Gloucestershire College appoints Beard to £5m project

Gloucestershire College (GC) has appointed Beard as the building contractor for its anticipated £5m sustainable construction centre at its Cheltenham Campus.As part of the college’s vision to “prepare the workforce of the future”, the facility will play a “pivotal role” in addressing the increasing demand for skilled construction workers in the region.The construction timeline will prioritise minimal disruption to college activities while adhering to the “collaborative and sustainable ethos” of the College.Principal Matthew Burgess said: “Our selection of Beard Construction is rooted in its exceptional reputation and demonstrated commitment to sustainable and high-quality builds.”We sought a partner who shares our vision of preparing the talent of tomorrow for the evolving construction landscape. Beard’s proven expertise, coupled with its focus on minimising disruption and maximizing collaboration, aligns with our objectives and we look forward to working with them over the coming year.”Jamie Harwood, director at Beard, added: 2Gloucestershire College has an exciting vision to not only increase routes into the industry, but ensure new recruits are skilled to meet the challenges and opportunities of sustainability.”These principles are key drivers for us at Beard and we are delighted to be working with the college as its chosen contractor.”Supported by £70,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and £4m from the Post 16 Capacity Fund, GC’s 7,000 sq ft sustainable construction centre will facilitate training for 164 learners per week across various skills, with sustainability at the core.