NCC aims to retain presence in Bircham Newton

The Board of CITB-ConstructionSkills has decided to try and continue to offer heavy plant and tower crane training at the National Construction College (NCC) East site in Bircham Newton, Norfolk, despite difficulties finding funding to keep the site going.

It said that it would deliver what it called "transferable training" elsewhere across the UK through other training facilities and the site-based training structure of the National Skills Academy for Construction.

CITB-ConstructionSkills said it hoped the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) would be able to help fund the NCC East operations, following what it called "increasingly positive discussions" with the body.

NCC spokesman Andy Walder said: "We are having further discussions with the LSC and hope there can now be greater flexibility around the funding required to support specialist apprenticeships." There had been fears that the LSC would not support NCC East because the NCC is an employer-funded organisation.

Walder added: "Without any form of external funding, we would still be looking at the closure options presented to the Board," with the final option being a growth of practical hands-on training at the site, such as civil engineering degree courses.