South Bristol Skills Academy

The Skills Academy was granted planning consent in March 2008. Construction started in November 2008. View turf cutting ceremony press release.

The full planning application is available to view through the City Council’s Planning website. The application number is 07/05087/F.

The college’s vision is to develop state of the art education and training facilities in South Bristol. This initiative is a major part of the wider regeneration of South Bristol and a key component in the drive to improve standards of education and the levels of skills across the city.

The new Skills Academy is part of the college’s drive to develop 21st century facilities at all of its sites, and is designed to complement the new Hartcliffe Community Campus.

As well as catering for the needs of young people, its work will also focus on older students, helping them develop skills as well as providing opportunities to retrain.

The partnership driving this initiative forward includes major employers in the city and region as well as local, regional and national educational agencies.

What will the Skills Academy provide?

The South Bristol Skills Academy will comprise of an 11000 sq m iconic building and will be the centrepiece of education and training opportunities for local people in the area.

The academy is a consolidation of existing centres in South Bristol and will provide a range of courses for local people including:

• Construction
• Health and Social Care
• Leisure, Hair & Beauty
• Hospitality and Catering
• Motor Vehicle, Motor Cycle and Engineering
• Information Technology

What will the Skills Academy look like?

The Skills Academy will be an iconic four-storey building, forming a gateway into Hengrove Park.  At the heart of the building is the 'Winter Garden and terraces' a series of central interactive flexible spaces, which come together to create a vibrant hub for the college - a place to meet, work and socialise. Teaching spaces will be arranged on all floors and will be flexible, enabling them to respond to evolving educational needs.  

How does the new initiative fit in with the existing set up?

The South Bristol Skills Academy will be an important part of the City of Bristol College’s further re-development of its property portfolio and is designed to work with schools, existing colleges, academies and local employers.

Artist impression showing exterior view of the Skills Academy

Artist impression showing interior view of the Skills Academy

Artist impression showing an eye-level view of the Skills Academy