Northampton College has officially opened its upgraded Construction and Engineering facilities, following an investment of more than £500,000 to create modern workshops and specialist teaching spaces for students.
Stuart Richmond-Watson, deputy lieutenant of Northamptonshire, visited the College’s Booth Lane campus on Friday 23 October to officially open the facilities and see first-hand how the improvements will support technical and vocational education across the region.
Supported by funding from the Department for Education’s Construction Skills Capacity Fund, the refurbishment will benefit approximately 3,500 students across a wide range of programmes, including construction, engineering, automotive, welding and fabrication.
The improvements include a specialist welding workshop featuring robotic welding technology, a newly refurbished motor vehicle workshop, an electrical workshop, and upgraded facilities for painting and decorating, property maintenance, inspection and testing.
The investment will also enable the College to accommodate more students in high-demand areas such as engineering, automotive, electrical installation and plumbing, helping to address skills shortages and strengthen the pipeline of talent available to local employers.
During his visit, Stuart met students and College staff and toured the facilities with Ross Hawkins, Assistant Principal for Construction and Engineering.
Jason Lancaster, Principal and CEO of Northampton College, said: “Investing in our facilities is ultimately about investing in our students and their futures. We want our learners to develop their skills in environments that reflect the workplaces they will enter, using modern equipment and gaining the practical experience employers are looking for.
“This investment allows us to improve the learning experience for thousands of students while increasing capacity in areas where demand for skilled workers is high. By working closely with employers and ensuring our training reflects industry needs, we can help more people progress into rewarding careers and support the local economy.”
Stuart Richmond-Watson said: “It was fantastic to visit Northampton College and see how investment in its construction and engineering facilities is creating better opportunities for local people. Giving students access to modern equipment and practical training is essential if we are to equip them with the skills employers need and help more young people take their first steps into rewarding careers. This is a positive investment in both the future workforce and the wider Northamptonshire economy.”
The opening marks the first stage of a wider expansion programme, with a second phase set to include additional classroom facilities built using modern methods of construction, alongside another practical construction workshop.
Further investment of more than £100,000, delivered through partnership working with Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTECs) across the East of England, East Midlands and nationally, will support specialist resources, staff industry updating, employer masterclasses and a teacher-industry exchange programme.
Together, the investment and partnership initiatives will strengthen the College’s ability to deliver industry-relevant training, support apprenticeships and employment, and help meet the region’s demand for skilled workers.
For more details about courses available at Northampton College, visit www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk
