Contractor appointed to create sustainable construction skills centre

GMI Construction has been appointed to develop a state-of-the-art sustainable construction skills centre in the Jewellery Quarter.The project for University College Birmingham, will see the former James Cond print works be regenerated into a construction skills centre for students next year.Courses offered include; modular buildings, retrofit construction, and green technologies as the centre will specialise in teaching skills that support the region’s growth areas, particularly in sustainable construction methods and renewable energy.Current construction students will also have the opportunity to get involved with the build, offering them real-world experience.Works will commence in October 2022 and the project is expected to be completed ready for September 2023’s intake of students.Gareth Jones, Construction Director at GMI, said: “Improving the sustainability of the construction industry is high on our agenda, so it’s a pleasure to be working on a project that will provide training in this area and equip the future workforce with the skills they need to make a positive change to the industry.”Professor Michael Harkin, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at University College Birmingham, added: “There is a great need for new talent in the sustainable construction field, with hundreds of thousands of new workers expected to be required in the next few years”.