Vision West Nottinghamshire College

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Vision West Nottinghamshire College is a further education college in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. It runs two main campuses in Mansfield—Derby Road (the main campus) and Chesterfield Road (in the town centre)—plus smaller sites at Sutton-in-Ashfield and Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

History
The college traces its roots to two older schools: a technical college founded in 1928 and an art college from 1930. These merged in the 1970s to form West Nottinghamshire College of Further Education. The Derby Road site opened in 1960. In 1993 it became an independent corporation under the Further Education Act. It adopted the Vision West Notts name in 2011 and now trades as Vision West Nottinghamshire College.

What it offers
The college serves about 26,000 students in full- and part-time learning, including A-levels, access courses and higher education through the Vision University Centre. It also runs many apprenticeships (such as bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, driving, forklift, railway engineering) and community or adult courses. It has Centre of Vocational Excellence status in engineering, construction, logistics and care.

Facilities
Derby Road hosts a 150-seat theatre and the Lifestyle Academy (opened in 2014, an £11 million centre for hairdressing, beauty, holistic therapies and catering). The university centre provides higher education qualifications. The college has a Construction Centre at Kirkby-in-Ashfield and an Engineering Innovation Centre at Sutton-in-Ashfield. A new Derby Road building opened in 2016 with partial funding from a £2.6 million grant to support higher education.

Partnerships
The college works with Nottingham Trent University to offer foundation degree courses.

Studio School
A Chesterfield Road studio school opened in 2014 for ages 14–19 with a 9-to-5 day and work placements. It was opened by Lord Karan Bilimoria but closed in 2017 after an Ofsted report and financial viability concerns.

Challenges and changes
In 2018 the college faced a major financial shortfall and needed £2.1 million in government loans; around 100 staff were laid off. External administration was considered. Principal Dame Asha Khemka resigned in October 2018, and an interim chief executive and other leadership changes followed. Apprenticeship funding reforms also affected income.

Extras
The college created Vision Apprentices in 2010. The Inspire & Achieve Foundation was set up in 2009 to support young people in regeneration areas. Asha Khemka was awarded an OBE in 2009 and a DBE in 2014. In 2009, the Prince of Wales visited the college’s Construction and Skills Logistics Academy and unveiled a commemorative plaque.