This week Bloodhound Land Speed Record (LSR) officially announced the opening of their new headquarters in the heart of the SGS Berkeley Green UTC campus. Under the new ownership of Ian Warhurst, CEO of Grafton LSR Ltd, the Bloodhound LSR team will focus on completing development of the jet- and rocket-powered car and moving on to high speed testing as soon as possible. Alongside the rebranding of the programme there has been a visual transformation of the car, which was revealed in a new striking red and white livery as she moves into her new home at SGS Berkeley Green University Technical College (UTC) on the Gloucestershire Science and Technology Park.

The UK Land Speed Record Centre at SGS Berkeley Green UTC provides a 975 square metre workshop facility in the heart of the college campus, fulfilling Bloodhound’s promise of delivering educational inspiration.

SGS Berkeley Green UTS group chief executive and Executive Principal Kevin Hamblin said; “We’re excited that Bloodhound is joining us at Berkeley. To have such a groundbreaking engineering project on site which shares our philosophy to enthuse and encourage the next generation of engineers, designers and scientists, will be invaluable for our own students and also for thousands of young people across the region who will have an opportunity to visit the Gloucestershire Science and Technology Park over the next few years and see the car for themselves.”

Gareth Lister, Principal of SGS Berkeley Green UTC added: “We are really excited about having the Bloodhound team move into the building. Our students have already had an opportunity to speak with Ian Warhurst (owner and CEO of Grafton LSR) and his team of engineers about the engineering principles that make the car operate. Our engineering students are going to be working with the team on a number of engineering projects, and our students studying digital technologies and design will be working with the team to look at the computerised elements of the car and the aerodynamic design of the car. This is another example of the ways in which UTCs engage with employers to give work related experiences that you don’t get in other types of school.”