Exeter College to Lead the Way as Construction Technical Excellence College
Exeter College is proud to announce it has been chosen as one of 10 Construction Technical Excellence Colleges by the Department for Education, an accolade that underscores the exceptional quality, innovation, and impact of its Construction provision.
This prestigious recognition is a testament to the outstanding expertise and dedication of Exeter College’s Construction Team, whose tireless work continues to set the benchmark for excellence in technical and vocational education. It positions the College as a national leader in Construction training and opens exciting opportunities to collaborate with providers across the country, share best practices, and drive further investment into the South West region.
John Laramy CBE, Principal and CEO at Exeter College said;
“We are absolutely delighted to be selected as the one of the Construction Technical Excellence Colleges. We look forward to working with our students, staff, stakeholders and employer partners across the region to turbo charge construction training.
“It is a particular personal privilege, as an education leader who began their career in construction, to be part of a national initiative to ensure our region benefits from the career opportunities that excellent technical education enables. No education system can be better than the quality of its teachers and it is brilliant to see their professional development as a key part of this initiative.
“We are excited about working with colleagues in the DfE and wider Government to ensure this national policy has meaningful impact and benefits for the South West and beyond.”
The College’s exceptional track record of collaboration with regional and national employers has created a vibrant construction network that is impacting significantly on the national construction skills shortage. This ‘Technical Excellence’ Status recognises the eco system Exeter has in place. Through initiatives like Building Greater Exeter and the Green Skills Advisory Panel, the region is working to make a real impact on the government initiative to ‘Get Great Britain Building Again’.
Steve Race, Labour MP for Exeter, commented;
“Awarding Construction Technical Excellence College status to Exeter College means brand new skills training in construction for young people and will help others already in the construction sector to upskill. This new approach will help us deliver the new homes and the economic growth we need across our region, in partnership with the construction sector. It’s a testament to the hard work and educational excellence of the College team, and I’m excited about this new future for skills training in Exeter.”
In securing Technical Excellence Status, the College received an impressive 120 endorsements from local organisations and stakeholders, including FE colleges, schools, councils, and construction employers, reflecting strong community backing.
Pete Sadler, Managing Director for Vistry South West said;
“Vistry is delighted to see the roll out of Construction Technical Excellence College’s across the country — they will provide a significant boost to skills, innovation, and developing the future workforce our country needs. At Vistry, we’re deeply committed to skills development and building strong industry partnerships.
“This achievement will not only strengthen our collaboration with Exeter College but also help ensure we have a pipeline of talented, work-ready individuals to support the future of construction and housebuilding across the region.”
This is a timely investment as the College has seen unprecedented growth in Construction in recent years. Full time learner growth surged by 32% in the last academic year, while apprenticeships have also seen consistent increases, with over 650 trade and professional construction apprentices enrolled for the 2024/25 academic year. With a total of over 1150 Construction learners (2024/25), helping to provide a solution to the UK’s construction skills shortage over the next few years. Furthermore, the faculty’s achievement rates significantly surpass national averages, underlining its dedication to high quality teaching, learning and student success.
Councillor David Thomas, Chair of the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA), said:
“Exeter College’s appointment as a Technical Excellence College in construction is welcome news for our region. This will strengthen local skills and help Devon and Torbay contribute to the government’s 1.5 million homes target.
“To meet these ambitions, we must expand construction training across the whole of our region. The DTCCA looks forward to working with Exeter College to address local needs and challenges.
“We are also committed to collaborating with the West of England Combined Authority, Plymouth and Cornwall, to align skills strategies and share expertise with other training providers, ensuring a joined-up approach to building a skilled workforce across the South West.”
As a Construction Technical Excellence College, Exeter College is excited to lead the way in tackling the skills shortage, driving innovation, and building a stronger future for the South West, and looks forward to sharing more exciting developments on this initiative in the near future.
Pictured above: Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister of State for Skills at the Department for Education, launching Foundation Apprenticeships earlier this year at Exeter College.
