TOP-QUALITY technical training for students aged 16 and over is a step closer in Whitehill and Bordon, as Hampshire County Council celebrates fixing the final ‘golden’ bolt in the structure of the future skills centre in Bordon.

Deputy Leader of Hampshire County Council and executive lead member for children’s services Councillor Keith Mans was among the dignitaries who attended a ceremony to mark the end of construction.

Cllr Mans said: “This new centre will be integral to the regeneration of Whitehill and Bordon, which we are proud to be supporting, along with our partners: the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership and East Hampshire District Council.

“This flagship facility will offer young people, employers and the wider community the skills necessary for the jobs that will be created by the regeneration, and improve the area’s economic prosperity.

“We’re proud to have the scale, capacity, experience and expertise to deliver key infrastructure projects like these and, ultimately, to bring new opportunities to the community here.”

Executive member for education Cllr Peter Edgar said: “This is great news for young people in Whitehill and Bordon and beyond.

“A range of technical training options will be on offer, in a purpose-built, well equipped, modern facility.

“With its emphasis on construction, students could be developing skills in brickwork, carpentry, plumbing or electrics, and potentially contribute to the building of their new town.”

County councillor for Bordon and Whitehill Adam Carew said:" I was delighted to join the Deputy Leader of the county council Cllr Keith Mans and Cabinet member for Education (Children’s Services) Cllr Peter Edgar for the ’Golden Bolt’ ceremony. This marks the completion of the gridshell for Whitehill and Bordon’s Future Skills Centre.

"The architecture is exciting and will be highly visible as you enter the town from the North. Things are moving fast and we anticipate a soft opening in May next year and a formal opening in autumn 2017.

"All this shows once again that the county council is committed to serious investment to Whitehill and Bordon.

"I have argued from day one that our town needs infrastructure, facilities, jobs, education and training up front. This message has come across loud and clear, it is what our town needs and what our residents want.

"Hampshire County Council understands this, councillors have always argued the same thing and they are investing serious money and expertise to deliver it.

"When I launched our Green Vision we said we wanted to be a town that built itself to become a centre of excellence in modern and greener construction techniques to provide training opportunities and jobs for local people. The Future Skills Centre will do just that.

"This will be run by Basingstoke College who have a strong track record in this field and of getting their students and apprentices into work. I was very impressed with the Principal and his deep commitment to this project and our area.

"This latest investment not only shows deep commitment in this public sector led Regeneration it builds real confidence in Whitehill and Bordon and our town’s future," added Cllr Carew.

The Future Skills Centre is in the former Louisburg Barracks. It will have a core curriculum focused on construction and skills for the built environment, reflecting the skills needed in the area – as identified by the Construction Industry Training Board – and following consultation with developers and contractors involved in the regeneration project.

Although the focus will be on training for the construction sector, the centre will be a hub for technical training and will host a broad adult and community learning programme for the wider community.

The county council secured £3.8m to fund the project, through the Local Growth Fund Grant from the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership. It also put £250,000 towards building costs.

The construction partner for the project is Interserve. Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT) has been appointed as the County Council’s operating partner to deliver the curriculum of the Future Skills Centre, which expects to welcome the first students in the 2017 autumn term. Hampshire County Council is investing in a network of ‘Future Skills Centres’, to provide exceptional education and training in vocational industries - increasing opportunities for young people, while helping to address the skills gaps identified by local employers.

The new centre is one part of the master plan to extend and regenerate the town following the departure of the Army training facilities in 2015 and closure of the Bordon Army Garrison - the principal employer in the area. The County Council is actively involved in the provision of the new infrastructure, vital to support the town, including constructing a £20m relief road that will tie in with the A325 to the north and south of Whitehill and Bordon and improving school facilities.