Reaseheath College in Nantwich is partnering leading company Cheshire Surveys in an initiative to deliver advanced digital and skills training to the region’s construction and allied industries.
The Advanced Construction Training (ACT) project, funded by Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), is enabling selected Further Education colleges in Cheshire and Warrington to partner leading employers in the construction industry. The collaboration is aimed at developing and promoting skills in new technology which will assist companies to build high quality, smart, green and efficient buildings and infrastructures.
Warrington and Vale Royal College is leading the project, while Reaseheath College, Cheshire College South and West, Macclesfield College and UTC Warrington are ACT centres of excellence.
Reaseheath’s employer partner is Chester based Cheshire Surveys, land surveyors and setting out engineers. Director and Operations Manager Louise Hilder said: “We are pleased to be involved in this exciting project and to be partnering Reaseheath’s construction department in their pioneering approach to training the next generation of construction professionals including surveyors.
“The project will support the sector by introducing a wide range of digitalised skills which are key to how the industry now operates. Cheshire Surveys continually invests in the latest digital surveying equipment and works closely with clients to advance the use of this new technology within the service we offer. This partnership will provide direct industry insight of how advances in digital technology are shaping and improving the future of the construction industry.”
Head of Construction Andy Gould said: “We are delighted to be partnering such a well respected name in the industry. Together we will be upskilling the current and future workforce in the construction industries through digitalisation. As an ACT centre, we can help companies of all sizes become more sustainable and efficient.
“This project will be extremely valuable to our construction provision, particularly to our Level 3 Diploma in Construction and The Built Environment. Thanks to the LEP, we will be able to offer training with highly technical kit and design software including digital surveying equipment, auto-CAD and VR headsets. This will enable us to deliver bespoke technical skills training to students and apprentices, plus professional and technical qualifications to those already working in the industry.”
The ACT initiative has received a £260,000 Local Growth Fund grant from Cheshire & Warrington LEP’s £5m Skills Fund.
Clare Hayward MBE, Chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, said: “It’s essential that we invest in upskilling the next generation of engineers, project managers and construction professionals in our region. Adopting the latest digital construction technologies and processes will be really important as we build new homes and commercial infrastructure in a sustainable way.
“The LEP is pleased to support this initiative and it’s great to see meaningful partnerships developing between our colleges and leading industrial companies.”
