Mansell wins £5.2 million contract to build Skills Academy for sustainable manufacturing and innovation in Sunderland
June 23, 2010
Mansell has won a £5.2 million contract to build a Skills Academy for sustainable manufacturing and innovation for Gateshead College, Washington Road, Wearside Sunderland.
The project involves the design and build of a specialist two-storey teaching and workshop building created using a steel framed structure enveloped in a mixture of cladding and render Externally the provision of new parking and attractive landscaping will complement the development.
The strong environmental emphasis on the building design and its engineering services will achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating. The preservation of trees and wildlife habitats including the provision of bird nesting and bat boxes has not been forgotten in the development even in such close proximity to a major regional manufacturing base.
The new £8.4 million Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation is being developed to meet the training needs of the low carbon vehicle industry and will enable students to gain the new skills essential for working in a fast growing sector of the economy.
It will offer training for young people and adults already working in the sector as well as help students from age 14 upwards improve their understanding of manufacturing and maintenance for ultra low carbon vehicles.
Learners will have access to the latest technology and production methods which already play an important role in the region, with companies including Nissan, Smith Electric Vehicles and AVID Vehicles all looking to the low carbon future.
The £8.4 million National Training Centre for Sustainable Manufacturing will be part of Semta’s National Skills Academy for Manufacturing, and has been made possible due to the partnership between the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Gateshead College, Semta, One North East and Nissan.
The support for the programme includes £4.2 million from LSC, £2.4 million from One North East and £917,000 from Gateshead College.
Richard Thorold, principal of Gateshead College said: “The low carbon sector will be a major growth area for the region in future, so it’s vitally important that we have the right training resources in place to equip people with the skills to take us forward.
“This new training centre will be an important asset for the region. It will be a world class training facility for employers, apprentices and students, providing the skills people need to get jobs in the sector and have a rewarding career.”