Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC), the lead educational institution for HPC, welcomed the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP.
The visit showcased the College’s pivotal role in advancing the government vision towards clean power and ambition for the UK to become net zero. The visit to the National College for Nuclear (NCfN) Southern Hub emphasised the College’s innovative approach to education and skills delivery.
Principal and CEO Andy Berry CBE highlighted the College’s strategic partnerships and resulting educational pathways,
Our mission is to transform lives and communities by seamlessly connecting education to careers. Working in collaboration with employers we create educational pathways with clear job opportunities at the end.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said,
Providers like Bridgwater & Taunton College and University Centre Somerset are helping us develop the skilled workforce of the future—unlocking opportunity, driving growth, and powering the industries that keep Britain moving. It was fantastic to meet so many of their apprentices, including across nuclear engineering and defence, whose talents and hard work will help them build a bright future for themselves and deliver our Plan for Change.
Nuclear Engineering Degree Apprentice, Sky Hopkins, added,
I was proud to show the Secretary of State around the College, she was really interested in my degree apprenticeship and I was also able to talk to her about my work as a STEM ambassador for the region and the project I’m undertaking for International Women’s Day.
The visit underscored the essential role educational institutions like BTC and University Centre Somerset (UCS) play in equipping the UK workforce with necessary skills and fostering an inclusive, prosperous future.
For more information on BTC’s multitude of educational offerings, please visit www.btc.ac.uk or get in touch with the Information & Advice team by emailing info@btc.ac.uk.
To find out more about our Higher Education offer, please visit the University Centre Somerset website at www.somerset.ac.uk.
