A new “education hub” for Bradford College students has just opened on a Keepmoat development in Eccleshill.
Created and fully funded by national homebuilder Keepmoat, the education space is located on its ‘Vision’ housing development near Harrogate Road in Eccleshill, Bradford. The site will encompass almost 600 high-spec three- and four-bedroom homes across two sites when completed.
Multiple cohorts of carpentry and joinery students will initially spend time between Bradford College and working on a live construction site. The students will deliver real carpentry and joinery projects while gaining insight from site managers, specialist contractors, and industry professionals. The education hub is the first of its kind on a Keepmoat development in West Yorkshire.
The project has included the refurbishment of site cabins to create a teaching space, a kitchen facility, and a welfare unit. Keepmoat has also supplied over £10,000 worth of PPE equipment and toolboxes for each student, alongside specialist tools that have been installed at Bradford College for large-scale joinery work.
Siobhan Cooper, social value coordinator at Keepmoat, said:
“We started talks and site visits before the pandemic, but sadly this had to be put on hold. However, in January we met with James Haigh and Nick Scaife from Bradford College to get the project going again and discuss curriculum needs and work placement opportunities.
“Now, we’ve re-commissioned the compound area and associated rooms for the new education hub facility. This unit is embedded in a real, working environment so students feel part of the Keepmoat construction team and follow the same procedures and rules as contractors on site. We’re really proud to be able to work with the college to give these students an opportunity to undergo real work experience, which will set them up for a career within the industry.”
The project provides a unique hands-on learning experience for students in a controlled construction environment while simultaneously opening up potential apprenticeship and employment opportunities at Keepmoat. If successful, education hubs could be rolled out at other Keepmoat developments in Bradford and further afield.
James Haigh, team leader for sustainable construction and built environment at Bradford College, said:
“After the generous support from Keepmoat, we can’t wait to deliver theoretical and practical vocational lessons based on an active construction site. This initiative will help us to interlink with real-world jobs on a project local to the College. In addition, students will be exposed to the elements and really benefit from the sights and sounds of working on a real construction site.
“This is just one of the industry-leading projects we are collaborating on at Bradford College, and it ties to the vision of providing exceptional vocational education delivery here at Bradford College‘s construction and engineering department!”
It is hoped that use of the facilities will be rolled out to more Bradford College construction courses including students studying brickwork, electrical installation, and plumbing.