London South East Colleges has celebrated the official opening of a brand-new STEM block at its Bromley Campus.
The state-of-the-art building was opened by Clive Efford, MP for Eltham and Chislehurst. Guests included the Mayor of Bromley Dr David Jeffreys, Councillor Denise Hyland and many employer partners including Neilcott Construction and ECS Systems.
The new £5.7 million facility, funded by the Department for Education's Post-16 Capacity Fund and T Level Capital Fund, will play a key role in meeting the growing demand for skills in critical sectors such as construction, plumbing, electrical work, and green technologies.
The building offers 800 sq metres of newly built and refurbished space, equipped with advanced tools and technology. It will help provide the nearly 1,000 learners enrolled on STEM-related courses at the College with practical experience essential to their future careers, as demand for these pathways continues to rise.
Speaking at the opening, Dr Sam Parrett CBE, Group Principal and CEO of London South East Colleges, thanked everyone involved in the project. She emphasised the positive impact that the investment will have for learners and employers, saying:
"Our new STEM building is an excellent illustration of our commitment to providing the highest quality education and employment opportunities across the Borough. We appreciate the great support of our partners and stakeholders who have collaborated on this project with us, including the DfE, Local Authority and employers.
“We are also incredibly grateful to our college leaders, managers, teachers and support teams who have contributed to this project over the past three years and worked flat out to deliver these fantastic facilities.
“For our current and future learners, this space offers hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment, giving them the skills they need to thrive in their careers. For employers, it means a stronger pipeline of qualified talent ready to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy."
Asfa Sohail, Executive Principal of London South East Colleges, shared further details about the project. Guests were then given a tour around the new facilities, with the opportunity to talk to staff and students.
London South East Colleges is committed to transforming lives through the power of learning. We support people of all ages and backgrounds to achieve success through high-quality education and training, further strengthening our community’s future workforce. For more information, visit www.LSEC.ac.uk