National College for High Speed Rail begins next development step

The National College for High Speed Rail in Doncaster hopes to begin the next development step, after Doncaster Council received the planning application for consideration.

The National College for High Speed Rail, which was established in July this year, will provide specialist vocational training for the future generations of engineers. It represents the next step in developing the highly skilled workforce needed to build High Speed Two (HS2), the largest infrastructure project Britain has seen for decades, as well as future rail infrastructure projects.

Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, said: “The National College for High Speed Rail will offer opportunities for our existing world-class rail firms to flourish, entice new private sector investment and firms to the town and importantly drive through economic growth and jobs not just for the borough of Doncaster but also the Sheffield City Region, Yorkshire and the north of England.”

HS2 will be a Y-shaped rail network providing direct, high capacity, high speed rail links between London and Birmingham and on to Manchester and Leeds. HS2 will boost the economy through creating up to 100,000 jobs nationwide, with around 25,000 jobs during construction of Phases One and Two and 2,000 apprenticeships.

“The National College for High Speed Rail will have a major impact on the ability of the UK rail supply industry”

In September 2014, the Government announced the college would be jointly located at two sites, one in Doncaster and the other in Birmingham. Since this announcement, all parties have worked closely to reach this important stage in the project’s development.

Doncaster Council’s project team has carried out significant work in partnership with Birmingham City Council and HS2 Ltd. Willmott Dixon was selected as lead contractor for the design and build of the college, whilst Bond Bryan Architects and other consultants have pulled together the appropriate feasibility studies for the modern building at Doncaster’s Lakeside campus.

Mayor Jones, commented: “It’s now less than two years until the ground-breaking National College for High Speed Rail opens its doors for the first intake of students. From the design concept, which was shaped in consultation with the private sector, you can see how impressive this new national college is going to be.”

Chancellor George Osborne announced earlier this month that the Sheffield City Region will work with the Government to achieve their ambitions for a National Institute for Infrastructure within Doncaster, as part of the proposed Sheffield City Region devolution deal.

Mayor Jones added: “If the devolution deal goes through, Doncaster will become a training hub which provides the skills needed to deliver the UK’s future infrastructure projects with the National College for High Speed Rail expanded into a new National Institute of Infrastructure. These are truly exciting times for Doncaster!”

The college is the only way to provide world-class training for this size of workforce to build, operate and maintain the railway. The college will be open to a wide variety of people, including new entrants, existing workforce, students studying for a foundation degree in rail engineering, access students, mature entrants (science based / non science based), higher apprentice rail engineering students, progression from L3 diploma rail engineering, continuous professional development and career changers.

Terry Morgan, Chair of the Corporate Board for the National College for High Speed Rail said: “The National College for High Speed Rail will have a major impact on the ability of the UK rail supply industry to develop a suitable and sustainable workforce to deliver HS2 and other infrastructure projects.

“This essential training facility will produce the multi-skilled specialist workforce required to address the industry’s current and future skills needs. The submission of the planning application for the construction of the College at Lakeside in Doncaster is welcome news.”

For more information go to: www.doncaster.gov.uk/NCHSR