The work to transform Bradford College through a major building project has been a welcome sight since work started last year, both as a potential herald of the upturn in fortunes of the city as a whole and as a heartening success story given the project nearly hit the funding buffers two years ago.

Now another interesting facet has emerged about the development – students on the construction management course at the college are getting hands-on experience by working closely with the contractors carrying out the work.

Producing students with not only the necessary qualifications but real-life experience in the construction industry will be a great boon to those who graduate on this course from Bradford College, setting them up in a good position for entry into the world of work.

Bradford College excels at this type of vocational course, and helping to mould students into job-hunters with the necessary skills and practical experience will help to create graduates with the extra competitive edge to land the top jobs.

It is this type of joined-up thinking which seems so obvious when you look at it – there is a major construction company on site, BAM Construction, with a wealth of experience and knowledge, and students who want to learn the ropes in that industry – but which few institutions have the foresight to put into action.

The employment market is tough these days, especially for young people, and anything that turns out more polished students can only be good for the individuals, the industry they are entering into, and Bradford as a whole, which could well gain a reputation as the district that turns out top-flight vocational graduates if more organisations follow the lead of Bradford College and BAM Construction.