THURROCK Learning Campus is urging young people to ‘open a door’ into one of the four vital industries for the economic potential of Thurrock.

The college, set to open in January, has started the ‘Open a door…’ campaign to get more young people in Thurrock to continue their education and get the experience they need to enter the four key areas for growth in the Thurrock and surrounding areas over the coming years.

These have been identified as the arts, construction, and business or Information Communications Technology.

Jan Hodges, Principal and Chief Executive of South East Essex College, the lead partner in the Thurrock Learning Campus, said: “Some of the best college and university partners in the region have teamed up to offer a new generation of education for local people that will help them open a door to the new opportunities coming to the region.

“These are courses that can have a real impact, and help young people especially enter their future full of confidence, knowledge and industry experience.”

Thurrock Learning Campus is a two phase project, with phase one opening in January 2009, offering a range of specialist courses for a few hundred learners in the four key areas of creative and cultural skills, construction and the built environment, retail and business and information communications technology.

As well as a range of courses for 16-18 year olds available in both January 2009 and September 2009, specialist ICT vendor-certified training for IT professionals will also be available.

A range of degree programmes will also be developed further down the line.

The second phase to the Thurrock Learning Campus is scheduled for completion in 2012, when a full-sized, permanent campus will be opened, accommodating thousands of learners across a range of further and higher education, business and adult programmes.

Places are still available for a January start in the four key areas, call 01702 220510 for more details.

For a full course list, and more information, visit www.thurrockcampus.ac.uk.