Open Events Welcome Record Number of Prospective Students

Cheshire College – South & West and Macclesfield College welcomed a record-breaking number of prospective students and their families to their first Open Events since officially merging in August.

The turnout represents a 29% increase in attendance compared with the equivalent Open Events last year, making this the highest attendance recorded across the College’s Open Events to date.

The events gave prospective students and their families the opportunity to experience life across the newly merged organisation, from exploring specialist facilities and taking part in activities to speaking with current students and teaching teams about courses, student support and progression opportunities.

Visitors also had the opportunity to explore the Cheshire & Warrington Institute of Technology facilities at Crewe and Macclesfield, which provide specialist learning spaces and industry-standard equipment for areas including engineering, computing, construction and healthcare science.

Principal and CEO of Cheshire College – South & West and Macclesfield College, Jasbir Dhesi OBE, said:

“We were delighted to welcome such a fantastic turnout across all four of our campuses at our first Open Events since Cheshire College and Macclesfield College merged to form one organisation."

“Our campuses each have their own character and communities, and these events have given us an opportunity to showcase what is available across the newly merged organisation. We look forward to welcoming many of these prospective students back in the future as they take their next steps.”

The newly merged organisation provides education and training across four campuses, with opportunities spanning A Levels, T Levels, apprenticeships, vocational programmes, adult learning and Higher Education.

Registration is now open for the College’s November Open Events, taking place on Thursday 19th November 2026, at the Crewe, Ellesmere Port and Chester campuses, and Saturday 21st November 2026 at Macclesfield College.

For more information and to register, visit www.ccsw.ac.uk for the Crewe, Ellesmere Port and Chester events, or www.macclesfield.ac.uk for the Macclesfield event.   

• As of 1 August 2026, Cheshire College – South & West and Macclesfield College formally became one organisation following the successful completion of their legal merger.
• The merged organisation is the largest provider of post-16 education in the region offering exciting opportunities to nearly 15,000 students and 1,500 apprentices.  
• The College offers a comprehensive range of programmes, from Entry Level to Level 7, including A Levels, T Levels, adult courses, apprenticeships, Higher Education courses and bespoke training for employers, providing clear pathways into higher education, apprenticeships and skilled employment.
• With £200 million invested in cutting-edge facilities across its Campuses, the College provides world-class learning environments that mirror industry settings. Specialist resources include Crewe Campus’ hospital ward, Anatomage Tables and Esports suite; Ellesmere Port’s Sustainable House and Motor Vehicle Workshop; and Chester Campus’ media booths, TV studios, gaming suites, Digital Hub and 3D printers
• As the lead provider in the Cheshire and Warrington Institute of Technology, the College is driving forward higher technical skills development, supported by a £14.2m IoT facility at Crewe Campus.
• The College has strong partnerships with local businesses including Bentley, Lloyds Bank, NHS, Stellantis, Scottish Power, Belong and National Gas, working collaboratively to meet skills priorities and boost economic growth across the region.

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