Telford College’s exciting plans to expand its construction training centre to provide extra courses have been outlined in the Shropshire Star.
The plans are aimed at addressing the gap between education and the changing needs of local businesses.
The college wants to expand the construction centre at the Haybridge Road site to provide additional courses for bricklaying and similar trades.
It has applied for planning permission from Telford & Wrekin Council to build an extension providing an additional workshop, classroom and storage facilities.
A report, submitted with the planning application, states: “Following the merger, the college is eager to expand its apprentice based curriculum which has led to the specific requirements to expand on its construction department to provide additional courses for bricklaying and associated trades.
“The existing construction centre is not of sufficient size to accommodate such expansion.”
The planned extension would be funded from the proceeds of the sale of the redundant New College site at King Street, which is currently in the process of completion.
The report says the college is eager to provide additional construction civil engineering apprenticeships in conjunction with existing business partners, including McPhillips, Amey, Enterprise Mouchel and Pave Aways.
It continues: “The proposal involves the extension to the existing construction centre building to provide additional workshop, classroom and storage specifically for brickwork and associated training courses.”
The college’s seventh form, which will welcome its first students in September, blends the A-levels of a traditional sixth form with combined vocational courses offering career routes into industries including childcare, computing, engineering, health and social care, sport, law and politics.
Earlier this year, Telford College principal Graham Guest said the newly merged college would bring university-standard teaching and facilities to the town.
He said the new combined college was able to offer a full range of options, both academic and vocational, and could now offer facilities to match those in many universities.
Mr Guest said it was important that the college did more to meet the needs of business, and would be seeking to target specific skills shortages in the local area.
Telford College has been formed from a merger between TCAT and New College Telford.
TCAT can trace its history back to 1892, when it was launched as the Centre for Art and Science Classes in Oakengates.
New College has its roots in the former Wellington Girls’ High School, which was relaunched as a sixth-form college in 1976.
A decision on the proposals is expected to be made by Telford & Wrekin Council in the upcoming months.
