A new construction plant training centre at City of Wolverhampton College will help local people start a new career in the industry, thanks to funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The WMCA is funding training at the centre through the Construction Gateway, which offers unemployed people free construction training and a guaranteed job interview at the end of the course.

Based at the college’s Wellington Road campus, the centre will give adults the skills they need to work on major infrastructure projects in the region, such as HS2, the Midland Metro expansion, new business parks and cycle routes.

The college has developed the centre in partnership with the industry to offer short part-time qualifications, NVQs and full cost courses in construction groundworks.

Learners will gain skills in machine operation, maintenance and site health and safety, and will be able to work towards gaining their red and blue Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) cards which are required to work on construction sites. Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, who opened the centre today, said:

“The construction sector is growing rapidly, with new opportunities for up to 100,000 trained workers in the region set to open up over the next ten years.

“But we can only fill these jobs if we have enough workers who are trained and skilled to the right level. Currently we know there is a shortage of skilled plant workers across the West Midlands, so through schemes and training opportunities like those that will be on offer at Wolverhampton’s new Construction Plant Training Centre, we are trying to address this.

“Put simply we want local people to be working on our local infrastructure projects, and I am very pleased to be helping City of Wolverhampton College to give local residents the practical experience and qualifications they need to start their career in construction.”

City of Wolverhampton College will also be launching a new construction plant apprenticeship in the autumn. Supported by a number of partners, including the WMCA, the scheme will enable new or existing staff to combine working for an employer with studying for their construction plant qualifications at college.

To sign up for construction training, contact the National Careers Service West Midlands on 0121 296 5550, or you can find out more information about the National Careers Service via nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk or by calling 0800 100 900.