A new multi-million pound healthcare training centre at an historic site in Gloucestershire has created 15 jobs.
The 3,000 sq m facility at the Eastwood Park estate in Falfield near Wotton-under-Edge was officially opened by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal.
Healthcare training operation first began at the site of a Victorian country house more than 50 years ago, with the specialist centre designed to simulate hospital working environments for staff with the NHS and other healthcare providers.
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The facility will provide a 'live' operating theatre, medical gas pipeline system, three types of lifts, high and low voltage labs as well as a large decontamination lab - all supported by nine classrooms and a café.
Eastwood Park Training, formerly the UK National Health Service Training Authority but now privately owned, said the expansion had seen Eastwood Park's workforce increase from 50 to 65 employees.
Chief executive John Thatcher said: "It was a very proud day to see the training centre officially opened, as the project has been almost a decade in the making and a culmination of a lot of hard work. Now we've hit this milestone, we're looking forward to continuing to expand our product range and create dedicated accommodation facilities for our training delegates in the coming years."
Eastwood Park said the facility was supported by a funding package secured from bank HSBC. David Butler, South West area director at HSBC UK, said: "It was an honour to be invited to the opening of the training centre and get a tour of the brand new facilities at Eastwood Park. The training centre will be instrumental in training NHS and healthcare providers, benefitting the industry as a whole."
Set within a 200-acre estate, the country house at Eastwood Park is also a wedding and conferencing venue.
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