Millions invested into employee skill centres

A £20million contract for the University of Bedfordshire’s new Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Centre has been awarded to construction company Kier Marriott.

Kier Marriott previously built the the new £34m Campus Centre and Fitzroy Court halls of residence which opened in the town recently.

Leading the project is university deputy vice Chancellor (external relations) Professor Ashraf Jawaid.

He said: “It will be open from 8am until 10pm providing study opportunities for full-time graduates and continuing professional development training on a part-time basis for businesses in the locality.

“The centre will equip graduates with the necessary employability skills to go out into the marketplace and we will be working collaboratively with businesses to develop training programmes for their people.”

The Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development Centre, which is due to open in 2013, brings total investment in new facilities at the Luton campus to nearly £90m since 2007.

> For more information about the project and opportunities for businesses email [email protected]

l In other developments the government has approved Central Bedfordshire University Technical College for funding.

Central Bedfordshire UTC, due to open in 2012, will be sponsored by the University of Bedfordshire in partnership with Central Bedfordshire College and a range of local companies and will specialise in product design.

University vice chancellor Professor Les Ebdon said: “We are delighted to be associated with the new UTC at Central Bedfordshire College. We have been partnering with the college, together with a range of local companies, to provide the highly-skilled technicians and engineers needed to foster economic growth in our locality.”

Central Bedfordshire is one of 13 successful applications across the country to be been given the go-ahead for funding.

Chair of governors at Central Bedfordshire College Professor James Crabbe said: “A University Technical College will offer key vocational and other skills to a new cohort of students in our region.”

UTCs are a new concept in education. They are free standing colleges for students aged 14 to 19 with a working day of 8:30am - 5:30pm, where technical and academic education is integrated. Practical work is valued as highly as academic study.

UTCs are supported by a vniversity and very often an FE college. 

Employers help to shape the curriculum and relate it to future jobs that match the needs of the economy.  Students in turn acquire skills and knowledge employers are looking for.