Bath College partners with Beard Construction to create new opportunities for local learners

Hundreds of Bath College learners and apprentices will gain greater access to industry experience and employment opportunities through a new partnership with Beard Construction.

The construction company has become a Strategic Partner of Bath College’s Construction and Building Services Real Skills Hub, which will support around 350 learners and apprentices each year.

The partnership aims to connect classroom learning with experience of the construction industry, helping students develop workplace skills and understand the different careers available within the sector.

From the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year, Beard will support the programme through site visits, workshops and masterclasses, as well as opportunities for learners to take part in practical construction projects and placements.

Bath College and Beard will also work together to review course content against current skills shortages and employment needs across the West of England.

Sam Kenny, Assistant Principal at Bath College, said: “This partnership gives learners access to invaluable industry insight and meaningful, real-world opportunities to engage with employers.

“By working closely with Beard, our curriculum aligns with industry needs and creates clear progression routes into apprenticeships, further study, and rewarding careers within the sector.”

Beard was established in 1892 and works on construction projects across the south of England.

Neil Sherreard, Deputy Chairman at Beard, said the company was looking forward to sharing more than a century of construction experience with learners and helping them understand how the knowledge developed at college translates into the workplace.

The partnership will extend beyond the classroom, with Beard also becoming principal kit sponsor for Bath College’s men’s and women’s football teams and men’s rugby team.

Bath College says its wider Real Skills Hub initiative is designed to address local skills gaps and create clearer routes from education into employment.

Beard is the first of a number of businesses across different industries expected to join the initiative, with further partnerships due to be announced as the programme develops.