D2N2 to invest £500,000 in Chesterfield College centre of excellence

The project is one of ten across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire which has received funding from D2N2’s £44 million share of the government’s £900 million Getting Building Fund.

The funding award will allow Chesterfield College to create a new centre where local students will be able to learn state-of-the-art techniques such as Building Information Modelling and Virtual and Augmented reality.

The new centre, which will be housed in pre-existing premises owned by the college, will complement the current curriculum being delivered to teach advanced manufacturing and building techniques.

With funding for the £875,000 facility now secured work will begin on the site ready to accept learners by next April.

The Centre of Excellence is just the latest capital investment D2N2 has made in Chesterfield and follows recent investments into the construction of the Hollis Lane Link Road, the station area redevelopment, and the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project totalling £6.85 million.

Elizabeth Fagan, D2N2 chair, said: “I’m pleased D2N2 has been able to invest in this Centre of Excellence at Chesterfield College.

"Ensuring our workforce has the skills to take advantage of ever more sophisticated and greener construction methods is an essential part of our vision for a cleaner and more sustainable economy.”

David Malone, deputy principal of the Chesterfield College Group said: “We are excited to be able to bring together expertise in digital technology with modern construction in one purpose built facility and we look forward to welcoming the first students through the doors in 2021.”

Luke Hall MP, minister for regional growth and local government, commented: “We’re supporting students across the country gain the skills.

"This is why we’re supporting Chesterfield College’s Centre of Excellence with a £500,000 Getting Building Fund investment.”