New government funding to create more opportunities for young people at our college

We’re delighted to have received new government funding that will help us expand our offer for 16–18-year-olds, creating more opportunities for young people to study Motor Vehicle and Construction with us.

The investment will allow us to offer more places on these popular courses, while continuing to ensure our students have access to high-quality, industry-standard facilities and practical training.

For school leavers, vocational education can be a fantastic way to learn. Our students gain practical skills, experience working with industry-standard equipment and the confidence to take their next steps into employment, further study or an apprenticeship.

For carpentry student Fletcher, the hands-on approach to learning has made a real difference:

“Coming to college completely changed the way I learn. It's much more hands-on and feels like being in a real job, which has really helped build my confidence.”

That focus on preparing students for the workplace is at the heart of what we do, and our strong apprenticeship results demonstrate the success of this approach. In the National Achievement Rate Tables for 2024/25, we were ranked 1st nationally for Level 3 apprenticeships, achieving an impressive 84.1%, compared with a national average of 65.9%. Our Construction apprenticeships also ranked 2nd nationally.

For students who progress into an apprenticeship, the opportunity to put their skills into practice while gaining valuable workplace experience can be hugely rewarding. Electrical Installation student Zak said:

“Getting my apprenticeship has given me a real sense of achievement. Every day I come home feeling like I’ve accomplished something.”

The impact of the new funding has also attracted interest from the BBC, with our college staff and facilities recently being recorded as part of a BBC feature exploring the opportunities the investment will create for young people.

These experiences are exactly why we’re so passionate about vocational education. For many young people, learning by doing can unlock confidence, develop practical skills and provide a clear route towards a rewarding career.

Our Principal, Jacqui Canton, said:

“We’re delighted to receive this funding. Most importantly, it will allow us to offer more places to 16–18-year-olds on our Motor Vehicle and Construction courses. We’ll also use the investment to make sure our facilities continue to meet the industry standards that our students have become used to.”

The additional funding means we can build on an already successful offer and give even more young people the opportunity to develop the skills that employers need.

Whether they are passionate about vehicles, interested in construction or looking to gain practical experience before progressing into an apprenticeship, our aim is to give students the skills, knowledge and confidence to take their next steps.

We’re incredibly proud of what our students and apprentices are already achieving, and we’re excited that this investment will help us open the door to these opportunities for even more young people.