Staff and students from Milton Keynes College had the pleasure of hosting Milton Keynes Central MP Emily Darlington and Milton Keynes North MP Chris Curtis at the Chaffron Way campus this week. 

On Monday 10^th November, Jordan Smith, Workplace Trainer for Engineering at MK College, took Emily and Chris on a tour of the College’s Innovation and Technology Centre (ITC). The visit included the Engineering, Painting & Decorating and Carpentry workshops, where the MPs learned about recent building upgrades and how these have improved the teaching and learning at the College. 

In February this year, Milton Keynes City Council approved a significant investment of £6.1m for MK College to accommodate a growing student population and expand its facilities by creating new teaching spaces. The investment has allowed the College to create additional 364 student spaces across the Chaffron Way and Bletchley campuses. This has included additional classrooms and workshops in the Engineering and Carpentry workshops at the ITC.

During the tour, a group of apprentices from MK College had the opportunity to share their experiences with Emily and Chris, discussing their work placements and the practical skills they have learned along the way. Apprentices from Mercedes-AMG, Cadillac, Oracle Red Bull Racing and SMC answered questions from the MPs about their career pathways, with some of the students having started their apprenticeships directly after completing their GCSEs while one student recalled his decision to reject a university offer in favour of hands-on training with an employer. 

Jordan Smith said: “The MPs visit came about as a follow-up to the 75th anniversary of Formula One. It was great that Emily and Chris expressed such a serious interest in the College and our apprenticeships and were eager to learn more about how we support local businesses and students looking for alternative pathways to full-time education.” 

Anna Clarke, Group Director for Employer Engagement and Partnerships at MK College Group, said: “Engaging with our local MPs is vital for the college as it helps strengthen our role within the community and ensures that the value of further education is recognised at a national level. We’re always pleased to welcome Emily, Chris and Callum to MK College, where they can see first-hand how we prioritise skills development and work closely with employers to shape curriculum that meets real-world needs and drives economic growth.” 

Emily Darlington said: “It is always fantastic to meet with young engineers, particularly those who are supported by the various apprenticeship opportunities offered here at Milton Keynes College. It was lovely to speak with the apprentices today, and I wholeheartedly agree that we should be working together to make apprenticeships more visible as an option to all students – especially young women looking to get into STEM.”

Read more about MK College Group’s collaboration with regional and national employers here.