Multi Million Pound Educational Institute

Expansion work will start this month as part of Hartlepool’s £25million Town Deal

An engineering company is set to start work on an expansion as part of the moves to create a skills academy of the future.

Seymour Civil Engineering has received planning approval for further development of their Skills Academy in Hartlepool’s Brenda Road. It will expand its existing training facility, combining construction and civil engineering, to create a state-of-the-art educational institute.

The institute is a partnership between Seymour’s, Hartlepool College of Further Education and Hartlepool Council. In 2021, it secured a share of the £25 million Town Deal fund in order to support the consolidation and growth of teaching and training at their two existing sites, the college’s Exeter Street Annex and Seymou’s Skills Academy in Brenda Road.

Initial Towns Deal research highlighted the need for economic transformation in Hartlepool, particularly within the provision of high-quality learning and skills productivity. The institute is receiving a combined £2.2m of external funding through the Town Deal, with £1.4m allocated to the Brenda Road site and the remainder allocated to the Exeter Street Campus.

The project aims to reduce the critical skills shortage in the construction sector by encouraging the uptake of formal qualifications, job opportunities and youth engagement.

Adam Harker, managing director at Seymour Civil Engineering, said: “We are proud to play a leading role in the upskilling of our industry, providing multiple routes into civil engineering and construction. The current skills shortage represents one of the biggest challenges to our industry.

“This partnership with Hartlepool College and Hartlepool Council, and the significant investment into the skills institute is going to bring a fantastic opportunity not only to the local community who will benefit from future career prospects, but also the wider industry as it helps to overcome these challenges.”

According to the Construction Industry Training Board, between 2023 and 2027 the North East requires an extra 7,900 workers in this sector. Construction at Brenda Road is due to begin this month and includes new modular classrooms and training facilities such as a telehandler tower and temporary timber framed bungalow.

Darren Hankey, principal at Hartlepool College of Further Education, said: “We are committed on delivering a centre of excellence for practical civil engineering and construction training. It is widely acknowledged that there is a critical skills shortage in the construction sector. The academy hopes to tackle this by promoting lifelong learning to meet the ever changing demands of this industry.”

Cllr Shane Moore, leader of Hartlepool Council, said: “So much hard work has gone into developing this important Town Deal project, so I’m delighted for all concerned that planning approval has been received. Providing residents, particularly our young people, with the skills they need to develop successful careers in this key sector is vital for the future of the town and its economy.”

The five Town Deal transformation projects include renovation of the former Wesley Chapel, connectivity waterfront improvements, reimagining of Middleton Grange Shopping Centre and the development of educational institutes in health and social care and civil engineering.

Source: Teeside Live