WEYMOUTH College has strengthened its board as it welcomes Dorset Chamber's chief executive to help support its work boosting business prospects for students.

Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling is stepping up to help the college with its commitment to support employers, boost skills training and help drive the local economy.

The chamber – the voice of business in Dorset – is the county’s leading business support organisation with more than 700 members representing 37,000 employees.

Weymouth College provides education and training for more than 3,000 students – including more than 1,300 young people, 500 adults and 500 apprentices – and works in partnership with 400 local employers.

Richard Noah, chair of the Weymouth College Corporation, its governing body, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Ian to the Weymouth College Corporation.

“Ian has been a strong supporter of the college’s ongoing employer services programme and the experience and commitment to skills training Ian brings to our corporation is much appreciated.”

Mr Girling is a long-standing supporter and champion of further education in Dorset, working closely with providers as well as the Dorset Careers and Enterprise Company. He is also on the board of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.

Mr Girling said: “Building close links between education and businesses is becoming more important than ever as colleges are expected to deliver provision that is totally in line with and meets the requirements of business.

“As a chamber we are committed to helping build links between education and business. I’m delighted to join the Weymouth College Corporation.”

Weymouth College, based in Cranford Avenue, is a member of the Dorset Chamber as well as the Weymouth and Portland, and Dorchester chambers.

It offers more than 250 courses, including apprenticeships in over 20 sectors, degree level courses, adult skills learning and a wide range of vocational and corporate training for the workplace.

The college, recently unveiled Centres of Excellence for engineering and construction, made possible thanks to over £1.5 million of investment from Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) via a Government Local Growth Fund allocation.