Greater Brighton Metropolitan College (GB MET) marked the official opening of its new Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Centre at Shoreham Airport Campus, with a special event on Thursday 30 June.
Guests from local businesses, schools and colleges gathered alongside GB MET staff and governors to celebrate the project, with presentations by GB MET CEO Andy Cole and Project Manager Chris Davies, campus tours, and opportunities to see the new equipment in action.
Two lucky winners of a prize draw won a dream ride in a BMW i4 M50 and a Tesla Model S.
Also on display was a brand-new Toyota BZ4X - the very first electric product for Toyota in the country - from Yeomans of Worthing, and a touring car from BTC Racing.
The project is part of Greener Sussex - a £7 million pilot project funded by the Department for Education’s £65 million Strategic Development Fund (SDF).
The Greener Sussex initiative - led by FE Sussex - is a consortium of colleges across the region who are working together to address the training needs of tomorrow’s green economy and to raise awareness for the next generation of students and employees. The investment of more than £7 million is for new equipment, learning resources, staff training, and employer and student awareness activities.
Greener Sussex has delivered five projects, each led by one of the member colleges. GB MET has led the establishment of six hybrid & electric vehicle technology training centres of excellence located in East, West and central Sussex, and in Brighton & Hove.
Other projects include: developing carbon literacy and awareness, led by BHASVIC; alternative energies and hydrogen technology, led by Chichester College Group; de-carbonisation academies, led by East Sussex College Group, and green technology for land management and food production, led by Plumpton College.
GB MET Principal Helena Thomas said: “We are absolutely delighted to officially open our Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Centre. As a result of this project our automotive students will learn the latest curriculum, using cutting edge equipment and technology.
“We are also extremely proud to have been involved in three other projects funded by the SDF, and thank FE Sussex and our partner colleges for their support and involvement in delivering on these important initiatives. Collectively, we will ensure that the education provided by colleges and training providers in the local area delivers the skills required by local employers.”
For further information visit www.gbmc.ac.uk