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Tamworth Conservatives Lead The Way With Councillor Assessment Program |
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Tuesday, 08 December 2009 |
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Innovative Assessment Centre Rolled Out To Prospective Conservative Councillors 21st November saw the launch of Tamworth Conservative Associations (TCA) new Councillor Assessment Centre - the first of three evaluation days designed to analyse the skills of anyone wishing to represent the association as a borough councillor at the next local Elections in May 2010.
A total of 14 applicants were put through their paces in the half day sessions which consisted of several different modules, each constructed to enable applicants to showcase their abilities in a rage of different scenarios.
Centre Co-ordinator, Craig Tracey explained, " There has long been the need for a fair and transparent selection process which enables any would be councillor to be assessed on their abilities. The feedback from attendees has been excellent and despite some initial skepticism, everyone seems to have identified the system as being a positive step that the Association is taking. We have been able to establish some excellent potential candidates and, as importantly, we have identified areas for improvement for which able to offer training and support to really enhance their skills and strengths thus ensuring that we will be putting forward an exceptional group of prospective councillors looking to serve the town"
"It is very pleasing that the system we have constructed is receiving wider attention within the party and Staffordshire Area Chairman Charles Boote has already sent an email congratulating us on taking the initiative and creating such an effective process"
All successful applicants will be put on TCA's new Approved List for future selection by the Local Branches and anyone wishing to apply for the next Assessment Centre in Autumn 2010 can do so by either telephoning the Association offices on 01827 57156 or by writing to us at 23 Albert Road, Tamworth, Staffs. B79 7JS. |
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Conservative Education Spokesman Visits South Staffordshire College |
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Sunday, 29 November 2009 |
 Christopher Pincher welcomes David Willetts to Tamworth Christopher Pincher, Tamworth’s Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, this week joined Shadow Secretary of State for Universities & Skills, David Willetts, on a visit to the Tamworth campus of South Staffordshire College in Croft Street. The pair met college staff and students including Charlotte Burford who won a bronze medal at the WorldSkills finals in Calgary, Canada. They also met hair stylist students and the builders of the college motor race car in the mechanics’ garage. The college has over 20,000 students across three campuses in Staffordshire and the Tamworth site is the largest. The college claims that by training over a 1000 more students than its funding allocation, it plays a significant part in the battle against unemployment. Across the country the number of young “NEETs” (Not in Employment, Education or Training) has now topped the one million mark and in Tamworth, which has a young population and a high rate of unemployment, the problem is a real concern. The college Chief Executive, Graham Morley, says the courses his staff provide help improve the life chances of thousands of local youngsters. David Willetts said: “I was delighted to visit the college in Croft Street and talk to staff and students and see what the college has to offer. We want to support colleges like this to be more flexible in the way they provide their services so that the staff at the sharp end and not the bureaucrats in the QUANGOs make the decisions.” Christopher Pincher added: “David Willetts visited Tamworth at our invitation so he could see the talent our town has to offer. Tamworth’s unemployment doubled between 2008 and 2009 so we desperately need to use education as a means of helping people find good jobs. There was a real enthusiasm amongst the students, particularly amongst the motor engineering students, which was tremendous to see. I really enjoyed meeting them and getting to sit in their customised racing car.”  |
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