Chelmsford College and Minot Brothers Join Forces to Shape Construction Careers
From excavators and dumpers to telehandlers, new immersive simulators at Chelmsford College will give young people and adults, in the Chelmsford area, the chance to practise operating construction machinery in a safe, virtual environment. The College has been awarded £115,839 through Essex County Council's Capital Skills Innovation Grant to fund two Tenstar training simulator platforms. Working in partnership with Minot Brothers, a Chelmsford-based net-zero plant hire and sustainable construction company, the new equipment will help prepare keen construction learners for successful careers in an in-demand industry, while also enhancing student enrichment opportunities across the College.
The top of the range plant platforms recreate the experience of operating construction vehicles, allowing students to develop their skills in a controlled setting before progressing to real equipment in their future careers. The technology is already used by market leaders such as JCB and Plant Flannery, to ensure their trainees learn in a safe and controlled environment. The benefit of providing Chelmsford College students with direct access to the simulators is transformative for both local employers and students alike. Training students with professional equipment to industry standards means they can leave College with relevant skills and experience, ready to make a difference to the sector.
The investment comes as demand for skilled plant operatives is expected to grow. Data from the Essex Growth Agency's Local Skills Improvement Plan Dashboard projects a 4.8% increase in plant operatives over the next 10 years. Minot Brothers, who continue to grow their fleet, agree that access to trained individuals is absolutely key.
Tyler Minot, CEO & Owner of Minot Brothers, explained the importance of the partnership by saying "The construction industry needs a strong pipeline of people who are not only qualified, but genuinely prepared for the realities of modern sites. Technology such as plant simulators gives students the opportunity to build confidence, understand machinery and develop practical awareness in a safe and controlled environment before progressing into real-world experience. Our partnership with Chelmsford College is about bringing education and industry closer together. Construction technology is changing quickly, particularly around electric and lower-emission machinery, and it is important that the next generation enters the industry with the skills and understanding employers will actually need."
Aside from directly benefitting the existing Chelmsford College construction students, the platforms, which use VR and AI, create opportunities to introduce new training for adults looking to get into work. This includes offering new plant and forklift Sector-based Work Academy Programmes by working with training provider SEATS, targeting adults aged 19+ not in education, employment or training. In 2025-26, an impressive 65% of Chelmsford College SWAP students found work in their chosen sector, compared to 36% nationally. With the new training, the College now aims to progress 72% of SWAP students into sustainable jobs.
The two simulators will have different roles across the College. One will be based at the Princes Road campus, supporting construction, civil engineering and plant training in partnership with Minot Brothers. The second will be installed next to the Igloo at the Moulsham Street campus, where it will be used for driving simulation and student enrichment, giving students college-wide the opportunity to benefit from the technology.
Moreover, there is plenty of opportunity for wider local engagement as the College can now host demos, student and employer visits and work experience with the new machines. A great example is the annual Building a Lasting Legacy event hosted in partnership with Morgan Sindall, in which the College welcomes Year 9 and 10 pupils to explore careers in construction. The simulators now mean the event can welcome an increase from 100 students to 150 students. Flannery Plant, who also use the Tenstar Simulators, are on board in training College staff to use the equipment.
The investment will help support this growing sector while giving more people in the local community the opportunity to develop their skills and explore careers in the industry. David Warnes, Principal and CEO of Chelmsford College, proudly said "Our partnership with the Minot Brothers represents a fantastic opportunity for our construction students to benefit from a range of clean tech plant simulators that replicate 'real world' experiences but in a safe and sustainable way. This will advance our continued investment in training the next generation of skilled construction workers, benefiting the local, regional and national economy through home building and major infrastructure projects such as the Lower Thames Crossing."