Civils contractors today said that the rolling-out of new Technical Excellence Colleges in every region in England will deliver the strong and sustainable pipeline of homegrown talent the construction industry needs.
Backed by £100m of government investment and announced this morning, the new colleges will build on the £625m investment announced at the Spring Statement and will allow for the training of tens of thousands of new entrants to highly-skilled, well-paying jobs.
Commenting, spokesperson for the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) and Director of CECA Midlands Lorraine Gregory said: “CECA strongly supports the launch of Technical Excellence Colleges to train the next generation of our vital construction workforce.
“Delivering the UK’s infrastructure depends on an industry with the right skills base in place. This investment is an important step towards securing a sustainable pipeline of talent for decades to come and will allow CECA members to deliver the planned programme of infrastructure schemes that will be the foundation of the UK’s prosperity in the years ahead.
“The initiative aligns closely with CECA’s longstanding calls for investment in training and workforce development as a cornerstone of national infrastructure planning.
“By focusing on high-quality, industry-relevant education, the Technical Excellence Colleges will help ensure that new entrants are work-ready from day one, enabling them to contribute to projects more effectively and reducing the skills gaps that can delay delivery.
“Locating the colleges across England will also bring tangible benefits to regional economies, creating opportunities for young people and those looking to retrain while strengthening local supply chains and reducing reliance on overseas recruitment.
“We look forward to continuing to work with our members and government to secure the right funding to meet the skills needs of the UK infrastructure sector, so that our members are equipped to deliver the projects businesses and communities need for connectivity, prosperity, and opportunity in all parts of the UK.”
The new Construction Technical Excellence Colleges will be located at:
- Derby College Group, East Midlands
- West Suffolk College, East of England
- New City College, Greater London
- City of Sunderland College, North East
- Wigan and Leigh College, North West
- North Kent College, South East
- Exeter College, South West
- Bedford College, cross-regional
- Dudley College of Technology, West Midlands
- Leeds College of Building, Yorkshire and the Humber.
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