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Shaping the future leaders of tomorrow: Advance Colleges Trust launches ‘ACT 360’ programme, preparing students and young entrepreneurs for Industry 4.0

As part of the Advance Colleges Trust (ACT), Wilberforce, Franklin and John Leggott Colleges have launched the ‘ACT 360’ programme, offering 360-degree support for students and young entrepreneurs, aiming to build a pipeline of talent in emerging green energy, STEM and logistics sectors within the region.

As the UK’s Energy Estuary and with the recent appointment of freeport status, opportunities in the Humber region are growing rapidly. By launching ‘ACT 360’, the three colleges are looking to help young people take advantage of economic growth by providing them the skills, knowledge and experience to thrive in up-and-coming industries. 

With a strong focus on guiding students into their chosen development routes, be it university places, degree apprenticeships or professional pathways, the Advance Colleges Trust (ACT) combines the resources of three successful sixth form colleges to enhance learning, widen the curriculum and provide outstanding support that gives students access to new and exciting global opportunities. The three colleges have been recognised as leaders in their field by the Department for Education, by Ofsted and are part of the Sunday Times Good Schools Guide 2021. 

Funded by the Department for Education through the Skills Accelerator Project (Humber Pilot), ‘ACT 360’ will build on the work being done by the Advance Colleges Trust and has been developed to match the skills of our students with the emerging green energy, renewables and logistics sector across the Humber region. The three colleges of ACT aim to raise awareness of green energy employment opportunities and pathways for 16–18-year-olds, and to retain young people in the region to supply the skills pipeline needed for regeneration and future growth. 

As part of ACT 360, each college will have a new immersive learning space, which will allow a completely new, 360-degree virtual environment for both training and business incubation. In addition, young entrepreneurs aged 18-25 who wish to develop new business ideas relating to green energy and renewables/recycling can apply to each college to take up one of the new business incubator spaces being set up as part of the project. This will give young entrepreneurs free office space and access to business advice and guidance.  

Another exciting part of the project is that we are working with employers within green energy and logistics to raise awareness of their sector and the career pathways.  We are working with a film company who are creating content which will be used in our recently installed 360 immersive classroom that will bring industry sectors to life allowing students access to engaging, immersive and educational technology.  If any businesses would like to have a film produced showcasing their business with various staff being interviewed highlighting their roles and be an inspiration to our future generation please contact emma.swinburn@franklin.ac.uk.

Emma Swinburn, CLT Associate for Careers at Franklin Sixth Form College, commented 

“Our vision is to stimulate start-ups and advance new businesses in the region’s fastest emerging sectors. With exclusive Skills Development Funding, young business owners will be able to set-up in each of our three colleges and gain free access to incubation space, including connectivity, office set-up, and business and marketing support.  

As well as this, ACT 360 will be offering young people opportunities to work with industry leaders through a bespoke employability course and specialist pathways.” 

Students interested in applying for any of the colleges in the ACT should visit the relevant websites: 

https://wilberforce.ac.uk/ 

https://www.franklin.ac.uk/ 

https://www.leggott.ac.uk/  

CJ Stephens| CLT Associate | CJ.Stephens@franklin.ac.uk | 01472 87500 ext 747