Green Low Carbon
Skills & Economy
Enterprise Infrastructure; Skills Infrastructure
Project Description
There are two project elements to this programme theme:
Green Construction, Energy & Vehicle Training Centre delivered by East Sussex College
An important regional-scale project that will improve skills provision in new green / low carbon technologies across not only Hastings, but the wider East Sussex area.
The Green Centre of Excellence will be a major refurbishment of the East Sussex College Group’s Ore Valley Campus, delivered through high quality retrofitting and refurbishment of existing space at the Campus to create new facilities. The centre will provide a range of new training and skills opportunities locally for 16 to 19 year olds in higher education, and also adults. The curriculum will focus on the installation, design and repair of domestic retrofits of low carbon technologies, large scale commercial solar, smart meters and smart appliances, as well as the servicing and repair of electric hybrid vehicles.
The project will support social enterprise in retrofitting and enable the urban regeneration of ‘an existing industrial area’ through the relocation of the project and enable the urban regeneration of industrial spaces through the relocation of the College’s Automatic Training Centre and Construction Industries Training Centre.
Broadening Futures Together – partnership project between Plumpton College & Education Futures Trust (EFT)
This is a unique partnership between Education Futures Trust and Plumpton College, with the development of 18,000m2 semi-derelict site and The Firs classroom, situated on Elphinstone Road, Hastings, near Pilot Field. This new education facility offers courses related to the land-based economy. Courses are already underway, and Plumpton College will be hosting courses twice a week at City and Guilds Levels 1 & 2 from January 2024
The partnership will work together to deliver the programmes with outdoor-space at the Firs and EFT will also support pupil recruitment, enrolling students from deprived backgrounds and deliver complementary employment training.
View more details about the project on the Education Futures Trust website.
Below are published public documents relating to the project. Other documents will be published as they become available:
The Firs & Wellbeing Hub visual
The Firs & Wellbeing Hub visual 2
The Firs & Wellbeing Hub visual 3
Project Justification
The project is designed to address local skills deficits by providing new additional skills programmes and courses and deliver green skills programmes to meet modern requirements. The project capitalises on the strengths of existing education providers in Hastings (East College Sussex and EFT) and the opportunity to bring Plumpton College into Hastings town centre.
The new Green Technology Centre of Excellence and Green Transport Centre will respond to increases in consumer demand for greener products (electric and hybrid cars) and advanced low carbon technologies, decarbonising commercial and domestic properties and new clean growth policies whilst providing skills training that future-proof our labour supply.
Outputs & Outcomes for Green Construction, Energy & Vehicle Training Centre delivered by East Sussex College
• New training and skills opportunities for students
• 650 sqm of new and/or existing refurbished facilities
• Fostering stronger employer/college collaboration
• Engaging entrepreneurs.
Timeline for Green Construction, Energy & Vehicle Training Centre delivered by East Sussex College
Project completion: Summer 2026
East Sussex College Green Technology Centre of Excellence and Green Transport Centre – following approval of the Towns Fund application, the College would mobilise the design team to conclude all designs to an RIBA Stage 2. The shell and core of the centre is already present in the existing building and initial sketch scheme designs have been completed and from a standing start, the project would be completed within 84 weeks.
Costs & Funding for Green Construction, Energy & Vehicle Training Centre delivered by East Sussex College
| Total Funding | £2,940,758 |
| Town Fund | £2,638,758 |
| Other Funding | £302,000 |
Costs & Funding for Broadening Futures Together – partnership project between Plumpton College & Education Futures Trust (EFT)
| Total Funding | £687,836 |
| Town Fund | £417,121 |
| Other Funding | £270,715 |