College boosts local economy

Tresham College is leading the way when it comes to nurturing the next generation of talent and developing relationships with employers across the region.

Since its merger with The Bedford College Group in 2019, the range of courses Tresham College offers has improved while student numbers have continued to increase.

The opening of the college’s £10m Wellingborough campus has also breathed new life into the town and its economy with more than 600 students and staff regularly visiting the site, which is also available to hire by community groups.

Principal of Tresham College Robin Webber-Jones said: “Via our campuses in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough we are leading the way in the latest employer-orientated education courses, and listening to what businesses want and need.

“We have hosted a number of business events on our sites from the Local Skills and Improvement Plan (LSIP) sessions to one with SEMLEP on curriculum planning to ensure education is relevant for the future workplace and look forward to working ever more closely.”

A dedicated Business Development Team reaches out to the largest employers in Northamptonshire, with global leaders seeking the support of The Bedford College Group in areas like construction, logistics and IT.

Government investment in T Level provision - which combines advanced level studies with 300 hours of real-world work experience - was pioneered at several years ago The Bedford College Group in the area of construction. It has now been extended to engineering, business and social care at Tresham College campuses.

For more information about how Tresham College can help you visit www.bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk

Helping to build exciting careers in architecture is one of the aims of Kettering-based practice, GSSArchitecture.

The company, which was founded in 1879, has a strong tradition of supporting students with work experience and work placement opportunities across its five national offices. With the statistics showing that the amount of people choosing architecture as a career path is increasing, the practice has renewed its commitment to working with young people across the country, giving them access to the world of work through work experience and placements.

Tom Lyons, senior partner at

GSS, said: “Gaining first-hand experience from an early age allows students to understand how a career in architecture and the wider construction industry works. They can have a better understanding and make a more informed decision on whether this is the route for them.

“More and more people are becoming involved in architecture with the goal of reducing the construction industry’s impact on the environment and changing this from within. We want to support this in any way we can, and by attending regular careers fairs and giving talks about architecture and how we can make it a more sustainable career option, as well as how we can make a difference in the world, then we can encourage people to be part of the change they want to see.”

One student who recently completed their work experience at GSSArchitecture, said: “Everyone I have met has been very welcoming and friendly, and always offered help when asked. This time has been especially useful to me in learning what it is like as an architect and what happens each day of work. This will definitely help me in terms of choosing architecture as a career.”