Specialist training centre to help deliver major London construction projects

A new centre for the National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfC) launches today at the National Construction College East London campus at Thames House in Newham to provide thousands of training opportunities. The new centre will help Londoners develop the right skills to continue to help deliver the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games and other large-scale projects taking place across the region, such as Stratford City and Crossrail.

The centre will offer 2,000 training places a year in much needed trades including plant maintenance, concreting, formworking, steel fixing, flooring and highways maintenance. It is funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the London Development Agency (LDA), ConstructionSkills and the five Host Boroughs (Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest) working with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). The centre will be managed by, and training will be delivered through, the National Construction College (NCC), which is Europe's largest construction training provider.

The NCC East London campus at Thames House is one of three planned construction training centres in east London. The second is the relocation of the Plant Training Centre from its current location on the Olympic Park site to a permanent site in the Royal Docks; and negotiations are underway for the third centre. Employer demand suggests the need for around 20,000 training places over the next five years, which will tap into an estimated £88bn* worth of major construction projects forecast between now and 2012.

The latest figures published by the Olympic Delivery Authority show that of the 4,101 strong workforce on the Olympic Park, nearly one in ten were previously unemployed and nearly one in ten is a trainee, apprentice or on a work placement. A fifth are resident in the local area and over half live in London.

Newham Mayor, Sir Robin Wales, speaking on behalf of the five Host Boroughs, said: "This is arguably the most exciting place to be at the moment in terms of the massive changes taking place throughout our areas. Thames House is a great asset because training and education is one of 2012's most important legacies. Supporting people into work and business growth has to be a priority for us all. The 2012 Games and other developments will offer opportunities for residents now and in the future. We must equip people with the skills to find employment and provide industry standard learning that matches the needs of businesses and provides them with job-ready employees."

Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, Minister for the Olympics, said: "As the 'big build' on the Olympic Park progresses a whole variety of skills will be needed from steel fixing to electrical trades. With the workforce for the Olympic Park and Olympic Village expected to peak at 11,000 in 2010, Thames House is giving people the chance to capitalise on these job opportunities by giving them the skills to work on the Olympic site. This training will not only help drive up employment in the five Host Boroughs and beyond but will also open up the construction industry to new workers other than the 'traditional' builder."

Skills and Apprenticeships Minister, Lord Young, said: "I would like to congratulate the Board of the National Skills Academy for Construction, Construction Skills and all the employers and local authorities who are supporting the academy. The new training site is good news for the construction industry and the people of London. It will help to provide the training needed for construction projects as part of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games, and give many more people the opportunity to gain the skills needed so they can take advantage of new job opportunities."

Harvey McGrath, Chairman of the LDA and Vice Chair of the London Skills and Employment Board, said: "Skills training is fundamental to improving the future job prospects of Londoners. With projects such as the Olympics and Crossrail there are real employment opportunities available provided people are in a position to access them. Thames House is one of three planned training centres that will be up and running this year, and employer demand suggests that around 20,000 people will need to be trained by 2013. The centre will help us to provide an Olympic legacy now that will be benefit London for decades to come."

Mary Conneely, National Regeneration Director for the Learning and Skills Council, said: "National Skills Academies are a direct response to employers and their training needs. The centre will deliver relevant, high quality training programmes for employers in the construction sector, giving people in local areas the chance to gain the skills necessary to obtain work and contribute to the 2012 legacy and the wider regeneration of the area. The construction industry is a key component to the sustainability and growth of the economy in London both now and in the future."

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "The 2012 Games are providing unrivalled opportunities to boost skills in the capital. Graduates from these courses will be key to delivering the London Games on time but, more than that, their skills will be essential for other crucial infrastructure projects like Crossrail - projects that will ensure London emerges from this downturn in great shape to compete in the new global economy."

Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of ConstructionSkills and its training division the National Construction College, explained: "We are delighted to be launching this new training site. We have been working with our partners for some time to ensure that we found the very best location for local people. The National Construction College East London campus at Thames House will deliver quality training to meet the needs of the industry and the people working within it, complimenting our existing sites in the region."

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: "The physical regeneration of east London is well underway and building the Olympic Park is already creating an employment and skills legacy. The 'Big Build' is right on track with the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre and Olympic Village taking shape against the skyline and the foundations going in for the Velodrome and media centre. The Olympic Park is providing vital employment for over 4000 people, with a fifth resident in the local area and nearly and nearly one in ten is a trainee, apprentice or on a work placement. This new facility will add to existing training opportunities and the job brokerage services to help people living in London
access work on the Olympic Park and boost the London 2012 employment and skills legacy."

There are training places available now at the NCC East London campus at Thames House, to find out more, please call 0344 994 4433 or visit www.nationalconstructioncollege.co.uk.