South Birmingham College has bolstered its commitment to minority ethnic businesses in Birmingham by becoming a patron of the Institute of Asian Businesses (IAB), part of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI).

College Principal Mike Hopkins officially marked the new patronage during a meeting with Dipak Shelat, the IAB's Operations Manager.

The award–winning College will use its new relationship to engage with Asian employers and provide tailor made training for workers in the city.

The College is proud of the fact that it has more managers from black and ethnic minority backgrounds than any other further education establishment in the region.

L to R

Maz Iqbal (IAB Vice Chairman), Mani Kumari-Lal (Assistant Director-Marketing International & Admissions,
South Birmingham College), Mike Hopkins (Principal, South Birmingham College), Dr Arun Bajaj (IAB Chairman)

Mr Hopkins said he was delighted the College was now playing a leading role in the growing Asian business community.

“Birmingham is benefiting from more and more Asian businesses and we want them to take advantage of our College’s first rate services and resources,” he said.

“We are committed to equality and diversity and this new relationship will strengthen our work with ethnic minorities even further.”

The IAB promotes and helps the business needs of its members and the wider Asian business community. It is a key member of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and is made up of local business leaders.

Chairman of the IAB Dr.Arun Bajaj added," Our members will highly benefit from the support available from such a significant local player in the FE sector as South Birmingham College, in terms of the wide range of courses on offer at times to suit both employers and employees alike.

“IAB places the highest priority on up-skilling the local workforce, and SBC will help our efforts to raise the importance of this particular issue amongst Asian businesses in the City."

For more information on courses at South Birmingham College please contact 0121 694 5000 or visit: www.sbc.ac.uk