 The AccXel Construction Skills Accelerator Centre, designed by coombes everitt architects, is located at Cinderford in the Forest of Dean. The centre is co-founded by local company KW Bell, and with support and funding from a range of partners including Forest of Dean District Council and the Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (GFirst LEP), as well as a government ‘Getting building’ grant. The facilities include ultra-modern teaching and research space, a 100-seat lecture theatre for presentations and events, a mock construction site, and simulators for safety training, as well as a café. 
The first 80 successful apprentices have already been promised work, getting the centre off to a great start. “The UK construction industry continues to experience a serious skills shortage,” said Toby Coombes, coombes everitt director, who attended the opening ceremony on December 9th. “It’s therefore been a real privilege to be part of this important project which will provide a foundation for inspiring, training and connecting construction workers. “As a Cheltenham-based practice, we’re delighted to see such a facility located in the same county – let’s hope it will be the first of many around the whole of the UK.” 
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