Leeds College of Building gains University Centre status 

In recognition of a rapidly expanding higher education offer, Leeds College of Building has been awarded University Centre status.

Over the last five years, higher-level courses have grown to represent a significant proportion of the College’s provision. Around 80% of delivery in the University Centre now covers Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeships, Higher, and Degree Apprenticeships. 

The College has also launched Level 6 courses, including a BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering Site Management Degree Apprenticeship in partnership with Leeds Beckett University. Apprentices work towards End Point Assessment with the Institution of Civil Engineers and can achieve Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status on successful completion.

Other programmes include a Degree Apprenticeship in Construction Quantity Surveying thanks to a new partnership with London South Bank University (LSBU). The course is designed in collaboration with industry bodies, employers, and aims to meet current sector needs. 

Chris Tunningley, Leeds College of Building Assistant Principal for Adult Learning and Higher Education, said: “Our Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Diploma (HND) pathways include Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, and Building Services Engineering. With Level 6 now added to our provision, we can offer a fantastic progression route for full-time students from foundation skills right through to degree-level training. This new University Centre status is reflective of our ambitious higher education strategy.

“Along with our well-established Level 4 HNC and Higher Apprentices, the University Centre welcomed its first cohort of 10 degree apprentices in the 2021/22 academic year. This has expanded in 2022/23 to 92 degree apprentices. Rapid growth is a testament to our outstanding teaching and assessment team and a significant milestone for the College. We hope this inspires even more students of all levels to realise their potential.”

Around 1,000 students now sit within the University Centre, which incorporates T Levels, BTECs, higher-level programmes, and degree apprenticeships. The College is the trainer of choice for many specialist construction employers. This academic year, around 35 Level 6 Construction Quantity Surveying Degree Apprentices started training at the College, all recruited from construction and engineering specialists BAM and JN Bentley Ltd.

BAM Early Careers Manager Kate Hickey said: “BAM has worked with Leeds College of Building for over five years now, initially on our Level 3 / 4 technical apprenticeship and more recently expanding this to include degree apprenticeships. We chose Leeds College of Building as our main apprenticeship provider, as it is the only college in the UK fully dedicated to construction and the built environment.

“One of the key strengths we found with Leeds College of Building on the delivery of the degree apprenticeship, is their approach to the work-based learning. The team have up-skilled our line managers […] through regular webinars and guidance documents. We have had great success over the last five years, with the vast majority of our apprentices remaining with the business and progressing into technical and managerial roles.”

Find out more  

Find out more about higher education courses at the next Leeds College of Building open night on Thursday, 23 February, 5-7pm, North Street Campus.

www.lcb.ac.uk/higher