THE RIBBON was cut to mark the official opening of the new Heat Pump Training Centre at Stratford College.
Local dignitaries, employers and guests turned out for a tour of the new facilities and a Warwickshire Skills Hub‑led roundtable discussion on sustainability within the construction industry, before mayor Coun Dani Hunter formally declared the training centre open.
The campus has been transformed in recent years by a £13 million redevelopment project turning it into a world-class learning environment designed to inspire, innovate and empower.
The Heat Pump Training Centre was developed following the award of an additional £1.1 million to the college through the Local Skills Improvement Fund. This investment was secured after the Local Skills Improvement Plan highlighted a clear need to strengthen provision in sustainable construction, with the rapid expansion of heat pumps and other low‑carbon heating solutions identified as a priority.
Vice principal Nancy Buckley said: “We were delighted to welcome so many fantastic local businesses, employers and guests to celebrate the grand opening of this wonderful new facility. We are proud to be supporting the upskill of heating engineers, plumbers and electricians in this new sustainable heating and ventilation technology and look forward to seeing what our facilities can help them achieve.”
