The Bedford College Group Welcomes The Stellantis Performance Academy to its Employer Partnership Scheme

The Stellantis Performance Academy joins the Bedford College Group Employer Partnership Scheme.

The Bedford College Group, which has campuses across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, is pleased to announce that The Stellantis Performance Academy, one of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, has joined its Employer Partnership Scheme, building on an already strong relationship that supports students into industry.

As part of the Employer Partnership Scheme, Stellantis will take part in a range of activities across the academic year, helping to strengthen links between education and industry. This will give students more opportunities to build practical skills and gain experience that prepares them for the workplace.

Stellantis are already working with The Group as part of the Rising Stars Customer Service pilot where eight students from Bedford College, Tresham College and Central Bedfordshire College have progressed through the interview stage and are now completing online training. They are currently being matched with local Stellantis retailers for paid placements.

There are plans to expand the programme next academic year. The Group is working with Stellantis to deliver both the Rising Stars Technical Traineeship and Customer Service Traineeship from September, with Business and Motor Vehicle departments across all three colleges involved. This will create more opportunities for students to take part and progress into employment.

Rachel Roberts, Partnership Manager, The Bedford College Group, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Stellantis to our Employer Partnership Scheme and to build on what is already a strong and successful collaboration. Partnerships like this ensure our students gain meaningful, real-world experience alongside their studies. Through initiatives such as the Rising Stars programmes, our students develop the skills, confidence and insight needed to progress into rewarding careers. We look forward to continuing to grow this relationship and creating even more opportunities for our students.”

Rebecca Thorn, Transition and Employment Manager at Stellantis, added:
“We are proud to strengthen our partnership with The Bedford College Group through joining the Employer Partnership Scheme. This collaboration plays an important role in helping us identify and support emerging talent, while giving students valuable insight into careers within the automotive industry. The success of the Rising Stars programmes has been fantastic to see and we are excited to expand these opportunities further, supporting more students as they take their first steps into the workplace.”

Representatives from The Bedford College Group recently visited Stellantis’ facilities, where they toured the site and marked the partnership with a plaque presentation. The visit gave a real sense of the opportunities available to student

This work reflects a shared commitment to developing future talent and supporting the skills needed within the automotive industry. Previous initiatives have already helped students move into paid placements and long-term careers, showing the value of combining classroom learning with hands on experience.

Representatives from The Bedford College Group recently visited Stellantis’ facilities, where they toured the site and marked the partnership with a plaque presentation. The visit gave a real sense of the opportunities available to students and highlighted the strength of the relationship.

This latest step reflects a continued commitment from both organisations to creating clear pathways into employment and supporting students to succeed in their future careers.

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

To find out more about The Stellantis Performance Academy, visit: https://www.stellantisapprenticeships.com/