West Suffolk College to become one of ten Technical Excellence Colleges

West Suffolk College is set to become one of ten Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTEC) created across England thanks to a £100 million investment by the government.

The specialist colleges will be set up in every region of England to deliver the workforce needed to turbocharge the construction of new homes, schools and hospitals.

The scheme aims to draw on homegrown, British talent to train 40,000 construction learners by 2029, creating well paid jobs which will support the government’s commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes through its Plan for Change.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:  “We need skilled workers to deliver the homes, schools and hospitals that communities across the country are crying out for, and today’s announcement underlines our commitment to the next generation of homegrown talent.

“Construction Technical Excellence Colleges will enable us to invest in people and give them the skills they need to break down barriers to opportunity in an industry which is essential to delivering growth through our Plan for Change.”

The colleges will soon be online to deliver high-quality skills training, announced in the same week that young people across the country get their results in A-levels, T Levels and a range of vocational qualifications.

Laraine Moody, Group Principal for University and Professional Development at Eastern Education Group, which runs West Suffolk College, said: “We are delighted to have been named as the Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC) for the East of England – one of only ten in the country – and this will allow us to build on our ‘outstanding’ reputation of supporting industry and individuals in this field.

“This announcement follows on from the news that we will be opening a new campus in Cambridgeshire to support the need to create more skilled talent in construction. 

“In addition to this – work has already begun on upgrades to our Built Environment Campus in Bury St Edmunds that already supports hundreds of people of all ages on a variety of courses that include apprenticeships – and will also include digital skills and sustainability which are in high demand in the sector.

“In terms of our role in being named as a Construction Technical Excellence College, we can’t wait to continue the work that we have already started in supporting massive infrastructure projects in the East of England – working with industry, other education providers, employer representative bodies and the government – in partnerships that will help create more jobs, build more houses and create the infrastructure required to bolster the economy.

 “This is all taking place during our centenary year. Therefore, to be given the opportunity of leading from the front during this landmark year – by representing the region as we become recognised as a hub of excellence for the construction industry – is incredibly exciting.”

The Technical Excellence Colleges will operate on a ‘hub and spoke’ model, working with local training providers and employers to boost training standards and share expertise.

Clare Friel, founder of Women in Construction Anglia (WICA), said: “This is great news for the construction sector in East Anglia and will give young people even more opportunities to train and kickstart a career in the industry.

“Nurturing homegrown talent is vital to the success of the UK’s construction sector and the government’s aim to build 1.5 million new homes across the country.”

John Dugmore, Chief Executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, which partners with WICA, said:

“This is excellent news both for Suffolk education and the county and regional construction sector. Today’s announcement will boost the sector’s ability to meet the government’s housebuilding and infrastructure commitments and will give greater opportunities for people to receive a high-quality vocational education, develop skills and enter the industry.”

Currently, fewer than half of FE learners who get a qualification go on to work in a relevant industry, but investment in these colleges will help ensure learners are ready for work when they complete their qualifications.

The new Construction Technical Excellence Colleges across England are:

Derby College Group, East Midlands

West Suffolk College, East of England

New City College, Greater London

City of Sunderland College, North East

Wigan and Leigh College, North West

North Kent College, South East

Exeter College, South West

Bedford College, cross-regional

Dudley College of Technology, West Midlands

Leeds College of Building, Yorkshire and the Humber

More information on the initiative can be found here.