STAFF at Basingstoke College of Technology are celebrating after it was awarded a prestigious status - and extra Government funding.

BCOT learned earlier this year that it has been granted Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) status for its construction services.

The Government's Learning and Skills Council granted the status following a rigorous examination of every aspect of the college's construction work.

As a result, BCOT will now receive £400,000 of Government funding over the next three years to invest in its construction department.

Alan Gwyer, the college's strategy and partnerships director, who was behind the bid, said: "The CoVE is a prestigious award which recognises excellence in the quality of training and close working relationships with employers in the industry.

"It was a demanding application with every aspect of the construction department's work being examined in detail three times - by local, regional and national assessors.

"This award is recognition of the high quality of our construction training and will help us to provide new courses and even better services for the industry in Basingstoke and north Hampshire."

Speaking about the new status, BCOT principal Judith Armstrong said: "This is absolutely brilliant for the college, particularly as construction is so important for the regional economy.

"It will bring our construction facilities up to industry standard, extend our range of programmes, and allow us to further disseminate good practice with other colleges. The status is also a great reflection on the people who work here."

Mr Gwyer said the Government funding would ultimately provide the area with more specialists in interior trades.

He explained: "One of the first things the CoVE funding will do is enable us to build a new workshop for a new specialism in interior trades, which is the fitting of false ceilings and floors and associated skills.

"There are currently only three interiors centres in Britain, the nearest being at Kings Lynn. Local companies consequently have great difficulty in finding skilled fitters."

Benefits would also be more immediate, added Mr Dwyer. He said that construction students starting at BCOT in September will notice immediate improvements to buildings, equipment and facilities.

The college will also be introducing new courses, including some designed especially for women who want to find work in the booming construction industry. Around 1,000 students are currently taught in the college's construction department, both school leavers and those already in the industry.