Leeds College of Building has been named ‘Apprenticeship Provider of the Year,’ after beating off stiff competition at the national FE Week AAC Apprenticeship 2020 Awards.
Other finalists in the category included Abingdon & Witney College, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Group Training Association, Gen2 Training, and Weston College.
Leeds College of Building saw massive growth in technical and professional training as well as maintaining high volumes in building, and services trade apprenticeships over the last decade.
Areas as varied as Building Services Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, and Transport Planning saw just ten apprentices enrolling in 2011. By 2018, this figure stood at over 700 (6,900% increase) with female apprentices increasing from one to over 150.
Four years ago, the College had a total of 965 apprentices; by the end of the last academic year, that figure stood at nearly 2,250, across all areas of the College’s provision. During the same period, Higher Level Apprenticeships increased from 73 to 465, an incredible 536% upsurge.
Derek Whitehead, principal and chief executive officer at Leeds College of Building, said: “This is a tremendous national achievement for the College, staff, apprentices, and employers.
“On behalf of governors and the senior team, I would like to thank Vicky Patterson, our curriculum manager for technical and professional apprenticeships (for co-ordinating the nomination) and all staff across College for their hard work, commitment, and valued contribution in providing high-quality delivery through our daily work in supporting apprentices and their employers.”
