ST Vincent College in Gosport has invested £600,000 in expanding its construction teaching centre to help plug a skills gap in the area’s building trade.

The expansion means the college in Mill Lane has almost doubled the size of the college’s Skills for Construction Centre, said curriculum manager Steph Sear. “We are really excited about this because it will vastly improve the learning experience for our students and it will enable us to deliver even better teaching,” she said.

“There is better lighting and room for loads more storage. Although the centre looks like a professional workshop it’s not overwhelming for students coming into it for the first time.”

A former storage and delivery area was stripped out over the summer out to make room for the expansion, including the removal of two disused 50 gallon oil storage tanks. The new area has new flooring and brand new work benches, wood and tool stores and extra work areas.

The department has 65 students being taught level 1 in skills for construction – which includes carpentry, plastering, maintenance and painting – levels 2 and 3 in carpentry and level 1 in plastering, with level 2 to be added next year.

“Many of our students go on to work on building sites but that doesn’t necessarily have to be the way it is, we can offer learning for people like carpenters who may want to go and work independently,” she said. “Because we have got more room we can be more creative in the way we teach.” Principal Andy Grant said college made the investment after talking to employers and industry experts. “We know that across Gosport and the Solent region the need for more construction skills is acute and it is going to grow in the coming years.

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