Warwickshire College Group Initiates £900k Low Carbon Construction Centre at Rugby College

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 23 seconds

Tech

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Quick Read: Rugby College is set to launch a groundbreaking Low Carbon Construction Centre, thanks to a £900k grant from the Department for Education. Warwickshire College Group (WCG) plans to repurpose an existing building on the Technology Drive campus, focusing on low carbon construction techniques such as heat pumps and solar applications. The facility aims to bridge the skills gap in sustainable construction and invites collaboration with industry experts to shape its curriculum and facilities. For more information, contact the Employer Services team at employers@wcg.ac.uk.

Rugby College is gearing up to pioneer eco-friendly construction education with the establishment of a cutting-edge Low Carbon Construction Centre. Warwickshire College Group (WCG) secured a £900k grant from the Department for Education to create this state-of-the-art facility, addressing the growing demand for skills in sustainable construction. The centre, situated at the Technology Drive campus, will repurpose an existing building and offer specialized courses in low carbon techniques, focusing on areas like heat pumps and solar applications.

This forward-looking initiative aims to narrow the skills gap in the construction sector while promoting economic growth across the region. WCG plans to open the Low Carbon Construction Centre in September, leveraging the infrastructure at the Rugby College site for hands-on demonstrations. The centre will initially provide short courses for small businesses, progressing to apprenticeships and integration into WCG's full-time Further Education courses.

Alan May, Director of Apprenticeships at WCG, expressed delight at receiving the Department for Education funding. He emphasized the centre's focus on low carbon construction, aligning with the industry's shift towards Net Zero. The repurposed building at Rugby College will incorporate existing infrastructure, including a ground-source heat pump for practical demonstrations.

WCG invites collaboration from construction businesses to shape the centre's facilities and contribute to curriculum development. The involvement of industry experts from the outset ensures that the facility aligns with the specific needs of the construction sector. Additionally, employers will have opportunities to engage with the centre as subject experts, delivering guest lectures and providing valuable insights.

The grant will not only fund the physical infrastructure but also support the development of e-learning modules. WCG plans to collaborate with other colleges in the region to create comprehensive e-learning resources tailored to the needs of the West Midlands.

Construction businesses interested in shaping the new Low Carbon Construction Centre at Rugby College are encouraged to contact the Employer Services team at employers@wcg.ac.uk. This collaborative approach ensures that the facility meets industry requirements and delivers relevant skills for the region's workforce.

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West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun