Colchester Institute was delighted to welcome Jonathon Cuthbertson, Essex County Council’s Head of Skills and Employability, to help launch the new 300m² Net Zero and Renewables Centre at the Colchester Campus.
The College’s £500k investment project, largely enabled by a grant from the Local Skills Improvement Fund, was jointly sponsored by Samsung UK and Worcester Bosch in a four-way partnership arrangement that included regional renewable energy specialist Gasway who helped specify, design and install the technologies.
Colchester Institute already has a strong reputation for providing commercial training programmes for mechanical and electrical services, including plumbing, gas, electrical installations, and engineering, and the centre will ensure that the College can respond to the increased demand for renewable energy skills.
The modern facilities will provide an opportunity to deliver a range of essential new skills in areas such as air source and ground source heat pumps, solar PV, solar thermal, hybrid systems, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging points.
Gary Horne, Deputy Chief Executive at Colchester Institute, said: “The launch of this facility marks another significant milestone towards achieving our net zero strategy and demonstrates our commitment to the Essex Green Skills Infrastructure Plan. The project has been a real collaboration with industry leaders, and we are so grateful to have the partnership support in place that has provided the latest technology, equipment and advice to make our vision a reality.”
Alison Andreas, Principal and Chief Executive said “Colchester Institute continues to support the Essex Green Skills Review by developing green skills content across all our Level 3 programmes, and it goes without saying that our City needs this facility to help deliver on the ambitious new housing targets set for future decades, and also to help homeowners and landlords with retrofit technology to reduce energy costs."
The new centre features hybrid systems that allow different energy sources to be used at optimal times, maximising energy efficiency. Technical data can be analysed to monitor system performance and energy generation. Engineers can now work remotely from their smartphone or tablet using the latest technology.
The launch of this centre positions Colchester Institute as a regional leader in renewable energy training. The College plans to become an accredited training provider for major manufacturers, offering comprehensive training courses on new and emerging products and technologies.
Scott Young, National Training Manager at Samsung Climate Solutions, said: “When Colchester Institute reached out to us, we couldn’t help but be a part of the project. Upskilling the industry is critical to both inspiring the next generation of installers and helping those already in the industry learn how to effectively install new technologies.”
The launch was followed by a Heating and Electrical Trades event open to both trades and the public. Guests were able to see the centre through guided tours, whilst exhibiting on the night were suppliers and manufacturers from the industry who provided advice and product demonstrations.
This event also saw the launch of the ‘Gas Installation Technology’ book. Co-authored by Andy Burcham and Steve Denney, both tutors at the college, the book has been comprehensively updated to align with the latest standards and developments. This fully revised third edition is an essential on-site resource and provides unrivalled coverage of all aspects of gas installation work in the United Kingdom.