Yvette Cooper officially opens new construction building at Castleford College
Castleford College celebrated a major milestone as Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, officially opened the its new state-of-the-art construction facility.
Speaking at the launch, Ms Cooper officially unveiled the Lagentium Building in front of employers, local authorities, education partners, governors and colleagues of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, recognising the importance of highquality apprenticeships, training and skills provision for the future of the construction workforce in the region.
Principal and Chief Executive of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, Sam Wright, said “The development of our brand-new construction facility has been an ambitious project, and I’m incredibly proud to mark the opening of the building.
"From the outset, our vision for this facility has been about far more than bricks and mortar.
"We set out to create a space dedicated to high-quality teaching, apprenticeships and hands-on skills development - one that supports both academic learning and advanced vocational training.
"Most importantly, it is a space designed to serve our learners and staff for many years to come, helping our region play its part in bridging the construction skills gap and building a stronger, more sustainable future.”
Named after the Roman fort Lagentium, historically located in Castleford, the building provides over 1,580 square metres of modern learning space and has been designed as a hub for teaching, apprenticeships and hands-on skills development.
The new building supports construction learners across a wide range of disciplines, including brickwork, carpentry and joinery, design, surveying and planning, electrical Installation, plastering and plumbing.
The ground floor features an open, contemporary workshop space which enables learners to develop practical skills across all wood occupations, supporting hands-on learning in a setting designed to reflect modern industry standards.
The first floor features three modern classrooms, including a professional digital suite, ensuring students have access to the digital technologies used in today’s construction sector.
A strong focus has also been placed on sustainability and green skills, with facilities supporting training in next generation construction practices, including retrofitting, helping learners prepare for the transition to a more sustainable built environment.
The project was delivered with funding support from the Department for Education, alongside the work of key project partners.