Basingstoke college of technology wants to reconnect with former students
It's part of their plans to celebrate their 75th anniversary
Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) has launched a campaign to reconnect with the hundreds of thousands of students who have studied at the college over its 75-year history.
BCoT is calling on former full-time and part-time students to get back in touch and share their stories and help build a vibrant alumni community that not only celebrates the College's impact on the careers and lives of people across Basingstoke and Hampshire but also allows former students to inspire the next generation through work experience placements, apprenticeships, mentoring and speaking at student events.
Impact
Anthony Bravo, OBE, Principal of BCoT, said: “For more than 75 years, BCoT has been helping and supporting students to reach their full potential. We think that more than around a quarter of a million students have walked through our doors since they opened in 1948 and undertaken various courses and qualifications from engineering to hairdressing to business studies. Once a BCoT student, always a BCoT student, and we are hoping to hear from as many of them as possible. We want to build an alumni community that demonstrates the experience and impact BCoT has had on their careers, as well as how it’s shaped them into the person they are today, and to allow them to support the next generation of students studying with us.”
Full Circle
One former student who has come full circle is Sam Delany, who studied at BCoT between 2009 and 2011. After achieving a triple distinction on the Level 3 IT Practitioners course, earning a First Class degree at the University of East London and working for an internet service provider, Sam returned to BCoT – first as a server engineer, then Deputy Director of IT Services, and now Head of IT Services. Sam is appealing to his former classmates to get in touch with the college.
“Studying at BCoT was a wonderful and pivotal time for me,” he said. “I learnt so much, not only about my course, but about myself. I met lots of great friends – my best man, Martin, is a friend from BCoT, and we’re still close to this day. I hope former students come forward and get involved – being able to support the students currently studying here and show them that what they’re doing now will impact their future choices, is really important.”
History
BCoT was first established in 1947 as Basingstoke Technical Institute to support the local engineering industry. It officially opened its doors to 200 students in 1948 and was led by Mr R F Norman, who was managing director of Thornycroft, having previously organised the Thornycroft Apprentices School. At the time, it was the only further education provider in Hampshire and by the mid 1950s, student numbers had grown to more than 700 with new courses in catering and office studies subsequently leading to changing it’s name to Basingstoke Technical College. In the 1960s and 70s, the buildings that now stand on the south side of Worting Road were built, and in 1989 the name was changed to Basingstoke College of Technology. Since then, the facilities have expanded to the north side of Wortin Road and include the University Centre (opened in 2022), a new film and media production studio and the Thames Water Engineering Room, supporting students pursuing a career in the water industry.
Former BCoT students can share their stories by emailing [email protected].
Events
The College is holding two events in March to celebrate former students and welcome them back to campus. Students who attended the College between 1947 and 1997 are invited to an event on Tuesday 3 March and students who attended the College between 1997 and the present day are invited to the event on Tuesday 10 March. Both events take place from 6pm to 8pm and will be held at the college. For more information and to book a place visit www.bcot.ac.uk/events