A ground-breaking community training centre and temple has been given a helping hand from UPVC building products manufacturer Kestrel.

The UPVC building products manufacturer has contributed to the new Sikh Gurdwara in Slough by supplying more than 400 metres of plastic ogee architrave finished in light oak.

The building, once Citroen’s UK headquarters, has been transformed over the last two years with donations from the Sikh community. A staggering 250,000 hours have been spent on the conversion.

The car showroom has become the ‘Refresh Skills Centre’, which offers construction training to Level 1 City and Guilds and a bespoke media course. 

The courses are free to students and funded by the Sikh congregation.

Spokesperson for the project, H Singh, said: “It is a pillar within Sikh faith that we give back to the community. With the Refresh Skills Centre we are providing participants with skills they can use within the two most thriving industries at this time.

“Organisations like UPVC building products Kestrel have been very generous and offered us materials at reduced rates as they have been able witness first hand the immense hard work and dedication that has gone in to a project that will provide great benefits for the wider community.” 

The training centre is now open and work is advanced on the second phase, which will include a communal kitchen and prayer hall. 

Kestrel business development manager for the South Coast Keith Hart said: “This is an incredible project that shows what can be achieved when a community pulls together.

“A training centre such as this one couldn’t come at a better time, with the construction industry desperately in need of trained and enthusiastic staff.

“We are proud to be involved, along with our distributor PBM in Slough, in any small way with this project and wish everyone involved at Refresh Skills Centre and the Sikh Gurdwara the very best of luck for the future.”