New Oaklands College Borehamwood training centre receives funding boost from Hertfordshire LEP

Oaklands College is set to open a new training centre in Borehamwood, following a significant funding boost from Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Together with existing facilities in St Albans and Welwyn Garden City, the new centre will allow the college to expand its range of vocational courses to meet local skills needs.

Hertfordshire LEP has invested over £210k from the Local Growth Fund towards the fit-out of the training centre to help tackle skills gaps identified by local businesses and YC Hertfordshire – Hertfordshire County Council’s youth support programme.

The training facility will be housed on the first floor of a four-storey building on Todd Close, and will include a state-of-the-art construction workshop and classrooms to deliver apprenticeships and employability skills, English as a second language and community learning courses.

Oaklands College have partnered with Taylor Wimpey to deliver 13 new residential units on the remaining three floors by the end of 2018 ready for use by March 2019.

These include affordable housing in association with Paradigm Housing Group, one of the South East’s leading housing providers, who manage over 14000 homes across 33 different local authorities.

Sean Scully, Director of Student Experience at Oaklands College said:

“Throughout every stage of our proposal and planning process we have researched local need, engaged with stakeholders and taken on board feedback to shape a new site for Oaklands College. This is an exciting opportunity to get the College back in the heart of the Borehamwood Community.” 

Adrian Hawkins, Deputy Chair of Hertfordshire LEP said: “We are working to ensure Hertfordshire businesses have access to the skilled and capable workforce they need in order to grow. The new Oaklands College Borehamwood facility will deliver essential courses to tackle the recruitment challenges faced by growing sectors including construction and care.”

Minister for Local Growth, Jake Berry, said:

“This government is committed to boosting economic growth across the whole of the UK and building a Britain fit for the future.

“This £210,000 investment from the Local Growth Fund will provide state-of-the-art facilities to deliver apprenticeships and training. These courses have been designed to tackle skills gaps identified by local businesses – equipping Hertfordshire’s young people with the skills needed to succeed in the workforce.”