education providers and businesses together to address skills gaps and create real opportunities for young people and adults alike. Whether students have a clear career path in mind, or are still figuring it out, they need access to high-quality training, work experience and careers advice to help them succeed.
"Through local skills improvement plans and direct collaboration between employers and further education providers, we're seeing a shift from competition to genuine partnership.
“This joined-up approach doesn’t just fill vacancies, it gives students the confidence, direction and opportunities they need to build successful careers, while strengthening the workforce in the region’s key industries."
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands added:
“Only by working together can we tackle the unemployment challenge in the West Midlands. By strengthening relationships with employers and improving how we design and deliver training, we can unleash the potential of people and help businesses grow. It’s why it is important to celebrate how Skills West Midlands and Warwickshire is supporting businesses to build the workforce in growth industries of the future.”
Three Innovation Hubs launched across the region, backed by WMCA and Innovate UK, are driving regional business innovation through technology adoption and training for small businesses. Skills WM+W is now part of the West Midlands Digital Skills Consortium addressing the urgent need for a skilled digital workforce in the region. A suite of free, online, modular courses was launched earlier this year to help tackle the region's fundamental leadership and management challenge.
Over the next year, Skills West Midlands + Warwickshire aims to increase the number of partnerships with SMEs; increase employer satisfaction in skills and training provision and inspire employers to co-create a suite of training solutions with trusted providers.
To find out more about HoW College, visit www.howcollege.ac.uk/