14 July 2025 - Students and organizations working with The Bedford College Group will now have the ability to access internationally recognized professional development across education, construction, and professional services, following a new partnership between The Group and business standards and improvement company, BSI.
This collaboration aims to enhance training opportunities for students and organizations in and around Bedford and across the UK, Europe and the Middle East, helping strengthen their skills and readying them for employment and progression in key economic sectors. Bedford College students, along with other commercial organizations connected to the college, will now benefit from trusted, industry leading training programs delivered through this innovative partnership.
The partnership will provide direct access to BSI’s globally recognized standards and professional training, intended to support higher employability and professional excellence. It is designed to foster enhanced collaboration between education providers and industry to better prepare learners for real-world challenges.
The announcement comes as the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy places renewed emphasis on tackling national skills shortages, particularly in high-demand sectors like construction, digital, and professional services. According to the Construction Industry Training Board, the UK will need over 216,000[1] additional construction workers by 2025 to meet infrastructure and housing targets. Yet, more than 140,000[2] vacancies remain unfilled, stalling critical projects and highlighting the urgent need for accessible, high-quality training. This partnership directly supports the strategy’s goals by equipping learners with the practical, standards-based skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
Matt Page, Senior Vice President, Assurance Services EMEA at BSI said “Access to training can have an enormous impact on people’s career progression and ability to achieve professional excellence. At a time when the Uk is facing skills gaps in key sectors, expanding this access through this exciting alliance with Bedford College is a win-win for learners and employers alike. Delivering our expertise through a trusted educational institution in this way is a unique opportunity to broaden professional skills, support career development, and strengthen local industry ties.”
Nick Hayward, Group Director MIS, Data and Performance from The Bedford College Group commented: “‘This partnership with business standards and improvement company, BSI, marks an exciting opportunity in The Bedford College Groups mission to empower learners with world-class skills. By offering access to internationally recognised professional development across a range of sectors that feature prominently within the UK Governments Industrial Strategy, we’re enabling further pathways to excellence, innovation, and opportunity for our students and community.’
For further information, visit The Bedford College Group and BSI Group Partnership | The Bedford College Group
[1] https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/construction-industry-research-reports/search-our-construction-industry-research-reports/
[2] https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/construction-industry-research-reports/search-our-construction-industry-research-reports/
