A NEW ‘Skills Village’ for Bradford College students has opened on a Keepmoat development in Eccleshill.

Created and fully funded by the national homebuilder, the space is located on its Vision housing development near Harrogate Road.

The site will encompass almost 600 high-spec three and four-bedroom homes across two sites when completed. 

Multiple cohorts of Carpentry & Joinery students will initially spend time between Bradford College and working on a live construction site.

The students will deliver real carpentry and joinery projects while gaining insight from site managers, specialist contractors and industry professionals. 

Siobhan Cooper, Social Value Coordinator at Keepmoat, said: “This unit is embedded in a real, working environment so students feel part of the Keepmoat construction team and follow the same procedures and rules as contractors on site.

“We’re really proud to be able to work with the College to give these students an opportunity to undergo real work experience.”

James Haigh, Team Leader for Sustainable Construction & Built Environment at Bradford College, said: “After the generous support from Keepmoat, we can’t wait to deliver theoretical and practical vocational lessons based on an active construction site.

“This initiative will help us to interlink with real-world jobs on a project local to the College.”