University College Birmingham announces sustainable construction skills centre

The Engineering and Sustainable Construction Centre will create new skills, training and employment opportunities, to drive investment and opportunities within the West Midland.

University College Birmingham (UCB) has announced the creation of a new sustainable construction skills centre next year. The Centre will offer state-of-the-art courses and facilities, specifically designed to arm the next generation of learners with skills that directly address regional employer needs and their supply chain.

The courses have been developed to improve the work-readiness of young people and the long-termed unemployed by providing them with the relevant training needed to enter meaningful and sustainable careers. Specialising in energy conservation, retrofit and renewable technologies, the Centre will also help develop the skills and expertise prioritised by the Government’s ‘Levelling-Up’ agenda. This includes supporting Birmingham and surrounding areas to become industry-leaders in the digital and green technologies of tomorrow.

Additionally, the Centre’s training programmes will provide regional specialist technical education and training to ensure any skills gaps in the region are addressed and can support future workforce demands and drive economic growth. This will be bolstered by a curriculum which will be co-designed and delivered in collaboration with regional and national employers, providing learners with access to world-class equipment and practical experience and helping develop key workplace skills in addition to relevant industry training.

The Centre expands UCB’s further education training offer with courses covering the region’s growth areas including sustainable construction, manufacturing, civil engineering, renewable energy, robotics and cyber and digital skills. Specialising in vocational courses in both higher and further education, the Centre addresses a shortage of lifelong learning opportunities, expanding access to education for those from disadvantaged backgrounds – including young people and adult learners. The courses available include apprenticeships, traineeships, sector-based work academies and CPD for industry placements. More than 1,200 learners are expected to be supported by the Centre to achieve qualifications at Level 3 or above by 2025.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

“This is a fantastic investment by UCB that I cannot wait to see come to life.

“Not only will it help regenerate and breathe new life into the former iconic James Cond print works, but it will also critically help train people in the skills that employers need, helping residents find good quality, long-term work as part of my 100,000 jobs plan.”

Michael Harkin, Vice Chancellor and Principal at University College Birmingham, said:

“The recent COP26 climate change conference included high emphasis on low carbon sustainable buildings with highly ecological specifications, and there is great need of new talent in this field, with hundreds of thousands of new workers expected to be required in the next few years. 

“Our exciting new courses are centred around sustainable construction and design, plus developing advanced skills in engineering and construction, and are very different to those offered by other local providers. 

“It is an offering that we will continue to develop from Level 2 and T-levels through to degree courses and apprenticeships, working closely with local employers to fill skills gaps and offer training in priority areas for the West Midlands. 

“First and foremost, it is firmly about supporting young people and the long term unemployed to gain industry relevant skills and support them into work, further study and to gain critical skills to access high value jobs that meet local and regional needs.” 

Through the Centre, UCB has also formed a new partnership with the University of Warwick. This presents unique progression opportunities for students to enter UCB on technical courses, and progress through to degree and masters level programmes at the Russell Group university.

Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor at the University of Warwick, said:

“We are incredibly excited about this new partnership between the University of Warwick and University College Birmingham. Our institutions are jointly committed to unlocking talent potential within the West Midlands. This new Centre will elevate skills, training and employment opportunities for learners of all ages, while also acting as a catalyst for further innovation and growth in the region’s key sectors.

“This investment in state-of-the-art facilities and skills development will position the Centre and its courses at the forefront of not only skills delivery and growth nationally, and will also be an exemplar of the inclusive learning pathways that can be developed through close collaboration between higher and further education.”

The Centre is a crucial part of UCB’s efforts to contribute to Birmingham’s sustainable future. Together, with the regeneration of Camden House for additional learning facilities, this project forms part of UCB’s investment of more than £130 million into Birmingham, with the aim of driving regeneration in the City and creating leading facilities to support industry needs and create more job opportunities. The new Centre is to be housed in the refurbished James Cond print works in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, with careful consideration being given to ensure the heritage of the building and the area is honoured.