Bath Building Society Staff with Ben King , apprentice , second from right
INVESTING IN APPRENTICES
Bath College is the largest apprenticeship provider in Bath and North East Somerset . Based across two campuses , one in the centre of Bath and one in Radstock , the College is able to focus on different sectors regionally to suit their students and business partners .
The College currently offers apprenticeships in a wide variety of vocational and technical areas including Accountancy , Business Administration , Catering , Customer Service , Hospitality and a range of Manufacturing Technology , Engineering ( Plumbing , Electrotechnical , Refrigeration ), Building and Construction . The College also delivers more specialist provision such as , Horticulture , Stonemasonry and Veterinary Nursing .
Programmes at the College have been created to support students develop the skills necessary to progress in their careers and / or onto higher education . This includes a combination of short and long qualifications with a wide range of technical and vocational pathways . The curriculum is aligned to the local and regional needs , as identified by Ofsted and the College ’ s work with employers , resulting in essential commercial and industrial input into curriculum planning .
Ofsted reported that “ Teachers plan a good range of interesting , industry-related additional activities . As a result , learners develop high standards of professional behaviour and strong personal , social and employability skills . For example , performing arts learners benefit from a strong partnership with ‘ The Egg ’, which is part of the local theatre . Hair and beauty learners learn an advanced and diverse range of techniques from visiting guest practitioners which broaden their skills .”
Graded ‘ good ’ by Ofsted in January 2018 , Bath College ’ s provision continues to grow in strength and value , offering increasingly high quality opportunities to the young people and businesses in its local demographic .
Bath College has recently been recognised as one of the top 10 % of FE Colleges in England for employer satisfaction . This has been reinforced and acknowledged in the January Ofsted report :
“ Partners and local employers have much confidence in the College . They contribute effectively to developing the curriculum to reflect local and regional priorities such as construction , and the creative and digital industries . Learners benefit from these good partnerships by securing good work experience and placements .
Bath College has recently been recognised as one of the top 10 % of FE Colleges in England for employer satisfaction
“ As a result , they gain a better understanding of their future careers . For example , learners in catering experience the high expectations of their vocation when working alongside nationally renowned chefs .”
The College continues to improve apprenticeship achievement rates , which are now significantly above the national average .
Laurel Penrose , Principal and Chief Executive of Bath College explained that : “ We have learnt to be proactive rather than reactive , so have built our Business and Apprenticeship Hub and have a newly appointed Commercial Director to drive the employability and business agenda forward .
“ We are finding despite the confusion generated by the apprenticeship levy , partnerships with local businesses are continuing to grow with more young people choosing apprenticeships as a gateway into employment rather than university .
“ We have worked hard to ensure that the overall 61 % decline nationally in apprenticeships hasn ’ t affected us .”
Partnerships with local businesses are continuing to grow for the College as more and more young people are choosing apprenticeships as a gateway into employment rather than university . Ben King , a Bath College student and apprentice at Bath Building Society says that “ For me , an apprenticeship is better than going into a job from uni as I ’ m building my skillset now while I ’ m at College .
“ I ’ m in a business environment , answering phones , working in an office , learning the skills on the job ”.
Over 130,000 companies offer apprentice places because they understand the benefits that apprentices bring to their business – increased productivity , improved competitiveness and a committed and competent work-force .
To find out more contact : Apprenticeships Manager Robert Aldous on ( 01225 ) 312191 extension number 821 or 07791766161 or e-mail : Robert . Aldous @ bathcollege . ac . uk or Apprenticeships @ bathcollege . ac . uk
For more information : www . bathcollege . ac . uk enquiries @ bathcollege . ac . uk 01225 312191 ext . 720
16 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018