Doncaster high-speed rail campus opens

As part of the government’s efforts to boost rail construction expertise, the Doncaster campus of the National College for High Speed Rail (NCHSR) has officially opened its doors.

The college is part of government plans to train prospective engineers and construction workers to develop HS2 and other rail projects, as it looks to plug a potential post-Brexit skills gap.

The steel-framed Doncaster facilities are joined by a second campus in Birmingham, both of which were built by Willmott Dixon as part of a £52M contract.

Working with Wilmott Dixon, Hambleton Steel fabricated, supplied and erected 760t of structural steelwork for the Doncaster project.

Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening (pictured) said: “It has been great to attend the official launch of the NCHSR. It’s part of how we are steadily transforming technical education in this country, training up a new generation of skilled young people and the existing workforce so that British business has the skills it needs and people have the opportunities they want – a win-win for everyone.

“We can only do this in partnership with employers – the NCHSR is just one great example of this. The impressive new building and training facilities are at the forefront of our ambitions to create a world class system of technical education.”