Britcon was appointed by Education Training Collective through the Procure Partnerships Framework to design and construct the new NETA All Access Academy in Redcar. The £3.84 million development delivers a purpose built 750m² training facility designed to support the region’s growing skills and employment needs. Funded through the Government’s Levelling Up programme, the academy provides specialist commercial training facilities, including dedicated scaffolding and welding training areas that will help develop the next generation of skilled workers in the Tees Valley.
Scope of Works
The project involved the design and construction of a modern training academy located on Redcar and Cleveland College’s Corporation Road campus. The facility includes three purpose built scaffolding training zones alongside a specialist industrial welding training centre, creating a comprehensive learning environment for students and apprentices. Working through a two stage Design and Build procurement route, Britcon collaborated closely with the client, stakeholders and design teams to develop an affordable, high quality facility that met both educational and industry requirements. The project also incorporated advanced digital construction management processes, quality assurance procedures and the integration of college IT and M&E systems.
Challenges
Delivering the academy required careful management of several key challenges. The facility had to be completed in time for the start of the new academic term while maintaining compliance with funding requirements. Construction took place within a live college environment, requiring strict planning and coordination to ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors while minimising disruption to day to day operations. Additional complexities included integrating the new facility with existing college infrastructure, maintaining affordability within budget constraints and maximising social value outcomes for the local community. Through early stakeholder engagement, open book collaboration and proactive risk management, Britcon successfully overcame these challenges while keeping the project on programme and within budget.
Outcomes
The completed All Access Academy provides state of the art training facilities that will help create a pipeline of skilled workers for current and future industries. The project was delivered ahead of programme and within budget, with more than £135,000 of savings identified through value engineering workshops. Britcon achieved all framework KPIs and delivered significant social value benefits, including a 64% social return on investment against a 12% target. Five local jobs were created, 78 local jobs were safeguarded and £1.68 million of subcontract expenditure was directed to local businesses. Environmental performance was equally impressive, with 99% of project waste recycled. The project was completed with zero accidents, zero complaints and minimal defects, providing a high quality learning environment that will support education and skills development across the region for years to come.