It's hard hats off to builders' school

By Evening News : 22 May 2008

A new academy for trainee construction workers is to be created to meet the city's £16 billion development plans.

Council officials have identified a need for at least 900 new workers each year to build major schemes such as the trams network, the waterfront development and a second Forth road crossing.

But the country is suffering from an increasing skills shortage and a growing number of vacancies in the construction sector.

To tackle the problem, the city council and Telford College are to team up to create a "one-stop shop" for construction workers in Edinburgh.

The centre of excellence will see all activities at the council's training centre at the Inch relocated to a new home at the college in time for September.

As the only two bodies currently to train construction workers in the Capital, and with both facilities full, the academy's main aim will be to increase capacity on courses.

A joint venture company will be established, headed by a director earning up to £60,000 a year, to bring in more income.

The centre of excellence will also promote career opportunities, and establish better arrangements with employers.

The city's economic development leader, Tom Buchanan, said: "The construction sector in Edinburgh is set to create record numbers of training and job opportunities over the next 20 to 30 years.

"However the city's capacity to deliver construction training does not currently meet demand. The centre of excellence will help meet that demand.

"The project supports the council's work on access to employment and training.

"Our aim is make it easier for people to access work and create more occasions for them to receive training and employment opportunities.

"At the same time we want to increase the pool of potential recruits with the skills, experience and abilities to meet the city's recruitment needs."

Dr Ray Harris, principal of Telford College, added: "This exciting development has the support of the major players in the industry."

The construction sector in Edinburgh is extremely active, with an estimated order book of around £16.65bn over the coming years.

The investment in the trams network – including the shelved route to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary – has been priced at £940 million by council officials, and the "string of pearls" concept to revitalise Princes Street is put at £400m.

The Scottish Government's £4.2bn new bridge over the Firth of Forth is the biggest project in the next few years.

But the combined investment in Granton, the Waterfront and Leith Docks between now and 2035 has been put at £7.6bn.

Councillor Buchanan said: "These figures are long-term 'guesstimates', estimated to the best of our ability, based on the information that we currently have available.

"Clearly this level of investment is encouraging, not only for our construction sector – but it will be of huge benefit to the city's growing economy."

Between 2002 and 2006, 14.2 per cent of all construction in Scotland took place in Edinburgh.

Categories: Recruitment, Commercial Property, Press Coverage, Economic Development

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