Applications open to train at Fareham College’s new £4.1m Civil Engineering Training Centre

Fareham College has announced it is accepting applications from those interested in applying for its award-winning Civil Engineering and Groundworks Apprenticeship (CEGA) and being among the first to carry out their training at its new £4.1m Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC) when it opens later this year.

CETC is being built to ensure that the future training and skills requirements for civil engineering and construction businesses in the Solent region, and beyond, are met.

The Solent Civil Engineering Employers Group (SCEEG), which comprises 16 local civil engineering employers, is working in partnership with Fareham College on the project.

When finished, the new training centre, which is based at Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent, will provide:

• A 1,008m2 state-of-the-art facility, comprising two floors of spacious indoor teaching space, classrooms, IT suites, space for self-directed learning and changing facilities  
• 5,000m2 of live outdoor construction-site training space  
• Capacity for up to 20 specialist teaching staff and professional coaches  
• A 3,600m2 CPCS Test Centre for Ride-on Roller and Forward-Tipping Dumper training.

The College recently hosted a breakfast briefing to invite staff, local civil engineering employers and representatives from Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council to find out more about CETC, its facilities and the variety of training that will be delivered. Guests were also given an early tour of CETC by building contractors, Amiri Construction, to see how the build is starting to take shape.

Speaking at the event, Andrew Kaye, Principal and CEO of Fareham College, said:

“This morning is a great opportunity for the civil engineering employers we currently work with, and some new to Fareham College, to learn about CETC and the benefits it will bring to their business, workforce and industry. CETC will enable Fareham College to deliver an even wider range of training courses and apprentices to the construction industry, in peerless facilities with the latest equipment. It will allow us to provide even greater support to this important sector.”

Mark Wells, Group Chairman of Blanchard Wells and Chair of the SCEEG, added:

“The training that will be delivered at CETC will play a huge role in supporting the construction-based development in Hampshire over the next five years. Through Fareham College, the civil engineering industry will have a workforce equipped with the latest skills and training to be able to deliver a broad mix of construction and infrastructure projects that will benefit the region.”   

Mark Vincent, Director, Amiri Construction, commented:

“We’re so delighted with how the build is progressing and eagerly await unveiling the finished CETC site later this year. Knowing just how vital a training facility this is for our industry, this marks a very special project for us.”