Halesowen College Launches Community Digital Bus

Halesowen College is thrilled to introduce CEDRIC, a community digital bus and the College’s latest initiative aimed at widening educational participation in the area.

This innovative project will see CEDRIC (acronym for Creating Engaging Digital Resources in the Community) touring the local area, working with local hard to reach communities as well as providing essential IT upskilling to local businesses.

Taking the lead on the LSIF Digital strand, Halesowen College purchased the bus through funds under the ‘Essential Digital Skills’ remit, with the key aim of responding to local skills improvement plans, by investing in new facilities and courses.

CEDRIC is central to this and will support the priorities outlined by the West Midlands Combined Authority; to target key sectors that are crucial to the region’s growth; to promote the existing training and education provisions while also investing in new facilities and courses; to fulfil employer demands for essential workplace skills and digital proficiency.

With its eye-catching design that captures the college’s familiar swoosh, CEDRIC, will play a crucial role in achieving these objectives, travelling throughout the area to bring digital capabilities to local communities and businesses.

The project, led by John Murray, Director of Operations & Stakeholder Engagement, will deliver digital and IT upskilling sessions, ensuring that local people and local businesses can enhance their skill-set and stay competitive in the digital age.

John Murray said “In collaboration with our colleagues across Colleges West Midlands, I have led the two digital workstreams of the West Midlands LSIF Project.

“The aim is to address digital poverty in harder to reach communities, helping residents to navigate our online world and to master the basic digital skills needed for employment. Expect to see Cedric around the Black Country, in partnership with local community groups, providing a drop-in service.

“CEDRIC is equipped with laptops, tablets and VR equipment and will provide a friendly informal environment in which to learn. Staff will help people with basic digital questions and applications, show them how to use devices they already own, show them how to stay safe online and signpost anyone who wants to explore further learning in the digital sector.”

If you spot CEDRIC displaying the college’s signature swoosh, let us know where you saw it by tagging the college on social media at #HalesowenColl. We would love to hear your stories and experiences with CEDRIC!

For more information on CEDRIC and how you or your business can engage with Halesowen College, contact the college on 0121 602 7777.