University College Birmingham has chosen GMI Construction Group to build a sustainable construction skills centre in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, UK.
Located in the Jewellery Quarter’s Conservation Area, the project will see the iconic James Cond print works building being regenerated into a skills centre for the university’s intake of construction students in 2023.
Providing courses in aspects such as modular buildings, retrofit construction, and green technologies, the skills centre is expected to support the region’s growth areas, including sustainable construction methods and renewable energy.
The present construction students will also gain the opportunity to be involved with the construction, thereby giving them a real-world experience and the scope to help develop their own learning facility.
GMI will begin construction works next month.
The project is expected to be completed and ready for intake of students in September 2023.
GMI construction director Gareth Jones said: “We’re looking forward to working with University College Birmingham on the regeneration of this historic building in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, unlocking new opportunities for the area through improved access to education.
“Improving the sustainability of the construction industry is high on our agenda, so it’s a pleasure to be working on a project that will provide training in this area and equip the future workforce with the skills they need to make a positive change to the industry.”
University College Birmingham vice-chancellor, principal and professor Michael Harkin added: “There is a great need for new talent in the sustainable construction field, with hundreds of thousands of new workers expected to be required in the next few years.
“We look forward to working with GMI to bring this much-needed skills centre to life, and welcoming new students to the facility next year.”
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Image: The project is expected to be completed and ready for intake of students in September 2023. Credit: GMI Construction.
