On Thursday 29 October, Colchester Institute welcomed Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister of State for Skills, and Colchester’s MP Pam Cox to their Colchester Campus to showcase their commitment to developing the skills needed for the future workforce supporting the regional economy.
Following discussions on the College’s recent achievements and ambitions, they toured the College’s Net Zero and Renewables Centre and the newly opened Sustainable Construction Centre, seeing first-hand how Colchester Institute is preparing students for careers in the growing clean energy and construction sectors.
The visit comes at an exciting time for Colchester Institute, which has been named one of five Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges (CETECs) in the UK. This recognition underlines the College’s important role in delivering technical education and supporting the transition towards a more sustainable future.
Over the coming years, thousands of new jobs are expected across the region as the UK transitions towards cleaner energy. As a CETEC, the College works closely with leading employers and industry partners to understand the skills needed now and in the future. Its Net Zero and Renewables Centre and Sustainable Construction Centre play a key role in delivering this training and preparing students for these opportunities.
Pam Cox, MP for Colchester, said, “Colchester Institute is leading the way in preparing the next generation for the skilled jobs that will power our clean energy future. I was delighted to join the Skills Minister in seeing these impressive new facilities and meeting the people helping to deliver this vital work. Being selected as one of just five Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges is a tremendous achievement and a real vote of confidence in the College, its staff and its students. As we create new opportunities in renewable energy and sustainable construction, it is essential that local people have access to the training they need to secure good jobs and rewarding careers. Colchester Institute is playing a central role in making that happen, and I am proud to support its ambitions for the future.”
Ali Davies, Deputy Principal at Colchester Institute, said, “We are responding to the initial findings of the Milburn review, particularly around supporting young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Our focus is on making sure every learner has a clear pathway from education into employment, with the right support, training and opportunities to succeed. Having facilities like these allows us to deliver relevant learning that prepares students for the world of work, giving them a higher chance of success.”
While Colchester Institute has benefited from significant investment and improvements to its facilities over the past decade, college leaders recognise that continued capital funding will be essential to keep up with demand.
Gary Horne MBE, Deputy Chief Executive at Colchester Institute, said, “Our student numbers are growing rapidly, so it was a really good opportunity to set out our bold ambitions to renew some of our older buildings and create more capacity for the future.
We hope that the DfE’s new 10-year Education Estates Strategy will help us deliver on our strategic ambitions, providing more skills training capacity to support local people into the jobs on offer in the region”.
