Wirral Met College opening “learning shop” in Birkenhead town centre

Feb 10 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

A NEW “learning shop” is opening in Birkenhead.

The launch is a partnership between Wirral Met College and Warner Estates, owners of the Grange & Pyramids Shopping Centre.

The shop is designed to promote the value of learning in the heart of the community.

The college is helping local businesses to recruit and train their workforce and its new Employer Services facility provides training solutions designed to meet the precise needs of business.

Wirral Met believes the town centre location, next to Marks & Spencer, will allow it to provide information about improving career prospects.

As part of the learning shop, the partnership will offer a Retail Academy to serve the outlets in the Grange and Pyramids and Cavern Walks in Liverpool, which is also owned by Warner Estates.

The college has also secured more than £1m in funding to support people who have been, or are about to be, made redundant, with re-training and help to develop skills to improve their chances of securing alternative employment.

A programme called Choices will be run from the shop to specifically support this initiative.

Mike Potter CBE, principal of Wirral Metropolitan College, said: “We are delighted to be leading this new initiative that will help us to support local employers and raise the profile of the important role education and training plays for both business and individuals within our community.”

In addition to supporting retailers, the college believes having a shop in the town centre will allow shoppers to access advice and guidance and find out how learning can change their lives.

Derek Millar, commercial director for the Grange and Pyramids Shopping Centre for Warner Estate Holdings, said: “We are pleased to be working alongside Wirral Metropolitan College in this new venture.”

Ro Murphy, vice-chairman of Wirral Investment Network (WIN), added: “In what are very challenging economic times, WIN members will welcome an initiative such as this.”

The shop opens next Monday, February 15.