CoRE, the new national centre for cutting edge refurbishment skills, is to be launched on 14 December.

Andrew Stunell MP, a junior Communities and Local Government Minister, will officially open the new Centre of Refurbishment Excellence (CoRE) in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent.

CoRE will open to students at the start of January 2012. The centre has been built in a partnership between the internationally renowned Building Research Establishment (BRE), Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke on Trent College. E.ON, a leading UK energy company has supported the project as a founding sponsor.

Phase one of CoRE, an impressive training centre for the building industry and the new Stoke on Trent College Technology Centre, is now complete.

A second phase will see the historic Enson Works, a 19th century Listed pottery factory brought back to life.

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The Enson Works is a significant building on the skyline of the Potteries, featuring four - of only 47 – bottle kilns remaining in Stoke-on-Trent.

The £11.4 million CoRE project will provide a one stop, national centre of excellence for the construction industry, and allied trades, as they work towards a low carbon future.

The new building will serve as a training centre and as a showcase for up to the minute building solutions.

CoRE is a unique national education centre hosting courses and tutorials to upskill trades people in areas such as photovoltaic (solar) panels, ground source heat pumps, new insulation techniques and many more innovative solutions to fit the UK with greener homes.

And the building itself will be a research tool as it is fitted out to the highest BREEAM energy efficiency standards.

The roof of the complex has 185 photo voltaic panels fitted to it - generating enough electricity to heat and power the building and providing power for the National Grid.

The CoRE project is a response to the national and international challenge to reduce carbon emissions and slow down climate change.

The Government has set a target of reducing carbon emissions by more than 30 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050.

This represents a major challenge, and opportunity, to the UK construction industry. 20.2 million UK homes have been identified as in need of sustainable refurbishment and retrofitting – an industry estimated to be worth £3.5 - £6.5 billion a year.