Bridgwater & Taunton College welcomed The Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds to the College this week.
The Secretary of State’s trip started with a visit to the College’s Agriculture Innovation Centre (AIC) where he discussed the innovative uses of technology in the farming industry and the research projects the students have undertaken.
The AIC visit was followed by a tour of the College’s Construction Skills and Innovation Centre and the National College for Nuclear. The Secretary of State met students studying a variety of courses including steel fixing, formwork and Degree Level Apprenticeships.
Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds said,
“Bridgwater and Taunton College has fantastic facilities which I’m pleased that the Department for Education was able to help fund. The college is doing some great work and I enjoyed meeting the students and hearing more about how advances in technology can help farms increase their efficiency, making sure our industries are fit for the future.
“It is a mark of a successful school to see pupils and tutors so engaged and proud of their studies, which is a testament to the hard work of the teachers and leaders at the college.”
Andy Berry, Principal and Chief Executive commented,
“It was a great opportunity for us to showcase the College to the Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP and demonstrate the positive impact government funding can have for our students and the ongoing economic benefits it has on the wider community. We pride ourselves on working in partnership with the organisations to meet their requirements and to ensure students are equipped with the skills they need to become the best they can be.”
Guy Hazlehurst, EDF Energy’s Workforce Development Lead for new nuclear, said,
“The partnership with Bridgwater & Taunton College and local universities is crucial in helping to address some of the key skills gaps that the industry faces in delivering major projects like Hinkley Point C.
“Our talented apprentices demonstrated to the Minister that high-level apprenticeships are creating great opportunities for people who may not have followed a traditional ‘A’Level, or university route. This is a key contribution to meeting the UK skills needs and EDF Energy benefits through our apprentices gaining first-hand experience while helping deliver Hinkley Point C from day one, before moving on to other projects such as Sizewell C and beyond.”
For more information about the visit or any of the courses, call the Information & Guidance team on 01278 441234 or email info@btc.ac.uk
