A NEW £26 million science and technology park in Berkeley opened its doors to the public for the first time last weekend.

In March this year South Gloucestershire and Stroud College was given the go-ahead to by the Department for Education to create a university technical college, known as SGS Berkeley Green, on the site of the nuclear laboratories at Berkeley power station.

On Saturday (November 14), an open day was held at the site for local residents as well as prospective students.

From September 2016, courses including engineering, cyber security and game design will be offered at the centre for 14 to 19-year-olds.

There was an opportunity to view the new campus and hear about the plans to invest an initial £26m in a green skills centre, an advanced renewables research centre and a cyber security training centre, which is being run in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire.

Group chief executive, Kevin Hamblin said: "This is the first time we have opened the doors at Berkeley Green to members of the public.

“The aim of the event was to provide information to anyone wishing to find out more about our engineering, advanced manufacturing, cyber security and games design courses that will be delivered at the new centre from September 2016.

“We have ambitious plans for the campus which will transform the former Berkeley laboratories into a vibrant science and technology park.

“With the support of the GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership and Gloucestershire County Council, these fantastic ‘state of the art facilities’, will ensure Gloucestershire returns to the forefront of learning for the nuclear, high technology, sustainable energy and advanced manufacturing sectors within this new institute of technology."

The site will be developed over the next five years into a campus which will incorporate education, training, business start-up and research facilities, and will focus on the development of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Local councillors and Stroud MP Neil Carmichael attended the event as well as many members of the local community.

Fifteen employers also exhibited at the event to promote their training courses and the partnership they have with the college.