Solihull College’s Principal and Chief Executive, John Callaghan who has been with the College since June 2014, has been announced as the new president of Solihull Chamber of Commerce. During his time, John will continue to strengthen the links, and to highlight the importance of the relationship between local business and education to improve skills and training.
Solihull College has just completed its first successful traineeship with Virgin Trains; this resulted in a number of unemployed people learning about employer expectations, working with customers, taking pride in their job and the importance of a positive work attitude. A number of these young people will continue with the company. It is initiatives like this that John wants to continue to promote.
John Callaghan comments: “I am delighted to have been made president; Solihull is in a central and key location in the country and supports the economy for the UK’s second biggest city. Solihull also supports some major existing businesses such as JLR – and some significant new ones such as Genting’s ???£150 million leisure and entertainment complex, Resorts World. There is also a wealth of opportunity for the new HS2 development.
“I aim to work with schools and other providers to ensure that the relevant careers advice is promoted not only for our large firms but for the many SME firms in Solihull. With an ageing working population, it is imperative that we prepare the next generation of our future business leaders”?.
John plays an active role within local business; he is a Board member of the Solihull Strategic Partnership Board, Solihull Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Employment and Skills Boards for Solihull. He is also Chair of the national Further Education Funding Advisory Group and serves on a local school trust.
Jane Jackson, Director of Solihull Chamber of Commerce comments: “??We are pleased to welcome John as our new president. The focus of his term in office, at least initially, will be focused on the links between business and education. This is a really topical issue, of course, and we think that the time is right for such a focus, particularly given the focus which central government has been putting on boosting apprenticeships and traineeships”?.
To find out more about Solihull College please follow this link www.solihull.ac.uk
