A HAMPSHIRE college whose mock construction site is helping to meet the skills shortage in the construction and civil engineering sector has been nominated for a national award.

Fareham College, the Times Education Supplement’s (TES) FE College of the Year, is a finalist in Construction Apprenticeship Provider of the Year Award at the FE Week and AELP ACC Apprenticeship Awards 2019.

The college was shortlisted for its innovative Civil Engineering and Groundworks Apprenticeship (CEGA) and Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC), based in Lee-on-the-Solent.

Both projects are a partnership between the college and the Solent Civil Engineering Employers Group (SCEEG).

CETC is a mock construction site that provides civil engineering apprentices a realistic training environment to get them site-ready.

CEGA is a unique course, co-designed by SCEEG members, which offers 20 weeks’ initial intensive basic training for allow apprentices before they complete their assessment during the remainder of their apprenticeship on their employers’ sites.

Nigel Duncan, principal of Fareham College, said: “Our aim has been to help tackle the country-wide skills shortages that hamper civil engineering companies meet their ambitious business growth targets, and to equip civil engineering apprentices with the skills employers really need. The programme is enjoying fantastic success and already delivering what we set out to achieve.”