Member Article

LEP joins forces with Sussex architects on £9m Brighton city college development

A training hub for the next generation of construction workers has been confirmed by City College Brighton and Hove.

The £9m Construction & Trades Centre at the College’s City College East Campus on Wilson Avenue has been funded by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and will enable students in the different trades to work together and follow each other through the construction process, mirroring real site conditions.

Sussex-based HNW Architects have designed the centre, leading construction firm Osborne will be building it and the works will be project-managed by Sussex construction and property consultancy practice, NorthGates.

Demolition of old structures on the site commences in November and construction work will begin in January 2016. The centre is scheduled to be completed by March 2017.

Nick Juba, City College’s CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be able to build such a vital new educational facility, something which the city can be proud of. We’re very grateful for the support we’ve received from the Coast to Capital LEP and Brighton & Hove City Council to take this project forward.

“It will provide facilities in which the carpenters, builders, electricians and plumbers of the future can learn their skills in realistic working environments. It’s crucial that the College caters for the needs of the young people and adults of our dynamic city, enabling them to gain the vocational skills that employers expect. The new centre is central to delivering that ambition.

“There is no doubt that there are challenges facing the FE sector right now and so it is even more important that we work closely with our local community, employers and other organisations to ensure there is strong and sustained partnership working, demonstrating the value and impact that our students can make to the local economy and beyond.

“The College has a vital and positive contribution to make to the economic development of the City, building on its success as one of the country’s top five cities for private sector job creation. We work very closely with industry and the new centre will enable us to create even stronger industry links in the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .