Update on launch of the Digital & Creative Career College, one of the first three Career Colleges to launch in the UK in September 2014. Based within the campus of Oldham College in Greater Manchester, the DCCC works with industry to help students develop skills for success in digitally driven industries.

1. Digital & Creative Career College

2. Background
DCCC Announced as UK’s first Career College in Oct 2013
“Career Colleges are a new concept in education, offering a
flexible pathway for 14 to 19 year olds. Students study for high
quality academic and vocational qualifications, combining core
curriculum subjects with a vocational specialism and hands-on
projects.”
Transformational project for young people; for education, for industry skills
and for Oldham.
We want to help GM Digital industries and the wider economy to grow with
our support.
We want to work with business, not just in education
but also in the wider community & digital activity.

3. DCCC Update
New Name:
Digital & Creative Career College
September 2014 Enrolment Figures:
Target 676 students
Achieved 684 students
Over recruited in digital technology areas, and over 19s in general
New Digital Skills Building:
Handover Christmas 2014,
All students migrated March 2015

5. New Name:
Digital & Creative Career College

6. New £9m Building for Digital Skills
4th floor - Art Studios
Fashion & Print Workshops
3rd Floor – Design & Photography
3D Workshop – wood/metal/ceramics
2nd Floor – Cisco labs & Hardware
Workshops, Computer suites
1st Floor – Fab Lab, TV studio,
Recording and Radio studios
Computer suites (open plan!).
Innovative approach to Community Access
& Lifelong (& professional) Learning
Brand development for building underway
(with industry input)

7. DCCC Induction
Visits to Yorkshire Sculpture Park
& Manchester Galleries visits &
Leeds Tetley Arts Centre
Launch of Futsal Live Project
“Welcome to your Future…”
induction talk from Tom Cheesewright for
all Digital Students and Staff

8. Pathway Choices

10. Linking in…
Part of network seeking and sharing
global best practice
Tech City partnership?
Learners on the Steering Group of Young
Digital TaskForce
(Holly MC at Teen Tech Awards with HRH Duke
of York, Stephen Fry & others)
Meeting ministers to influence policy
(UK Fast & SupaReal in Westminster)
Integration with wider GM crucial to
success and broadening aspiration
EAB Launched July 2014

11. DCCC Employer Advisory Board

12. How can you get involved?

13. 1. Inspire and support the next
generation
Be role a model - share your life and career journey, let
them know what work’s really like and inspire them to aim
higher
Be a mentor for a young person - listen and help grow
their confidence
Offer career guidance - help inform goals and milestones
Open the door to relevant industry networks / events

14. 2. Share skills with us
Help develop a project brief to make learning realistic,
relevant and rewarding
Deliver a masterclass or workshop
Host a lesson on your business premises
Be a Judge in our competitions, or come and see our
shows.
Team work - Encourage your colleagues to volunteer as
facilitators of community activities eg: such as coder dojos,
creative workshops, or taster classes

15. 2. Share skills with us (Lego brief)

16. 2. Share skills with us (Lego brief)

17. 3. Shape the opportunity at the
Digital & Creative Career College
Help review and inform our curriculum to ensure it keeps
meeting industry needs
Guide us on choice and use of technology, so our
learners hit the ground running in the workplace
Get to know our teaching teams - what can they learn
from you, and how can they help your business?
Lets keep in touch on industry news and trends, so we
stay up to date and relevant.

18. 3. Shape the opportunity
(Employers open up to staff)

19. 4. Provide a welcome to your world
Welcome students into your work environment, big or
small
Provide work shadowing or experience for a few hours,
days or weeks - Even an hour for one student makes a
huge difference and is rewarding.
Take on an intern for the holiday period.

20. 5. Be a Digital & Creative Career College
Ambassador
Share DCC news amongst your networks and involve us in
your events.
Share your business news with us, and we'll celebrate your
success.
If you’ve enjoyed getting involved - provide an endorsement
and lets spread the word to mutual benefit.

21. Upcoming opportunities to get involved
Open days for school leavers: 27 September & 22nd November
Master classes / Industry Life Stories: During November 2014
In search of Live/exemplar briefs/scenarios (always!)
Possibilities for work experience in February half term &/or Easter
Industry Endorsed Assignments

22. Summary
We’re on a journey, and learning across many
areas.
Already showing potential to be nationally
significant, and develop truly innovative
approaches for 14-19 age group and vocational
education.
But we can only achieve this in Partnership
with business, and we believe that we can
successfully learn, share and grow together.

23. Thanks,
Coral Grainger,
Advising on Digital & Creative Career College,
at Oldham College.
@coralgrainger @oldhamcollege