Kier has commenced construction work on site to deliver the University of Warwick's new £10 million Degree Apprenticeship Centre.

The Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) development will be a three-storey 2,400m² centre, including a number of teaching rooms, breakout space for students, employee offices, a laboratory and a wind tunnel for transportation aerodynamics.

The centre is due to be completed in 2019, offering training programmes up to Master's Degree level for 1,000 students.

Kier's appointment marks the firm's third collaboration with WMG.

The scheme is being funded by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) and was won by Kier as part of the LHC Schools and Community Building (SCB2) framework.

Commenting on the award, Mark Pausey, Kier Construction Central managing director, said: "Following on from our construction of the WMG Academy in Coventry and our work on the Materials Engineering Centre, we are delighted to be continuing to work with WMG on another great project designed to enhance the next generation's learning experience and provide them with the skills needed for a successful career in engineering.


"The Degree Apprenticeship Centre allows the University of Warwick to expand its offer to different types of degrees whilst giving its students the chance to work towards their degree straight from school, facilitating subjects that are more practically based."

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, Chairman of WMG, commented: "Building on nearly four decades' track record of developing, and delivering, pioneering education programmes, our new Degree Apprenticeship Centre will provide a variety of routes to achieve degree level apprenticeships.

"Young people are our future and we need to provide them with as many opportunities to support our manufacturing base. The centre will give the opportunity for school leavers and apprentices, looking to progress from Level 4 and 5 qualifications to degree level."

Sue Parr, Director of Degree Apprenticeships, WMG, University of Warwick added: "The new WMG Degree Apprenticeship Centre will provide an exciting new learning environment for our apprentices, which will enable them to focus on learning the skills needed to advance in their careers. The Centre will also benefit employers by developing the skilled workers needed to ensure that the UK remains competitive."

(CM/MH)