Why it matters: Leiston and surrounding areas have faced limited access to Further Education for years, with no dedicated training facilities capable of supporting the thousands of skilled workers needed for the nuclear project.
The big picture: The college forms part of three major education facilities planned by Sizewell C, including an apprenticeship hub supporting up to 540 local apprentices and a Centre of Excellence for workforce training.
The College on the Coast will deliver technical, vocational and academic pathways aligned to Sizewell C's workforce needs and the wider energy, infrastructure and engineering sectors. It represents an extension of Suffolk New College's current local provision, known as 'On the Coast'.
The details: The three-part education plan includes:
College on the Coast: A permanent FE location delivering comprehensive education and training
Apprenticeship & Trainee Hub: Supporting up to 540 local apprentices with pastoral care, careers guidance and mentoring facilities
Centre of Excellence: Temporary training infrastructure focused on civils, mechanical, electrical and welding skills for the nuclear workforce
What they're saying: "This is what big infrastructure can do if it's done right," said Julia Pyke, Sizewell C Joint Managing Director. "We're going well beyond our planning requirements to deliver a new college for Leiston - where public transport is a barrier to post-16 education - and which will continue to benefit the area long after construction has finished."
Alan Pease, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Suffolk New College, said: "The collaboration will enable us to support the local community with post-16 education for young people and adults, not only related to skills required by Sizewell C, but also more generally."
For context: Sizewell C already provides a £23m fund to enhance local education facilities and has partnerships with regional education providers. The project will invest £4.4bn in the East of England and create 1,500 apprenticeships during construction.
The bottom line: The new college addresses a long-standing education gap in rural Suffolk while creating a skilled local workforce for one of Britain's biggest clean energy projects, leaving a permanent legacy for the community.
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