E3R Partners with new £4.3m MMC Training Centre
E3 Recruitment (E3R) is delighted to announce its partnership with The Bedford College Group on their new £4.3 million Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Training Centre which will offer students ‘offsite’ construction training, which is the future of the industry.
E3R’s Construction Materials and Modular team has been approached by The Bedford College Group as it has great links and works with the industry’s key players. The new MMC Training Centre is looking for both supplies for the hands-on learning, as well as industry experts to teach students and apprentices at the College.
Modular construction continues to grow in popularity and demand, as it provides an agile solution for fast cost-effective building requirements. Over the last year it has helped to support the construction of additional healthcare and education facilities, combating the additional requirements for space as a result of social distancing due to Covid 19.
The continued demand for housing can be addressed by modular, with pre-manufactured homes being shipped to building sites, and proving to be the most efficient and cost-effective way to meet the high housing targets.
To keep up with the skills demand from the construction industry, The Bedford College Group has been awarded £2.9 million in funding as part of the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) Getting Building Fund to upgrade its existing facilities at its Bedford College campus in the town centre. This development will enhance the Brundtland Building which leads on modern “eco” infrastructure training, and the Advanced Engineering Centre, and houses a Virtual Reality construction ‘cave’. Digital engineering technologies and the use of CAD equipment is already part of the wider college curriculum offer.
This funding will see the single storey building which sits alongside the Brundtland Building on Cauldwell Street being upgraded to include a facility to construct dwellings and component parts like kitchen and bathroom “pods” as well as roofing using a Gantry Crane.
Dave Wilkins, The Bedford College Group’s Director of Construction commented: “We will be working closely with leading employers in the construction industry to get input about the skills they need to fast-forward these modern methods.
“I reached out to E3R as they are well connected in the modular industry, and therefore well placed to assist the MMC Training Centre in connecting us with their clients for both supplies for the hands-on learning, as well as industry experts to teach the subjects.”
E3R Director James Soden commented on the partnership: “It’s a privilege to be approached to work in partnership with The Bedford College Group on their new MMC Training Centre. They are leading the way in training the next generation in offsite construction.
“Being a specialist recruiter in this sector, we know how much demand there is for the skills the MMC Training Centre will be teaching, also the high number of roles both now and in the future as the industry continues to grow. We look forward to working in partnership and assisting where we can with our industry knowledge and connections.”
The project is due to be completed by Autumn 2021 and is due to open to new and progressing students and apprentices in September 2021. If you are interested in finding out more please contact bcp@e3recruitment.com
