Construction Industry Gets a Lift with New Training Hub in Cheltenham

A state-of-the-art construction training center has been inaugurated to equip the next generation of skilled workers. Gloucestershire College’s new £5 million facility in Cheltenham aims to train future electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. The Construction Industry Training Board has projected a need for an additional 251,500 workers by 2028 to meet the growing demand for these skills.

Gary Henderson, head of the college’s technology school, noted: We were oversubscribed, and carpentry is currently a booming industry. Matt Burgess, Principal of Gloucestershire College, stated: There is no shortage of demand for construction courses; the challenges lie in facilities and staff recruitment. Locally, significant projects such as the Golden Valley housing scheme, the M5 junction 10 upgrade, and the Gloucester Forum project are underway.

Funding for the new building was approved in May last year, and it welcomed its first students this September. The facility includes air source heat pumps and solar panels to generate electricity on campus. A view of one of the training cubicles shows a step ladder, various pliers, and wall sockets, highlighting the practical skills students can learn.

London have several construction training centers, such as The Builder Training Centre, Euston Skills Centre, and The Southwark Construction Skills Centre. However, given the high demand for skilled labour in the construction industry, London desperately needs 2-3 more centers like the one in Cheltenham to ensure the industry can absorb local talent and reduce reliance on foreign workers.