The UK’s first dedicated offsite construction training facility has been opened by Laing O’Rourke, in collaboration with Barnsley College and T3 Training & Development.
The new facility, part-funded by the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), aims to provide people with technical and digital skills.
These skills include developing learners into ‘Trainee Assembly Specialists’, giving them access to the equipment and skills needed to work with large-scale modular components in a safe and controlled environment.
It will be the first purpose-built facility to offer a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Construction Assembly installation – approved by The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) in 2019.
This new qualification aims to help overcome the long-standing skills shortage in the offsite construction sector and bridge the gap between young talent and experience.
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Peter Lyons, Director of Laing O’Rourke, said:
“We are proud and excited to launch this first-of-a-kind training facility with Barnsley College and T3 Training & Development, and to have created a training course that will help accelerate change across our sector.
“Not only will it enhance the skills of our current directly employed workforce, but it will also attract a more diverse range of people to consider a career in construction.
“Only through the wider use of digital technologies and offsite construction can we transform productivity and create better work and careers for people.
“It’s a change we need to make to ensure we can deliver the essential infrastructure the country needs, and which underpins our quality of life.”
David Akeroyd, Principal and Chief Executive of Barnsley College, added:
“We are delighted to have partnered with Laing O’Rourke and T3 Training & Development to create the UK’s very first offsite construction training centre of its type.
“This facility will no doubt equip students with the expertise needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving construction sector, lead the way on more sustainable methods of construction, and ensure they are prepared for the ambitious demands of the modern workforce.
“Through this collaboration, we are proud to play a vital role in addressing skills shortages and supporting the development of a highly skilled, future-ready workforce for the local region and beyond.”
The Modern Methods of Construction Training Centre will see the first cohort of apprentices begin their apprenticeships in the new year.
Source: Laing O’Rourke launches UK’s first training facility for modern methods of construction
