100-plus apprentices at Scarborough Construction Skills Village
New bricklayers, joiners, plasterers, plumbers, electricians and groundworkers are being trained
A total of more than 100 apprentices are gaining desperately-needed expertise thanks to Scarborough Construction Skills Village.
The current apprentice tally means that 104 new bricklayers, joiners, plasterers, plumbers, electricians and groundworkers at the skills village will be trained to nationally-accredited standards.
It is also now offering free courses for adults on all types of construction.
The developments come as the skills village is being boosted by more than £500,000 from the Scarborough Town Deal under the Government's Towns Fund.
The new waves of apprentices will help to fill the huge skills gaps for housebuilding and maintenance – and supporting the area’s trades people and building companies.
By December the Skills Village will aim to support a further 50 apprenticeships.
"I am delighted that we are creating real skills for so many people - teenagers as well as adults," said Graham Ratcliffe, head of Northern Regeneration which runs the Construction Skills Village.
"It is so important to be developing useful skills where there is such a shortage, and by gaining real experience on a working site environment like ours, we are providing new careers.
"Thanks to our team and supporters and partners, the number of apprentices here is sensational."
The apprentices are based at the dedicated construction training site at Middle Deepdale, Musham Bank Road, Eastfield, off the A64, where they learn from experienced trainers and assessors while working alongside qualified trades people on local developments.
The Construction Skills Village started from scratch in 2015. It uses local supply chains to help youngsters through apprenticeship and forges relationships with builders and local trades people.
Mr Ratcliffe added: "We are keeping skills-learning local.
"The skills village means that people don't have to travel out of the area.
"They like our environment where it's a real learning site not a classroom and they are regarded as working people not students.
"We thank all the trades employers who support us and who have taken on our apprentices.
"It’s an exciting time to learn a trade – there is so much demand and great opportunities for people of all ages, earning while learning."
He paid tribute to the "brilliant" support of Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council and the Scarborough Town Deal board.
"The support of council leaders and managers and MP Robert Goodwill has been crucial in enabling us to provide aspiration and skills for young people and for adults wanting to expand their job potential."
Town Deal chairman David Kerfoot said after a visit to the skills village: “What a project - using local supply chains, helping youngsters through apprenticeships and forging relationships with builders.”
Former apprentice Kieran Robertson, 29, is now a joinery trainer. Kieran, who holds a degree from Northumbria University, worked on the Middle Deepdale and Mulgrave Properties sites.
He said: “The Construction Skills Village is a brilliant learning environment. It teaches the skills you need to be self-employed and trains up the new apprentices."
Apprentice Dylan Priestley, of 21, of Scalby, studied business and sport at Scarborough Sixth Form. While undertaking the electrical tuition at the skills village, he is an apprentice to qualified Scarborough electrician Paul Huggins, the RNLI crew member who offered free electrical repair services to the elderly and vulnerable during covid.
Dylan said: “I wanted to get an apprenticeship rather than go to university.
“I’m now developing a career for life. There are a lot of opportunities.”
“The tuition here is much more hands-on, mixing the practical and the theory.”
Josh Levy, 19, of Falsgrave, attended Graham School and Scarborough TEC. He is learning to be an electrician.
He said: “The skills village has been great for me. I’ve learned loads with the quality of the teaching is what I wanted, you learn everything and I’m looking forward to being qualified.”
The skills village is also open to unemployed people or anyone wanting a career change or to upskill.
It also offers free, fully-funded plant training for people in construction who want to move into more highly-paid employment.
To take up the free construction apprenticeships or plant training, contact (01723) 585009 or email info@skills-village.co.uk