The West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE) is supporting a unique construction site-based training initiative to improve the skills of the workforce and promote career opportunities within the industry by enabling pupils to put their academic knowledge into valuable practice.

A Local Skills Academy, led by the contractor Kier Moss, the local division of Kier Regional, and funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), recently opened at the £31 million redevelopment scheme, which is transforming Solihull College’s Blossomfield Campus into one of the UK’s most exciting and modern learning facilities.

Unique to the West Midlands, Local Skills Academies are based on the ethos of the National Skills Academies for Construction, whereby training and learning can take place on site whilst a construction project is running. The objective is to promote career opportunities in construction to young people as well as providing a basis for upskilling the supply chain.

As a result of ongoing efforts to improve the skills of young people in the West Midlands region and having gained commitment from the total workforce, to date this second Local Skills Academy in Solihull has enabled 30 pupils from Solihull College to visit the site and meet employers involved in the project. Bringing together employers, clients, contractors and educational providers, this cost-effective and flexible method of assistance will also support skills development in the supply chain to help complete the redevelopment of Solihull College’s Blossomfield Campus.

Red Williams, a Plastering Student from Solihull College, who is currently on work placement, said: “I am really enjoying working on site and getting to know the team has been good for me. I see it as good experience and definitely want a career in the building industry.”

Gary Pearce, Divisional Director at Kier Moss, said: “Kier Moss is delighted to be part of this unique initiative. We place a great deal of importance on ensuring our staff and supply chain are fully qualified and this initiative gives us the opportunity to do that, whilst also allowing teachers and lecturers and the future generation of construction workers to gain a realistic insight into the industry.”

(Photo - Louise Rutter, Skills Coordinator at WMCCE, Kevin Skinner, graduate engineer at Kier Moss, and Red Williams, a plastering student from Solihull College)