Bath College announces new Real Skills Hub partnership with Beard

Bath College has announced that Beard is the new Strategic Partner of the ‘Construction and Building Services - Real Skills Hub’ to support the development of future talent across the sector and in the West of England.

The Real Skills Hub Guarantee means 350 learners and apprentices per year have a clear pathway to 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. We will begin to contribute from the start of the 2026/27 academic year.

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."

With Bath College, we 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.

We're proud to bring more than a century of local construction expertise to the Real Skills Hub’s partner network. Learners will hear from our construction professionals about the skills needed to pursue specific roles in construction, as well as workplace expectations.

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."

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

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.