Gateshead College

BRIDGE – Building Routes Into Degrees with Greater Equality

Gateshead College has joined forces with Northumbria University and Derby College to launch the BRIDGE project. This research programme will investigate why there are low numbers of women, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, and mature and part-time students enrolling on construction-related degree courses.

This project is set to benefit those seeking professional, technical and management jobs by providing ways to encourage people from all backgrounds, genders and ethnicities into higher education and a career in the construction industry.  

The project will collate evidence and input from key stakeholders, including:

• current and prospective construction and built environment students, apprentices and trainees
• industry professionals
• those who chose not to continue a career in the industry. 

The BRIDGE project aims to gain a deeper understanding of the factors affecting student degree and career choices before developing and testing a range of interventions aimed at improving the diversity of graduate recruitment in professional construction subjects.  

These interventions will be tested out in the North East and the Midlands and will include:

• careers education activities with school children, parents, teachers and advisers
• the development of improved information and marketing strategies.

We will also explore the impact of new curriculum initiatives, including 14-19 vocational qualifications pathways and emerging higher and degree apprenticeships that combine work with higher education study.