Enderby EYE

the village ...and beyond

Whetstone based Westleigh Developments unlocks
academy for pupils

12 July 2010

John Slipper, Chris Beighton with students
John Slipper, Vice Principal at Countesthorpe Community College,
receives the keys to the new Westleigh Vocational Academy from
Chris Beighton, Managing Director of Westleigh Developments
(Photo: Westleigh)

Pupils at Countesthorpe Community College recently took one step closer to their brand new vocational centre when Westleigh Developments completed construction work and handed over the keys.

Work has now finished on the £400,000 state-of-the-art and environmentally sound facility, named the Westleigh Vocational Academy, in which pupils will be able to learn bricklaying, joinery, vehicle maintenance, hairdressing, beauty therapy and IT.

The 3,800 sq ft, single storey building houses five workshops and one theory classroom, each able to cater for up to 14 students, who will be able to use the new facilities at the start of the new academic year in September.

John Slipper, Vice-Principal at Countesthorpe Community College, says,

“We knew Westleigh Developments would build us something special but what it has done is build us something exceptional, the first of its kind in Leicestershire and in record time.

"The Westleigh Vocational Academy offers outstanding provision and is finished to the highest quality.

"We could not have believed that after just nine months we would have such fantastic, purpose built facilities at our disposal.

"This is exactly what working together in partnership with local industry is all about and to the benefit of the local community.”

Chris Beighton, Managing Director of Whetstone-based Westleigh comments,

“We are delighted to have finished work on the brand new vocational academy at Countesthorpe College which will provide a long-term sustainable training facility for students both pre and post 16.

"As a company we strongly believe in the importance of apprenticeships and have recruited three or four every year for a number of years.

"Not only do we hope to take on youngsters who graduate through this centre, but there is also potential for it to provide apprentices to other developers and contractors in the area.”

Vice Principal John Slipper receives keys from Westleigh's Chris Beighton
Chris Beighton of Westleigh Developments (right), Vice Principal
John Slipper (left) and students at Countesthorpe College
(Photo: Westleigh)

The college predicts that the new centre will be able to welcome 122 students in the forthcoming academic year, with this number rising to 230 students within two years.

There will also be the possibility of evening adult learning classes taking place, whilst further employment opportunities will arise as experienced tutors and industry experts will be required for all of the centre’s courses.

The building also feature photo-voltaic panels, a heat recovery and mechanical ventilation system, LCD lighting and is developed to meet the requirements of an A rated Energy Performance Certificate.

Westleigh Developments builds commercial projects and new homes across the East Midlands and manufactures its own eco-friendly timber frames for the construction industry at its Westframe factory in Enderby. Westleigh Partnership Homes work closely together with housing associations to build affordable new homes in Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, the West Midlands, Cambridgeshire and South Yorkshire.

For further information please telephone 0116 277 3324 or visit the Westleigh website (see link below).

Associated links

» Westleigh Developments

» Countesthorpe Community College

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Whetstone based Westleigh Developments unlocksacademy for pupils

Whetstone based Westleigh Developments unlocks
academy for pupils