BUILDING work has started on a new Construction and Civil Engineering Academy at Warrington & Vale Royal College.
The project, just one of seven workstreams delivered as part of Warrington’s Town Deal, signifies a significant step towards the realisation of Warrington’s ambitious economic development goals.
The Academy will foster cross sector collaboration between the college, local employers and the local authority, providing tailored skills training packages and professional qualifications to partner employers and harnessing digital technologies that will boost productivity and innovation. Through the Academy, the college will expand the range of technical qualifications and apprenticeships offered to the construction, nuclear and allied industries, further enhancing Warrington’s standing as a hub for excellence in these fields.
The Academy aspires to gain national recognition as a centre of excellence for its work. It promises students access to high-quality training, specialist facilities and exposure to advanced equipment, including: 3D printers, surveying tools, air source and ground source heat pumps, hydrogen-ready boilers and smart home technologies, among more.
Steve Coffey, Chief Executive of Torus and Chair of Warrington’s Town Deal Board, said: “This is a major milestone for Warrington’s Town Deal ambitions. The Construction and Civil Engineering Academy will help us to grow and develop a local workforce that is fit for the future and is equipped with the latest knowledge and skills in the sector. I have full confidence that the Construction and Civil Engineering Academy will have the same positive impact across Warrington’s construction sector, as the Town Deal’s Health and Social Care Academy has done for social care locally since it opened its doors a year ago.”
Warrington and Vale Royal College Principal and CEO, Nichola Newton, says: “The development of the Construction and Civil Engineering Academy provides the college with a fantastic opportunity to work with employers and key stakeholders to co-create an education and skills training offer that will enhance the sectors’ use of digital technologies for improved productivity and sustainability.”
Construction of the facility is now underway and the college looks forward to its completion and welcoming a host of students into its new, industry-leading facility. The Academy embodies Warrington and Vale Royal College’s commitment to education and skills training, innovation and industry collaboration and stands to benefit not just its students, but the town as a whole.
To find out more about Warrington and Vale Royal College, please visit: wvr.ac.uk
