Stoke on Trent College has officially launched an Advanced Construction Centre as part of a multi-million-pound facility, skills and learning improvement programme.
Based at the Burslem Campus in Stoke-on-Trent, it forms an integral part of the college’s newly-launched Construction Skills Hub which key into its Skills Ready, Future Ready strategy.
The Construction Skills Hub brings together industry-standard facilities, expertise and equipment and it responds to the skills needs set out in the new government Local Skills Improvement Plan led locally by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.
The new Advanced Construction Centre has been funded by the Government T Level capital programme and provides a collaborative, modern and open-plan learning space to support the development of innovative construction skills.
Its facilities have allowed the college to provide sector leading advanced and digital construction facilities for students in the city – helping them to gain the skills they need to meet the both current and future skill demands in the region.
Daily Focus has reported how the College secured more than £13 million in funding for state-of-the-art buildings and to transform its campuses.
The sum has come from the Government’s Further Education Capital Transformation, T Level Capital and the Strategic Development funding schemes.
Around 60 guests were invited to attend the launch event, including representatives from the region’s leading construction businesses, stakeholders and education partners.
Peter Lauener, Chair of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) cut the ribbon to mark the launch.
College partner and national concrete-cast business Thorp Precast delivered a presentation on developing skills in advanced construction technologies.
And guests were treated to a showcase of students’ work from T Level and Apprenticeship programmes, including the opportunity to see a range of drone-based activities now being used in the construction industry.
Lisa Capper MBE, Principal & CEO at Stoke on Trent College, said: “After months of hard work, we are excited to officially unveil our new Advanced Construction Centre.
“Our new state-of-the-art facility is a game changer in equipping young people and those working in the industry with cutting edge technology.
“The Skills Hub will provide innovative learning to help lead the construction training revolution through delivering forward-thinking projects to support the future success of our regional construction industries.”
Stoke on Trent College will also be expanding its curriculum offering in this area to include the introduction of new T Levels and HTQ (Higher Technical Qualifications) across all four of its Sector Skills Hubs, designed to enable students to gain skills at advanced and higher levels, to help students’ progress on to university or employment as well as meeting local skills needs.
