The most outstanding individuals and institutions that the Further Education sector has to offer have been recognised in the shortlist for the Tes FE Awards 2021.

It has been revealed that Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC) has been shortlisted in two categories at the awards – Employer engagement and Apprenticeship programme of the year.

Tes head of FE Julia Belgutay said:

“Further education providers have excelled in what has been a truly challenging year, and the amazing individuals, teams and institutions on our Tes FE Awards shortlist showcase that. Our judges were highly impressed with the calibre of entries and I want to congratulate everyone who has made the shortlist – it is a brilliant achievement.”

BTC is one of the largest apprenticeship providers in England and a training provider of choice for organisations that include EDF Energy, ByLor, MoD, Magnox, NG Bailey, Laing O’Rourke, British Gymnastics, National Trust, Costain, UK Hydrographic Office, UK Power Networks and the Environment Agency, plus 1000+ SMEs.

By capitalising on its geographical location in relation to Hinkley Point C (HPC) and the project’s ambition to recruit 1000 apprentices during construction, BTC has become the biggest single apprenticeship provider to the most demanding and complex engineering construction project in Europe.

Through exemplary employer engagement, the College developed bespoke training provision to address identified workforce needs in priority sectors. As a result of this work, BTC has been shortlisted for the Employer Engagement category at the 2021 Tes FE Awards.

Shortlisted for the Apprenticeship programme of the year category at this years awards, BTC is the only training provider in England to offer the Water Environment Worker (WEW) Standard.

From taking over an ailing agricultural college in 2005, BTC now manages substantial, land-based Apprenticeship contracts in WEW UK-wide, for sector organisations that include the Environment Agency (EA), National Trust, Canal and River Trust and the River Stewardship Company, as well as the Wey and Arun Canal Trust and North York Moors National Park.

BTC and EA staff assisted in developing the Trailblazer, but delivering a brand new Standard to multiple, new employer partners required a whole-college approach, from tender activity through to delivery, management and evaluation. Working also with the National Trust, Canal and River Trust and Regional Drainage Board, lesson plans and schemes of work were developed to incorporate sector terminology and real life examples designed to engage and motivate Apprentices whilst ensuring they were competent, safe and trained to recognised industry standards.

Recognition from the Tes FE Awards comes after the College was recognised nationally, including a Queen’s Anniversary Prize, the 2019 TES Apprenticeship Programme of the Year and the 2020 national AoC Beacon Award  for Employer Engagement. BTC also retained an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ grade in five key areas – most notably Apprenticeships and Leadership & Management in 2019.

This year, owing to the pandemic, the Tes FE awards will once again be hosted remotely. It is scheduled to be held on 28 May 2021.

Photo included: BTC staff receiving the ‘Apprenticeship Programme of the Year’ award at the Tes FE Awards 2019 in London.