A college has been awarded £4 million to build a new science and technology building in a bid to boost skills and jobs in the area.

The College at Braintree, which is part of the Colchester Institute, is one of just five schools in the south east to win a share of £18 million in funding from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SE LEP).

The new two storey Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) building will contain three engineering workshops, two construction workshops and six other large, modern classrooms.

Other buildings will also be refurbished with high-tech facilities to help develop vital skills identified by the Essex Employment and Skills Board and Braintree Council.

Gary Horne, vice principal of the Colchester Institute, said: “This decision will have a significant impact on the pace of economic growth in the Braintree district and beyond.

“For the first time the district will be able to offer employers bespoke skills training within a broad range of engineering disciplines to drive business expansion within a key growth corridor in Essex.

“Other sectors will also benefit from the range of new facilities to be developed within the Braintree STEM Innovation Centre.”

Braintree Council leader Graham Butland said the development would help to create the 20,000 new jobs needed to match housing growth plans.

He said: “Not only will the STEM Centre help our existing strong manufacturing and engineering base with the skills needed to grow and create jobs, it will also play an integral part in attracting new businesses to the district, and we are delighted that the College at Braintree has been successful in this funding bid.

“As a council we recognise the importance of supporting business and in our latest budget we have set aside £500k to offer investment loans to businesses to help them grow, with particular emphasis on businesses which are looking to develop their workforce skills, and the College at Braintree has a key role to play in this.”