Construction firm appointed to £5m college scheme
Construction firm Beard has been appointed to build a £5m training centre for Gloucestershire College.
The company, which has its headquarters in Swindon, will build the college’s sustainable construction centre at its Cheltenham campus.
Gloucestershire College said the new hub will play a pivotal role in tackling increasing demand for skilled construction workers in the region.
Demand is expected to reach 6,400 annually by 2025 as the industry’ continues to move towards net-zero technologies.
Work on the 14,000 sq ft facility is due to start this month.
When complete it will be designed to provide training for 164 students per week. It will be equipped with 10 plumbing bays, 12 electrical bays, 20 bays for brickwork, groundworks, and carpentry, along with four classrooms.
The project has been supported with £70,000 from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and £4m from the Post 16 Capacity Fund.
Gloucestershire College principal Matthew Burgess said: “Our selection of Beard Construction is rooted in its exceptional reputation and demonstrated commitment to sustainable and high-quality builds.
“We sought a partner who shares our vision of preparing the talent of tomorrow for the evolving construction landscape.
“Beard’s proven expertise, coupled with its focus on minimising disruption and maximising collaboration, aligns with our objectives and we look forward to working with them over the coming year.”
Jamie Harwood, director at Beard, said: “Gloucestershire College has an exciting vision to not only increase routes into the industry, but ensure new recruits are skilled to meet the challenges and opportunities of sustainability. These principles are key drivers for us at Beard and we are delighted to be working with the college as its chosen contractor.
“For more than 130 years, Beard has built an established reputation in the education sector, whether it’s in primary, secondary, SEND provision or further education. We will utilise this expertise to help Gloucestershire College deliver a cutting-edge teaching and learning space for construction.”
