Success in prospect for training college

From the archive, first published Monday 16th Apr 2007.

PLANS for a £5million centre of vocational excellence have been approved.

Prospects College applied in January for permission to transform the former Dines Plastic Factory in Compton Close, near Festival Leisure Park, Basildon, into a regional centre for vocational training.

Basildon Council has approved plans to extend the building so it can offer 200 places to students on courses such as bricklaying, engineering, carpentry, fabrication, welding and heating ventilation.

It will be one of only eight specialist centres in Britain for the training of electricians working in hazardous environments.

The project is expected to be finished by August, ready to open officially this September.

Prospects College is having to move from its engineering training centre in Pipps Hill, Basildon, because of the phenomenal level of demand for trade-related courses.