Gloucestershire College proudly celebrated the opening of the new sustainable construction training centre at their Cheltenham Campus on Thursday 26 September.
Training the green workforce of tomorrow, the new centre supports Gloucestershire’s growing cyber and infrastructure ambitions and its need for skilled construction workers. Also supporting a growing cohort of local school leavers, this marks the first opportunity for all construction subjects to be taught at Cheltenham Campus.
The centre expands the provision in Cheltenham’s Golden Valley, with additional training in electrical, plumbing and carpentry. These subjects are offered alongside courses in construction multiskills, property maintenance, groundworks, design, surveying and planning, and construction and the built environment.
There are options for all ages and every type of study, with courses that span a range of diplomas, T Levels, and university level qualifications, as well as apprenticeships for employers to train and upskill their staff.
With sustainability now a key focus for the college, students will be taught sustainable approaches to construction through the curriculum. They’ll learn about things like:
• Smart technologies
• Renewable energy systems like solar PV, ground-source heat pumps and EV charging
• Eco-friendly construction techniques
• Waste minimisation
• Water conservation techniques
• Sustainable design
• Environmental regulations
The centre was also designed and built with sustainability in mind. Following on from the college’s ambitious GC Zero project, the new building has adopted air source heat pump technology for hot water and workshop heating systems, as well as efficient air conditioning systems to provide heat and cooling to classrooms. The building also benefits from new industry high levels of insulation, and electricity in the building comes from the campus solar generation and battery storage facilities.
Bringing this visionary project to life we were pleased to work with an esteemed team of partners. This includes our contractor, family-run Beard Construction, architects Roberts Limbrick, quantity surveyors Ward Williams Associates, structural engineers Simpson Associates and fire consultants Helios.
The college was also supported in its bid for Department for Education (DfE) funding by Cheltenham Borough Council, who helped the college secure £4 million from the DfE. The college funded £1 million and the whole project totalled £5 million.
As they train the next generation of tradespeople and construction professionals, the new construction training centre will play a pivotal role in addressing the increasing demand for skilled construction workers in the region, projected to reach 6,400 annually by 2025 and coinciding with the industry’s shift towards net-zero carbon technologies in construction.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Matthew Burgess, Principal and CEO of Gloucestershire College, said:
“Even before the centre opened, we were the largest provider of construction training in the county by a country mile. It is the single largest occupational area in the college – and we cover a lot of areas.
“… As well as addressing skills needs, part of our mission is also social mobility. Cheltenham Campus is deliberately placed in an area of regeneration. Our learners can’t always travel so we want to create opportunities for them.
“… We’re proud of this facility and it’s for our community – the residents of Cheltenham, the Golden Valley, the businesses of Cheltenham and the whole county to benefit from.”
Whilst aligning the evolving needs of the industry and community, the college are proud to inspire students to pursue careers in construction, all whilst cementing our commitment to sustainability.
Find out more about our college here www.gloscol.ac.uk and our construction courses here www.gloscol.ac.uk/departments/construction
