10.10.17
National College for High Speed Rail opens doors in Doncaster
The National College for High Speed Rail (NCHSR) in Doncaster has this week been officially opened by education secretary Justine Greening.
The college, located in Doncaster was opened yesterday and is the largest of five new national colleges created by the government to increase the opportunities for British people to develop much needed skills.
British businesses need 180,000 skilled engineers each year until 2022, and currently there is a deficit of 69,000 workers.
With one in five rail engineers over the age of 55, the rail industry is neither young enough nor diverse enough to meet this demand.
“It has been great to attend the official launch of the NCHSR,” Greening said. “It’s part of how we are steadily transforming technical education in this country, training up a new generation of skilled young people and the existing workforce so that British business has the skills it needs and people have the opportunities they want – a win-win for everyone.”
Difficulties in recruiting STEM trained employees in the next three years is anticipated by 53% of employers, and almost a third of the current railway workforce require further training in order to deliver HS2.
The NCHSR will work with businesses to combine traditional classroom teaching with hands-on project experience, helping to develop students who are ready for the workplace.
On offer are higher level apprenticeships, a certificate of higher education in high speed rail and infrastructure, and continuing professional development courses.
Students start by building their core skills in rail, engineering and management courses, then they will progress to their specialist subject, such as civil engineering or track systems.
Greening added: “We can only do this in partnership with employers – the NCHSR is just one great example of this. The impressive new building and training facilities are at the forefront of our ambitions to create a world class system of technical education.”
The college has a second campus in Birmingham that will open on Monday 16 October, and will accommodate for 150 learners during its first year, increasing to 1,200 students a year when it reaches full capacity.
Across the two campuses, facilities include a 25-tonne power car which used to serve the Channel Tunnel, now refurbished to incorporate the college’s branding.
The car will be used as a virtual/augmented reality classroom, enabling students to experience an interactive 3D recreation of the existing Eurostar can configuration.
Greening also explained that Doncaster is one of 12 Opportunity Areas benefiting from a share of £72m to raise attainment and aspirations, which the NCHSR will help to achieve.