Construction and Engineering Lab Launches at NTU Mansfield
The Construction and Engineering Lab at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in Mansfield had its official opening this week with a launch event on Thursday 27 February.
By Sarah McLeod | Published on 28 February 2025
Categories: Press office; Mansfield; School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment;
Construction and Engineering professionals, community leaders - including Mayor Claire Ward, and students from across Mansfield, Ashfield, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire joined the event for an exclusive opportunity to explore the brand-new, state-of-the-art lab.
Located in NTU Mansfield’s Teaching and Learning building, the lab will support the learning and teaching of construction and engineering courses. Students now have access to cutting-edge facilities, including robotics, 3D printing, CNC machining, automation equipment, and sustainable construction and retrofit equipment, such as Spot the robot dog. With access to industry-standard technology, the purpose-built lab will help prepare students for their future by giving them the chance to gain hands-on experience in a realistic environment.
This will, in turn, benefit local businesses and the industries in the region by equipping students with the skills they need to succeed, helping to drive the growth and development of both our graduates and the local communities.
Katie Kerry, Head of Operations at Nottingham Trent University’s Mansfield Hub, said: “We are continually investing in our facilities and enhancing our learning and teaching environment to make it an inspiring place for students, and the opening of the new Construction and Engineering Lab at NTU Mansfield is an exciting step forward. This purpose-built space will not only enhance learning but also play a crucial role in strengthening our ties with local businesses and industries.”
David Walker, Principal Lecturer in Construction Management at NTU, said:
“The opening of the new lab is a fantastic opportunity for both our students and the local industry. This lab provides access to the latest technology and hands-on learning, ensuring that our students are getting the skills and are well-prepared for the dynamic demands of the construction industry.”
Patrick Barber, Principal Lecturer in Engineering at NTU, said:
“With access to cutting-edge technology students are able to gain hands-on experience with the same industry-standard tools they'll use in their careers. Students have already benefitted from using the equipment by programming robots and 3D printing prototypes. Students are able to apply their learning to real-world situations and problems, making them think and work like a professional engineer."
Anyone interested in studying Construction Management or Engineering can choose from:
Construction Management:
Engineering:
Each of these HNC /HND courses and apprenticeships have the Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) accreditation.
More information on these and other courses can be found here.
Notes for Editors
Press enquiries please contact Sarah McLeod, Corporate Communications Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8735, or via email.
About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2021 for cultural heritage science research. It is the second time that NTU has been bestowed the honour of receiving a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its research, the first being in 2015 for leading-edge research on the safety and security of global citizens.
The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent. 86% of NTU’s research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2023 and ranked University of the Year in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023. It was awarded Outstanding Support for Students 2020 (Times Higher Education Awards), University of the Year 2019 (Guardian University Awards, UK Social Mobility Awards), Modern University of the Year 2018 (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide) and University of the Year 2017 (Times Higher Education Awards).
NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with approximately 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across five campuses. It has an international student population of 7,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
Since 2000, NTU has invested £570 million in tools, technology, buildings and facilities.
NTU is in the UK’s top 10 for number of applications and ranked first for accepted offers (2021 UCAS UG acceptance data). It is also among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and was the first UK university to sign the Social Mobility Pledge.
NTU is ranked the second most sustainable university in the world in the 2022 UI Green Metric University World Rankings (out of more than 900 participating universities).