Detailed design work now begins this month and construction is expected to start on site in early spring.
Construction of the Skills Centre is planned to take 48 weeks and when completed expects to take on around 280 construction trainees per year, many of whom can expect to go on to work at the nearby Sellafield nuclear power station, which has a workforce of 12,000. Traditional construction skills will also be needed for infrastructure related to wider energy industry in West Cumbria.
Cumbria County Council is the client and project manager on the design and build of the new centre, in partnership with Britain’s Energy Coast. The centre will be built on the land next to Lakes College.
Britain’s Energy Coast is investing £4m in the centre from its funding partner Nuclear Management Partners and the University of Cumbria is investing £2m via Britain’s Energy Coast Campus. Once built, Lakes College will invest £1m in new equipment and facilities for the centre.
County councillor Tony Markley, cabinet member for economic development, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve found a contractor who will lead us on the first steps towards making this valuable education centre available to the young people of Cumbria.
“Construction trades are very popular amongst young people looking to take their first steps into employment, but in the current climate it is getting increasingly difficult to break into the industry. The new campus will be a massive boost for the local economy playing a valuable role in educating our future workforce.
“The anticipated development of various infrastructure projects in Cumbria could mean that around 4,400 jobs being created. The Construction Skills Centre will ensure that local young people are able to take on these jobs with the training and knowledge to ensure that Cumbria’s economy will prosper for years to come.”
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
