NCG has appointed a former Birmingham City cabinet member as head of Innovation for Construction Technologies.
Brett O’Reilly will take on the job of reforming NCG’s construction curriculum and positioning the college as one of the leading education and training providers in the industry.
O’Reilly’s new role will also see him will respond to emerging technologies and changing skills needs to rethink the construction courses that are traditionally offered at further-education colleges.
By building external networks with employers, industry bodies, local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and other stakeholder bodies, O’Reilly will seek to ensure that the curriculum across NCG’s seven colleges is adapting to meet the skills needed by the industry.
Commenting on his new position, O’Reilly said: “This is a brand-new role, and I’m really excited that I’ll get to shape it and really make an impact across NCG’s seven colleges and in the wider construction sector.
“The construction industry is changing. New technologies and ways of building are emerging all of the time, and it’s vital that we are teaching the new skills that are needed to develop a skilled workforce and drive the industry forward.
“In addition to that, we are responding to shifting government priorities that not only put employers at the heart of the skills system, but aim to ‘level up’ the country through new infrastructure, as we recover from the impacts of both Brexit and the pandemic.”
O’Reilly began his career as an apprentice electrician and spent several years in industry, progressing to management positions before moving to the FE sector in 2009.
Elected as a councillor in 2012, he became cabinet member for Jobs and Skills at Birmingham City Council in 2016 and returned to FE in 2018, managing an electrical and automotive curriculum.
‘A lasting impact’
O’Reilly said: “I’m really excited to step into this role at NCG and support its vision to enable social mobility and economic prosperity through exceptional education.
“I bring with me over 10 years’ experience of managing curriculum, apprenticeships and quality across every construction trade, alongside my role as Jobs and Skills cabinet member.
“I understand the importance of forging valuable relationships and placing employers at the heart of education to create skills training and education that is ambitious, relevant, and impactful.
“I am looking forward to the challenge of embracing this opportunity to develop a truly innovative offer that will create a lasting impact for learners across NCG’s colleges and construction employers nationwide.”
NCG deputy CEO Chris Payne added: “At NCG, we are always looking for innovative approaches to curriculum and have deliberately set out to create a real national specialism in construction.
“We are delighted to welcome Brett to the group to lead on this.”
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