Housing development education hub opens

A new Skills Village for Bradford College students has opened on a Keepmoat development.

Created and fully funded by national homebuilder Keepmoat, the education space is located on the company’s ‘Vision’ housing development near Harrogate Road in Eccleshill, Bradford.

The site will encompass almost 600 three- and four-bedroom homes across two sites when completed.

Multiple cohorts of Carpentry & Joinery students will initially spend time between Bradford College and working on a live construction site.

The students will deliver real carpentry and joinery projects while gaining insight from site managers, specialist contractors, and industry professionals. The education hub is the first of its kind on a Keepmoat development in West Yorkshire.

The project has included the refurbishment of site cabins to create a teaching space, a kitchen facility, and a welfare unit.

Keepmoat has also supplied over £10,000 worth of PPE equipment and toolboxes for each student, alongside specialist tools that have been installed at Bradford College for large-scale joinery work.

Siobhan Cooper, social value co-ordinator at the business, said: “We started talks and site visits before the pandemic, but sadly this had to be put on hold.

“However, in January we met with James Haigh and Nick Scaife from Bradford College to get the project going again and discuss curriculum needs and work placement opportunities.

“Now, we’ve re-commissioned the compound area and associated rooms for the new Skills Village facility.

“This unit is embedded in a real, working environment so students feel part of the Keepmoat construction team and follow the same procedures and rules as contractors on site.”

The project provides a hands-on learning experience for students in a controlled construction environment while simultaneously opening up potential apprenticeship and employment opportunities at Keepmoat.

If successful, Skills Villages could be rolled out at other Keepmoat developments in Bradford and further afield.

James Haigh, team leader for sustainable construction & built environment at Bradford College, added: “After the generous support from Keepmoat, we can’t wait to deliver theoretical and practical vocational lessons based on an active construction site.

“This initiative will help us interlink with real-world jobs on a project local to the college. In addition, students will be exposed to the elements and really benefit from the sights and sounds of working on a real construction site.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close