Carillion : opens new training centre in Southampton

Nick Boles MP with Carillion apprentice Louie Norris.

29th January 2015
The centre was officially opened by Skills Minister Nick Boles MP who is the government minister responsible for apprenticeships.

The new centre in Brooklands Courtyard, Millbrook, Southampton, represents a £500,000 investment by Carillion and replaces a previous centre in Third Avenue.

Ray Wilson, Carillion's director of training services said: "This is a major investment by Carillion which will provide modern training and welfare facilities and enable us to increase the number of apprentice places we offer to more than 100 each year at a time when the construction sector is seeing substantial growth.

"We currently offer apprenticeships in bricklaying and carpentry but will be exploring opportunities to provide additional courses in other skills, depending on local demand. We have provided training in Southampton for 25 years and have an impressive track record of success with 82 per cent of the apprentices going into jobs or full time education at the end of their course."

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: "We know that the construction industry is facing a skills shortage and that's why it's so encouraging to see Carillion showing such a clear commitment to developing the construction workers of the future. This new centre will enable young people from across the Southampton area to gain the skills they need for a successful career in construction and will give employers the maintained supply of skilled workers so vital for growth."

Centre manager Steve Rule said: "The new centre not only provides much better facilities than the old one but has given some of our apprentices an opportunity to put their skills to real use by helping to fit it out."

Nationally Carillion operates 13 training centres and is the UK's largest private sector provider of construction apprentices. Apprentices 'earn-while-they-learn' and are offered work placements through Carillion's extensive supply chain.

Carillion has committed to create 5,000 apprenticeships in construction trades over the next five years.

Earlier this month Ray Wilson was appointed to the new eight-member board of the Construction Industry Training Board which will help the industry develop the skills needed to meet future growth.