Gloucestershire College Announces Plans for a New Construction Centre in Gloucester to Boost Post‑16 Places and Tackle County Skills Priorities
Gloucestershire College has secured £4.5 million in funding through the Post-16 Capacity Fund to support the development of a new construction training centre at its Gloucester campus. The new facility will be open in 2028 and create more opportunities for post-16 learners to access high-quality construction training, equipping them with the green skills needed to support the transition to a more sustainable built environment, while helping to meet the growing demand for skilled workers across Gloucestershire.
The Post-16 Capacity Fund is a government capital investment programme that supports colleges and other education providers to expand or improve facilities, creating additional capacity for young people to access post-16 education and training.
The investment will transform the current site at 125 Business Park into a state-of-the-art vocational training centre, providing learners with the technical, practical and green skills needed to progress into successful careers in the construction industry. Reflecting Gloucestershire College’s commitment to sustainability and leading by example, the new centre will embed green skills throughout construction and trade programmes, helping to prepare a workforce that can meet the evolving needs of the sector while supporting the ambitions of the Gloucester Climate Change Strategy.
The construction industry is a key contributor to Gloucestershire economy, generating around £1billion annually and supporting around 33,000 jobs. However, it is estimated that nationally there are approximately 50,000 vacancies within the industry. 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, Gloucestershire College plans to increase its capacity to train more learners and provide the specialist facilities required for high-quality construction education. Expanding the physical space available will enable the College to respond to industry demand and create more opportunities for young people to pursue careers in construction.
Andy Bates, chief financial officer at Gloucestershire College said: “At Gloucestershire College we are focused on tackling the key workforce and skills challenges our region faces. This funding will enable us to expand our trade-based offering at our Gloucester campus.
“This project will be key to addressing the increasing demand from people wanting to enter trade-based careers in Gloucestershire. Securing this funding is a significant milestone and brings us one step closer to turning our plans into reality, creating a state-of-the-art training centre that will equip learners with the skills needed to succeed in the construction industry.”
The new construction centre will provide specialist training in electrical, plumbing, wood trades, brickwork, plastering and maintenance. The development will also better connect 125 Business Park with the wider campus, creating a more integrated learning environment and enhancing the local area.
