YEOVIL COLLEGE OPENS NEW CONSTRUCTION CENTRE

Yesterday, [Tuesday 12th December 2024], Yeovil College welcomed Deputy Mayor of Yeovil, Emma-Jane Hopkins to ‘pull-the-curtains’ and formally open The Construction Centre.

Local and regional employers and representatives from our wider community took the opportunity to tour the innovative facilities, engage with current construction students and shared thoughts about driving forward the construction skills agenda within the South West

The innovative centre provides a real working environment for those students working within Carpentry, Joinery, Brick, Multiskills and Gas Testing, each workshop mirroring industry expected working spaces. The real-life, working environments will enable students to gain practical and high-quality experiences in spaces which reflect the settings in which they will begin their careers. They will receive a real sense of understanding about what skills and behaviours they need to be successful in their future careers.

The college has reacted to South West based employer partners, and have invested within a highly-specified gas testing centre, to enable future employees to gain the skills and knowledge to work within this industry.

Mark Bolton, CEO & Principal of Yeovil College, said: “The opening of The Construction Centre is a significant milestone in building the Yeovil College 21st Century campus of the future, and is the first step towards creating a campus to rival every other in the UK.

“Through the redesigning, reenvisaging and extension of our purpose-built building, made possible through the investment of T Levels funding, Yeovil College has the capability to meet the demanding growth of the Construction sector, achieving this by using the finest technology. The opening of the first of two Construction centres is of significant importance to our region, particularly as we drive forward and lead the skills agenda for training and education.

“The opening today signifies more than the opening of a building, it symbolises the start of a journey which will see the greatest development to an educational setting within the South West within a generation, as Yeovil College take massive strides forward to become the most impactful, recognised and driven college in the UK.

“Through the addition of this state-of-the-art centre, we continue to provide an environment which underpins higher ambition and expectation for our learners and wider business community. Everyone within South Somerset, North and West Dorset, and beyond, deserves more from their post-16 educational provider. And we are leading the way within the skills agenda.

Scott Austin, Assistant Principal, said: “Providing our students with relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours is one of the most impactful things we can offer during their time at college. Our success is measured by ensuring that students are well-equipped to add value to their future employers from the very first day, with the skills required for the industry. Stage one is now complete, and we are looking forward to creating the very best experience for both Construction-based learners and employers, in the near future.”

Yeovil College has been selected as one of only 16 colleges in the UK to receive their share of the government’s FE capital transformation fund, which is worth £1.5 billion and was introduced to rebuild college estates and create modern, fit-for-purpose spaces to meet the needs of students and the communities they serve.

The campus development will see the building of a new Sports and Protective Services Centre, an additional Construction Centre and a large main teaching block, which will house all commercial facilities, including cafes, restaurants, hair and beauty facilities and  a theatre, as well as a host of curriculum areas: A Levels, Business, English and Maths, Hospitality and Catering, Hair and Beauty, Digital and IT and Foundation Learning.