Respected TV presenter, architect and writer George Clarke from “Restoration Man” and “George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces” fame opened Carshalton College’s brand new Technology, Engineering and Construction (TEC) Centre on Thursday 23 June.
George gave a truly inspiration speech to local businesses, students, staff and dignities about being an ambassador for vocational learning and how education is everything. George commented on the TEC Centre being an amazing space for learners and what a great opportunity it will provide students with who will be the trade people of tomorrow. George then met students from the various Construction courses and exhibitors at the Construction Employer Trade Fair.
“I am very proud to be giving a talk and opening the new TEC centre at Carshalton College today”
This fantastic new centre is the result of a large construction project to consolidate the construction, engineering and motor vehicle curriculum areas into one single central location for over 900 students. This striking modern building provides state of the art workshops to deliver the bricklaying, carpentry, electrical, motor vehicle, plastering and plumbing lessons.
George provided a key note speech alongside the CITB, Construction Industry Training Board, outlining the demand for this type of teaching facility. Visitors then went on tours of the workshops before visiting an Employer Trade Fair, with exhibitors including CITB, Mitie, Berkeley Group, Ardmore and the IMI.
Current and past students, local employers, partners and stake holders were invited to attend the Employer Trade Fair with an Apprenticeship Briefing, CITB Business Surgery and Networking Lunch, providing exhibitors and delegates with the opportunity to network, promote their organisation (to suppliers and clients) and fundamentally to meet their potential future workforce.
Year 10 and 11 learners from local schools attended the Trade Fair to meet employers, took part in have a go sessions in the TEC Centre and visited the Open Event.
The College Principal, Peter Mayhew-Smith, commented on the official opening of the TEC Centre
“Our new TEC Centre should transform learning for our students: we now have industry-standard spaces and equipment on a huge scale with opportunities for them to immerse themselves in the crafts and trades they love. The builders, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and mechanics of tomorrow will learn their skills here today and we can’t wait to throw our doors open to them all.”
It is a great honour for us to welcome such a highly recognised leader of the Construction sector as George Clarke. He brought enormous credibility and expertise to the event and he loved meeting students and partners on our very special day.”
The TEC Centre is based on 3 floors and offers a variety of Full Time, Part Time and Apprenticeship courses to 200 Motor Vehicle students with BTEC and IMI Diplomas, 200 Gas students, 250 Electrical students with City & Gild qualifications and 300 Construction students with C-Skills and City & Guilds Diplomas in Carpentry, Plumbing, Brick, Plastering and Multi Skills.
Caption: George Clark, Mavis Peart and Peter Mayhew Smith
