Vocational training centre to open at industrial estate

Witherslack Group, a provider of schools for children with special educational needs, is to open a new vocational training centre in South Yorkshire.

It has taken a 16,000 sq ft unit at Kea Park in Rotherham which will become the organisation’s sixth setting in Yorkshire alongside bases in Rotherham, Wakefield and Shelf.

The training centre will support a catchment area from across the region, expanding current provision at Abbeywood School in Rotherham.

Colin Swaine, property director at Witherslack Group, said: “Once operational, the centre will be used to support Key Stage 4 children from our existing Abbeywood School nearby.

“Not only are we helping to satisfy the demand for SEN school places in the South Yorkshire region but will also create several new jobs in the area.”

Rebecca Schofield, partner and head of industrial in Yorkshire at Knight Frank, which acted on behalf of Leeds based property company Pullans, with CBRE Leeds, said: “Kea Park is a development of four modern, self-contained units and forms part of the well-established and successful Hellaby Industrial Estate.

“Since being built, the units have been refurbished and provide accommodation for a number of businesses due to the flexibility of the space.”

Bruce Strachan, property director at Pullans, added: “We are pleased to have been able to secure the letting to Witherslack Group and play our part in the delivery of much needed training and educational facilities for the region.

“The work undertaken to transform the unit has been comprehensive and has resulted in a very impressive state-of the-art facility, with which they can be very proud.

“They have been a pleasure to deal with throughout the letting and redevelopment project and we wish them every success going forward.”