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 workforce of the supply chain involved in the project receives appropriate training and learns new skills alongside offering work placement opportunities to local schools, colleges and the wider community.
Local Skills Academies bring together employers, clients, contractors, education providers, the LSC and Jobcentre Plus who work together to deliver training that is cost effective and tailor-made to meet your business needs.
The Minster Local Skills Academy team, LeominsterThe Minster College Training Initiative was the first Academy to be set up during the building work at The Minster College, Leominster. The initiative is run by Stepnell Ltd, who place a great importance on employing trained, progressive and competent individuals. Since the initiative was set up in late 2008 over 300 work experience visits have taken place along with more than 250 site visits and over 20 Skills Assessments to supply chain companies. Please visit their website for further details.
A second Academy is now underway at Solihull College during the redevelopment of the college. Run by Kier Moss, site visits and work placements will commence this academic year as will training of existing staff in NVQs and Health and Safety among other things.
In order to become a Local Skills Academy you need to be the main contractor of a construction project involving a range of skills and worth in excess of £15 million. You also need to demonstrate a commitment to staff training and development, both within your company and your supply chain, and be willing to offer work placements and site visits to local people.
If this sounds like you please contact Louise Rutter, Skills Coordinator, on 0121 688 4046 or email l.rutter@wmcce.org to discuss your project further.
If this is not what you are looking for, please click on the link to the Training section where you will find advice about other training opportunities in the region.
The National Skills Academies for Construction are a partnership between: ConstructionSkills; Regional Development Agencies; employers of all sizes; colleges; training providers; and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Its aim is to deliver project specific on-site training at major construction projects across the UK. These work-based learning centres will enable employers to train local people into jobs and raise the skills of their existing workers and managers. There are three National Skills Academies for Construction currently running in the West Midlands:
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, in conjunction with Balfour Beatty and Haden Young
Decent Homes, Wolverhampton Homes, in conjunction with Bullock Construction, Thomas Vale Construction and Frank Haslam Milan
Decent Homes, Kier Stoke.
