GROHE invests in the next generation of plumbers with new training suite ar leading vocational college, Colchester Institute.

GROHE has pledged a significant donation to Colchester Institute, the largest vocational college in North Essex, as part of an ongoing partnership to support its 500-strong annual cohort of plumbing students. The investment has resulted in the development of a brand new training room for the students, which officially opened on Wednesday 6th November at the College’s Colchester campus.

The new facility includes a fully-functioning display rig and 18 bathroom suites, which features the likes of GROHE’s innovative Sense Guard leak detection system and SmartControl showers. The space will provide additional learning opportunities for students who will be able to engage in live demonstrations and installations of some of the industry’s latest and most advanced technologies, helping to keep them ahead of the curve as they prepare to embark on a career in the industry.

The opening of the new facility marks the pinnacle of a long-standing relationship that GROHE has grown with Colchester Institute. For the past two years, the College has been a stop-off location for GROHE’s XXL Experience Truck, an immersive mobile showroom that has welcomed students on board for hands-on taster sessions on some of its leading products. This year, GROHE has also supported the College’s “Plumbing Apprentice of the Year“ award, gifting the well-deserving winner one of its Euphoria SmartControl shower systems. Following the opening of the new suite, Chris Penney will regularly feature as a guest lecturer, delivering classes on an array of GROHE’s bathroom and kitchen products from single lever taps to state-of-the-art shower toilets, and the best practices when it comes to installing them.

Adam Ward, Assistant Principal of Braintree Campus and STEM said: “The College’s collaboration with GROHE is a long-standing relationship and we are very grateful for their continued support. They bring so many benefits to our students’ learning experience not least ensuring they are continually exposed to cutting edge products and latest installation techniques. A vital and invaluable part of preparing candidates of all ages for illustrious careers in the plumbing trade.“

The partnership, which has been driven by GROHE’s UK Training Manager Chris Penney, is part of a wider European initiative to invest in the installers of tomorrow.

“With enormous investments being made into product design, advanced technologies and ground breaking innovation across construction, interiors and architecture sectors, the plumbing landscape is evolving significantly and more demand than ever is being placed upon installers to be attuned to the latest installation trends and systems” says Chris Penney, Training Manager at GROHE UK. “We believe strongly in investing in the future and working with the next generation of plumbers to ensure they are suitably equipped for working in the field as it continues to change. Not only will Colchester Institute students learn about a whole spectrum of GROHE products, which are renowned within the industry for quick and simple installation but they will also benefit from studying in a fit-for-purpose
environment where they can experience ‘live’ installations as they would in the real working world.”

More about Grohe