The creation of a Green Skills Innovation Centre (GSIC) is a significant strategic development, which will enable WAES to support local people towards their individual journeys to net-zero, low-carbon living and provide career pathways. We have managed to secure a location and drawn up plans for a 5 room centre to accommodate classrooms, high tech IT suites, learning lab and immersive classroom plus a community learning area, meeting room and staff area to deliver the new curriculum. Flexibility and sustainability in design has been key and will allow us to maximise the use of the GSIC for many years into the future. The furniture for the centre has been sourced from a company that recycles and restores office furniture.
We appointed a project manager to oversee the project and provide expertise in this area, as well as an external consultant to work with the strip out, fitting, planning, etc. Some additional funding has been secured through WCC.
We have been working with our other ACL providers to enable curriculum development. Islington have secured a location and introduced a green technical awareness centre to encourage careers, Wandsworth have focused on digital engagement, and Hackney are focussing on resource development for green and digital delivery. Curriculum development with employers to ensure both the development of soft skills and the correct technical skills happen in the form of a bootcamp.
We have had some delay due to M&E works requiring additional ventilation and therefore planning, so whilst we will implement the curriculum from Sept 24, the GSIC will open in Jan 2025.
