A COLLEGE and a university are working together to improve the areas skills offering to employers.

As part of an ongoing effort to strengthen higher and further education ties, Solent University and Eastleigh College have entered into a "reciprocal governance agreement".

Solent University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen Stanton has now been appointed as a governor to the Eastleigh College Board, whilst Paul Cox, Chief Executive and Principal at the college has joined the Solent Board as a co-optee.

The new appointments are expected to strengthen the existing partnership between the two educators and benefit "students, apprentices and employers".

Eastleigh College's Paul Cox, said: "Eastleigh has worked closely with Solent for many years, and it’s exciting to take this a step further. We have shared values for providing lifetime learning, career-orientated experience and real employability opportunities."

Both Solent and Eastleigh are currently working on a number of initiatives as part of Covid recovery for the region.

This includes the ambition to develop an adult education offer from entry to postgraduate levels, and a skills ladder that will see Eastleigh College training and apprenticeship provision mapped to Solent progressions routes.

Professor Karen Stanton added: “Both Solent and Eastleigh College are committed to partnership working to deliver benefits for learners across the region, and I am delighted that this arrangement will strategically bind our two organisations and their long term aims in the development of a city-wide skills offer.”

Work is also said to be continuing to improve education and employer engagement across the region to simplify and clarify access to training and apprenticeships for employers and organisations.