Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is pleased to announce the opening of a new Learning and Development Centre in Whitley Wood, Reading.
The building, which was officially opened on Friday, 25 July, by Mr Andrew Try, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire, will help train future generations of firefighters in Berkshire.
Joined also by the Mayor of Reading, Councillor Alice Mpofu-Coles, Yuan Yang MP and councillors from across the county, the Service marked the opening with a small celebration in the new training facility.
“As a Service, we are delighted to have this new Learning and Development Centre,” said Wayne Bowcock, Chief Fire Officer of Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
“Our staff are our most important asset, and this new facility will allow us to better support their development, giving them the skills they need to effectively serve the people of Berkshire.
“In this new facility, we have created a learning environment befitting of a modern fire and rescue service.”
A brand-new facility
The new Learning and Development Centre includes several important features designed to better facilitate the training of Berkshire’s firefighters.
Central to the building is safety, and the building has been designed specifically to mitigate any contaminants that might be present during realistic training scenarios.
Sustainability is another key focus for the Service and the new facility is outfitted with solar PV panels, LED lighting and electric car charging facilities to help mitigate its impact on the environment.
Speaking on the newly opened facility Councillor Jeff Brooks, Chair of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, said: “I am very pleased that our new Learning and Development Centre is now officially open.
“This fantastic new facility represents a significant investment by the Fire Authority into our staff and will help prepare the Service to meet the changing needs of communities across Berkshire for years to come.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved in delivering this project that will ultimately benefit communities across the county.
The redevelopment project
Following an internal flood at the Service’s previous Training Centre in 2022, it was determined to be more economical to redevelop the site into a new, modern facility than repair the old building.
After an extensive planning process, Reading Borough Council approved the redevelopment plans in May 2024, with works beginning on site shortly thereafter.
The previous Training Centre was demolished and the new Learning and Development Centre, designed by Premier Modular Limited, was installed last November.
As a modular building, the new facility was built offsite and installed in just four days to minimise disruption to the Service’s training schedule.
You can read more about the redevelopment project on our website.