Braintree Campus

Welcome to Braintree Campus

The Braintree Campus is Colchester Institute’s second largest campus.  It has been totally redeveloped in the past three years with all buildings and learning spaces brand new and all workshops, studios and classrooms appointed to the very highest standards.

Set in attractive riverside grounds, it has a really friendly vibe, and is just a twenty minute walk from the town centre.

Considering the planned economic growth for the district, the new campus’s remit is to have a clear focus on preparing learners for work through rapid development of the skills and knowledge that are in high demand by local employers.

Modern learning spaces and industry standard facilities are among the very best in the East of England, with state of the art Digital Media studios, and first rate workshops for a range of Construction and Engineering disciplines. In addition to this facilities for Computing, and Business, Beauty Therapy and Early Years further enhance the campus.

All classrooms are fully equipped with modern learning technologies and a Student Library allows students access to a range of support materials and private study spaces.

Galleries

Braintree Campus Students
Braintree Campus River Cafe
Braintree Campus Engineering Student
Braintree Campus Engineering Student
Braintree Campus Engineering Student
Braintree Campus Plumbing Students
Braintree Campus Plumbing Students
Woodwork Students
Braintree Engineering Event
Braintree Brickwork Student
Learning and Technology Centre
Woodwork Students
Childcare and Early Years Students
River Kitchen Students
Childcare and Early Years Students
Braintree Campus Students
Braintree Campus Students
Braintree Campus Student Welding
Braintree Campus Engineering Student
Braintree Campus Engineering Student
Braintree Campus Plumbing Students
Foundation Student
Braintree Engineering Student
Braintree Brickwork Student
Learning and Technology Centre Student Spaces
Learning and Technology Centre Media lab
Braintree class
Braintree students
Childcare and Early Years Students
Learning and Technology Centre Hallway

Industry Facilities at Braintree

The new facilities demonstrate a new approach for the campus and how it best serves its learners, the local economy, community and employers. The courses on offer at our Braintree campus focus on skills priority areas for Essex. These include Technology, Engineering, Construction, Business and Media. By putting the focus on practise and proficiency, the campus ensures students are equipped with the hands-on experience they’ll need in the future.

The campus houses its own library with a wide range of material available to support students with their studies. Our new on-site refectory allows students to purchase refreshments or enjoy some down-time with friends.

CI Salons at Braintree offer fantastic beauty therapy services at very competitive prices and all services are carried out by students under the guidance and supervision of experienced lecturers.

High-tech workshops, replica industrial facilities, large classrooms and state-of-the-art equipment come together to form the £5.6m Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Innovation Centre. Opened in September 2017, the centre provides training opportunities in construction and trades, engineering processes, digital media and manufacturing.

Our state-of-the-art workshops, classrooms and high-tech equipment provide students with the skills needed to succeed in the modern workplace.

The new Learning and Technology Centre will provide students with the very best facilities to support them throughout their studies. Under expert guidance, students will learn new techniques and methods as they become more adept in their new skills. The new Centre will focus on high-tech IT and digital media facilities with new flexible learning spaces, workshops and computer suites.

Significant investment has been made in the latest technologies – which include a universal steel shearing machine, CNC plasma cutter, virtual reality headsets and much, much more – with a large proportion of equipment identical to that used by industry professionals on a daily basis. With the new cutting-edge equipment, we will continue to provide skilled, highly employable candidates into local and national industries.

Keeping Track of Developments!

The STEM Innovation Centre

What is STEM?About the CentreWhat is it all about?STEM at BraintreeWhat our Students sayServices to BusinessCorporate Hire

What is STEM?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and applies to subjects that fall under these areas. Alongside encouraging more students to study a STEM based subject at Degree Level, there is also a focus aimed at increasing the proportion of women who choose to pursue a career in STEM industries and study a STEM subject.

Studying a STEM related subject can lead to exciting opportunities for young people, which can be accessed through a range of education and training routes. Studying STEM subjects can help to maximise career options in not only STEM industry areas, but also for careers not related to STEM.

With an estimated 44,000 new recruits likely to be required in construction-related roles across Essex by 2021 and 14,000 new houses set to be built in Braintree by 2033, there are an estimated 20,000 new jobs to be generated across the District. The delivery of training in STEM subjects is essential in order to meet urgent employer demand for skilled workforce. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Centre will address growing skills shortages in the local area and supply local employers with the workforce they desperately need. The College hopes to strengthen industry links in areas of construction, manufacturing and engineering sectors.

The centre will deliver engineering and manufacturing programmes in the Braintree District for the first time, providing a range of benefits to support local economic growth.

  • Training Opportunities in construction and trades, engineering processes, digital media and manufacturing
  • Industry-relevant qualifications including apprenticeships, NVQ diplomas, technical certificates and BTECs
  • Extensive new conference facilities and meeting spaces to hire

What is it all about?

