Back On Track Thanks To New TBG Learning Centre
 Monday 17th March

Virendra Sharma MP cuts the official celebration cake with, from l-r: learners Sara Khan and Sidiq Karwani and Learning Centre Manager, Deborah Walton.

On Friday 14th March, The MP for Southall, Virendra Sharma, officially opened a new TBG Learning Centre in Windmill Place Business Centre, Southall, West London.

The centre has been open and successfully running courses for several months, and the MP unveiled a plaque and cut a celebration cake to commemorate its official opening.

On unveiling the plaque, Mr Sharma commented:

“I am delighted to be able to open the new TBG Learning centre here in Southall, and am impressed by the facilities and wide range of options open to the learners, and the enthusiasm of the staff here. This centre will be of huge advantage to people in this area, and I hope many people take advantage of it.”

TBG Learning Centres offer those in ‘hard to reach’ social groups a chance to address some of their skill shortages, by entering into training programmes tailored to meet their needs. Centres are positioned around the country in economically and socially deprived communities, where improved skills are fundamental to the regeneration of an area.

Mr Sharma watched a lesson and met students from the entry 2 employment (e2e) course currently being run at the centre. The learners briefly explained to him what they have been studying, and how the e2e course has helped them so far.

Debbie Walton, Manager of the Southall centre added:

“We are very happy to have opened this centre in Southall, which gives us the opportunity to make our courses more widely accessible to more people in the area. Already the courses are attracting interest from young people in the area who would like to improve their skills in order to find employment, further training, or an apprenticeship.”

The Southall Learning Centre has so far enjoyed success in its ‘Entry 2 Employment’ (e2e) courses, as well as through its ‘employability skills’ courses, on which currently 43 learners are enrolled. It also offers the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), basic literacy and numeracy certificates, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

All training provided leads to a nationally recognised and accredited qualification, and all courses are backed by the Learning and Skills Council. TBG Learning works closely with organisations such as Job Centre Plus, and Learn Direct.