In 2004 Walsall College was a 'broken' institution that couldn't afford to pay its staff. It faced an uncertain future after damning inspections rated education provision inadequate.
Ten years on and the college's turnaround is nothing short of remarkable and one of the Black Country's true success stories.
In March 2013 it celebrated becoming the first 'outstanding' general further education college under new inspection guidelines and the first to receive a Grade One in the region.
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The turnaround has been so dramatic the college now holds events and workshops to share best practice with other local further education establishments.
to address a regional skills shortage and 'reinvigorate' engineering in the Black Country.
Walsall College's change in fortune is thanks to a dedicated management team led by principal Jat Sharma who spoke to the Birmingham Post about his passion for his role and his belief that a successful college can feed into the wider Walsall community.
"We've been on a journey here," he said.
"I started in 2004 when we were a broken college. We were inadequate. We were financially broke and couldn't make the payroll.
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"It's a million miles from where we are now. In just over nine years with a lot of blood and sweat we've done it.
"The thing I would say about our college is that it's very honest, respectful and transparent. We've been through a lot but we've done some amazing things with the kids. We're dealing with second and third generation unemployed here and you can do it if you treat them right.
"We're not afraid to make tough calls. Sometimes you have to challenge people far bigger and weightier than you are to make the right decision for students.
"Walsall is brilliant at a lot of things but we have major problems with teen pregnancies and child deprivation so we have a big job to do," he added.
Mr Sharma is aware of the need to address local skills issues, particularly in heritage industries such as manufacturing and the new engineering workshop is an attempt to address that.
A healthy balance sheet at the £34 million-turnover college has enabled capital investment in the new facility but Mr Sharma is well aware of the ever-increasing financial pressures his and other colleges face.
"We have a turnover of £34 million but we have a £2 million budget gap to fix so the pressures are great. However we're not flabby, we're a lean institution," he said.
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"Our message is clear and everybody understands what they have to do. We're a community college and we want to invest in Walsall.
"There's a good buzz here. I'm deeply committed to keeping that going."
Mr Sharma sits on the board of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, a position which allows him to challenge Whitehall for a fair share of funding and decision making in the region.
"I'm blessed with a great team which allows me to work with the LEP and government ministers for the benefit of the Black Country," he said.
"We're leading on a couple of big projects to help the skills challenges in the local workforce. I'm regularly down in London to try to seek more cash for the Black Country."
Work has started on the 2,744 sq ft workshop, which will be situated at the front of its Green Lane Campus. It should be completed by July ready for an official launch in September.
The revamp and installation work will be completed by 25 carpentry and decorating students as part of their work experience programme, while remedial works and electrical connections will be carried out by external contractors
On the subject of the Ofsted inspections, Mr Sharma explained just what it meant to be graded 'outstanding' for the first time.
"I've been through a few Ofsteds and that one was by far the toughest," he said.
"The Ofsted framework changed in 2013 and it got tougher. The man who inspected us is known in the industry as Mr Grade Four so we didn't know what to expect!
"When I told the team we had got an 'outstanding', you can imagine the elation and the tears. I was crying, too. We've got between 600 and 700 staff who are absolutely committed to this place and its 12,000 students.
"It's about getting students into the highest levels of education for work and that's what Ofted is for. I'm a local lad. I genuinely believe in what we're trying to do."