About Us Working at the college About the College
West Lothian College is situated in the heart of Livingston, which is one of Scotland’s most modern and vibrant towns. With two major shopping centres situated across from the College and major employers in close proximity, the college is well positioned to meet the needs of local employers and the community. The college is easily accessible from Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Central belt, as it is approximately 18 miles from Edinburgh and 25 miles from Glasgow. The college is close to shops and local amenities, it is only a short walk from Livingston Designer Outlet and The Centre.
West Lothian College moved to Livingston on 18 July 2001. The Learning Park quickly exceeded all expectations and established itself as a destination of choice for learners.
The body with overall responsibility for the work and the strategic management of the college is the Board of Management; the Chairman of the Board is Dr Tony Kinder. The Principal and Chief Executive is Mhairi Laughlin.
The college believes in partnership and values its relationships with other colleges, universities and the business community and works in partnership with them to promote lifelong learning. The portfolio of the college reflects the requirements of employers and our wider communities, building upon the unique features of the West Lothian economy.
The college is one of Scotland’s most modern and up-to-date colleges. To secure its future the college has invested heavily in ICT and state of the art facilities for new curriculum areas such as Creative Industries.
In 2004 and 2007 the college was reviewed by HMIE. These reviews were overwhelmingly positive, giving the college confidence in its role as the major provider of lifelong learning to the West Lothian Community.
Valuing our Staff
The well being of staff is one of our top priorities and we actively pursue opportunities to involve staff in activities, which promote and support their well being. In March 2005 the college was awarded the Scotland Health at Work (SHAW) bronze award and we are now pursuing the silver award.
Staff and their families are invited to join the college’s sports club. Membership entitles you to access our fully equipped fitness suite, take part in fitness classes and book for other sports, such as badminton, tennis, basketball, volleyball and football.
Staff can also access a range of services and treatments through our Image, Beauty and Fitness Sector. The facilities are modern and our students provide a professional service in a welcoming environment.
Continuous Professional Development
The college is committed to Continuous Professional Development for all staff and has a well embedded approach to Professional Development and Career Review. The college has dedicated 4 days per year for whole college development as well as team development days throughout the year. In 2004 we received a commended award from the Scottish Further Education Unit for the college’s management development and succession planning programme, which was undertaken by over 70 staff.
Access and inclusion
The college is continually working with its community to promote wider access. Our inclusive approach means that we have built a reputation for welcoming all learners and providing a high quality service.
We celebrate the success of our students through a range of activities, including the Graduation ceremony, Vocational awards ceremony and our Inclusion Sector awards ceremony.
The college is fully accessible for students with physical disabilities and has extensive car parking including designated spaces for people with a disability.
