A key milestone has been reached in the construction of the College of West Anglia’s new Green Skills Academy in Wisbech, with a traditional topping out ceremony celebrating the completion of the building’s structure.
The £4 million state-of-the-art facility will play a central role in training the next generation of workers and upskilling the local workforce in green skills and renewable technologies.
The construction of the centre itself features an air source heat pump and 159m2 solar photovoltaic panels/battery storage, all of which will support teaching and learning within the academy.
Funded through a unique partnership between Anglian Water Alliances, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and the College of West Anglia, the academy is designed to meet the growing demand for green skills while creating new opportunities for local people.
David Pomfret, Principal of the College of West Anglia, said: “This £4m stateof the art centre really highlights our dedication to meeting the carbon net zero demands of our region.
“This facility could not have been built without the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Anglian Water Alliances, who are investing £2m each in the centre; and for them I am extremely grateful.
“CWA and our alliance partners are collaborating closely to help mold the curriculum and training in response to both present and future green skills needs.”
Once complete, the academy will offer specialist training in areas such as carbon literacy, carbon management, sustainable construction, electric vehicles and renewables. It is expected to train up to 900 learners over the next two decades, while also supporting employers across the region who are seeking a workforce equipped with net zero skills.
Miranda Preston, Head of HR for Anglian Water’s Strategic Alliances, said:
“We’re really proud to be investing in the next generation through our investment in the new Green Skills Academy in Wisbech. We’ve long prioritised social prosperity alongside environmental outcomes, especially through our work in Wisbech with Business in the Community and through the Future Fens project. This new training school will help provide a pathway for local people, especially those at the start of their career, to get involved in really important work that will benefit our region’s environment for years to come.
“It’s also hugely beneficial for us – the water industry is facing a significant skills shortage, with more than a fifth of the current workforce nearing retirement. In order to deliver the kind of transformational change needed in the East of England, it’s vital that we invest now to create skilled, green, local jobs for local people, both at Anglian Water and within our alliance partner organisations.”
The ceremony was attended by representatives from the College, Anglian Water, main contractor Lindum Group, and partners from Anglian Water Alliances.