In our first-rate construction facility a team of experienced and extremely well-qualified tutors deliver high-quality programmes that lead to a variety of professional careers, from quantity and building surveying to construction management and architectural design.

A highly successful period for the School saw the number of full-time FE learners rise by almost a fifth and HE learners more than double. The School made a positive contribution to the College’s overall Ofsted inspection and in a separate sector report by Ofsted was singled out for excellent opportunities for progression into industry employment and further training.

A favourite with industry

Demand by industry for high quality and flexibly-delivered bespoke training remained high this period, and included a commission by the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contractors. Through liaison with Construction Skills (formerly CITB) the School became involved in the ‘Skill Academy’ based on the £60 million sea defence project being constructed by Birse Civils Ltd, which led to the creation of work placements for learners.

The School continued to play a vital role in the town’s regeneration, not least through the £1.4m Blackpool Build Up project funded by the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) and set up to train local people for local employment. The project’s phenomenal success during the period, in which training and employment targets were exceeded, prompted LEGI to pledge an additional £50k towards the venture and recommend it for a Beacon Award. Further community activity saw us become involved with the OLASS (Offenders Learning and Skills Service) project, which resulted in more than 50 offenders on probation achieving a Health and Safety qualification to enhance their prospects of gaining full-time employment in the industry.

An excellent education

Students continued to excel at regional and national competitions, with their achievements a direct reflection of the high level of skills promoted by the School. At the regional finals of Skillbuild at Preston College, students were placed first for plastering and second and third for Painting and Decorating while at the Guild of Bricklayers North West Regional and National Final, which we hosted, one of our students successfully reached the final stage..

Nowhere was curriculum innovation better evidenced than in our range of 14-16 provision. This included ongoing collaboration with Montgomery School, Birse Civil Engineering and two key local employers on the development of the new Diploma in Construction, plus the creation of an exciting partnership with Cardinal Allen High School to deliver construction training at their new WAVE Centre. The School was also directly involved in the development and delivery of the IEE Wiring Regulations 17th Edition.

A great time to be in construction

If you’re considering a career in construction there’s never been a better time to make your mark. The construction industry is the largest industry in the UK but even so, companies are struggling to recruit technical professional staff.