Large £900k grant secured for Havant South Downs College to transform construction workshops
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
Significant investment has been sought to address skills shortages and “inspire” students
Construction workshops at a college will be transformed after a large grant was secured.
Havant and South Downs College (HSDC) will be creating new facilities for its construction students. The institution has been awarded £907,636 from the Department for Education’s Post-16 Construction Skills Capacity Fund.
Kurt Hintz, Principal and CEO of HSDC, said: “This investment is about much more than new workshops. It is about creating opportunities for young people and delivering the skilled tradespeople our region urgently needs.
“We face two challenges that must be addressed together: employers are struggling to recruit people with the right construction skills, while too many young people under 24 are not in education, employment or training. Practical, hands-on education can provide a powerful bridge between the two.”
The modernised South Downs campus workshops will create modern and industry-designed facilities to teach students several skills, allowing them to access hands-on practical training. They’ll include flexible teaching bays for plumbing, electrical installation, heating and ventilation, multi-skills construction, and renewable and green energy technologies. Transformation work is due to be completed in September 2027.
The aim is to prepare students for established and emerging careers. Employers in the construction sector are facing skills shortages, with HSDC looking to establish clear links to apprenticeships and jobs - particularly for those who have a more practical mindset rather than an academic one.
The workshops project will support student progression into apprenticeships, higher-level training and employment. According to population forecasts, the number of 16 and 17-year-olds in Havant will rise by 10.4 per cent in 2028.
Mr Hintz added: “Not every young person is inspired by learning in a traditional classroom. These new facilities will give students the opportunity to learn by doing, develop confidence and see a clear pathway into an apprenticeship, further training or a skilled job.
“Construction will be central to delivering the homes, infrastructure and greener economy our communities need. HSDC is determined to work with employers and our local partners to ensure that young people from across the region can access those opportunities and build successful futures.”