Aylesbury College, a major construction skills provider has identified an increasing demand from both school leavers and adults for relevant training and qualifications to meet the needs of the construction industry at both a local and national level. The (future) South East Plan which will include Aylesbury Vale’s growth agenda are driving the need for an increase in regional construction sector training. A need clearly identified through research by the Learning Skills Council.
In a bold initiative to cater for both immediate and future demand the college has opened an imaginative new Construction Skills Training Centre at the Silvatech centre in Aylesbury. The new purpose designed facility provides extended training space for the three of the five core construction trades and coupled with new staffing will increase construction skills training provision by over 50%.
The centre was planned and developed as a partnership initiative by Aylesbury College supported by Aylesbury Vale Advantage (AVA), whose role was instrumental in locating and sourcing additional funding and generating support for the venture - successfully gaining funds from SEEDA (South East of England Development Agency). SEEDA’s support for this new venture aligns our local activity with that of SECBE (South East Centre of the Built Environment) www.secbe.org.uk
Aylesbury College offers part / full time construction skills training up to NVQ level 2 and modern apprenticeships for an increasing range of trades, plus assessment and verification for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and Offsite Assessment & Training (OSAT) for construction employees without trade qualifications.
The new facility will now allow training to be offered in plastering and brickwork, carpentry skills and painting and decorating. The new centre will also offer great flexibility by operating outside of normal term times, allowing for new Fast Track programmes to be offered such as - Core trade skills training for adults making a career change.
The Construction Industry Training Board recognises the value of this new training facility and the high standard of training which Aylesbury College provides to it students. Mr. John Course. the CITB’s South East regional Director formally opened this facility in September of this year.
Aylesbury College hopes to expand their training provision within the construction industry over the next few years. Current research validates the need for a higher level (CORGI) qualification / registration in gas together with higher level assessment in electrics.
www.aylesbury.ac.uk
