Esh Construction completes £1.7m training centre 

A new construction training centre will open this month following a major refurbishment project in County Durham. 

Esh Construction completed the £1.7 million project at Promotion House in Langley Moor.

The contractor has transformed an existing factory unit into a new learning space which will be used as a specialised teaching facility for New College Durham’s trade subjects. 

The building has been remodelled to create teaching rooms, breakout areas, changing facilities and a practical area for teaching. A mezzanine level has been created above the teaching space to house the mechanical plant for the facility. 

Grant Watson, construction manager for Esh, said: “The Promotion House refurbishment has served to strengthen our relationship with New College Durham. 

“We are proud to play our part in providing new learning environments for the next generation of construction workers and we are confident that the trade-specific elements the new facility brings will inspire young people to explore a range of key career pathways.”

Andy Broadbent, principal and CEO of New College Durham, added: “One of our fundamental aims here at New College Durham is to provide learners with the valuable skills and experience that local employers are asking for. 

“This latest development comes as part of our continued investment into providing the best facilities possible to allow our students to thrive.”

As part of Esh’s ‘constructing local’ strategy, 99% of the workforce employed on the project were from the North East, while a range of employability sessions have been delivered to schools across County Durham, engaging more than 1,400 students.