Fostering Future Opportunities: CMCS Hosts Queen Alexandra College Students
On March 27, 2025, Critical Mail Continuity Services (CMCS) had the privilege of welcoming students and staff from Queen Alexandra College (QAC) to its Droitwich facility. This visit was a pivotal component of QAC’s transition-to-work program, offering students firsthand insight into CMCS’s operations and the diverse roles within the company.
About Queen Alexandra College
Part of Queen Alexandra Charity, QAC, located in Harborne, Birmingham, is an independent specialist college dedicated to supporting students aged 16 and above with visual impairments, autism, and other disabilities. The college emphasizes personalized learning and development, preparing students for independent living and employment.
Building Bridges: A Reciprocal Partnership
The relationship between CMCS and QAC has flourished over the years, initially through the partnership that CMCS have with All Formats, QAC’s transcription and accessible formats service. All Formats specializes in creating accessible materials, including Braille, audio, and large print, ensuring that individuals with visual impairments have equal access to information.
Peter Marshall, Sales Director at CMCS, reflected on the partnership, stating;
““We have huge respect and admiration for the work that the QAC do and Colin Hughes and myself were delighted to be invited to meet with the students at one of their workshops recently. To then be able to receive the students back at CMCS seven days later and demonstrate the sort of work that we do was an absolute pleasure. The students threw themselves into both the tour and the activities that we set them and were genuinely interested to know more about the industry, and asked some very pertinent and challenging questions of us”
A Day of Discovery and Engagement
During their visit, the QAC group engaged in a comprehensive tour of CMCS’s facilities, gaining insight into the company’s disaster recovery and business continuity services. The students participated in interactive sessions, exploring various roles within the organization and understanding the importance of CMCS’s services in ensuring business resilience.
John McDougall, QAC Lead Work Placement Coordinator said
“A group of our students recently had the opportunity to visit CMCS. They were curious about the printing sector, which they didn’t know too much about, and this visit allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of how a large printing team operates. The students observed firsthand how large reels of paper are printed at incredible speeds and subsequently folded and enclosed into envelopes. This allowed us to think about the different roles and the benefit of having critical cover for a large business.
The group asked lots of questions and had a go at data inputting, hand folding and operating a pallet truck. Overall, the trip to CMCS was a fantastic success in broadening the students’ horizons and offering them a glimpse into a fast-paced, dynamic industry. It’s exciting to see that this experience has inspired some students to explore new career opportunities they might not have previously considered. What started as a curiosity about a little-known sector is now leading some learners to consider print as a potential career direction”
Looking Ahead: Strengthening Community Connections
This visit underscores CMCS’s commitment to community engagement and by providing students with real-world experiences and insights into potential career paths, CMCS aims to empower the next generation and contribute to a more inclusive workforce.
The collaboration between CMCS and QAC exemplifies the positive impact of partnerships focused on education, accessibility, and employment. Both organizations remain dedicated to fostering environments where individuals can thrive and achieve their full potential.
For more information about Queen Alexandra College and its programs, visit QAC’s official website. https://www.qac.ac.uk/
And to understand more about the services that All Formats can offer visit: https://allformats.org.uk/about-us/
