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Reading College principal Lesley Donoghue has taken on C8 Consulting Ltd to execute a campaign to increase its visibility
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Reading College striving to keep numbers up

By David Millward
August 15, 2012

Faces of smiling students can be seen on posters around the borough as part of a drive by Reading College to raise its profile in the region.

The college has taken on Reading-based PR and Marketing company C8 Consulting Ltd to execute a campaign to increase its visibility.

As well as advertisements on the streets and in the local press, the college now has its own iPhone app as well as a presence on Twitter and Facebook.

The education institution has seen applications for its main September intake increase by 10 per cent on last year and principal Lesley Donoghue wants to keep that figure keep growing.

She said: “We have so many unique courses and teaching and learning initiatives that set us apart from other colleges in the area.

“In particular we have really focused on employability and equipping our students with skills to help them go further once they leave.

“I am delighted to be working with C8 Consulting, who have a proven track record of successfully reaching the Thames Valley, to help spread the word of the great courses we have to offer.”

Reading College, in King’s Road, was previously known as Thames Valley University before reverting back to its original name in August 2010 under the new ownership of the Learning and Skills Network and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College.

Six thousand students are now enrolled in more than 900 further and higher education courses and Ms Donoghue wants to highlight the diversity of courses on offer.

She said: “From specialised technology and engineering courses, to hospitality, catering and beauty therapy courses, to the provision of higher education courses and business studies as well as an entrepreneur programme, students have a wealth of choice.

“Reading College also has several initiatives in place to add value to the Thames Valley’s wider business community.”

Apprenticeships are among the college’s key areas and it has increased its number by 100 this year. The college has also struck up a new partnership with Reed Employment which will offer students advice as they move into the job market.

It is also developing a programme in partnership with JobCentrePlus to help unemployed people get back to work.

Bosses at the college wanted a PR programme to maximise awareness, drive momentum and reach out to more students as well as to the business community.

They turned to C8 whose clients include Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Henley Business School.

Paula Elliott, managing director of C8 Consulting Ltd, in Forbury Square, said: “Reading College plays a vital role in offering education, skills and development to the area and offers a host of courses in every discipline.

“Reading College has something for everyone and works closely with local businesses to produce highly capable, confident and employable individuals – I think this is one of its biggest USPs (unique selling points).

“I’m excited to be working with Reading College and look forward to getting these great messages out to the Thames Valley.”

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Reading Tech it was and Reading Tech is what it should be called.

One who knows, Chaversham
20/08/2012 at 11:09

Not surprising really as University graduates are increasingly having to take unskilled jobs commensurate with their lack of ability. when we are presented with figures from the Office for National Statistics which show that the average wage for someone with a British university degree has fallen to pretty much where it should be and the fact that 20% of new graduates are unemployed says less about the current job market and more about the age-old problem of slowpokes.Nevertheless our higher education system continues to do its job of producing people who can round-up shopping trollies without supervision. I myself had some nebulous plan a few years back that my degree in Heaven 17 would translate into a six-figure income but all I have to show for it is a heartbreakingly predictable tattoo.