Sadiq Khan to establish Construction Skills Academy

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is to launch a Construction Skills Academy in London as part of his Skills for Londoners programme that will provide the people of London with the chance to obtain the skills the capital is crying out for.

The Construction Skills Academy will be created in collaboration with the housebuilding industry to help address the housing shortage in London and the chronic skills shortage in the construction industry.

The Skills for Londoners Capital Fund will provide £114M in funding to deliver improved equipment and facilities at further education colleges and other education and training providers.

A Skills for Londoners Taskforce will also be established that will feature leading figures from the world of business and employers, skills and education experts and London government representatives. They will be charged with developing strategy for the whole of London to engage with the skills programme.

The Taskforce will work closely with the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP) to ensure that a greater number of 16 year olds move into further education.

It will also focus on equality and provide girls with opportunities to develop their STEM skills.

The Mayor cited the uncertainty surrounding the UK’s access to skilled labour from the European following the Brexit vote as a fundamental reason to implement this strategy.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I want all Londoners to have the same opportunities I had growing up. Skills for Londoners is the first step towards making that happen.

“Through Skills for Londoners, we will address these problems head-on, giving Londoners the chance to train in the skills that will boost our economy and creating a pipeline of local talent and expertise for our businesses to tap into.”

If you would like to read more articles like this then please click here

The post Sadiq Khan to establish Construction Skills Academy appeared first on UK Construction Online.