A training programme being run alongside construction of a major residential project in Birmingham city centre has received new funding.
West Midlands Combined Authority has handed £100,000 of its adult education budget to construction firm John Sisk & Son so it can run a skills centre hub.
The programme is offering local people free construction training and a guaranteed job interview at the end of the 20-day course.
Sign up for your free West Midlands newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn
Email newsletters
BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire.
Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates.
We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away.
For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our
John Sisk & Son is currently building the £302 million Great Charles Street development on Ludgate Hill Car Park for developer Moda Living. The project will contain more than 700 apartments, commercial space and amenities and reach 39 storeys.
Over the last two years, the previous training hub operated by the contractor at the 42-storey Mercian tower in Broad Street, also a Moda Living scheme, created 140 jobs for local residents.
The new hub at the Great Charles Street development is expected to create a further 106 construction jobs, with roles including apprenticeships, graduate positions and general operatives.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: "One of our key tasks as a region is to equip local people with the skills they need to succeed, providing them with a pathway into high-quality job opportunities close to home.
"That's why it's great to see Moda Living and John Sisk collaborating again to continue creating opportunities for residents to gain invaluable construction skills. "Our £100,000 investment in this training hub doubles down on our commitment to foster job creation and skill development in the months and years ahead."
Tyan Lynvest, 24, is taking part in the scheme.
He said: "Prior to this, I was doing a lot of IT, background acting and warehouse work but I really wanted to get into construction.
"The scheme has given me a lot of stability, this is something I actually want to do and I've been spoilt for choice with the opportunities this has given me."
Simon Dingle, regional project director with John Sisk & Son, said: "We are thrilled to be able to apply our successful approach once again to our Great Charles Street project.
"Looking ahead, we're excited to leverage this proven model for the project, creating even more job prospects, including apprenticeships, and continuing our commitment to local communities and businesses beyond the construction phase."
