New £1.2m training and apprenticeship centre officially opens in Lincoln

A new £1.2 million training and apprenticeship centre, named after a Lincoln soldier killed in the First World War, has officially opened to students.

The purpose-built Keyworth Centre at the Priory City of Lincoln Academy off Skellingthorpe Road provides brand new post-16 construction and motor vehicle training opportunities for students and the wider community.

Contractors Lindum Group have built the new two-floor facility with the hope of addressing a national and local skills shortage.

The centre is also home to the Lincolnshire Teaching School Alliance, which places postgraduate trainee teachers in its 22 member schools, and has other conference facilities.

It is named in honour of Leonard Keyworth, who was awarded a Victoria Cross for his courage during an attack on German positions in May 1915.

Leonard returned to a hero’s welcome in Lincoln that summer but died in October 1915, four days after suffering a head injury sustained in the conflict.

Relatives of Leonard were at the ceremony to mark the official opening of the centre.

Rob Reeve, Director of Operations at the Priory Federation of Academies. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Rob Reeve, Director of Operations at the Priory Federation of Academies, said: “Today marks the complete opening of this fantastic facility. We’re operating our school-centred initial teacher training with 30 or 40 postgraduates which is likely to rise to 70 or 80 next year.

“The building will run through post-16 courses, apprenticeships, and upstairs we are taking on postgraduates and giving them that real work experience, because that’s how they’re getting their next qualification.

“We also extend the opportunity to the local community through courses such as an introduction to motor vehicle maintenance and tasters in DIY.

“What’s important is that we’ve got students learning but coming through the front door, we’ve got the business world working with us.”