Apprenticeships at Solent receive industry recognition

Awarded by CoTrain, a Shared Apprenticeship Scheme managed by SECBE, who works across London and the south of England, Solent has been recognised for its delivery of bespoke and considered apprentice support, as well as its contemporary approach to teaching. CoTrain say:

"We are very impressed with Solent University as a training provider, not only for the course content and Construction Site Supervisor Apprenticeship, but also because there is regular, efficient and comprehensive feedback from the tutors.

"As a learner, our apprentice feels very supported and guided. For these reasons, we have decided to award Solent University our January Learning Provider of the Month Award."

The apprentice in question is a first year Construction Site Supervisor student, who is currently undertaking an apprenticeship with Galliford Try. Having the opportunity to learn at Solent alongside his on-site training, Dylan is thriving in higher education on his own terms. He says:

"I think apprenticeships are great - I've been able to learn in class and then have the ability to expand that knowledge and develop it into real-world skills on site. I've also been able to earn on the job, which means I can continue having a good work-life balance."

SECBE is a leading organisation in construction that works collaboratively to address the industry challenges and propose solutions. Solent has proudly worked with the organisation for four years, working in tandem to deliver courses and ensure construction apprentices at the University are placed in environments where their skills have the opportunity to flourish.

Through the Construction Site Supervisor and Construction Quantity Surveying Technician apprenticeships, Solent is providing industry with skilled apprentices who come equipped with the tools and knowledge required in this diverse and essential sector.

Course Leader Construction Management, Andy Dodson, says: "We have been working with CoTrain for several years, supporting their apprentices throughout their development journey. As a training provider, we are dedicated to providing the best possible experience to all our apprentices, and we are really proud to be recognised as learning provider of the month.

"As a student, Dylan can always be relied upon to carry out work to the best of his ability. What is really pleasing for us is to see how he relates what he is studying at university to his role within the workplace. It has been really rewarding to observe his professional growth."

With a commitment to work-ready teaching that champions practical approaches, Solent's teaching and learning practices are the recipient of three gold rankings by the Teaching Excellence Framework. This latest accolade further highlights how the University's practical approach is making a difference for industry as well as students. Solent's Head of Work Based Learning, Jo McBrearty, says:

"I am immensely proud of Solent for receiving this award; Andy and the construction team have worked extremely hard to ensure their courses are equipping the supervisors, managers, civil engineers and quantity surveyors of the future with the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need for their chosen roles. This is just reward and recognition for the dedication of this team, and signals Solent as a go-to university both for students and employers when it comes to delivering high-quality apprenticeships."

Find out more about apprenticeships at Solent here.