More than £1 million is being invested in a new training centre for the electrical and plumbing trades – ahead of an anticipated rise in construction activity.
The new hub at Mill Wharf, Aston, is being opened by JTL, and will provide a training base for up to 144 apprentices.
The site is currently undergoing redevelopment and preparation work in time for welcoming the first cohort of apprentices in the autumn.
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A spokesman said with business confidence in the Birmingham area having reached a 13-month high and encouraging indicators that construction is set on a growth path, there is going to be a growing need for qualified people able to support new-build and renovation work.
He added: “JTL continues to works closely with some important college partners across the West Midlands, but this new development will ensure access to top-quality training for both potential apprentices and employers operating in the Birmingham area.
With a first intake of apprentices in Birmingham set to start their combined practical and study programmes in October, JTL is urging those interested to apply very soon.”
A survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors last month suggested the construction sector in the West Midlands was turning the corner, with 62 per cent of surveyors in the region anticipating a rise in activity.
Building work has plummeted since the start of the downturn in 2007, but since the start of 2013 activity has slowly begun to pick up and during the second quarter of the year a net balance of 24 per cent more surveyors in the region reported rises in workloads. Only London and the South East reporting a bigger increase in activity.
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JTL is Britain’s largest and most successful training provider for the electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilating trades.
The new centre will train apprentices across building services, engineering and facilities management disciplines, and also offer top-up training and professional development courses for those already working in the professions.
It will have classrooms and a conference centre on the first floor and separate workshops are being created underneath to support practical training and assessment areas
Parts of the large building will also be available to hire for meetings and the running of courses by some other accredited training providers.
JTL originated from a partnership between the Electrical Contractors’ Association and Unite the Union, and has for the last ten years spread its services which now includes development courses for building services engineering, and training and consultancy on management skills and equality.