We are proud to celebrate the PlanBEE apprenticeship scheme receiving the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education from His Majesty The King at St James’s Palace.
This nationally recognised education award is the highest honour a Further Education College can receive. Awarded every two years on the advice of the Prime Minister, it recognises excellence, innovation and clear benefit to society. For the Gateshead College PlanBEE programme, this marks a significant milestone for an award-winning apprenticeship scheme driving UK construction skills development.
An Industry-Led Construction Apprenticeship Programme
The PlanBEE construction apprenticeship is built on a strong education and industry partnership. Combining classroom learning with structured, hands-on industry training across multiple employers, it creates clear career pathways in construction and supports long-term construction workforce development.
This model plays a vital role in developing future construction talent and strengthening the UK’s sustainable skills pipeline.
Apprenticeship Success Stories at McCrory
At McCrory, we have seen the impact of the PlanBEE construction apprenticeship scheme first-hand.
Former students Aryan and Eamon have both progressed into full-time roles within the company, demonstrating the strength of this industry-led apprenticeship model.
We are currently supporting Max Street, who is working on the St John Vianney project under the guidance of Project Manager Andrew, who has a strong track record of nurturing future construction professionals.
As Paula Norton, who oversees our apprentices, explains:
“We’re delighted to see our apprentices recognised as part of the award-winning PlanBEE Apprenticeship Scheme, which has received the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education from His Majesty The King at St James’s Palace.
As the highest honour a Further Education College can receive, this award highlights excellence, innovation and real impact. For the Gateshead College PlanBEE programme, it’s a powerful recognition of the role apprenticeships play in shaping the future of UK construction.
We’re incredibly thankful for this achievement, which shines a spotlight on the hard work, commitment and professionalism of our apprentices. They are the future of our industry and we couldn’t be prouder to support them on their journey.
Congratulations to everyone involved.”
Investing in Young People and Social Value
The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education awarded at St James’s Palace reflects excellence in vocational training and highlights the importance of strong construction training partnerships.
We are proud to support the Gateshead College partnership and to play our part in investing in young people, delivering social value in construction and supporting regional skills development.
Being involved in a programme recognised with royal recognition is something we are incredibly proud of, and we look forward to continuing to develop the next generation of construction talent.
