The Sandwell Colleges Welcomes New Leadership Team

15 Nov 2024

Published in: Member News

The Sandwell Colleges, which includes Sandwell College, Cadbury Sixth Form College, Central Saint Michael’s Sixth Form and Tomorrow’s People, is pleased to announce the appointment of two new leaders to their executive team, marking a significant milestone in the College's commitment to educational excellence and community engagement.

Lisa Capper MBE appointed as CEO & Principal Lisa Capper MBE has taken up the role of CEO & Principal, succeeding Graham Pennington. Lisa brings a wealth of experience from her previous leadership roles in Further Education, the Department of Education, and the Department for Business, as well as her most recent tenure as CEO & Principal at Stoke on Trent College. Here she was instrumental in enhancing the quality of provision and financial health, securing significant partnerships, and elevating the college's profile to meet the skills needs of learners and employers.

Expressing her enthusiasm, Lisa stated: "I am delighted to have joined the Sandwell College group at such an exciting time for skills in the West Midlands. The College provides incredible opportunities for the young people and adult residents of Sandwell, surrounding towns and Birmingham to achieve their education and skills ambitions and advance their careers. I am excited to be working with the talented and dedicated teams across all campuses and to bring my skills and experience to build on their tremendous achievements."

Asa Gordon Joins as Deputy Principal for Curriculum and Skills

Joining Lisa in the leadership team is Asa Gordon, who has been appointed as Deputy Principal for Curriculum and Skills. Asa transitions from his role as Vice Principal at Bradford College, where he successfully delivered a curriculum tailored to the needs of students, employers, and the community including a skills-focused programme for young people, and developing a responsive adult offering aligned with the Local Skills Improvement Plan.

Asa expressed his eagerness to contribute to the Sandwell College group, stating: "I’m thrilled to be here and have already started meeting colleagues and learners. I’m excited to support our plans for continued success during such a pivotal time for the College and to make a positive impact on the local area and the wider City region.”

Strategic Vision for the Future

The appointments of Lisa and Asa signify a strategic vision of the colleges aimed at enhancing the educational and skills opportunities for young people and adults in the area. This vision also focuses on engaging and working with employers to ensure learners are skills-ready and have a good exposure to the world of work, whether their next step is A Levels, prestigious technical qualifications, or a return to learning for adults.

Their combined expertise is expected to drive forward initiatives with partners such as the Chambers of Commerce, West Midlands Combined Authority, Sandwell Council, schools and employers that align with the College's mission to provide high-quality education and skills training to boost the local and regional economy and keep young people progressing to work or study in the local area. Sandwell College already works with a number of employers providing bespoke skills training and is keen to hear from employers about their training needs – whether that’s taking on an apprentice or engaging their workforce in skills-based or leadership training.

Alan Taylor, Chair of Governors, commented on the new appointments, stating: "Lisa brings extensive experience of senior leadership and governance in further education, and through the roles she has held in colleges, charities and in government, a demonstrable commitment to the learners we serve. Asa is a great addition to our team too, as we move forward with our exciting developments and our relentless focus on learner success."

The Sandwell College group extends a warm welcome to Lisa and Asa as they embark on their new roles, anticipating a period of growth and continued success under their leadership.

For more information on Sandwell College, please visit www.sandwell.ac.uk

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