A COLLEGE is expanding with its apprenticeship offer as it joins up with another organisation with a vision to 'become the leading apprenticeship provider in the south'.

Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) has announced today (Thursday) that West Berkshire Training Consortium (WBTC) will be joining the BCoT group for the ongoing delivery of its apprenticeship service.

The pair say the move, which is expected to be formalised during June or July, will allow for continued growth in the apprenticeship market for both organisations and the opportunity to create a bigger regional presence.

BCoT principal Anthony Bravo, said: “By joining with WBTC the newly formed group will benefit from having a greater geographical reach, greater expertise and an improved market position due to size and combined reputation.

"Our aim, with WBTC on board, is to become the leading apprenticeship provider in the south.”

BCoT has worked alongside WBTC for a number of years as a preferred supplier with WBTC placing more of its apprentices with BCoT than any other provider or college. WBTC managing director Matt Garvey said: “There have been seismic changes in the way apprenticeships are being funded and delivered and we felt this was the right time to join forces with a like-minded organisation, so we can continue to deliver our mission.”

To provide a continuity of service, both BCOT and WBTC will continue to operate from their existing bases of Basingstoke and Newbury.

Employment and contracting agreements with employees, apprentices and employers will remain unchanged and the pair say, as a bigger organisation, there will be increased opportunities to grow business, allow for wider tendering opportunities as well as creating a wider, stronger, secure operating footprint for both organisations.

There will be no change to the name of either organisation or their day-to-day operations.

The boards of both organisations are undertaking further due diligence and anticipate being able to formalise the arrangement in the summer.