Training centre nears completion

From the archive, first published Thursday 17th Nov 2005.

BRITAIN'S biggest private trade skills training centre will be up and running near Southampton by the end of the month, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The centre will create 50 jobs and provide a welcome financial boost to local bed and breakfast owners.

A joint venture between Southampton-based New Career Skills (NCS) and Apprenticeship Training Limited (ATL), the centre is poised to attract thousands of wannabe plumbers and electricians from across the UK.

They will spend up to six weeks on intensive training courses to bring them up to industry standards.

Set up in an adapted warehouse in Chalcroft Business Park, Hedge End, the 10,000 sq ft centre is reputedly the biggest of its kind in the UK.

The site will give up to 100 trainees at a time the chance to learn in a "live" environment featuring running water and working appliances.

B&B owners will also be able to cash in on the influx of trainees, who will need somewhere to stay.

As widely reported, there is a nationwide shortage of skilled tradesmen.

According to the Construction Industries Training Board, key skill areas are experiencing the following "significant" shortfalls:

carpenters - 66,000

Electricians - 37,000

plumbers - 30,000.

NCS warned that colleges do not have the capacity to address the problem and that courses are often oversubscribed.

NCS graduates have gone on to be employed by companies such as British Gas, Plumb Local, Initial Building Services and People's Plumbers.

NCS managing director Trevor Dormedy said: "We are delighted to join ATL on this venture and bring such a landmark facility to Southampton.

"This training centre will make a large contribution to the trades industry."

For more, log on towww.newcareerskills. com.

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