THE final phase of work is under way on a project that should help Bournemouth and Poole College meet a growing demand for engineering and manufacturing talent.

The college’s engineering and advanced manufacturing facilities are being upgraded with £561,150 secured by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as part of the Dorset Growth Deal.

Dorset LEP expects the work to create 30 jobs directly and 120 indirectly, as well as 20 construction jobs. It will support 354 engineering apprentices and 227 full time students a year.

Gordon Page, chairman of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have secured funding through the Dorset growth deal to invest in Bournemouth and Poole College’s facilities which will help address the increased demand from local employers for highly skilled engineering and advanced manufacturing personnel.

“By helping to improve Dorset’s education and training, we will create a more highly skilled and educated workforce which in turn will boost productivity and employment in the region.”

Areas being upgraded include the college’s welding bay facility, which receives 16 new welding bays; its motor vehicle practical teaching area, which is getting tyre changing facilities; and the motorcycle maintenance practical areas.

The facilities will also get new exterior wall cladding, replacement windows and roof repairs.

Diane Grannell, principal of Bournemouth and Poole College said, “These new facilities will significantly improve our students’ learning. The upgrade means that we can offer a more modern working environment, allowing students to be fully prepared when moving into work. We are very thankful to Dorset LEP for supporting this investment.”

The final phase of work, under way now, includes upgrading classrooms and lighting as well as investment in lathe and milling areas, computer aided design classrooms and 3D printing.

The work is due to be finished in time for the new academic year in September.

Dorset LEP, which brings together local authorities and businesses to determine economic priorities, secured £79million from the government’s Local Growth Deal.

Its key aim is to drive economic growth and job creation. Among its strategic priorities is enhancing the skills of the current and future workforce, increasing apprenticeships and intern places and helping more people back into work.