National recognition for PlanBEE

PlanBEE has received national recognition at the Apprenticeship and Training Awards.

Our higher apprenticeship scheme was awarded highly commended in the category for Outstanding Apprenticeship Programme at the Apprenticeship and Training Awards.

Developed in partnership with Ryder Architecture, PlanBEE was designed to help attract and retain talent in the built environment and construction sector and solve the skills shortage the industry is facing.

Backed by a consortium of over 70 leading businesses across the UK, the programme combines academic study at the college with hands-on experience at leading industry employers including Ryder Architecture, Sir Robert McAlpine, Bowmer & Kirkland, Cundall, Gleeds, and NBS. Apprentices rotate through these organisations, gaining invaluable experience in diverse roles and disciplines, including architecture, structural and building services engineering, project management, cost management and leadership.

PlanBEE has achieved remarkable success, delivering over 600 industry placements and boasting a 98% progression rate of apprentices into permanent roles or further study. Building on its success in the North East, PlanBEE expanded to Manchester in 2020 and London in 2023.

In 2024, the college developed PlanBEE Rail in partnership with Network Rail and its supply chain partners, which prepares apprentices for a career in project management working on the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) Programme.

PlanBEE has also expanded into the digital sector in the North East with the first cohort of PlanBEE Cyber apprentices starting at the end of 2024.

David Alexander, Principal at Gateshead College, said: “It’s fantastic to receive national recognition for PlanBEE, which was developed in close collaboration with employers to meet their needs and address skills shortages. It equips apprentices with the expertise, hands-on experience, and professional connections they need to move seamlessly into successful careers in the sector.

We’re incredibly proud of our PlanBEE apprentices and graduates, as well as the brilliant teachers who work hand-in-hand with employers to make this programme the success it is.”

Dr Izzy Williams, Senior Learning and Development Lead at Ryder Architecture said: “As a founding sponsor, we’ve seen PlanBEE go from strength to strength. We’re incredibly proud of all our apprentices – both those currently working towards their qualifications and those who are now employed across a range of disciplines within the built environment. To be highly commended is testament to the incredible work and commitment that goes into the programme, which enables us to continue providing such a fantastic opportunity to young people.”

The Apprenticeship and Training Awards celebrate the achievements of employers and training providers across the UK, recognising their role in developing a skilled and diverse workforce.