Combined Authority investment unlocks Green Skills Academy in Wisbech

Combined Authority investment unlocks Green Skills Academy in Wisbech

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow helped open a new £4.2 million Green Skills Academy in Wisbech this week (Apr 22) which has seen a £2 million investment from the Combined Authority.  

Based at the College of West Anglia’s Wisbech campus, it will aim to drive opportunity and economic growth in Fenland.

The academy, delivered in partnership with College of West Anglia and Anglian Water, will train the next generation of skilled workers in environmental technology and green trades. It will support the Combined Authority’s Local Growth Plan ambition to triple the size of the economy. Anglian Water contributed £2 million, with additional investment from College of West Anglia, bringing total investment to £4.2 million.

The Mayor was joined at the opening by Jason Tucker, Director of Commercial Operations for Anglian Water Services and David Pomfret, CEO and Principal of College of West Anglia. Also attending were employers, community leaders and learners, marking a major step forward in addressing skills gaps and creating employment opportunities in an area where skills levels have historically been lower than regional and national averages.

The Combined Authority’s £2 million investment, funded through the Local Growth Fund, enabled construction of purpose-built training spaces and demonstrations at the opening included industry-standard green technology, such as vacuum sewage systems, directional drilling equipment and sustainable materials demonstrations.

The Combined Authority is working to create conditions for growth set out in the Local Growth Plan, with a Mayoral ambition to triple the size of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough economy. The Fens Growth Triangle is one of four Opportunity Zones identified in the Local Growth Plan for focused investment in infrastructure, skills and jobs.

Paul Bristow said: “This is another example of the Combined Authority investing in skills opportunities in places where they are needed most. 

“This £2 million investment, working alongside Anglian Water and College of West Anglia, will give people the skills employers actually need.

“Our Local Growth Plan identifies Fenland and our Fens Growth Triangle Opportunity zone as a key area for accelerated growth. That growth depends on skilled people and that’s what this new academy will help provide.

“It’s about creating opportunities for well-paid jobs, supporting local employers to grow, and making sure Fenland is part of my push to triple the size of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough economy.”

David Pomfret, Principal and CEO of the College of West Anglia, said: “Seeing the Green Skills Academy officially open its doors is something we are incredibly proud of. The Green Skills Academy represents what can be achieved when education, mayoral authority and industry work hand in hand; creating a space where students can develop practical, future-focused skills that directly support the growth of the green economy. It was fantastic to bring together partners, employers and learners to celebrate this milestone and showcase the opportunities that the academy will create for years to come.” 

Mark Thurston, CEO of Anglian Water, said: “We’ve invested £2 million, alongside our alliance partners, to support the new Green Skills Academy. Water is critical to enabling economic growth, so the Green Skills Academy is one crucial way that we’re investing in these skills now, to provide a pathway for local people to get involved in really important work that will benefit our region’s environment for years to come.”