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Building work is under way to transform the former Wilko store in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, into a new construction training centre.

Ashfield District Council purchased the premises at 1-5 Outram Street earlier this year using money from its £62.6m Towns Deal and has leased it to West Nottinghamshire College.

It is currently in the process of being refurbished to create a campus for college students aged 16-18, adults and apprentices to gain trade skills and qualifications in plumbing and electrical installation.

The building, which will be called the Portland Square campus, will also be a centre for ‘green skills’ courses including ground source and air source heat pump, photovoltaics and the wiring of electric vehicle charging points for homes.

The conversion is being carried out by Mansfield-based Vaughandale Construction on behalf of the college and involves a major programme of internal works to create classrooms, workshop space, offices and student social space across three floors within 29,428 sq ft, plus renovation and redesign of the building’s façade.

The building has been empty since the collapse of the Wilko homeware retail group in August 2023. The council hopes that by transforming a large vacant unit into a new space, students will be encouraged to spend more time in town before and after college to reinvigorate the local economy and bring it to life.

West Nottinghamshire College principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley said: “The construction sector is of huge strategic significance, both locally and nationally, and I hope this forward-looking centre will inspire even more young people to seek careers in plumbing and electrical installation, and help adults who wish to advance their careers in these valuable trades.

“This opportunity has already enabled us to complete the UK’s first Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing on the outskirts of Sutton and will allow us to modernise and further increase our capacity in other construction trades, as well as motor vehicle maintenance.”

Vaughandale Construction contracts director Darren Atkins said: “As one of the leading construction companies in the East Midlands, we are delighted and proud to be working with West Nottinghamshire College to deliver this prestigious project, transforming the former Wilko building in Sutton into a new construction training campus.

“We are particularly pleased to be involved in the development of the new training centre. Along with our apprenticeship partnership with the college, this facility will provide tremendous benefits to our local community, inspiring the next generation of young people entering the construction industry, which closely aligns with our company values and ethos.”

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