SOUTH WEST BUSINESS NEWS


at Bath College that will be ready for students in September 2017. The purpose-built facility at Bath College’s Somer Valley Campus in Radstock is an exciting new step for the college, and means that all construction trades will be taught under one roof. New workshops will cater for


500 students and apprentices studying bricklaying, construction, carpentry and stonemasonry, as well as plumbing, electric installation and refrigeration. To mark the start of the building


work, Bath College Principal Laurel Penrose joined project manager Miranda Hill, from the construction company Midas, to take part in a sod-cutting ceremony. She said: “This investment, supported by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP), demonstrates the college’s commitment to enhance student opportunities and support local employers.


“It is envisaged the centre will


become a regional hub of excellence for the industry, creating a talent pool for employers to find their future workforce.” Designs for the two-storey


centre, by BBA Architects, were approved last year and building work started in January. Applications are open for students who would like to be part of the first cohort at the new centre.


Daisy Walsh, Head of Department for Technology at Bath College, said: “The facilities will be second to none. “It’s all about building students’ confidence and giving them access to the best training. “Students are taught by specialists in their field and we have fantastic links with employers who work with us to provide training opportunities.”


Construction centre is building for the future B


uilding work has started on a new state-of-the-art construction skills centre


The purpose-built centre will open in September


Tackling the skills shortage


Skills West, a new impartial skills service delivered by Business West, is setting out to help businesses tackle the growing skills shortage across the region. Providing free impartial skills


advice tailored to business needs across the West of England, it will bring businesses and skills provision closer together to help solve many of the growing challenges. This £2m contract, delivered for


the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership and funded through the European Social Fund and Skills Funding Agency, will be delivered in partnership with the Western Training Provider Network, which includes the four colleges in the region and the University of the West of England. In addition, through the service businesses will be able to access a wide range of training provision and be part of creating new solutions to meet business needs.


If you’d like to find out more about how Skills West can help your business visit


www.businesswest.co.uk/skills or call 0330 124 4446 or email skillswest@businesswest.co.uk


inform


MARCH/APRIL 2017 insight 7


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