A £10m construction skills centre has opened in London to provide training for the next generation of workers…
A new centre aimed at training the next generation of construction workers has been opened in South London.
The £10m construction skills centre will provide places for 1,000 students to learn skills such as carpentry, plastering, and bricklaying.
The Technology, Engineering & Construction (TEC) Centre is a branch of Carshalton College and will also offer courses in motor vehicle engineering and electrical work.
Opened by architect George Clarke, the launch was also attended by representatives of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). A careers fair was also held to give employers the opportunity to meet future job candidates.
Clarke said the centre would allow students to become the tradespeople of tomorrow. He said: “My apprenticeship at a local architect’s office was the foundation stone of my whole career. I knew I didn’t want to stay at school at the age of 16 to study A Levels; I simply wanted to draw and create, so when my teacher arranged for me to visit a local architect’s office I simply didn’t want to leave their premises. They offered me an apprenticeship and I worked for them and attended my local college one day a week.”
Carshalton College’s principal Peter Mayhew-Smith said the centre will transform the learning environment, enabling students to make the most of opportunities in construction.
“Our new TEC Centre should transform learning for our students. We now have industry-standard spaces and equipment on a huge scale with opportunities for them to immerse themselves in the crafts and trades they love. The builders, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and mechanics of tomorrow will learn their skills here today and we can’t wait to throw our doors open to them all.”