Weston College awarded £8.8m to expand construction skills campus
The funding will create extra training capacity at the South West Skills Campus
A college in Weston-super-Mare has been awarded £8.8m in government funding to expand its construction training campus.
Weston College said the money has come from the Department for Education through the Post-16 Capacity Fund and the Construction Skills Capacity Fund.
The college described it as one of the largest capital investments in its history.
It said the funding will support the continued development of its South West Skills Campus.
What the money will pay for
The college said the investment will create extra capacity at the campus and improve existing facilities.
It said this will allow it to support more learners, apprentices and adults looking to develop their skills.
Facilities for carpentry and joinery, brickwork, plumbing and electrical installation will be improved.
Training will also be offered in newer areas of construction and low-carbon technology, including:
- digital construction and Building Information Modelling (BIM)
- drone surveying
- low-carbon technologies, including heat pumps, renewable energy systems and retrofit
The college said the project will also support the continued decarbonisation of the campus, with investment in more energy-efficient infrastructure and low-carbon technologies.
Reaction
Pat Jones, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, said: "This £8.8 million investment is transformational for Weston College, our learners, our town and the wider region. It reflects the confidence that government has in our ability to deliver the skills that employers need, both now and in the future."
She said: "The South West Skills Campus already plays a vital role in supporting learners, apprentices and industry partners. This funding will enable us to further expand capacity, enhance our facilities and ensure students gain experience with the technologies that are shaping the future of construction and technical industries."
Pat Jones said: "Most importantly, it will create more opportunities for local people to access outstanding education and training, helping them build successful careers while supporting economic growth across our region."
Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare, said: "Investing in the next generation is exactly what this Labour Government is here to do, and I'm delighted that Weston College has secured £8.8 million through the Department for Education's Post-16 Capacity Fund and Construction Skills Capacity Fund."
He said: "This is one of the largest capital investments in the College's history and a real vote of confidence in Weston. It will expand opportunities for post-16 students, apprentices and adult learners, while creating state-of-the-art facilities for construction, digital technologies, drone surveying and low-carbon skills like heat pumps and renewable energy."
Dan Aldridge said: "I've worked closely with Weston College since becoming an MP and have seen first-hand the incredible work they do to prepare people for the jobs of the future. This investment will help local people gain the skills employers need, create more pathways into good careers, and strengthen Weston's economy for years to come."
Demand for technical skills
The college said the funding comes at a time of growing demand for technical skills and for training that reflects the changing needs of employers.
It said more people will be able to access technical education and gain practical experience with the technologies increasingly required in construction and wider technical sectors.
The college also said the funding will help strengthen routes into employment, further and higher education, apprenticeships and skilled careers.