PROMISED top-quality technical training, for students aged 16 and over, came a step closer in Whitehill and Bordon, when Hampshire County Council fixed the final “golden bolt” at the new Future Skills Centre.

Employment opportunities change with the times, but people who can make, fix and build things will always have a role in society.

And such practical skills - those essential for large-scale housing developments, which Bordon will have no shortage of over coming decades - will be of particular local value.

The county council’s deputy leader, and executive lead member for children’s services, Keith Mans said the new centre, at the old Louisburg Barracks, will be “integral to the regeneration of Whitehill and Bordon”.

He said the council was proud to support the centre with partners - the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership and East Hampshire District Council.

“This flagship facility will offer young people, employers and the wider community the skills necessary for the jobs that will be created by the regeneration, and will improve the area’s economic prosperity,” he added. “We’re proud to have the scale, capacity, experience and expertise to deliver key infrastructure projects like these, and ultimately to bring new opportunities to the community here.”

Peter Edgar, the county council’s executive member for education, said: “This is great news for young people in Whitehill and Bordon and beyond. A range of technical-training options will be on offer in a purpose-built, well equipped, modern facility. With the emphasis on construction, students could be developing skills in brickwork, carpentry, plumbing or electrics, and potentially contribute to the building of their new town.”

The Future Skills Centre at the former barracks in the north of Bordon, will have a core curriculum focused on construction and skills for the built environment, reflecting the skills needed in the area as identified by the Construction Industry Training Board and following consultation with developers and contractors involved in the regeneration.

Although the focus will be on training for the construction sector, the centre will also be a hub for technical training, with an adult and learning programme for the wider community.

The county council secured £3.8million to fund the project, through the Local Growth Fund Grant from the Enterprise M3 LEP, and also put £250,000 towards the building costs.

The construction partner is Reading-based Interserve, while the Basingstoke College of Technology has been appointed as the county council’s operating partner. The centre expects to welcome the first students in the 2017 autumn term.

Town and county councillor Adam Carew said: “This marks the completion of the grid shell for the Future Skills Centre. The architecture is exciting and will be highly visible as you enter the town from the north. Things are moving fast and we anticipate a soft opening in May and a formal opening next autumn.

“All this shows, once again, that the county council is committed to serious investment in Whitehill and Bordon.

“I have argued from day one that our town needs infrastructure, facilities, jobs, education and training up front. This message has come across loud and clear, - it is what our town needs and what our residents want.

“The Future Skills Centre will be run by Basingstoke College which has a strong track record in this field (modern and greener construction techniques) and of getting its students and apprentices into work. I was very impressed with the principal and his deep commitment to this project.”