News & Events

This week is Green Careers Week, a week to promote aspirations in green jobs that can really make a difference to the future of the construction industry and the wider world.

The Skills Centre, as part of its work with Greening London and The Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce, is dedicated to promoting green skills in the construction industry and providing basic green-skills training to all learners through its training centres.

Jean Stevens Duprez MBE, is The Skills Centre’s Green Skills Champion and is also the Chair of the Greening London steering group. Here she explains why Green Construction Careers are the future of the sector and are much needed to improve its carbon footprint.

Laing O’Rourke has partnered with leading training providers The Learning Foundry and The Skills Centre to launch exciting opportunities for local people to work on Everton’s new 52,000-capacity stadium and begin a new career in construction.

The City of London Corporation’s Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce welcomes Jon Howlin, CEO of leading construction training provider, The Skills Centre, as an Associate Member.

This Programme has now closed. For more information on training available at our Birmingham centre please visit: West Midlands

Security personnel needed for Games with free, SIA-certified training

United by Birmingham 2022 and The Skills Centre is on the lookout for 100s of motivated people to be a key part of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this August.

A free, two-week, Security Industry Authority (SIA) certified training programme and 100s of job opportunities are on offer for those who are currently unemployed.

Successful candidates will get jobs with an immediate start, and the opportunity to start a career within the security industry as they will gain a SIA Licence (worth around £200). No previous experience in the sector is needed, just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

Jon Howlin, Chief Executive of The Skills Centre, explained that this is a great opportunity for anyone who might have lost their job recently: “This is a great opportunity for those people who have found themselves without a job, as the SIA training is industry-recognised, and so successful candidates will also qualify for other security jobs after the Games – and all for free.

“This is also an opportunity for local people to play their part in the Commonwealth Games and to be able to show people from around the world the wonderful hospitality and character of the West Midlands.

“We encourage anyone who is looking for a new challenge – or who wants to become a games maker at this year’s Commonwealth Games – to get in touch with us and start their journey to a new vocation. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Martin Leeder, Strategic Operations Director at TSS Security, one of the companies providing security during the games, said of the scheme: “The 2022 Commonwealth Games will shine a light on Birmingham and the West Midlands, putting this vibrant city and region on a global stage.

“This project is part of an initiative to employ thousands of roles across not only the three weeks of the actual games itself but also for the whole summer. The great thing about the security jobs is that this free training will give local unemployed people a licence to do security work after the games.”

Martin added: “We are proud to be offering this free training scheme with The Skills Centre and look forward to seeing the successful candidates as fully-qualified SIA personnel around the West Midlands in venues such as Alexander Stadium, Birmingham Arena and Edgbaston Stadium, as well as many other venues.”

The training will take place at The Skills Centre’s training facility in Aston.

This course has now ended.

• After five successful years working with constructor Lendlease at Elephant Park, the community-centred training facility is moving to Canada Water
• During its time at Elephant Park, Southwark Construction Skills Centre has trained more than 10,000 local residents and helped create 3,000 jobs

Southwark Construction Skills Centre (SCSC) is moving from its original base at Elephant Park, to a new home at Canada Water.

SCSC has been at the site in Elephant Park since 2016 and has been supported by major contractor Lendlease in providing training and upskilling to those interested in a career in construction. During this time, SCSC has contributed £40million in social value to the local economy, training more than 10,000 residents, and helped to create more than 3,000 jobs in the construction sector.

Now the community-centred skills and training centre, supported by Southwark Council and run by The Skills Centre, is set to move to its new home at Hawker House, Canada Water in April, in support of the British Land Canada Water Masterplan.

Jon Howlin, Managing Director of The Skills Centre, which runs SCSC, said of the move: “The aim was always to move the training facility to support additional projects in Southwark and this is the first move it has made since opening in 2016 – and we’re hugely excited about becoming a meaningful part of the community at Canada Water.

“It has been an honour to work with the Elephant Park community and to help so many people learn new skills and train to gain great jobs in the construction industry – we’ve simply had the best experience.

