West College Scotland and prestigious local business AC Whyte are delighted to be entering another year of successful partnership with their award-winning Skills Academy. On track with their 5-year partnership plan which started in 2018 when AC Whyte identified a skills shortage within the industry for external wall insulation applicators and finishers. AC Whyte have over 40 years’ experience carrying out major property refurbishment works and latterly since 1990 external wall insulation projects for both the private and commercial sectors.
West College Scotland have created a unique skills training academy solely to address the specific skills shortage highlighted by AC Whyte. This is truly a unique way of addressing the immediate skills shortage for AC Whyte as it directly focuses on the particular element of the trade and not the general skill of a Slating/ Plastering operative which takes 4 years to achieve. 
Now entering it’s 3rd successful year, The Academy has achieved an almost unprecedented 100% per cent retention rate. Students have had the opportunity to gain live industry experience in an actual site environment. For AC Whyte, the benefit has come in the form of a reliable flow of high-quality staff with individuals being offered a permanent position with the company on satisfactory completion of the yearlong course. The Academy has received industry wide recognition from being highlighted in Parliament to taking first place in the Employer Connections category at last years prestigious College Development Network Awards.
The experience has been invaluable for the students taking part. Owen McNeela, 21 from Greenock said
‘It was a good experience and a good challenge in terms of both theory and practical. It was amazing getting work placements – giving an insight how the job is really done as well as learning about it in a great workshop’
Sean Sweeny, 29 from Greenock commented that,“ I learned a lot , from working with different tools and materials. The course overall was cracking!’
Speaking of his experience on the Academy, Hendy Wong, 47 from Glasgow said, “The lecturers are really experienced which makes a real difference. It was great to get the onsite work experience too”
With this years Academy set to launch on the 10th September 2020, West College Scotland will again deliver the exclusively designed course where all students will work towards gaining an SQA qualification in the Installation of External Wall Insulation Boarding and External Wall Insulation Finishing alongside general Health and Safety qualifications. These qualifications are supported by onsite work placements designed to complement the college based learning outcomes.
Paul Lynn, Head of Sector for Construction and Building Services said,
“We are delighted to be working with A.C. Whyte again for another academic year. The partnership has delivered fantastic outcomes for both education and industry in our previous years.” He continued,
“The Academy provides students with a chance to gain an industry recognized qualification, invaluable work experience and a real employment opportunity at the end. We are excited to continue our pioneering partnership to provide a workforce for the future.”
This is was echoed by Jennifer Phin, Managing Director of A.C. Whyte who said of the Academy:
“A.C. Whyte’s people are our strength, our Skills Academy presents a unique opportunity to train and develop our future workforce, instilling our values and ethos as a customer centric, quality focused contractor from the outset”. She continued,
"We transform communities across the country with the work we do, being able to offer those living in our communities a chance of training and employment with A.C. Whyte, means we leave an even greater legacy.”
To secure your place for 2020 intake APPLY NOW by emailing andrew.neeson@wcs.ac.uk to register your interest in the Academy.
