City of Portsmouth College (COPC) is strengthening its position as a leading provider of construction and specialist technical training in Portsmouth and the wider Solent region, following a £1.2 million investment from the Department for Education (DfE) Post-16 Construction Skills Capacity Fund.
The funding, alongside significant investment from COPC, will support the development and expansion of the College’s specialist Refrigeration and Air Conditioning facilities at North Harbour Campus, alongside improvements to its Multiskills Level 1 provision – a boost across its technical and practical training offer in response to the growing demand for construction and related skills.
Construction is a critical part of the local and national economy, with employers facing continued challenges in recruiting people with the practical and technical skills they need. COPC, which has around 1,500 students on construction-related courses, is responding by investing in industry-relevant facilities, equipment and training that will help develop the next generation of skilled workers and support local employers.
COPC is one of only a few colleges in the country to offer specific Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump training, and is in demand more than ever. The expansion will allow for provide additional cool rooms and end-point assessment space for students – both post-16 and commercial – and apprentices.
This has been made possible by the relocation of COPC’s engineering workshop from North Harbour to Highbury Campus, where engineering classroom provision is already based. The move will create a more integrated learning experience for engineering students, while also freeing up opportunities for greater collaboration and shared use of specialist equipment across engineering, automotive and other related provision.
These enhanced facilities will also support the launch of COPC’s new T Level in Engineering, which is due to welcome its first students in September 2027.
Katy Quinn, Principal & CEO, said: “The construction industry is fundamental to the future prosperity of Portsmouth and the wider Solent region, and colleges have a vital role to play in making sure local people have the skills to take advantage of the opportunities available.
“The investment in our RAC facilities and wider technical provision is particularly exciting because it gives us the opportunity to increase capacity and strengthen an area of the College that is already highly valued by students, apprentices and employers. The relocation of engineering is an additional benefit of this development, creating a more connected learning environment for our engineering students.
“This is about much more than moving workshops. It is about investing in people, skills and facilities that will help Portsmouth and the wider region meet the construction and technical workforce challenges of the future.”
To find out more about RAC provision at City of Portsmouth College, alongside its wealth of construction courses, visit www.copc.ac.uk