“The Skills Centre now looks forward to doing the same again for the community at Canada Water.”

SCSC will be offering the same opportunities at Canada Water as it did in Elephant Park, with employment prospects, apprenticeships and pre-employment training for local residents, as well as continuing its schools’ programme; inspiring Southwark school children to consider the varied jobs on offer through a career in construction.

The move is a joint initiative between The Skills Centre, Southwark Council, British Land, and Art Invest.

Councillor Rebecca Lury, Southwark Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Business & Jobs, said: “Thousands of our residents have walked through the doors of Southwark Construction Skills Centre at Elephant Park to receive expert training and support, with many going on to secure real jobs at sites across the Borough.

“With a 20-year programme of construction work at Canada Water, one of the Council’s largest regeneration schemes, this is an ideal location for creating an exciting training venue for our residents. I’m excited to see SCSC and The Skills Centre go from strength to strength, with the help of new partners British Land and Art-Invest to create opportunities for residents from across the Borough.”

Canada Water Masterplan is a joint initiative between Southwark Council and British Land, working closely with Art-Invest, to develop a 53-acre scheme that will deliver workspace to accommodate around 20,000 jobs, retail, leisure, entertainment, education and community spaces. There will be around 3,000 new homes, of which 35% will be affordable, as well as 12 acres of open space and a new town centre for Southwark; the first new town centre built in London for more than 100 years.

Symon Bacon, Development Director for British Land, said of SCSC supporting the Canada Water Masterplan: “We’re delighted to contribute bringing the Southwark Construction Skills Centre to Canada Water. The Centre will provide a local front-door and resource of information, training and guidance for residents interested in accessing some of the many construction employment and training opportunities that the Canada Water Masterplan will generate.

“We know there is demand and interest locally, and we’ve already been able to support several local unemployed residents into training and roles with our enabling contractors. We look forward to working closely with The Skills Centre to maximise the number of residents from the local area and wider Southwark growing their skills and being part of delivering the Canada Water Masterplan.”

Construction of the new centre in Canada Water will begin in April, with a planned opening on June 21^st. Opening hours will be from 8.30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, with community-based activities planned for Saturdays.

Ali Abbas, Managing Director and Head of UK at Art-Invest Real Estate said, “We were drawn to Canada Water due to its thriving community and a real sense of opportunity, which we have been eager to both experience and support first-hand since we committed to the gateway Canada Water Dockside site neighbouring the wider Canada Water Masterplan in July 2020.

“Through extensive meetings with the local community, albeit virtually, we have heard how much of a positive difference the Construction Skills Centre makes to Southwark and how this will truly benefit Canada Water residents in the future.

“We are thrilled that we have been able to contribute to such a key commitment early on as we look to provide a further 10,000 jobs in our development of Canada Water Dockside. We very much look forward to working further with Southwark Council, British Land, The Skills Centre and local residents in advancing the Borough’s post-pandemic recovery.”

Local residents will also have access to a digital library, basic digital training as well as the use of computer equipment, which will all be free. The centre will be run in a Covid-safe way, with Covid safety training also provided.

If you have any questions about the construction of the SCSC, or if you have any enquiries about the new training opportunities at Canada Water, please don’t hesitate to call 0203 621937 or email enquiries@theskillscentre.co.uk.

• Participants guaranteed free training and interviews for jobs

• Partnerships with contractors such as Mace, Wates, Lang O’Rourke, Engie, Galldris, Berkley Group, Keltbray, TfL, Fortel, London Square, OHOB, Morrisroe and Multiplex

The Skills Centre, one of the UK’s leading construction training specialists, is offering guaranteed training and job interview opportunities around five sites in the Greater London area, north Kent and also across the West Midlands.

Thanks to partnerships with major building contractors such as Mace, Wates, Lang O’Rourke, Engie, Galldris, Berkley Group, Keltbray, TfL, Fortel, London Square, OHOB, Morrisroe and Multiplex.

