The centre is a partnership between Waltham Forest Council and Dudley College of Technology, which manages the facility in partnership with Simian Risk, the UK’s largest scaffolding training provider.
Demonstrations of technology such as virtual welding took place, as well as the event offering the opportunity to strengthen relationships with employers, manufacturers and supply chain SMEs through networking and discussions.
The Construction Centre is meeting the training demands of traditional trades and also ensuring those enrolled on courses become proficient in using new resources, such as Virtual Reality, digital technology and BIM (Building Information Modelling) to enable speed of delivery.
As Waltham Forest aims to meet ambitious new targets for housing, which include plans for 18,000 homes over the next decade, it is seen as an imperative that London continues to develop a skilled workforce in a fast-evolving industry which is vital to the capital’s economy.
Speaking at the launch, Councillor Simon Miller, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Housing Development, said: “We see this [the opening of Advance TECC] as an opportunity to create a real centre of excellence here in Waltham Forest, fulfilling a real skill shortage in the housing and construction market.”
Patrick Dubeck, Head of Regeneration at the Greater London Authority, said Waltham Forest should be “really proud” to have a facility such as Advance TECC in the borough. “It is offering really important skills paths, not only locally but for London as a whole.”
Speeches were also made on the morning by the Mayor of Waltham Forest, Councillor Chris Robbins CBE, who launched the Young Enterprise Fund (more info here) and Lowell Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Dudley College of Technology.)
Lowell Williams Chief Executive Officer, Dudley College of Technology and Chair of the Board of Dudley Academies Trust, said: “I’m proud that over the last decade, Dudley College of Technology has been able to work with regional and national employers in the West Midlands to develop a training offer that meets the needs of the construction sector.
“We recognise the fantastic opportunity presented by Waltham Forest Council in allowing us to become the managing partner of the centre, to bring the skills and expertise that we have learnt in the Midlands to the capital. We look forward to making the centre a success so it can make a positive impact on getting people into sustainable employment and helping others to build their careers in an industry that has infinite future growth."
More photos from the event
