College salutes forces by joining national covenant

A leading south west college group has signalled their support for veterans by signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Cornwall College Group (TCCG), which has 10 campuses across Devon and Cornwall, is one of the top providers of courses in Military and Protective Services with many local students choosing to study at the college’s military academy in Camborne.

However, TCCG has now gone a step further by formally joining the Armed Forces Covenant.

The move means that the college group has pledged to “acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives”, according to the covenant’s website.

Scott Lawson, curriculum area manager for military and protective services at the college’s Bicton campus, commented: “I am personally so pleased and proud that we have signed the covenant.

“I served 12 years in the Royal Marines before joining The Cornwall College Group so know first-hand how important this agreement is to the Armed Forces community and our college group.

“Signing the covenant recognises the value serving military personnel, reservists, veterans and their families bring not just to our society, but also to the college.”

The college already has an established relationship with the Armed Forces through its Military and Protective Services courses, and all of the teaching team on the course are former Armed Forces personnel.

Scott continued: “Having served ourselves, we bring a wealth of knowledge and a wealth of career opportunities for our learners.

“We have established excellent industry links with the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines as well as local Armed Forces Career Offices and Wyvern Barracks in Exeter. This has enabled fantastic work experience opportunities as well as regular service personnel visiting our campus and enhancing the student experience.”

Bicton College, part of TCCG, also celebrates its close partnership with the Highground Charity who support Armed Forces personnel transition into land-based careers and also the Veterans Community Service who now have an allotment within the campus for veterans to meet and support each other as well as provide volunteering opportunities with our learners.

Signing the covenant comes at a time of increased investment in the college group’s campuses, teaching and student experiences and shortly after they were awarded the highest possible judgement of ‘significant progress’ in an Ofsted monitoring visiting earlier this year.