Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Manufacturer of lightweight building materials Knauf has officially opened its multi-million pound training, visitor and administrative centre – The Cube.
Designed by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Knauf hopes the new centre will not only showcase its products and systems, but will also help educate the workforce of the future.
Providing 240m sq of classroom and practical teaching space, The Cube can cater for up to 20 students at a time – 9 Carillion apprentices have already started a 14-week training programme – and will provide dedicated courses in areas such as drylining, modern projection plastering, dry floor screeding and framed building infill systems.
A collaboration across all Knauf UK businesses, The Cube will teach both the theory and practice of all areas of lightweight dry construction.
Ian Stokes, Knauf managing director, said: “There is a desperate shortage of skilled trades in the UK – in Europe as a whole for that matter. And if UK manufacturing is to lead the nation back into growth, there has to be a new wave of up and coming professionals ready to deploy the latest construction techniques.
“By providing the education, knowledge and training – from specification to installation – Knauf is not only underwriting the continued success of its products and business; but of the British building industry as a whole.”
The building has been award shortlisted – in the Small Project of the Year (up to £5m) category of the Building Awards 2014.