100s of training places will be offered at five different training centres in Earl’s Court, Gravesend, Southwark, Stratford and West Midlands. The Skills Centre is looking to attract new people into the world of construction, and are targeting people who are either unemployed or are earning under £16,000 a year, and the training is completely free.

The three-week, industry-led construction training programme will be offered to all that apply, together with a guaranteed job interview for work on a number of major building projects.

Jon Howlin, CEO of The Skills Centre said they are delighted to be offering these great training and job opportunities: “We have already had amazing success in our recent training drive for construction jobs in London, where we managed to get more than 1,000 people attracted to our training programme, for the employers we are working with across a number of construction sites.

“Across the UK there is a massive construction skills shortage right now, with the pandemic as well as Brexit leaving many major contractors without the people to fulfil the needs they have on site. So, it is great that we are able to offer these free training places and attract people with no prior experience, into a new career in construction.”

Jon added: “We are particularly interested in welcoming women onto our training schemes; diversity is still an area where the sector needs to improve, and it is a great profession for all, with many paths for career progression into all areas of construction. Our free training courses are a great first step into a wonderful career.

“What we are offering through our partnerships is a chance for people from all walks of life to get free, first-rate training with our experienced construction professionals though our site-ready programmes. Candidates are guaranteed a job interview at the end of it and some of the jobs may even turn into full apprenticeships.”

All those who complete and pass the three-week course will get a Green Labourers CSCS card, Level 1 Award in Health & Safety in a Construction Environment, and Construction health and safety certificates (including manual handling).

The initiative is supported by the Construction Skills Fund, which was established in October 2018 to train a site-ready workforce to meet the needs of the construction industry.

Anyone interested in applying should go to https://theskillscentre.co.uk/...

Apprentices at the Southwark Construction Skills Centre have been supporting Surrey Docks Farm, a working community farm and education charity in South East London, in building a shelter for its animals.

The Skills Centre, which has trained more than 10,000 local residents and helped create more than 3,000 jobs in the construction sector, has previously worked with Surrey Docks Farm to improve disabled access and was keen to support the charity further, as well as build a commitment to social responsibility among its apprentices.

Surrey Docks Farm was first established in 1975 and is now on a 2.2-acre site on the river Thames at South Wharf.

The Farm is run by Surrey Docks Farm Provident Society Limited and provides a range of farming and educational experiences, including giving adults with learning disabilities, opportunities to gain confidence and independence through the development of horticulture and retail skills.

With the support of construction specialists, Keltbray, which provided a range of building materials, five apprentices from Southwark Construction Skills Centre built a shelter base for Surrey Docks Farm’s donkeys. Donkeys do not have a natural build-up of grease to make their coat waterproof and need somewhere to shelter from the British weather.

We would like to give a huge thank-you to the Southwark Construction Skills Centre for their continued support of the Farm. We're delighted to get the donkeys hard standing area completed so quickly and look forward to further projects with the apprentices.

The field shelter was funded through a memorial donation on behalf of someone who regularly visited and enjoyed the Farm. It's wonderful that we can complete all the work in a community-focused way and get on with this, rather than wait on the groundwork. The donkeys (and all of our team) are delighted by this improvement to their living quarters!"

Gemma Hooper - Manager at Surrey Docks Farm

John White, Director of The Skills Centre added:

The apprentices worked extremely hard, and I am delighted that we were able to support such a great cause. We know apprenticeships work and it was great to see both them and the farm benefiting from their efforts. Our apprentices not only gained skills valuable on large construction sites, but they also saw how they can use their skills to enrich their local communities.

Now that the Southwark Construction Skills Centre is moving from its original base at Elephant Park to a new home at Canada Water, we will be closer than ever to the Farm. We thoroughly enjoyed working with them and look forward to having our apprentices helping out again very soon."

If you have any questions about the new training opportunities at Canada Water, please don’t hesitate to call 0203 621937 or email enquiries@theskillscentre.co.uk.