City of Liverpool College breaks ground on new £1m clean energy technical excellence centre that will benefit hundreds of city region students. Tony McDonough reports
A new £1m clean energy technical excellence centre close to Liverpool waterfront is set to open to college students in early September.
This week the City of Liverpool College broke ground on the centre which is located at its recently opened construction academy in Collingwood Dock at Liverpool Waters, close to Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson stadium.
This facility is being designed to equip young people with the skills they will need in the fast-growing green economy. Almost 250 students studied at the construction academy in its first year and this new facility will likely double that number.
This project is being delivered by Task Contract Solutions, a locally based project specialist in renewable energy and sustainable construction who work across the defence, utilities and energy sectors.
Believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, the Clean Energy Technical Excellence centre development follows the Clean Energy Technical Excellence designation by the Department of Education earlier this year and will be built using capital awarded to the college as part of this designation.
Elaine Bowker, principal and chief executive of The City of Liverpool College, said “This development embodies everything the college stands for, we are the college for business and a provider of real-life skills for the region’s students.
“This development will see world-leading technology for Liverpool and the wider city region delivering for the careers of today, tomorrow and beyond. it’s here for students; it’s here for employers and it’s here for the city region.
“Our students will be working to industry standards at height providing them with everything they need to be successful in their future careers, the region’s employers will get well trained work ready individuals ready to make an economic contribution to their business.”
READ MORE: Demolitions to pave way for £200m development
She also praised city region Mayor Steve Rotheram for his backing of the Liverpool Waters project and the college’s bid to become a Centre of Excellence for Clean Energy.
Ian MacVicar, managing director of Task Contract Solutions, added “This development is not just one aspect of the clean energy skills needed, it’s a full picture, with design, installation and maintenance all in one purpose-built industry compliant facility”.