We are delighted to announce that the new Renewables Centre is being introduced by Newbury College and University Centre Newbury to expand the delivery of skills for renewable energy systems and engineering.
The UK Green Building Council reports that the built environment is responsible for around 40% of the UK’s CO2 emissions. From 2025, new homes will no longer be able to be fitted with gas boilers and will be required to use sustainable technologies such as heat pumps.
Local employers in the housebuilding, heating, plumbing and specialist renewables sectors have highlighted a need to train more young people with the core principles of engineering, materials science, heating and plumbing systems who then progress to develop the skills required to work on renewable technology specialisms such as biomass, solar PV and air source heat pumps.
Apprenticeships and higher education programmes in these areas will provide the skills that workers require to fill employment needs and to generate more opportunities for people to start self-employment.
The Renewables Centre is due to open in September. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
College leads local voice in government reform
Support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) was a hot topic in the House of Commons recently, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, announced plans to address issues surrounding access to training funds.
As West Berkshire’s “Principal training provider", Newbury College has been working with Laura Farris MP and other community groups to raise the concerns of local employers with central government to ensure that their staff training and development needs are addressed.
In her question to the Chancellor, Ms Farris presented the issue highlighted by the College that “it’s still the large employers that keep the bulk of apprentices when it’s SMEs that form the backbone of local economy”.