SOE News

College celebrates opening of heavy vehicle centre

21st Jun 2010

SOE Chief Exec Nick Jones (right) presents City of Bristol College Deputy Principal, Judith Stradling, with the SOE Academic Partner plaque.

At a recent event to celebrate the opening of a new heavy vehicle-training centre, a senior SOE delegation presented the City of Bristol College with a gold level SOE Academic Partner plaque.

The new Academic Partner status allows the College’s Transport and Engineering Technology courses, based at Orpen Park, to be industry recognised. This supports the development of successful business relationships between Academic Partners, industry, the Society and SOE members.

SOE Chief Exec Nick Jones commented during the event: “Apprenticeships allow young people to gain vital life skills whilst learning work-based skills. Beginning an apprenticeship is the first step in learning a craft, gaining expertise and excelling in a vocation. Apprenticeships are vital to the future of this country.”

City of Bristol College is the country’s largest provider of apprenticeships within further education, offering over twenty different programs. The college works with a range of companies to create and develop apprenticeship programs that aim to meet skills gaps within the industry.

Maurice Edwards, Contracts Manager for Transport and Engineering Technology at City of Bristol College said: “Heavy Vehicle Gold Academic Partner Status allows the College to offer courses that have met national standards of excellence, giving current students an improved overall learning experience as well as enhancing our current Apprenticeship programs.”

First Bus Central Engineering Manager Richard Northey also attended the event and cut the ribbon to officially open the new facilities. He said “We have had a number of excellent apprentices from City of Bristol College. We work in partnership with them, supplying buses for students at the college to work on during their apprenticeship program. The college has proven to be a provider of excellent apprentices and we are proud to be a partner.”

There are various benefits to SOE Academic Partner membership:
- Assessment of in-house training courses by an independent organisation
- Accreditation of courses to Engineering Council standards, leading to professional registration upon course completion
- Course listings on the SOE website.