Made in Britain at Bedford College

Bedford College is one of the nations FE “engines for growth” and is proving that point by helping to training 1,000s of young people for the workplace.

CEO Ian Pryce told a packed audience of parents, businesses and sponsors at the Bedford Corn Exchange on Thursday November 24th:

“The last year has been one of global economic problems. No part of our society has been untouched by the austerity that has followed in its wake. 

“I always tell people I have the best job in Bedford, and in some ways I feel this even more keenly at such a time because the College is key to helping deliver economic growth.

“This has been a tough year for the College but, despite the problems that exist, it has also been one of our most successful. Cutbacks in the funding for adult education meant our overall student numbers dropped slightly to 16,500, but still 1 in 10 Bedfordians enrols each year.

“More significantly our enrolment of young people increased again with nearly 5,000 16-18 year olds on our books compared to an average of about 250 in most school sixth forms.  

“Perhaps even more impressive in the current climate we increased our income from employers in every programme area and overall by more than 20%.  Financially we made our biggest ever surplus, and generated £5m in cash from our core operation for investment in our buildings and equipment.  That investment included the transformation of a 1960s Workshop Block on our main campus in Cauldwell Street into one of the most energy efficient buildings in the country.

It was also a year of awards: 

The Times Educational Supplement National Award for Leadership

Matrix Reaccreditation for our independent and impartial guidance services

Awarded the leadership of the National Skills Academy in Environmental Technologies

The Training Excellence Standard for work with employers

The FE Marketing Network Marketing to Businesses and Employers Gold Award

Green Gown Sustainability Awards – national runner up for Courses award

The Positive about Disabled People Chartermark

An excellent IQER inspection of our University level provision

Moving our residential provision at Shuttleworth from adequate to Good with Outstanding features in two years

The Mansion House Shuttleworth was voted Rising Star Small company in the Bedfordshire Business Excellence awards

The Louder than Words Chartermark for services to deaf students

"These successes are built on partnership, and I therefore want to thank our many partners.

"Our partnerships with employers and community leaders and the agencies is critical.  Our local employers should also be a source of immense pride to everyone in our community.  I mentioned our income from employers had grown and this is a reflection of the maturity of local business leaders.  Despite the gloom they understand the importance of training their staff and are investing more in their people than ever before.  Their sponsorship of tonight’s event is equally impressive and I genuinely want to thank them for making such a great contribution to our town and our county.

“Our Corporation Members also deserve high praise.  Their unpaid service and their expertise and wisdom are vital to our success, yet they never really get the credit they deserve.  They have been the “Big Society” in action since well before the phrase was coined, and their contribution to the community has been immense.”

Chair of the Corporation Roger Whysall praised Ian and his team for their leadership - he said in his report that Bedford College produced 500 university students, 300 care professionals, 200 engineers, 200 artists and designers, 100 farmers, 100 junior managers, 50 sports coaches and 50 chefs:  “Made in Bedford” now means something nationally.

Guest speaker for the event was Carly Ward, MD of the Young Entrepreneur Society (YES), a former FE student who went on to become a member of the Enterprise Steering Group formed by Mark Prisk, Minister for Business & Enterprise.  She strives to help young people under 25 learn entrepreneurial skills.”