College unveils dedicated health and care training base at new hospital
A major step in expanding routes into health and social care has been marked with the official launch of Sandwell College @ The Learning Campus, a purpose-built training hub located on the site of the brand-new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. The opening was led by Minister of Skills Jacqui Smith and brought together regional partners from the NHS, local government, business and the voluntary sector.
Senior figures attending included West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and representatives from Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust, alongside healthcare students and college staff. The event highlighted the role of The Sandwell Colleges in building high-quality training pathways for both young people and adults, aligned to workforce needs across the West Midlands.
Partnership focused on workforce needs
Opening the event, Lisa Capper MBE, CEO and Principal of The Sandwell Colleges, set out how the hub is designed to strengthen local progression routes into skilled roles. A keynote address by The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern underscored the importance of skills development, opportunities for young people, and the link between education and the region’s future NHS staffing requirements. Responding to students’ accounts of their training journeys, the Mayor praised their ambition, while Meagan Fernandes, Director of People & Organisational Development at the NHS Trust, described the wider Learning Campus as critical to building recruitment pipelines for local residents.
Speaking about the impact of the development, the College’s principal said:
“Sandwell College @ The Learning Campus represents a pioneering partnership between The Sandwell Colleges and the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, offering industry”
While the remarks were brief, the message from partners was consistent: the hub is intended to translate education and training directly into career-ready skills and sustained employment in health and social care.
Hands-on training in simulated clinical settings
Guests toured the new facilities, including a Health Lab Skills Showcase and a Simulation Suite equipped with advanced training technology designed to replicate real-world clinical scenarios. Students demonstrated how simulated environments are used to prepare them for work placements and progression into meaningful roles within the sector.
By situating the hub within the hospital’s Learning Campus, the College and NHS partners aim to align classroom learning with practical experience, narrowing the gap between study and work. The approach reflects regional priorities to expand the supply of qualified staff across health and social care and to ensure local people can access good jobs and professions.
Who was involved
| Stakeholder | Role at launch |
|---|---|
| Minister of Skills Jacqui Smith | Officially launched the hub |
| Lisa Capper MBE, CEO & Principal, The Sandwell Colleges | Opened the unveiling event |
| Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands | Responded to students' stories |
| Meagan Fernandes, Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust | Outlined workforce and recruitment priorities |
What this means for Sandwell learners and employers
The hub is positioned to support a wider range of entry points into health and social care, from school leavers starting vocational routes to adults retraining for new careers. With simulation-led teaching and direct links to hospital services, the campus is intended to speed up readiness for placements and improve graduate employability. For the local NHS and care providers, the model provides a structured channel to identify, train and recruit residents for roles where demand remains high.
- Located on the site of the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.
- Combines simulation suites and skills labs to mirror clinical practice.
- Built around partnership between The Sandwell Colleges and NHS partners to meet workforce needs.
Today’s launch builds on ongoing collaboration between education, the NHS, business and the voluntary sector to tackle skills gaps and provide clear progression routes. Students, staff and partners at the event emphasised that practical, employer-shaped training is central to raising attainment and ensuring local people can benefit from emerging opportunities in the health and care system.
