Leeds College of Building and BAM Recognised at National Apprenticeship Awards

A longstanding collaboration between Leeds College of Building (LCB) and construction company BAM has received a ‘Highly Commended’ accolade at the 2026 Apprenticeship & Training Awards, a prominent event within the education sector. These prestigious awards celebrate those who are instrumental in cultivating a skilled, inclusive, and future-ready workforce through their dedication to apprenticeships and broader training initiatives.

The award for ‘Best Partnership in Training’ specifically acknowledges employer-provider collaborations that have achieved remarkable results in apprenticeship and skills development. The LCB/BAM partnership narrowly missed securing the top honour, which was awarded to the global brand McDonald’s in conjunction with Lifetime Training.

Following an impressive 650 nominations last year, the judges revealed a shortlist comprising 94 training providers, employers, colleges, and universities for this year’s FE Week and AELP Apprenticeship and Training Awards, in association with City & Guilds.

Chris Tunningley, LCB Assistant Principal for Apprenticeships & Higher Education, remarked, “After an insightful few days in Liverpool at the Apprenticeships & Training Conference 2026 discussing upcoming sector reforms, we were delighted to receive national recognition for our work with BAM UK & Ireland. Our collaboration was awarded Highly Commended in the ‘Best Partnership in Training’ category. Since 2017, this partnership has helped hundreds of students, the education sector, and the wider construction industry. This is a phenomenal achievement and to get this national commendation against international organisations and other top training providers is a testament to the hard work both teams put into delivering high-quality apprenticeships.”

Initially launched as bespoke block-release apprenticeship programmes tailored to BAM’s specific requirements, the partnership began with a first cohort of 40 apprentices in 2017. The programme has since evolved to encompass the Level 4 Civil Engineering Senior Technician, Quantity Surveying, and Construction Site Supervisor standards.

Over the years, this partnership has introduced exciting new qualifications, including a BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering Site Management Degree Apprenticeship, which is accredited by Leeds Beckett University. This marked the first degree apprenticeship ever offered at LCB’s University Centre.

The success of the partnership in addressing the industry’s demand for advanced qualifications has also led to the expansion of progression pathways, including the Construction Quantity Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship, validated by franchise partner London South Bank University and accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building.

LCB’s higher education offerings are now experiencing rapid growth, significantly attributed to this innovative partnership with BAM. The first pilot degree apprenticeship in 2022 enrolled just nine students, two of whom were female; by September 2025, this number had surged to over 230 degree apprentices at LCB, reflecting an extraordinary growth rate of 195% over three years.

National finalists were honoured at a celebratory reception at the House of Lords on 9 February, hosted by The Rt Hon. Baroness Morgan, before attending the award ceremony at Liverpool’s ACC on 3 March. For a complete list of finalists, visit FE Week or check the LCB website for more information regarding the construction and built environment apprenticeships available.