New training centre for the UK's Defence Academy in Oxfordshire

12 Jan 2007 02:15 PM

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, formally opened the Defence Academy's new Leadership and Management Training Centre at Beckett House in Shrivenham today.

Beckett House has been converted into a military and civilian training facility for the Ministry of Defence and will be the new home of the Academy's Defence Leadership and Management Centre. This key training facility will produce our future commanders and leaders. Educational courses will start running here for senior military and Ministry of Defence civilian personnel immediately.

The refurbishment of Beckett House is the latest successful roll-out of the Defence Academy's ambitious development of its world-class campus. Over the last 12 months, work has been completed on schedule and on budget to transform sensitively the Grade-2 listed building from a library into a modern Leadership and Management Training Centre, tailor-made for senior management training.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup said:

"This important new training facility will be an asset to the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence as we prepare our military and civilian leaders for the challenges of the future".

Notes to Editors

1. The main users of Beckett House are expected to be students and staff of three organisations of the Defence Academy's Defence College of Management and Technology. The three organisations are the Defence Leadership and Management Centre, Defence Business Learning and the Defence School of Finance and Management, which will move from Worthy Down, near Winchester, to Shrivenham in summer 2007.

2. Beckett House's facilities should also attract users from elsewhere in the Ministry of Defence, other Government Departments, or private companies and research organisations within the defence and security sector.

3. Beckett House comprises two buildings - the Leadership and Management Training Centre and an attached 50-bedroom hotel block. The Centre can host up to 150 students, depending on the type of education or training being undertaken. There are teaching rooms: equipped with Smart-boards, and an Executive Boardroom (12 seats) with a Video-Tele Conferencing facility up to Restricted level. The Centre lends itself to Board Meetings or Away-days. There is also a comfortable dining room and bar.

4. Beckett House is owned by the MoD, and its operation will be supported by a commercial contract with Serco, a strategic partner of the Defence Academy, for integrated Facilities Management and business continuity, covering IT, utilities, cooking, cleaning, and administration. The House is within a secure area, yet has easy, controlled access via the Defence Academy's Beckett or Main Gates.

5. Booking of Beckett House is through the Defence Academy Facilities Management team on 01793 314444 or e-mail helpdesk.ci@da.mod.uk