Successes this year included re-validation by the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET) and coveted Chartered status (CEng). Overall learner numbers rose by five per cent in FE, and in HE by 10 per cent.

The School became one of only 6 UK establishments appointed as National Skills Academy Quality Assured Provider for Nuclear (NSAN), offering bespoke Foundation Degrees in Nuclear (Plant and Process) and Nuclear De-Commissioning, developed in partnership with British Energy, as well as Foundation Degrees in Sustainable Energy Technology and Engineering (Technical) Illustration with other partners.

Industry Collaborations

We maintain strong employer NVQ partnerships which this year included website development and networking with: TownPages, Barrsbank Ltd, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Borough Council, Roseacre School, Baines School, and Lancashire Cash Registers. Barrsbank and KJC Games acted as Foundation Degree validation partners and industrial sponsors.

The NVQ in Business Improvement Techniques (BIT) was delivered to local and international companies, including: Addison Engineering, Kilgour Industries, Leyland Truck and Springfields (BNFL) under Train to Gain. The School also developed an ITQ to be delivered under Train to Gain, and engaged with AXA Group to design and implement a bespoke Foundation Degree for their industry.

Achievements

In October, Microsoft invited the College to participate in the Imagine Cup, a UK-wide competition for game design usually reserved for universities. One of our learners won a category first prize, and Microsoft was so impressed that it became a consultant for the validation of BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design.

The Aviation Academy won a highly coveted bronze award in the BAE Chairman’s Award for Innovation as a result of our Project Control Foundation Degree. This Foundation Degree provided the basis for a new BSc (Hons) Project Management top-up.

The College’s motorsport team successfully competed in the UK Renault BARC series championship, creating a pole position team of learners. One former student is now employed by McLaren as a member of Lewis Hamilton’s World Championship-winning pit crew.

Three apprentices were placed in the top ten for the Ford Apprenticeship of the Year Awards, gaining second, third and fourth places in the national final. The Gaming Academy forged relationships with Crown Leisure, Gala Coral Group, Stanley Genting and HB Leisure; Students on the Foundation Degree in Gaming Machine Technology were placed with Crown Leisure, HB Leisure and Carnival Cruise lines.