A decade-long construction programme is at risk of shutting down due to the Construction Industry Training Board's (CITB) plans to close their Bircham Newton headquarters in north Norfolk.

Unite the Union said the groundbreaking Constructionarium project, which provides a hands on experience for undergraduates to experience designing and developing a construction project, could close as a result of CITB's controversial proposals.

Constructionarium involves participants building scaled down versions of bridges, buildings dams and other civil engineering projects from around the world, with undergraduates learning directly from qualified professionals on the project. The event, which was attended by 900 students and 160 university staff last year, is hosted and facilitated at Bircham Newton.

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However, despite Constructionarium being a separate organisation from the CITB, those who attend the exhibition stay in the CITB's accommodation and are fed by the CITB's canteen and use the CITB's delegate services.

With CITB planning on relocating its Bircham Newton HQ, as well as outsourcing office functions and reducing its staff count from 1,370 to 484 by 2020, Unite's National Officer for Construction, Jerry Swain, said the decision to close Bircham Newton and end the direct provision of construction training "is littered with unintended consequences".

"One of these is that the unique Constructionarium project, which is key to attracting delegates into the industry, could close," he said.

"If the Constructionarium was forced to close it will have an enormous impact on the future generations of construction professionals and for skills and training in the industry."

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Mark Robinson said: "This is yet another reason why the CITB must revisit there plans which are clearly not in the best interests of the long-term future of the construction industry.

"The CITB's plans do not have the support of the industry and the organisation needs to pause their proposals and seriously think again about what is in the best interests of the construction industry."

(LM/MH)