City of Bristol College has been named a finalist in the Construction Apprenticeship Provider Of The Year Award in the AAC Apprenticeship Awards.
The announcement came last week during an evening presentation, and there has been much celebration to mark this momentous occasion in an area which the College excels in.
The College, which currently offers more than 40 qualifications in construction-based courses including those offered by our subsidiary company Partners in Bristol, has been investing heavily in the provision over the past few years, namely with its new £9m Advanced Construction Skills Centre in south Bristol.
The Centre, which is set to open in September to its first cohort of students, will feature state-of-the-art technology and purpose-built workshops, and has been built with sustainable and green construction in mind.
City of Bristol College has seen a great deal of growth in its construction provision over the past three years, with a 120 per cent increase in the number of starters for construction and planning apprenticeships. Success rates continue to improve year-on-year as does the College’s retention of construction apprentices. The College has also experienced fantastic apprenticeship engagement, despite the pandemic, and felt it was the right time to enter this category.
Speaking about the award, Deputy Principal and Chief Executive, Richard Harris, said: “The College is delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award and it’s a great recognition of the achievements, dedication and hard work which our learners, staff and employers have put in, over what has been such a challenging year. As we come out of lockdown and look to recover, creating jobs and growing the economy in a sustainable and inclusive way, the skills and vocational training which colleges such as City of Bristol can offer will be more important and more valuable than ever.”
The College has increased its engagement with employer partners in the construction sector ahead of the new 3,500sqm Advanced Construction Skills Centre opening, working with large organisations and SMEs to make sure the Centre meets the future needs of employers across the region. The Centre itself has been designed to replicate real working conditions across traditional trades and modern methods of construction, with workshops, IT rooms and an outside civils yard all planned following input from an Employers’ Board. The Board comprises of directors and apprenticeship managers from several regional and national employers to ensure the new Centre delivers the right training to allow young people to unlock their talent and fully realise their potential.
The College has been shortlisted alongside just one other college, Kirklees in Huddersfield, and the winner will be announced on 8 July with a National Awards Gala Dinner at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham.
Visit the College’s website to find out what is happening at the City of Bristol College and its Advanced Construction Skills Centre.
