Our state of the art Engineering and Construction Centre allows students to learn in a fully modernised environment and benefit from industry standard facilities which will help them to be employment ready.
Student’s views played a significant part in the design of the centre, which incorporates open plan workshops with large skylights and a vibrant colour scheme.
The building was designed using the ‘Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method’ (BREEAM), which is a voluntary measurement rating for green buildings established in the UK. To achieve its BREEAM status, the building automatically controls the heating and lighting and its energy usage is continually monitored.
The new roof and external walls are insulated in excess of building standards to ensure minimum heat loss during the winter and minimum heat gain during the summer. In addition, the new barrel vaulted skylights in the workshop roof now make better use of natural light.
The new self-contained facility includes:
- FESTO FMS ‘product manufacturing factory’ and mechatronics suite
- CAD suite with industry standard 2D and 3D modelling software.
- Dedicated electronics classroom
- A dedicated Carpentry & Joinery machine shop together with site carpentry “site area” and bench joinery workshops
- A total of eight classrooms
- An Engineering workshop incorporating CNC, machining, fitting, mechanical assemblies, sheet metal fabrication and welding bays
- A Motor Vehicle workshop which is an IMI MOT approved training centre
- Trade competence assessment area for electricians and gas engineers
- Large open-space training areas for electrical, plumbing and gas students, with 24 training bays
- Development areas for rainwater harvesting, solar energy and fire suppression technology
The Engineering Department has seen around £1m in investment over the last few years to install the latest, cutting-edge and in some cases, world first equipment. This was largely thanks largely to £500k in funding from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), via its Growth deal with Government to develop one of three advanced manufacturing training hubs in the region. The College added a further £250k investment and with gifts from a number of other companies, including Status Metrology, who put £100k towards metrology equipment and software for the College.
