Our Employer Partners

At Preston College we work in partnership with some of the county’s leading employers. Our relationships with them have been built over many years and we tailor our programmes to meet the needs of industry, ensuring our learners are equipped with the technical skills required by employers. 

Here you can find out about some of our employer partners: 

Leyland Trucks  

A key partner since 2015, Leyland Trucks is one of Britain’s leading manufacturing companies and has an established centre in Lancashire for light and medium duty truck design, development and manufacture. 

The company has provided considerable resources including a prototype truck to enhance the learner experience for Automotive Technology learners, and technical expertise – both in the lecture room and on-site courses at its factory. This allows our automotive apprentices to benefit from a real work environment, helping them to develop the technical skills that employers and universities want and need. 

Leyland Trucks also sponsors the Electrical & Electronics area of our iSTEM Centre to recreate a working environment using company procedures and values, health and safety protocols and departmental engineering practices. 

For more information on Leyland Trucks visit www.leylandtrucksltd.co.uk  

Eric Wright Group Learning Foundation  

Preston College has a successful partnership with Eric Wright Group, a leading property and construction business operating across many disciplines including construction, civil engineering, facilities management, health and care, water and housebuilding.  

The partnership allows us to offer a range of courses in construction and engineering by delivering hands-on experience The College recognises theory-based learning doesn’t always work in this sector and our teaching is realigned with industry needs. We worked hand-in-hand with Eric Wright Group to develop the curriculum. 

Our facility replicates a live construction site and features ‘pods’ with low-level scaffolding to mimic the various stages of construction. Learners also undertake practical joinery, brickwork, painting and decorating workshops at the centre. 

For more information on Eric Wright Group visit www.ericwright.co.uk/charitable-trust/the-eric-wright-learning-foundation/  

Preston North End Community and Education Trust  

Our training agreement with Preston North End Community and Education Trust enhances the Club’s Level 2 and Level 3 training programmes in sport by providing expertise in vocational-technical training and quality assurance checks. 

Based at Deepdale Stadium, the programmes provide learners with the option to continue their further education in a professional football club setting whilst still gaining a recognised qualification that could progress them into employment or onto university. 

Learners completing the course are also able to progress on to the Trust’s Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development, allowing them to prolong their education whilst still being able to access the exclusive work experience and first class facilities that the professional football club can offer. 

For more information on the Community and Education Trust visit www.pnefc.net/pnecet/education