EAL announces new partnership with Baker Dearing

EAL is delighted to announce a new partnership with the Baker Dearing Educational Trust, bringing together two organisations with a shared commitment to helping young people discover their potential through high-quality technical education.

The partnership will create more opportunities for learners aged 14 and over to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to take their next steps into engineering and manufacturing. It will also strengthen links between education and the workplace, helping young people see where their learning can take them.

The partnership was officially launched at Silverstone UTC on Thursday 12 November, with EAL Managing Director Alison Parkes and Baker Dearing Chief Executive Kate Ambrosi coming together to celebrate the collaboration during #thinkUTC week.

Creating new opportunities through engineering education

One of the first exciting projects to come from the partnership will be the development of a new Literacy for Engineers qualification.

Combining English tuition with engineering-specific content, the qualification will help young people build the communication skills they need to feel confident in technical environments, from the classroom to the workplace. A pilot is planned for 2027, with the qualification set to be made available to educators and industry following its development.

EAL will also continue its support for the Baker Award for Employability, which celebrates young people who demonstrate their commitment to technical education through qualifications, work experience and employer-set projects. EAL sponsored the development of the award as a nationally available programme, helping to extend the opportunity beyond the University Technical College (UTC) network and recognise even more young people's achievements.

Together, these initiatives will help learners gain valuable experience, develop their abilities and build a clearer picture of the opportunities available to them.

Strengthening technical pathways in schools

The partnership will also see EAL and Baker Dearing work together to support the development of technical education pathways in secondary schools, including UTC Sleeves specialising in engineering and manufacturing.

This builds on the recent opening of the Walney Academy Technical Centre in Barrow-in-Furness, which EAL attended on Friday 6 November. The centre provides engineering and healthcare education for 14 to 16-year-olds, giving learners access to specialist facilities and employer-led learning opportunities closer to home.

The organisations will also work together to raise awareness of the UTC Sleeve model and the opportunities it can offer young people, while exploring further ways to share knowledge and support UTC staff through professional development.

The partnership will also reach beyond the UK. Through Baker Dearing International, the organisations will collaborate on a project in Oman, building on EAL's established reputation in the region and supporting opportunities to increase registrations for its qualifications across the country's schools.

Celebrating the partnership at Silverstone UTC

There was plenty to celebrate at the official launch, which brought together representatives from EAL, Baker Dearing and Silverstone UTC to mark the start of this exciting collaboration.

Following a welcome from Silverstone UTC Principal Angela Murphy, guests were given a tour of the school's impressive facilities and heard from UTC staff about their experience of delivering EAL qualifications.

Alison and Kate also shared more about the partnership, outlining how the two organisations will combine their expertise to support young people and strengthen technical education.

The event provided a great opportunity to recognise the work already taking place across the UTC network and look ahead to what can be achieved by working more closely together.

Looking forward to making a difference together

Alison Parkes, Managing Director of EAL, commented: "We are delighted to be partnering with Baker Dearing to create more opportunities for young people to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to succeed in engineering and manufacturing. By bringing together EAL’s extensive experience in developing high-quality qualifications with Baker Dearing’s expertise in employer-led technical education, we can help provide young people with meaningful learning experiences that prepare them for their future careers.

“From developing the new Literacy for Engineers qualification to supporting the expansion of technical pathways within UTCs, this partnership is an exciting opportunity to make a positive and lasting difference to young people and their experience of technical education."

Kate Ambrosi, Chief Executive of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust, added: “We are thrilled to agree this new partnership with EAL, which will greatly enhance technical education opportunities for young people across England. Not just within the University Technical Colleges we support, but in our UTC Sleeves in Barrow and Bristol and for all the young people who take our Baker Award for Employability. 

"With the government’s announcement of technical education pathways for secondary schools, Baker Dearing and EAL are showing how this provision can achieve high-quality support for young people into degree apprenticeships and fulfilling careers. We cannot wait to get started on the number of exciting projects and initiatives that we have planned with EAL.”

Find out more about the Baker Dearing Educational Trust