Industrial property developer IM Properties’ has launched a new training centre at its latest big site.
The national developer has created it at the 2.94 million sq ft global parts distribution centre it is building for Jaguar Land Rover and a 450,000 sq ft logistics hub going up for freight forwarder DSV in west Leicestershire.
The 238-acre Mercia Park distribution park is being built at Appleby Magna, at junction 11 of the M42, and will eventually have around 3,400 people working there.
The business has launched a vocational training centre at the site which it says is already creating job opportunities.
The Future of Construction Training Centre has already been used by Vocation Training to run a traffic management course, and is being provided by IM Properties in partnership with lead contractor Winvic Construction.
It includes a classroom, kitchen and toilet facilities with secure space for practical training outside, and when not being used by Winvic, will be available to local FE colleges and other groups.
Kerry Amory, IM Properties’ social value manager said it was great to being supporting employment and skills.
She said: “We’re really pleased to see the training centre finally in action after a long wait during the pandemic for onsite training to return.
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“We know the difference a bespoke facility will make, having witnessed the positive results on our other Leicestershire scheme, Hinckley Park.
“We’ve drawn on our experience from Hinckley to enhance the employment and skills opportunities at Mercia, which is crucial to us as a business and industry and integral to the delivery of Mercia Park.
“Our values are shared not only by our supply chain but Winvic Construction’s too, with TSM, its Traffic Safety Management company, hiring the trainee operative now on site.
“We are currently in discussions with local FE colleges and third-party training providers to encourage them to use the new facility and have two further courses booked later in September.
“Local schools can also arrange site visits which really help children to realise the many potential roles in the sector.
“As the pop-up training facility is only here for the next 10 months or so we would urge anyone interested in booking the facility to get in touch.”
It’s anticipated the new facility will be utilised to provide practical training from traffic management to groundworks, steelworks and health and safety.
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Danny Nelson, Winvic’s director for industrial, distribution and logistics said: “It’s a real celebration that we were able to welcome the first learners to Mercia Park and that all seven got jobs.
“It’s clear that when it comes to construction, the mix of classroom and onsite training provides a massive boost and we were delighted to play a part in this in partnership with IM Properties as part of our commitment to social value.”
Helen Madden at Vocation Training said the new Future of Construction Training Centre was the best they’d ever had access to.
She said: “It’s an amazing facility and provides a good-sized outdoor space which allows for real-life working conditions to be assembled and practical scenarios carried out, enabling individuals to get experience of a live construction site environment.”
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