Now open
A brand new vocational skills training centre in Whitehill & Bordon is now open, taking 26 students in 2017. Going from strength to strength with now over 80 students in 2019/20 including 31 full time students, 28 school pupils, 23 apprentices of which 12 are placed with W&B developers..
The new building, which will be named the ‘Future Skills Centre’, will offer a variety of vocational training to students aged 16 and over.
The Future Skills Centre is located in the former Louisburg Barracks, one mile north of the new town centre. It will have a core curriculum focused on construction and skills for the built environment, reflecting the skills needed in the area – as identified by the Construction Industry Training Board, and following consultation with developers and contractors involved in the regeneration project.
To find out more please visit the Future Skills Centre website:
Wider plans
Approved by Hampshire County Council’s (HCC) Regulatory Committee on Wednesday 21 October 2015, the centre is part of the wider plans to regenerate Whitehill & Bordon with 3,350 new homes, 5,500 new jobs, a thriving new town centre and new facilities.
The training provided at the new centre will equip the local community with valuable skills to support and create construction jobs for local young people and adults.
Funding
The £4 million centre is largely funded through a grant from the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which was sought by the HCA to ensure that Louisburg Barracks provides the much needed training and jobs as well as housing for the local community.
The scheme is now being taken forward by HCC which has also put £250,000 towards the scheme.
The redevelopment of Louisburg Barracks has also seen a new Business and Enterprise Centre, BASE, at Broxhead House, the former sergeants’ mess, providing office space and training rooms and creating more than 200 jobs.