Bath College is one of the bodies to benefit from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority investing £11.5 million to boost technical training over the next three years.
There will be an emphasis on much-needed construction skills with the launch of the Mayor’s Construction Skills Fund. Investing in the facilities needed for future skills and reflecting real workplace environments is embedded within the West of England’s new Strategy. The new funding will address industry skills shortages and provide more training opportunities for young people.
Nationally, the number of people working in construction has fallen by around 10% since the pandemic. City & Guilds research shows that two-thirds of firms across the country are struggling to recruit skilled workers – particularly bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, and plumbers.
Equipping the West’s next generation with industry-appropriate skills is crucial to deliver the regional Growth Strategy ambitions for houses and infrastructure – with a target for over 7,500 new homes to be built each year.
Implementing investment secured from government, the funding will be used to create long-term career opportunities for young people and help people back into work through:
- £9.7 million for Bath College, St Brendan’s College, and City of Bristol College to expand teaching space and upgrade facilities between the current academic year and August 2029. The increased capacity anticipates a forthcoming population surge in learners during this period and will enable an extra 4,500 additional students to take up training opportunities, with almost half taking part in construction courses.
- £1.5 million for a series of Teacher Industry Exchange and Student Industry Placements. Closing the skills gap between training and real-world jobs, college teachers will gain first-hand experience of modern construction methods and the latest practices through time spent on active construction sites. In turn, qualified trade professionals will work directly with students, delivering masterclasses and practical training.
- Around 1,100 construction learners will also benefit from industry placements, gaining valuable experience on live sites and a better understanding of careers in the sector. Lasting at least three weeks, the placements will help students become more work-ready and support their progression into employment.
- £45,000 funding for the Boosting Skills Pathways project, working with Bristol City Council, SGS College, Weston College and Bath College to support more young people into apprenticeships in construction.
- Alongside this, people who are currently out of work or looking to upskill from their existing jobs will have new opportunities, with £248,000 awarded to City of Bristol College to provide 48 places on their adult skills courses for this new academic year.
The move comes as technical education and work placements were also recently highlighted by Prime Minister Andy Burnham as a significant tool to address youth unemployment and reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“Employers increasingly want people not just with qualifications, but the practical skills and experience needed to succeed in the workplace. This ‘experience trap’ can be a barrier for young people to break into work. We need to break that cycle by giving people more opportunities to develop the practical skills, hands-on experience, and industry connections that employers are looking for.
“That’s why we’re investing more than £11.5 million to expand training, particularly in construction, and bring colleges and industry closer together.
“The West of England will build the homes our communities need and grow our regional economy. By investing in training, industry placements and apprenticeships, we’re opening doors to rewarding careers, tackling skills shortages and building the skilled workforce that will drive our region’s continued growth.”
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council; Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council and Deputy Mayor of the West of England; Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council; Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, and Councillor Ian Boulton, Co-Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said in a joint statement:
“The West of England has ambitious plans for new homes, infrastructure and economic growth, but those ambitions depend on having the skilled workforce to deliver them.
“Construction employers are already facing significant recruitment challenges, and without action skills shortages risk becoming a real barrier to the homes, jobs and opportunities our communities need.
“This investment will help equip more local people with the skills and experience needed for rewarding careers, while ensuring the industry has access to the workforce needed to build our region’s future.”
