Here we have some good news from Bedford College which is based firmly in our town centre, and is great support of BedfordBID.

Gina Bubbins, Director of Business Development, The Bedford College Group www.bedford.ac.uk talks about how the college is here to help:

"This is the year of new beginnings for so many in business and industry.

At The Bedford College Group we are focussed on supporting employers who need staff with the right skills to navigate the “new normal”, or Brexit Britain, or tackle technology fast-forwarded by lockdowns and ‘working from home’.

Apprenticeships are always on the list, together now with the new T-Levels which offer employers and potential employees the chance to ‘test each other out’ over a period of 315 hours work experience over two years

Current 16-18-year-olds, born in the 21st Century, are immersed in the use of technology in way that the over 40s can rarely comprehend. That modern mindset is vital now, and,  by offering those in that age group work experience or placements, 20th Century businesses can learn from them, whilst helping to shape these eager young people into the employees of the future.

There are increased opportunities and funding for apprentices aged 19+ allowing employers to widen their range of candidates.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is  vital because we all need to keep learning, updating our skills and progressing. Change and more change is going to be the way forward and we are now a fifth of the way into the futuristic 21st Century - so time to get with the programme.

The Bedford College Group has been voted the FE College of the Year in the face of fierce competition in the highly respected Times Educational Supplement (TES) awards. This is more than an inward-facing educational publication, it is the touchstone for changes in the educational world and how that interlinks with business and industry.

It shows that our Group is a beacon for how post 16 education, Further Education and Higher and degree-level learning can best be delivered. That service to you is changing all the time, we are changing with you.” 

 

Zooming Ahead

"The success of The Bedford College Group in winning the FE College of the Year Award has been made possible only through the support of employers.

By listening and learning, we have been able to adapt our curriculum and programmes, offers and courses, to meet your demands.

That interaction, where employees/trainees/students move freely from workplace to college and back again, is even more fluid now because of the increase in online learning/working from home which has resulted from lockdowns.

The use of online meetings and presentations can also be to our mutual advantage. 

We are always seeking speakers from industry to link up with businesses, now this can be done via Teams or Zoom, so takes less of a toll on your busy schedule.

Similarly, setting students projects which add value to your business can be easily done, updated and progressed via online sessions. 

The more our students can hear from people in business and industry, the better prepared they will be for that day when they join the workplace. In turn, you can use the interaction to gain insights into how young audiences, employees of the future and even customers regard your business. In effect a combination of focus group meets training session.

If you would like to engage more closely with your local FE College, and remember we have courses across business, marketing and the arts and so much more, then let us know."

 

The Bedford College Group in Bedfordshire comprises

 

Bedford College

The Bedford Sixth Form

Shuttleworth College

and the Kempston Plumbing & Gas and Motor Vehicle Technology Centre

plus The Bedford Learning Centre Bedford High Street

and Brooks Bedford High Street Hair and Beauty training salon