College is delighted to welcome its newly-appointed Head of Business Development, Matt Tudor.

Bridgwater College is delighted to welcome its newly-appointed Head of Business Development, Matt Tudor.

Previously the Programme Director for Apprenticeships at Tribal Group plc, a leading provider of technology products and services to the education, training and learning markets, Matt brings to the role a combination of industry background and educational experience that he believes will enable him to tailor the College’s FE delivery to the current needs of the business community it serves.

The only son of a South Wales steelworker, Matt started his career as a 16-year old apprentice in the challenging environment of the Welsh construction industry. By the age of 18 he had his own team of 20 roadbuilders and went on to Loughborough University to gain a degree in Civil Engineering and Construction Management. This led eventually to a successful teaching career including positions at Leicester College, Moulton College and, finally, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, where he headed up the Faculty of Construction and Technology.

Subsequent moves, to Aylesbury Training Group (ATG Training) and Tribal, took Matt away from front-line teaching, but his passion for the FE sector remained and it is this that has brought him to Bridgwater College.

“Bridgwater College has been presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as a result of the growth and regeneration coming to the area on the back of Hinkley C. This is the largest single project in the area, possibly in the UK, and we have a chance to make a real difference, not only by delivering the training needed but also by providing a legacy for generations to come. The future employees of Hinkley C haven’t even started their GCSEs yet, and it is our job to ensure that they are fully engaged and excited by what lies ahead.”

Described by one of his peers as ‘the most natural leader I have ever come across’, Matt is relishing his new role and the challenges it presents. He recognises that – while the College enjoys an excellent working relationship with a number of key local employers – there is work to be done in ensuring that the fantastic facilities and expertise on offer are disseminated to a far wider client base. As he explains: “With funding for education diminishing all the time, the importance of our commercial work has never been greater. Every �1 that we earn is invested into our work with 14 – 18 year olds; they are the future and it is crucial that we support them in every way we can.”

An avid cyclist and former triathlete, Matt is married with two children aged six and four, and looks forward to spending as much time with them as his new role allows!

For more information, contact Lisa Flahant 01278 441216 or the Media & Promotions Team on 01278 441271. Alternatively, please visit bridgwater.ac.uk