A new campus for the civil engineering and construction sectors has been officially unveiled on the site of a former middle school.
East Coast College has opened a new Civil Engineering and Construction Campus to fill the future skills gap in the sector and help the government achieve its 'net zero' target.
The new campus based at Lound near Lowestoft, opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday, July 5 as part of a Vision Launch, before opening to students this September.
It is based on a 17-acre site between Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth at the former Lothingland Middle School grounds.
The former middle school was one of eight schools that closed in 2011 as part of Suffolk County Council's Schools Organisation Review (SOR).
In December 2013 the then Lowestoft College announced plans to create a second campus on the Lound site after finalising a deal with the county council.
Now, almost a decade on, the site is set to welcome its first students once more.
The college hosted two launch events, with the mayor of Lowestoft, Sonia Barker, council leaders, and representatives from Sizewell C supply chain and National College for Nuclear among those attending in the morning.
The afternoon was attended by local employers, who were able to have their say on what curriculum and opportunities they would like to see from the new campus.
The event was held in association with Flannery Plant Hire.
Professor Saul Humphrey, chair of building growth and a governor at East Coast College, was one of the guest speakers at the event that included guest speakers from Suffolk and Norfolk County Council.
He said: "It was wonderful to see East Coast College launching the new campus."
Stuart Rimmer, chief executive of East Coast College, said: "The Civil Engineering Campus provides a fantastic new set of facilities which have been developed in partnership with industry.
"This will bring on new curriculum and new opportunities."
For details about the new Civil Engineering and Construction Campus, email commercialmarketing@eastcoast.ac.uk
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