Students from Cheshire College – South & West celebrated successful completion of their higher education courses on Wednesday 23rd October, as they attended their formal graduation ceremony at Chester’s beautiful 16th century Cathedral.
The students had all studied at Crewe, Ellesmere Port or Chester Campus and were graduating in subject areas as varied as computing, engineering, performing arts and people management.
The courses offered at Cheshire College are developed with a focus on local skill priorities, so that the training meets the current and future needs of employers in the region. Many of the graduates have undertaken their higher technical studies to improve their employment prospects or to advance their careers in companies that they already work for. Amongst the cohort were higher-level apprentices that combine their studies with working in the engineering industry for employers such as Bentley, National Gas and Trac Precision Solutions.
Friends and family joined the students to mark the occasion with canapés and drinks provided by the College’s Hospitality & Catering students, live music from H Sanson and Hollie Edgeley. and inspirational words from guest speaker Alex Stanniforth.
Elliott Oliver, who graduated in Engineering (Manufacturing) Higher National Certificate Level 4 from the College’s Crewe Campus was keen to share his thoughts about coming back to College as an adult: “I am really proud of myself for sticking at it for 2 years especially after so long out of education, this course will help me progress at my workplace, from shop floor level to a management level”.
Graduating from the Ellesmere Port Campus with a degree in Performing Arts (Acting) Higher National Diploma Level 5, Cristian Matyus added: “It feels unreal to be graduating today, this experience at Cheshire College has made me more confident; I am hoping to get into dramatherapy, and the course has been really helpful”.
Director for Higher Technical Education, Lynne Rowland, said that the graduation ceremony had been both emotional and celebratory: “We are enormously proud of our Higher Education students, and although we’re sad to see them go, we know they will achieve every success as they go forward with their new careers.
“We have invested heavily in resources and facilities for Higher Education students over the years, because we are passionate about ensuring our HE students get quality education, first-class facilities and bespoke teaching whilst they’re studying with us. And it’s wonderful to hear how grateful today’s students are, and how much they value Cheshire College’s contribution to their education.”
Whether students are progressing from a Level 3 course at Cheshire College, returning to education as a mature student, changing career or wishing to enhance their current career opportunities, Cheshire College offers a range of Higher Education qualifications to support its students’ journeys.
These include, but are not limited to, Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) as well as a range of professional qualifications.
We are the lead education provider in the Cheshire and Warrington Institute of Technology. The Institute is a collaboration between further education providers and employers to enhance the higher technical skills of people across the region. The College will be unveiling a two-storey-state-of-the-art facility in summer 2025, which will be used to enhance delivery of higher education courses at the Crewe Campus.
We are now accepting Higher Education applications for 2025/26. You can explore courses or apply through our website.
