A PIONEERING industry-led construction school in Cinderford was yesterday (Thursday) due to welcome its first VIP guests.
AccXel is a partnership beween local construction K W Bell Group, the government and the GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership.
It has been established to tackle the severe skills shortage plaguing the construction industry, by recruiting new talent to the sector, helping the existing workforce progress to the next phase of their career and connecting both the education and industry sector to accelerate new skills.
The first students are due to start courses next month.
Nicola Bird, AccXel’s founder and managing director said: "We are so pleased to be finally opening the doors to AccXel.
"Over the past year we have garnered a huge amount of support from within the construction industry, which has highlighted how desperately an education facility like AccXel is needed.
"We are so excited that our school has completed its construction phase, and we can finally put our plans to support the future of the construction workforce into fruition.’’Â
AccXel has already secured industry partnerships with giants such as JCB and Leica Geosystems, who have supplied the centre with the highest spec technology for recruits to hone their practical skills on before they start working on construction sites.
There are partnerships with businesses who collectively have turnovers of more than £2 billion and who have all pledged to provide employment for 80 of AccXel’s construction apprentices in the first year.
Among the companies the school is working with are Barnwood Construction, Bloor Homes, Coslin Construction, Walters, and Keyway.
Natalie Bell, AccXel’s business and partnerships director said: "The support for AccXel has been overwhelming and we are so thankful for it.
"While we are taking time to enjoy this momentous occasion, we are still looking towards the future.
"We hope that our facility in Cinderford will be the first of many AccXel construction education facilities to be built around the UK.’’Â Â
Nicola Bird added: "We would like to thank all our wonderful trades who worked on the project for their commitment, passion and enthusiasm during the construction phase.
"It is a privilege to work in the construction industry, and it makes me proud that we are having such an impact by supporting it’s succession, growth and future ambitions."
AccXel officially opens its doors to learners on January 6.
For information on open events, news and applications visit the website www.accxel.co.uk Â