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Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) has officially opened a new Learning and Development Centre in Whitley Wood, Reading, marking a significant investment in firefighter training across the county.
The facility was formally opened on 25 July by Mr Andrew Try, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire. The event was attended by the Mayor of Reading, Councillor Alice Mpofu-Coles, MP Yuan Yang, and councillors from across the region, who gathered to celebrate the launch of the state-of-the-art training centre.
The new centre has been purpose-built to support the development of RBFRS personnel and provide a modern environment for both theoretical and practical learning. According to Chief Fire Officer Wayne Bowcock, the facility will play a key role in equipping staff with the skills they need to serve the people of Berkshire effectively. He described the new centre as a learning environment that reflects the standards of a modern fire and rescue service, placing emphasis on both safety and sustainability.
“Our staff are our most important asset, and this new facility will allow us to better support their development.
“In this new facility, we have created a learning environment befitting of a modern fire and rescue service.”
Chief Fire Officer Wayne Bowcock.
Designed to enhance firefighter training, the building includes features that help mitigate contaminants often present during realistic training exercises. Environmental sustainability was also a priority in the development, with the centre incorporating solar PV panels, LED lighting, and electric vehicle charging points to reduce its carbon footprint.
Councillor Jeff Brooks, Chair of the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, welcomed the opening of the new facility, highlighting it as a major step forward for the Service. He noted that the project represented a significant investment in staff and demonstrated a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of communities across Berkshire. He also expressed his appreciation to those involved in delivering the project, which he said would bring long-term benefits to the county.
The decision to build the new facility followed an internal flood at the previous Training Centre in 2022. After assessing the damage, it was determined that constructing a new, modern building would be more cost-effective than repairing the existing one. Planning approval was granted by Reading Borough Council in May 2024, and work commenced shortly afterwards.
Designed by Premier Modular Limited, the new Learning and Development Centre was delivered using modular construction techniques. The building was manufactured offsite and installed within just four days in November, minimising disruption to RBFRS’s training operations.
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