Member Article

Sheffield’s Lord Mayor opens new Skills Academy that will ‘change lives’

Free skills training available to help those unemployed

A new skills academy that will provide practical, hands on construction training aimed at getting unemployed people from across the region back into work was today opened by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Tony Downing.

The Sheffield Skills Academy, which is based on Clay Street, Attercliffe, will offer a range of fully funded construction courses providing attendees with both practical and digital skills whilst helping address current skills gaps in the construction sector.

The facility, which forms part of The Skills People Group, will focus on ‘building futures’ for those who are currently unemployed and over the age of 19 – helping them gain valuable skills that will help secure a permanent job and the opportunity to progress into a well-paid construction career.

Registration is now open for anyone interested in participating in the programme, with spaces available for attendees to complete a three week ‘Introduction to Construction’ course, as well as for a seven week Level 1 Diploma in Construction Multi-Skills course which will cover practical matters including bricklaying, joinery, plastering and tiling.

Speaking at the open event which was attended by local dignitaries, trainers and former trainees Kunda Kinteh, 50, from Rotherham, who has recently completed the ‘Introduction into Construction’ course, said: “This course has changed my life!

“Before I completed it I knew nothing about construction and thought that a career in it would be unattainable. Now I now have a CSCS card which allows me to work on a UK Construction site and I’m about to start a Level 1 Diploma in Construction Multi-Skills.”

The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Tony Downing commented: “It’s great that Sheffield and the wider community have access to this fantastic new training facility, it’s clear to see how it will benefit both local residents and employers.”

Skills People Group plan to open further academies in the Nottingham in January 2020, Bristol later in the New year and Liverpool, Manchester and London area in 2020/21.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gina Francey .