Work has started on a £9million construction skills hub in Bristol.
The 2,800 sq m Advanced Construction Skills Centre is being built by Midas at Bristol College's South Bristol Skills Academy.
Midas is also refurbishing an existing building on the site and adding a construction yard, parking and cycle spaces.
The centre is designed to meet sector skills needs, according to Midas, as well as providing better access to state-of-the-art construction facilities.
It will deliver apprenticeships and construction courses for trades in wood, brick and plaster for young people, and offer qualifications for professionals already working in the field.
The aim is to service the large number of building firms and small traders located in the south of Bristol, Midas has said. The first students are expected to start in September 2021.
Steve Hindley, chair of Midas Group, said: “Supporting emerging talent to build on their knowledge and expertise will have a longstanding impact for the future of our industry and we are pleased to be a part of that.”
Andy Forbes, Principal and Chief Executive at City of Bristol College, said: “These state-of-the-art facilities will provide an industry-standard training environment to students and apprentices of all ages, supporting the anticipated growth in the construction sector employment opportunities.
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“As highlighted in our recent Ofsted inspection, our students and apprentices ‘are ambitious and well-motivated to learn. They recognise how the skills and knowledge they are gaining will help them in the future.
"The new centre will support us in making our students even more job-ready and ambitious in their career related goals.”
'Construction is one of our region’s anchor sectors'
Of the £9million being spent on the centre, a total of £6million is coming from the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through the Local Growth Fund, which is administered by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).
Midas secured the work through the South West Construction Framework (SCF), a £5.25billion framework delivering public sector projects over the next four years.
Since being appointed to SCF in 2015, Midas has won 30 projects with a total value of more than £151million.
West of England metro mayor Tim Bowles said: “Construction is one of our region’s anchor sectors and we need to provide the new skills to help the industry grow in the future.
"We also need to make sure that growth is inclusive and that everyone in our community can access those opportunities."
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He added: "City of Bristol College’s new Advanced Construction Skills Centre is a great example of how we are addressing that challenge.
"It will help prepare young people, apprentices and higher education students from the West of England and beyond for successful careers in the construction sector.”
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The development of the Advanced Construction Skills Centre is due to introduce 180 new apprenticeships at Level 3 and above in the first year and provide a sustainable pipeline for higher apprenticeships for the future, according to Midas.
Prof Steve West, chair of the West of England LEP, said: “We’re really pleased to support the fantastic new Advanced Construction Skills Centre at City of Bristol College.
"This will help to equip our current and future construction workforce with the skills they need to drive forward the building of new homes, business premises and infrastructure as our region grows. It will also help them to secure better career prospects and make the most of the opportunities available right here in the West of England.”
Catherine Bullough, CITB Partnerships Manager for South and South West England, added: “We’re delighted to have joined local construction employers on the steering group, working together to help make sure the new skills centre will meet the future needs of the industry in the South West.”