East Sussex College Launch Training Hub

East Sussex College’s Green Training Hub in partnership with OHM Energy has officially launched at Hampden Retail Park in Eastbourne.

East Sussex College was selected to establish one of five new decarbonisation academies across Sussex to support the development of skills in retrofitting and green energy installation.

The brand-new ESC Training Hub in Hampden Retail Park, Eastbourne, welcomed visitors at its official unveiling last week (7th October). In attendance were Rob Cottrill, CEO of Eastbourne Borough Council, Caroline Ansell, MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon, Rebecca Conroy, CEO and Principal of East Sussex College, Jason Lindfield, Managing Director of OHM Energy, along with East Sussex College Governors, teachers from local schools, and businesses including Samsung, Visls, Solivus, Ecotecture, Zenova Group, REED, the DWP and Sovereign Commercial. The Training Hub was officially opened by TV presenter and author Simon Reeve.

The Training Hub base will be home to some of the College’s adult provision and will also be utilised by 16-19 learners. The centre will support Local Authorities, construction employers, homeowners and businesses to improve insulation and install green energy products in commercial properties and housing.

Jason Lindfield, Managing Director at OHM Energy, said, “This is a proud occasion, not only for OHM Energy, but for the area, as years of work to bring the political, environmental and commercial together is realised. Anyone who has been in the renewables industry for the last two decades knows how hard and volatile the market can be, and anyone in and around public/private sector partnerships appreciates how hard this is to get right! So a big thank you to our partners at the college, and to Rob Cottrill, Ian Fitzpatrick, Nathan Haffenden, and more recently, Caroline Ansell MP, for the support and vision.”

Rebecca Conroy, CEO and Principal at East Sussex College, said, “We’re really excited to see everyone here, what a brilliant day! This centre is the fruits of an enormous amount of partnership work. You’ll see what that partnership has delivered for us, this massive opportunity to build the skills that the community really needs in a niche area. It’s a really exciting time. This whole partnership was funded through the Strategic Development Fund, which is a partnership across Sussex with a range of Colleges. There’s a number of people that have been really integral to that so I’d just like to say thank you to everyone!”

Simon Reeve, journalist and documentary filmmaker, said, “As a country, we’ve got to grasp the opportunities of the green industrial revolution now. We’ve got to innovate, develop, and that means we all need to rise to the challenge. Including our colleges and counties. Just as is being done here at ESC Training Hub. You are showing the rest of the country the way, and that’s why this green energy Training Hub is so important. It’s why I am so happy and honoured to be here. The Training Hub is a brilliant and timely idea, something we need more of.

“This must be the decade where we start tackling the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. Our own behaviour. This needs to be a decade of opportunity where we start retrofitting our homes and buildings. This decade must be transformative and with your help and your work, we can get to 2030 and look back on this decade with pride. And look to the future with confidence. Good luck to you all, and good luck to the East Sussex College Training Hub!”

For more information on East Sussex College’s decarbonisation work, please visit: www.escg.ac.uk/blog/college-carbon-zero-project-gets-underway.