West Suffolk College officially opens the new Milburn Centre. MP David Ruffley chatting with Betty Milburn (centre right).

CONSTRUCTION and building services students are benefiting from improved facilities at a new training centre which was officially opened on Friday.

West Suffolk College’s Milburn Centre site in Anglian Lane, Bury St Edmunds, also houses the Milburn Energy Centre, where a range of ‘green’ technologies can be demonstrated to students, employers and the public.

The Milburn Centre, which is based at a site formerly occupied by a light bulb manufacturer, is named after Betty Milburn MBE, former chairman of governors at the college.

The total cost of the project, including the purchase and refurbishment of the CML factory building, is just over £3million.

Deputy principal David Howells said: “The Milburn Centre provides much-improved facilities for our students in Construction and Building Services. These new premises present a huge opportunity to expand our work with employers to deliver training in sustainable technologies as well as traditional courses.”

By moving to The Milburn Centre, the department has seen the number of students increase by 15% compared to last year. Construction training had formerly been delivered in rented units on the Anglian Lane Industrial Estate.

Mrs Milburn said: “I’m particularly excited by the idea of the Milburn Energy Centre and the potential it has to develop into something really significant for not only the local area, but I think it could become regionally important.”