WLC Kicks off Colleges Week 2026 Celebrations with MP Visits

West London College kicked off our celebrations for the Association of Colleges’ Colleges Week 2026 with a series of visits from local MPs, launching the first day of the national campaign.

This year’s Colleges Week theme is Skills for All, with each day focusing on a different group of students. Day 1 highlights adult learning and the Adult Learning Pays campaign, celebrating adults returning to education, from career changers to lifelong learners, and the power of flexible, community-focused learning. The Adult Learning Pays campaign highlights the vital role adult education plays in supporting personal growth, economic resilience and social cohesion.

With the right investment, adult learning can help close skills gaps, tackle social isolation, reduce inequality and support sustainable economic growth. The campaign aims to ensure policymakers recognise that adult education is not a cost, but a strategic investment that delivers long term benefits for individuals, employers and society. West London College provides education and skills training to over 8,000 adults across London and beyond each year, from initial English, through our ESOL provision, to higher-level skills in our Higher Apprenticeships.

To launch Day 1, we were delighted to welcome Deirdre Costigan MP for Ealing Southall to Southall Community College. During the visit, Principal and CEO Karen Redhead OBE spoke with Deirdre about the Association of Colleges’ Adult Learning Pays campaign and the need for continued investment in adult skills training to support the Greater London Authority’s Inclusive Talent Strategy, ensuring that good work is accessible to everyone.

They also discussed local priorities, including how agencies and organisations can work together to tackle homelessness in Southall and the surrounding area. Deirdre met with students, toured the Construction and Green Skills Centre, and took part in a roundtable discussion chaired by Assistant Principal Alex Hallawell.

Over at Ealing Green College, we welcomed Rupa Huq MP for Ealing Central and Acton. Rupa met with Karen to discuss key issues, including the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham’s industrial strategy, Upstream London, and how the redevelopment of Hammersmith and Fulham College will support and underpin its objectives.

She also delivered a presentation to students in the college’s immersive classroom, speaking about representation in the House of Commons and her work in the local area.

Karen Redhead OBE, Principal and CEO of West London College, said: “We were very pleased to welcome our local MPs to the college as part of Colleges Week. Their engagement and support are invaluable, and we appreciate the opportunity to showcase the impact of further education in the communities we serve. We look forward to continuing to work closely with them, and with our other local MPs, to drive education, skills and opportunities in West London.”

Colleges Week is organised by the Association of Colleges, the national voice for further education, sixth form, tertiary and specialist colleges in England. It provides an opportunity to showcase the impact of further education and the importance of ensuring that people of all ages and backgrounds can access high-quality training and education.