A new electric vehicle training centre in Coventry has moved a step closer with a national firm set to begin construction.

The first of its kind

Commercial fit-out specialists Inside Limited have been appointed to lead construction on Coventry College’s new electric vehicle and retrofit centre. The new facility will be the first of its kind in Coventry and Warwickshire.

The £1 million works, funded through the Government’s Strategic Development Fund (SDF), will help to deliver the new state-of-the-art centre to provide specialist training to students and the wider workforce as part of the college’s Charge Up Your Future initiative.

The site is set to include an electric vehicle and battery training area, a new retrofit area featuring hi-tech classrooms ready for photovoltaic and insulation training as part of the UK’s strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

Charge Up Your Future

The Charge Up Your Future campaign will be delivered under the Skills Accelerator programme, which is a key part of the Government’s blueprint for reshaping the technical skills system.

A total of £5 million was awarded to Coventry and Warwickshire colleges to ensure the region’s educational provision meets the demand for skills and help capitalise on retrofitting and sustainable construction opportunities.

The works also include a planned extension to the college’s brick and plumbing facilities to develop new trade and construction provisions with a sustainable focus in the near future.

Rob Moore, chief finance and operating officer of Coventry College, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Inside Limited to deliver this exciting and important facility for the region, which will help to prepare learners for vital work in the sustainability sector, and upskill the current workforce to help achieve net-zero targets.

“The SDF grant will help us to make our Charge Up Your Future campaign a reality, as we look to deliver a wide variety of courses for industry, adult learners and school leavers and establish ourselves as a leader in sustainability training.”

Craig Frame, chief executive of Inside Limited, which is based in Milton Keynes, said: “Coventry has been home to world class automotive manufacturing for the last 125 years and with technologies driving change the EV training centre will be huge hit.

“The new extended construction facility will enhance the learning experience by providing more covered external space as well as a brand-new internal classroom.

“Inside Limited are super excited to have secured this fantastic project and look forward to working closely with Coventry College, the design team and our supply chain partners.”