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A bright new future awaits Central Bedfordshire College with the creation of the long-awaited new Engineering and Construction Skills Centre in Leighton Buzzard. The new Centre is based on Chartmoor Road and with construction work now complete the first cohort of students have begun their training in September 2017.

On this page of the website, we'll keep you up-to-date with latest developments in the new-build project, background stories, interviews with those involved and essential information about how this fantastic development will benefit students. You can apply for one our courses using the menu on the right.

Central Bedfordshire College is proud to be working in partnership with SEMLEP, Central Bedfordshire Council and several local employers to bring this high technology training centre to Leighton Buzzard to meet both the economic and educational needs of the local area.

This new facility will provide dedicated employer-led engineering and construction training to young people and adults to work as technicians and experts in these industries in order to serve the employer needs across Central Bedfordshire and the SEMLEP region. There will also be progression opportunities into Higher Education through the Universities of Bedfordshire, and Northampton.

Key industry partners have been involved in the project from its conception and will remain a key feature in its operation of delivering the industry skills for this area; these include local employers such as BE Aerospace, Vinci Technology, Hone-All, Grundfos, Calex Engineering, BCS and Auto Technology.

The purpose built high end technology centre will be able to accommodate 350 students and it is hoped that it will become an integral part of the community as well as being a college building. With the new M1 link road due to open in Spring 2017 this centre will also help to secure future investment in Leighton Buzzard by providing local business with a pipeline of skilled workers.

On the ground floor of the Centre there will be dedicated electronic engineering workshops specialising in robotics as well as an impressive 100sqm double height demonstration space. On the second floor there will be two fully equipped science labs and classroom facilities. The foyer of the building will have a café open to the public.

Central Bedfordshire College is the only college in the area to be awarded a Grade 2 by Ofsted twice in a row. The most recent inspection in March 2016 highlighted the College’s strength of engagement with local employers and the important role it plays in meeting social and economic needs in the area, it also commented on the standard of practical skills gained by students improving their overall employability and the clear career pathways in place that results in 98% of students successfully progressing to university or straight into employment.

Principal Mr Ali Hadawai CBE is delighted to see the construction work underway saying “We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to the community making Leighton Buzzard a destination for high end technology. The skills and knowledge gained by students training at the Centre will not only help the local economy but the wider Central Beds area thrive.”