A new training hub for the construction industry has been launched which will open careers to the next generation of construction, groundworks and civil engineering talent.
The Kent Skills Hub will provide the all-important hands-on training with the latest equipment, alongside classroom-based theory. It is a partnership between the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Kent-based Gallagher Group, the South East's premier aggregates, concrete, groundworks, civil engineering and property development business, and Flannery Plant.
The new training centre has been made possible by Gallagher Group, with matched funding from the Infrastructure Sector Skills Plan. It is aimed at supporting young people, especially NEETS (Not in Education, Employment or Training), ex-offenders, veterans or people eager to get into the industry. It builds on the success of the pilot Skills Hub developed in conjunction with the Lower Thames Crossing.
The Hub is located in the heart of Hermitage Quarry, near Maidstone, which is the largest operating hard rock quarry in the South East of England. The trainees at Kent Skills Hub will be surrounded by the day-to-day workings of heavy plant and machinery and Gallagher’s 200-strong team in the business.
The launch of the Skills Hub follows the recent report published by former Government Minister, Alan Milburn. He said it is “shameful” there’s a lack of support to get young people into employment, especially NEETS which recently topped 1 million in the UK*.
Sean Connor, Managing Director (Aggregates) at Gallagher Group, said: “The timing for the Hub is perfect, given that NEETS are now worryingly topping a million, and with the construction industry having an ageing workforce and facing significant challenges to attract young people into a career in construction.
“We hope by locating the Hub in the heart of the quarry and combining it with access to quality training and the latest machinery, that young people will be given an inspiring insight into the depth and breadth of the great jobs the industry offers.”
Training courses will offer industry-standard training and lead to employment opportunities in the construction industry for some of the country’s million NEETs, as well as ex-offenders, veterans and college students.
Celine McGeown, Customer Engagement Manager at CITB, said: “It’s more important than ever that we break down barriers to developing a skilled construction workforce, especially with our Construction Workforce Outlook report estimating that we need around 240,000 additional workers by 2029. The Kent Skills Hub is a great example of what can be achieved when the industry comes together to create clear and accessible routes into the industry.
“Building a strong pipeline of talent is crucial, but we also need to make sure that new entrants are fully supported with the right training and opportunities to build long and successful careers in the industry.
“It’s been a big effort from a large team to get the Kent Skills Hub established, and it’s been great to support this project alongside Gallagher Group, Lower Thames Crossing, SKANSKA and NOCN.”
The Hub has been built from containers donated from the Barking Riverside development by L&Q, and decorated by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) Skills Builder Programme, which is a practical, hands-on construction initiative for students and young people aged 16 to 18. The site containers have been repurposed to include a training room, breakout facilities, kitchen and welfare facilities.
To maximise the impact of the Skills Hub, a 15m mobile unit has been purchased, to take on tour to other sites and which can be extended on arrival to provide training facilities for up to 20 students.
The Kent Skills Hub has been co-located alongside an investment by Gallagher Group in three 200KW fast charging facilities for HGVs, which was also switched on at the launch of the Skills Hub. It has the ability to offer charging of EV plant and machinery of almost 4 MVA of 100% renewable energy per day.
The EV chargers, powered by the quarry’s renewable energy, will be used to power dumpers, rollers and diggers, as well as quarrying vehicles including trialling the largest loading shovel currently in the
UK. It will help demonstrate how the industry can transition to Net Zero and provide real life working experience on the latest EV-powered construction equipment. The EV facility will also be able to charge batteries to be taken to site for the Lower Thames Crossing project when construction gets underway.
The fast-charging HGV EV facility is the largest in the county and will be used by Gallagher Group and partners, to give the industry the confidence to buy more electric plant and machinery. It was part funded by the Depot Charging Scheme of Department of Transport.
Lyndsey Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer of Gallagher Group added: “We invested in the EV chargers because we know that as an industry, we need to transition towards Net Zero, especially when mega-projects such as the Lower Thames Crossing on our doorstep has its own plans to have zero tailpipe emissions from its construction vehicles.
“Together with our partners we will be able to quarry, process and transport our materials using electrically powered vehicles that themselves have been charged by 100% renewable energy.”
For further information on the work of the Gallagher Group, visit www.Gallagher-Group.co.uk.
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