College estate adapts

Bondholder Derby College Group (DCG) is adapting workspaces for the first students joining its new T Level programmes this September.

DCG is part of the first wave of T Level programmes focusing on Professional Construction, Digital Production and Education and Childcare. Recruitment for the three programmes is continuing during lockdown with capacity for around 100 students to start the new qualifications this Autumn.

Various facilities are being upgraded in line with the T Level focus on work experience under DCG’s £1.2 million capital programme which has been part-funded by the Skills Funding Agency.

New facilities being created include:

• A virtual reality laboratory at Broomfield Hall for Education and Childcare T Level students to replicate workplace environments such as learning health and safety procedures in pre-school nurseries;

• New digital laboratories and workspace at the Joseph Wright Centre and Roundhouse; and

• Enhanced facilities for Professional Construction students at the Roundhouse and nearby Hudson Building.

Under the Government’s working directives, the DCG Estates team will progress the projects with selected contractors to ensure appropriate social distancing throughout the programme of works.

DCG Vice Principal Kate Martin, who is leading on the College’s T Level introduction programme, said: “Although lockdown has presented our estates team with some challenges in progressing the work, we are confident that these will be ready for the first T Level learners in September.

“We are recognised for proven strength in these professional and technical subject areas and for our nationally-acclaimed partnership work with employers so we are well-placed to be among the first to introduce these new qualifications.

“As well as working with employers to secure work experience in their premises which is such an important aspect of these new qualifications, we are updating industry-specific resources here at College to maximise the practical and theoretical aspects of the programme.”

DCG and other colleges involved in the T-Levels launch have received confirmation from the Government that the pilot programmes will definitely go ahead this September.