CoVEs or Centres for Vocational Excellence are awards that are a public recognition of educational achievement, and a sign of enhanced professional status.
CoVE programmes are an initiative from the Learning and Skills Council that aim to improve and develop skills for employers that are needed to underpin business success and economic competitiveness. These programmes are focused on delivering vocational skills that meet particular sector and industry needs through the development and delivery of high quality, specialist training across a range of sectors - (source Learning and Skills Council website).
The award of the Business, Accounting and Financial Services CoVE to Highbury and Farnborough Colleges highlights both the good work that both of the Colleges has undertaken in this field and the need to develop the provision further in line with the sector skills requirements. The Business, Accounting and Financial Services CoVE will engage with employers and their employees, associations and industry partners to assess the current provision and future requirements of the sector and tailor the provision where necessary.
Farnborough College of Technology has students drawn largely from across North Hampshire and West Surrey, and it also welcomes overseas students. It provides vocational and technical education and training across a broad spectrum . from basic skills programmes and GCSEs to degree and MBA courses.
As well as the main campus base in Farnborough, the new Aldershot College opened in September 2005, providing top-class facilities for construction crafts students, as well as a drop-in centre for Information Technology. There are two other community Learning Centres in Fleet, and Bordon, and the College offers part-time professional, business and leisure courses at a number of school sites. As well as foundation and honours degrees across a range of vocational and academic subjects, Farnborough College has a Business Enterprise team who are dedicated to tailoring courses to individual business needs.
Highbury is one of the largest vocational further education colleges in the south, providing education and training to school leavers, adult learners and businesses predominantly in Hampshire. Each year, Highbury provides the highest level of education and training to around 18,000 full and part-time students of all ages as well as over 1,200 businesses.
Highbury is the first College in Hampshire and Isle of Wight to be awarded the prestigious Action for Business College accreditation, whilst also boasting two Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs), one in Business, Accounting and Financial Services and the other in Gas Installation and Maintenance.
The College is recognised for providing first-class bespoke training to businesses throughout the region; tailoring programmes to meet the employer's exact needs and plug the skills gaps within businesses and industry. Training is delivered at all levels from introductory vocational courses for those who do not have any formal qualifications or require assistance with essential skills, to those wishing to gain qualifications up to level 5 (management) and beyond. Clear career pathways and guidance are defined including strong relationships with a number of identified Universities that create the ability for individuals to achieve to the highest levels