The highest honour a Further Education College can receive has been awarded to Gateshead College’s PlanBEE apprenticeship programme.

The College has been awarded a Queen Elizabeth Prize for the programme.

Originally launching in 2016, the apprenticeship programme was created to encourage and build talent in the built environment and construction sector.

An extension of the programme is the Transpennine Route Upgrade’s (TRU) PlanBEE Rail, for which TRU was the founding sponsor, to provide more young people with an opportunity to enter the rail industry.

The extension launched in 2024, and the first apprentices are now in their second year of the two-year programme and will have gained varied experience from a range of employers within the sector.

“We are delighted that PlanBEE has been deservedly recognised with such a prestigious award, and are really proud to be a part of it.

“The PlanBEE apprenticeship model has proven highly valuable for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, enabling apprentices to gain experience across multiple TRU partners while developing new skills and building professional connections that will benefit both their future careers and the success of the programme.”

“We have recently taken on a second cohort and along with other sponsors, are excited by their ongoing development. We’d like to congratulate Gateshead College and thank everyone involved across the scheme for their commitment to something truly unique.”

David Bassett, Apprentice & Graduate Programmes Manager for TRU