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.

What's new

CreaTech Frontiers Launch Unlocks £250K in Funding for West Midlands Creative Innovators

Creative SMEs in the West Midlands are being given a major boost with the launch of CreaTech Frontiers, a new innovation cluster that has opened applications for the first £250,000 round of grant funding.

The programme, which offers individual grants of up to £10,000, is designed to help freelancers and small creative businesses develop groundbreaking ideas at the intersection of creativity and technology. The funding forms part of a £7.2 million, five-year initiative led by a consortium of regional powerhouses including Birmingham City University (BCU), University of Birmingham, Coventry University, University of Warwick, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. It’s funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the UK Research and Innovation's Creative Industries Cluster Programme.

Photo Credit: University of Warwick

Officially launched on April 29 at STEAMhouse, BCU’s innovation centre, CreaTech Frontiers marks the first time the West Midlands has received funding through this prestigious national scheme.

Professor Lamberto Coccioli, Director of CreaTech Frontiers, said:

“These early-stage grants will give creative entrepreneurs access not just to capital, but also to university-led research and resources that can turn ambitious ideas into reality. This is about unlocking cultural, social and economic value across the region.”

CreaTech Frontiers is aiming to ignite a wave of innovation in sectors like gaming, immersive tech, live performance, visual arts, and creative technologies. Successful applicants will also gain access to facilities across the five partner institutions, along with specialist academic support during the R&D phase.

Future plans include a second, larger round of grant funding, a pilot with Birmingham Opera Company, collaborative projects with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the formation of an apprenticeship working group to support skills development.

Rachel Davis, Director of Warwick Enterprise, said:

“Through this collaboration, we’re strengthening the region’s identity as a creative and tech innovation hub. With a shared focus on inclusion and sustainability, CreaTech Frontiers will ensure diverse voices are at the forefront of this growing ecosystem.”

The West Midlands Combined Authority is also backing the initiative, which it believes could contribute £65 million and create 1,500 jobs by 2030 within the regional creative and gaming economy.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker added:

“Our region is full of bold, young thinkers pushing the boundaries of tech and creativity. CreaTech Frontiers connects these minds with the world-class research coming out of our universities, creating the conditions for global impact.”

Applications open Monday 2 June 2025.

Interested SMEs can register now

to be part of the next generation of CreaTech pioneers.

By Anushka Malhotra

2 May