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PROSPER INTERVIEW: JAT SHARMA “Personal skills are so important... many: of our students need help on the basics: – punctuality, appearance, how to: behave. But we also teach them: empathy - how to get on with your: colleagues, how to work in a team” Continued from page 19 This focus on hi-tech and digital skills won’t mean the end of more traditional ones, however. “One employer said to me recently, ‘don’t worry about the skills. Make sure your students understand how to act in the workplace: to come in neat and tidy, shoes shined, on time, to work hard. We’ll teach them the skills’. “I get his point. Those personal skills are still needed. A lot of our students need help on the basics – about punctuality, appearance, how to behave. But we also teach them the importance of empathy – how to get on with your colleagues, how to work in a team. Those soft skills can easily be lost, but they are so important to a successful career. “Mind you, we’ll keep teaching the hands-on skills, too!” Returning to a look at the horizon, is there a message – or just a request – from Government about the future? “More money,” Jat says, laughing. Seriously, “every college principal can make a case of doing more if they had the funding, but I’m a realist. If I was to ask for one thing, it wouldn’t be money from central Government; it would be, ‘leave us alone.’ He explains: “The education sector has gone through a lot of changes in a short space of time, and perhaps we need to let new programmes bed down for a while.” He is full of praise for the new T-levels, but giving them a period to settle in would help staff and students alike. “I think everyone needs a breather, particularly ‘‘ Get down to a college, go through the doors and talk to the course leaders. You’ll be amazed by the quality of the training on offer, and the resources we have... ‘‘ those young people whose lives were so affected by the pandemic. It’s been very stressful and they need time to adjust to what society expects of them now.” Above all, he wants Government to recognise what a brilliant job the college sector is doing. “I’m so proud of my students. Many of them walk through the doors at the start of their course with few educational achievements behind them – but they leave with a Level ‘X’ qualification that shows what they can accomplish. “I’m so used to seeing happy, crying families, amazed by what their children have achieved!” And as for Chamber members, what’s the message? “Get involved with us. This college is at the heart of Walsall and it is making a difference every day. We are closely attuned with Andy Street’s skills and employment programmes, we just need people who want to work with us and our students.” He urged Chamber members to “get down to the college, go through the doors and talk to the course leaders. They’ll be more than happy to talk to you, to see if you can help us. If you’ve not had children of your own go through the college sector, you’ll be amazed at the quality of the courses we offer and the resources we have. “Help us build the curriculum or offer a work placement for students, so that when they leave us, they are ready for work.” 20 PROSPER SPRING 2023
MEMBERS MARKING MILESTONES Celebrating 150 years of innovation The Atlas Copco Group is celebrating its 150-year anniversary this year. Founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1873, initially to deliver equipment for the construction of the Swedish railroad system, the group has evolved over many years and today supports customers in several different industries, ranging from food production to space travel. The UK company was established in 1919, the first operation outside of Scandinavia. Today Atlas Copco Group companies employ almost 2,400 people in the UK. “We are extremely proud of our past, and we continue to shape the future through our technologies and service solutions,” said Mats Rahmström, CEO and President. “Much has changed since 1873 when we were a small local start-up. But I think our founders would recognise our innovative spirit, the passion shown by our employees and our dedication to drive development together with our customers.” “We have a very strong company culture of welcoming different perspectives and empowering our employees to take decisions,” Mats added.“I believe a large part of our success is built on our ability to adapt, while always focusing on delivering value for our customers. We would like to thank all our colleagues around the world and look forward to good co-operation in the years to come.” Long-standing members A leading regional firm of chartered surveyors has chalked up 50 consecutive years as a member of the Black Country Chamber. Towler Shaw Roberts was established in 1991, but the firm’s Chamber membership traces back through its predecessor companies to provide a continuous relationship since 1972. Its work takes in all aspects of commercial property agency and consultancy. 40-year celebrations for Oldbury-based firm LM Products, an independent firm with an engineering heritage servicing the construction industry, is marking 40 years of success. Based in Oldbury, the company employs 50 staff, all of whom are dedicated to providing excellent levels of service to their customers by supplying, and manufacturing, a comprehensive range of products used in the construction industry throughout the UK. Groundwork materials, including reinforced steel, and associated construction accessories, along with manufacturing bespoke steel fabrications to prestigious civil engineering, has seen the company oversee contracts for the Medway Crossing, Midland Metro, Walsall Manor Hospital, Millennium Dome and, more recently, HS2 and Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station. PROSPER SPRING 2023 21
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Page 4 and 5: CONTACTS Editor Sarah Thompson 0330
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