New Gloucestershire College centre to target massive construction shortage
Summary
Dated city centre industrial units are to be transformed into a sleek vocational training centre for Gloucestershire College. The modern new teaching space will be used to help address a huge shortage of people entering trade-based careers. The industry is a key contributor to Gloucestershire economy, generating around £1billion annually and supporting around 33,000 jobs.
Details
However, it is estimated that nationally there are approximately 50,000 vacancies within the construction industry. The college said this “national shortage of skilled labour” has been driven by an ageing workforce, reduced EU participation post-Brexit, and declining numbers of school leavers entering trade-based careers.
“To address this shortfall, recruitment will need to increase by around 25% over the next five years,” said its planning documents.
“In order for this to be achieved, physical capacity must be expanded to enable the college to train and accommodate a greater number of learners.” It already targeted the demand for multi-skills trainees by creating a £5.5million Construction Centre at its Cheltenham campus , which opened in September 2024.
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It now wants to expand its offering at its Gloucester campus for training in electrical, plumbing, wood trades, brickwork, plastering and maintenance. It can move forward with this goal after being granted planning permission this week for the project at 125 Business Park in Llanthony Road – which forms part of its Gloucester campus.
It will encompass five industrial units which have not been updated since they were built in the 1980s. They were previously given a “quick- fix” makeover to make them suitable for teaching trade skills. The college can now overhaul them properly into a large open plan workshop space, with classrooms space, a locker room, staff room and toilets.
It will typically be used from 8am until 6pm by up to 20 students and three members of staff. A two-storey extension will be built on the front of the units featuring a prominent glazed entrance and creating 690 sqm extra floorspace. Additional full-height glazing will also be installed around the buildings to showcase internal activity.
The exteriors of the buildings will be given a modern clad finish to soften their industrial character. It said the project will see the “tired” buildings updated, unifying the 125 business park with the rest of the campus. It will also allow the college to bring its End Point Assessment (EPA) centre onto the main campus.
Report source: Punchline Gloucester