Press Release May 2006
Training the Workforce of the Future
Aylesbury College has joined forces with Aylesbury Vale Advantage (AVA) and local entrepreneurial company, Sivatech Ltd, to increase construction skills within the local community, by increasing provision of training places by 50%. AVA secured funding for this project from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) as part of SEEDA's commitment to facilitating economic growth.
By now, you will have seen the fantastic new College building emerging on Oxford Road. Yet despite all this space, the College is also expanding elsewhere in the town in order to meet the future demands being made upon the construction industry.
The new premises are in the Sivatech Training Centre of Excellence facility, located in Gatehouse Close. The 54,000 square feet industrial unit will provide designated modules for the four core skill construction trades: painting and decorating, brickwork and carpentry.
Derek Warren, Team Leader in Construction at Aylesbury College, commented,
“This expansion allows us to increase our training by 50% to meet the high demand for construction courses here at the College. A demand led by adults who wish to change their careers to enter the construction industry via our Fast Track Training provision. From employers who are seeking Off Site Assessment Training for their existing construction employees and from students, including female students who are seeking to enter the construction industry. As well as these, we are offering a selection of innovative programmes ranging from introductory DIY courses, to more advanced programmes such as kitchen fitting, paving and patios.”
Sivatech’s commitment to this joint venture complements their provision of excellent training and spacious conference rooms facilities for local companies; quality facilities which are recognised by companies like The Bucks Fire and Rescue Service and the Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce. Other diverse but complementary companies are also housed at this site, including Aylesbury’s first fully registered Fork Lift Truck Training.
Steve Richards, Managing Director of Sivatech commented,
“We believe that this partnership between Aylesbury College and Sivatech is the perfect solution to offer quality training in essential industrial trades within an industrial environment”.
All of this would not be possible, were it not for support from Aylesbury Vale Advantage (AVA) who has brokered this project. AVA’s aim is to work with local partners to boost economic development and bring additional wealth into the area.
Kathy Russell from AVA commented, “We welcome this additional funding from SEEDA, which enabled us to address the demand for skills/training within the construction industry in Aylesbury. I’m confident that this project will be a great success.”
For more information:
please contact Jane Bray at Aylesbury College: 01296 588544 jbray@aylesbury.ac.uk
Kathy Russell at Aylesbury Vale Advantage : 01296 585777 kathy.russell@aylesburyvaleadvantage.co.uk
Steve Richards at Sivatech on 01296 717803. Steve.Richards@sivatech.co.uk
Angela Warburton at SEEDA on 01483 501363
