The Connolly Centre of Modern Construction Centre at Bedford College is putting the town in the international spotlight.
With worldwide articles from equipment suppliers in New Zealand, to visits by Government VIPs and high level experts in the construction industry, the CMC is attracting considerable attention.
The most recent was on March 15th when a delegation from the Levelling Up, Housing & Communities department of Government, together with a representative of Homes England visited. (Photo).
Director of Construction David Wilkins, who is hosting many of these visits says: “Off-site construction is the fast-forward way in the building industry and we have the best facility of its kind, with the most outstanding equipment, which is attracting interest from global companies and those wanting to train in the skills of the future. We are an exemplar for the rest of the country in construction training.”
Minister see skills in action Nov 21
Minister for Skills Alex Burghart stopped off at The Bedford College Group to meet students who are training to fill the demand from industry for recruits in construction, engineering, and care.
He visited the newly-opened Connolly Centre for Modern Construction in Cauldwell Street and talked to students on courses for those aged 16-years onwards, linked to apprenticeships, T-Levels, further study or degrees. With Teddy Kye-Nyarko Head of Construction in charge, he witnessed a crush-testing training session, and talked to young people about their hopes for the future.
In the Buchanan Centre for Advanced Engineering Mr Burghart met Level 4 HNC apprentices from Lockheed Martin, Bosch Rexroth, Collins Aerospace and Cranfield University along with some Access to University students who were going back into education, with a view to progressing to a degree-level career in care.
“What we are showing here at Bedford College is how people can access training for careers at a time that suits them, and they can retrain or update skills throughout their lives,” said Mr Burghart.
A £4.3 Million investment Oct 21
Access to skilled jobs from apprentices to degree-level roles, is open via the Connolly Centre of Modern Construction (CMC) at Bedford College.
The shiny £4.3 Million net carbon building has been made possible by funding via regional agency SEMLEP of £2.9 Million. The £4.3 Million includes £750,000 donated by the Connolly Foundation towards the very latest construction equipment inside the building. The Wixamtree Trust also donated £10,000.
Declared open by Mark Farmer, the Government’s champion of Modern Methods of Construction, on Wednesday October 20th 2021, the CMC contains some highly specialised equipment on which up to 100 will train for jobs, or upgrade their existing skills to match up to emerging ‘modern methods of construction’.
Ian Pryce CBE, CEO of The Bedford College Group (TBCG): “ We are closing that gap which we see between what happens in industries, and what is taught in college.”
Mark Farmer congratulated Ian and TBCG team for their vision in building the dream:
“This facility will be helping to re-shape how we deliver construction in the future. It meets the Government agenda for skills and sustainability and I can see it being an exemplar for the rest of the country.
“Leadership has made this possible with Ian and The Bedford College Group being well placed to support the demand for skills in London and the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.”
Judith Barker Director of SEMLEP congratulated TBCG and said this was a pioneer of such construction training buildings planned.
Shiny new gateway to town
An upgrade to the look of Cauldwell Street, a gateway to the town centre, was created with silver grey cladding. Chief Executive of The Bedford College Group Ian Pryce CBE, Neil Hart of SEMLEP and Vanessa Connolly of the Connolly Foundation placed the final panel.
The exterior of the CMC complements the look of the Brundtland Building on Cauldwell Street, itself a pioneering example of eco-retro fitting. The stylish silver and grey colour scheme is highlighted across the Cauldwell Street/Riverside campus which blends one of the very oldest buildings in Bedford* with the latest in modern, green construction techniques.
The finale will be the external refurbishment of the 1950s Tower Block so it blends in the with riverside skyline.
