WAES Green Skills Innovation Centre Officially Opened
On Tuesday 2 December, Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) proudly welcomed governors, staff, funders, employers and other stakeholders to celebrate the official opening of the new Green Skills Innovation Centre (GSIC) at our Lisson Grove site.
The ceremony featured the cutting of a green, recycled ribbon by Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development at Westminster City Council, alongside Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth. The GSIC has been co-funded by Westminster City Council, the Mayor of London, and London’s Local Skills Improvement Fund.
Guests were inspired by speeches from Cllr Barraclough and Mr Dawber, as well as WAES Principal Arinola Edeh CBE and Chair of Governors Professor Alexandra Hughes. Our Green Skills Course Leader Andreea Butnaru, together with current tutor and former learner Liliana Margarella, shared their passion for teaching and learning in the green economy.
Before and after the formalities, visitors explored the GSIC’s bespoke facilities designed to equip Londoners with the skills needed for a sustainable future. Activities led by our teaching team showcased:
- Immersive Room – A state-of-the-art space where learners experience interactive scenarios, from conducting energy assessments in a Victorian home to observing progress on a construction site over multiple visits.
- Green Lab – Featuring life-size, interactive models of insulated roofing and walls, a heat pump, solar panels (thermal and photovoltaic), and a rainwater harvesting system.
- Computer Lab – Equipped with high-powered computers for mastering computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modelling (BIM) software.
The GSIC represents a major step forward in WAES’s commitment to supporting London’s transition to a greener economy through innovative, hands-on learning.
