The Garenne Construction Group says that it hopes to provide support by supplying specialist equipment to the college, as well as offering site visits to students.
Currently, the Highlands College Faculty of Construction and Engineering – which teaches skills such as building trades and plumbing – caters for 57 full-time and 283 part-time students.
And there are a further 38 students undertaking an HNC Diploma or BSc (Hons) course with University College Jersey.
Marc Burton, chief executive of the Channel Island operations at the Garenne Construction Group, said: ‘We are delighted to be supporting Highlands College, as offering on-Island training is so integral to the construction industry.
‘We are looking forward to working with the Highlands College team to see how we can provide additional support, through providing specialist equipment, developing innovative ways to encourage people to join the industry or simply by being able to enhance the learning within the department by offering site visits, lectures or specific IT programmes.’
The partnership will also enable funding for visits, including a trip for degree students who are completing the first year of their construction management or architectural design courses to the Battersea Power Station redevelopment. During their visit they will have the opportunity to meet the project director and managers to hear about the challenges faced on the site, which will eventually comprise hundreds of apartments, a 167-room hotel, retail space, restaurants, leisure facilities and a roof garden.
