Last week, as part of National Apprenticeship Week, the Textile Centre of Excellence was proud to support a strategic visit from Skills England to Bentley Motors. The visit provided an important opportunity to explore apprenticeship delivery, future skills development and long-term workforce capability planning within a world-class manufacturing environment.
Bringing together national skills leadership and industry expertise, the discussions demonstrated the value of meaningful collaboration in shaping sustainable, future-focused talent pathways. Conversations of this calibre highlight what effective partnership working should achieve — alignment between training provision, business strategy and the evolving skills demands of modern industry.
A key theme throughout the visit was the central role colleague development plays within Bentley’s long-term vision. From strong early careers pathways to advanced technical training and rigorous compliance frameworks, skills development is embedded across the organisation. This structured approach ensures capability building is strategically designed to meet future workforce needs while maintaining exceptional operational standards.
The visit also reinforced the importance of integrated training models that connect education, industry and professional development. By aligning apprenticeships, T-Levels and wider workforce planning, organisations can create clear, sustainable routes into highly skilled careers while strengthening productivity and innovation across the sector.
For the Textile Centre of Excellence, the visit was particularly meaningful in showcasing the real-world impact of collaborative training delivery. Seeing our Advanced Upholstery Level 3 learners recognised within this broader skills ecosystem was a proud moment. Their continued progression reflects not only individual commitment and talent, but also the effectiveness of high-quality technical training delivered in close partnership with industry.
National Apprenticeship Week offered a valuable moment to recognise the impact of structured, employer-led development – celebrating both the learners building their careers and the organisations investing in long-term skills growth.
We are proud of our partnership with Bentley, and it is fantastic to see our learners going from strength to strength in their apprenticeships. Their success demonstrates what can be achieved when employers, training providers and national skills organisations work together with shared purpose and long-term vision.
As skills demands continue to evolve, partnerships like these will remain essential in developing resilient talent pipelines and supporting the future of advanced manufacturing.
