£8 million Oxfordshire Advanced Skills Centre underway

Work is well underway on the £8 million Oxfordshire Advanced Skills Centre which will provide high-tech training to 125 technicians each year.

Based at the Culham Science Centre, near Abingdon, the Oxfordshire Advanced Skills Centre is being built by Midas Construction on behalf of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

It is thought that the 4,000 square metre training facility will help to tackle the skills shortage facing high tech engineering companies in Oxfordshire by raising the quality and standard of local apprenticeships.

“Starting the construction phase is hugely exciting for the project team as it marks the culmination of the efforts of many people,” commented David Martin, Chief Operating Officer at UKAEA and sponsor of the Oxfordshire Advanced Skills project.

“Built on the successful UKAEA and STFC apprenticeship schemes, the high quality, high-tech employer-led skills training that is unique in this area will supply a steady stream of much-needed technicians to the local and wider economy. We are on schedule for the opening in 2019 and look forward to working with Midas to get the new facility ready.”

Midas was commissioned through the Southern Construction Framework to deliver the development which is due to complete in summer 2019.

Derek Quinn, Executive Director at Midas Construction, added: “Midas Construction is delighted to have been appointed to such a prestigious project with far-reaching positive benefits for key high-tech industries in the Oxford area.

“We look forward to working with the UK Atomic Energy Authority, and the OAS Phase 2 Training Provider to deliver a high-quality training facility which will provide an important resource for local employers and apprentices of the future.”

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