The facilities will enable us to train hundreds more adults and young people for careers in construction, science and engineering. In our state-of-the-art workshops, laboratories and classrooms, students will gain skills in disciplines such as advanced manufacturing and design, robotics, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical installations. It will also be the home for many employer focused, short and continuous professional development courses run by CI Business Solutions – our business arm who specialise in meeting workforce skills training and development needs including apprenticeships.

Industry standard equipment will ensure that students receive the vital practical training – as well as the right qualifications to start successful careers. Such qualifications will include traditional City and Guilds, BTECs, honours degrees and a wide range of apprenticeships. Adult students already employed in relevant industries will benefit from the facilities through training organised for employers which in the past they may have had to travel some distance to access.

STEM at Braintree

High-tech workshops, replica industrial facilities, large classrooms and state-of-the-art equipment come together to form our brand new £5.6m Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Innovation Centre.

The new development, based at our Braintree campus, consists of three high-tech engineering workshops, two modern construction workshops and six large classrooms, and its packed with the latest equipment, including a universal steel shearing machine, modern welding equipment, a pillar drill, bench drills and much, much more!

The specialist training space which opened to students in September 2017, allows those studying manufacturing, construction, engineering, digital media or IT to benfit from the very latest resources.

The funding for the skills centre was supported predominately by South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SE LEP), after the College won a share of £22 million in Skills Capital Funding as well as a £980k match funding from Essex County Council. The College has also received generous sponsorship from Cadman Construction Ltd towards the new equipment in the Brickwork and Plumbing workshops.

The course provides opportunities not only for education, but for your future life and career. There are also amazing tutors who have vast knowledge and experience.Seb Magar Course: Mechanical Engineering Progressed from: Tabor Academy

It is a challenging course that caters for all abilities and genders. It is really enjoyable and no two days are the same! I would recommend this course – it teaches you to use the machinery that is used in industry.Ocean Anderson Course: Fabrication and Welding Progressed from: Colchester Institute

Services to Business

The College has worked collaboratively with employers in the industry to create new courses and facilities, which cater for these skills gaps, including Welding and Fabrication, Engineering Processes and Manufacturing. The specific high-tech workshops are based on industry facilities, preparing students for the workplace. These large, open plan areas include three engineering workshops, two construction workshops and six classrooms with state-of-the-art facilities. These resources will enable students, apprentices and the wider community to engage in training opportunities within the engineering and technology areas.

CI Business Solutions is the B2B arm of Colchester Institute, providing high quality training solutions for the needs of businesses in the Braintree and Colchester Districts.

We provide a wide range of training across a multitude of industries, and can help you or your business increase productivity, profits and workforce skills.

CI Business Solutions

Hire Our Facilities

Whether you want to host an event or take advantage of our many specialist facilities, our venue locations will provide you with everything you are looking for and more. The Conference Centre at the STEM Innovation Centre in Braintree is easily accessible by road or public transport and can be hired on an individual basis or as part of a tailor-made package at a competitive rate.

For further information on room capacity and charges or to place an enquiry for hire please contact our Venues and Facilities Team on (01206) 712111 or email Facilities.Helpdesk@colchester.ac.uk

The Learning and Technology Centre

A recent addition to Braintree Campus, the new Learning and Technology Centre complements the existing high-tech STEM Innovation Centre with advanced facilities and leading-edge design. Students use the centre to develop the skills needed for the modern workplace and are provided opportunities to access first-class training in preparation for the career path they choose.

Students value the vibrant and welcoming environment where they can work with industry-standard equipment and learn from knowledgeable tutors.

Learning resources in this centre include:

  • A multimedia studio for live broadcasting, featuring industry-level cameras, auto-cue system, green screen, remote lighting and wireless mics
  • Computing and IT suites, including a programming lab to create mobile apps and games, and a hardware lab where students can build and understand networks
  • A dedicated CAD suite with drawing and design software for students training in engineering and manufacturing
  • A carpentry and joinery practical workshop with new tools and machinery, offering a real on-site working experience
  • Flexible learning spaces for business and early years students, along with multi-purpose rooms for larger training activities

The Media Hub

If you’re passionate about creating images, videos, animations, special effects, playing or even designing your own video games, why not put your hobby to work and train for a career in Digital Media?

The creative sector is one of the fastest growing areas of the UK economy and it’s a fascinating and exciting place in which to work. The media industry is growing at an exceptional rate, with jobs available all over the world in a variety of different fields.

We have invested significantly in our digital media kit to offer you access to state-of-the-art facilities, including professional industry-standard equipment, production and editing rooms, a television studio, gaming PCs and Mac suites.

Our courses are delivered by tutors with an extensive background and experience in the creative industries, so you’ll leave us with the qualifications, experience and drive to succeed in the working world.

Photo of Matt Tatham

Matt Tatham | Course Leader of Media at Braintree Campus

“We’ve got live 4K Digital broadcasting in the studio as well as on location. We are lucky enough to be one of the only colleges in East Anglia that has a professional working studio, with equipment most universities haven’t got.”