GD23A – Bicton

Bicton Growth Deal Project

Skills Capital projects have been included in the Heart of the South West LEP’s Local Growth Funding (LGF) in 2015-16 which supports the delivery of its Strategic Economic Plan (SEP). The LEP has received a Skills Capital Funding allocation of £17.96million, of which £6.5m is for a separate competitive call for a Hinkley Point Training Agency Package known as HPTA (this call) and £11.46m is allocated to 3 separately identified projects. The total funding available for HPTA projects is allocated £3million in 2015-16 and £3.5million in 2016-17.

This project aims to provide a dedicated Skills Centre for Engineering and Construction including nuclear at Bicton College;

  • 18,000m2 external Realistic Work Environment:
  • Industry standard plant
  • Training/testing areas
  • Stores
  • Latest generation plant simulator
  • 100m2 classroom/examination space
  • Approved training and testing centre:
  • Triple Bar New Nuclear Build Sites
  • Construction Skills Certification Scheme
  • Construction Plant Competence Scheme
  • Client Contractor National Safety Group Safety Passport
  • Plant Operator and Groundworks

Hinley Pojunt

  • Plant Maintenance
  • Storemanship

Completion: April 2017

Growth Deal funding: £0.3m

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    David Ralph

    Chief Executive

    David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

    Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

    David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.