Gloucestershire College is looking forward to welcoming students to its new construction centre.

The £5.2 million centre in Cheltenham is due to open in autumn this year.

It will be Cheltenham's training hub for construction and trade courses, featuring 10 plumbing bays, 12 electrical bays and 20 bays for carpentry, as well as bespoke classrooms.

Both full-time courses and apprenticeships will be taught at the centre, giving students the chance to get hands-on with industry standard equipment.

From September 2024, Cheltenham campus will offer training in electrical installation, plumbing and carpentry. These courses will run alongside Cheltenham's current construction courses and apprenticeships, as well as university level qualifications and the design, surveying and planning for construction T Level.

Sustainable training provision at the centre will be based on existing nationally set pathways but will also embrace low-carbon energy and key green skills needed in the rapidly evolving construction industry.

All trades courses at the college are taught by industry experts, some of whom still work in the trade today. They bring unparalleled knowledge and industry insights, giving students the chance to learn from those who have real-world experiences.

And as Cheltenham undertakes ambitious construction projects, including the Golden Valley Development and new infrastructure projects, there is an increasing need for skilled construction workers. It's projected that 6,400 new recruits will be needed locally each year to deliver the planned work by 2025.

The construction industry needs skilled people, including people who have developed traditional skills, such as bricklaying and plastering, as well as people who understand sustainable building practices and the latest technologies.

Cheltenham's new brand-new state of the art construction centre will give students the skills they need for a successful career in construction.