The Bedford College Group welcomes MWJV to its Employer Partnership Scheme

The Bedford College Group, with campuses across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, is pleased to announce that MWJV (Mott MacDonald WSP Joint Venture) has joined its Employer Partnership Scheme.

MWJV is the joint venture between Mott MacDonald and WSP, who have partnered to deliver the Technical Partner contract for East West Rail.

This collaboration strengthens the Group’s commitment to connecting education with industry, ensuring students gain the skills and experience needed to succeed in their future careers.

As the Technical Partner for the East West Rail Project, Mott MacDonald is working alongside WSP (MWJV), whose global expertise in transport, engineering and sustainable infrastructure is helping to shape one of the region’s most ambitious rail programmes. Through MWJV’s specialist insight and collaboration on the project, students will gain an inspiring, behind-the-scenes view of the industry, motivating the next generation of engineers, designers and project managers.

Recently, representatives from MWJV, Natalie Harvey, Senior Social Value Consultant at Mott MacDonald; Luke Moran, Project Manager at Mott MacDonald; Stuart Edwards, Senior Policy & Public Affairs Manager (Business, Industry & Academia) at East West Rail,  visited Bedford College to deliver a presentation to students studying the Design, Surveying and Planning T Level, as well as Year 2 Mechanical Engineering students. The session introduced the MWJV contact on East West Rail and explored what it takes to design, plan and build a major railway network. Students learned about the scale of the project, the collaboration between design and engineering teams, and the innovative methods used to deliver large-scale infrastructure.

A range of opportunities

MWJV will also offer work experience opportunities, both in-person and virtual, for design, surveying and planning students. The organisation also plans to engage with other departments across The Bedford College Group, including Business, Engineering, Shuttleworth Land and Environment, and the Sixth Forms, through talks, collaborative projects and professional insights.

Speaking about the partnership, Rachel Roberts, Partnership Manager at The Bedford College Group, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome MWJV to our Employer Partnership Scheme. Their involvement represents exactly what the scheme is designed to achieve, connecting education with real industry experience. By working closely with leading organisations, we ensure our students gain the skills, confidence and understanding needed to thrive in the workplace. MWJV’s passion for innovation and its commitment to engaging with students across multiple departments will make a significant impact on our students’ educational journeys.”

Natalie Harvey, Social Value Manager for MWJV, added:

“We’re thrilled to join The Bedford College Group’s Employer Partnership Scheme and to work with such talented and enthusiastic students. Through this collaboration with MWJV, we aim to inspire the next generation of engineers, designers, consultants and innovators by showing how creative thinking, teamwork and technical excellence come together in real-world projects like East West Rail. Education partnerships like these are vital in developing the future workforce and highlighting the exciting opportunities available across our industry.”

MWJV and The Bedford College Group are also exploring wider areas of engagement, including Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions for teachers and the creation of Maths and English learning videos that demonstrate how these essential skills are applied in the workplace.

By joining the Employer Partnership Scheme, MWJV has committed to taking part in a range of activities and engagements throughout the academic year, reinforcing the shared vision between education and industry to inspire, support and prepare the skilled professionals of tomorrow.

Find out more

For more information on The Bedford College Group Employer Partnership Scheme, contact the team at partnerships@bedford.ac.uk

To find out more about Mott MacDonald and WSP, visit https://www.mottmac.com/en-gb/, and www.wsp.com/en-gb/