Askham Bryan College receives donation from local business to support new Apprenticeship Highways Provision

Askham Bryan College has received a £10,000 donation of materials and labour from Leeds-based business KS Civils & Groundworks Ltd to support the launch of its new Apprenticeship Highways Training Provision. 

The donation includes a mock-up highway featuring kerbs, road surfaces, intersections, utility runs, and other key elements to help apprenticeship students. 

These new facilities will provide opportunities for apprentices to develop their practical skills and knowledge within a controlled trainings environment, helping them to gain a deeper understanding of the industry and the importance of high-quality work. 

The additional resources provide the opportunity to plan, construct, reinstate, and inspect other highway installations that will also broaden their skills and knowledge. 

The donation is expected to benefit around 20-25 apprenticeship students each year. The initial rollout will mean 10 apprentices will be able to benefit from these enhanced training facilities. 

Rich Arneaud, Course Manager for Highways at Askham Bryan College: “It’s invaluable what KS Civils and Groundworks have done for us; the potential learning opportunities are endless, and I am sure our apprentices will reap the reward from the donation. A huge thank you to Karl and his team for their input, enthusiasm, generosity, and hard work.” 

Karl Smith, Director of KS Civils & Groundworks Ltd, said: 

“When we were initially approached about supporting Askham Bryan College with materials, we saw an opportunity to go a step further and create something that could have a lasting benefit for students entering our industry. 

We worked with the college to develop the concept, and our team constructed the dedicated highways and civil engineering training area, incorporating real-world features.  

The most important part for us is what happens here going forward. This facility gives students the opportunity to turn classroom learning into practical experience, build confidence, and gain a better understanding of the standards, workmanship, and skills required in the industry. We’re extremely proud to have played our part in creating something that will support Askham Bryan College and its students for years to come. Investing in training and developing the next generation is vital to the future of civil engineering, and we hope this facility helps inspire young people to build successful careers within the industry.”  

Ritchie Bywater, Head of Apprenticeships at Askham Bryan College “The launch of our Highways programme marks a significant milestone for the College, creating new opportunities for individuals to develop valuable skills, advance their careers, and support the ambitions set out within the Local Skills Improvement Plan. We are especially grateful to KS Civils for their generosity and commitment in helping bring this vision to life. Thanks to their support, we now have an outstanding training facility that is truly fit for purpose, replicating the real-world challenges learners will encounter across Yorkshire.”