When international employer Tata Steel faced a shortage in science skills, Gower College Swansea solved the problem. The college not only developed a level 3 apprenticeship in laboratory and industrial science but went one step further, developing a level 4 higher apprenticeship in life-science industries.

The college worked hard to secure further progression for the pathway and reached an agreement with Swansea University to allow students to go on to the second year of their chemistry undergraduate degree programme - the first chemistry pathway of its kind in the UK. Today, Tata Steel and other major employers, such as Huntsman Corporation and Vale Europe, all benefit from the programme.

Tes FE Awards 2021: The shortlist revealed

More: FE is full of great stories - but they need to be told

Tes FE Awards 2021: Meet the judges

Gower College has had immense success in promoting women in Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths), too. As well as assigning key members of college staff to support disadvantaged female apprentices, the development of a female Stem apprenticeship ambassador programme sees apprentices visit local schools to dispel the notion that the sector is beyond girls’ reach. Two of the female higher apprentices are themselves awardwinning: Sally Hughes won Welsh National Apprentice of the Year and Briony Morgan was overall UK Tata Steel Higher Apprentice of the Year.

Lead judge Ian Pretty said: “Gower College Swansea has shown an innovative and employer-centric approach to delivering the needs of a major employer in South Wales around laboratory and industrial science. 

“Working to understand the needs of the employer and engaging with Swansea University, it offers a truly joined-up further and higher education pathway for young people. Significantly, the college has also been successful in getting female apprentices, many from deprived areas, into an industry typically dominated by men.”