One of the largest "green" training centres in the country opened its doors in Liverpool this week.

The centre – which features a full-size 'indoor house' – has been opened by Liverpool Community College as part of its drive to invest in the sustainable sector.

The £250,000 facility at the College's construction and engineering faculty on Vauxhall Road is seen as vital to ensure that Liverpool and the wider North West economy can benefit from the high growth levels in that sector.

Elaine Bowker, principal at Liverpool Community College said: "The growth in the sustainable sector is a huge opportunity for this region. With the launch of this training centre, one of the largest in the UK, we will be able to equip workers and businesses with the skills they need to ensure our region will be the leader in the field of green technology."


The state of the art centre at the Vauxhall Road faculty includes a 3000 sqft workshop, with different practical rooms and a large internal area, where a life size house has been built, on which students can practise. The workshops provide employers and their staff with practical experience of supplying and fitting the equipment as well as understanding the theory.

Liverpool Community College will be running the "green" courses for the National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies and is one of only six centres in the country providing training in all green technologies.

The NSA is a recognised, countrywide network of accredited renewable training providers offering training and qualifications that meet the requirements of future legislation.

(CD)