Graduation Celebrations 2025

Class of 2025' honoured at B&FC Graduation Day.

The ‘Class of 2025’ – more than 900 higher education students at B&FC – were honoured in Graduation Day ceremonies at the iconic Winter Gardens.

This spectacular event brought together graduates, family and friends alongside B&FC tutors and support colleagues in the Empress Ballroom.

It produced scenes of joyous celebration with hundreds of new alumni crossing the stage amidst a sea of colours, caps and gowns before posing for proud photographs to share the moment with those who supported them throughout their studies.

Graduates received awards including Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, Foundation Degrees, full Honours Degrees and Higher Apprenticeships – with the vast majority achieving top academic classifications.

This year, 57 per cent of all B&FC graduates were awarded First Class Honours with 86 per cent achieving a First or 2:1 overall. Among degree apprenticeship students, 112 out of 142 received a First – and 99 per cent of them attained a First or 2:1.

The ceremonies opened with a welcome from Alun Francis, B&FC’s Principal a and an address from Sarah Kemp, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) at Lancaster University, who conferred the awards.

Alun Francis said: “This event is always the highlight of our academic year – and there was so much to celebrate at Graduation Day 2025.”

“This is a moment that shows our higher education offer is delivering exceptional outcomes – not just for our individual students, but also for the communities and industries that we serve. 

“Our students don’t just leave with a qualification: they leave with an edge. Our engineering graduates, for example, earn £13,000 more on average in their first year than their typical university counterparts – and this year’s fantastic results are an exciting milestone.

“This shows that we are already creating a skills powerhouse that is supporting industry, driving social mobility and creating new opportunities. That offer will become even stronger, more flexible and accessible through our future plans for the Multiversity.”

Graduation Day 2025 also featured inspiring speeches from two B&FC student speakers – Charlie Thomas and Jake Randall.

Charlie, who graduated with a BA (Hons) in Business Management through the Chartered Manager degree apprenticeship, praised the academic support that enabled him and others to expand their skill set and thrive.

“We became more confident. We became problem solvers, leaders and collaborators. We learned to challenge assumptions, defend our ideas and manage not just projects, but people – sometimes including ourselves – and we didn’t do it alone.”

Jake, who graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in BSc Digital and Technology Solutions, specialising in Data Analytics, congratulated fellow students on their achievements and encouraged them to reflect on their education journeys.

“This is a huge milestone to be celebrated: representing the years of hard work, determination and resilience that has brought us to this moment – throughout the entirety of our education, wherever that journey may have taken us.

“But today is not just about reminiscing, it is about embracing all the opportunities that now lie ahead. I wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.”

Graduation Day 2025 comes at a time of rapid development for B&FC and its higher education offer.

The Multiversity – currently in progress as a landmark regeneration and innovation project for Blackpool – is a transformative initiative that is a new model for delivering Higher Education. It will expand access to degree-level learning by integrating academic excellence, employer partnerships and flexible learning delivery to meet regional skills needs.

Blackpool and The Fylde College teaches around 13,500 students each year across multiple sites. Ofsted rated B&FC 'Good' in March 2025, with four ‘Outstanding’ sub-judgements. It also received the highest possible rating of ‘Strong’ for its contribution to meeting regional skills needs. 

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