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UEL partners with Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation to bring learning advice to the high street

Thursday 6 May 2010

Thurrock Learning shop opening

Thurrock Learning shop is now open for business in Grays Town Centre in Thurrock. The shop is a joint venture between UEL, Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation and the East of England Development Agency.

Based in the historic old Post Office building, the Learning Shop will be run by UEL on behalf of a wide range of local partners.

The aim of the shop is to provide local people with impartial advice and guidance about education and training opportunities locally - both for pleasure and to gain qualifications.

In addition, the Shop will offer careers advice, help with job searches, assistance with developing your CV, improving interview techniques and presentation skills as well as finding volunteering opportunities in the local area.

Staff at the Learning Shop will also be hosting a number of free weekend activity days on a wide range of topics ranging from a “Carbon Footprint Workshop” to "Be Your Own Boss – First Steps to Business" in the coming months. The convenient location means shoppers now have access to the advice and expertise of a renowned educational institution on their high street.

Although the shop has only just been officially launched, it has been open 3 days a week since late last year and has already seen over 1,300 customers pass through its doors.

Ray Wilkinson, Development Director at UEL, said: "The University is committed to extending opportunity and access to education. This is a tremendous and very welcome initiative that will give us and our partners the opportunity to communicate directly with the community of Thurrock, enabling us to listen to their requirements for learning and to deliver local, tailored, solutions".

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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