Weston College secures £8.8m for South West Skills Campus

The college has secured government funding to continue developing its South West Skills Campus on Locking Road.

The investment will increase capacity, upgrade facilities and create more opportunities for learners, apprentices and adults.

It will also expand technical and vocational training to meet employers’ changing needs.

Weston College’s South West Skills Campus on Locking Road (Image: Weston College)

Pat Jones, principal and chief executive of Weston College Group, said: “This £8.8 million investment is transformational for Weston College, our learners, our town and the wider region.

"It reflects the confidence that government has in our ability to deliver the skills that employers need, both now and in the future.

“The South West Skills Campus already plays a vital role in supporting learners, apprentices and industry partners.

"This funding will enable us to further expand capacity, enhance our facilities and ensure students gain experience with the technologies that are shaping the future of construction and technical industries.

“Most importantly, it will create more opportunities for local people to access outstanding education and training, helping them build successful careers while supporting economic growth across our region.”

Weston College’s Knightstone Campus in Weston-super-Mare (Image: Weston College)

The Department for Education awarded the money through its Post-16 Capacity Fund and Construction Skills Capacity Fund.

The college said it was one of the biggest capital investments in its history.

Facilities for carpentry and joinery, brickwork, plumbing and electrical installation will be upgraded.

Training will also cover digital construction, building information modelling, drone surveying and emerging construction technologies.

Learners will develop skills in heat pumps, renewable energy systems, retrofitting and other low-carbon technologies.

The project will cut the campus’s carbon emissions with more energy-efficient infrastructure.

Weston-super-Mare MP Dan Aldridge called the funding “a real vote of confidence in Weston”.

He said it would create more opportunities for post-16 students, apprentices and adult learners while boosting the town’s economy.

The investment comes as demand grows for technical skills that match employers’ changing needs.

It follows the September opening of The Horizon at Weston College’s Knightstone Campus.

The £3 million centre supports young people with special educational needs and disabilities with teaching spaces, training kitchens, social areas and accommodation.

The opening came after concerns over a restructure of specialist provision and the departure of experienced staff.

The college previously said new roles had increased staffing in the area by more than 20 per cent.

It said replacement programmes would offer more support and routes into education and training for SEND learners.