More than 1,000 plumbers and electricians newly-trained at WCG centre

Over 1,000 young people have had the opportunity to learn a new trade at an enhanced construction learning facility at Royal Leamington Spa College since it opened three years ago to address a construction industry skills gap across the region.

The Construction Training Centre, part of the Warwickshire College Group (WCG), was redesigned and expanded with new classrooms and practical workshop areas to facilitate the teaching of electrical installation and plumbing in a range of different learning routes.

Since its completion, the redeveloped centre has seen a 15 per cent increase in student numbers and an increase in employer engagement. It is now able to deliver a broader curriculum, offering a range of post-16 qualifications and part-time courses alongside advanced and higher apprenticeships.

The £480,000 building was partly funded with £239,000 from the Government’s Local Growth Fund through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) with the remainder matched by WCG funding.

A total of 1,097 plumbers and electricians have been trained at the centre to date with 69 16-to-18-year-olds having secured apprenticeships after gaining full-time qualifications. Over 50 construction businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire have been supported to address the recognised skills gap within their sector.

In addition, over the last two summers, the centre has hosted an international programme with students from China who have been taught UK construction methods. The programme drew on expertise from the planning office at Warwickshire County Council and local heritage organisations to educate learners about local construction methods and historic buildings.

The new facility has also helped launch the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment which is now entering its third year of teaching. This highly-valued qualification is a predominantly classroom-based option that provides a route to university for students wishing to become an architect, quantity surveyor, or civil engineer.

The project is part of WCG’s strategy to support construction employers in the region with skilled students. In September 2019, a number of new courses will commence at its Rugby College to support the development of higher level technical and professional skills in construction and technology at levels 3, 4 and above.

Peter Husband, Group Deputy Principal, Apprenticeships, HE & Innovation for WCG, said:“This has been a timely investment to meet the current skills shortage in the construction industry which is experiencing a boom in commercial building projects and domestic housing builds, both regionally and nationally.

"Construction is a vital contributor to our economy and this project will help us address the growing demand for skilled plumbers and electricians that the sector needs.”