Bath College announces new Real Skills Hub partnership with Beard Construction

Bath College has announced Beard Construction as a new Strategic Partner of the ‘Construction and Building Services - Real Skills Hub’, giving 350 learners and apprentices per year a clear pathway into local labour markets.

Connecting classroom learning with commercial experience means learners develop professional behaviours, a portfolio of evidence, industry experience, and placements, creating a successful route into employment.

The partnership will focus on site visits, workshops, and masterclass sessions, while offering opportunities for learners to engage in practical construction projects and placements. Beard will begin to contribute from the start of the 2026/27 academic year.

Beard and Bath College will also review course content in response to current skills gaps and needs in the West of England to develop relevant employment opportunities for learners.

As a leading construction company, Beard brings more than a century of local construction expertise to the Real Skills Hub’s partner network. Learners will hear from construction professionals about the skills needed to pursue specific roles in construction, as well as workplace expectations.

Sam Kenny, Assistant Principal at Bath College, said: “We are pleased to welcome Beard as a Strategic Partner for construction and building services. Beard has an outstanding reputation for innovation and investing in people, making it an ideal partner in developing the next generation of construction professionals. 

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."

Neil Sherreard, Deputy Chairman at Beard, said: “We are honoured that Beard has become a Strategic Partner of Bath College’s Real Skills Hub. Construction offers a range of careers, and engagement with employers can help learners understand the different skills and behaviours required to deliver projects and succeed in specific roles.

We look forward to sharing over a century of construction experience with learners and helping them see how the knowledge they develop in the classroom and workshops will translate into the workplace. By creating an entry point and skills pathway for learners, this initiative will shape the highly skilled professionals of tomorrow in an industry with many skills gaps.”

The relationship also extends beyond construction skills, with the company sponsoring new team kits for the Bath College Sport Academy.

Ian Holtby, Head of Commercial Services at Bath College, added: “We are delighted to have the support of Beard as our principal kit sponsor for our men's and women's football teams, as well as our men's rugby team.

This demonstrates Beard’s support for young people through its partnership with Bath College, promoting employability skills, wellbeing, sport, and leadership in both educational and sporting settings.”

The overall initiative will address local construction skills gaps, expand career opportunities for young learners, and help reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) by creating clearer routes into skills development and employment.

Beard will be the first of many companies across several industries to partner with Bath College for the Real Skills Hub. Further partnerships, activities, and details will follow as the initiative develops.

About Bath College

Bath College is a leading further education provider in Bath and North East Somerset. It offers over 300 courses for 16-18s, apprentices, adult learners, higher education learners, and SEND learners in Somerset and beyond, to build vocational, work-ready skills for the future.

With around 12,500 active full-time and part-time learners, the college provides innovative learning to inspire success and progress. Real skills. Real futures.

For more information, visit www.bathcollege.ac.uk.

About Beard

Beard is an award winning, £230 million turnover construction company that operates across the south of England.

With offices in Bristol, Swindon, Oxford, Guildford, and Southampton, the company undertakes a wide variety of design & build, new build, restoration & refurbishment projects, from turnkey maintenance services to complex schemes up to £35m, for public and private sector organisations.

Established in 1892, the family owned company has significant expertise in building for the healthcare, arts and culture, commerce and industry, education, religious buildings, elderly care, sports and leisure and defence sectors.

Visit www.beardconstruction.co.uk.