Andrew Mitchell MP and Mr David Song, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics, have visited Birmingham Metropolitan College where they unveiled a plaque to launch its new Digital Appliance Academy. Welcomed to the College by its Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Christine Braddock, CBE, Andrew Mitchell gave a short speech commending the venture. He said, “Let us not underestimate how important the digital economy is going to be in the future. Our ambitions to be at the centre of this growth sector here in the West Midlands are very high. This is an excellent example of the benefits of industry and academic institutions working in partnership to drive forward the skills agenda as well as the regional economy.” The new Academy will provide engineers with the opportunity to boost their skill levels. Students in the Academy will study for a City and Guilds approved NVQ Level 2 qualification in Domestic Appliances. Samsung’s new initiative with Birmingham Metropolitan College has been developed to drive forward the Government’s skills agenda and is a flexible programme of work-based vocational modules as well as on-site assessments at the new state-of-the-art learning centre housed in the College’s James Watt Campus. The course programme is designed to help engineers extend their technical knowledge to gain a practical qualification, and provide them with a greater understanding of the latest technologies being used in the domestic appliance markets. “As global leaders in digital convergence technologies, Samsung is uniquely placed to drive forward Britain’s digital future,” says Brian Ford, General Manager, Samsung Electronics Service Division, UK and Ireland. Commenting on the launch of the second Samsung Academy, the Principal and Chief Executive of Birmingham Metropolitan College, Dr Christine Braddock CBE, added, “Our unique partnership with Samsung is a further endorsement of our expertise in delivering training in new technologies. We are amongst the largest further education institutions in the UK and our ongoing commitment to innovation in training, and investment in new technologies has been recognised by this partnership. Samsung is to be commended for its investment in our new Academy which will help keep us at the forefront of technological innovation. Enrolment for the first students for the Samsung NVQ Level 2 Domestic Appliances will begin in April.