75 years of stories. What's yours?

Calling all former students

As a highly successful college focused on building careers of tomorrow, the College is excited to reconnect with the hundreds of thousands of students who have studied at the College over its 75-year history.

We are calling on former full-time and part-time students to get back in touch and share their stories.

The campaign aims to 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.

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.”

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 was 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.”

How to Get Involved

Former BCoT students can share their stories by emailing marketing@bcot.ac.uk or phone 01256 306679

The college is also 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.

We can't wait to welcome you back.