The fit-out of City of Bristol College’s state-of-the-art, £9million Advanced Construction Skills Centre (ACSC) has officially begun after the College was handed the keys from Midas Construction, one year since the build started.
The College’s Deputy Principal and Chief Executive, Richard Harris, was handed the keys to the new south Bristol Centre this week by Midas’ Operational Director Mark Wusthoff after the new purpose-built, sustainable building was deemed watertight and safe.
Speaking at the handover, Richard Harris, said: “It is incredibly exciting to finally have the keys to our brand-new £9 million Centre in our hands. Midas Construction and all of their contractor partners have done a great job in completing the building on time and on budget and we look forward to beginning the fit-out imminently.”
“Workshops will soon be filled with the latest machinery and work stations; the break-out rooms will have communal areas for our students to study and complete group work; and our classrooms will be fitted with new IT and teaching equipment so we can deliver training on all aspects of modern, sustainable construction.”
“Once all of this work has been completed, we will be opening our doors to welcome the new cohort of students in September and we look forward to offering a fantastic range of skills training to learners and employers across Bristol and the region.”
The Centre, designed by architects Atkins and led by Midas, features individual workshops for trades including carpentry, bench-based, machinery, brick, plastering and motor vehicle. It features an outdoor construction civils yard, construction IT suite and an inspiring break-out space for students.
The ACSC was jointly funded by West of England Combined Authority and the College, spans 3,500sqm and has earned a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’. It will significantly increase the number of apprenticeships the College delivers, creating some 300 vacancies, and will work with employers to deliver the skills required for tradespeople now and in the future.
Mark Wusthoff said: “Midas is dedicated to creating a lasting legacy within our community so we are pleased to be delivering this prestigious project which will offer a positive impact for a generation of new construction trainees. This Centre will provide opportunities to learn about the rewarding and exciting careers available within the sector and we look forward to welcoming these students into the industry.”
The development of the building will see employers, stakeholders, Bristol City Council and Bristol South MP Karin Smyth engage with the development to bridge the skills gap in one of the UK’s most deprived areas.
Find out what is happening at the City of Bristol College and its Advanced Construction Skills Centre. If you would like to become a sponsor of the new Centre and support our students on their learning journey, review our Sponsorship Information Pack and enquire today.
