Work is to start on the UK’s first virtual reality construction management training centre in the heart of Coventry, West Midlands.

Regional Development Agency Advantage West Midlands has signed a contract with Coventry University Enterprises for a grant of £6.3 million to build and develop the Centre for Advanced Construction Technologies.

Coventry University Enterprises can now secure the licence for UK and Ireland from Dutch developers Schrijver Project Management BV, develop the courses and systems for the UK’s first Construction Management Simulation Centre (CMSC) and build the centre.

Michael Schrijver, developer of the world’s first Building Management Simulation Centre (BMSC) in the Netherlands, will be leading an eight-strong team to develop the CMSC, and will also be the Managing Director of ACT-UK Ltd which will operate the centre. ACT-UK Ltd has been funded by investors and supporters from the construction industry.

Trainees in the CMSC will receive an unforgettable experience that will develop and accelerate their site management capabilities.

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The simulator comprises a large auditorium, an 11m X 3.5 m parabolic VR screen displaying real UK construction projects, giving an immersive experience, 11 site huts and professional actors to simulate ‘real life’ on site scenarios for training and developing construction managers.

Experienced site managers will supervise the trainees to ensure the best of on-the-job learning is achieved.

As well as the CMSC with its focus on site management, the centre will also offer training in advanced applications of virtual reality and simulation to planning, design and supply chain working. There will also be an industry showcase, a dedicated construction IT training centre and business facilities.

ACT-UK’s chairman Clive Benfield said: “We are all absolutely elated. It has been an interesting time and hard work pulling all the aspects together and very positive to see how the construction industry is backing us so wholeheartedly. ACT-UK can now provide a unique management training experience.

“All our thanks go to Coventry University Enterprises which has been such a great support to us all the way through, the Learning and Skills Council Coventry and Warwickshire which provided initial funding and the Chartered Institute of Building, for the vision for the ACT-UK project.”

The scheme was officially launched in January where keynote speakers were Sir John Egan and Sir Michael Latham, whose government-commissioned reports on improving efficiency, quality and working practices within construction have changed the face of the industry.

Final building costs are currently being agreed with building contractor Shaylor Construction of Birmingham, which is expected to start work on the 12-month construction project at Coventry University Technology Park, in Puma Way, at the end of this year.

(LC/SP)