HSDC has secured £907,636 from the Department for Education’s Post-16 Construction Skills Capacity Fund to transform its construction facilities at South Downs Campus.
The investment will create modern, industry-designed multi-skills workshops where students can learn through practical, hands-on training alongside the essential technical knowledge required by the sector.
The new facilities will include flexible teaching bays for plumbing, electrical installation, heating and ventilation, multi-skills construction, and renewable and green energy technologies. This flexibility will allow HSDC to respond to changing employer needs and prepare students for both established and emerging careers.
The investment comes at an important time for the region. Construction employers face significant shortages of skilled tradespeople, while too many young people under the age of 24 remain not in education, employment or training (NEET). These are connected challenges: local employers need skilled people, while young people need accessible routes into secure employment and rewarding careers.
Practical technical education can play a vital role in bringing young people back into learning. By offering engaging, hands-on training with clear links to apprenticeships and jobs, HSDC aims to provide more young people—particularly those who may not thrive through classroom-based study alone—with a positive route into the construction industry.
The project will also expand capacity ahead of a forecast 10.4% increase in Havant’s population of 16 and 17-year-olds by 2028. The new facilities are scheduled for completion in September 2027.
The investment is particularly important for Havant, where parts of the borough experience significant economic and social disadvantage. Expanding access to high-quality technical education will help more young people gain valuable skills, progress into apprenticeships or employment, and contribute to the future prosperity of their communities.
Working closely with employers, HSDC will ensure that the curriculum and facilities reflect the realities of the modern workplace. The project will support progression into apprenticeships, higher-level training and employment while contributing to national priorities for housing, infrastructure and the transition to a greener economy.
Kurt Hintz, Principal and CEO of HSDC, said:
“This investment is about much more than new workshops. It is about creating opportunities for young people and delivering the skilled tradespeople our region urgently needs.
We face two challenges that must be addressed together: employers are struggling to recruit people with the right construction skills, while too many young people under 24 are not in education, employment or training. Practical, hands-on education can provide a powerful bridge between the two.
Not every young person is inspired by learning in a traditional classroom. These new facilities will give students the opportunity to learn by doing, develop confidence and see a clear pathway into an apprenticeship, further training or a skilled job.
Construction will be central to delivering the homes, infrastructure and greener economy our communities need. HSDC is determined to work with employers and our local partners to ensure that young people from across the region can access those opportunities and build successful futures.”
The transformed facilities will strengthen HSDC’s construction training capacity and its ability to deliver high-quality, employer-led technical education for future generations.