Training facilities at the company which makes and maintains Trident nuclear warheads have been praised as an example to the rest of FE. The Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston, Berkshire, has been awarded Beacon status by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service, along with a dozen other colleges and training providers.

Hull College, Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College in Leeds, Uxbridge College, West Nottinghamshire College, Working Men’s College in London, Xaverian Sixth Form College in Manchester and the College of North East London were named as Beacon colleges.