New construction centre opens at Wolverhampton College campus
A training centre which aims to help students follow a career path in the construction industry has launched in Wolverhampton.
The plant training facility, based at City of Wolverhampton College's Wellington Road campus, features excavators, forward-tipping dumpers and ride-on rollers.
It will offer short part-time qualifications, NVQs and full-cost courses to train new staff – as well as boosting the skills of workers through the groundworks plant courses.
Michael Dixon, head of faculty for technology, creative and academic studies at the college, said: "The launch here comes after many months of developing the site to ensure it's fit-for-purpose to meet what our students need.
"The West Midlands is becoming a centre for construction in housing and new infrastructure projects, some spearheaded by Wolverhampton Council who have supported us greatly.
"We are delighted to have developed the new centre and are grateful for the support of our industry partners which will enable us to provide high-quality sector-specific training to local people of all ages and abilities, from beginner to advanced level."
The facility was developed after a report by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) showcased a shortfall in skilled plant workers – and called for more training to meet the demand.
The West Midlands Combined Authority is funding training at the centre through the Construction Gateway – offering unemployed people free construction training, as well as a guaranteed job interview.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who tried his hands at a virtual digger simulation, said: "How technology has changed – it was like driving an iPad.
"It's extremely exciting.
"This has been funded through the West Midlands Combined Authority working with the council, college, and it means training for people – students can learn critical skills that will help them get established.
"The number of jobs available from HS2 alone is around 10,000 and not to mention house building and other projects.
"We need these people to learn the traditional skills we need – and the new skills as well."
Students will gain skills in machine operation, maintenance and site health and safety, and will help them work towards their Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) cards, enabling them to work on construction sites.
Council leader Ian Brookfield, who sat in one of the plant machines, said: "It's every boy's dream to sit in one of those things – this is all fantastic.
"The jobs are out there and there's going to be thousands needed – and we want those to be Wolverhampton people.
"We're absolutely thrilled about the opening and like I said, if we can't do something for our youngsters why are we bothering?
"That's why we're doing this and this has come about through collaboration."
The centre has been backed by A Plant and JCB – with the college set to offer a construction plant apprenticeship in the autumn for groundworks plant courses.
Anyone interested in enrolling for the new groundworks plant courses can register their interest by emailing construction@wolvcoll.ac.uk or calling 01902 836000.
